Hi guys,

I am originally from California, currently live in AZ, but am thinking about making a move to Texas, Austin in particular. Main reason is I'm 29, single, looking for a new job, and want to be closer to the Bassmaster Central Opens. Unfortunately traveling from AZ to fish all 3 Central Opens is really tough when you have a M-F 9-5 to pay the bills.

I was wondering how the fishing is around the Austin area? I have heard some incredible things about Lake Austin, but how is the fishing in the surrounding areas? Are there many local tournaments? Would I be better off looking at the Dallas area?

I'm north of Dallas, but Austin would be a good choice. I believe there is a trail TTZ that fishes central texas.
There are some good lakes and some good lakes that really need water (Travis), but all of the north lakes need
water too. The north texas lakes have a tournament just about every weekend.

Some good lakes here plus falcon isn't too far. Takes me about 4 hrs to get to Rayburn. East Texas does have more lakes though.

Dallas area has way more lakes .they are just dry

Lake Austin is in trouble due to a massive grass carp stocking eliminating all the grass, but we are trying to fix that in conjunction with the City and TPWD. But if you live in Austin you have really good constant level lakes in all directions within an hour and a half driving distance. From Fayetteville Co to LBJ. I'm a transplant to Austin from Massachusetts myself, Austin is a great city but the population growth is out of control. Much different now than when I got here 5 years ago.

Agreed! Fastest growing city in the nation. Its great for the single life, I can promise that!

The cool thing about Austin is you'll be within a 3 hour long drive of a lot of great lakes where a 40+ limit's possible on any given day, and not only that, you can pretty much reach any lake within 5 1/2 hours. Another really great thing about austin you might appreciate is that a bunch of the lakes within an hour's drive are really terrific in the way that a lot of them have grass in parts of the lake while other stretches are barren so you have a nice mix of clear/stained/muddy water with trees and laydowns or rock mixed in which really lets you apply all of these different situations and techniques you might encounter and want to apply on a trail.

There's Austin and then there's Texas. Can't explain it to you, but you'll understand if you get to spend some time in the area.

Austin is more like Kalifornia than Texas.

Pard, if you have the means to dump I am assuming a good paying job that pays the bills then by all means go for it. I am 55, have raised two very successful sons I am proud to say. I have been married to the same wonderful woman for 34 years and am basically retired and fish when I want. I can assuredly say I would never give up a job and relocate so I could be closer to fish a tournament series......... To each his own I guess.

Central Texas impoundments are tough fishing.

My advice: Move to Dallas. It's closer to all of the Central Opens, the jobs pay well, and the City's motto isn't, "Keep XXXX Weird."

Way more job opertunity in the dallas Fort Worth area IMO. I have been short staffed for months and can't find any decent hires. A person who knows what they are doing could pick the job he wants. I have had people from all over the country that picked up and came down for work. Very few are worth the time of day. Most of my frinds that are in business are the same way lack of decent workers. Dallas has bad traffic and more things to do in Fort Worth.

Yes sir centex lakes can be a real challenge but it will make you a better more versatile angler.Lake Austin used to be like one giant honey hole could pretty much catch em all over but it's getting a bit tougher. If you can compete with them TTZ or champs boys you'd be doing alright there's some great anglers fishing those tourneys.

I moved to Austin 10 years ago. I don't need to chase the single life, but there are more than 15 lakes near Austin. But it is also within 3-5 hours of some Great Lakes such as Falcon and Amistad, Rayburn etc.

The local lakes vary a lot. Rivers, reservoirs, power plant lakes, grass lakes, etc. some are real sleepers. If you like top water frogs, one lake is really good all summer.

Traffic is bad, but you can figure some side routes that aren't bad.

I am thinking about retiring to that area and finding a job in the next few years myself.