Anyone have any advice for Lake Bastrop? What to look for? Where to start? I am thinking about heading out there this weekend for the first time.

i can probably help you out with some general tips. the hot water OUTPUT is always a good bet. go all the way up to the cable and fish the break on either side. plastics and cranks.
grass along main lake points with watermelon lizards is effective year around. maybe more helpful is where not to fish...
skip the backs of coves and the damn rip-rap area. fish are main lake this time of year. good luck. its a great lake.

Don't forget spinnerbaits and chatterbaits up in the grass shallow and on weedlines. That's my go to pattern on that lake. Squirrel nut gives great advice, although I haven't ever caught many at the discharge, probably b/c I hate competing for water. There can be alot of boats over there at times.

I was there a few days ago. Did pretty well with Carolina Rig on the outside of the grass in 20ft. Also, picked up a couple on a spinner bait. Good Luck.

Thanks for all the info. I just hope the weather holds out so I can actually make it out there. Is there any maps available of the lake?

We've seen the beginnings of spawn about this time of year on the 'trop. Earliest we've seen the beginnings has been the first week of Dec. And so far, it has been a mild winter this year.

Saw a 10"er hovering around a spot a couple of weeks ago. He'd leave, then come back. We left and came back a few hours later and he was still there. We'd spook him again and he'd disappear only to come back within a minute or two.

Water temps should be DOWN enough for them to start showing up but not in great numbers just yet.

Lately for us, spinnerbaits early and shallow, then looking for pre-spawn in the mouths creeks. Last time out, we had 15+ on spinnerbaits and then picked up a few chunks in a little deeper water on pump/chart jigs. Not bad for about 5 hours of fishing.

Couldn't tell you the last time we fished the outlet. Too much competition for the little water available. There is just as good a bite on the main lake in the mornings for us to wander in there.

If you launch at the South ramp, the ladies in the ramp office will gladly provide you a map. Good luck!

Also, if you're good at googling you can find a lake map online. It's on the LCRA website somewhere but I've never been able to find it. I saw a link to it at one point though. The online one is a little bigger than the one they will give you at the booth, and it's in color, the one at the park is just black and white.

I must ahve gotten lucky because the last one I got was in color and MUCH easier too read. Swillis, try the creek just to the left (north?) of the intake. The point the seperates the creek and the intake comes way out (100 yards or so) and also has good grass deep or least it did 3 weeks ago. LOL

LCRA BASTROP MAP.

http://maps.lcra.org/default.aspx?MapType=Parks&page=1