SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026 · LAKE TRAVIS
Fall shad bite heating up on rocky ledges and creek channels in 15-25 feet, topwater in the first two hours.
WATER 77°FAIR 71°FWIND 5 MPH ESESEASON FALLPOOL -3 FT
Water's sitting at 77 degrees and that comfortable zone is getting the bass fired up before they group tighter for winter. The lake is clear enough to see what you're doing, pool is down 3 feet which concentrates fish on familiar structure. Pressure is steady so no excuse, the bite should be reliable. Bluebird sky and calm wind mean the topwater window closes fast after mid-morning, then fish slide deeper to the ledges and brushy drop-offs where they stay active all afternoon. This is prime fall pattern time. Bass are still chasing baitfish into creek channels and stacking on main lake breaks where shad are thick.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 7:32 AM to 9:30 AM
Shallow rocky coves and creek channel mouths in 4-8 feet, focus on bone-colored riprap and brush transitions near the main lake.
Bone-colored walking topwater like a Heddon Spook Jr. or Strike King KVD Walking Frog in 3 inch, cast tight to the rocks and work it with a steady, rhythmic walk. Work it slow and deliberate, don't rush.
Low light and cooler water temperatures in early morning get bass feeding shallow. They're chasing shad that have moved into the creeks overnight. Topwater creates silhouette and vibration that triggers reaction strikes. After the sun clears the ridges and light hits the water hard, this window fades fast.
MORNING · 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Rocky ledges and bluff walls 15-25 feet deep off creek channels and main lake points, especially where brush or timber sits on the breaks.
Free-rigged 6th Sense Bodega in shad color, 3-4 inch, no weight or minimal 1/16 oz weight to keep it swimming horizontally in the water column. Work it with small jerks and pauses, let it glide down the face of the ledge.
As the sun rises higher, bass pull off the shallows and position on the first major structure break. Shad are following the same pattern. A subtle presentation matches the small baitfish and keeps contact with fish that are already deep. Jerkbait profile and shimmer trigger strikes from fish feeding in the light column.
MIDDAY · 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Middle of creek channels in 15-25 feet where brush piles sit, graphed with sonar, and offshore secondary points with hard bottom and scattered cover.
1/2 ounce football jig with a craw trailer in brown or watermelon, Texas-rigged creature bait in green pumpkin or watermelon red, 4 inch, 3/8 oz. Drag slowly on the bottom, feel every foot, pause for 3-5 seconds over any bump or brush.
Midday sun pushes bass deeper and they tighten on structure. Football jigs excel on rocky bottom because the wide stance keeps the bait off snags and the thump projects through the water. Dragging is a contact sport. You're not covering water fast, you're grinding one productive area methodically. Creature baits match the small forage and last longer on the bite.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Offshore humps and ridge systems 20-35 feet deep with brush on top, main lake ledges, and creek channel bends that form natural gathering spots.
3/8 ounce 6th Sense Hybrid jig with craw trailer, cast and drag slowly on the bottom with long pauses between drags. Alternate with a drop-shot rig, 2.5 inch shaky head finesse worm in watermelon, fished vertically or with a slow drag.
Bass are still feeding but they're scattered across deeper structure. Jigs with pauses trigger bites from inactive fish because the pause simulates an easy meal that doesn't run. Drop-shot excels when bass are indifferent. The small profile and light weight allow you to stay in the strike zone longer.
EVENING · 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM
Transition zones between shallow brush near cove mouths and deep water access, 8-15 feet, rock-and-brush mix with drop-offs nearby.
3.5 inch weedless paddle tail swimbait in shad or natural color on a 1/4 ounce jig head, cast and retrieve with a slow, steady swim. Let it glide over the brush tops and drop into any pockets between rocks.
As light drops and water cools slightly, bass begin sliding back up from the deep stuff to feed on the shallows again. Swimbait silhouette is easy for bass to track in low light and it mimics fleeing shad perfectly. The weedless design lets you pick apart the brush without snagging.
DUSK · 6:15 PM to 7:05 PM
Rocky points and cove mouths in 4-10 feet, bone-covered riprap and dock pilings, transition to creek channels at the main lake.
Bone or white topwater walk-the-dog bait like a Heddon Spook Jr., 3 inch, worked with a slow twitchy cadence. Or switch to a suspending jerkbait in shad color, 3.5 inch, cast and pause for 2-3 seconds between jerks.
Last light is the second window for topwater. Bass move up aggressive to feed before dark. Silhouette and sound matter more than detail. A white bait cuts a clear profile against the fading sky. Jerkbaits add a hunting trigger for fish that are more cautious but still feeding.
NIGHT · 7:05 PM to sunrise
Main lake ledges 20-30 feet deep, creek channels with brush in 15-25 feet, any structure with access to deep water.
Texas-rigged stick worm or 5 inch craw in watermelon or green pumpkin, 3/16 ounce weight, pitched and retrieved slowly. Or a 1/2 ounce football jig with craw, dragged deliberately on the bottom.
After dark, bass shift to a comfort-zone bite. They're not hunting aggressive like they were at dusk. They position on structure and wait for forage to stumble past. Night fishing on Travis is productive if you use electronics or know the structure well. Slow, methodical presentations are everything.
