_Mag_Back Issue

HOTSPOTS: Freshwater – May

PINEY WOODS

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Coffee Creek
GPS: N 32 56.6039, W 95 30.3606
(32.9434, -95.5060)

Coffee Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures: frogs. popping type baits, Zara Spooks
CONTACT: Doug Shampine
940-902-3855
doug@lakeforktrophybass.com
www.lakeforktrophybass.com
TIPS: May is a great time to fish top water baits on Lake Fork. Baits like frogs, popping type baits and spooks will catch those big bass as they feed up after the spawn. This is my fa-vorite time of the year to catch bass on Lake Fork. The baits with white a belly will work the best. The shad are trying to spawn this time of the year and the bass are feeding on them in the shallow water. The lily pads will be about the size of a pancake in May and will be loaded with bass. Glade, Burch, Little Caney, Running and Coffee creeks will be great areas to find top water action. Give me a call or text 940-902-3855 to set up your trip or check our www.lakeforktrophybass.com website for booking details. I furnish everything for your trip.

LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Goose Prairie and Sand Island
GPS: N 32 42.078, W 94 6.7979
(32.7013, -94.1133)

Goose Prairie and Sand Island

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Watermelon swim baits, swim jigs, big Texas-rigged worms
CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith
318-455-3437
caddoguide1@att.net
www.caddolakefishing.com
TIPS: Fish the open grass and lily pad flats in these areas with the swim jigs and swimbaits. Fish your large 8-10-inch Texas-rigged worms on the cypress trees in 3’-5’ of water in the main areas. The bass in May will be in both spawning and post spawn stages.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Lewis Creek
GPS: N 30 24.607, W 95 34.890
(30.410114, -95.581501)

Lewis Creek

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows and crappie jigs
CONTACT: Richard Tatsch
936-661-7920
admin@fishdudetx.com
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: “The crappie will be finished spawning and move out to the brush piles this time of year. I like to focus on brush in 12 to 14 feet of water early in the mornings and as the day wears on move out to the 16- to 20-foot brush piles. I like using minnows rigged up on a slip bobber with a bobber stop tied to my line, so I can adjust the depth so my minnow swims just above the brush. This method has proved itself over several years and helps you avoid snag-ging in the brush. When I use a jig I always know the shallowest point of brush and use the countdown method: 1001,1002 and so on. This keeps my bait where I want it without hanging up. The kicker to the whole thing is if you get distracted you will probably hang it up. For jig fishing I like using a 6- to 8-pound line so there is not much room for error. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina”

 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 52.962, W 95 36.558
(32.8827, -95.6093)

Main Lake

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures (poppers and frogs), crankbaits
CONTACT: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
lance@lakeforkbass.com
www.guideonlakefork.com
TIPS: “May on Lake Fork one of the most action-packed months by far! Bass are near-ing the end of the spawn cycle and are eating to replenish, and they are all running on a high metabolism.
Mother Nature starts the shad spawn at this time to feed the need (perfect timing by the way).
So early top water lures and crankbaits on windy points are a great place to start. Then it’s time for more top water action. Fish poppers on calm wind days around edges of grass and stumps. Topwater frogs up in the grass make for some exciting fishing.
LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: The Lump
GPS: N 30 41.172, W 95 5.658
(30.6862, -95.0943)

The Lump

SPECIES: White Bass & Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigging white slabs, Tsunami Zombie Eyes, trolled Pet Spoons on down-rigger
CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
dave@palmettoguideservice.com
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: “White bass will migrate back to the mid-lake and lower lake humps and ridges in early May. Look for days when the wind will be blowing less than 10 mph here. Fish the slope of the drop off 11’ to 15’ deep. White’s will push shad up on the ridges in a feeding fren-zy. When you get on them here you can load the boat. Feel for strikes on a falling jig. Bounce or “”yo-yo”” the jigs off the bottom. Also keep an eye out for the birds working, indicating school-ing whites on the surface.

