Bastrop has more Hydrilla beds than Fayette. Fayette on the other hand has more stick ups, and coves. To me Fayette is easier to fish and it seems that the fish are more active by the reed beds on Fayette than on Bastrop. As for fish, the quality is the same. As for numbers Fayette by far! The more time you fish a water body the numbers will usually go up. Bastrop is a nice lake and I am sure there are plenty of sunnies there. Just have to find them and learn the lake better!
Gitter: The boat traffic was very light. There was only a few trailers at the ramp when we left!
Laker, I am glad that you enjoyed your trip to Bastrop. My Wife and I have been fishing Bastrop since around 2007. We probably fish it about 15 times a year. It's a 3 hour-way drive including a stop at Buc-ee's in Giddings. We also fish Fayette. Everyone has different experiences in fishing. We DEFINITELY catch greater numbers of fish consistently at Bastrop. Catching a 50 - 100 fish at certain times is common for Bastrop.That doesn't mean that we haven't caught decent numbers at FCL occasionally but not the amount we catch on Bastrop. We consider FCL a size lake.
Bastrop has much more vegetation than FCL. To me, Bastrop's vegetation has changed over the last 4 or 5 years. It used to be easy to find the fish-holding grass throughout the lake. I am not 100% sure what it is but something else is taking over the lake. I don't think it is hydrilla. I have heard that it is spiny naiad. Whatever it is, the coots eat the small stems and leave the long branches. Being crankbait fishermen, we hate those things. They are a major pain in the backside. I think there is a healthy growth of American Pondweed also. In the past, we would love going on sunny days, where we would fish the fronts of the eel grass lines. I have a hard time finding that eel grass now.
Disclaimer: This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text above belong solely to the author. Other fishermen may experience results differently than this lowly amateur.