HOTSPOTS: Freshwater – April 2019

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK-Tides & Prime Times – April 2019
March 24, 2019
HOTSPOTS: Saltwater – April 2019
March 24, 2019

PINEY WOODS

 

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Five Fingers
GPS: N 31 7.914, W 94 7.71
(31.1319, -94.1285)

Lake Sam Rayburn

Lake Sam Rayburn Five Fingers

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Senkos, top water frogs
CONTACT: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
TIPS: April 2019 has the potential to be one of the best springs in many years at Sam Rayburn. Super high-water levels will make for a stellar shallow bite that could last into early summer. Pick a bait you like from senkos to frogs and throw them back into the flooded timber.

LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Bird Island
GPS: N 32 41.226, W 94 6.3059
(32.6871, -94.1051)

Caddo Lake

Caddo Lake Bird Island

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Watermelon red and junebug colored lizards and senkos, black whopper ploppers, black/blue swim jigs
CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith
318-455-3437
caddoguide1@att.net
www.caddolakefishing.com
TIPS: “April is our primary spawning month here on Caddo Lake.
Fish the base of the cypress trees that sit in 2-4 feet of water with the lures described above. I like to lightly weight, (1/16 oz.) my Texas-rigged lizards and whacky rig the senkos with no weight. With the swim jigs and topwaters I usually throw just past the base of the trees and work into or very close to the cypress trees. I throw the soft plastics directly to the base of trees and let them fall a bit before working them out. The Bird Island part of the lake in the southwestern section of the lake is well known for the trophy sized bass that it has produced over the years. Be safe and good fishing!”

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 24.48, W 95 36.942
(30.4080, -95.6157)

Lake Conroe

Lake Conroe Main Lake

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers
BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad
CONTACT: Richard Tatsch
936-661-7920
admin@fishdudetx.com
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: “The hybrid stripers will begin to school on the surface in the mornings and will be easy to catch on surface baits and swim shad this time of the year. They will be all around the lake on main lake points that have shallow sandy bottoms. Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year, they will run shad up on these points early and late and during mid-day they will move deeper. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. There are times when they will stay on the surface for the biggest part of the morning. This usually happens when it is overcast and calm. Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water, but the swim shad will be the one to catch bigger fish in the shallower water. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina.”

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Glade Creek
GPS: N 32 54.1259, W 95 31.6079
(32.9021, -95.5268)

Lake Fork

Lake Fork Glade Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Carolina rig Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin, split shot rig using a black finesse worm
CONTACT: Doug Shampine
940-902-3855
doug@lakeforktrophybass.com
www.lakeforktrophybass.com
TIPS: April brings outstanding bass fishing on Lake Fork. The big bass are spawning all over the lake, starting at the north end of the lake and moving south at the end of the month. Early in the month look at Glade, Running, Oil Well Bay, Bell and Burch Creeks. Mid-month look at the creeks in the mid-lake area like Big and Little Mustang, Dale and Ray. At the end of the month look at Chaney and Little Caney. My best baits in April will be a Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin or a split shot rig using a black finesse worm worked slowly through the shallow water in the spawning areas. Whatever bait you choose or like to use fish it very slow this time of the year.

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Dale Creek
GPS: N 32 49.4639, W 95 33.5879
(32.8244, -95.5598)

Lake Fork

Lake Fork Dale Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures such as poppers or frogs, buzzbaits
CONTACT: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
lance@lakeforkbass.com
www.guideonlakefork.com
TIPS: “This is the most versatile month of the year on Lake Fork! There are more bass shallow and active in April then there is any other time of the year. There are still spawning fish and fish in post-spawn guarding fry. April is also the best top water month of the year and I love top water bass fishing more than any other technique. A good place to start is a top water frog covering thick shoreline cover. Work with a walk-the-dog action around holes in the cover. When it is cloudy and calm out, a popper works really well fished on the edge of grass and by standing timber. Work with a walk-the-dog action with a small bubble over the back of the popper. Long pauses by cover will produce awesome strikes. When it is raining, buzzbaits work very like the prop baits. Soft plastic buzz frogs and buzzbaits cover lots of water fishing next to and over shallow cover. Hang on!
Good fishin’ to all!”