 

Sealy Outdoors

 

LOCATION: Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: The “Snake Pit”
GPS: N 31 45.786, W 93 50.8739
(31.7631, -93.8479)

The “Snake Pit”

SPECIES: Bream
BEST BAITS: Crickets, earth worms, meal worms
CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages
936-368-7151
gregcrafts@yahoo.com
www.toledobendguide.com
TIPS: May is the month to take a kid fishing and the best way to get a kid hooked on fishing is to take him bream fishing. In May the bream will be on the beds in shallow water. Cruise the shoreline and look for honeycomb circles along sandy banks. Once you find a bed, pick off the fish from outside to inside so you don’t spook the fish. The White Bass will also be ganging up on the north end sand bars.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Lower End Near Dam
GPS: N 32 22.659, W 97 42.009
(32.3777, -97.7002)

Lower End Near Dam

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, Willow shaped Slabs, bucktail jigs with a curly tail
CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
817-578-0023
TIPS: Live shad worked near feeding flats. Downrigging jigs near channel ledges near baitfish can help locate active fish. Live shad fished on a Carolina rig fished 15 to 25 feet down is hard to beat.

LOCATION: Bachman Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014
(32.8531, -96.8669)

Main Lake

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs
CONTACT: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed lines. Bass fishing is especially good at the dam, by the banks and near the timber under the bridge. Crappie are under the bridge at night this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet right now.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake and South Main Lake
GPS: N 32 14.3159, W 96 7.1339
(32.2386, -96.1189)

Mid-Lake and South Main Lake

SPECIES: Hybrid Striper and White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs
CONTACT: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: This month we are “slabbing” for white bass and hybrids. Fish all points and humps mid-lake and south with slabs. Focus on 8’ to 16’ and bounce the slabs along the bottom. Remember, many fish like to hit on the fall of the slab.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: 300 Yards North of Dam
GPS: N 32 52.709, W 97 27.951
(32.8785, -97.4659)

300 Yards North of Dam

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Slab with a fly 12” above the slab
CONTACT: Johnny Stevens
817-597-6598
johnnysguideservice.com
johnnystevens@1scom.net
TIPS: This area just north of the damn is a series of humps and ridges. This area was created to supply the dirt to build the damn. Use your electronics to check the slopes and humps. When you locate the fish anchor on them and use a vertical jig method on them. If you prefer to cast to them. Use a slab and jig combo and let it go to the bottom and hop it back to the boat.

LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Main Point Flat
GPS: N 29 56.616, W 96 44.694
(29.9436, -96.7449)

Main Point Flat

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish have spawned. The south wind is blowing bait into this point, so prospects are good here. Anchor 4 feet deep and fish toward the shore but not too close to shore. Tight lines are best here.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Hot Water Discharge Shoreline
GPS: N 30 38.2559, W 96 3.1739
(30.6376, -96.0529)

Hot Water Discharge Shoreline

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: The power plant is shut down until June. Shallow water next to deeper discharge water will hold shad and thus fish. Use slip cork to suspend bait above fish here.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 42.348, W 97 20.8799
(30.7058, -97.3480)

Granger Lake

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: 1/32 or 1/16 oz. crappie jig
CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
crappie1@hotmail.com
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: “Right now, the crappie are coming off the spawn and are very hungry and aggressive. They have used lots of energy in the spawn and are feeding like no other time of the year. You are wasting time to use minnows at this time of year. All you need is a 1/32 or 1/16 oz. jig of any kind and the crappie will tear it up. If you want to get the best results you need to tip the jig with a Berkley PowerBait Crappie Nibble. I like the white color, but all colors will work as good as the next. I use white because it doesn’t stain the boat carpet as bad as others. Find any artificial or natural brush in 6 to 15 feet of water and vertically fish the jig. You should get action everywhere, but some spots will hold larger fish than others. Just keep moving until you find the spot with the big ones.”

