NEW STATE RECORD NORTHERN PIKE CAUGHT IN NORTH IDAHO: 40.76 POUNDS!

from The Fishing Wire

New state record northern pike caught in North Idaho: 40.76 pounds!

On March 21, 2023, Hayden Lake in North Idaho produced a new certified state record northern pike. The record fish weighed a whopping 40.76 pounds, was 49 inches in length and 26.5 inches in girth – a true monster of a fish!
Certified state record northern pike caught in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

The record was previously held by a fish that was also caught in North Idaho, in Lower Twin Lake. The fish, caught in 2010, weighed 40.13 pounds, was 50.75 inches long and 22.75 inches in girth.

The Story

Thomas Francis is an avid northern pike angler and has been for some time.

“Pike is what I go after all the time. I spend almost everyday fishing for pike. As soon as the ice is off and until it comes back,“ Francis said.

Despite being an avid pike fisherman, nothing could have prepared him for the fish that would later latch on to the end of his line and lay claim to the Idaho state record.

Fancis‘ day of fishing on Hayden Lake started like any other – same gear, same approach and same goal, to catch big pike.

When he got to the lake that day, there was still some ice on the lake, so he couldn’t cast right up to the shore, only to the edge of the ice.

“When my lure hit the water, I let it sink all the way to the bottom. As soon as my lure hit the bottom, I felt her hit. I fish with 80 pound-test line, and she almost immediately started peeling drag, a lot of it,“ said Francis.

Francis said he almost immediately knew this was a big fish.

“She pinned herself to the bottom and just kept going, peeling drag the whole time. I knew that wasn’t normal, and I could tell it was something special.“

After peeling drag for a while, the behemoth changed her tactics.

“Suddenly I got slack line, as she was coming straight up from the bottom. She came flying out of the water, and it was obvious she was a huge fish,“ recalled Francis.

When he finally landed her, Francis said he knew she was going to be a state record fish, or at least a close contender.
State record northern pike caught in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

“I immediately headed for the dock to try and find a boat with a scale and tape measure. We found a boat with a scale, and the fish pegged the scale out at 30 pounds, so we knew we needed to find a bigger scale.“

After visiting a few different places to find a certified scale, they finally received a certified weight of 40.76 pounds, a new state record.

When asked what he thinks about pike fishing in North Idaho, Francis said, “I like having pike around; they are the biggest fish we can go after here in North Idaho, and I fish for them almost everyday.“

AFTCO Solpro Fishing Gloves Review

    For years I searched for gloves I could wear while fishing.  I have dozens of pairs on which I spent way too much money and wore once.  None allowed me to feel the bites, cast both bait caster and spinning reel, protect me from sun in summer and stay warm in winter.

    At the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association meeting this past spring our “goody” bag included a pair of AFTCO Solpro fishing gloves. I thought the size was marked wrong, the XXL looked way too small for my hands.  But I struggled and got them on, and they “fit like a glove!”

    They are snug on my hands, but that helps feel the rod and reel while fishing.  The fingertips are cut out as are the palms, giving me good skin contact with line, rod and reel.  And they have protected my hands from sunburn this spring and my hands have not gotten hot while wearing them, either.

    I did not think they would be very warm in the winter and I am not sure they will be. But when I pick up a cold can of Diet Rite Cola I feel the cold on my palm and fingertips but not where the glove material is between my hand and the can.  I hope that means they will be warm.

    The tight gloves are hard to get on and I have to be careful to get my fingers headed in the right direction, but it gets easier each time I put them on.  I put them on each morning when the sun starts to get warm. 

With them and a gaiter, a simple tube of sun block stretchable cloth that goes over my head and covers my ears, neck and most of my face, I am well protected without putting on sunscreen except on the tip of my nose.  The gaiter was given to me when I attended a Bassmasters Classic as a media observer a few years ago.

Just my luck, when I went to the company site apparently the Solpro gloves are no longer available. That is probably why they were given to us, they are discontinued. It looks like they have been replaced with a “Solago” named glove.  It looks the same in pictures.

The Solago sun gloves sell for $29.00.  I am ordering a spare pair, but was disappointed when shipping cost $9.99, over a third of the cost of the gloves!  They did offer a free gaiter with my first order, though. 

And after I got home from my trip, Linda asked if I thought to check Amazon. I had not, they were the same price but shipping was free if you are a Prime member. I could have saved $10 if I had not been in such a hurry!

Minnkota Trolling Motor Review

JEFF GUSTAFSON FINDS $300,000 OF BASSMASTER CLASSIC GOLD WITH MEGA LIVE IMAGING

Jeff Gustafson Finds $300,000 of Bassmaster Classic Gold with MEGA Live Imaging

After a dominating event in 2021 which saw Humminbird and Minn Kota pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson secure his first Bassmaster Elite Series win, a return to the Tennessee River out of Knoxville, Tennessee was all the more rewarding for the Kenora, Ontario native. Through three days of intense competition and changing conditions, Gustafson saw light at the end of the tunnel on his Humminbird MEGA Live™ imaging and became the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic champion.

“To come back to the place where I was able to win an Elite Series event fishing how I like, and do virtually the same thing during the Bassmaster Classic, it feels awesome,” said Gustafson. “I fished how I was comfortable and I just jive with this body of water.”

Gussy started the event off strong with a limit weighing 18-pounds, 8-ounces on day one, following that up with a day two bag weighing 17-pounds, 3-ounces, and his final day effort going 42-pounds, 7-ounces to become the second ever international Bassmaster Classic champion – the first ever champion from Canada.

To find his fish, Gussy scanned through the Tennessee river using a deadly combination of Humminbird LakeMaster® mapping with Humminbird MEGA Side and Down Imaging® to locate areas where schools of smallmouth bass were suspended over deeper water. Once located, he targeted individual groups the same way he did in 2021, and picked off each bass using MEGA Live to seal the deal.

“When I won the Elite event here a couple years ago, I relied heavily on MEGA 360 Imaging and Humminbird 2D Sonar,” added Gustafson. ”Adding MEGA Live this week, I could still pick out rocks and other hard bottom areas on 360, but I could be much more efficient with my bait presentation and quickly learn how the fish were behaving – getting them to bite in real time.”

Dating back to his victory in 2021 to today, Gussy has now led seven straight days of Bassmaster events on the Tennessee River. Locating and presenting his bait to suspended smallmouth bass on creek channels; similar to how he fishes back home in Canada. Gussy caught his tournament-winning weight by keeping his bait just above the fish – which he was able to do accurately and clearly with Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging. Once he had his fish hooked, he was able to use Spot-Lock® on his Minn Kota Ultrex™ to keep his boat positioned on high-percentage areas allowing him to stay on top of the schools of fish he was targeting.

“Those first couple days, it looked easier than it was to get those suspended fish to bite,” he added. “Between catching short fish and the fish not committing to the bait, it was tough to catch five bass a day. It got tougher and tougher each day, and you could see how the pressure affected them on the final day.”

Day three proved tough for the championship Sunday field of anglers as Gussy’s fish became pressured and the legal sized smallmouth bass were harder to come by. One keeper smallmouth bass early in the morning got his day started but it wasn’t until after the mid-way point when he finally landed his second keeper. He knew that with MEGA Live Imaging on his Humminbird APEX™ unit, simply catching five keeper smallmouth bass would give him a chance to take the title.

While the last day was not what Gussy would have wanted, the two fish he brought back to the scales were just enough to secure his dream coming true: winning the Bassmaster Classic.

“This is unbelievable. I truly cannot describe what this means to me and to the folks that have supported me on my journey to get here,” said Gustafson. “It was a hard way to win this event; but we won, and we’re bringing this trophy up to Canada for the first time ever and that’s super special to be able to say. I have a lot of respect for the anglers I compete against, the anglers that came before me and the meaning behind winning the first Ray Scott Bassmaster Classic Trophy is indescribable.”

“This weekend was truly incredible and it could not have happened to a better person. You won’t find a single person in the industry that doesn’t love Gussy, and we couldn’t have more pride in him being on our team,” said Field Promotions Manager, Tim Price. “His character is one we model our team after and this win is much deserved. We’re excited to celebrate Gussy and his family in this win, and look forward to seeing what the future holds for him and his career.”

To learn more about Humminbird, click here.

To learn more about Minn Kota, click here.

About Johnson Outdoors

JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.

Visit Humminbird at www.humminbird.com

Visit Minn Kota at www.minnkotamotors.com

Visit Cannon at www.cannondownriggers.com

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Fishing, Diving and Camping.

Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com

Blueback Herring Have Changed Spring Fishing At Clark Hill

And on other herring lakes like Lake Hartwell

Bass were feeding on herring or gizzard shad spawning on a rocky point last April when I won a club tournament. I caught every fish I weighed in except one by 8:30 each morning.  Several hit a spinnerbait, the others hit an underspin lure.

    For years at Clarks Hill after the spawn bass hung around back in coves and pockets feeding where they had bedded.  I remember daddy and two other men going around the back of a creek with Hula Popper and hooking big bass one morning.

    They would not let us kids back there with them, we were too noisy!  Four of us were in a bigger ski boat that we had pulled their jon boat to the creek from the boat ramp.  We were near the mouth of the cove, trying to paddle it and fish.

    I tried to make a long cast to a button bush in the water with my Devil’s Horse topwater plug but it went way off target. As I reeled it in as fast as I could turn the handle on my Mitchell 300 Spinning reel, a huge bass attacked the plug.

    Somehow we managed to land that seven pound largemouth. It was by far the biggest bass I had ever caught when I was 15 years old.  For days we talked about that bass being crazy chasing down that lure skipping across the top of the water. Everybody knew you fished slowly for bass!

    Now we know you can not reel a lure faster than a bass can chase it down, and often very fast moving lures will attract bites when nothing else will.  Buzzbaits were invented for that kind of fishing. I just wish I had been smart enough to figure that out back then and invent them!

    I caught many bass at Clarks Hill in the 1970s and early 1980s fishing back in coves and creeks in April. Then the blueback herring population exploded in the lake and changed everything.

    Bass love the herring.  They are big with an average size of about seven inches so they are a big meal to fill a bass fast. And they are very rich in oils and protein, perfect for bass recovering from the spawn.

    Herring are an open water fish, living on the main lake where it is deep.  When the herring spawn they go to shallow gravel and rock areas on the main lake and are easy for bass to catch and eat.

    It seems all the bass have learned that and almost[RG1]  all of them will head to open water as soon as they spawn in April to eat herring.  It has changed the way I fish on herring lakes like Clarks Hill. 


 [RG1]

Captain Macks’ Lake Lanier Fishing Report

Also See:

Jeff Nail’s Lake Lanier Bass Fishing Report

Lake Hartwell Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Lanier Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Guntersville Weekly Fishing Report from Captain Mike Gerry

Lake Country Fishing – fishing reports on Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, and more. (subscription required)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Freshwater Fishing Reports

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Saltwater Reports

Lake Lanier Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Captain Macks Lake Lanier Fishing Report – March 24

It looks like we will end the
month of March with pretty
mild temps, however, at the
expense of being pretty soggy.
Oh well, that type of weather
often makes for great fishing.


With warming surface temps I
expect that to be the case for
next week! Speaking of
surface temps, we ended up
the week at 57 degrees. The
lake level Friday afternoon was
1070.64, down .18 feet from
last week to close the week at
.36 feet below full pool.


Striper Fishing


The Striper bite was a little slow on the numbers side, but the average
size of the fish has been very good. Some of the shallow water
patterns, or at least patterns where fish were pushing back into
creeks and coves slowed a bit last week. That was probably due
cooling water temps, and some of the bait that was in the shallow
water moving deeper? The water in the incoming creeks also cleared
up, so those factors that may be responsible for the decrease in
activity. With rain approaching (once again on a Saturday!) we will
probably see some stained water in the creek backs moving into next
week.


The areas remain varied, with fish being taken all over the lake. The
best patterns were a mix of live baits free lines and down lines,
depending on the day. The variety of bait was also a mix, Shad,
Shiners and Herring all produced some good catches during the past
week. I would continue to keep a mix of whatever is available in the
spread to maximize the bite. Having a mini tied and ready to place in
the spread also remains a plus.


Trolling continues to be a very good pattern, with big umbrellas being
consistent producers. While open water trolling will catch a few fish,
contour trolling seems to be the best method. This is simply trolling
over a specific depth range, lately the 18 to 25 foot depths seem to
be best. You’ll need to keep the rig pretty near the bottom, 15 to 18
feet deep, so it is really important to stay focused on the chart to
maximize the technique and of course avoiding snags. It is inevitable
that you will get snagged, if not you are grabbing the bottom
occasionally you are probably not being aggressive enough with the
rig. Unfortunately, getting the rig hung once in awhile is a by product
of pulling that shallow. If you are diligent about watching the chart
you can minimize the hang ups. Try the contour trolling in the middle
and back parts of the coves and creeks, this pattern is effective on all
parts of the lake.


Bass Fishing


Bass fishing remains very good, for numbers and big fish. As has
been the case for several weeks now, the patterns are numerous and
varied so you’ll have many options. The Shad Rap cranking bite I
have mentioned in previous weeks is still applicable, but not as
strong in the clearer water. This technique may be best up in the river
arms where there is more stain, as opposed to lower end creeks
which have really cleared up this week. Switching to a crank bait that
runs a little deeper may also be effective, as the many of fish just got
a little deeper with the weather and water conditions.


The dock pattern is still very good, mostly worms and jigs here but
skipping a Fluke may also get some bites. Moving baits will also have
some application, especially on the shallow docks. 8 to 25 feet has
been a good number to target. Focus more in the shallow end of that
range in the upper parts of the lake.


Clay banks and points are very good areas to target, just be mindful
that the fish may be anywhere from 5 to 25 feet. A worm on the shaky
will be hard to beat here, but crank baits can also be effective. Jigs,
and particularly the smaller finesse jigs, have also been good choices
on the clay.


The jerk bait bite is also heating up, and there are plenty of places to
cast your favorite jerk baits, The same clay banks and points
mentioned above, flats along the creek channels, and stump flats are
all likely areas. Keep an eye on the saddles, they are holding fish as
well and can be a very strong pattern moving forward!


Good Fishing!
Capt Mack

Lake Guntersville Weekly Fishing Report from Captain Mike Gerry


Also See:

Jeff Nail’s Lake Lanier Bass Fishing Report

Lake Hartwell Fishing Report from Captain Mack

 

Lake Lanier Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Guntersville Weekly Fishing Report from Captain Mike Gerry

Lake Country Fishing – fishing reports on Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, and more. (subscription required)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Freshwater Fishing Reports

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Saltwater Reports

Fishing Report, Lake Guntersville 3/25/2023


With the better weather in site it showing as a great lead into the month of April, the bass are
near the spawning beds and in many cases there already laying out. The bite is good if you
can get on top of active fish, if you do you really have a great time. The bass are still on the
move so one day the good spot may have changed from the day or week before.


The baits are narrowing down some as we concentrated on fewer baits this week with Missile
bait 48 stick bait being #1 and SPRO Aruka shad #2 with Tight-Line swim jigs rigged with
Missile Bait Spunk Shad trailers # 3. We did throw other baits, but these were the top
producers.

Bladed Jigs Around Grass


Over the many years of lure development no lure has been as effective around grass as the
bladed jig; now has been named many things, Chatter baits, Vibrating jigs and more. The
bottom line is they have taken over where the rattle bait left off with a natural Shad look that
moves, vibrates and attracts bites with great results. The thing is not all Bladed jigs are the
same and picking one style that suits your fishing Zen can make you a better fisherman.

I
have found that the look of the bladed jig and results can be extremely different dependent
on the lake, your fishing and the depth and structure your targeting.
Many times the head shape and size has a lot to do with how that particular jig works,
especially around grass. As an example, take the different head designs, some work well
through the grass others get caught up, some drop naturally others are bulky and don’t look
natural. Blades are all over the place as blades are all made differently giving them different
action around cover. I have fished some that seem to always be hanging up in the grass while
others move naturally, many of the blades are different styles creating a juggernaut of
different movements, some work well and attract bites others not so much. The key is what
fits your fishing style and the type of cover you fish most of the time as deeper lakes are very
different than shallow grassy lakes and different looks give different results.


Around grassy lakes like Guntersville you’re doing a lot of stopping and dropping and fast and
slow movement forcing you to have to work around the grass and catch fish with different
presentations. Finding the bladed jig that works best in this structure can be different than
others lakes or other types of structure like rocky bottoms or lots of standing timber. All you
can do is sort it out over time as you work on different styles of bladed jigs; you will be
successful as this bait is a naturally fish catcher and once you pick a style that fits you, success
will come and it will become one of your favorite baits.


