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 Fishing Reports
Freshwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of February 19, 2025
FAIR. Water clear; 43 degrees; 0.98 feet below pool. Crappie continue to be good in 14-30 feet of water on jigs and minnows. Report by The Bait Shop, Post, Texas.
GOOD. Water normal stain; 62 degrees; 65.75 feet below pool. The bite has slowed some with cooler water temperatures. White bass are great off of points and ledges with spoons and trolling crankbaits, channel catfish are great on nightcrawlers in shallows. Crappie are fair on jigs, flatheads good on live bait. Report by Shon Riley, Lake Amistad Fishing Guides. Bass are in a prespawn mode with quality fish and limits possible. Bass are best utilizing forward facing sonar using jighead minnow presentations, Texas rigged plastics and jerkbaits. Water temperature was 62 degrees, but expect it to fall to the upper 50s by the weekend. Weather should become more stable in March. Report by Kurt Dove, Pro Bass Guide.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.08 feet above pool. After the arctic blast fish should be lethargic and slow to bite in deeper water. Use slower approaches.
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 40 degrees; 5.84 feet below pool. The fishing pattern remains consistent. Catfish can be caught drifting fresh cut shad and spot locking out on the main part of the lake. Report by Brandon Brown, Brown’s Guide Service.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.54 feet above pool. Bass are slow and can be caught in grass 5-15 feet with Texas rig worms, wacky rig senko and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow on small jigs over deep brush 25 feet. Report by Reagan Nelson, Lake Athens Bass Guide.
GOOD. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.43 feet below pool. Bass fishing is improving rapidly with a good shallow bite going on right now. The water temperature in some of the creeks is in the low 60s, so anticipate bass to spawn within the next month. The main lake is fishing well with jerkbaits, swimbaits, Alabama rigs, and Texas rig worms. A light drop shot around the grass edges is also producing a decent amount of fish. Report by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing.
FAIR. Water stain; 52 degrees; 0.18 feet below pool. Very few anglers on the water due to the arctic blast. Expect all species to relate in deeper water and use a slow approach.
GOOD. Water stained; 63 degrees. Bass can be caught utilizing a slow approach in deep water with deep crankbait or jigs around ledges, or a Carolina rigged finesse worm. There is now very little grass on the lake. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
FAIR. Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.35 feet below pool. Before the most recent blast of cold came in on February 19, water temperatures had cooled back to the levels they were at before the record-setting, 8-day warming trend that ended on February 8. After a few smaller male white bass began to appear headed toward spawning areas around Mother Neff State Park, the migration run generally halted and will likely remain low key until our next significant warmup. For those heading upriver, light leadhead jigs with white or off-white curl-tail grubs selected to fish just inches above the bottom will produce well, as will grey and/or olive streamers fished on fly gear. Anglers remaining on the upper ends of the main lake on the Leon River or Cowhouse Creek arms, flatline trolling will be improving. Troll multiple baits that dive to different depths, then change over once fish show a preference. Fish in deeper, clearer water will remain interested in the 5/8 ounce and 3/4 ounce white Bladed Hazy Eye Slab worked with a very slow, steady upward motion where fish are seen concentrated on bottom via sonar. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfish are fair. With cold water temperatures anglers should search for blue catfish in deeper river channels and around steep ledges in 30-45 feet of water. Larger cut baits have been effective for trophy size fish. Eater fish under 10 pounds are still active and slow drifting with small cut shad along sand flats will produce. Channel catfish are fair but can still be caught on warmer days using punch bait in 15-25 feet of water. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.32 feet below pool. After the arctic blast fish should be lethargic and slow to bite in deeper water. Use slower approaches.
FAIR. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.42 feet above pool. Weather has kept water dirty in most areas besides wind-protected pockets on the north portion of the lake. Bass have started to slow down as water temperatures have dropped. Most fish have been caught in 8-14 feet of water with a jig, dropshot, or jig and minnow near docks, channel swings with timber and a steep drop off, and standing timber in 12-15 feet on steep points. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service. Black bass are in a pre-spawn pattern. Look for females in 5-8 feet of water hanging in trees and brush. Look for males cruising the banks preparing nests. Try bait fish patterns around flooded trees and deep points. Clousers on sunny rocky shores might draw a strike. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.
SLOW. water stained; 47 degrees; 2.87 feet below pool. Lake level is still low, but rising some. Water temperature is 45-49 degrees, and is slightly warmer behind heavy timber lines. Suspending jerkbaits are good around bushes and trees in 5-7 feet. Texas rigs and Viper XP jigs good around bigger standing timber or brush piles 5-7 feet or 15-18 feet on brush piles. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Expect the crappie to become stationary to reserve energy. If the water temperature drops into the 30s a shad kill is possible. If this happens crappie will feed on the shad and follow the fish deep to feed. Crappie are good in 20-60 feet of water on timber in the creek channels. 1-5 fish in a tree but occasionally there will be 20-50 fish. The best approach is a light line with an ⅛ ounce jig. The primary species being caught is black crappie. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 13.89 feet below pool. The recent arctic blast will slow the bite. Target bass on first breaks just off of shallow water with Carolina rigs and rattle traps. Catfish can be caught with cut bait.
