PINEY WOODS

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 26.208, W 95 36.654
(30.4368, -95.6109)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Pop’rs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits
CONTACT: Richard Tatsch
936-661-7920
admin@fishdudetx.com
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: “The black bass will begin to feed on shad in preparation for the cold weather when they will begin to selectively feed. Baits like Pop’rs and buzzbaits will work well on overcast days. If you’re on the water this time of year immediately after a cold front (up to the 3rd day after) and it is at daylight or an overcast day locate the rip rap rock around the lake and start by throwing a small single blade spinner bait at the rocks, then retrieving it back at a very fast rate where the bait is waking the surface. This is a very productive and very fast way to catch a number of fish that will attempt to pull the rod out of your hands! The next thing to try would be a Pop’r top water lure. Work this bait in the same areas and alternate between the spinnerbait to determine which they want on that particular day. Another tried and true method is the Bass Assassin shad. I rig them using a barrel swivel and about a 10-inch leader to keep my line from twisting. Then depending on what I want the bait to do or how fast I want to work it will determine the hook size I use. If I want it on the surface I will rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 hook. If I want it deeper, I will use a 5/0 hook. The way I work it is an erratic fast twitching action. Good Luck and Good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina. Like The FishDude’s Guide service on Facebook for daily updates!”

LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Big Cypress Bayou
GPS: N 32 44.0219, W 94 6.432
(32.7337, -94.1072)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shad colored flukes, top water lures, Texas-rigged worms, umbrella rigs
CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith
318-455-3437
caddoguide1@att.net
www.caddolakefishing.com
TIPS: “Fish this bayou using most any shad imitation-styled lure, concentrating on the bends and creek intersections. Watch for shad and schooling activity this month. October is just the beginning of some of the best fishing of the year with November and December usually being even better.”

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Dale Creek
GPS: N 32 49.686, W 95 33.582
(32.8281, -95.5597)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs in electric chicken (green /chartreuse) on a 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz. pink jig head, minnows
CONTACT: Doug Shampine
940-902-3855
doug@lakeforktrophybass.com
www.lakeforktrophybass.com
TIPS: October is a great month to fish Lake Fork! The water is cooling down and the fish are feeding up for the winter. Other than May/June, October is my favorite month to fish for crappie. I have many brush piles in Lake Fork and the crappie stack up in the brush in the fall. We catch crappie from 18-24 feet depending on how fast the water temperature cools off. My favorite color jig will be the electric chicken (green /chartreuse) on a 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz. pink jig head. Minnows will also work so I take both on my trips. I can fish 4 adults in my 22 ft bay boat and furnish everything for your trip. Some of the places we will visit will be Little Caney, Chaney, mouth of Ray, and Dale Creeks, just to name a few.

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Upper Lake
GPS: N 32 55.7412, W 95 38.508
(32.9290, -95.6418)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: “Spoons, Carolina rigs with a Grandebass Air Tail Flash in sexy shad color or a Victory Jig by Finch Nasty Jigs in peanut butter jelly color with a Grandebass Mega Claw trailer in trophy hunter color, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, small crankbaits”
CONTACT: Lance Vick
(903) 312-0609
lance@lakeforkbass.com
www.guideonlakefork.com
TIPS: “October is start of the fall feeding frenzy. The shorter days and winter coming on seems to trigger fish to eat. The fall turnover is done, making the water good for all depths of fishing. Shallow fish are good on spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and small crankbaits. Look for grass beds, creek channels and points. Deep fish can be found in points and humps that are loaded with shad. Catch them on spoons, Carolina rigs with a Grandebass Air Tail Flash in sexy shad or a Victory Jig by Finch Nasty jigs in peanut butter jelly color with a Grandebass Mega Claw trailer in trophy hunter color. Best bite pattern is shallow early, then deeper later in the day. Good fishing to all! “

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: The Pocket
GPS: N 30 55.662, W 95 15.054
(30.9277, -95.2509)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Charlie’s June Bug 6” Gecko, Charlie’s 1/4 oz. Green Pumpkin swimming jig tipped with Charlie’s Chunk Green Pumpkin/Blue Flake
CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
dave@palmettoguideservice.com
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: “Look for clear or green water here in October. Flip docks, lay downs, boat houses and rocks. BANK ACCESS: Public boat ramp at Hwy 19 bridge or Bethy Creek Resort.”