Come fish with me I have days available to fish with you, the crappie bite is excellent, and the
bass bite is good all said there are good times ahead. We fish with great sponsor products,
Ranger Boats, Boat Logix mounts, Mercury Motors, Lowrance Electronics, Vicious Fishing,
Toyota Trucks, Duckett Fishing, Dawson Boat Center, Power Pole, Lew’s Fishing, Strike King
and more.

Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
www.facebook.com/FishGuntersville
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Capt. Mike Gerry

 

Jeff Nail’s Lake Lanier Bass Fishing Report

Also See:

Lake Hartwell Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Lanier Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Guntersville Weekly Fishing Report from Captain Mike Gerry

Lake Country Fishing – fishing reports on Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, and more. (subscription required)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Freshwater Fishing Reports

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Saltwater Reports

Jeff Nail’s Lake Lanier Bass Fishing Report

Lake Lanier Weekly Report
24 March 2023

Water Level: 0.37 feet BELOW full pool. 

Water Temp: After a roller coaster of a ride over the past week to ten days, the water temps are starting to flirt with that magical 60-degree mark.  On Thursday, my Garmin was reading low to mid 50s in the morning and high 50s in some places in the afternoon. My Lowrance units were reading mid 50s in the AM and 60/61 in the evening. 

Water Clarity: 8+ feet on the main lake with increasing stain going up the river arms.  The backs of the creeks have cleared up immensely over the past week, but I would not call the backs “clear,” at least by Lanier standards. The further up the river arms you go, the more stain in the water, which is completely typical for this time of year and it’s also why bass generally start the spawning process above the 53 bridges before the lower end of the lake.

Even being post cold front, the lake fished much better for me this week compared to last.  I had several client trips and several solo days this week before heading to the Classic Friday AM.  

Like the past two weeks, two patterns produced most of the fish.  A finesse swimbait in the vary backs of creeks on flats and dragging a worm.

As with the past two weeks, I found large schools located on flats in the backs of some creek arms.  This is not something that is happening everywhere, but if you put in the time and find one of these places you will not need to crank the big motor again until it’s time to leave.  The key is not spooking the bait as you move in and to keep your lure underneath the schools of threadfin.  A chatterbait, A-rig, and crank bait will catch some of these fish, but the most effective way I have found to catch them is slowly winding a finesse swimbait along the bottom. 

I rig the bait on a 1/8 oz head and make as long of a cast as possible.  I will let the bait hit the bottom then start a slow steady retrieve back to the boat.  I also keep my head on a swivel looking for shad flickering on the surface.  That is where I am going to cast next.  Again, this is not a time to put the motor on high and chase bait pods.  Just ease around, cast around and keep your eyes open.  If the bait is there, the fish will be there too.   Make your swimbait look like a stunned shad barley hanging on to dear life and you will get bit. 

In addition to the backs of the creeks, this technique will also work in the “guts” of spawning flats as well.  This produced one of the biggest fish on Thursday.  

A shaky head probably produced the most fish this week.  Two different rigs were the most productive.  First, on the advice of a close fishing buddy, I started to throw a Z-Man Big TRD on a 1/4oz Boss head.  I did this early in the week and had a lot of success with it.  Later in the week I changed gears back to my old trusty 3/16 Davis head with a Trixster Tamale in sweat baby candy.  This bait loaded my boat last spring and summer, and it appears that this year will be no different. 

When fishing the worm, clay banks and rocky secondary points in the mornings on sunny days and all day on cloudy days.  When the sun gets high, it’s time to target the shade lines on medium depth docks.  Again, most of the fish that I am catching off docks are still coming from the middle to the deep side of the dock.  For the clay banks and points, I am casting into about 4/6 FOW and working the bait back.  Some bites are coming very shallow while some are coming deeper.  It is just a sign that the fish are in transition. 

I posted a video this week on my FB page that shows the hookset that I use for a Shakey head.  This is also the same hookset I use with a finesse swimbait.  If you are breaking off a lot of fish on your hookset with light line, check it out.  I think it will help improve your hookup and land ratio.  There is a shot of the actual video as well as a slow motion.

With the forecasted weather and a full moon approaching in the first week of April, more and more fish will continue to pull out of deeper water and head towards the banks.  The next 6 weeks or so is one of the best times of the year to catch pure numbers of fish with some very good ones mixed in. 

Some other baits that have produced for me this week are a crankbait, chatterbait, and jerk bait. 

Thank you, Tabor Reins at Advantage Boat Center, for getting me scheduled and my 100hr service completed in one day.  I really appreciate the support in keeping me on the water day after day. 

For March I have 29th and 30th available.  For early April, I have the 1, 3, 4, 5, 7th available as well as a few dates later in the month, although it is filling up quickly.

I want to thank everyone for the support, it is greatly appreciated. 

Best of luck this week on the water, it is getting exciting out there.

Jeff

770-715-9933
Jeffnailfishing@gmail.com
Jeffnailfishing.net

#TritonBoats #advantageboatcenter #hammondsfishingcenter #LanierBaits #trixstercustombaits #stcroixrods #castfishingco #gillfishing #Spotchoker

TEXAS WEEKLY FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Also See:

Jeff Nail’s Lake Lanier Bass Fishing Report

Lake Hartwell Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Lanier Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Guntersville Weekly Fishing Report from Captain Mike Gerry

Lake Country Fishing – fishing reports on Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, and more. (subscription required)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Freshwater Fishing Reports

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Saltwater Reports

Freshwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of March 22, 2023

Alan Henry

FAIR. Water clear; 52 degrees; 10.90 feet below pool. Bass are good Carolina rigs, crankbaits, and live bait. Report by Bait Kandy Corp. Crappie are in pre-spawn with some fish in spawn. The bite is good in 2-20 feet of water. Report by Randy Britton, Lake Alan Henry Crappie Guide.

Amistad

GOOD. Water stained; 65 degrees; 38.02feet below pool. The continuing cold fronts have dropped our water temps to low-mid 60s. This has also delayed our bass in the spawning cycle. Fish are still in the pre-spawn phase. Secondary points leading to flats and bays are holding fish. Texas rigged plastics worked slowly are catching them. Tight lines Captain Olin Jensen, Jensen’s Guide Service. Largemouth bass are good in 5-15 feet of water on plastic lizards, creature baits, senkos, flukes, beavers, Texas rigs, Ned rigs, or Carolina rigs. Stripers are fair using buck tail jigs and swim baits. White bass are good in 30-50 feet of water on main lake channels using shade colored blade baits, spoons, or rattletraps. Catfish are fair in 20-50 feet of water using nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or cheese bait. Tight lines. Report by Captain Raul Cordero, Far West Guide Service.

Arlington

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.09 feet above pool. Water temperature has dropped after the recent weather. Fish will push deeper but work their way back shallow. Bass can be caught off ledges with spinnerbaits. Crappie can be caught off docks with brush. Channel catfish are biting all over the lake.

Arrowhead

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 5.82 feet below pool. Catfish are excellent moving out of deeper water onto the flats in 5-12 feet of water biting fresh cut shad or punch bait. Crappie catches around the bridges and at the State Park. Report by Brandon Brown, Brown’s Guide Service.

Athens

SLOW. Water clear; 57-62 degrees; 0.58 feet above pool. Fishing has been slow due to weather. Bass are slow and scattered from 1-22 feet of water. Shallow fish throw small spinnerbaits or chatterbaits in shad colors. Deeper fish dropshot worm or jig. Crappie are slow and scattered because they are sensitive to the temperature changes. Work the outside of deeper docks and brush in 25 feet of water with minnows. Water is clear. Report by Jim Brack, Athens Guide Service.

Austin

FAIR. Water clear; 62 degrees; 0.67 feet below pool. Bass good on jerk baits and small crankbaits in shallows around beds and docks. Crappie and catfish are good on minnows around brush piles and structure. Report Kevin McConnell, McConnell Outdoor Adventure. Lady Bird Lake is 65 degrees. The lower end of the lake has been stained for the last few days from recent rains. Fish are shallow eating lightweight plastics and swimbaits. Upper end of the lake is very clear.

B.A. Steinhagen

SLOW. Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.42 feet below pool. Weather conditions have slowed the bite. Bass are slow using weedless swimbaits, chartreuse spinnerbaits, frogs and swim jigs.

Bastrop

GOOD. Water clear; 75 degrees. Bass are roaming the shallows and sitting on beds. Throw a fluke or craw worm to get them to bite, or drag a Carolina rigged fluke down and around deeper ledges and grass lines. A frog or wakebait over shallow grass lines has been catching some nice ones as well. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.