FAIR. Water stained, 60 degrees. Very few anglers on the water due to the arctic blast. Fishing should improve next week with the warmer forecast. Redfish are being caught around the jetty area trolling with rattle traps. Redfish are slow from the bank. Channel catfish are good along the weed lines and rock lines with cheese bait. Bass are slow. Report by Harry Lamb, Alamo Texas Fishing.
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 45 degrees; 8.99 feet below pool. The recent cold snap has dropped the water temps back into the 40s. All ramps are open. Sand bass and hybrids are good on deadsticking with soft plastics. As warmer temperatures return, slabs should become more effective. Do not be afraid to move around as the fish have been all over the lake. The fish have been north one day and back in the main lake the next. Catfish are good on cut bait in the north end and the mouth of the river. Crappie are slowly moving into prespawn mode. Check deep brush piles, docks and deep water near the bridge pilings may hold fish. Warmer weather will have the fish moving shallower before too long. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 51 degrees; 0.09 feet above pool. Black bass to 8 pounds are fair on scope minnows off the rocks in 8-15 feet and Hag’s bait jigs around steep banks and squarebill crankbaits in 2-14 feet. Crappie are poor on jigs and minnows in brush piles 10-15 feet of water. White bass are poor to 1.5 pounds on crankbaits and Alabama rigs scattered around the lake. Catfish are poor on cut bait and livers.
SLOW. Water stained; 54 degrees. Bass can be caught on offshore wind blown points with Carolina rigs, heavy jigs or crankbaits. Some bass are shallow on rocks with a wacky rig. Report by the Aggie Anglers.
EXCELLENT. Water slight stain; 60 degrees; 17.63 feet below pool. Last week the spring time weather fired up the fish. Limits of stripers were caught with live bait and trolling. Vertically jigging spoons are still catching limits of white bass, but the fish are on the move and you have to move around to stay on top of them. This week the up and down weather pattern may have an impact on the action along with the full moon. Target 20-60 feet utilizing electronics for the fish. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing. Striped bass and hybrids are good in 30-50 feet on live bait or deadsticking. White bass are good in 18-52 feet of water on main lake points and humps along the river channel on jigging spoons. There is some trolling action with crankbaits. Report by Captain Aaron Dick, One Up Fishing Guide Service. Bass are shallow anywhere near balls of bait. Target rock piles with crankbaits, shaky heads, flukes and creature baits. Crappie are good in 10-15 feet of water over brush and trees. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Crappie are fair on chartreuse jigs in 15-20 feet of water. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 67 degrees; 1.79 feet above pool. The lake temperatures have fallen 19 degrees in just 8 days down from 67 degrees to 48 degrees. This has slowed the bass bite down, but a few can still be caught with chatterbaits and rattle traps over the grass and pad stems on the main lake. It seems the midday and afternoon bite is best. The river and bayou are very muddy with lots of current, so expect the crappie bite to be tough. Still as always a beautiful time to come out and enjoy this majestic lake that God spoke into existence. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.
SLOW. Water slightly stained, 60 degrees. Very few anglers on the water due to the arctic blast. Fishing should improve next week with the warmer forecast. Redfish are being caught around the power lines trolling with plastics and spoons. Redfish are slow from the bank. Blue catfish are being caught in 15-20 feet of water on cut bait and shrimp. Channel catfish are being caught around bank lines on cheese bait. Bass are slow. Report by Harry Lamb, Alamo Texas Fishing.
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 49 degrees; 29.19 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are good on long points with hydrilla with green pumpkin 4 inch worm, or in the grass with red rattle trap in 6-8 feet of water. On the points where the grass ends use watermelon candy brush hog. Target the river channel deep points in 8-15 feet of water with an Alabama rig with a divine 2.8 swimbait pro shad colored. White bass were good in 25-35 feet of water with an Alabama rig or silver half ounce jigging spoons. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
GOOD. stained; 48 degrees; 0.10 feet above pool. The pattern is consistent. The hybrid and white bass winter deadsticking bite is on fire! Use half ounce to 1-1/2 ounce jigs with 4-5 inch plastic flukes depending on what the winds are and drift long lengths of the lake in the deepest water 35-55 feet. Drift at speeds of .2-.6 mph using your drift mode on your trolling motor or using drift socks. If the winds are not too bad you can just drift with the wind. Thumping on the bottom of your boat will attract fish and group them up underneath as you drift. Utilizing a splasher also works well with thumping. You will find the fish suspended between 22-28 feet when deadstricking. Look for Birds and Loons early mornings on shallow flats as the fish will come up to follow the bait and feed early especially on cloudier and colder days. The crappie bite has been tough with reports of fish being scattered. Target crappie with small jigs and minnows in 7-15 feet under bridge pylons, hidden brush piles throughout the lake or under docks. Crappie fisherman have been moving spot to spot finding limits. Lots of crappies in the 7-9 inch range. Limits of crappie will happen but you may catch a lot of small ones getting to your limit. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Fishing patterns are holding steady and there is an influx of freshwater in the lake. Catfish continue to be deep with a few fish shallow. The best catfish bite is drifting from 18-35 feet using cut shad or rough fish along the bottom. Report by Jason Barber, Kings Creek Adventures.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 33.43 feet below pool. Few anglers on the water while the lake level is low. It is possible to launch a flat bottom boat, or kayak. It is possible to fish from the bank at Callahan State Park. Report by Scott Springer, Fish Choke Canyon Lake.