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Elm Creek Park Area
GPS: N 33 8.3339, W 96 26.16
(33.1389, -96.4360)

Elm Creek Park Area

SPECIES: White Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: White Bass: top water plugs, Coho Minnow lures | Crappie: crappie jigs, live minnows
CONTACT: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
TIPS: Sandies will be out of the creeks and hunting the shallows for spawning shad. Fish top water plugs or cohos. Crappie will still be spawning here and there. Fish in depths of 2-15 ft. with a crappie jig or minnow.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Flat Creek
GPS: N 32 12.996, W 95 32.9999
(32.2166, -95.5500)

Flat Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: White Shimmy Shakers, Big Eye Jig in black/blue and chartreuse/white spinnerbait, long jerkbaits
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
ricky@rickysguideservice.com
rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: “Bass fishing prospects are good this time of year. Fish are being caught up to the 10-pound range on white Shimmy Shakers, Big Eye Jigs, spinnerbaits and long jerkbaits. Best depths are 2-6 feet.
Work the back of Flat Creek, concentrating on the flats with flooded grass.”

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Dam Rock Island
GPS: N 30 18.66, W 96 32.604
(30.3110, -96.5434)

Dam Rock Island

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut Shad, CJ’s punch bait
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish are spawning around the rocks in this area. Fish the rocks along the shoreline using slip corks to suspend your bait.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: The North End & Washita Point
GPS: N 33 52.296, W 96 41.514
(33.8716, -96.6919)

The North End & Washita Point

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, top water plugs, live shad
CONTACT: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
bigfish@striperexpress.com
www.striperexpress.com
TIPS: “May is most fishermen’s favorite month of the year on Lake Texoma. Most of the stripers are finished with the spawn and are roaming the lake. Large schools of post spawn fish are hungry and will strike on artificial lures and live bait. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chug Bugs on the shallow banks early in the mornings. After the top water bite, switch to 1 oz. white Sassy Shad jigs or live shad. Work the jigs on main lake ledges to 30’ depths. Drift or anchor with live shad on the same ledges. Limits of the fish are common, and May is an exciting month on Lake Texoma. Bank Access: Plater Flats, Washita Point”

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump
GPS: N 31 54.672, W 97 20.868
(31.9112, -97.3478)

Whitney Hump

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad
CONTACT: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
teamredneck01@hotmail.com
www.teamredneck.net
TIPS: “The edge of Whitney Hump can be awesome this time of year for big stripers. Look in 18’ to 24’ of water along the edge of the hump and drop live shad on a Carolina rigs straight down to the bottom and reel up 3 turns off the bottom. Stripers are coming off the hump and also in the deeper water alongside the hump. Keep a good set of binoculars handy and watch the shallow water between Towash and Whitney Creeks from the hump. If you see bait fish flipping and birds lining the shallows, go run the shallow flats and throw top water baits like pencil poppers and Zara spooks for great top water action. STRIPER POINT: Some mornings the cranes and blues herons are lined up on the shoreline feeding on the shad. If you see that anchor out in 18’ to 20’ of water and cast live shad on a Carolina rig up shallow and hang on! Let the fish run for a second then cross their eyes with a solid hook set! If there are no birds along the shoreline, then back off to about 30’ and use live shad on a Carolina rig and fish between 18’ to 21’ below the boat. BANK ACCESS: LAKE WHITNEY STATE PARK”

LOCATION: Ray Roberts Lake
HOTSPOT: Main lake Brush Pile
GPS: N 33 23.392, W 97 3.126
(33.3899, -97.0521)

