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03/23/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
Outdoors Writer
ATHENS - Lake Athens is a few inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass and crappie fishing has been excellent. Lots of bass up to six pounds reported on Rat-L-Traps and green pumpkin or watermelon plastics worked in 1-3 feet of water. Good numbers of fish are locked on beds.
Crappie are taking shiners and jigs soaked in skinny water around hydrilla and cattails. A few channel cat hitting punch bait in the shallows.
NACOGDOCHES - Lake Nac is at normal level and stained-to-clear. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Bass fishing has been good to five pounds on cranks, Chatterbaits and plastics worked from the bank out to five feet. Look for a major push towards the shallows this week if warm weather persists.
Crappie are gravitating towards the shallows, as well. Try live shiners fished beneath a cork or light jigs in 1-5 feet of water around buck brush and hydrilla. A few channel cat to five pounds are cruising the shallows and taking cut bait and punch bait fished fished beneath a cork.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is a couple of inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said there are quite a few fish on spawning beds at the north end of the lake. Several solid bass up to eight pounds reported on Chatterbait-style lures, Comedas and spinnerbaits worked from the bank out to three feet. Old Folks Playground, Indian Creek and the Neches flats have been especially good.
Crappie are excellent. The fish are stacked in the shallows, one foot or less, and taking live shiners and white jigs.
Catfish are rummaging the shallows. Limits of channel cat with an occasional blue up to 10 pounds reported on punch bait, chicken hearts and night crawlers. White bass are excellent up the Neches River, mainly on Roadrunners and in-line spinners.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is a couple of inches high and stained. Water temp is low 50s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has been fair to six pounds. Best bite has been coming on spinnerbaits and lizards fished in 3-5 feet of water in the backs of creeks.
Crappie fishing has been slow. Catfish are good on juglines tipped with cut shad. Several blues in the 25-30 pound range reported. Average fish is 4-5 pounds.
White bass are slow on the main lake. A few good reports coming up the Richland Creek arm.
FORK - Lake Fork is at normal level and stained up north, clearer towards the dam. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 50s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been good to 13 pounds on Senkos, Chatterbaits and Texas-rig lizards worked in 1-3 feet of water. Lots of anglers competing for the same water in areas with good grass.
Crappie fishing has been good under the bridges, suspended at 15-18 feet. Paris said there are quite a few spawning fish milling around in skinny water.
Lots of channel cat moving around in shallow water. Paris suggests soaking punch bait on bottom or around creek bends or fishing over hydrilla.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake is about six inches high and slightly stained up north, clearer down south. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Local bass pro Todd Driscoll said bass are good to 10 pounds. Good numbers of solid fish taking creature baits and jigs flipped into flooded willows and buck brush in 3-4 feet of water. Lipless cranks, jerkbaits, Chatterbaits and Senkos also have been productive along inside grass lines.
Fishing guide Lynn Atkinson says crappie fishermen are scoring partial limits on jigs fished in relation to grassy points, but the bite is slow overall.
TOLEDO BEND - T-Bend is a few inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass fishing has been good to four pounds on Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits worked over submerged grass in 6-10 feet of water. Texas rig lizards worked slowly along outside edges of buck brush in 1-4 feet of water also have been productive. Johnston predicts a much improved bite towards the end of the week.
Crappie are fair in the backs of creeks 4-8 feet deep using Roadrunners and minnows beneath a slip cork. Night fishing has been good below some of the bridges.
Catfish are good on live bait and cut perch fished on trotlines. Several blues in the 50-pound range reported during the last week.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is a few inches high and fairly clear in places. Water temp is in the mid-50s and warming throughout the week.
Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said lots of quality bass are occupying the shallows right now. Sight fishermen are picking up bass to six pounds in water with good visibility. Roges, Chatterbaits, swim baits and finesse plastics such as Senkos and wacky worms also have been effective from the bank out to four feet.
Crappie are hit and miss in shallow water.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 50s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass fishing has been fair to nine pounds on lizards and spinnerbaits worked in 1-5 feet of water. Areas with brush are key.
Catfish are good on wind blown shorelines and points using cut shad and punch bait. Most are blues ranging 2-4 pounds with an occasional double-digit fish.