Belton

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 14.20 feet below pool. Just after surpassing that magical 60 degree mark briefly last week, a weekend cold front knocked the water temperature back down. The fishing, although very good, is just simmering, ready to go “full boil” if we can get a warming trend of more than two or three days. Helpful bird activity is still present but diminishing. Fish are now rarely found deeper than 30 feet, on warm, sunny afternoons fish may be found chasing shad all the way to the bank. Fish vertically with a slow-smoking retrieve with white ⅝ ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs for deep fish. For shallow fish horizontally work a MAL Lure. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfish have been fair. With multiple cold fronts catfish have been largely scattered in varying depths. Shallow water with muddy bottoms from 5-10ft has been consistent with fresh shad and other cut baits. Flatheads have been caught around shallow cover and have been good on live perch. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing. Crappie bite is improving in 10-14 feet of water on timber using slick baits and ATX lure company shad. Not seeing any crappie in open water just yet. Report by Zach Minnix, JigNJerk Guide Service.

Benbrook

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.85 feet above pool. Bass are slow after the recent cold spell. As the water temperature increases, look for bass to return to beds. White bass are fair in the backs of creeks.

Bob Sandlin

FAIR. Water stained; 56-60 degrees; 0.07 feet below pool. Crappie are slow in 10-15 feet of water. Catfish are good in 15-20 feet of water on baited holes with cheese bait. Sand bass are good on main lake points in 20-30 feet of water with slabs. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Bass are pushing off beds then returning as the water starts to warm after cold fronts. Target bass shallow in 4-6 feet of water gearing up to spawn on beds. Success with chatterbaits, craws, worms, and red rattletraps. Report by Mike Struman, R & R Marine. Black bass are spawning in the backs of coves and creeks. Warm cloudy days can produce an excellent topwater bite and shallow subsurface patterns. Try small poppers in frog patterns and keep a popping fish pattern handy for schooling fish. Crappie are moving shallow to spawn, work the boat houses and retaining walls with slow sinking wooley patterns. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.

Brady

GOOD. Water stained; 60 degrees; 11.00 feet below pool. Bass are good shallow in protected pockets with deeper water nearby casting chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and senkos. Catfish are biting better too in the shallow water as they love the warmer water as well. White bass and crappie are good on live minnows or jigs around the marina or mouth of the creek.

Braunig

GOOD. Water slightly stained, 63 degrees. Largemouth bass are still moving into spawning patterns. Slow jigging, reed beds and fast spinnerbaits can produce a reaction strike. Red drum are picking up, especially on the warming trends of the weather on live bait, frozen shrimp and cut shad in 5-15 feet of water for boaters and recreational fishermen alike. Slow trolling soft plastics white/chartreuse in 20-30 feet of water and small silver spoons can produce on days when red drum are moving a little deeper on poor weather days. Channel and blue catfish no report.

Bridgeport

GOOD. Water stained; 56 degrees; 8.42 feet below pool. Crappie are moving in to spawn, so check out docks in the north end with minnows and jigs. Their spawn will move south in the next few weeks or so. Sand bass should be heading upstream to spawn. Heavy rain or cold fronts may push them back into the main lake. Check shallow sandbars and windblown points, especially on the north end, to see if they are active. Largemouth bass should be closing in their spawn. Check points on the outside of known spawning coves using crankbaits, jerkbaits and plastics. All ramps are open. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.

Brownwood

SLOW. Water stained; 60-65 degrees; 8.70 feet below pool. Black bass to 7.23 pounds are excellent on jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits in 4-12 feet around spawning areas. Alabama rigs and crankbaits around the rocky shoreline near pre-spawn areas with a few on beds. Crappie are spawning and excellent toward the mouth of the creeks in 2-5 feet of water spawning. White bass are fair scattered near the mouth of pockets on crankbaits. Catfish are slow cut bait.

Bryan

GOOD. Water clear; 60 degrees. Bass are good fishing crankbaits as close to the rocks as possible. Report by Aggie Anglers. Fish are biting off the boat docks and submerged structure in front of the restaurant. Crappie are good on small minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on worms and stink bait. Report by The Bait Barn.

Buchanan

GREAT. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 18.41 feet below pool. The white bass are good trolling crankbaits, or vertically jigging shallow shorelines under the birds. Striped bass are hit-and-miss, trolling or vertically jigging under the birds. Note to boaters, with the lake level dropping be cautious as there are many treetops just under the water or sticking up only a few inches. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing.

Caddo

SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees; 1.48 feet above pool. This cold snap has put the beat down on the bass dropping the water temperatures 10 degrees. Hoping the forecasted weather will bring back the springtime warmth and so we can fish senkos and flukes around trees. Stay shallow and fish slow if your on the flats looking for bass, but if your in the river system looking for pre or post spawn fish hit the current spots that they would hold up in using rattletraps or crankbaits. We will know spring is back when we see the wasp flying again and yellow pollen all over the boats. Even if the bite is slow, it is still a blessing to come and enjoy this majestic lake that God spoke into existence. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.

Calaveras

FAIR. Water slightly stained, 65 degrees. Red drum have been good on slow trolled silver spoons and white/chartreuse soft plastics. Red drum have been fair on shrimp, and cut shad in 10-20 feet of water from the recreational shoreline and for boaters alike. Channel and blue catfish have been good on shrimp, cut shad, and cheese bait in 5-15 feet of water for channels and 25-30 feet of water for blues. Hybrid Striper no report.

Canyon Lake

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 60 degrees; 11.67 feet below pool. With the recent cold front and heavy winds the fishing has gotten tough with numbers and size of bass caught down. Bass can be caught slowly fishing a trick worm along grass edges, and slow rolling a swimbait over the grass.Report by Evan Coleman, Big Bassin Fishing.

Cedar Creek

GOOD. Water normal stain; 54-59 degrees; 0.03 feet below pool. The bite may slow with the cold front, but fishing patterns are similar. Crappie are good, fish are staging on docks and shallow brush piles. 4-12 feet has been the best depth. Bridges are holding fish as well as they are staging there as well on pylons in 18-24 feet. White bass and hybrids are good in creeks and some mainlake humps are producing fish, in a few weeks they will start surfacing on shad. Use a silver slab and tandem rigged 1/8 ounce crappie jigs. Largemouth bass are good, jigs and spinnerbaits around shallow docks and bushes are producing fish around creek channel bends. Report by Kyle Miers, Lake Country Outfitters.

Choke Canyon

GOOD. Water stained; 61 degrees; 24.74 feet below pool. Bass are shallow from the bank out to eight feet on white and chartreuse spinnerbaits, senkos, lizards, and flukes. Bass are in every stage of the spawn. Catfish are shallow with cut and stink bait. Crappie are good in the shallows on minnows and small black and chartreuse grubs. Report by Scott Springer, Fish Choke Canyon Lake.

Cisco

GOOD. Water stained; 53 degrees; 8.60 feet below pool. Crappie are still spawning with a good bite in the evening using minnows. Bass are hitting throughout the day on jerkbaits. Channel catfish are biting on worms. Report by Jason Miller, Lake Cisco Rentals.

Coleman

SLOW. Slightly stained; 63 degrees; 5.65 feet below pool. Bass to eight pounds are good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits near the river.

Conroe

GOOD. Water stained; 61 degrees; 0.01 feet above pool. Catfish are great with plenty of nice eater sized fish up to 8 pounds on Catfish Bubblegum, liver, and worms. Fish in 8-25 feet of water on points and ledges near cover. Report by Brad Doyle, Bradley’s Guide Service. Bass fishing conditions have been challenging due to changing temperatures, high winds, and post-spawn conditions. Shallow areas have off-colored water, and the water temperature has dropped enough to scatter baitfish. Anglers targeting largemouth bass should adjust their techniques by using lures that create noise and vibration and natural colors. Also explore areas with structures like docks and drop-offs or shallow flats which receive lots of sunlight. Report by Bryan Brawner, Lake Conroe Charters. Found aggressive crappie, with more solid thumps than a lite bite using Lone Star Crappie Jigs, plastic or hair jigs have been producing good fish in 16-26 feet of water from this cold snap. Fish should be back on the move this week as it warms up. Hybrid bass can be caught jigging, or casting swimbaits, or live bait on the edge of drop off 12-26 feet of water near and on flats. Some schools have been tight where others have been scattered. Always wear your life jacket Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy Lake Conroe Guide.

Cooper

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 59 degrees. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Blue catfish catches are good drifting with cut bait.

