The weather in deep east Texas has been excellent this week- And while we are still living under certain social restrictions, weather permitting, this weekend may be a good one to get out and get some reel time in!
While most public parks and all state parks have closed, lakes in our region do remain open, with the caveat that you still maintain a safe distance from others. Before setting out, do call ahead to ensure that boat slips are still open for public use.
GOOD. Water stained;73 degrees; 0.58’ low. Largemouth bass remain good with topwater, worms, and spinners fishing creek structures and cove points. Crappie couldn’t be better by fishing in shallow structures with minnows. Catfish are good on cut and prepped bait coming out of the river.
EXCELLENT. Water lightly stained; 67-72 degrees; 0.77’ high. Black bass are excellent on square billed crankbaits, plastic lizards, and topwater baits in shallow (1-3’) and deeper (7-12’) water. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows in creeks fishing 1-2’ with fish caught in 12-20’ around brush piles and submerged structure. Catfish are excellent on cut bait in 6-18′.
EXCELLENT. Water lightly stained; 67-71 degrees, 2.06 high. Largemouth bass are excellent in shallow water spawning in trees and cover in 1-4’ fishing plastic darker colored creatures, frogs, and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in brush piles and submerged structure. White bass are good on jigs and small crankbaits in the main lake. Chain Pickerel are fair. Catfish are excellent on prepared bait and live bait in 8-18’.
GOOD. Water stained; 74 degrees; 0.26’ low. Largemouth bass are good consistently performing on topwaters, soft plastics, and spinners. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striped bass remain slow. Catfish are good on stinkbait and cut bait. Sunfish are fair with live worms or crickets in shallow water.
GOOD Water lightly stained; 63-66 degrees; 0.00’. Largemouth bass are excellent on plastic lizards, topwater, and chatter baits and frogs for spawning fish in shallow areas with some fish holding on post-spawn areas such as roadbeds, submerged structure, and points in 8-12’. White and yellow bass are good deeper water off main lake points and humps. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in 12-25’. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait in 10-20’.
GOOD. Water clear to lightly stained; 73-75 degrees; 0.30’ high. Black bass are good on Junebug colored worms 2-3 feet from the surface on the south side of the dam. Some catches have occurred in 2 to 5’ of water using watermelon red weightless worms and flukes. Crappie are excellent, limiting out off the southeast points using live minnows. Catfish are good on live perch from piers, and using trotlines with 3’ to 15’ hooks in 20 feet of water for ops at 30 and 22 pounds each, and 15 blue cats from 3 to 8 pounds each using 3” perch.
GOOD. Water stained; 66 degrees; 6.03’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, topwater baits and Texas rigged creature baits in shallow coves for spawning fish and 8-14’ for post-spawn bass. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in the timber areas 14-24’. Catfish are excellent on cut bait and blood bait in 10-16 feet of water.
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 72 degrees; 0.30’ high. Black bass are good with several lunkers this past week. Fish creek openings, points, and ledged drops. Striped bass are fair. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in most structures under 6 feet. White bass remain good on spoons. Catfish are fair on live baits.
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 68 degrees; 0.21′ high. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, and TEXAS rigged worms in shallow coves 4-12’. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in 12-18’. Catfish are good on cut bait in 6-15’.
GOOD. Water slightly stained;73 degrees; Largemouth bass remain good on spinners, crankbaits, and creature baits. All structures less than 10 feet have been successful. Crappie are good on jigs in shallow structures. Sunfish are fair on jigs and crickets. Catfish are good on dough balls, cut and live bait.
GOOD. Water stained; 74 degrees; Largemouth bass are good with Carolina rigged plastics, spinners, and jigs fishing drops, mid-depth points, and in creek structures. Sunfish are fair on crickets and cutworms among any shallow structure under 5 feet.
FAIR. Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass remain good on points, in submerged vegetation, and shallow nests. Topwater has been the most improved bait. White bass are fair with minnows. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs catching limits. Catfish are good on live and stinkbait.
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 72 degrees; 0.31’ high. Largemouth bass are good with vegetative cover. Striped bass are fair on humps and deep water. White bass are fair similar to largemouth locations. Crappie are good on minnows in structure. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait. Louisiana is not allowing fishing due to Covid-19, so ensure your trip is on the Texas side of Toledo Bend.
EXCELLENT. Water clear; 67 degrees; 0.97’ high. Black bass are excellent on Carolina rigged creature baits as well as spinners and jigs fishing dock structures and natural shorelines in creeks and coves. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows. Catfish are excellent on stinkbait and live baits. White bass are good in 25’.
FAIR. Water stained; 64 degrees; 12.59’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on worms and jigs working creeks and coves. White bass are good on spoons and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs in creeks. Catfish are good on cut bait, live bait, and stinkbait.
Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
