PINEY WOODS

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Ray Branch
GPS: N 32 48.6059, W 95 34.296
(32.8101, -95.5716)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs in blue ice color with Bobby Garland jig bodies
CONTACT: Doug Shampine
940-902-3855
doug@lakeforktrophybass.com
www.lakeforktrophybass.com
TIPS: With the dog days of summer here, it’s hard to believe the fish will be biting in this heat! But they are biting! That is why I love crappie fishing on Lake Fork because the fish are always active and very catchable on jigs and minnows. I am fishing the deeper brush piles I have put out on the lake and we start early and are off the lake by noon. The best places to look for the deeper bite will be at the mouth of Ray Branch, mouth of Little Caney and the mouth of Chaney. This is the deeper end of the lake and you will find the crappie in the 24- to 27-foot range. My best color of jig will be blue ice using the Bobby Garland jig bodies.

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Deep Points, Humps and Road Beds
GPS: N 32 49.764, W 95 35.892
(32.8294, -95.5982)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: “Top water poppers and frogs, Vicktory Jig from Finch Nasty Bait Company
Football head Jig this time of year green pumpkin
Orange and peanut butter jelly colors with Grandebass Mega Craw trailer, deep diving crankbaits in shad colors”
CONTACT: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
lance@lakeforkbass.com
www.guideonlakefork.com
TIPS: “Look for shad activities shallow around grass early. Catch them with topwater poppers and frogs. Then head out to deep points, humps and road beds. The Vicktory Jig from Finch Nasty Bait Company is the go to football head jig this time of year with green pumpkin orange and peanut butter jelly being great colors to use. Use Grandebass Mega Claws in green pumpkin as a trailer. Fish on 14 lb. fluorocarbon slow on the bottom, 15-25 foot deep. If it is windy throw a deep diving crank bait in shad colors tied on 12-pound monofilament. Fishing can be best during the heat of the day. Good fishing to all! “

LOCATION: Sam Rayburn Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Offshore River Ledges
GPS: N 31 6.9539, W 94 14.64
(31.1159, -94.2440)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water frogs, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, big crankbaits, 10” Texas rigged worms
CONTACT: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
TIPS: Sam Rayburn in August should be fabulous all over this giant lake. There should be a great topwater frog bite over the pepper grass mats. If the lake stays at about the same level, there should be good early/late action on the outside edges of the hay grass on plastics and spinnerbaits for solid 2 to 5 lb. fish. Look for bigger trophy size lunkers on offshore river ledges, creek bends, junctions and humps.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend Res.
HOTSPOT: Lower 1/3 of Main Lake
GPS: N 31 12.174, W 93 36.6419
(31.2029, -93.6107)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass & Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics Crappie: jigs and minnows
CONTACT: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
TIPS: August at Toledo Bend can be great for a bass fisherman with a big “IF”. IF he understands deep water electronics and if he can stand the summer heat. The best bites will be along the old river ledges and offshore humps in 25 to 30-foot depths. Look for the south 1/3 of the lake with the clearest water to be the best producing area. Crappie fishing will remain strong on man-made brush piles in 25 to 30 feet.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend North
HOTSPOT: Martinez Bayou
GPS: N 31 35.406, W 93 50.5679
(31.5901, -93.8428)

SPECIES: Black Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures, crankbaits, soft plastics
CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages
936-368-7151
gregcrafts@yahoo.com
www.toledobendguide.com
TIPS: Early morning and late evening we’re working shallow grass flats, lily pads and pepper grass close to deep water with top water plugs, stick baits, frogs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, shallow diving and lipless crank baits and finesse plastics (Senkos, Flukes, and Trick worms). When the sun gets overhead, or the bite slows down, back out to deeper water along creek channel drops, river ledges, timberlines, main lake ridges and humps, secondary and main lake points with mid to deep diving crank baits, slab spoons, tail spinners and Texas or Carolina rigged soft plastics. Watch for schooling bass and keep a lipless crankbait, shallow diving crankbait and top water plug handy.

 

PRAIRIES & LAKES

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Trees at Intake Channel
GPS: N 30 36.8999, W 96 4.29
(30.6150, -96.0715)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch bait, cut shad
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Plant is up and running now and producing a slight current. Chum and allow 15 minutes for chum to work, drift a slip cork set right off the bottom through the chum.