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Rocky Creek
GPS: N 31 12.048, W 94 10.08
(31.2008, -94.1680)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shallow crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swim baits.
CONTACT: Mike Knight
(936) 635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
TIPS: Temperatures are falling, and shad are migrating. Lots of bass will move shallow and start following the shad. Vegetation in shallow pockets from the middle to the back of all the creeks will hold lots of bass. There are no bad creeks to fish on Rayburn in the fall.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend Lake
HOTSPOT: San Miguel Creek Area
GPS: N 31 33.5939, W 93 42.0659
(31.5599, -93.7011)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, small swimbaits
CONTACT: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
TIPS: Water temperatures are finally starting to drop. Shad schools are starting to migrate toward the backs of major creeks. The bass will follow them. Use your electronics to find the bait and you will be on the fish. “ Match the hatch” with shad type lures: crankbaits, spinnerbaits and small swimbaits. San Miguel, San Patricio and Lanan creeks are a good bet.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend North
HOTSPOT: Buzzard’s Bend (River Channel Sandbars)
GPS: N 31 40.128, W 93 48.966
(31.6688, -93.8161)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, tail spinners, Rat-L-Traps
CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages
936-368-7151
gregcrafts@yahoo.com
www.toledobendguide.com
TIPS: The days are getting shorter and the water temperature is starting to fall. When this happens it triggers a natural instinct in the fish to start feeding heavy and bulking up for the coming winter. The white bass will start migrating to the north end of the lake holding on the main river channel sandbars. The Whites will be stacked up and it’s not unusual to limit out in no time. The creel is 25 per person. You’ll see a lot of schooling activity. Look for the gulls diving on the bait fish the whites push to the surface. Keep a top water plug or Rat-L-Trap handy when they’re schooling as well.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Cades Cove Area
GPS: N 32 18.114, W 95 27.0959
(32.3019, -95.4516)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: deep diving BD7 crankbaits, 3/4 oz. Big Eye jigs, Carolina rigs | Crappie: jigs and minnows
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
ricky@rickysguideservice.com
www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: “Water temperatures will still be in the low 90s to upper 80s. Fish along the edges of the river and be sure fish slowly for best results. The river has many areas to fish and fishing the river can reward you with some very good bass. Crappie will be very good under the Highway 155 road bridges on jigs and small minnows.”

LOCATION: Bachman Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 51.564, W 96 51.45
(32.8594, -96.8575)

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 line. Crappie are under the bridge this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet right now.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks
GPS: N 32 14.9819, W 96 6.144
(32.2497, -96.1024)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs
CONTACT: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: This month we are dock shooting” or shooting crappie jigs under main lake docks with 6 feet or more of water under them. Fish all main lake docks this way and you should end up with some crappie action.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: 50 yards to 300 yards North of Dam
GPS: N 32 52.709, W 97 28.044
(32.8785, -97.4674)

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Slab with a fly 12 in. above it.
CONTACT: Johnny Stevens
817-597-6598
johnnystevens@1scon.net
johnnysguideservice.com
TIPS: This area just north of the dam is a series of humps, ridges and ditches. Never seems to be any fish in the bottom of the ditches. Use your electronics and look on top of the ridges and along the slopes. When you locate fish anchor over them and use a vertical jigging method on them. If you prefer to cast to them. Use a slab and fly combo and let it go to the bottom and hop it back to the boat.

LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Mud Bank
GPS: N 29 55.212, W 96 43.05
(29.9202, -96.7175)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shrimp
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish lake point and timber edge. Night time is best here. Use a slip cork to float bait and prevent hook ups on submerged timber.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Eagle Point, South Side
GPS: N 30 37.92, W 96 2.7899
(30.6320, -96.0465)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shad
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish 6-8 feet deep near submerged timber. Blues and channels come to chum here regularly. Larger fish are being caught in the late evenings or early mornings.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 42.048, W 97 21.0239
(30.7008, -97.3504)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles
CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
crappie1@hotmail.com
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: This month is one of the best months this year for crappie at Granger Lake. This has been a year where most crappie caught have been very fat and thick but just short of keeper size. Now most of those fat crappie are over the ten-inch limit and catching a limit is very easy. The cooler weather and lack of boat traffic make for some very good fishing. All you need is a Marabou jig (I prefer a Dan’s jig) tipped with a white Berkley Crappie Nibble. These have been working very well all year. Crappie are in shallow water from 3 to 7 feet deep on any structure either man made or natural timber. Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: 10-foot Hump near Blue Water Shores
GPS: N 32 23.189, W 97 42.441
(32.3865, -97.7074)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinner baits, rattletraps, top water spooks, white frogs and power worms later in the am.
CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
817-578-0023
TIPS: Blacks are schooling with the sandbass on several areas of the lake. Work points with stick-ups and look for bird action shallow.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points
GPS: N 33 3.0659, W 96 28.3739
(33.0511, -96.4729)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: 1-2 oz chartreuse or white slabs, soft plastic Cohos in white or yellow
CONTACT: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
TIPS: Fish in 10-25 feet on structure and main lake points with slabs. Throw soft plastic Cohos in white or yellow when the fish are on the surface or shallower than 6 feet.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 31 59.334, W 96 8.2679
(31.9889, -96.1378)