Main lake Brush Pile

SPECIES: Crappie/White bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs and slabs, flashy or shad colored shallow baits (crankbaits, roadrunners)
CONTACT: Justin Wilson
214-538-2780
TIPS: May is undoubtedly one of the best times to be on the water. Nice weather and both the white bass and crappie are as consistent as they come. Most of the fish have spawned and are heading back to the main lake with a few still hitting the creeks and they are hungry. Look for the white bass in large schools feeding heavy in early mornings and evening. I start my search around main lake points starting out deeper 25’ to 30’ and working my way shallow depending on where the bait fish are at that particular time of day. Slabs work very well when they’re in the deeper water and any shad colored, or flashy lure will work when they’re shallow. Crappie can still be found in the creeks this time of year depending on the weather but also held tight to main lake structure. I like to bounce around quite a bit directing my focus to trees and piles close to creek channels and occasional shallow rocks early and late in the day. Fishing jigs or minnows underneath a slip bobber is your best bet as these fish can change depths throughout the day just like the whites.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: 309 Flats
GPS: N 31 59.094, W 96 8.0099
(31.9849, -96.1335)

309 Flats

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: RSR 1 oz. silver slabs, Rat-L-Traps, Sassy Shad, Lil’ Georges
CONTACT: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
simmonsroyce@hotmail.com
www.gonefishin.biz
TIPS: “May is my FAVORITE MONTH of the spring as the warmer temperatures have arrived, much of the early spring rain is gone and the white bass fishing is as good as it gets. While you may experience a little bit of top water action, most fish will be caught on the humps, points and roadbeds on the main lake on 1 oz. silver slabs. Check out the always reliable 309 Flats in the 20-30-foot range. Watch for the birds and bait and load the ice chest!”

 

PANHANDLE

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Dam Area
GPS: N 33 3.702, W 101 3.192
(33.0617, 101.0532)

Dam Area

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Bass jigs, worms (like Senkos), shakey head jigs rigged with a worm, top water lures
CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
nclayton42@sbcglobal.net
http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm
TIPS: “May on Lake Alan Henry will find the bass in full spawn. In the clear water you can find lots of
bass on the beds. These bass will hit a worm or jig while guarding the bed. Fish can be caught in the dingy water by just fishing with jigs or worms such as Senkos, shakey heads with a worm, and some will hit a top water lures. To find the bedding bass, just go to any clear water area, get on the bank, and look for the beds. Clear water will mostly be found toward the dam. Dingy water will be up river and in some of the creeks.”

LOCATION: Lake Cisco
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 26.375, W 98 59.849
(32.43958, -98.997489)

Lake Cisco, Main Lake

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, worms
CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: Lake Cisco is a great reservoir for largemouth bass fishing. The clear water makes it an optimal place for using flashy lures such as spinner baits, umbrella rigs, as well as bright colored jerk and crank baits. Texas-rigged or whacky-rigged worms or crawdads in watermelon, white, bubblegum should yield a bite when fishing off shoreline structure.

LOCATION: Lake Stamford
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 33 2.9099, W 99 36.534
(33.0485, -99.6089)

Lake Stamford, Main Lake

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, spinnerbaits, live minnows.
CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: May is a great time to land white bass at Lake Stamford. Early morning and at dusk, fishermen can often find white bass shoaling at the surface while feeding on bait balls. Lures such as white or chrome colored slabs, 1/8-1/4 oz. spinnerbaits (white and/or chartreuse), as well as live minnows may yield a successful catch. During the day, slabbing mid-water column may be the best technique.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Harris Bend
GPS: N 32 51.705, W 98 25.896
(32.8618, -98.4316)

Harris Bend

SPECIES: Striped bass/Hybrids
BEST BAITS: Jigs, crankbaits, soft plastics
CONTACT: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
fav7734@aceweb.com
TIPS: May is one of my favorite months. Weather has finally settled and water temps are hitting the 70s. So, fishing is great! This is the time for just about anything matching the actions of a wounded shad. When downrigging, we use jigs tipped with Mister Twister curly tails. They are deadly on hybrids and stripers. Trolling big hard baits and soft plastics works, too. Even crankbaits and RatLTraps.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Harris Bend
GPS: N 32 51.705, W 98 25.896
(32.8618, -98.4316)

Harris Bend

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Slabs, cut shad
CONTACT: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
fav7734@aceweb.com
TIPS: Slabbing structure is a quick way to fill your limit for a fish fry, and fresh dead cut shad is also the ticket. Start shallow, about 10 feet, and work your way out of coves, off points and move out until you hit a breakline or find fish. Repeat exactly what you did to catch the first fish and continue. Before you know it, you’ll have your limit.