Corpus Christi Lake

GREAT. 65 degrees; 4.69 feet below pool. Catfish are great 1-3 feet of water on cheese bait, cut shad, soap baits, shrimp, and worms. Largemouth bass are good in 1-3 feet of water on jigs, senkos, and small crankbaits. White bass are slow in the lake but are great in the Nueces River north of the lake. Live minnows and small swim baits are the ticket. Crappie are good in one foot of water near structures with live minnows or white jigs. The spawn is slowing down and fish are beginning to scatter but can still be found shallow. Alligator gar are good on cut shad and carp. Bowfisherman are finding great success in the shallows. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters.

Cypress Springs

FAIR: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Crappie are fair with some fish starting to show up shallow biting minnows under a slip cork. Catfish are good on 15-20 feet of water on baited holes using cheese baits. Sand bass are good in 25-30 feet of water on slabs. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Bass are pushing off beds then returning as the water starts to warm after cold fronts. Target bass shallow in 4-6 feet of water gearing up to spawn on beds. Success with chatterbaits, craws, worms, and red rattletraps. Report by Mike Struman, R & R Marine.

Eagle Mountain

GOOD. Water normal stain, 62 degrees; 2.85 feet below pool. White bass are fair on main lake structures using slabs, and in creeks using rooster tails and inline spinners. Crappie are fair in boat slips and on brush on jigs and some crappie are being reported shallow on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on punch bait and shad in multiple depths. All fish patterns are changing with warm and cool days so patterns may change daily. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Fairfield

Closed to the public.

Falcon

GOOD. Water stained; 68-75 degrees; 44.05 feet below pool. Bass are excellent in 5-15 feet of water on flats near deep water. Bigger bass are being caught dragging football jigs and crankbaits. Crappie and white bass are transitioning to 5-15 feet of water for the spawn. Keeper catfish are in 10-20 feet of water using cut bait and shrimp. Bigger catfish are being caught at the edge of the river channel on fresh cut bait. Gar are suspended at the surface biting tilapia, cut carp and shad. White bass are shallow on wind blown rocks near The Tigers using crankbaits and three inch swimbait and speck rigs. Report by Ram Reyes, Ram Outdoors.

Fayette

EXCELLENT. Water clear; 58 degrees; 0.00 feet full pool. The cooler weather dropped the water temperature from the upper 60s to the lower 50s slowing the bite for all species. The bass spawn continues with the bite excellent on shallow points and rocks near the dam in 10-14 feet of water with various shad colored crankbaits, rattletraps, and crawfish plastics. The topwater bite good early morning in shallow water with frog poppers. Catfish are fair, hitting punch bait and chicken livers in 8-15 feet of water, and on tight lines over chum. Bluegill and perch are good on worms and crickets around structures. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.

Fork

GOOD. Water Stained; 55-62 degrees; 1.64 feet below pool. The cold front dropped the water temperature down 10 degrees in some areas slowing the bass bite. Use a slow bait presentation with Texas rigs, baby brush hogs or beaver type baits on the outside edge of the grass. Darker colored baits like V & M chopsticks in Texas smoke have been fair in 3-6 feet. Look for the bite to improve by the weekend as the water temperature warms and bass return to beds. Frogs and baits worked on top of the grass and in the pockets of grass should be great by the weekend. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Pro. Cooler weather is affecting the movement of the black bass, as the water cools the females are not committing to the beds, but as the water warms activity will increase. Search warmer clearer water in the backs of coves and creeks for active fish. Crappie are beginning to move towards the banks, try small bead heads fished slowly 3-4 feet. Carp and gar are spawning in shallow water. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. The crappie fishing on Lake Fork is getting really hot. Seeing great numbers and lots of big fish each day. The fish are making huge moves shallow this week and will for the next month. Areas in 2-13 feet are finally beginning to see more fish that are spawning. The 14-32 feet staging areas are also still loaded with fish and reloading daily now. Seeing lots of fish roaming in open water but the best luck is still coming on fish on timber or brush. Small hand tied jigs in chartreuse or orange are getting crushed right now, and you can still catch fish well on soft plastics and minnows. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins’ Guide Service. The crappie are biting in the main creek channels about halfway back in the creek. With the cooler weather most of the crappie are laying on the bottom. Once the sun comes out fish suspend up in the water column around 15 feet. Success with Snacky lures FS200 matched with the eye hole jig or crappie magnet jig heads and the bucks ultimate super stiff crappie rod from BNM Poles. The braided line from K9 fishing products is key this week with the heavy timber, it makes pulling those big crappie out of the trees less stressful. Report by Robert Stover, Workingman Crappie Guide.

Ft. Phantom Hill

GOOD. Water stained; 55 degrees; 7.01 feet below pool. Catfish are good with cut bait. Bass are in staging areas so fish flukes and senkos.

Graham

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 4.34 feet below pool. Bass are good and feeding well as the water warms. Baitfish type lures are working best, such as lipless crankbaits and jerkbaits.

Granbury

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 1.44 feet below pool. Water temperatures are in the upper 50s to low 60s due to the recent cool snaps. Temperatures will rebound quickly. Golden alga is still present in some areas, but many areas of the lake have improved. Crappie are moving up and can be caught in the shallows on jigs and minnows, some are still in deeper water. Largemouth bass are moving toward their spawning beds and are good on soft plastics and crankbaits. Sand bass are good on jigs, slabs and minnow fished in the river near Tin Top. Striped bass are being caught on live shad and bass assassins near Indian Harbor and near Sandy Point. Catfish action is good in the river above Hunter Park and near Decordova subdivision. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters. Shad are starting to stage on shallow flats and will be moving to the banks soon with warmer weather. Catfish bite is slow, but should improve as the weather stabilizes. Cut carp is outperforming shad. Report by Jeffery Sojourner, Sojourner Fishing LLC.

Granger

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.28 feet above pool. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished over hydrilla and up river around timber. Crappie are good on minnows fished up river at night. White bass are very good on white 1/8 ounce twister tail grubs around Dickerson’s River Bottom. Blue catfish are good on jug lines baited with Zote Soap. Yellow catfish are fair to 20 pounds on trotlines fished up river. Report by Tommy Tidwell, Tommy Tidwell’s Granger Lake Guide Service.

Grapevine

FAIR. Water clear; 55-58 degrees; 0.80 feet above pool. When the water reaches 60 degrees and the shad start spawning the bite will take off. Fishing is hit-or-miss with the rolling cold fronts. The best bite continues to be in the afternoon, from 2 P.M. to sundown. White bass are biting slabs, but when you see birds working throw swimbaits. Fish the edges of flats, drop-offs or isolated ridges in 25 feet of water with �¼ ounce VMC moon eye jighead with a three inch storm largo shad. Target crappie on shallow brush piles. Deeper brush piles can be hard to locate while the water level is high. Catfish are in shallow water feeding on spawning carp and shad. Bass are shallow, look in shallow spawning areas with spinnerbaits. Water is high, so be prepared when launching. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.

Greenbelt

SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 45.69 feet below pool. Few reports due to few anglers on the water.

Hawkins

SLOW. Water slightly stained. 55-65 degrees. Recent weed eradication will create pockets of low oxygen because of decomposing plant life. Fluctuating water temperatures are affecting the fish activity. Stealthy approaches, small baits, and light leaders are the best plan for these spooky fish. Bass are bedding in 3-4 feet of water. Bream are moving shallow to begin their summer spawning pattern. Look for spawning beds and try small #8 or #10 buggers. Crappie are moving shallow, try clean banks in 12-18 inches with #6 or #8 wooly buggers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.

Houston County

GOOD. Water stained; 65-69 degrees; 0.18 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are good and on spawning beds. Fish out to seven feet on flats, bulkheads, and shallow docks using wacky worms, weightless yum dingers. Crappie are good on deep dock posts, bulkheads, shallow stumps out to 12 feet using minnows. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.

Hubbard Creek

SLOW. Water Stained; 62 degrees; 7.80 feet below pool. Bass should be pushing shallow gearing up for the spawn. Target rocks and rock cuts with creature baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good in the Hubbard Creek and Sandy Creek arm using minnows.

Jacksonville

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 0.06 feet below pool. Bass are good with some small fish on the banks, and the bigger fish seem to be being in 6-23 feet on brush using soft plastics and jigs.

Joe Pool

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.45 feet above pool. The bass bite is improving as the water temperature reaches the mid to upper 50s. White vibrating jigs are working well in 1-6 feet of water all over the lake. The fish are moving up, but some can still be caught on a Carolina rigged soft plastic creature bait or worm in 10-15 feet on underwater ledges near the mouth of any pocket or cove. A lipless crankbait is a great way to cover water to locate fish. Report by Ben Robertson, Ben’s Bass Excursions.