SPECIES: Crappie & White Bass
BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs, minnows, 1 oz. silver RSR slabs
CONTACT: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
simmonsroyce@hotmail.com
www.gonefishin.biz
TIPS: Early fall can be some of the very best crappie and white bass fishing of the year. We often conduct a morning trip where we fish half the time for each species. Most of the more serious crappie fishermen find and fish brush piles. The crappie prefer structure and brush piles attract bait fish also. While some fishermen fish with crappie jigs, we prefer small minnows tight lined on light line. After we get a nice ice chest of crappie we head to the humps and drop offs with our 1 oz. silver RSR slabs to get in on the white bass action! It doesn’t get much better than this!

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: State Park Cove
GPS: N 33 22.395, W 97 1.941
(33.3733, -97.0324)

SPECIES: Crappie, white bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, 3/4-oz. slabs
CONTACT: Justin Wilson
214-538-2780
justinwilson371@yahoo.com
TIPS: Most of the summer weather is starting to move out and the lowering temperatures and great fishing make October one of the best times of the entire year to be on the lake. The white bass are excellent on main lake points in 25-40 feet of water. I like to use a 1-oz., white and chartreuse slab jigged off the bottom where there is a school of feeding fish waiting to eat. The crappie can be found on structure at the same depths as the whites. The bigger crappie are starting to feed better than they have the past few summer months, making it a lot easier to fill the cooler. Jigs are working well but minnows will be your most consistent bait. When you find a brush pile holding fish you can usually catch quite a few in one spot as long as you fish it diligently and work all around the pile including the edges and different depths of higher or lower brush.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Brushy Point Shoreline
GPS: N 30 20.562, W 96 33.6119
(30.3427, -96.5602)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shad, shrimp
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish 2-3 feet deep, near the cane. Use tight lines within 20 feet of the cane. Using a longer leader here could lead to more hook ups.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: North Island and Tabletop
GPS: N 33 52.068, W 96 41.67
(33.8678, -96.6945)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water plugs, Sassy Shad jigs
CONTACT: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
bigfishlaketexoma@gmail.com
www.striperexpress.com
TIPS: “The big fish are on the banks early mornings in October.
Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chug Bugs for vicious strikes in shallow water. Mid-morning change your lures to 4”” Sassy Shad jigs on a 1 oz. jig head. Favorite colors are white glow and chartreuse fleck. Always keep your eyes on the seagulls. They can locate schools of stripers roaming open water. Live shad fishing is also an excellent way to catch stripers.
Locate the fish on the ledges, anchor up and place your bait 3 turns off the bottom. The best depth will average 30 feet deep. Bank Access: Washita Point and Platter Flats”

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Striper Point
GPS: N 31 54.966, W 97 23.0579
(31.9161, -97.3843)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Redfins, live shad
CONTACT: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
teamredneck01@hotmail.com
www.teamredneck.net
TIPS: Early morning run the shoreline of Striper Point down along all the Willow Island area and make long casts with a redfin, retrieving it back to the boat and making it wobble on the surface. When the striper blows up, wait until the rod doubles up with the weight of the fish and then set the hook. After the sun gets up back off the points and drift the same area in 20 feet of water. Fish live shad about 12 to 15 feet down.

 

 

PANHANDLE

LOCATION: Lake Leon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 21.6379, W 98 43.514
(32.3606, -98.7252)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, soft plastics, crankbaits
CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr.
325-692-0921
michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov
TIPS: Lake Leon has been well known for its largemouth bass fishery. Topwaters should produce a bite in early morning and near dusk. During the day, consider throwing Texas-rigged soft plastics or crank-baits.

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Little Grape Creek
GPS: N 33 2.754, W 101 3.6659
(33.0459, -101.0611)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shaky head jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater lures
CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
nclayton42@sbcglobal.net
www.lakealanhenry.com/fishing-guides.html
TIPS: “In October, as the cold fronts start coming in, the bass will begin moving into all the creeks on the lake. On Lake Alan Henry, fall is one of the best fishing times on the lake. Not much boat traffic and the bass will be fattening up for the winter.”

