Lake Walter E. Long, TX

Fishing Regulations

Statewide regulations apply to all species with the exception of largemouth bass. The current length limit for largemouth bass is a 14-21" slot. Bass between 14 and 21 inches must be immediately released. Bass less than 14" may be retained. Anglers are encouraged to keep these smaller fish; this practice will increase the effectiveness of the slot limit. Only one bass greater than 21" in length may be kept per day.

Angling Opportunities

Walter E. Long Reservoir contains excellent populations of largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass.  Largemouth bass in the 8-10 pound range are commonly caught, but the reservoir is primarily noted for producing good numbers of slot sized (14-21 inch) bass. Hybrid striped bass are stocked annually, and fish larger than 5 pounds are prevalent. Channel and flathead catfish are present in low numbers. This reservoir has a good population of bluegill and redbreast sunfish. Many of these sunfish are more than 8 inches in length.

Fishing Cover/Structure

This power-plant cooling lake has an abundance of bulrush along the periphery. During some years there is also an abudance of submerged aquatic vegetation (most commonly hydrilla and pondweed species). Because most of the shoreline is owned by the City of Austin, no private boat docks/houses appear along the water's edge, but there are distinct creek channels, dropoffs, and submerged tank dams in parts of the reservoir. The water remains warm during the winter if the power plant is generating. Part of the dischage canal is open to fishing from a boat.

Tips & Tactics

Largemouth bass anglers should concentrate their efforts along the edges of submerged aquatic vegetation and in the bulrush that lines the perimeter of the reservoir.  Try pitching/flipping plastic worms and jigs into the bulrush.  Topwater baits can also be productive early and late in the day along the edge of the bulrush.  If the submerged aquatic vegetation is abundant, lipless crankbaits cranked over the top of the grass can be effective.  Other popular artificial lures include Carolina-rigged soft plastics and jerkbaits.  For live bait fishing try minnows suspended under corks along the bulrush and weedlines. 

For hybrid striped bass, live shad fished suspended in the water column or on the bottom can be very effective. Downrigging with bucktail jigs and using jigging spoons also can be effective. During the heat of the summer, look for largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass schooling as they chase shad.  Small topwater lures and leadhead curly tail grubs are effective for both species when they are schooling. 

Channel catfish can be caught using stinkbait or cutbait, whereas flathead catfish prefer live bait.Sunfish can be caught using meal worms, crickets, and earthworm pieces fished under floats in and around bulrushes and submerged vegetation. During summer, these fish can be seen and caught on their shallow water spawning beds.