Lake O’ the Pines

GOOD. Water stained; 57-61 degrees; 1.03 feet above pool. As the coldfronts roll through crappie are scattered and moving from 2-20 feet of water. Catfish are good in 10-20 feet of water on baited holes. Sand bass excellent north of the 259 Bridge on white roadrunners. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Bass are pushing off beds then returning as the water starts to warm after cold fronts. Target bass shallow in 4-6 feet of water gearing up to spawn on beds. Success with chatterbaits, craws, worms, and red rattletraps. Report by Mike Struman, R & R Marine.

Lavon

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.12 feet above pool. Crappie are spawning in the shallows and flooded grass 1-5 feet. Roaming males and females are holding on structure in 5-12 feet near the spawning grounds. Still seeing some 12-20 feet of water on structures as well. Blue catfish are scattered in 5-10 feet of water on the north side of the lake, and some are in 15-25 feet on flats and slopes using cut gizzard shad on Santee rigs. White bass are on the annual spawn in the creek on the north end of the lake. creek. This is a bank angler’s dream, using ultra light gear 4 pound mono and small jigs. Look for fish near the dam and around main lake points 15-25 feet using once ounce slabs in white and chartreuse will put a few on the boat. This time of year can be difficult for black bass while they are in pre-spawn, so cover a lot of structure with Alabama rigs, jigs, and swimbaits. Early in the morning white and chartreuse spinner baits on the riprap or any concrete structures out to 10 feet. Rocky, sandy, or pebble bottom is gold for finding spawning fish. This is pretty much the main time of year when you can find fish on timber shallow as well. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.

LBJ

GOOD. Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.28 feet below pool. Catfish are good in 15-20 feet of open water with punch bait. Crappie are fair with live minnows or chartreuse jigs in 4-10 feet of water over brush piles. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.

Lewisville

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 0.13 feet above pool. White bass are fair to good on the bottom near humps, points, and drop-off ledges in 20-30 feet of water or suspended near creek channels and flats close by in 34-55 feet of water. Flukes, small swimbaits, slabs, and live bait are working. Keeper sized hybrid striper are slow, but can be picked off every once in a while hanging around the white bass. If you are keeping fish, please be aware that there are a lot of undersized hybrid stripers in the lake that look very similar to a white bass. Catfish are good. Anchoring in 5 feet or less close to the feeder creeks or drifting 12-34 feet with cut shad or chicken breasts has produced. Check near wind blown points, humps, and flats near creek channels if drifting. Crappie are fair in depths ranging from 4-34 feet of water with minnows and jigs. The main lake and feeder creeks are producing fish focusing on warm banks, brush piles, standing timber, rock piles, stumps, laydowns, leaf piles, and bridge columns. Report by Wes Campbell, BendaRod Fishing.

Limestone

GOOD. Water clear; 65-70 degrees; 2.81 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are on beds and the bite is good out to three feet using Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Crappie are good out to seven feet on minnows. Catfish out to 10 feet on cut bait. White bass are good out to seven feet using squarebill crankbaits, silver jigging spoons, and spinnerbaits. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.

Livingston

SLOW. Stained; 65 degrees; 0.17 feet above pool. White bass are fair to good showing up on the humps and points on the mid to south end of the lake trolling with �¾ ounce slabs and jigging off the bottom near the island. Catfish are good on the main lake drifting with cut bait on flats near the river channel. Report by Jeff Friederick, Fishin’ Addiction Guide Service.

Martin Creek

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 70 degrees; 0.10 feet above pool. Bass are good on topwater lures early, then work swimbaits, rattletraps and worms later in the day. Crappie are good in deeper water suspended from 10-18 feet of water over brush or flooded timber using jigs or minnows.

Medina

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 65 degrees; 82.24 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers on the water. All species should be pushing shallow. Bass should be on beds biting creature baits, or on ledges with Carolina rigged soft plastics. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

Meredith

SLOW. Water stained; 46-48 degrees; 55.13 feet below pool. Bass are fair on minnows and artificials. Catfish are slow on minnows and frozen shad. Crappie are slow but minnows are still the ticket. White bass are fair on minnows, and jig heads with a curly tailed grub. Trout are good on minnows, power baits, worms, small spinners and flies. Walleye are fair on minnows and grubs. Several reports of walleye caught at the end of shallow docks, so fish must be moving in. Please be safe out there, watch weather reports. Life vests save lives. Hope this helps you enjoy Lake Meredith. Report by Kenneth Wysong, SharKens Honey Hole.

Millers Creek

GOOD. Water stained; 59 degrees; 5.78 feet below pool. Bass are shallow gearing up the spawn. Crappie are good on standing timber and brush piles with minnows or small jigs. Catfish are good on cut baits and cheese bait. White bass should begin moving towards the creek channels.

Nacogdoches

GOOD. Water clear; 64-68 degrees; 0.08 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are good on beds and along the grass edges. Crappie fishing is starting to improve as fish group up on brush and timber 10-20 feet. Report by Blake Oestreich, Brushbuster Guide Service.

Naconiche

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees. Cold weather dropped the water temperature 10 degrees. This seemed to hold back the females. Buck bass are on beds, but some moved off to deeper water. Typical lures for bedding bass are creatures, lizards, craws in red colors, or flake. Try weightless if possible, but use 1/8th ounce Texas rig if needed. The crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services.

Nasworthy

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 61 degrees. 1.00 feet below pool. Bass were fair on white chatter-baits around the reeds and flipping soft plastics up river in 1-3ft of water. Crappie were good around boat docks on chartreuse jigs and catfish were good on cut bait and stink bait around the dam. Report provided by the Angelo State Fishing Team.

Navarro Mills

SLOW. Stained; 62 degrees; 0.06 feet below pool. Bass should be shallow on beds biting creature baits, or on ledges biting a Carolina rigged worm. Crappie are fair with minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

O.C. Fisher

SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees; 48.66 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers fishing due to weather, and low lake levels.

O.H. Ivie

GOOD. Water stained; 60 degrees; 24.06 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are good using soft plastics. White bass are fair with live bait and crankbaits. Crappie good using minnows. Catfish are good on live bait. Report by Concho Park and Marina.

Oak Creek

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 11.53 feet below pool. Fishing has slowed due to the weather, but patterns should pick back up as the weather stabilizes. Bass are good shallow with pumpkin seed eight inch worms. Crappie are good in the deeper water near the dam with minnows. Threadfin shad are schooling the banks, so the white bass should follow soon. Report provided by Randall Pate, Sportsman’s Lodge.

Palestine

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.54 feet above pool. Bass are good out to one foot of water throwing a shimmy shaker and big eyed white jigs. Crappie are good in 1-4 feet of water in Kickapoo Creek minnows, and jigs. Reports of white bass catches in the river on inline spinners and rattletraps. Catfish are very good on baited holes in 17-18 feet, and under deeper boat houses on nightcrawlers. Report by Ricky Vandergriff, Ricky’s Guide Service.

Palo Pinto

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 63 degrees; 6.34 feet below pool. Bass are entering the creeks seeing good numbers of males moving in before the females. The bigger fish should be in the creeks soon. Report by James Moore, North Texas Bass Fishing and Cmoore Striper Guide.

Possum Kingdom

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 53-56 degrees; 5.52 feet below pool. Striper fishing is fair to good. Most fish are caught using live shad. Some fish are being caught trolling jigs in white, green, and chartreuse. Look for fish between 20-45 ft of water.

Proctor

SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees; 9.41 feet below pool. Blue catfish are biting best at night in deeper water. Marking fish on ledges and deeper structure from 10-18 feet of water. Shad are hard to find, and the day bite is slow. Report by Jeffery Sojourner, Sojourner Fishing LLC.

Raven

FAIR. Water clear; 60 degrees; 0.00 feet full pool. Fish are thrown for a loop after the recent cold snap cooled the water temperature to the low 60s. Lake is at full pool, and visibility is varied to 1-6 feet of visibility. Catfish are fair on cut bluegill or liver. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass have finished the spawn, and have mostly moved off the beds. A few late bloomers are still on bed, but mostly smaller male fry guarders are in the shallows, with larger post spawn females hanging in deeper water not far away. Paddle tail plastic five inch swimbaits in a bluegill color are a great bet right now, followed closely by a junebug chatterbait or senko just off the grass lines.