GOOD. Water slight stain; 49 degrees; 12.71 feet below pool. Crappie and catfish are good when the wind is down on cut bait and minnows. Report by Lake Cisco Rentals.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 0.47 feet below pool. Expect a slow bite due to the arctic blast. All species will be in deeper water and best targeted with a slow approach.
SLOW. Water normal stain, 55 degrees; 1.47 feet below. Bass should be slow this weekend. Target bass in standing timber in 8-10 feet of water with a very slow approach. Report by Scott Springer, Fish Choke Canyon Lake.
GOOD. 55 degrees; 0.01 feet above pool. Comanche Creek continues to boast on limits of eater sized channel catfish and numbers of black bass in this power plant lake. Largemouth anglers line up to get on this lake on the weekends. This lake is open Thursday through Sunday and a reservation is required. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.
GREAT. Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.13 feet below pool. Catfish bite is good on baited areas from 10-50 feet deep on liver, worms, Catfish Bubblegum, and punch bait. Drifting creek channels and flats with natural baits have been producing as well. Numbers of buck bass are shallow, and even some of the big gals on beds or staging on structure near beds. Crappie seem to be pretty good on the north end but with the temperature changes fish will be moving around a lot. Report by Bradley Doyle, Bradley’s Guide Service. Crappie are being caught in 13-22 feet on or near standing timber and other structures. Minnows and hair jigs have been producing better than plastics. Many of the hits are light. Hybrids are still being caught but are scattered due to the inconsistent weather. Deadsticking will be a good tactic this week as the arctic blast drops daily temperatures in the 30s. Target fish in 16-36 feet of water on flats and drop-offs. Always wear your life jacket! Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees: 2.00 feet below pool. The lake is low, best to launch near the dam. Historically a strong cold front will shut the bite off when the water temperature is 43 degrees or lower. Expect the crappie to become stationary to reserve energy. If the water temperature drops into the 30s a shad kill is possible. If this happens crappie will feed on the shad and follow the fish deep to feed. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
SLOW. 55 degrees; 13.22 feet below pool. Reports of nine blue catfish caught with the largest 22 inches. A few anglers catching small catfish, perch and drum from the shoreline at Weber’s Boat Landing. Water levels are extremely low. Only the smallest flat bottomed boats with the motor completely lifted out of water are capable of launching. Even with a small boat, you would have to get into the water to push your boat out far enough to let your motor down and start your engine. Report by Weber’s Boat Landing.
FAIR: Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 1.41 feet above pool. Weather has kept water dirty in most areas besides wind-protected pockets on the north portion of the lake. Bass have started to slow down as water temperatures have dropped. Most fish have been caught in 8-14 feet of water with a jig, dropshot, or jig and minnow near docks, channel swings with timber and a steep drop off, and standing timber in 12-15 feet on steep points. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service.
GOOD. Water normal stain; 49 degrees; 4.31 feet below pool. White bass are fair on main lake structure on slabs and in mid depths on chartreuse and white cocahoes. Crappie are fair in open water roaming patterns and in mid depths and main lake structure on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait on structure. The report was provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.
Closed to the public.
GOOD. Water stained; 53 degrees; 45.31 feet below pool. Catfish are good in 3-25 feet with fresh cut bait at the mouth of Pierce’s Cove and Marker 7 and the mouth of the Arroyo Veleno. Keeper catfish are good in 3-15 feet of water along structure, and the edges of timber with fresh cut bait and stink bait. Crappie are slow. Bass are good for quality but not for numbers in 8-15 feet of water with plastics and crankbaits. Report by Ram Reyes, Ram Outdoors.
SLOW. Water slightly stained; 58 degrees. Expect the largemouth bass bite to slow after the recent cold front. As the sunshine warms the water the bass will return to the shallows from the first drop-off. Cast shaky heads, Carolina rigs, chatterbaits and rattle traps. Report by Mark Fransen, Fransen’s Guide Service.