LOCATION: Bachman Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.02
(32.8531, -96.8670)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and chatterbaits
CONTACT: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
TIPS: This time of year, bass will usually always be in 1 to 5 feet of water until August then they move out a little deeper in the middle of the lake. Spinnerbaits seem to work the best along with chatterbaits. When It gets warmer and it’s super bright out, fish the bridges or the rip rap where there is access to deeper water.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 14.154, W 96 5.97
(32.2359, -96.0995)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad or other cut bait
CONTACT: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: This month we are drifting bobbers. Set out several rods with floating rigs anywhere from 2’ to 6’ below the surface in 12’ to 35’ of water and drift with shad or other cut bait. Use a drift sock if wind is blowing. Cover long stretches and you’ll find the fish.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Old Walnut Creek Bed
GPS: N 32 53.74, W 97 29.907
(32.8957, -97.4985)

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Hell Pet
CONTACT: Johnny Stevens
817-597-6598
johnnysguideservice.com
johnnystevens@1scom.net
TIPS: This area is the old walnut creek bed. Troll the hell pet rig in this area. Sandbass love this area as the water reaches summertime temperature. The hell pet rig is a hell bender with the hooks removed. Put a 1/2 oz bell sinker on the front screw. In the back screw put a 2ft. leader with a pet spoon attached to it.

LOCATION: Fayette County Res.
HOTSPOT: Point Off Third Boat Ramp
GPS: N 29 55.878, W 96 43.368
(29.9313, -96.7228)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Water is 20-foot-deep here off the point. Anchor and chum straight down. Use a tight line fishing just off from the bottom.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Standing Timber and San Gabriel River
GPS: N 30 39.894, W 97 23.094
(30.6649, -97.3849)

SPECIES: Crappie & Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crappie: jigs and minnows | Largemouth Bass: crankbaits, worms, spinnerbaits
CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
crappie1@hotmail.com
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: Now is a good time to catch crappie in standing timber at the mouth of the river and creek. They are many times suspended at about 6 feet deep over 8 to 12 feet of water. However, you need to try different depths to locate the active crappie. This pattern is better than other times of year because the water clears up with light winds during August. Jigs or minnows will work for this pattern. | The black bass are schooling up river where large concentrations of shad are located. The best bite is mid-day. All of the standard bass baits will work but I like to use a Bomber Model A crankbait in shad color. The black bass fishing is better now than it has been in 20 years so get out there and catch some. Good luck and good fishing.

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

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Live Shad and Perch. White or Chartreuse Curly Tail trailers on large pony head jigs for downrigging.
CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
TIPS: Work channel ledges near feeding flats. Fish large live baits behind the boat under a balloon for the bigger stripers to 12 pounds. If possible let the bait drift under the balloon near shallow points/flats where top water action is taking place. Granbury water temperatures continue in the upper 80’s and summertime is in full force. Thermocline is present, and all fish are in the top layer of water.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: County Line Area
GPS: N 32 11.1419, W 95 27.306
(32.1857, -95.4551)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: Indian swim jig w/ Mister Twister Hawg Frog as trailer | Crappie: jigs
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
ricky@rickysguideservice.com
www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Bass fishing is good around boat docks and along the creek in the county line area. Concentrate on stumps and other structure. For crappie action, fish brush piles in 15 feet of water and under bridges.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: Brush Pile
GPS: N 33 24.127, W 97 5.314
(33.4021, -97.0886)

SPECIES: Crappie, white bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, swimbaits
CONTACT: Justin Wilson
214-538-2780
justinwilson371@yahoo.com
TIPS: White bass are still really good on topwaters early in the morning and should continue throughout the month. The shad spawn was a few weeks later than normal this year, so I look to see the topwater bite last a little bit longer than usual. When you find them on top, I recommend small swimbaits, white or chartreuse on a 1/4 oz jig head. They will hit just about anything when they’re schooling but using the single hook makes for a quicker release and more time catching vs a treble hook on a hard plastic. The crappie bite has been good, still catching quite a few smaller fish. Summer fishing pressure has the ratio of keepers to throwbacks at about 1:3 but with an occasional big fish. Look for these fish holding close to brush piles in 25-35 foot of water. Jigs are working but the quality of fish seem to be better on minnows.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Rock Island Brush
GPS: N 30 18.486, W 96 31.4339
(30.3081, -96.5239)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Water is pretty deep here. Tight line minnows straight down or use a 1/16 oz jig in grey or black chartreuse. Let jig free fall from time to time.

