Texas in September

[Matt Bacola]

I’m going to be in Texas in mid-September and I’d love to do some fishing. I live in Ohio where a 5 pound bass is a trophy so I’d like to have a shot a catching a big Texas bass. I’m flying so the most likely situation would be to hook up with a guide for a day or 2 (unless there’s a compelling reason for a different arrangement). I'm flying into Austin, however I'm not afraid of a drive and I can fly home from a different airport if it makes sense. So my question is, if you had 1 maybe 2 days to fish in Texas in mid-September, where would be the best chance at catching a 7+ pound bass? I fished O.H. Ivey for 3-4 days last February. My takeaway from my time there was that the lake has huge bass, but they bite in small time windows that isn’t conducive to a 1 or 2 day trip. That could very well have been more of a winter thing than the lake itself though? Based on that experience and assumption (which I am very open to changing if someone more knowledgeable educates me) I’m currently leaning toward Falcon Lake. Maybe Choke Canyon? Possum Kingdom? Based on my very un-expert opinion I feel like Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn, Lake Conroe could be tough due to fishing pressure, although I did see a guide that did night fishing trips on Lake Fork which would somewhat mitigate the pressure issue? I’m pretty much open to anywhere in Texas and I’d appreciate any feedback on lakes / guides.

[Catt]

Lake Sam Rayburn 

 

Bent Rods Guide Service

 

Request Josh Sikes

[thediscochef]

I was going to also suggest Sam Rayburn, it's not a place I've been in Texas but it has a reputation for a reason. Fork is like that too. The pressure is real but so is the bass population. Depending on what the summer and rain looks like you may have some good westerly options but I would consider Rayburn with the guide above to likely be an ace in the hole. Catt would know as much as anyone, I think

[Big Hands]

Most of the trips I have taken to Texas to fish have been in the Fall. I have had several memorable trips at that time of year. 

 

Night fishing on Lake Fork is my favorite bass fishing experience. I haven't fished Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend, but they are on a short-ish list of Texas lakes that I intend to try.

 

If you have the time and would like to be wearing a perma-grin on your flight home, may I suggest both?

 

You can sleep when yer dead.

[Big Hands]

On 1/16/2023 at 10:33 AM, Matt Bacola said:

Based on my very un-expert opinion I feel like Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn, Lake Conroe could be tough due to fishing pressure, although I did see a guide that did night fishing trips on Lake Fork which would somewhat mitigate the pressure issue?

 

RED ALERT: Did you say mid-September?

 

. . . . UGH. The Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash at Lake Fork is September 15, 16 & 17, 2023. Unless you are into that sort of a dumpster fire, I would stay away that weekend, and the entire previous week too. At that time, my suggestion would be to go anywhere but there unless you want to be in the tournament.

 

If it's not at that time, Lake Fork in the Fall, is mostly TOTALLY WIDE OPEN at night with very few people actually on the water, and most of those that are seem to be crappie anglers fishing under bridges. 

 

 

[riverat]

 

I would also suggest Sam Rayburn. But I'm also partial to night fishing so Lake Fork would be hard for me to pass up.