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake Bulk Heads
GPS: N 30 44.4959, W 95 4.164
(30.7416, -95.0694)

Lake Livingston

Lake Livingston Mid-Lake Bulk Heads

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Fresh shad
CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
dave@palmettoguideservice.com
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: April on Lake Livingston is time to “bang the bulk heads” for blue cats. Now you can load the boat with hard fighting good eating blue cats. This bite is not for late sleepers. You have to be there at the crack of dawn as I often launch in the pre-dawn hour. Action can be fast paced when it’s on. Blue cats will be spawning and moving shallow right up against the bulk heads in 2-4 feet of water feeding on shad. Find a bulk head that has shad and the blue cats will follow. Lake Livingston has an incredible shad population. Often referred to as the “shad run” you will see millions of shad boiling the water up against the bulk heads at the crack of dawn. One throw with a cast net and you will have all the bait you need. Keep your shad on ice and drained to keep them fresh. I use a medium heavy action rod rigged with a Legend popping cork and a 1 to 2-foot drop using 20-pound test. Ease along the bulk head with your trolling motor casting the rig to bang the bulk head. As the sun gets up and the bite slows down back off the bulk head about 50 feet or so. Anchor up and fish a Carolina rig on the bottom as the fish move deeper. Overcast days will keep the early bite going longer. Lake Livingston consist of 30,000 acres of surface water and over 450 miles of shoreline. Good luck fishing! BANK ACCESS: Penwaugh Marina

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: McDonald’s Boat Lane
GPS: N 31 45.558, W 93 49.632
(31.7593, -93.8272)

Lake Toledo Bend

Lake Toledo Bend McDonald’s Boat Lane

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving crankbaits
CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages
936-368-7151
gregcrafts@yahoo.com
www.toledobendguide.com
TIPS: The white bass will be moving back into the main lake returning from the river after their spawn. Work the north end river channel sand bars with slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish and watch for the birds. You will find the whites. Try to locate a number of schools and rotate fishing those areas so as not to over fish one location. The whites will remain in those locations unless we have a weather change, or the location is over fished.

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Buck Creek
GPS: N 31 10.332, W 93 36.7439
(31.1722, -93.6124)

Lake Toledo Bend

Lake Toledo Bend Buck Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Reaction baits, Carolina rigs
CONTACT: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
TIPS: Toledo Bend in April can be a head scratcher. Catch them big today – go back tomorrow and can’t get bit again. The fish are in transition from spawning to summer patterns. My best advice is to hit points and any grass beds you can find and cover lots of water with reaction baits. When the sun gets high move out the points to the first breakline in 12 to 15 feet of water with Carolina rigs.

PRAIRIES & LAKES

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain
HOTSPOT: Twin Point Humps
GPS: N 32 53.16, W 97 29.672
(32.8860, -97.4945)

Lake Eagle Mountain

Lake Eagle Mountain Twin Point Humps

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fly 12” above
CONTACT: Johnny Stevens
817-597-6598
johnnystevens@1scom.net
johnnysguideservice.com
TIPS: “This area has two very large humps surrounded by deeper water. During the spring shad congregate around these humps and the sand bass follow. I find the shad and fish on electronics and jig up and down with the slab and fly and many times you will get a double. For people who like to cast. Fan cast over the humps and hop it back to the boat.”

LOCATION: Bachman Lake
HOTSPOT: Lakefield Park Area
GPS: N 32 51.42, W 96 51.7019
(32.8570, -96.8617)

Fayette County

Fayette County Dam Rocks

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: White/chartreuse spinnerbaits, top water frogs
CONTACT: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
TIPS: Find bass on beds in 1-7 feet of water right off the bank. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits are the lure of choice here, but top water frogs worked early in the morning are effective as well.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Retaining Walls
GPS: N 32 18.996, W 96 11.406
(32.3166, -96.1901)

Bachman Lake

Bachman Lake Lakefield Park Area

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Fresh cut shad
CONTACT: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: The technique this month is corkin’! Find main lake retaining walls and anchor about a cast away and throw a big cork 12” to 24” above a small hook baited with fresh shad right up on the wall. Be ready! Action can be fast at times.

LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks
GPS: N 29 55.044, W 96 44.598
(29.9174, -96.7433)

Cedar Creek Lake

Cedar Creek Lake Main Lake Retaining Walls

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait, worms
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Anchor 50-100 feet off shore while still over the dam rocks. Then, chum around the boat. Fish straight down using #6 treble hook with a tight line.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek
HOTSPOT: Crappie Hole
GPS: N 30 36.678, W 96 3.9959
(30.6113, -96.0666)

Gibbons Creek

Gibbons Creek Crappie Hole

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, funky chicken crappie jigs
CONTACT: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: There are trees and stumps close to the rocks in this area. Fish are in the rocks and stumps spawning this time of the year. Use minnows under corks or Funky Chicken jigs close to structure.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Indian Harbor Ditch
GPS: N 32 24.576, W 97 44.91
(32.4096, -97.7485)

Lake Granbury

Lake Granbury Indian Harbor Ditch

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Jig and pig, soft plastics and spinner baits.
CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
817-578-0023
TIPS: Work your presentation around bedding areas/ seawalls and shallow structure. Small feeder creeks near housing additions will have numerous beds. The river above Granbury will also have blacks spawning in shallow flats off of creek channels. Granbury water temperatures are in the 70’s. Spring patterns are in full force. Stripers are active and are moving upstream to attempt to spawn. White bass spawning is essentially complete, and the fish are returning to the main lake. Crappie fishing is excellent in the shallows on small jigs and minnows. Wintering Birds are still in place and are pointing anglers to active feeding fish on the main lake. Passing cool fronts/storm fronts continue to dominate the weather pattern. Sand bass and stripers are pushing baitfish to the surface and the birds can help you locate these active fish. Swim baits, slabs and live shad are putting stripers and sandbass in the boat. Catfish action is great on cut shad and hotdogs fished under deeper docks and creek entrances.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake and Coves
GPS: N 30 42.7499, W 97 21.2099
(30.7125, -97.3535)

Granger Lake

Granger Lake Main Lake and Coves

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: 1/16 oz. crappie jigs
CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
crappie1@hotmail.com
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: Now is the time to catch the largest crappie of the year. They are in full spawn and can be caught all over the lake. Some are spawning in a foot of water in coves and the large females can be caught in brush piles all over the lake. Fish with 1/16 oz. jigs and use slip bobbers in the shallows or fish main lake structure in 4 to 10 feet of water. For main lake use the same jigs and vertical fish, holding the jig very still over the cover. Keep moving until you find them. Don’t spend lots of time in one spot if you are not catching fish. Good luck and good fishing!

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points
GPS: N 33 6.822, W 96 29.7359
(33.1137, -96.4956)

Lake Lavon

Lake Lavon Main Lake Points

SPECIES: Crappie & White Bass
BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs in black/chartreuse or white/chartreuse, slabs
CONTACT: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
TIPS: Crappie are in full spawn this time of year on Lavon and can be found in 1-10 feet of water. Use black and chartreuse or white and chartreuse crappie jigs and target any structure in those depths. White bass can be found on main lake points in 10-20 feet of water jigging slabs this time of year as well.

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

Lake Palestine

Lake Palestine Flat Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Texas Spinnerbait’s Big Eye Lake Fork 430 special in chart/white, Mister Twister Super Lizard, Comida worms, Big Eye Jigs in black/blue
CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
ricky@rickysguideservice.com
www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Concentrate on fishing weeds and brush this time of year in and around the Flat Creek area. Best depth will be 1-4 foot with the above lures.