PANHANDLE

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Dam – Deep Water Area
GPS: N 33 3.6959, W 101 3.1229
(33.0616, -101.0521)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spoons, jigs, spinner jigs
CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
nclayton42@sbcglobal.net
www.lakealanhenry.com
TIPS: “August is the perfect month to try to fish at night to beat the heat. At night you have the lake to yourself. It’s cool and the fish usually bite. At night, I fish mostly the clear water area on Alan Henry with big worms. The clear water will mostly be found near the dam area. If fishing in the day time, you will need to use your depth finder to locate the schools of shad. If you find the shad, you will find the bass. The bass this time of year will be schooled up in the channels of the
creeks and in the mouths of the creeks. The shad schools can be anywhere, and it changes from day to day. Here today, gone tomorrow. Fish fun-Fish safe!”

LOCATION: Ft. Phantom Hill Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 34.074, W 99 40.902
(32.5679, -99.6817)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, soft plastics
CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, TPWD
325-692-0921
michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov
TIPS: Ft. Phantom Hill has been producing many catches of quality largemouth bass and hybrid stripers. This hotspot is primarily for largemouth bass, but many anglers have also caught hybrids incidentally while targeting the “toads.” Consider throwing flashy lures such as 1/8-1/2 oz. spinner baits, chrome or white RatLtraps, and Texas rigged soft plastics. Live shad will also work well for catching hybrids. See what is happening in the Abilene District on our Facebook page. Check out the TPWD Catfish Management Plan.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Stump Patch
GPS: N 32 52.516, W 98 29.427
(32.8753, -98.4905)

SPECIES: Striped bass, hybrids
BEST BAITS: Live bait, jigs, topwaters
CONTACT: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
fav7734@acweb.com
TIPS: Dog days of August mean fish early, under cloud cover and at dark. We are still trolling bucktail jigs with Mister Twister Curly Tails and doing well. But if you can get live bait and keep it alive, that’s best. Fish on days with cloud cover for topwater action and live bait and trolling in the dark and early morning. This is the time of year perch work best because it’s hard to keep your water cool and you have to drop baits down and slowly acclimate them, 10 feet at a time or the cooker depths will kill them. The formula is 10 feet = 10 degrees and if I don’t like 10 I will use 8 with better results to get bait in the 20- to 30-foot depths alive. This end of the lake is back to crystal clear like 25 years ago, so if they can see you, you probably won’t get bit unless they are schooling.

 

BIG BEND

LOCATION: Amistad
HOTSPOT: Pencil Point
GPS: N29 36.35118, W100 58.4484
(29.605853, -100.974140)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Carolina-rigged worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits
CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl
830-768-3648
stan@amistadbass.com
amistadbass.com
TIPS: Fish the under-water ledges and end of the narrow point with a deep-diving crankbait early, slowly working the lure across the end of the point for feeding fish. After the sun rises, work the under-water brush and stumps with Carolina-rigged worms.

 

HILL COUNTRY

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Scuba Diver’s Point
GPS: N 29 51.8879, W 98 12.8399
(29.8648, -98.2140)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Rapala Snap Rap in gold orange color
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com
www.sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Fish this area from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped bass on your fishfinder. When located, I hold the boat in place with my trolling motor and vary presentation with the Snap Rap until we get a strike. The west side of the point seems to produce best. Tight lines and fish on!

LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 19.464, W 97 50.316
(30.3244, -97.8386)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: V&M Wild Thang 8.5, V&M Chopsticks, Picasso Shake E Football, Picasso Shad Walker, V&M Pacemaker Jigs mated with V&M Twin Tail Trailer or Split Tail Beaver
CONTACT: Brian Parker – Lake Austin Fishing
817-808-2227
TIPS: This is the time of year to start working the Picasso Shad Walker and V&M Bayou Frog early in the morning as the fish are up feeding around the bank edges. Once the top water bite ends, I start working the Chopstick and Wild Thang with a T-rig and C-rig in 10-15 feet. If the water temps start off above 84 degrees or there’s a lot of boat traffic, I’ll go from the topwater bite to throwing Picasso Shake E Football with a Wild Thang or a Pacemaker Jig in 15 feet of water. The keys to August fishing at Lake Austin are to fish top waters at dawn and dusk then deeper water with jigs, T-rig, and C-rig during the day and night. You can get the the V&M and Picasso baits at Fisherman’s Corner by Canyon Lake, Tightlines Premium Fishing Tackle in Killeen, and Marine Outlet in Temple.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 46.104, W 98 26.9879
(30.7684, -98.4498)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Stripers: Live shad | Catfish: Cut shad
CONTACT: Clancy Terrill
512-633-6742
centraltexasfishing@gmail.com
www.centraltexasfishing.com
TIPS: “Concentrate your fishing efforts on the lower half of lake in the early morning and late afternoon. Fish live shad for stripers drifting or anchored in 25’-40’ of water.
Also drift tops of trees in 60’ of water. Catfish are good to catch this time of year with live bait in 30’-40’ of water on ridge drop offs. Anchor and fish with rod and reel or fish juglines with cut shad in 15’-28’ of water.”

