Fishing near Austin, Texas
The nearest lakes to Austin, with distances, access and bait shops.
- 6lakes in 30 mi
- 34access points
- 12shops nearby
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Fishing near Austin, Texas
Head west about 2 miles from Austin and you reach Lake Austin, the closest TPWD lake.
A 30 mile radius takes in 6 lakes, including Lake Austin, Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake), Walter E. Long Lake, Lake Travis, Lake Georgetown and Lake Bastrop.
Inside 20 miles of Austin you have 34 public access points on the TPWD access layer, including river access on Colorado and Onion Creek.
The 2025-2026 winter brought 5,588 stocked rainbow trout to Bullfrog Pond*, Kingfisher Lake* and Onion Creek – Upper Falls in Austin. The 2020 Census counted 961,855 people in Austin.
Straight line distances from the center of Austin.
For the rainbow trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Lakes around Austin
Lake Austin
2 miles west, 1,599 acres; excellent largemouth bass.
See detailsLady Bird (formerly Town Lake)
4 miles southeast, 468 acres; excellent largemouth bass.
See detailsWalter E. Long Lake
9 miles east, 1,269 acres; excellent largemouth bass.
See detailsLake Travis
11 miles northwest, 18,622 acres.
See detailsLake Georgetown
26 miles north, 1,297 acres; excellent white bass.
See detailsLake Bastrop
29 miles east, 906 acres; excellent largemouth bass.
See detailsLake Marble Falls
35 miles northwest, 611 acres.
See detailsGranger Lake
37 miles northeast, 4,009 acres; excellent catfish and crappie.
See detailsWhere the public can fish near Austin
The map shows lakes and public access around Austin.
- Colorado5 access points within 20 miles
- Onion Creek4 access points within 20 miles
Points around Austin: TPWD access layer and GLO coastal inventory.
Buying bait near Austin
- Lake Austin Marinamarina, 2 miles west, (512) 329-6640
- Nautical Boat Club – Westlakemarina, 2 miles west, (512) 582-0203
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Austinsporting goods, 4 miles northeast, (512) 407-6310
- Paradise Cove Marinamarina, 4 miles west, (512) 327-3300
- Boat parkingmarina, 5 miles northwest
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Sunset Valleysporting goods, 6 miles southwest, (512) 891-4240
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Austinsporting goods, 8 miles south, (512) 486-6000
- Ultimate Fishing Lightbait tackle, 8 miles north, (512) 345-1910
- Hog-Eye Bait Shopbait tackle, 9 miles east, (512) 926-3522
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Austinsporting goods, 9 miles north, (512) 506-6000
- Jenson Fishing Tacklebait tackle, 9 miles north, (512) 836-1788
- Marshall Ford Marinamarina, 10 miles northwest, (512) 266-1559
- Captain ExperiencesFreshwater guide, (833) 227-8246
- Allen Christenson's Fishing Guide ServiceFreshwater guide, (512) 261-3644
- Lake Travis Yacht ChartersFreshwater guide, (512) 636-7381
- Torwick's Guiding ServiceFreshwater guide, (512) 910-7255
- Guideboat CompanyFreshwater guide, (512) 350-2718
Austin listings: OpenStreetMap contributors, store lists and guide websites, October 2026.
Biggest fish on record around Austin
| Species | Weight | Lake | From town | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 72.6 lb | Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake) | 4 miles | 2025 |
| Catfish, Blue | 67.75 lb | Lake Austin | 2 miles | 2024 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 61 lb | Lake Georgetown | 26 miles | 2000 |
| Carp, Grass | 53.92 lb | Lake Travis | 11 miles | 2015 |
| Carp, Common | 46.5 lb | Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake) | 4 miles | 1996 |
| Bass, Striped | 45.5 lb | Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake) | 4 miles | 1993 |
| Gar, Longnose | 36.25 lb | Walter E. Long Lake | 9 miles | 2006 |
| Drum, Freshwater | 26 lb | Lake Austin | 2 miles | 2005 |
| Buffalo, Black | 26 lb | Lake Travis | 11 miles | 2018 |
| Catfish, Channel | 21 lb | Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake) | 4 miles | 2026 |
TPWD all-ages rod and reel lake records, lakes within 40 miles of Austin.
Trout releases in Austin
| Location | Trout stocked | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Bullfrog Pond* | 896 | 11/26/2025, 12/12/2025, 12/23/2025, 1/9/2026, 1/23/2026, 2/6/2026, 2/20/2026, 3/2/2026 |
| Kingfisher Lake* | 1,792 | 11/26/2025, 12/12/2025, 12/23/2025, 1/9/2026, 1/23/2026, 2/6/2026, 2/20/2026, 3/2/2026 |
| Onion Creek – Upper Falls | 2,900 | 1/11/2026, 1/25/2026 |
Austin trout dates: TPWD winter stocking schedule, 2025-2026 season.
Asked often about fishing near Austin
What lake can I reach fastest from Austin?
Lake Austin sits about 2 miles west.
Which lakes are a 30 mile drive from Austin?
TPWD surveys 6 lakes in that range, namely Lake Austin, Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake), Walter E. Long Lake, Lake Travis, Lake Georgetown and Lake Bastrop.
What is the largest lake around Austin?
That is Lake Travis, 18,622 acres, about 11 miles from town.
Is there public access to fish near Austin?
TPWD maps 34 public access points within 20 miles of Austin, on lakes, rivers and creeks.
Can I fish a river near Austin?
Stream access inside 20 miles is on Colorado and Onion Creek.
Where do I pick up bait around Austin?
Try Lake Austin Marina in Austin, roughly 2 miles off.
Are trout released in Austin?
Yes, TPWD stocked rainbow trout at Bullfrog Pond*, Kingfisher Lake* and Onion Creek – Upper Falls during the 2025-2026 season.
In what county will I find Austin?
That is Travis County.
Do teens under 17 need a license in Austin?
Not if they are Texas residents under 17, though adults fishing around Austin do.
What is the top bass lake near Austin?
Try Lake Austin, 2 miles off, with an excellent TPWD bass rating.
Where can I see water levels near Austin?
Click through to Lake Austin for its live TWDB reading.
Next stops from Austin
From Austin, every nearby lake has ramps and records listed.