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

 Lake Ray Roberts

Lake Ray Roberts Brush Pile

SPECIES: Crappie/White bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, white and chartreuse jigs, slabs
CONTACT: Justin Wilson
214-538-2780
TIPS: Spring is here and with the water temperature rising the fish are schooling up getting ready to spawn. Crappie bite is getting better each day. Lots of fisherman are starting to hit the creeks and that’s great but a lot of slab female crappie will stay and spawn on the main lake brush piles while the smaller fish move up shallow. This is my favorite time of the year to catch good quality fish on this lake. Bouncing around from pile to pile is a good way to fill the cooler. I will try a few different depths each day until I find a pattern for that day, as the month moves on and the temperature rises, I tend to get a little bit shallower. The white bass bite is great at the mouth of creeks on nearby humps or ledges. There will be a day or two when it seems they have disappeared and it’s due to them moving up into the creeks, where a lot of walk in fisherman will absolutely slam them. White road runners and just about anything flashy will yield a high catch.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: Pelican Island Area
GPS: N 31 58.8479, W 96 10.608
(31.9808, -96.1768)

Richland Chambers Lake

Richland Chambers Lake Pelican Island Area

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Chartreuse 1 oz. slabs
CONTACT: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
simmonsroyce@hotmail.com
www.gonefishin.biz
TIPS: The Pelican Island area on the main lake on RC is the “go to” location in April for white bass. The long point that runs North and South in front of the island has an old Airport Runway right on top of it and the fish love to feed on Shad on the side of the point and the runway. Silver or chartreuse 1 oz. slabs bounced off the bottom in 20’-30’ feet of water will almost always result in an ice chest full of whites. Hold on to that rod as you might just have a big ol’ hybrid Striper try and take it away.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Big Creek Pavilion Shore
GPS: N 30 20.916, W 96 35.034
(30.3486, -96.5839)

Lake Somerville

Lake Somerville Big Creek Pavilion Shore

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: Lake is full. Anchor close enough to shore that you can cast to the bank. Fish under corks using #6 treble hook. Large blues frequent this shore during this period of time. Cut shad on bottom can be good too.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: Mill Creek Cut and Plater Flats
GPS: N 33 49.7339, W 96 45.3059
(33.8289, -96.7551)

Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma Mill Creek Cut and Plater Flats

SPECIES: Striped and White Bass
BEST BAITS: 5” flukes in baby bass and ice colors, Sassy Shad 4’ tails in white glow and chartreuse, 6” Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks
CONTACT: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
bigfishlaketexoma@gmail.com
www.striperexpress.com
TIPS: Spring fishing is in full swing! Thousands of stripers are staging and ready to run up the tributaries. The males go up river first and the large females are on the prowl. Egg laden females will tip the scales at 20 pounds. Your best baits are soft plastics. Worm your tail on ¾ or 1 oz. jig head. Fish the cuts, main lake points and the mouths of feeder creeks. Structure like humps, ditches and ledges will hold schools of hungry stripers. Texoma has the largest white bass, commonly called “sandies.” We expect the record to fall in April. The lake holds 3-pound females. Sand Bass with eggs should get close to 4 pounds. Our personal best was a 6-year old boy that landed a 19-inch, 3.5-pound sandy. Top water fishing will begin the week of April. Cast 6”” Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks on shallow banks. “There is nothing more exciting than top water striper fishing on Lake Texoma with Striper Express,” says Jimmy Houston.”

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Frazier Creek
GPS: N 31 54.792, W 97 22.68
(31.9132, -97.3780)

Lake Whitney

Lake Whitney Frazier Creek

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass
BEST BAITS: Pencil Poppers, Redfins, swimbaits
CONTACT: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
teamredneck01@hotmail.com
www.teamredneck.net
TIPS: Gotta love April on Lake Whitney. It’s top water time! Don’t go if you have a weak heart! The gizzard shad are up shallow spawning and the big sow stripers are moving in to gorge on them. Look along the tree line at Frazier Creek, then around the corner to the Willow Islands. Sneak in using your trolling motor and make long casts toward the shoreline and tree lines. The striper may blow up on your bait right off the bat, they may blow up on it several times back to the boat or right at your feet. The hardest thing to NOT do is set the hook. Keep the bait working until you feel the weight of the fish then hit it, set the hook and hang on. There is nothing like catching big fish in the shallows as there is nowhere for them to go but around the boat or in the trees. Keep a rod handy with a 4” 3/4oz chartreuse swim bait ready and if the fish just aren’t cooperating and blowing up good on top water lures, chunk and wind the swim bait up shallow. There is great fishing this time of year and it’s a great time to be on the water!