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Broadway
GPS: N 32 52.724, W 98 31.809
(32.8787, -98.5302)

SPECIES: White, striped bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, live bait, jigs
CONTACT: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
fav7734@aceweb.com
TIPS: Fall is here, and fishing is great. Fish are fattening up for the fall run and spawn or faux spawn. You can troll RatLTraps and cranks for white bass and most other fish, but of course live bait is best for quick numbers. We also are still catching nice big stripers down rigging. We use jigs with Mister Twister Curlytails, but a lot of thing work this time of year.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Costello Island
GPS: N 32 54.5126, W 98 27.6275
(32.9085, -98.4605)

SPECIES: Catfish, crappie
BEST BAITS: Fresh shad, minnows, crappie jigs
CONTACT: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
fav7734@aceweb.com
TIPS: Catfish are great north of Costello Island on fresh dead cut bait shad and crappie good in same areas with crappie minnows or crappie jigs. Keep your drag backed off though as you might catch the biggest bass or striper while catfishing or crappie fishing. Start by working the 20 and 30-foot breaklines. The fish use these as natural highways all year long, but while migrating as they do in the fall, they use them even more.

 

 

BIG BEND

LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: Deep Water Points
GPS: N 29 29.67126, W 101 8.2884
(29.494521, -101.138140)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: topwater lures, Texas-rigged soft plastics, crankbaits
CONTACT: James Burkeen
830-309-9720
jjburkeen@gmail.com
amistadbassin.com
TIPS: Move close to the steep banks early with topwater lures. As the sun rises, back off 10-15 yards and fish shallow-diving crankbaits or Texas-rigged plastic worms off the sloping banks. Fish Carolina rigs over deep hydrilla beds at mid-day.

 

 

HILL COUNTRY

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake to Dam Area
GPS: N 30 49.992, W 98 24.324
(30.8332, -98.4054)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad
CONTACT: Clancy Terrill
512-633-6742
centraltexasfishing@gmail.com
www.centraltexasfishing.com
TIPS: “Fish drifting or anchored with live shad from mid-lake to the dam. Fish 40 to 50 foot of water with baits at 30 feet. Lake should still be turning over but will soon stop and, once it does, move to deeper water later in the morning and mid-day to fish the tops of the trees.”

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 47.012, W 98 25.634
(30.7835, -98.4272)

SPECIES: Stripers, Hybrid Bass, & White Bass
BEST BAITS: White and yellow pony head jigs 1/2 oz. with white or yellow worms
CONTACT: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
kmilam@verizon.net
www.striperfever.com
TIPS: “Stripers are just starting up from the summer heat. Look for them along the tree lines along the river channel. Trolling with white and yellow pony head jigs 1/2 oz. with white or yellow worms have been a good producer. Live shad are always working! As always have fun and enjoy our Great Texas Outdoors.”

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Diver’s Point
GPS: N 29 52.2479, W 98 12.276
(29.8708, -98.2046)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Whopper Plopper
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com
www.sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: October is top water time on Canyon Lake. Fish the point from 20 to 50-foot-deep and look for schools surface feeding in this area. Tight lines and fish on!

LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Flats & Docks
GPS: N 30 19.740, W 97 49.584
(30.329, -97.8264)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: V&M Wild Craw, V&M Wild Thang, V&M Trickster, Picasso Shad Walker
CONTACT: Brian Parker – Lake Austin Fishing
817-808-2227
TIPS: This time of year is when the water temperatures start to drop and the bass begin to actively feed. Most of the larger bass will tend to feed on bigger meals so I tie on a Texas Rig with a V&M Wild Thang or Trickster and throw around the docks. I also like throwing a Pacemaker Jig with a Wild Craw on the flats/shallows and work it towards deeper water as the crawfish become more active this time of year going from shallow to medium depth in search of food. Early mornings and late evenings is a great time to throw a Picasso Shad Walker over the flats as well.

 

 

 

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

 

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 46.908, W 97 9.438
(28.7818, -97.1573)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures, spinnerbaits
CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service
361-960-0566
TIPS: Fall is here and hopefully temperatures are cooling. I love the more crisp mornings. You’ll need a light jacket and a good cup hot coffee. It doesn’t get much better unless you have a good friend with you with which to share the day. Morning patterns can be good with top water baits or just pitching a spinnerbait. I probably flip my spinner like a Texas rig more than I cast it. I like to flip it just past the strike zone then slow roll it to the zone to entice the bite. I like medium size gold Colorado blades most always with white skirts. Sometimes I’ll put a pearl colored grub for a trailer. Spinnerbaits always catch bigger bites. I like to sometimes get to the strike zone then let it fall a little, making it look like its dying. When it drops is usually when you need to pay attention. Anything shad color will get bit. Good fishing and good luck!

LOCATION: Lake Calaveras
HOTSPOT: Crappie Wall Flats
GPS: N 29 17.286, W 98 18.396
(29.2881, -98.3066)

SPECIES: Freshwater Redfish
BEST BAITS: Pet Spoon
CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com
www.sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Trolling with downriggers set at 10 to 15 feet deep will produce some good catches of Redfish in this area.

 

 

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