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Longhorn Dam to Bastrop. A sleeper trophy-bass float. The river tops out around 10 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Colorado River (Austin) draws 2,259 acres inside 112 miles of shoreline. An index of 16.8 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 25.7 mi with a 4.1-mi widest point. You'll find it in Bastrop County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Walter E. Long Lake, 10 mi northwest of here.
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a creek channel in the 8 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (9 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 4.4) (6 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season white bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 10 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 10 ft. Put Lowhead weir tailrace first on the milk run — a dam tailrace near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (9 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (9 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a creek channel in the 8 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) |
Spring blue catfish on Colorado River (Austin) hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 3 to 10 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) — creek channel, 8 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (9 ft) |
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 10 ft, and they winter in 3 to 10 ft. Spring flathead catfish concentrate at Tailout eddy (mile 0.3), a prime-rated eddy pocket around 6 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (6 ft) |
Spring puts bluegill in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 10 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 10 ft. Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) is the standout, an eddy pocket at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for winter bluegill. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 4.4) (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (6 ft) | Tiny spoon |
Colorado River (Austin) also holds freshwater drum (3 to 10 ft in summer), common carp (2 to 10 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 to 10 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 28 structure features on Colorado River (Austin); the deepest is Lowhead weir tailrace at about 9 ft.
Access data: Texas Parks & Wildlife — Public Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Texas waters are set by the Texas Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Colorado River (Austin) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Texas fishing regulations →
Colorado River (Austin) is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target largemouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, bluegill, freshwater drum, common carp, longnose gar on Colorado River (Austin).
Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Colorado River (Austin) is regulated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Texas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Walter E. Long Lake 10 mi · Lake Bastrop 14 mi · Lady Bird Lake 15 mi · Lake Austin 23 mi · San Marcos River 36 mi · Granger Lake 36 mi · Lake Georgetown 37 mi · Lake Travis 38 mi · Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) 46 mi · Lake Dunlap 48 mi · Canyon Lake 50 mi · Fayette County Reservoir 50 mi
See how Colorado River (Austin) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best white bass lakes in Texas · best bluegill lakes in Texas · best channel catfish lakes in Texas
Browse all Texas fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.