LOCATION: Whitney
HOTSPOT: The Canyons
GPS: N31 56.0022
W97 26.13588
(31.93337, -97.435598)

Lake Whitney

Lake Whitney Frazier Creek

SPECIES: white bass
BEST BAITS: 3/4 ounce chartreuse slab
CONTACT:
Randy Routh
817-822-5539
teamredneck01@hotmail.com
teamredneck.net
TIPS: Go out from the Canyons and turn south and watch graph for all the humps. The white bass will be stacked up on the edges of the humps. Drop the slab (RSR Lures) down and bounce it off the bottom staying in contact with your bait on the fall. White bass normally hit the lure on the fall.

 

 

PANHANDLE

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek Arm
GPS: N 32 47.472, W 98 59.694
(32.7912, -98.9949)

Hubbard Creek Res.

Hubbard Creek Res. Sandy Creek Arm

SPECIES: White Crappie and Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Flashy, weedless lures, live minnows, jigs
CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr.
Texas Parks & Wildlife
TIPS: Multiple reports of quality crappie and largemouth bass have been reportedly been caught from the Hubbard Creek Arm of Hubbard Creek Reservoir. For crappie, live minnows and bright jigs may be effective when fishing brush and around other structures.

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Up River and Backs of Creeks
GPS: N 33 1.1399, W 101 6.654
(33.0190, -101.1109)

Lake Alan Henry

Lake Alan Henry Up River and Backs of Creeks

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: White/chartreuse jig, shaky head with a worm, crankbaits in perch or shad colors, white spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits
CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
nclayton42@sbcglobal.net
www.lakealanhenry.com/fishing-guides.html
TIPS: “April will find the bass moving up to the spawning areas. A jig will really be the greatest asset at this time of the year. I like a white/chartreuse jig or a shaky head with a worm on it. Crankbaits will also be of value in perch or shad colors. White spinnerbaits will work. Jerkbaits will work. Swimbaits will work. I guess you have figured it out that nearly anything will work
during this time of the year because the bass will be looking for an easy meal before going on
the beds. One of the greatest keys is to find the warmest water which will be up river in the murkiest water you can find because the dirty water will warm up first. Also, fish in the backs of any of the creeks. Fish fun-Fish safe!”

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Peanut Patch
GPS: N 32 53.627, W 98 30.988
(32.8938, -98.5165)

Possum Kingdom

Possum Kingdom Peanut Patch

SPECIES: Striped bass/Hybrids
BEST BAITS: Live or shad, jigs, slabs
CONTACT: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
fav7734@aceweb.com
TIPS: We love April because the shad are spawning, and everything is biting! Look for the birds at daylight to get your bait easy and just back off to 20 feet or go fish at spots from Costello to Cedar Creek and move around till you start catching fish. With live shad you will catch almost everything that lives in PK so learn how to throw a cast net and you’ll forever be able to catch fish anywhere. Remember that in water over 25 feet or deeper, 24 feet is the magic number at PK. Water temperature is high 60s to 70, so everything including crappie are going to be active and readily will bite a shad. Save and put your dead shad on ice and use for cut bait to catch catfish after the morning bite and you’ll be surprised how many fish each shad will end up catching you. You can also troll and jig & slab still too, but live shad is something once you do, you’ll always want to do it again.

 

 

BIG BEND

LOCATION: Lake Amistead
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Canyons and Coves
GPS: N 29 30.828, W 100 58.056
(29.5138, -100.9676)

Lake Amistead

Lake Amistead Main Lake Canyons and Coves

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jerk baits, belly weighted flukes, swim baits, swim jigs, jerk baits, big spinners and medium running crank baits, Top water lures
CONTACT: Ray Hanselman
(830) 317-9942
reelnray@hotmail.com
www.amistadfishingguide.com
TIPS: April should be the turn around point for Amistad. The past few years we haven’t had any aquatic vegetation to hold fish for any amount of time during and after the spawn. The lake has good grass in several areas now and that should help hold the bass up shallow enough to catch.
I expect several typical spring patterns will work during April such as sight fishing in the protected canyons and coves. I would look out on some of the main lake flats and drains from marker 5 to 10 on both sides of the Rio Grande as there are acres of flooded duck weed and hydrilla out there from 15 to 20 ft. Try deeper suspending lures out on those flats. As always a light Texas rig with a 3/16th to 1/4 oz weight. Keeping an eye on the water temp will also dictate whether or not to pick up a top water bait. I will start throwing the top water when water temps reach the mid 60s.