GOOD. Water Stained; 50 degrees; 0.11 feet below pool. Water level is a little high and has cooled down to 48-51 degrees. Shallow bite has been fair in 3-5 feet over grass with rattle traps, chatterbaits, and squarebill crankbaits. Shaky heads and dropshots are good around docks in 4-8 feet. Texas rigs and Viper XP Jigs fair around timber near channels in 4-8 feet. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Warm sunny days are dictating black bass movements. Try and target fish where the water is 55 degrees or warmer water. To fly fish for bass try game changers and craw patterns in shallow water. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. The Lake Fork crappie bite is really good this week if you can stand the cold weather and beat the winds. Patterns are changing day to day with fish on the move and the weather so up and down. Some days they will stack up on bridges and the next they will disappear. Timber in 14-34 feet seems to be the most consistent pattern. If you find a crappie and hold an artificial bait above it still enough most fish are crushing that bait. Try using hand tied jigs in two different profiles. Smaller profile jigs in deeper water mid lake or on bridges. When you head north to shallower and muddier water switch to longer and bigger profile jigs. Try to fish lighter, more neutral colors in deeper water and darker colors in shallower water. Soft plastics and minnows will still get you bit as well. We should see the fish push shallower and shallower over the next few weeks with warmer temps in the forecast after the next week. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 53 degrees; 7.33 feet below pool. Expect a slow bite due to the arctic blast. All species will be in deeper water and best targeted with a slow approach.
SLOW. Water stained: 56 degrees; 10.67 feet below pool. Surface temperature at the Russell Park ramp was 56 degrees, and 53 up the river. Sonar showed staging white bass in the upper lake and lower river. Bite was very slow to nonexistent. Minimal surface activity was observed.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.98 feet below pool. Crappie are slow in 15-17 feet on brush with jigs and minnows. Sand bass and hybrids are slow on main lake humps on jigs and spoons. Catfish are slow, drifting main lake Creek channels with cut shad.
GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.02 feet below pool. Lake Granbury continues to be full and water temperatures are around 50 degrees and falling heading into the weekend. The majority of the baitfish are huddled deep near the channel in 30-40 feet of water. Sand bass and striped bass bite is good, slowly working 5 inch soft plastics in deep areas near bait. Some good reports for striped bass are from in town near the railroad bridge, Indian Harbor and in Striper Alley on the lower ends. Some sand bass are upstream spawning near Tin Top. Largemouth bass have been better on those warmer days near main lake points slowly working soft plastics. Crappie are good in the river near deeper holes and on the main lake near deep pilings and timber with small crappie jigs. Big blue and yellow catfish to 30 pounds are hit-and-miss on the upper ends using cut bait. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.09 feet below pool. Black bass are fair up river on jigs fished around cover. Crappie are moving shallow to the backs of coves when the water warms up after three warm nights. White bass have been good with the warm weather but will slow down with this cold spell. Blue catfish are very good to 50 pounds on jug lines. Yellow catfish are slow. Report by Tommy Tidwell, Tommy Tidwell’s Granger Lake Guide Service.
SLOW. Water Slightly stained; 51 degrees; 0.78 feet above pool. White bass are slow after the arctic blast. Target fish in deep water with white slabs on a stinger hook with a small jig head with a power gulp minnow tied two feet above. Drop bait to the bottom with a slow retrieve to the fish. Catfish are mixed in below the white bass. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 45.23 feet below pool. Water level is extremely low. Call ahead to inquire about launching conditions before heading out.
GOOD. Water slightly stained. 55 degrees. Larger Chain Pickerel should be ready to spawn in shallow water. Focus on areas with stumps, brush, and vegetation, and do not forget to de-barb your hooks. Small bass are active in shallow areas relating to vegetation and structure. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.42 feet above pool. Expect a slow bite and for fish to push to deeper water due to the arctic blast.
SLOW. Water Stained; 50 degrees; 13.55 feet below pool. Expect a slow bite due to the arctic blast. All species will be in deeper water and best targeted with a slow approach.
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.22 feet above pool. Bass have backed off the bank to brush in 8-16 feet of water. Best baits are chatterbaits and rattle traps.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.47 above pool. Very few anglers on the water due to the arctic blast. Expect fish to relate to deeper water until the weather warms next week. Report by Gilbert Miller, GTB Outdoors.
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 1.94 feet above pool. Weather has kept water dirty in most areas besides wind-protected pockets on the north portion of the lake. Bass have started to slow down as water temperatures have dropped. Most fish have been caught in 8-14 feet of water with a jig, dropshot, or jig and minnow near docks, channel swings with timber and a steep drop off, and standing timber in 12-15 feet on steep points. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service.