 

BIG BEND

LOCATION: Amistad
HOTSPOT: Evans Creek
GPS: N29 30.22296, W100 55.6938
(29.503716, -100.928230)

Evans Creek

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, swimbaits, topwaters, plastic worms
CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl
830-768-3648,
stan@amistadbass.com,
amistadbass.com
TIPS: The bass will be in all phases of the spawn. Some will be caught on topwater lures shallow. My favorite is to fish the deeper points near creek channels slow-rolling spinnerbaits or on crankbaits. Some bedding fish can be seen on non-windy days.

 

HILL COUNTRY

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Canyon Park Point
GPS: N 29 53.2559, W 98 13.638
(29.8876, -98.2273)

Canyon Park Point

SPECIES: Striped Bass, White Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Hogies 4” Super Shad pearl/black back
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
TIPS: Look for the striped bass to be shallow (20-40 feet). They will be suspending over the river channel and feeding on the point in this area. Fishing the Super Shad close to the bottom produces fish in this area. Tight lines and fish-on!

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Ridges and Humps – Upper Half Lake
GPS: N 30 51.096, W 98 24.972
(30.8516, -98.4162)

Ridges and Humps – Upper Half Lake

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad and slabs
CONTACT: Clancy Terrill
512-633-6742
centraltexasfishing@gmail.com
www.centraltexasfishing.com
TIPS: Striper and white bass fishing action is excellent this time of year. Fish live bait drifting or anchored or use jigging slabs in 20 to 30 feet. Concentrate on ridges and humps in the upper half of lake.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Dam Area
GPS: N 30 45.3899, W 98 25.3679
(30.7565, -98.4228)

Dam Area

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Threadfin shad
CONTACT: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
kmilam@verizon.net
www.striperfever.com.com
TIPS: The striper maybe heading to the dam. It depends on if we have had a warm Spring or not! If it stayed cool, we will be catching them around the windy points where the threadfin shad are on their spawning run. Threadfin shad will spawn up to 6 times a year so throughout out the year you can catch them. Stripers, hybrids, white bass, etc. love to eat threadfin shad!

 

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points
GPS: N 28 43.41, W 97 10.2359
(28.7235, -97.1706)

Main Lake Points

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits in black or white, Zoom flukes in pearl white
CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service
361-960-0566
TIPS: May can be a great month for bass fishing as there are a lot of fry in the water. On Coleto I like fishing up in the rivers. It all depends on the water level on the days I fish. I usually always throw my Zoom pearl white split tail fluke dipped slightly in chartreuse and rigged weightless. Early morning, they will hit it top water style but then, as the sun comes up, I let it sink about a foot. Buzz baits are fun this time of year also. I throw a 1/2-ounce Lunker usually white or black and retrieve it as slow as I can around hydrilla. Anywhere from 1 foot to 4-5 foot deep water.

Get More HOTSPOTS Here Return to CONTENTS Page

Roy Neves

Recent Posts

Three Things that Make Your Fishing Life Easier

Fishing is a hands-on activity for sure, and many of us don't necessarily want to…

13 hours ago

Lake Amistad “Infested” With Zebra Mussels

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has designated the International Amistad Reservoir in the…

1 day ago

Wildlife Crossing Project Move Forward For Sake of Bighorns

The Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) have secured…

1 day ago

Confirmation Made In Fatal Mountain Lion Attack

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has confirmed that the mountain lion euthanized…

1 day ago

Texas Youth Wins Austin Stevens Young Adventurer Award

Higher Calling Wildlife®, the youth conservation outreach founded by wildlife journalist and conservationist Chester Moore…

2 days ago

Texas State Parks Offer Eclipse Viewing Opportunity

Less than a month remains until the highly anticipated total eclipse adorns Texas skies. On…

2 days ago