Cooling water and incoming rain push fall patterns up the river

What anglers are reporting The last solid report from the lake was back in February. With the recent warm stretch finally breaking and water temperatures dropping, fall patterns are taking over on this river-like reservoir.

This week's outlook A cold front just pushed through, bringing several days of rain and cooler temperatures before an even stronger front hits next Thursday. The cooling water should push threadfin and gizzard shad further up the river channel toward Wirtz Dam. Expect bass to follow the bait, setting up on bridge pilings, rock bluffs, and the upstream sides of points. Current from dam releases will dictate how these fish position.

Where to start Focus on the upper half of the lake. Target the bridge pilings and steep rock bluffs with moving baits, especially if the LCRA is pulling water. If the current is slack, shift to skipping the shaded corners of boathouses and docks with a jig or wacky worm. The incoming rain will likely add some color to the water, making shallow rock banks and riprap prime for a squarebill.

Bait box

• Squarebill crankbaits in shad or craw patterns
• Spinnerbaits with willow blades for wind and current
• Skipping jigs in green pumpkin or brown
• Wacky rigged stickbaits for dock corners
• Dropshot rigs for deeper bluff ledges

This weekend Friday brought a cold front, and this weekend features steady rain and northeast winds. Expect a slower post-front bite on Saturday, with fish pulling tight to boathouses and deeper boulders. As conditions stabilize on Sunday, the heavy cloud cover should help the moving bait bite recover. Keep a squarebill handy for the rock banks, but rely on a jig skipped under docks if the fish are not chasing.