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 0.46 feet below pool. The fishing patterns are consistent, but the pattern should change in two weeks. Crappie are in 10-20 feet of water on brush piles and deep submerged timber. There are a few fish sitting 15-18 feet on the structure. Crappie are hugging the bottom so you have to let a ⅛ ounce hand tied jig touch the bottom and then slowly lift to entice a bite. Minnows or soft plastics of any color will produce fish. A lot of times in the winter they will hit it in the fall so be prepared. Use a bigger profile lure, so keep a couple 1/8 ounce jig heads. You can also find Fish spider rigging, or dragging a jig through the depth of the baitfish. Sometimes the fish will be laying on the bottom next to the dam, usually no more than 100 yards off the rocks. Fish are laying at the base of the riprap where it turns into silt, and on the first tier of the riprap going underwater up to the rocks, to the dam. White bass are in 20-30 feet primarily on deepwater humps and levees, but some will be on points. Thumping the boat making noise will attract them to the boat if they are in the area. Slabs and 3-4 inch flukes have been getting them. Black bass are in 1-5 feet on rocks or concrete, and in 5-10 feet of water shoreline structure. Texas rigs and bass jigs are pulling them out of 15-20 feet deep brush piles. The swimbait bite dragged a couple inches or so above brush piles has been stellar. Along with Alabama rigs if you can take the arm beating, it gives you. If you have side imaging, scan to find any kind of anomalies that these fish can hold on. A lot of the fish are out in open water suspended at 20-30 feet with stick baits and lead heads with a soft plastic paddle tail. Blue catfish are great in 35-40, and there is also a nice population in 5-10 feet of water. Bigger fish seem to be shallow with a lot of eaters out in the deeper water. Drag cut gizzard shad, drum, sunfish and carp on a Santee rig behind the boat at approximately .03-.05 mph. Every day the school moves so you have to locate them. One day they will be on one side of the lake and the next they will have traveled 3-4 miles to the other side of the lake. There is a great school of 15-25 pound fish roaming out there and once you find them, it can be an incredible outcome. If the wind suddenly changes directions, you will notice on your side imaging, the catfish are now laying in the mud and are not giving you a sonar shadow, but you can see them, sitting there. When they do have a shadow that means they are on the hunt and those fish are catchable. To chase monsters sit 3-10 feet on the north end of the lake. Bluegills are becoming harder to find in numbers but can be found in 20-30 feet of water brush piles. The dam has trees and brush bluegill and crappie are mixed in. Worms on a very small hook and a split shot above just to keep it in the strike zone will still produce a nice table of fish. Crickets have been king as they also catch a few crappies. Using a cricket cage bait holder is imperative. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.
GOOD. Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.31 feet below pool. Lower end of the lake 52-55 degrees and The Colorado River is 48-52 degrees. In the river target bass with a suspended jerkbait, dropshot and Alabama rig between dock, and the big granite boulders. The boulders warm up the fastest so fish will stage there to spawn. On the lower end of the lake target the mouth of canals where the water is warmer using wacky rigged senkos, jerkbaits or Alabama rigs. If you can find any grass left on the lake use an Alabama rig, jerkbait or dropshot with a 3-4 inch favorite plastic. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours. Crappie are fair in 25-30 feet on brush and boulders with minnows. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Bass are good near laydowns and brush piles with jigs, Texas rigged soft plastics, lipless crankbaits and square and some days a spinner baits. Bigger fish are 14-20 feet and as shallow as 5 feet. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
FAIR. Water stained; 47 degrees; 1.31 feet below pool. White bass are fair to good on deep flats and in river channels in 42-64 feet of water with jigs, slabs, and live bait. Keeper sized hybrid stripers are fair in similar depths as 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. Blue catfish are fair drifting cut shad on main lake flats near the river channel, and in the river channel in 20-55 feet of water. Crappie are fair in 4-38 feet of water on brush piles, bridge pilings, and submerged cover near a drop-off ledge with minnows and jigs. The feeder creeks are producing as well. Report by Wes Campbell, BendARod Fishing.
GOOD. Water normal stain; 52 degrees; 1.38 feet below pool. After this cold front anticipate the fishing pattern to begin to transition to the spring time patterns. Water clarity is clear on the main lake with a slight stain in creeks from big rain this week. Catfish, crappie and largemouth bass are suspended this week. Catfish are on main lake points in 5-20 feet of water with cut bait and fresh shad. Crappie are in 10-18 feet on brush, standing timber and power line columns with minnows. A lot of crappie are roaming the creek channels getting ready to push to the creeks for the spawn. Largemouth bass are in 8 feet of water On docks, rocks and bulkheads with Texas rigs and chatterbaits. White bass are on main lake points, mouths of creeks biting silver jigging spoons, squarebill crankbaits, rattle traps. Many are funneling through the 3371 Bridge headed up the Navasota River to spawn in the river. The main lake is 51-55 degrees and the back of creeks is 59 degrees. Many fish cleaned this week had fully developed egg sacks. 60 degrees is the magic number for the fish to push shallow and it will be any day now. Report by Colan Gonzales, CG’s Just Fishing Guide Service.
GOOD. normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.58 feet above pool. White bass have moved to the creeks right now. Should be there for the next month. Catfish are shallow in the river flow. Large mouth should be pushing to spawn on beds if not on beds they will be on wind blown points. Report by Michael Richardson, Lake Livingston Adventures.
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 59 degrees; 0.09 feet above pool. Bass are good, fishing the hydrilla with underspin swimbaits, lipless crankbaits and weightless senkos. Crappie are fair to good in brush piles in 15-25 feet of water with minnows and powerbait champ minnows. Sand bass and catfish are good at the warm water discharge. Reported by Hambone guide service. Report by Hambone Guide Service.
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 93.06 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers on the water due to limited access and low water level.