Crappie are good up north along creeks in 1-3 feet of water, mainly on minnows. Bank fishermen are picking up steady limits off the Highway 175 crossing.
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03/16/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
Outdoors Writer
NACOGDOCHES - Lake Nacogdoches is at normal level and stained-to-muddy. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper-50s and warming slowly.
Bass fishing has been fair-to-good. Several quality fish in the 5-7 pound range and one 10 pounder reported recently. Lots of fish cruising on tops of grass or around lily pad stubble in 2-4 feet of water. Moving baits like shallow diving cranks, Chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps and swim baits are producing decent numbers. Look for plastics to come more into play more once spawning activity kicks in.
Crappie are beginning to gravitate towards shallow spawning areas. For best results, try fancasting over shallow grass using small jigs or soaking minnows beneath a slip cork.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is at normal level and stained-to-muddy up north, stained down south. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Bass are good to seven pounds on Chatterbait-style style baits and the Mister Twister Comeda. A few fish also taking spinnerbaits. Best depth range is 2-4 feet.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said crappie fishermen are picking up limits on jigs and minnows fished in shallow water, 18 inches to 2 feet. Catfish are roaming in 2-4 feet of water. Baited holes are most productive. Jug lines tipped with live perch are producing blues to 40 pounds.
White bass are excellent up the Neches River, mainly on Roadrunners.
FORK - Lake Fork is at normal level and stained up the creeks, clearer towards the dam. Water temp is ranging 53-61 degrees.
Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been good. Average day is yielding 15-25 fish up to eight pounds. Best bite has been on Chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps and weightless plastics.
Paris said crappie and catfish are beginning to move shallow. For crappie, try throwing Roadrunners along outside grass edges in 6-8 feet. Punch bait soaked around baited holes along creek bends on 12-15 feet of water or floated over submerged grass should be good for limits of channel cat.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is about normal level and beginning to clear. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Bass are good to seven pounds on Flukes, Senkos and Texas rig lizards. Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said a few fish also are taking Rogues. Best bite has been in water ranging 2-6 feet.
Crappie are hit and miss around brush piles in 18-25 feet of water. In shallower water try small jigs or soaking shiners beneath a cork in water 1-2 feet.
ATHENS - Lake Athens is seven inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 50s and climbing.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been excellent to eight pounds. Lots of slot fish taking Carolina rigs and Rat-L-Traps worked on secondary points and around boat docks in 3-5 feet of water.
Crappie are excellent on live shiners soaked from the bank out to five feet. Best bite has been early and late.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the mid-50s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said catfish are good to 23 pounds on cut shad and drum soaked on bottom in 6-8 feet of water. White bass and hybrids are fair up in King's, Lacy and Cedar creeks using Roadrunners and small jigs.
Crappie are beginning to move towards the shallows. Bank fishermen are making some good hauls off the Highway 175 crossing. Black bass are fair to four pounds using spinnerbaits and light Texas rig plastics worked from the bank out to three feet.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the mid-50s and warming.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass anglers are picking up some quality fish up to four pounds using spinnerbaits and plastics in skinny water. Best bite has been in the backs of major and secondary creeks around secondary points and flats with brush and stumps.
Catfishermen are picking up some quality channels and blues using cut shad and punch bait. A few crappie taking live shiners dabbled in shallow water but no limits to report. White bass are fair.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake is about six inches high and stained up north, clearer down south. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass are good to three pounds on wacky worms and Texas rigs fished in 3-6 feet of water outside the bushes. A few fish taking creature baits pitched in willow and buck brush in 3-4 feet of water.
Crappie are fair on jigs tossed along outside grass lines. A few fish holding around shallower brush piles.
White bass are excellent up the Angelina River. Pink/white Roadrunners are producing steady limits.
TOLEDO BEND - The lake is a couple of inches high and stained all over. Water temp is in the high 50s and warming.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said there are a lot of bass hanging around the bushes at the north end of the lake. Texas-style lizards, Senkos and Brush Hogs are producing good numbers up to seven pounds in 1-4 feet of water. A few fish also taking spinnerbaits in the same areas. Down south, inside grass lines in 3-7 feet of water are good places to throw a suspending jerkbait or lipless crankbait.
