Fayette or Bastrop?

Wanting to get on some warm water and catch a few fish. Squaw is a 2.5 hr drive. Which lake is producing better? Bastrop or Fayette?

You can catch small ones, but in numbers at Bastrop. I'd say Fayette if it were my choice.

I would go to Bastrop. One less boat on Fayette.

I would say go to Fayette. One less boat on Bastrop.

Stay home and it's one less boat on both!

Is Bastrop even warmed anymore?

different lakes.

bastrop has tons of grass and very little structure
fayette has tons of structure and very little grass

pick you poison

I haven’t been to Bastrop in about a year but it is usually a fun trip knowing I won’t catch anything over 3 lbs. How is the hydrilla right now? Last year we punched up over 50 a day when the hydrilla was thick. If the hydrilla isn’t thick you can catch a bunch throwing belly weighted keitechs on the edge of what grass there is.

Same ol, Same ol. There's always plenty of eel grass where the hydrilla is light (which is a pretty rare case). There are a few bigger fish in Bastrop contrary to popular opinion, but it is generally a happy surprise rather than the norm. I usually pull a +/-5#er out a couple times a year, though.
I wish they'd do away with the slot and go to to a straight 18" limit max 3 fish and you can only 1 fish can be over 21". Of course when they don't patrol and enforce the limits anyway it doesn't really matter. I miss the days of a warden on the water every day especially on weekends.

With so many bass being small on Bastrop wouldn't it be wise to keep limits to thin out the smaller ones?

Fayette limits were adjusted to encourage more unders taken home to help reduce the bass over population.

Usually slot lakes have a tremendous number of 3-4lbers. Bastrop shouldn't be any different especially if there is that much grass

I was just up at Bastrop this past weekend and we were charting water between 62 at the intake to 70 up at the discharge. We ended up with 9 Bass and they all came up shallow. When I say shallow I mean right up against the bank up on the north end of the lake back in the coves. I think our biggest bass was about 2lbs.

"With so many bass being small on Bastrop wouldn't it be wise to keep limits to thin out the smaller ones?"

and

"Usually slot lakes have a tremendous number of 3-4lbers. Bastrop shouldn't be any different especially if there is that much grass"


you would think, but there are lots of people who take illegal fish. i never fail to see at least one, but usually several people taking EVERYTHING they catch and way more than 5 fish so lots of smaller ones are being taken out. i cant speak to WHY the lake no longer produces large fish, but the 14-21 slot is obviously not helping. fayette was 14-24 for the longest. dont know what it is now, but when they got rid of the grass several years ago it changed that lake dramatically as well.

not unusual to see stringers (yes actual old metal type stringers) with 2 fish per hook most very small. these are bank and pier fishers, but still.

ive been fishing bastrop since 71 (as a kid) when we moved to the area. i use to fish there 4 of 5 trips as i got older. the lake has changed so much over the years. 5# was good not great back in the day. now its considered a unicorn on that lake.
numbers are still good, but id rather fish decker and catch 30 3-5#ers than bastrop and catch 40 dinks with the occasional 3#er

just my opinions, to each their own.

And have you ever called Operation Game Thief when you see these people taking illegal fish? If not then why are you complaining. Game wardens will show up if you call. I've done it.

And have you ever called Operation Game Thief when you see these people taking illegal fish? If not then why are you complaining. Game wardens will show up if you call. I've done it.

yes, yes i have. every time. dont make assumptions. doesnt stop it from happening.

Believe me, if a Game Warden catches a few people, and is visible around the boat docks now and then, the word will get out.
Seeing someone breaking the law and not doing anything about it, you become part of the problem.

I never assumed anything. Hence why I asked a question not made a statement.

I haven't seen a Game Warden on Bastrop in several years. In the past, you could bet your last dollar that Officer Bishop was going to come say hello, especially on the weekends.

was he the skinny-ish dukes of hazard looking guy? i really liked him and yeah he ALWAYS checked everyone

Officer Bishop was a woman.

dont recall running into a female officer, but there was a tall skinny blondish dude that was always out there, early 2000s

There has been a lady at Fayette pretty regularly the last 2-3 years

Trust me, there was.

https://www.lsonews.com/retired-texas-game-warden-receives-outstanding-leadership-award/

Went to Bastrop on Saturday. There was a TPWD boat on the water with 2 Rangers on board! Checked the usual and were very professional.

One very good Game Warden for sure! I have several Game Wardens that are friends of mine!


Side Note: For the most part they all do a GREAT job! Wish there was more of them!

glad to hear they are out there again and glad to hear she's a good'un. i agree most are fantastic at their job and interacting with the public

Are you talking about the retired "she" or someone else? The 2 TPWD officers we spoke with were both men.