If you and your kiddos are fishing buddies, Austin is truly a great place to live or visit. There’s seemingly no end in sight to the gorgeous lakes, rivers, and little fishing holes that dot the city and its surrounding parks.
Keep in mind that, as an adult, you’ll likely need to obtain a fishing license, regardless of whether or not you’re a Texas resident — unless you’ll be doing your fishing from the banks of a state park (there are a few state parks on this list) or in waters enclosed by a state park. Children under 17, though, are not required to get a license. It’s also always a great idea to read up on regulations before you go, just in case. Then, you can concentrate on the fun part: packing a picnic, gathering up your rods and reels, and setting out for the glorious outdoors!
So, are you a parent, nanny, or babysitter looking for the best kid-friendly fishing spots in Austin? You’ve come to the right place! These are the 10 best places to take your little angler on a sunny day.
Lakeway Resort and Spa (Lakeway Marina)
Address: 101 Lakeway Drive, Lakeway, TX 78734
Phone: 512-261-6600
Hours & Admission: Check out the marina’s official Fishing Guide here.
Discover awesome fishing and other fun lake activities at Lakeway Resort and Spa, located on lovely Lake Travis. Whether you want to fish from the shoreline for a couple hours or rent a boat for the whole family for the day, this is the perfect place to do both. Come prepared to catch a diverse variety of fish, including sunfish, carp, striped bass, white bass, and guadalupe bass. Just don’t forget your fishing license!
Lake Bastrop (Bastrop State Park)
Address: 100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, TX 78602
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 512-321-2101
Admission: Check out fishing regulations & info here.
Bastrop State Park, just 32 miles east of Austin, is beloved by Texans near and far. Locals have been frequenting this state park for more than 70 years to enjoy its pleasant hiking trails, historic cabins, and scenic picnic spots. Best of all, Bastrop has some of the greatest fishing in the area at Lake Mina. While you can often find a couple different types of catfish in this lake, Lake Mina is really known as the premium spot to catch bass. Feel free to bring your own equipment or simply borrow from state park headquarters. Best of all, don’t worry about a fishing license. You don’t need one to fish from shore in a state park.
Meadow Lake
Address: 266 Meadow Lake Drive, Seguin, TX 78155
Hours: See office hours here.
Phone: 830-320-5181
Admission: Check out more info here.
If you’re closer to Round Rock, just north of Austin, Meadow Lake is a fantastic option for fishing. Accessible through the attractive, 70-plus-acre Meadow Lake Park, this man-made reservoir has plenty of undeveloped shoreline for reeling in the catch of the day! While there are a variety of fish in Meadow Lake, this spot is best known for its good-sized largemouth bass. There are plenty of picnicking areas and a playground, as well.
Bright Lake (Old Settlers Park)
Address: 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78665
Hours: Open daily, 6 a.m. – midnight
Phone: 512-218-5540
Admission: Check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation page for more info.
Old Settlers Park is another great Round Rock-area option if you’re in the mood to do some local fishing. Touted as the “crown jewel” of the Round Rock park system, Old Settlers is home to 645 acres of disc golf courses, baseball and softball fields, soccer facilities, and tons of other recreational activities — plus the lovely Bright Lake! This lake is stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (the most common species are catfish, perch, and bass) and boasts picturesque open shorelines and a fishing pier.
Brushy Creek (Lake Creek Park)
Address: 800 Deerfoot Drive, Round Rock, TX 78644
Hours: Open daily, a half-hour before sunrise – 10 p.m.
Phone: 512-718-1000
Admission: Check out the Round Rock Parks & Recreation website for more info.
Another perfect fishing spot in Round Rock is Brushy Creek in Lake Creek Park. The park’s 90-acre expanse of winding trails and shaded areas, plus a great splash pad and playground, makes this spot a local favorite for families in the area. And Brushy Creek itself is brimming with catfish, panfish, and bass, all of which you can catch from shore — or you can rent a canoe or kayak.
Moby Dick’s Private Pond
Address: 343 Pope Bend S., Cedar Creek, TX 78612
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 512-308-7577
Admission: Check out hourly rates, rental info, & other info here.
Moby Dick’s Private Pond, located on 4.5 acres in Cedar Creek, is billed as a “fishing paradise!” This catch-and-release pond is stocked with tons of different varieties of fish, from blue catfish to perch to crappie to shad and more. You can opt to fish from one of the pond’s shaded docks or directly from the banks, or you can rent a rowboat or bass boat. There are also plenty of picnic areas and BBQ grills available if you’d like to prepare lunch during your fun fishing day in the sun! Just keep in mind that Moby Dick’s is available for fishing by reservation only. No license is required.
Walter E. Long Lake (Walter E. Long Municipal Park)
Address: 6614 Blue Bluff Road, Austin, TX 78724
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 512-974-6700
Admission: Check out the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation page for more info.
Walter E. Long Reservoir is a small, clear lake in the heart of the city, inside Metropolitan Park. This is a fabulous spot to do some fishing, especially if you’re not looking to travel too far to do so. As far as the fish themselves go, you can expect to catch some good-sized catfish and different varieties of bass, including largemouth bass in the 8- to 10-pound range. There are also several picnic tables and grassy spots that are perfect for taking a break, once you’ve had your fill of fishing.
Lady Bird Lake
Address: Click here to view a map & listing of access points.
Hours: Open daily, sunrise – sundown
Phone: 512-974-2000
Admission: Check out the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation page for all necessary info.
Not only is Lady Bird Lake (most often called “Town Lake” by locals) a lovely section of the Colorado River, complete with stunning downtown views, it’s also a great spot to hook a largemouth bass or two. There’s plenty of bank access around the lake. However, we recommend camping out at Red Bud Isle, an off-leash dog island just below the Lake Austin dam, for the scenery and the fishing.
Lake Austin
Address: Click here for a helpful guide of the best fishing spots on Lake Austin.
Hours: Open daily, sunrise – sundown
Phone: 512-353-0072 (TPWD District Fisheries Office)
Admission: Check out the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation page for all necessary info.
Lake Austin, a water reservoir on the Colorado River, is the picture-perfect place to catch largemouth bass in the ATX! Many bass weighing 8 to 10 pounds are caught here each year, and Lake Austin has even been deemed one of the most potent trophy bass lakes in Texas. There are plenty of underwater brush piles that have been placed in strategic locations around the reservoir to provide cover for fish, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to catch something. Fishing on Lake Austin during the summer months is said to be best done early in the morning or at night, due to the recreational boat activity during the day.
Lake Kyle Park
Address: 700 Lehman Road, Kyle, TX 78640
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 512-262-3939
Admission: Check out the park’s fishing report & other info here.
Lake Kyle Park is an idyllic conservation preserve in the city of Kyle, just 25 minutes from Austin. There are four great hiking and nature trails totaling more than 4 miles at Lake Kyle, and lots of picnic areas and shade structures scattered throughout. In terms of fishing, you can expect to catch a nice-sized catfish or bass here. The Lake Kyle Bait & Tackle Shop also conveniently loans any fishing equipment you may need, including rods, reels, and tackle boxes. You’ll just need to provide the bait! Do keep in mind that a freshwater fishing license must be obtained through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you’re able to fish.
Are there other kid-friendly fishing spots in Austin that we should know about? Let us know in the comments below!
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