Johnston said a few crappie are beginning to show up in the backs of the creeks around flooded hay grass and hydrilla beds in 2-3 feet of water.
White bass are good up the Sabine River using Roadrunners. Lots of limits reported, with several fish topping the three-pound mark.
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03/08/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
Outdoors Writer
NACOGDOCHES - The lake is at normal level and stained-to-clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 50s and warming.
Bass fishing has been fair, but should continue to improve as warming water temperatures beckon more fish to the shallows to spawn. Best bite has been coming on spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and soft plastics worked from the bank out to five feet; floating patches of grass left behind by coots can make it difficult to fish some areas effectively. Look for increased activity over shallow spawning flats adjacent to creeks if water temps continue to warm.
Crappie fishing reports are scarce. A few fish still coming off brush piles in deep water, mainly on minnows. The fish should begin gravitating towards the shallows in the next couple of weeks. Try small jigs and Roadrunners or minnows beneath a slip cork over grass flats near channel breaks.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is about four inches high and stained. Water temp is in the mid-50s and warming.
Bass fishing has been good to seven pounds on spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and soft plastics fished in 1-4 feet of stained water. The upper end has been especially hot as good numbers of quality fish are gravitating towards to the shallows to spawn. A 22-pound sack won the Bud Light tournament over the weekend; second place had 21 pounds.
Josh Meadows at Porter's Sporting Goods said crappie fishing has been fair. The fish are in the move towards shallow water. Best bite has been on minnows in eight feet of water, mostly around boat houses and brush.
No report on catfish. Meadows said the white bass run is in full swing up the Neches River. Lots of limits reported on Roadrunners and small spinners.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake is about three-inches high and stained up north, clearer down south. Water temp is in the upper 50s.
Bass fishing has been fair to eight pounds. A 21-pound limit won the Bass Fishing League event over the weekend; 17 pounds took second.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston says the fish are gravitating towards the shallows and taking assorted baits such as Senkos, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and lipless crankbaits worked along inside grass lines in 2-5 feet of water. Flipping in the deeper bushes using creature baits and other plastics also has been effective.
White bass are excellent up the Angelina River. Lots of limits with some in the three-pound range reported. Roadrunners (white or pink/chartreuse) are producing the best bite.
A few crappie have been reported on jigs and Roadrunners fished over grass on points. The fish should begin moving into shallow brush adjacent to ditches and channel breaks as surface temps continue creeping up.
ATHENS - Lake Athens is five inches high and beginning to clear. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-50s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been good. Good numbers reported on lipless cranks and shallow divers worked around grass in 3-8 feet of water and around boat docks 5-8 feet deep. Several fish in the 7-10 pound range reported during the last week.
Crappie are good from the bank out to five feet, mainly on minnows soaked beneath a cork. Catfish are good to five pounds on frozen shad and punch bait fished on bottom in 10 feet of water.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the low 50s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass fishing has been fair. Several fish in the seven pound range reported, mainly around boat docks in 5-7 feet of water and shallow brush. Pre-spawners are beginning to creep towards the shallows.
Crappie and white bass have surged up the creeks. Lots of limits reported by bank fishermen during the last week.
Catfish are fair to 20 pounds on cut shad soaked on bottom in 4-8 feet of water.
FORK - Lake Fork is about four inches high and slightly stained-to-clear. Water temp is in the mid-50s.
Fishing guide Lance Vick said bass fishing has been good to 11 pounds. Vick said he is averaging about 10-20 fish per day, but 30-50 days are a possibility if the timing is right. Best bite has been shallow, 1-5 feet, using a Chatterbait and weightless Diamond Back in a trophy hunter pattern.
Crappie are fair under the bridges. The fish are suspended around cross members and taking live shiners.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is at normal level and stained. Water temp has warmed to the low 50s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said black bass are fair using jigs and spinnerbaits in the backs of creeks in 3-6 feet of water.
Catfish are good to 25 pounds on cut shad and punch bait soaked on windy shorelines in skinny water. Crappie and white bass are slow.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is a few inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 50s.