Ray Hubbard

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 57-59 degrees; 0.07 feet below pool. White bass are good fishing flats in 28-30 feet of water adjacent to shallow spawning areas, and suspended four feet off the bottom in some areas. A lot of white bass are spawning and are full of eggs. Reports of white bass in the creeks. Crappie are good in flooded cattails in the creeks and in water as shallow as three feet using cork jigs or minnows. Catfish are around timber areas of the lake in 2-8 feet of water using cut shad and bubbas punch bait. Report by John Varner, John Varner’s Guide Service.

Ray Roberts

SLOW. Water is stained; 53 degrees; 0.47 feet above pool. Fishing has been slow due to inclement weather, but this should improve as spring-like weather is in the forecast. White bass are in the creek spawning. Some undersized catches in the main lake. Crappie are fair in the mouths of creeks biting on jigs and minnows in 3-12 feet of water. Bass are fair in shallow water on beds using spinnerbaits. Shad should be on the bulkheads in the coming weeks, but are not there just yet. Where there is baitfish there is game fish. Report by Jim Walling, Ucatchem Guide Service.

Richland Chambers

GOOD. Water clear; 60-62 degrees; 1.88 feet below pool. White bass and hybrid striper action is good with a few reports of fish being caught in 20-30 feet of water main lake points and drop-offs with a slab and jig combination. Watch for the gulls and baitfish to locate hybrid striper surface action using Sassy Shad. Eater size blue and channel catfish are good and can be caught off the bottom with a # 4 Treble Hook with punch bait in 15 feet in the timber off the Richland Creek Arm of the Lake. The crappie spawn is happening as we hear reports of catches in shallow water and around boat docks. Check out the shallow water coves and shorelines on the far North end of the Lake. Minnows seem to work best this time of year! Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service.

Sam Rayburn

GOOD. Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.29 feet below pool. Dogwood bloom is usually the environmental indicator for the crappie, but after the cold fronts the spawn has been pushed back. Male crappie can be caught wading in the cypress trees, with the females slowly coming in. Male bass are shallow on beds, most females are on staging points waiting for the water to warm. Trick worms will catch shallow fish, and spinner baits and crankbaits will get the fish in deeper water. Catfish are moving into the shallows from the river. White bass are in the river on roadrunners and small plastics. Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Somerville

GOOD. Water slightly clear; 53 degrees; 2.47 feet below pool. The cooler weather dropped the water temperature from the upper 60s to the lower 50s slowing the bite for all species. Catfish, bluegill, and crappie are fair on minnows and worms at Somerville Marina early morning and late evening. Black bass are fair, hitting slow moving spinnerbaits and shad color crank bait on drop-offs in 6-10 feet of water, and around rocky points. Crappie are fair on the main lake brush piles using minnows and various jigs. Catfish are fair early morning, 2-8 feet of water. Larger catfish are good in deep water on Jug lines baited with shad. Hybrids are fair. White bass are good trolling Pet spoons for trolling or using shad and pencil minnows 6-10 feet of water. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.

Spence

FAIR. Water stained; 63 degrees. 45.26 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are similar, but as the cold fronts roll through fish may slow. Bass are fair on green pumpkin plastics in 3-8 feet. The key will be to find warmer water. Be safe and wear your life jackets.

Squaw Creek

GREAT. Water stained. 75 degrees; 0.42 feet above pool. Channel catfish are good on punch bait, minnows, cut bait or hot dogs throughout the reservoir in 22-45 creek channels and ledges. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC, Fishing Charter, Marine Electronics & Whitney.

Stamford

SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees; 3.49 feet below pool. Crappie fishing is good at the Crappie House on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on juglines. Bass should be shallow on beds with creature baits. Report by Anchor Marina.

Stillhouse

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 12.56 feet below pool. The near total lack of flow in this reservoir has made the traditional spring white bass run a great disappointment this year. With no flow in the Lampasas River, there is no current to draw the fish into the river, nor into the upper third of the reservoir in the great numbers anglers have become accustomed to in years past. Bird activity, which has been helpful in leading the way to fish through the winter, is beginning to decline as birds begin to migrate back north. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.

Tawakoni

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.29 feet above pool. White bass and hybrids have moved off the main lake and can be found at the mouth of creeks and rivers staging to spawn. Getting these fish to bite can be tricky. Smaller crappie jigs with small plastic baits has worked best. The trophy Blue Catfish bite is good. Fish to 70 pounds have been caught on fresh gizzard shad and cut bait. Depths from 6-25 feet are working best. The eating sized catfish in the 1-5 pound range has really kicked off. These fish can be caught in 35-45 feet or 1-5 feet. Punch bait and smaller pieces of fresh shad are working. Crappie are also staging for the spawn, but we are still seeing lots of fish in the 15-25 feet range on minnows and plastics. Largemouth bass bite has improved this week. Squarebill crankbaits and flukes are working but Alabama rigs and swimbaits are working best. Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.

Texana

FAIR. Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.77 feet below pool. Bass should be shallow staging for the spawn. Cast creature baits in grass lines and rock structure. Crappie are fair in structure using minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair throughout the lake on punch bait and cut bait.

Texoma

GOOD. Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.58 feet below pool. Striped bass are fair with the bite hit-or-miss. The bite can be tougher while the fish start to spawn. Fish in 15-30 feet of water on structure or out in open water with Alabama rigs or swimbaits. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors. Striped bass are good on live bait drifting flats in 30-50 feet of water. A few warmer weeks and the stripers will go spawn. A lot of smaller fish on humps in 25-30 feet of water fishing live bait. Crappie are fair on brush in 8-10 feet of water fishing jigs but the minnow bite will turn on in the creeks soon. Catfish are slow anchoring with cut shad in 5-15 feet of water near the rivers. Warmer weather ahead will have them feeding before the spawn. Report by Jacob Orr Lake Texoma Guaranteed Guide Service.

Toledo Bend

GOOD. Water stained; 62-68 degrees; 2.17 feet below pool. GOOD. The water level is 169.86 with both generators running 24 hours. Water temperature at the dam is 62 degrees. North of the three-mile Pendleton bridge, temperatures have been running 65-68 degrees. Good numbers of bass have been caught on bladed jigs in colors of black/blue,

Travis

GOOD. Water clear; 62-64 degrees; 41.57 feet below pool. Check near rocky banks, but if they are not there bass will be suspended in open water biting on jerkbaits and swimbaits. Try working speed craws with a shaky head in the thick of the grass. Report by Randal Frisbie, Central Texas Fishing Guide, LLC.

Twin Buttes

GOOD. Water stained. 59 degrees; 22.85 feet below pool. Spring is kicking off per usual with up and down weather patterns slowing the bite when the temperature dips. Crappie are fair to slow in the rivers and stickups. White bass are running in the middle channels of the river on any type of small shiny spinnerbaits. The white bass spawn is close. Channel catfish are good up to eight pounds in 8-27 feet of water prepared baits. Reports of largemouth bass catches in 5-25 feet of water. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.

Tyler

GOOD. Water stained; 66 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. The bite has slowed some with the recent cold front, but as the water warms the bite will pick up where it left off in the shallows. Bass are good to nine pounds on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and worms in 3-4 feet of water. Crappie are good out to two feet of water on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good with chicken liver. Bluegill are good on red worms, and even a small minnow. Report by Paul Taylor, The Boulders at Lake Tyler.

Waco

GREAT. Water stained; 64 degrees; 5.87 feet below pool. Crappie are in 10-25 feet in open water suspended anywhere from 5-15 feet deep. Focus on main creek channels close to spawning areas fishing with Snacky lures FS200 with eyehole jig heads in 1/16th ounce and we used the “bucks ultimate” rods from BNM Poles in 10 feet. Look for standing timber or brush in these areas as they usually hold a few fish in them as well. Report by Robert Stover, Workingman Crappie Guide. White and black bass are spawning. Male crappie are shallow and the females are in 8-12 feet of water. Report by Zach Minnix, JigNJerk Guide Service.

Walter E. Long

GOOD. Water stained; 64 degrees. Cloudy, cold and windy weather has lowered the water temperature and the bite has slowed. When it starts to feel more like spring the bite will improve. The most consistent bite has been off senkos in the grass. Squarebill crankbaits and drop-shots will catch some bass. Hybrids are good in the pump area by the ramp using minnows. Report by David Townsend, Austin Fishing Guide. The water clarity is better in most pockets. Quite a few buck bass up shallow on beds. Big females are in deeper grass 6-10 feet. Nice sized catching with moving baits and plastics around deeper grass. Topwater bite is hit-or-miss depending on weather conditions. Report by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing.