FAIR. Water stained; 41 degrees; 47.53 feet below pool. White bass are good with silver blue rapalas and minnows. Largemouth bass are good on artificial grubs and minnows in Sanford Yake Cove and Bugbee. Catfish are good around Harbor Bay with chicken liver and frozen shad. No reports of crappie this week. Bluegill and perch are fair with worms underneath the docks and shallow areas around the lake. The walleye bite has slowed some after the recent arctic blast but are still good at night and early morning on minnows, or chartreuse and baby blue artificial grubs. Numbers of trout and channel catfish are in the Stilling Basin, or Spring Canyon. Report by Dave Wright, Wright-On Bait, Tackle and Watercraft Rental.
SLOW. Water stained; 53 degrees; 2.72 feet below pool. All species continue to be slow, but expect the bite to improve when the water temperature increases to 60 degrees. A few catches of blue catfish in deep water on juglines.
GOOD. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.63 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are excellent in shallow grass with a bladed jig or a rattle trap. Crappie are slow roaming in standing timber with chartreuse jigs. Forward facing sonar will help locate fish. Catfish are slow. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
GOOD. Water stained; 52 degrees; 0.50 feet above pool. Big water temperature rise over the last week, but expect the temperatures to drop due to the cold front. Large numbers and quality sized bass have been boated with a deep-diving crankbait, jerkbait and the Alabama rig. As always, natural shad imitations get bit. Some fish are pre-staging in the grass, so a chatterbait through the tops of the grass. Crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Largemouth bass are excellent with dropshot and Carolina rigs in 15 feet of water. Crappie are good with chartreuse crappie jigs roaming around timber and brush piles. Catfish are slow on live or cut bait. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees. 0.42 feet below pool. The bass bite has been fair flipping soft plastics around reed bases in 1-3 feet of water. The key is to cover water until you find a good stretch that holds multiple bass. It is also important to slow down your retrieve this time of year to trigger these lethargic winter largemouth. Crappie were fair around main lake boat docks on chartreuse jigs and catfish were fair on cut bait and stink bait around river channel bends. Report provided by the Angelo State Fishing Team.
SLOW. Water slightly stained; 48 degrees; 0.15 feet above pool. Crappie are roaming the main lake and very skittish. Catfish are good throughout the lake on cut bait. Starting to see white bass along the banks biting minnows. Report by Navarro Mills Marina.
SLOW. Water stained; 45 degrees; 39.25 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers fishing due to low lake levels.
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 48 degrees; 23.07 feet below pool. Black bass are fair to 5 pounds on jerkbaits, Alabama rigs and deep diving crankbaits. Catching numbers in 12-21 feet of water in main lake drains. One bass over 13 pounds reported this week. White bass are still good on main lake flats in 30-35 feet of water on slabs and spoons. Some crappie are suspended over the tops of the big pecan trees in the Turkey Bend area with minnows. Channel catfish being reported on stink bait and punch bait on 12-18 feet ledges in the Concho River. Report by Wendell Ramsey, Ramsey Fishing.
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 18.46 feet below pool. Expect a slow bite due to the arctic blast. All species will be in deeper water and best targeted with a slow approach. Black bass can be targeted utilizing forward facing sonar to locate bass then use a swimbait or Alabama rig to get a reaction. Report by Bronte Guns and Tackle Pro Staff.
SLOW. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.89 feet above pool. Fishing has slowed due to the arctic blast. Target all species in the creek channels and drop-offs or ledges near shallow areas utilizing a very slow approach.
GOOD. Water normal stain; 52 degrees; 0.23 feet below pool. Hybrids are great with fresh cut shad. The cold weather has pushed crappie to roam deeper water. Blue catfish are slow with an early morning bite in shallow water with fresh cut bait and shad. Black bass and sand bass are slow. Report by Lake Palo Pinto RV Park.
FAIR. normal stain; 51 degrees. Largemouth bass are good with large swimbaits or Carolina rigs on points in 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair with primarily smaller size fish being caught with white jigs. Catfish are slow on live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
FAIR. Water stained; 48 degrees; 0.18 feet below pool. Expect the water temperature to drop a couple degrees during this next cold front. Stripers are fair in 20-40 feet of water with live bait, or deadsticking with pink jig heads with fluke tails. If deadsticking, stay still and let the fish come to you. Hold your rod still and set the hook at the slightest hint of a bite. If using live bait, put your baits in the water and just slowly move around until you catch a fish. Once you catch a fish, stay there for a little bit and try to catch a few more. Sandbass are fair. Look for them in 20-40 feet of water with live shad. Some can be caught using small deadstick baits, too. Catfish are still fair to good up the river near Rock Creek Camp. Cut shad is producing good numbers of fish in 2-5 feet of water fished on or near the bottom. Some people like to use cut carp and Buffalo and have good luck with that. It might be worth a try if no other fresh bait is available. Water clarity is steady at 1-8 feet of visibility and slightly stained. Report by TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service. Bass slow but will bite when located. Bottom baits such as jigs and bottom bumping crank baits. Bass biting from deep to shallow depths following shad movement. Located in typical winter locations. Report by JK Outdoors Bass Fishing Guide.
FAIR. Water stained; 45 degrees; 0.14 feet above pool. Catfish are good on cut bait. Hybrid bass are good on swimbaits.
SLOW. Water light stain; 50 degrees. Cold and rainy weather have kept anglers off the water. Reports that all species are slow.