Alan Spruiell said bass are fair to seven pounds on crankbaits, plastics and swim baits fished from the bank out to 10 feet. Spruiell expects more fish to make a push towards the shallows as water temperatures continue to warm.
TOLEDO BEND - The lake is about three inches high and clear down south, stained up north.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said there are lots of fish in the bushes near channel breaks and protected coves at the north end of the lake. Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits are working in overcast conditions. Flipping also has been productive. Down south the fish are on a strong lipless crankbait and spinnerbait bite. Some anglers are reporting up to 40 bass, but not much size. A few fish taking Carolina rigs dragged along inside grass lines in 4-6 feet of water.
Crappie are fair under the Carrice Creek and Six Mile bridges. Up north, Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing said crappie are taking minnows and jigs fished in backwaters 2-3 feet feet deep. Catfish are good to 30 pounds on trotlines and noodles fished in 3-8 feet of water.
White bass are good up the Sabine River north of the Logansport bridge. Shively said the better results are coming in still water cuts off the main channel.
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03/01/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
Outdoors Writer
PALESTINE: The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-50s. Bass are active in the shallows and taking spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and Texas rig lizards. Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff is picking up decent numbers in the 3-4 pound range at the north end of the lake.
Crappie are good at the Highway 155 crossing. The fish are holding tight to bottom in 25 feet of water taking shiners. The rock wall at the dam also has been good for limits.
FORK - Lake Fork is a few inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-50s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris is reporting several fish up to five pounds on weightless plastics and Chatterbaits fished around grass flats in 3-6 feet of water adjacent to major creeks. Suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits are producing a few fish along outside grass and secondary points.
Crappie are fair. A few limits coming on jigs and minnows fished around bridge crossings.The fish are suspended at 18-25 feet.
No report on catfish. Paris suggests targeting baited holes in 22-25 feet of water near creek bends for channel cat and an occasional blue.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake is about normal level and rising slowly, stained in color. Water temp in the low-to-mid-50s.
Bass anglers witnessed a much improved bite over the weekend. Chris and Rusty Harvey grabbed first place in the Bass Champs event with a 28.68 pounds. Second was 21.16; big bass of the tournament was 9.94 pounds. Some of the better reports are coming around shallow grass beds and inside grass lines in water ranging 2-8 feet using wacky worms, Senko and lipless cranks.
Crappie are hit and miss. White bass are taking chrome or red Rat-L-Traps worked along the edges of the Angelina River and adjacent flats and sloughs. Estes Lake has been especially good.
TOLEDO BEND - T-Bend is about four inches low and rising slow. Water temp is in the low-to-mid 50s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass are fair to four pounds on lipless cranks worked over the tops of grass in 6-10 feet of water. Texas rig lizards fished in 2-4 feet of water around flooded hay grass and buck brush also have been productive.
Crappie are hit and miss. A few decent reports coming around main lake boat docks in 15-20 feet water. The bridge bite has slowed with muddy water.
Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing said catfishing has been good with all the freshwater, but nasty weather has kept most fishermen off the water. Trotliners are reporting blues and op to 60 pounds. Best sets are in 8-12 feet of water using live and cut baits. Floats tipped with cut bait also have been effective.
Shively said white bass are good to three pounds up the Sabine River north of the Logansport Bridge. Roadrunners and Rat-L-Traps are producing the most numbers.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s, low 50s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said bass fishing has been fair to five pounds on spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and plastics fished across grass flats in 1-4 feet of water. The north end has been especially good.
Crappie fishing has been good. Lots of limits reported at the Highway 155 crossing. The better catches are coming on pink/white and black/chartreuse jigs producing the best results. White bass anglers are reporting a few limits up the Neches River, mainly on Roadrunners and small spinners. No report on catfish.
ATHENS - Lake Athens is about five inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s, warming to low 50s by the end of the week.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said crappie fishermen are picking up limits around shallow grass in four feet of water. A few bank fishermen are posting limits.