Weatherford

SLOW. Water stained; 51 degrees; 7.80 feet below pool. Crappie are fair along the rocks near the crappie house with jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow off rocks near the dam with cut bait and stink bait. White bass are slow on slabs. Bass are slow with some pushing shallow to spawning beds.

White River

SLOW. Water stained; 58 degrees; 24.57 feet below pool. Reports of crappie and bass catches being caught off piers. As the water warms, look for bass to begin staging for the prespawn biting Texas rigged worms or craw patterned artificials.

Whitney

GREAT. Water lightly stained; 61-64 degrees; 5.99 feet below pool. Lake Whitney striped bass limits are good on live bait and Alabama Rigs fished from the State Park north to Bear Creek. Sand bass catches are good upstream on the Nolan and up above Hamm’s Creek. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters. Striped bass can be caught trolling artificials, Alabama rigs, live minnow, perch and shad near the channel ledges and on flats. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC, Fishing Charter, Marine Electronics & Whitney.

Worth

GOOD. Water normally stained; 62 degrees; 2.69 feet below pool. White bass are good in the river and in creeks. Crappie are good in the river and in creeks and some catches have been reported shallow. Blue catfish and channel catfish are fair to good in multiple depths on shad and punch bait. All fish patterns are changing with warm and cool days so patterns may change daily. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Wright Patman

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 63 degrees; 4.75 feet above pool. Bass should be on beds or staging ledges. Crappie should be moving shallow on minnows and jigs. Catfish should be good with cut bait.

Houston

FAIR. Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.11 feet below pool. Bass are shallow in cover on spawning beds out to 12 feet biting crankbaits. White bass are running in the creeks biting roadrunners. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good in 12 feet of water and near docks biting on cut bait.

« Fishing Report Search

Zebra Mussel AlertTo prevent the spread of zebra mussels, the law requires draining of water from boats and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh waters. Get details.

Fishing reports are produced with support from Toyota and the federal Sport Fish Restoration program.

« Fishing Report Search

Texas Weekly Saltwater Fishing Report

Also See:

Jeff Nail’s Lake Lanier Bass Fishing Report

Lake Hartwell Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Lanier Fishing Report from Captain Mack

Lake Guntersville Weekly Fishing Report from Captain Mike Gerry

Lake Country Fishing – fishing reports on Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, and more. (subscription required)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Freshwater Fishing Reports

Texas Parks and Wildlife Weekly Saltwater Reports


Saltwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of March 22, 2023

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 63 degrees. Salinity is high in the north end of the lake and in the Neches River holding good numbers of speckled trout. The front last week pushed a lot of bait in the system. Redfish, drum, speckled trout and sheephead are good in the ICW rockpiles and shell banks. All species are fishing well in the Neches River off points and drops in the river turnarounds in 4-14 feet of water with live shrimp under a popping cork. Bessie Heights Marsh ditches are good in 6-8 feet of water Carolina rigs with live shrimp or mullet. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.

Bolivar

GOOD. 63 degrees. Sheepshead around structure and rocks with live shrimp. The Ditch has some redfish against grass sides with an occasional nice trout using popping cork or artificials. The deeper ends of the reefs or wind protected cuts with popping cork and shrimp. The jetty holding sheepshead and trout on live shrimp close to rocks. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever’s Cut biting on cut bait positioned 12-18 inches under a cork with shrimp, or burner shad. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Trinity Bay

SLOW. 60 degrees. Best action still in the northwest corner of the bay. Trout, redfish, and a few black drum being taken on live shrimp under corks. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 62 degrees. Open bay reefs are too rough to fish due to winds. Late week forecast calls for winds to diminish. Wading the shorelines is the best option for scattered catches of speckled trout and redfish. Soft plastics drawing the most strikes. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter.

Galveston Bay

GOOD. 55 degrees. Mid bay fishing has been put on hold due to high winds. Once the winds diminish this area will be good for black drum, sheepshead, and a few speckled trout, all on live shrimp. Moses Lake producing fair catches of trout and redfish, on live shrimp and soft plastics. When the shorelines are fishinable they are holding black drum, sheepshead, and a few trout. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 63 degrees. Anglers fishing protected waters finding fair trout action. Redfish have been the most cooperative species. Soft plastics and live shrimp have been the best baits. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

Texas City

GOOD. 60 degrees. Anglers fishing from the dike are still catching big black drum and the occasional bull red on live halved crab. Rough conditions persist along the jetties. Boats willing to tolerate the seas catching a few big drum, bull reds, and sheepshead, and keeper drum. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

Freeport

GOOD. 65 degrees. Fishing patterns are starting to move from mud and shell to the spring pattern on the rocks and sand. Check the wind forecast before heading out. Spanish mackerel, pompano, sheepshead and big redfish at the jetties with live shrimp. Sheepshead are spawning anywhere with moving water, so target the pass, river, and jetties. Redfish are in the river, back lakes, river and bays with live shrimp under a popping cork or soft plastics in new penny, chartreuse, Texas roach or red/white. Flounder are showing up in the bays mixed in with trout and redfish. River holding flounder and trout. Few catches of trout in the surf mixed in with jack crevalle and sharks. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.

East Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 64 degrees. Few anglers out fishing as they dodge between fronts. Best success targeting redfish on protected shorelines and the backs of lakes using cut mullet and shrimp. Flounder gigging is improving. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 64 degrees. Few anglers out fishing as they dodge between fronts. Best success targeting redfish on protected shorelines and the backs of lakes using cut mullet and shrimp. Flounder gigging is improving. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

Port O’Connor

GOOD. 65 degrees. Check the wind forecast before heading out. Big bull redfish, and jack crevalle are biting at the back of the jetties near Bird Island. Oversized black drum are good in the same area on blue crab. Slot redfish are good halfway to the end of the jetties on Spanish sardines and live shrimp. Few catches of trout. Sheepshead continue to bite all over the jetties using live or dead shrimp. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.

Rockport

GREAT. 67 degrees. Redfish are good 1-2 feet of water on cut bait, soft plastics, and topwaters near sand pockets. Trout are good in 1-4 feet of water with a mud and shell bottom on live bait, suspension baits, and large soft plastics. Drum are great in 2-4 feet of water on dead shrimp. Pre-front bites have been really good. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters.

Port Aransas

GOOD. 65 degrees. Check the weather and wind forecast before heading out. Redfish, drum and sheepshead and pampano off the jetties on live shrimp. Bull redfish catches using cut mullet or menhaden fishing 30 feet down. Nice catches of redfish in Redfish Bay behind the Spoil Islands on cut mullet or menhaden. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

GOOD. 69 degrees. East Flats holding nice redfish and drums in the canals behind the fishing house with shrimp. Bigger slot redfish catches using cut mullet or menhaden. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.

Baffin Bay

SLOW. 65 degrees. Producing some nice trout, redfish and big drum with live shrimp under a popping cork drifting over the rocks of Baffin. Water is looking good, but in much need of some fresh water. Croaker season is just around the corner. Report by Gilbert Barrera, Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing.

Port Mansfield

GOOD. 69 degrees. Fishing has been fair on days without high winds. When the wind allows, fish are still holding in about 2 feet of water. Topwaters such as the Mansfield Knockers have been productive since the water temperature has been hovering around 70 degrees. The KWigglers Ball Tail juniors have also been producing good fish that have been staging in potholes. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.

South Padre

FAIR. 70 degrees. Weather forecast should improve for the weekend. Water will warm in the afternoon causing the trout to migrate from deep to shallow. Trout bite is becoming aggressive on Gas Well Flats, with catches of slot and bigger trout up to 25 inches behind Three Islands. Artificial lures are working with a lot of blow-ups on topwater lures in the pot holes behind Three Islands and south of the Cullen House on the westside. Redfish are best on cut mullet anchored down on Gas Well Flats. Be safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Port Isabel

FAIR. 70 degrees. Weather forecast should improve for the weekend. Water will warm in the afternoon causing the trout to migrate from deep to shallow. Trout bite is becoming aggressive on Gas Well Flats, with catches of slot and bigger trout up to 25 inches behind Three Islands. Artificial lures are working with a lot of blow-ups on topwater lures in the pot holes behind Three Islands and south of the Cullen House on the westside. Redfish are best on cut mullet anchored down on Gas Well Flats. Be safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Fishing reports are produced with support from Toyota and the federal Sport Fish Restoration program.