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: River Channel and Dam Area
GPS: N 30 45.612, W 98 25.488
(30.7602, -98.4248)

SPECIES: Stripers, Hybrid Bass, & White Bass
BEST BAITS: Cut shad
CONTACT: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
kmilam@verizon.net
www.striperfever..com
TIPS: August is not a good month for striper fishing in Texas. Stripers come from the Atlantic and like cool water! There is nothing cool about August in Texas – temperature-wise! But saying that we do catch stripers in August. Fish along the river channel and down around the dam especially if LCRA is generating hard. White bass can be found along the ridges and humps anywhere along the river channel.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Jacobs Creek Point Area
GPS: N 29 52.788, W 98 13.5299
(29.8798, -98.2255)

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: Drop-shots, Shaky Head jigs, crankbaits, buzz baits, and flukes; Crappie: Minnows and jigs under slip bobbers.
CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd
210-771-0123
barry@teachemtofish.net
www.teachemtofish.net
TIPS: Bass and crappie are settled into their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deep water ledges, points and cover. For bass, spend most of your time fishing points with deep diving crank baits and soft plastics. For crappie, look for channels bends or points with brush piles. There are some brush piles on this point and some pretty good break lines near deeper water. If you’re on the water right at daylight just before dark, throw a topwater or buzzbait for some fun action and remember to always look for fish breaking the surface in a feeding frenzy. When crappie fishing, start with the brush piles found on the point. Use minnows or jigs under slip bobbers.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Honeymoon Hump Area
GPS: N 30 34.35, W 98 21.474
(30.5725, -98.3579)

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: Top water lures, buzzbaits, soft plastics, umbrella rigs, and lipless crankbaits; Crappie: jigs and minnows under slip bobbers.
CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd
210-771-0123
barry@teachemtofish.net
www.teachemtofish.net
TIPS: Bass and crappie are settled into their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deep water ledges and points. They prefer cover near these areas or around grass edges. For bass, work topwaters, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits before the sun comes up and just before dark. During the day, go deeper with soft plastics, umbrella rigs and spinnerbaits around grass edges. Find brush piles and you should find crappie. For this Hotspot there is plenty of vegetation in water less than 14’ plus it has fast break lines off the hump. There is also deep water close by to hold some big bass during the hot days.

LOCATION: Travis
HOTSPOT: Arrowhead Point
GPS: N30 25.54074
W97 53.70624
(30.425679, -97.895104)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Lures: 1/8-1/4 oz. jigheads rigged with grubs or shad shaped soft plastics and small jigging spoons for Largemouth, Guadalupe
White & Striped Bass as well as Crappie
CONTACT:
Mike Hastings
512-773-7401
gitbitfishing@gmail.com
www.gitbitguideservice.com
TIPS: Isolated boat docks (with bright lights aimed at the water) located on the main lake and in the mouths of major creeks: Briarcliff, Bee Creek, Hurst Creek, Sandy Creek, and Cypress Creek.

 

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Sulphur Creek
GPS: N 28 43.3224, W 97 11.6759
(28.7220, -97.1946)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics,
CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service
361-960-0566
TIPS: August is hot, hot, hot! It’s that time of year where metabolisms are high, and the bass stay hungry. Bigger baits always work better this time of year. Why waste time on a lot of little fry when you can get it done in one bite? That’s what the bass are thinking, so to speak. The reason we have a bigger population of bigger bass in the south is because we have longer stretches of warmer weather. And the fish feed more year around. This time of year, fish are feeding more so any bait that looks handicapped or chunky looks great to fish. Early morning and late evening are always good and cooler. Always remember to keep extra water and if you feel like you are overheating, run for shade or just dip your hat or shirt in the water. No fish is worth a stroke or worse. As always, remember to have fun. May your bites be big and your fish be healthy.

LOCATION: Choke Canyon Res.
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 29.274, W 98 22.8239
(28.4879, -98.3804)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, cut bait
CONTACT: Charlie Brown
830-780-2162
TIPS: Expect to find catfish in shallow and in deep water this time of year. Use a float rigged to 3 feet and move to another spot if you don’t get a bite within 10-15 minutes. For deeper water, fish on the bottom.

 

 

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