Bass are in a pre-spawn holding mode in 15-20 feet water. With warmer weather in the forecast, Hanson predicts a big surge towards the shallows towards the end of the week and over the weekend.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is a few inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s, low 50s
Catfish are prowling windy shorelines and taking punch bait and cut shad soaked in 1-3 feet of water. According Larry Winters, anglers are posting limits with mixed bags of blue cat and channels. Crappie are slow.
Bass fishing has been hit and miss, but Winters is looking for the bite to improve as water temperatures continue to warm.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is about six inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s, low 50s.
Alan Spruiell said bass fishing has been good. Lots of fish in the 3-5 pound range are taking jerkbaits, swim baits and 1/4 ounce Roadrunners. Just about all the bites are coming around stumps in 3-5 feet of water. Crappie fishing has been slow.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is at normal pool and muddy. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said catfishing has been fair to 16 pounds on cut shad and drum soaked on bottom in 5-7 feet of water. Bass are slow. A few fish caught shallow at the north end of the lake on spinnerbaits and plastics, but the bite as been tough overall.
White bass are fair in the mouths of creeks. A few still holding on humps in 18-25 feet of water, but bites are hard to come by.
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02/22/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
Outdoors Writer
FORK - Lake Fork is a few inches high and stained up the creeks, clearer towards the dam. Water is temp is in the upper 40s, low 50s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris reported several quality bass up to 8 1/2 pounds over the weekend. Paris recommends targeting dirty, skinny water with grass. Best bite is coming on spinnerbaits. The bass are fat and prepped to flood the shallows once the cold fronts subside.
Crappie fishermen are reporting a few limits using shiners and jigs around the Highway 154 bridge and over deep brush on points near the dam. Best reports are coming from 25-35 feet of water on minnows and jigs. No report on catfish.
TOLEDO BEND - T-Bend is about a foot low and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Bass are fair to four pounds. George Jeane, Jr. won the BFL tournament over the weekend with an 18-pound sack. Crankbaits and drop shot rigs have been to the tickets. Fishing guide Tommy Martin said the bite has been tough overall. The fish are staging in 5-15 feet of water. The guide suggests fishing the mouths of creeks and outside grass lines with crankbaits, jigs and Texas rigs. The south end of the lake seems to be the most consistent.
Crappie fishing has been slow overall. A few keepers reported around bridge pilings in major creeks down south, mainly on minnows.
Catfish are fair to 20 pounds on trotlines tipped with cut bait. Rod and reelers are picking up channels and blues using cut perch, night crawlers and punch bait.
NACOGDOCHES - The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temps are in the low-to-mid-50s.
Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, jerk baits and crankbaits worked over grass flats in water ranging 1-6 feet feet. A few bucks prowling the bank on warmer days. Look for the big ones to crowd the shallows with the next warming trend.
Crappie fishing has been slow.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is three inches high and falling slowly. The water is muddy and in the upper 40s.
Fishing guide Vandergriff said bass are fair to seven pounds. Best reports are coming at the north end of the lake, mainly on spinnerbaits worked 1-3 feet of water.
Crappie are fair around the Highway 155 bridge crossing. The are hugging bottom in 25 feet of water and taking live shiners. Jug lines tipped with cut perch are producing blues to 60 pounds.
White bass are making the move up the Neches. Vandergriff said Roadrunners and small spinners are producing the best catches.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is at pool level and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s, low 50s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said the bass bite has been tough. The fish are lethargic and reluctant to chase. The guide looks for the fishing to bust loose with the first significant warming trend.
White bass are hybrids are staged and ready make the run up the creeks. Catfish are good on cut shad soaked in 3-5 feet of water on windy points and shorelines. Stump fields up north also are holding good numbers of fish.
Barber said crappie fishing has been slow overall.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is several inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-50s.
Bass are fair to four pounds on spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and shallow diving cranks worked in relation to shallow grass. Fishing guide Alan Spruiell is looking for a much improved bite once water temperatures become more stable.
Crappie are scattered around suspended pods of shad on the main lake. No limits reported.
ATHENS - Lake Athens is about four inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said crappie fishing is beginning to pick up. Hanson said anglers are reporting some decent catches around shallow cattails using live shiner beneath a cork. Deeper brush piles seem to be holding smaller fish, but more numbers.