Where to fish
- Rocky cove mouths and creek channel transitions in 4-10 feet — 4 to 10 feet · bone riprap, hard bottom, brush piles near the main lake, transition between shallow flat and creek channel drop-off
Bass move in and out of these zones on the daily cycle. Early morning and dusk, they sit tight here feeding on shad. It's the crossroads between shallow and deep. Shad school here before running deeper. - Main lake ledges and bluff walls 15-25 feet — 15 to 25 feet · rocky ledges, hard bottom, occasional brush or timber, steep drop-offs from 10 feet to 20-30 feet
This is prime all-day holding water. Ledges provide shade and structure. Baitfish suspend along these breaks. Bass position here and don't move far. It's the sweet spot depth and structure combo right now. - Creek channel bends and secondary points 20-35 feet — 20 to 35 feet · sandy or rocky channel bottom, brush piles, timber on the turn, hard transitions in contour
Baitfish migrate through channels. Bass intercept them here. Channel bends create current breaks and funnel movement. Brush on a bend is a magnet. These are high-percentage spots that hold groups of fish. - Offshore humps and secondary ridges 15-30 feet — 15 to 30 feet · hard bottom, rock scattered across top, minimal to moderate brush, isolated structure
Shad school on humps to feed. Bass follow. Humps provide visibility for bass to hunt. They're discrete targets that concentrate fish. Easy to pattern once you locate one producing.
What to throw
- Heddon Spook Jr. or similar bone topwater — 3 in · bone white · n/a (early morning first two hours, dusk last hour before dark)
walk-the-dog cadence with steady twitches, work tight to structure, let pauses sit for a half second - 6th Sense Bodega or suspending jerkbait — 3.5 to 4 in · shad or bone · n/a (morning to late morning when bass are on ledges 15-25 feet, low light fade-outs)
cast, jerk once or twice, pause 2-3 seconds, repeat. Let it glide down ledges, work it in the middle of the water column - Football jig with craw trailer — n/a · brown, watermelon brown, craw color · 3/8 to 1/2 oz (midday into late afternoon on deep ledges and creek channel bottoms 15-35 feet)
drag on bottom over rocky structure with long pauses, feel the contour, hop and hold - Drop-shot finesse worm or creature bait — 2.5 to 3 in · watermelon, green pumpkin, watermelon red flake · 1/4 oz (weight) on leader 18 inches below hook (late afternoon into evening when bass are indifferent or suspended, deep water)
vertical drop over structure or slow drag along bottom, minimal movement, let the bait do the work - Weedless paddle tail swimbait — 3 to 3.5 in · shad, natural, pearl · 1/4 oz jig head (evening as light drops and bass slide back to 8-15 feet, creek channel transitions)
steady slow swim over brush and rocks, glide through pockets, don't overwork it
How to work it
- Dragging on bottom — midday, late afternoon, all night. Any time bass are positioned on bottom structure and not feeding aggressive. · rocky ledges 15-35 feet, main lake points, creek channel bends
Cast uptake to structure, reel down to contact, then drag slowly while maintaining bottom feel. Pause 3-5 seconds every 2-3 feet. Use your sonar to confirm bottom contour. - Casting to structure edges — early morning, dusk, when bass are shallow or holding tight to cover. · shallow rocky coves 4-10 feet, dock pilings, transition zones
Pitch or cast parallel to rocks, brush, docks, and riprap. Work the bait along the edge rather than into open water. Make short casts, work thoroughly, move on only after 5-10 pitches. - Graphing and sonar location — all day, every day. Modern fishing on Travis leans on sonar to locate schools of bass following shad. Spend 30 minutes graphing to save two hours blind casting. · entire lake, especially secondary points and deep creek channel bends
Use your electronics to map creek channels, brush piles, and ledges before you fish them. Mark clusters of baitfish. Identify structure patterns that are producing. - Jigging vertical — midday to late afternoon when bass are stacked on discrete pieces of structure. · humps, channel edges, brush piles in 20-35 feet
Cast directly over structure, reel to contact, then work the jig up and down with 1-2 foot hops. Hold at different depths, pause frequently. Set the hook on the drop.
Pro tips
- Use forward-facing sonar or at least traditional electronics to graph the creek channels and ledges before you cast. Locating a school of bass on shad saves hours of guessing. Spend the first 30 minutes glassing instead of fishing.
- The first 90 minutes after sunrise is the real topwater window. After that, the sun is high and the shallow bite collapses. Don't waste time at 10 AM throwing topwater on the wrong flats. Be on the deep ledges by 9:30 AM or shift back to shallows only at dusk.
- Green pumpkin and watermelon colors work all day on Travis right now because they match small shad and crawfish. Stick with these two colors for 80 percent of your soft plastic work. Bone topwater is the exception.
If conditions change
If a wind shift brings clouds and chop, the shallow bite extends later into the morning because light penetration drops. Fish topwater and shallows until 11 AM instead of backing off at 9:30. If the pressure drops and a front approaches, fish become aggressive 12-24 hours before it hits. Speed up and cover water with reaction baits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits on the points. If a strong front blows through and clears everything out with cold air, pull deep immediately to 25-35 feet and downsize everything to 2.5-3 inch finesse presentations, slow drags, and pauses. If clarity drops from a summer rain runoff, shift to dark colors and bladed baits with bigger vibration. If it stays bluebird and hot, start an hour later and fish the deepest available shade on main lake ledges until after 3 PM.
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