Lake Fayette – LCRA

LCRA and the city of Austin acquired the property rights to the Cedar Creek and Gross Branch flood basins.  In 1978, they damed off the basins flooding farm pond dams, roads, bridges, foundations and even a car body to form Lake Fayette.  The Fayette power plant uses Lake Fayette as a cooling pond.  Power generated by the plant provides central Texas with electricity.  Lake Fayette water enters the plant via the intake canal and is then heated to assist in power generation.  The heated water is then released back into the lake through the discharge canal effectively heating the lake year-round.  The bass stay active year-round as a result of the warm water.  Simply put, they have to eat to stay active, hence bass fishing is good— real good!

Lake Fayette Structure

Lake Fayette has a surface area of 2,400 acres.  Shore line reeds, standing timber, main lake points, creek channels, steep drop-offs and road-beds provide a variety of structures to fish.  Submerged aquatic vegetation consist of marine naiad and pondweed species growing from about 3’ out to 5’ in the spring through the fall.  It dies out in the winter. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 70’ and has a nearly constant water level and is slightly stained.  Predominant fish species include Florida and native bass, catfish, and Redear sunfish.  The bass are extremely healthy due to the abundance of thread-fin and gizzard shad to feed on.

Lake Fayette Fishing

Lake Fayette fishing is good all year with the best fishing from fall through spring. Texas rigged plastics, shallow crank-baits, spinner baits and top water baits work well in the fall as the shad migrate into the backs of the creeks. As winter sets in, the shad and the bass migrate back out to deeper water where Carolina rigged trick worms and baby brush hogs work well along with ½ oz. football jigs. These same baits work in the pre-spawn as well as rattle traps and Texas rigged plastics as the bass transition into shallow water. The pre through post spawn period occurs from late November  through May.  PDGS is closed during the summer due to the extreme heat.

Lake Fayette’s record for bass stands at 12 ¼ pounds.  There is a 16” – 24” slot limit, consequently the bass population is extremely good.  In addition there is a $5.00 per person entry fee is required to enter the park.  A valid Texas fishing license is required for ages 17 and up to fish.  In addition, I use artificial baits only and practice catch and release.