Bass have slowed down considerably over the last week. No catfishing traffic to speak of.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC about inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Larry Winters said catfishermen and bass anglers enjoyed a much improved bite last weekend. Lots of buck bass roaming the shallows in the backs of the creeks. Nothing over four pounds reported. Spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps are the top producers.
Catfish are good on shad and punch bait soaked on windy points and shorelines. Cormorant roosts are holding fish on windless days. White bass are fair on slabs bounced off bottom in points in 28-30 feet of water. Crappie are slow.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake in nearing normal level. Water clarity is stained up north, clearer towards the dam. Water temp is the mid-50s.
Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle said bass fishing has been good on spinnerbaits, Rogues, lipless cranks and weightless Senkos fished in relation to inside grass lines in 3-5 feet of water. Wilson several fish in the 5-8 pound range have been reported.
Crappie are slow. White bass are strong up the Angelina River, mainly on Roadrunners and crankbait.
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02/15/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
Outdoors Writer
NACOGDOCHES - The water level jumped to five inches above normal after the runoff from snow and rain last week. Water temp is chilly, in the low 40s, but should warm slightly by the end of the week. Clarity is stained.
All fishing has been slow due to chilly conditions and a lack of traffic. Anglers are begging for significant warming trend to spur the bite.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake is a foot high and rising. Water temp is in mid-40s.
Bass fishing has been tough. Best bite has been coming on deep structure in 20-30 feet of water using drop shots, Carolina rigs and football jigs. There are a few fish taking 1/2 ounce gold 'Traps worked along inside grass lines, according to Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle.
Crappie fishermen are picking up partial limits off deep brush piles using 1/8 Roadrunners, jigs and minnows. White bass are fair up the Angelina using Roadrunners, Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits.
TOLEDO BEND - The lake is two-feet low and rising. Water temp is in the upper 40s an the water is stained.
Fishing guide Tommy Martin said the bite has been very slow. Anglers are fishing for hours with just a few bites. The guide looks for the shallow bite to improve after a few days of sunshine. Try Rogues, Chatterbaits and Rat-L-Traps around grass beds and lily pad stems in 3-8 feet of water towards the backs of major and secondary creeks.
Crappie fishing has been very slow at the Chicken Coop. Martin said the best bite has been in the bellies of creeks in 18-19 feet of water. Lanan, Hausen, Six Mile and Patroon creeks have been particularly good.
FORK - Lake Fork is two inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low-40s.
Fishing guide Brooks Rogers said bass fishing has been slow. About eight inches of snow fell last week. Rogers isn't looking for much improvement this week with cold nights and chilly days in the forecast. Guide Lance Vick predicts a major push towards the shallows with the first significant warming trend.
Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows soaked around the Highway 154 bridge pilings and off the main lake points near the dam. The fish are bunched up tight and hugging close to bottom in 30-40 feet of water. No report on catfish.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is 14 inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says cold weather, snow and chilly water has made for a tough bite for bass fishermen. The fish were shallow prior to the last cold snap. White spinnerbaits, Shimmy Shakers and Senkos worked around grass or stumps in 2-3 feet of water were the ticket up north.
Crappie fishing has been good at the Highway 155 crossing. Blue/white jigs and small shiners soaked next to pilings in 24-26 feet of water are producing the best results. The fish are hugging bottom.
White bass fishermen fishing the Neches, but Vandergriff is not hearing any reports of big stringers.
ATHENS - Lake Athens is five inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said fishing traffic has been very light since the cold snap. No current report available. Hanson predicts a much improved bite with a good warming trend.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is about seven inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said all fishing has been very slow since the last cold snap. Like most, Winters is hoping for some warmer weather to improve angler attitudes along with fishing conditions.
CEDAR CREEK - Cedar Creek is three inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said catfishing is fair to six pounds on cut shad soaked on bottom around stump fields in four feet of water. Barber said bass and crappie fishing has been very slow since the last week's cold snap. Not much to report.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is several inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-40s.
Crappie guide Alan Spruiell is picking up a few quality size fish using jigs around roving clouds of shad in deep water, but numbers are hard to come by. Bass fishing has been slow.
