Top 5 Fall Transition Baits for Largemouth Bass in Austin, Texas
- Tyler Torwick
- Sep 24
- 5 min read
As cooler weather arrives here in Central Texas, the fall transition kicks off one of my favorite times of year to target big bass on Lake Travis. After a long, hot summer, water temperatures begin to drop, baitfish move shallow, and bass become more aggressive as they feed up for the winter. Without nerding out on y'all too much... keep in mind Zooplankton and Phytoplankton bloom better in warmer water. The backs of coves will stay warmer longer than the main lake will, this goes for all lakes, not just Lake Travis. It is for this reason the shad start to pull up out of the deep creek channels and river channel of the lake and make a move back to these coves... they are after food. Bass biologically know this and will move to cover near these areas to position themselves to feed.
For my clients, this means better numbers, more consistent action, and some exciting days on the water.
Let's take a sec and talk about what baits to throw during the fall transition here in Texas... here are my Top 5 go-to lures that consistently catch bass during this seasonal shift. As a fishing guide in Austin, TX who spends hundreds of days on the water each year, these are what you'll find on the deck of my boat if you book a trip in the coming months.
1. Topwater Spook/ Walking Bait
Few things beat the thrill of a topwater bite, and a walking-style bait like a 6th Sense Catwalk is a must-have in early fall. As shad migrate into the creeks and coves, bass often corral them near the surface. The wide, side-to-side “walk-the-dog” action of a spook mimics fleeing baitfish and allows you to cover water quickly. Early mornings and late evenings around points, brush, and rocky shorelines are prime times to throw it. I prefer to pick up this bait over other topwaters as I can fish it fast and cover a lot of water. When the bass could be spread out over a large area and you're not picking apart specific targets, throw this.
2. Topwater Popper
When bass are feeding on small shad in calmer water, a popper can be very effective. Its ability to spit, chug, and pause makes it enticing to schooling fish chasing bait near the surface. On Lake Travis, I throw a popper a lot around docks and brush. The reason I will pick up this bait over a spook is because I can give it a lot of action and movement without necessarily bringing it back to the boat as fast. When fishing brush, look for "lanes", the open areas in between submerged bushes. A popper will allow you to move the bait but keep it up in these areas longer. When the bass are keyed in on living near specific structure, fish a popper. Don’t be afraid to let it sit still between pops, its honestly more common to get your blow ups on the pause than when moving it.
3. Paddletail Swimbait
A paddletail swimbait is one of the most versatile baits for fall bass fishing. Truthfully I keep a swimbait tied on all year long, but during the months when fin bait like Shad is all the bass are thinking about, is when its prime time to throw. It’s deadly for covering water and finding active fish. Cast it along points, over submerged rock piles, in thick brush or through schools of shad you spot on your electronics. The subtle tail kick is a perfect match for threadfin shad, the primary forage in Lake Travis. I really like the 3.5" and 4" version of the 6th Sense Whale. Depending on the cover I am fishing I will use the same bait, just rigged different ways. When fishing around brush I recommend a 3/0 belly weighted hook to rig it weedless. When fishing shallow banks with rock and gravel I recommend a standard shad shaped jig head. Lastly, when fishing open water and areas I'm not worried about getting snagged, I recommend a 6th Sense thru line Treble head with a small treble hook... this has a phenomenal hook up ratio.
4. Fluke
As of this past July out Central Texas highland lakes, especially Lake Travis and Buchanan have received quite a bit of rain and have filled back up. With that has come tons of flooded bushes. Keep in mind some of the brush that's now under water has had years to grow in... its thick. Few baits are more effective than a soft plastic fluke. Rigged weightless on an EWG hook, it darts and glides like an injured baitfish, triggering aggressive strikes, but most importantly is weedless. I can hand this rig to a client and have them throw it into the thickest of cover and rarely deal with chasing down a snag. On Lake Travis, keep a fluke rigged and ready anytime you’re around schooling activity or cover that other baits might get hung up in. I typically rig this with a heavy wire EWG hook and go weightless, but if it's windy a Owner twist lock hook with the 1/8th ounce keel weight is a terrific option.
5. Crankbait
As the fall transition progresses and bass start pushing farther back into creeks, a shad-colored crankbait becomes a top producer. Truthfully a crankbait will stay tied on my deck all fall and winter, but I will change up the colors and diving depths I throw. As the water gets cooler I will start fishing more brush with a squarebill crankbait, a squarebill is like the 4x4 of cranks and can be worked through cover that round bill baits will get hung up in. Medium-diving crankbaits are perfect for targeting gradual sloping gravel banks, rocky points, riprap banks, and channel swings where bass chase bait. Try to pick the diving depth of your crankbait based on the average depth you are fishing. Getting a crankbait to occasionally bump the bottom or the rock you're fishing around is key to triggering bites. On Lake Travis as well as our other local lakes, look for areas where wind is blowing against the shoreline... its common that bass will position in these areas in the hopes of schools of shad moving in to feed. At the beginning of fall I will throw more shad patters, but as the water gets even colder I will throw a mix of shad and craw colored baits.
Final Thoughts
The fall transition in Texas is all about finding the bait and matching it with the right lure. Bass are thinking with their stomachs, so look for areas you think a bass could position in order to better ambush prey. Bass are feeding heavily and moving shallower, which makes this one of the most exciting times of year to fish in Central Texas. When it comes to choosing the right color to throw, start with shad patterns... whites, pearls, silvers, and chromes are going to work well. Whether you’re walking a Spook at sunrise or winding a crankbait across a windy point, these five baits listed above will give you the best chance at success this season.
If you’re searching for the best fishing charter in Austin, Texas or need an experienced Austin fishing guide to help you learn fall patterns, book a trip with me at Torwick’s Guiding Service. As a full-time Lake Travis fishing guide, I’ll show you not only where to find fish but also teach you everything you need to know to be consistently more successful on your next outing by yourself.
Come experience the excitement of fall bass fishing in Austin, Texas—the fish are feeding, the weather is cooling down, and the action is heating up!