GOOD. Water stained; 45 degrees; 0.13 feet above pool. White bass are in big schools on the upper part of the lake before the I-30 bridge. Look for big bait balls in 20-34 feet of water with 3/4 ounce slabs with 2 jigs tied above working best spread at least 16 inches apart. Hybrids can be caught closer to the bottom with 1 ounce jig heads with 4 inch flukes. Drifting has been best with drift socks. Let your bait fall to 1-3 feet off the bottom then reel up to the fish. Large numbers of white bass are showing up in the feeder creeks above the lake. Small road runner type baits and small crappie jigs working. Crappie are fair and relating to brush 18-28 feet deep moving on and off structure and starting to roam the deep flats. Minnows working best. Catfish are good on the deep flats drifting cut shad, buffalo or carp. Blue catfish up to 25-30 pounds best on long drifts. Report by John Varner, John Varner’s Guide Service.
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.54 feet below pool. White bass can be caught on live bait and slabs on deep water humps near creek channels 35-55 feet. Fish should transition to the creeks as the weather warms. Blue catfish can be caught drifting or anchored with cut bait in 45-65 feet near the creek channels. Starting to see some catfish in shallow water as well and this will only improve once the cold weather gets out of here. Report by Justin Wilson, Wilson Outdoor Connection.
FAIR. Water normal stain; 48 degrees; 0.12 feet above pool. Another week of cold temperatures, rain and brisk winds has kept most anglers at home and off the Lake. The lake is 3 inches above full Pool with a couple of spillway gates open. The water clarity is stained far up the Major Creeks, but clear on the main lake. This has combined to have a negative impact on the overall fishing. White bass and hybrid striper fishing can be rated only fair with very few reports due to weather and lake conditions. White bass and small hybrids are scattered, but can sometimes be caught on slabs in 35-40 feet of water on the main lake points. Eater size blue and channel catfish have slowed but are still fair on punch bait in 30 feet of water on the Richland Creek Arm of the Lake as well as scattered timber in coves on the south shoreline of the main lake. Chum with range cubes and fermented grain for best results. Drift Fishing with cut bait or shad along creek channels and flats is producing trophy blue catfish for those looking for larger catfish but do not mind a slower bite. No reports from anglers targeting crappie or largemouth bass. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.11 feet above pool. The cold front early in the week will shut the bite off and fish will push to deeper water. The river is flooding. Bass are going to hunker down in grass and become lethargic with some fish seeking out deeper structure. Crappie are heading toward spawning areas in 2-3 feet of water on flats, grass and cypress trees. Catfish can be caught shallow on noodles. White bass are scattered up creeks hitting rattle traps and road runners. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 1.95 feet below pool. Water clarity is stained due to freshwater runoff. At Somerville marina the crappie bite is fair, bluegill are fair on crickets and worms, and catfish are fair on minnows and punch bait. On the lake crappie are fair on jigs and minnow over brush 8-16 feet of water. Catfish are fair in 6-10 feet of water using cut shad or punch bait. Black bass are fair moving plastics in 6-12 feet of water. White bass slow, trolling with various spoons or anchored with shad and ghost minnows. Hybrids, slow in deeper water, using cut bait and mussels. Below the dam fishing is slow since there is no water being released. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees. 46.50 feet below pool. Very few reports but the white bass bite should begun to improve. Report by Bronte Guns and Tackle Pro Staff.
FAIR. Water stained; 46 degrees; 1.41 feet below pool. Crappie are slow off the concrete at the pump house, and near docks. Bass are slow on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.92 feet below pool. Before the most recent blast of cold on February 19, water temperatures had cooled back to the levels they were at before the record-setting 8-day warming trend which ended on February 8. After a few smaller male white bass began to appear headed toward spawning areas on either side of the Gravel Crossing, the migration run generally halted and will likely remain low key until our next significant warmup. For those heading upriver, light leadhead jigs with white or off-white curl-tail grubs selected to fish just inches above the bottom will produce well, as will grey and, or olive streamers fished on fly gear. For those remaining on the upper end of the main lake, flatline trolling will be improved. Troll multiple baits that dive to different depths, then change over once fish show a preference. Fish in deeper, clearer water will remain interested in the 5/8 ounce and 3/4 ounce white Bladed Hazy Eye Slab worked with a very slow, steady upward motion where fish are seen concentrated on bottom via sonar. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 0.85 feet above pool. Lake Tawakoni as most of the lakes in Texas are subject to a major Arctic blast this week. The hybrid striper and white bass bite is slow. Massive schools of fish have made the way up the lake towards the Sabine River. During this migration these fish become difficult to catch. Trophy catfish are great with fish up to 55 pounds possible. Fresh cut shad and drum are working best. The eating catfish bite is slow, but right around the corner it will be good. The crappie bite is also slow under bridges and deep timber in 18-25 feet. The largemouth bite has been slow, but the big warm-up coming next week will change this overnight. Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 5.12 feet below pool. Very few anglers on the water. With the lake level steadily dropping, boat ramp closures are in the future. Anglers should contact Lavaca Navidad River Authority about closures before traveling.