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02/10/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
FORK - Lake Fork is about four inches high and stained. Water temp is in the mid-40s.
Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said bass fishing has been slow. A few fish reported on Rat-L-Traps, Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits worked around shallow grass beds in 3-8 feet of water. There are some fish grouped around pods of shad in deeper water, but the bite is slow.
Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked under the Highway 154 bridge. The fish are hugging the bottom in 36 feet of water and taking live shiners. Main lake points near the dam are holding fish in 45 feet of water.
No report on catfish.
NACOGODCHES - The lake is about normal level and stained-to-muddy. Water temp is in the mid-40s.
Bass anglers are reporting mixed results with the topsy-turvy weather conditions. Crankbaits are producing a few solid fish up to six pounds, but decent numbers have been hard to come by. Best bite as been on shallow-to-medium divers in a crawfish pattern. The key is to crawl the bait slowly along outside grass lines. Jig/craw combos also have been effective.
Crappie fishermen are picking up a few keepers on live shiners soaked around roving schools of shad in deep water on the lake proper.
SAM RAYBURN - Sam Rayburn is about two feet low and stained. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 40s.
The lake has been fishing extremely tough, as witnessed by the outcome of the American Fishing Series event held there last weekend. Cody Woods of Jacksonville won the three day tournament with a 32-pound, 10-ounce sack. Most of his fish came on a Rogue fished slowly around scattered grass. The remainder of Top 10 finishers were divided in their approach. Some fished shallow 'with spinners and 'Traps, others used Carolina rigs and drop shots on deep, main lake structure.
Not many crappie fishermen on the water. White bass are fair up the Angelina River, but the fish are scattered. Roadrunners, Rat-L-Traps and crawfish crank baits are good for partial limits.
TOLEDO BEND - The lake is almost three feet low and stained up north, clearer down south. Water temperature is upper 40s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass anglers are reporting good numbers of fish in the 3-5 pound range using Carolina rigs and deep crankbaits in 18 feet of water. Rat-L-Traps are working over submerged grass when the sun pops out. Up north, jigs crawled along creek bellies in 14-18 feet of water are producing some solid fish in 4-5 pound range.
Crappie fishing was good under the Six Mile and Carrice creek bridges before the last round of heavy rain dirtied the water. Johnson predicts the bite will pick back when the water clears. White bass are hit or miss up the Sabine.
Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing said cold, muddy water has slowed the catfish bite. Not many trotliners on the water.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is three inches high and muddy. Water temp is in the mid-40s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass fishing has been very tough lately. The better fish are coming off deeper docks in 7-12 feet of water, mainly on 3/8-ounce jigs and red Rat-L-Traps.
Catfish are good to 15 pounds on shad soaked in 3-5 feet of water around cormorant roosts. Running creeks are holding lots of quality fish. Crappie are slow. Best bite has been around bridge pilings and brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Barber said hybrids are feeding on roving schools of shad in 30-40 feet of water near the dam; the fish are suspended 18-20 feet down.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is about four inches high and stained. Water temp is in the mid-40s.
Bill Flashnick at Porter's Sporting Goods said bass fishing has been tough. A 16- pound sack won the Bud Light team event over the weekend. The weights dropped fast from there with only a few limits reported. Best bite was up north, mainly on jigs and spinnerbaits fished along channel breaks.
Not many crappie anglers on the water. Flashnick said white bass are beginning to make the annual spawning trek up the Neches River. Best access is off Highway 31. A few anglers reporting decent results in the back of Flat Creek.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is about seven inches high and stained. Water temp is in the mid-40s.
Most fishing has been tough with limited traffic on the water, according to Larry Winters at Midway Landing. Bass fishermen are picking up a few keepers on jigs and spinnerbaits tossed along channel breaks in 6-10 feet of water, but numbers are hard to come by.
Catfishermen are picking up a few limits using punch bait in standing timber near channel breaks and along wind blown shorelines. Crappie are slow.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is about eight inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said bass are slow. A few fish in the 3-5 pound range taking Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits worked around stumps in 4-6 feet of water.
