Lady Bird Lake, formerly known as Town Lake, is a 416-acre reservoir located in downtown Austin, Texas. The lake is the easternmost reservoir of the Highland Lakes, and it is an impoundment of the Colorado River that was created in 1960.
Lady Bird Lake was created after the construction of the Longhorn Dam, which only took a year to build under the direction of the City of Austin and the Lower Colorado River Authority. The dam and impoundment were initially created to provide water that cooled the Holly Street Power Plant.
Lady Bird Lake has relatively clear water, and the banks have plenty of cover for fish including laydown logs and trees, overhanging brush, cypress tree roots, bulrush, and cattails, so anglers love to get out to the water to find some fish. Below are the most common species of fish that can be spotted in Lady Bird Lake.
Lady Bird Lake Fish Species
1) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth bass are the most abundant sport fish in Lady Bird Lake, and they can be found in areas with rocky ledges. There are currently two subspecies of largemouths in Lady Bird Lake: the Florida largemouth and the ShareLunker largemouth, which are both regularly stocked in the water. Largemouth bass get their name from their mouth, which extends past the eye, unlike smallmouth bass.
Largemouth bass have olive-green bodies with dark mottling along the back and speckles along the sides. This species typically grows to about 15 – 18 inches long, although the largest largemouth caught in Lady Bird Lake was 27 inches long and weighed 13.5 pounds! Largemouths are carnivores that primarily feed on crayfish and other fishes but will also eat insects. There is currently a length limit for largemouth bass in Lady Bird Lake, so only largemouths that are under 14 inches in length or over 21 inches in length can be kept.
2) Guadalupe bass (Micropterus treculii)
The Guadalupe bass is Texas’ state fish, and although they are less common than largemouth bass in Lady Bird Lake, they are still desirable sport fish. Guadalupe bass are typically found in streams or flowing water in Texas, but they can still survive in calm water like Lady Bird Lake. This species looks much like other black bass species as they have olive backs and white bellies; however, they do not have vertical bars like smallmouth bass, their jaws do not extend far like largemouth bass, and their coloration extends much lower on the body compared to spotted bass.
Guadalupe bass do have diamond or circle-shaped dark spots running along their bodies, and they are generally a bit smaller for a black bass species. These fish will typically grow to about 12 inches in length and weigh around one pound, but the largest Guadalupe bass caught in Lady Bird Lake weighed 3.01 pounds and measured 18 inches in length. This species has a similar diet to largemouths and will hunt for insect larvae, crayfish, and other fishes. The daily creel limit for all black bass species combined in Texas is five fish.
3) Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Common carp, also known as European carp, are a popular catch at Lady Bird Lake, and they prefer areas where the water is warm and still or very slow-moving. This species has a robust body with a brassy green back and white-to-yellow sides. They have large scales with a black dot on each scale and two pairs of barbels on their upper jaw. These fish have rows of pharyngeal teeth that they use to dig up aquatic plant roots to eat in addition to catching insects, crustaceans, and small mollusks.
Common carp are a non-native species to North America, and they were brought to the United States in the late 1800s because they were a wildly popular food item for immigrants who wanted to be able to continue eating them when they came to the United States. While these fish are not overabundant in Lady Bird Lake, anglers can often find very large individuals. The largest common carp ever caught in the lake was 44.25 pounds and 41 inches long. Currently, there is a daily creel limit of one common carp over 33 inches in length at Lady Bird Lake.
4) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
Redear sunfish are found in Lady Bird Lake in areas where the water is warmer and has a moderate amount of cover. These fish have laterally compressed bodies that are usually green, gray, or olive, and they will sometimes have dark flecks and vertical lines along the length of them. Redear sunfish get their name from their black opercular (ear) flap which has a bright red border in males and an orange border for females.
This species can grow up to 12 inches long and generally weigh under two pounds. Redear sunfish are benthic feeders, and once they become adults and develop a strong jaw, they will almost exclusively feed on aquatic snails. These fish are slightly harder to catch compared to bluegills, but they are still willing to bite many kinds of bait, which makes sunfish a perfect starter fish for new anglers.
5) Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
Redbreast sunfish can be found in Lady Bird Lake in areas with rocky bottoms. These fish have blue-green backs and sides and yellow or rust-colored bellies. Breeding males will develop bright red upper bellies, which is how they get their name, redbreast sunfish.
These sunfish average about four inches long and weigh less than a pound. Redbreast sunfish are opportunistic feeders and will prey on many different smaller food items including juvenile insects and larvae.
6) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills are a common sunfish in North America, and they can be found in shallow, vegetated areas of lakes as juveniles, but adults will tend to be in deeper waters during the day. These fish are characterized by having disk-shaped bodies with an olive green back, an orangish-yellow belly, and a black dot at the base of the dorsal fin. Bluegills get their name from the bluish hue surrounding the gill covers.
This species averages around 7.5 inches in length and weighs around half a pound as adults. These fish have very little mouths, so they will only eat smaller prey such as zooplankton, insects, worms, and snails. Bluegills are a main source of food for many larger fish species such as largemouth bass, so they have adapted to be maneuverable. For instance, this species can make very quick stops by spreading out their pectoral fins.
7) Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum)
Gizzard shad can be found near the shorelines of Lady Bird Lake where there are higher winds and turbidity. This species has silvery-blue backs that fade to white sides, and they average between 6 – 8 inches long and 1 – 8 ounces in weight. These fish also have a long final ray on the dorsal fin that resembles a whip.
Gizzard shad get their name from their unique muscular stomach that acts almost like a bird gizzard, which breaks down plant matter and phytoplankton that the fish filter feed on from the water column. This species is very important for the health of many ecosystems including Lady Bird Lake because they help control plankton populations, and they are a prey item for many other fish species including crappies, white bass, and black bass.
8) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
Freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead, is a fish that is usually found in shallow, muddy waters of Lady Bird Lake. This species gets its name from the drumming or croaking noise males can make with a specific muscle in their body to attract mates. Freshwater drums are characterized by their silver bodies with a lateral line that extends all the way through their caudal fin. They also have a steeply sloping body that gives them the appearance of a humpback.
This species averages about 10 – 14 inches long and will usually weigh up to five pounds, although the largest freshwater drum caught in Lady Bird Lake was 19 pounds and 28 inches long. Drums have large teeth that help them eat a variety of prey at the bottom of the lake including snails, insects, small fish, and invasive zebra mussels.
9) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Black crappies are relatively common in Lady Bird Lake because they need still, clear waters in order to survive. Black crappies have compressed bodies that are darker green on the back with dark mottling on the silvery sides. They also have 7 – 8 spines on their dorsal fins, which distinguishes them from white crappies, which have 5 – 6 spines.
This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, so the males tend to be larger and darker than the females. Black crappies typically grow to about 8 – 12 inches and weigh 0.25 – 1 lbs. These fish are able to see relatively well in the dark, so they will generally hunt during the night or early morning for small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
10) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
White crappies can also be found in Lady Bird Lake, but these fish prefer more turbid areas to live in, unlike black crappies. White crappies have compressed bodies that are silvery-olive on the back and silvery-white towards the belly. These fish have dark vertical bands along the sides of their bodies, and their gill covers have spines. During breeding season, males look slightly different than females because the males develop a dark throat.
White crappies average about 9 – 10 inches long and are around 2 pounds as adults, and the largest white crappie found in Lady Bird Lake weighed in at 2.3 pounds and measured 15.75 inches in length. These fish generally eat smaller fishes like minnows or shad, but they will also eat insects like mayflies. Currently, the daily bag limit for all crappies is 25 fish with a length minimum of 10 inches.
11) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Channel catfish are not an incredibly abundant catfish species in Lady Bird Lake, but these fish will most likely be found in rocky areas or near the shoreline of the lake. Like all catfish, the channel catfish does not have scales and has barbels on the upper and lower jaw; however, the channel catfish can be distinguished by its deeply forked tail, silvery body, and overbite.
These fish grow to about 10 – 20 inches long and weigh anywhere from 2 – 10 pounds, and the largest channel catfish caught in Lady Bird Lake weighed 4.31 pounds. Catfish tend to eat quite a bit of food, so they use their barbels covered in taste buds to sense their surroundings and find food like snails, fishes, snakes, frogs, insects, aquatic plants, and possibly birds.
12) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
Blue catfish are a relatively abundant catfish species in Lady Bird Lake, and they can be found in the cool, deeper waters of the lake. Blue catfish have a blueish-gray back that fades to a white belly, and they possess no spots, unlike channel catfish. These fish generally range between 20 – 60 inches in length, and have an average weight of around 20 – 50 pounds; however, the blue catfish in Lady Bird Lake do not get incredibly big, as the largest one caught in the lake weighed 44 pounds.
Blue catfish have jaws lined with tiny teeth that help them eat just about anything they can catch including insects, fish, worms, and crustaceans. The daily creel limit for channel and blue catfish combined is 25 fish, and only 10 of these fish can be 20 inches or greater in length.
13) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Flathead catfish can be found in areas of Lady Bird Lake where there are plenty of rocky or woody coverings and deeper waters. Flathead catfish are generally bigger than channel catfish, and flatheads are a mottled brown color with a square tail and an underbite. This species, like the channel catfish, has barbs on their dorsal and pectoral fins, which are used to poke predators or humans that may have startled them.
This species usually averages 20 – 30 inches in length. Flatheads are fierce carnivores, and they typically prey on a variety of fish species such as drum, shad, and other catfish species including their own. There is a daily creel limit of five flathead catfish in Texas, and all fish kept must be longer than 18 inches.
14) Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus)
Smallmouth buffalo are a type of sucker fish that can be found in the clear, deep waters of Lady Bird Lake. These fish have brown or coppery backs and sides that fade to pale yellow bellies. Smallmouth buffalo may be confused with its relative, the bigmouth buffalo, but the smallmouth buffalo has very large scales and a larger humped back compared to bigmouths. Smallmouth buffalo also have a smaller mouth that faces downwards, whereas a bigmouth buffalo has a larger mouth that faces terminally.
This species typically grows to 15 – 30 inches in length and weigh 2 – 10 pounds; however, the largest smallmouth buffalo ever caught in Lady Bird Lake weighed in at 64 pounds. Because smallmouth buffalo are part of the sucker family, they feed primarily on the bottom of the lake on invertebrates, insects, shellfish, algae, and other vegetation, which they grind with bony plates in their throat.