FAIR. Water stained; 48 degrees; 2.81 feet below pool. Striped bass fishing is a little slower with the arctic blast but will pick up soon after the warm-up. Fish are still in deep water along river channels and flats in 50-65 feet of water. Flukes and swimbaits suspended above the fish drifting .5-1 mph. Catfishing is decent seeing bigger blues come off shallow flats and ditches in 5-15 feet of water. Anchored up with cut shad and whole gizzard shad. Crappie are on deep structure and brush in 18-25 feet of water near creeks and coves. A slow presentation using electronics to locate active fish. Bass fishing is slow with the drop in lake levels and water temperature. Look for fish to move up in coves and on rocky banks on sunny days. Fish creeks and stumps looking for the gizzard shad this time of year for bigger bass to be feeding. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass are best deadsticking in deep water. Catches up to 13 pounds are possible. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.
SLOW. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.61 feet below pool. Fishing is slow due to cold weather. The water is in the mid 50s and should decline more this weekend. The bite should improve next week towards the middle of the week. Before the cold front big fish up to 11 pounds were being caught. The shallow bite has been best in 1-5 feet on senkos and wacky worms. Other fish coming on Texas rig and Carolina rig lizards on 6-10 feet. Few fish coming out of the back of creeks on rattle traps and square bill crankbaits. Look for clear to stained water away from the mud. Crappie are good when the weather warms, then back to tough on the colder days. Work jigs and live bait around the flooded timber. The water temperature needs to return to the high 50s and low 60s for the bite kick-off. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 59 degrees; 43.59 feet below pool. Good numbers of bass in 5-15 feet and 30-40 feet of water on ledges with brush hogs, medium to large creature baits, medium to deep crankbaits, squarebill crankbaits and jerkbaits. You want to run the edges of rocky shores. The rockier the better. Slow moving pumpkin worms on deep ledges are working well. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Largemouth bass are good on long points with hydrilla with green pumpkin 4 inch worm, or in the grass with red rattle trap in 6-8 feet of water. On the points where the grass ends use watermelon candy brush hog. Target the river channel deep points in 8-15 feet of water with an Alabama rig with a divine 2.8 swimbait pro shad colored. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
SLOW. Water stained. 51 degrees; 39.51 feet below pool. Blue and channel catfish are fair and improving as the weather cools. Catfish are moving shallow hitting punch bait, live bait and fresh cut bait. Crappie are slow but chasing shad. White bass are slow. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 0.24 feet above pool. The bite has shut off after the arctic cold front. Report by The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.75 feet below pool. Expect all species to be slow after the arctic blast. Limits of white bass are moving north up the Bosque River. Report by Greg Culverhouse, Crappie King.
GOOD. Water slight stain; 55 degrees. Water levels remain very low, and the boat ramp is still closed to power boats due to ongoing repairs. However, small personal watercraft like kayaks and canoes can still launch from the shore, and bank fishing remains an option. With the low water and exposed rock piles, the ramps are essentially unusable. Target areas with submerged vegetation that still have a few feet of water overhead. Moving baits such as weedless swimbaits, jerkbaits, chatterbaits and lipless crankbaits are effective. For slower presentations try Texas-rigged soft plastics, craws. Senkos and dropshots can work well along grassy edges or above submerged cover. Report by Team YAKUSA.
FAIR. Water heavily stained; 47 degrees; 4.83 feet below pool. Crappie are good in the Crappie House on jigs and minnows. Bass and catfish are slow deep and around rocks. Water visibility is 10 inches.
FAIR. Water stained. 60 degrees. A few reports and anglers on the water.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 42 degrees; 23.04 feet below pool. Crappie are good deadsticking jigs in 10-17 feet of water around brush. Catfish are slow on cut shad. Report by The Bait Shop, Post, Texas.
SLOW. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.13 feet above pool. Expect all species to slow after the arctic freeze. Striped bass can be caught deadsticking flukes, or live bait in 30-45 feet of water. Crappie are good on small jigs and minnows in timber in 15-20 feet on the north end of the lake. White bass fishing is fair, some are being caught on flukes and slabs. Largemouth bass fishing is fair around the docks. Report by Captain Cory Vinson, Guaranteed Guide Service.
FAIR. Water normal stain; 49 degrees; 2.42 feet below pool. White bass are fair on the main lake structure on slabs. Crappie are fair to good on brush piles and in the river on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait on structure. The report was provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 6.42 feet above pool. Fishing will be slow due to the arctic blast. Catfish are fair. Bass are slow. Crappie are staged on brush in 8-12 feet but the fish are not biting.
GOOD. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.90 feet below pool. Water levels have dropped significantly for inspection of the spillway. When navigating the waters, please be careful as obstructions that are usually not prevalent can be detrimental to navigation. Largemouth bass are tight to the shorelines and in structure in shallow water but with the temperatures dropping, may go deep for a bit until it warms up. Crappie are in 8 feet of water on structure and eating small jigs good. White bass are in the rivers and creeks eating well on spins and road runner jigs. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
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