Crappie are fair on chartreuse/black jigs soaked around roving schools of shad. Not many fish reported but Spruiell has been catching some giants up to 17 inches.
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02/01/2010
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EAST TEXAS FISHING REPORT
East Texas Fishing Report
by Matt Williams
TOLEDO BEND - T-Bend is about three feet low and clear down south, stained up north. Water temp is in the low 50s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass fishing has been fair to four pounds along the outer edges of hydrilla beds at the south end of the lake. Deep diving crankbaits and big spinnerbaits slow rolled in 16-22 feet of water are the ticket. A few fish also reported on jigs. Up north, Charlie Shively said bass fishing has been tough since the last front. Shively looks for the shallow bite to improve with the next warming trend.
Shivley said crappie fishing has been good along the edges of Tenaha Creek and the Sabine River. The fish are holding about a foot off bottom in 18-24 feet of water along the edges of the river. In Tenaha Creek, the fish are suspended two feet down around stick ups in 12 feet of water along the edges of the channel.
White bass are still hit and miss up the Sabine River. Shivley said catfishing has slowed down considerably since the last cold front.
FORK - Lake Fork is about three-inches high and clear. Water temp is in the low 50s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been tough. A few fish up to four pounds are taking Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits worked around main lake grass beds and channel breaks in 4-8 feet of water. Paris said plenty of fish are gravitating towards the shallows. Senkos and Flukes are producing in the same areas.
Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked on points in 35-45 feet of water. Not many limits reported. Catfish are good over baited holes in 18-22 feet of water.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake is about two feet low and stained up north. Water temp is in the low-to-mid 50s.
Bass fishing has been tough. A 17-pound sack won the Media Super Team tournament over the weekend. The weights dropped off to 11 pounds from there. Best reports are coming on Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits and Senkos fished around scattered grassbeds in 3-12 feet of water. Locals are anticipating a much improved bite with the next significant warming trend.
White bass anglers are picking up limits using Roadrunners and Rat-L-Traps from Estes Lake north to Shawnee Landing. Lots of males in the mix.
NACOGDOCHES - The lake level jumped to four inches after heavy rains last week. Water clarity is stained and the surface temp is in the low 50s.
Bass are fair to three pounds on Chatterbaits and shad pattern cranks worked around scattered grass and channel swings in 7-12 feet of water. Jigs pitched to outside grass edges on main lake points have been good for a few solid fish. Anglers can look for the bass to make a big push towards the shallows with the first significant warming trend.
Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked over main lake brush piles in 30-plus feet of water.
PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is six inches high and stained up the river, clear down south. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says all fishing has been major tough since the last week's front. The guide looks for the bite to improve with the next warming trend.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake is six inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber says the big blue cats are on the prowl. He suggests bottom fishing in 3-6 feet of water at the lake's north end using cut shad. Down south, Barber is catching fish drifting shad over channel swings and main lake humps.
Barber says schools of white bass and hybrids are gravitating towards the mouths of creeks, but working swim baits over deeper structure in 18-35 feet of water has been the most reliable.
Crappie anglers are plucking partial limits off brush piles staged along main lake drops and off deeper docks in 8-15 feet of water. Bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits and jigs fished slowly around brushy docks on secondary points in 4-10 feet of water.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is 14 inches high and stained up the creeks. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has been very slow. Big spinnerbaits and jigs worked very slowly along channel breaks in six feet of water have been producing a few fish to 3 1/2 pounds.
Catfish are fair. No limits reported. The better reports are coming in 10-15 feet of water near channel breaks, mainly on shad and punch bait.
Crappie and white bass are slow.
ATHENS - Lake Athens is five-inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 40s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been good on drop shots soaked around schools of shad in 20-25 feet of water. Some anglers reporting are up to 75 fish per day, but most are small, 1-2 pounds. Hanson predicts a shallower bite towards the end of the week as surface temperatures warm.
Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked around brush piles in 15 feet of water. Keepers are hard to come by.
PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is about a foot high and stained. Water temp is in the low 50s.
Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said bass fishing has been slow. Crappie are fair along creek channels. The fish are suspended 15 feet down around shad in 30 feet of water. Several fish in the 15-16 inch range reported over the weekend.
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