 

 

HILL COUNTRY

LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Creek Openings
GPS: N 30 20.862, W 97 47.508
(30.3477, -97.7918)

Lake Austin

Lake Austin Creek Openings

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: V&M Wild Craw, Pacemaker Flatline Jig, Picasso Double Barrel Underspin
CONTACT: Brian Parker – Lake Austin Fishing
817-808-2227
TIPS: April is one of the better months to catch largemouth bass going to and coming from their bedding areas. I try to focus my efforts on their highway running into and out of the creeks. I’ll tie on a Picasso Double Barrel Underspin with a V&M Thunder Shad trailer and work the entire channel. If the water is calm, I’ll tie on a Pacemaker Flatline Jig with a V&M Twin Tail trailer and slowly work from shallow to deep with the jig. Keep in mind that there will be fish coming and going. If you catch a smaller male, throw right back in and see if you can get the female to bite with the male out of the way.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Upper Lake Humps and Ridges
GPS: N 30 50.55, W 98 24.9359
(30.8425, -98.4156)

Lake Buchanan

Lake Buchanan Upper Lake Humps and Ridges

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad
CONTACT: Clancy Terrill
512-633-6742
centraltexasfishing@gmail.com
www.centraltexasfishing.com
TIPS: Water temps should be in the high 60s and lake levels should be above average for this time of year. Striped bass fishing prospects should be excellent in 15-40 feet of water. Focus on the upper half of the lake on humps and ridges and the mouth of coves, fishing drifting or anchored with live shad. Flatlining 6”-8” shad in 8-15 feet of water near shore and ridges can also yield a great day of fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 49.2647, W 98 26.28
(30.8211, -98.4380)

Lake Buchanan

Lake Buchanan Main Lake

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks, other topwater lures
CONTACT: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
kmilam@verizon.net
www.striperfever.com.com
TIPS: “April is a FUN month on Lake Buchanan! Top water stripers in shallow water are common this time of year! The stripers are chasing threadfin shad in the early mornings! Throw any kind of top water lure and hang on! See the splash and feel the pull! Top water stripers are so much fun! Fish the windy points and grassy banks.”

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

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake Diver’s Point

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

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Mystic Shores
GPS: N29 54.56958,
W98 17.7987
(29.909493, -98.296645)

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake Mystic Shores

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Shakey Heads, worms, Senkos
CONTACT:Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com
http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Fish the pockets all the way to the back of them with Bass Kandie worms and Senkos. Pumpkin and Watermelon-red are good colors. Topwater action can be good very early but brief.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Stump Field and Grass
GPS: N30 36.551
W98 24.579
(30.609183, -98.40965)

Lake LBJ

Lake LBJ Stump Field and Grass

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Watermelon red soft jerkbaits, Watermelon red lizards, Texas-rigged Watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and creature baits with chartreuse tails
CONTACT:
Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd
210-771-0123
barry@teachemtofish.net
www.teachemtofish.net
TIPS: Largemouth bass are good to 7 pounds along stumps and laydowns on break lines of 5-9 feet deep flats. Also look at adjacent grass beds.

 

 

SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

 

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 45.654, W 97 10.068
(28.7609, -97.1678)

Coleto Creek Lake  

Coleto Creek Lake  Main Lake

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Fluke in pearl white and Zoom worms in watermelon red
CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service
361-960-0566
TIPS: As a rule, bugs are flying, fry is plentiful, the sun is shining, the fish are biting, and life is good. If only it would stay that way. This is probably my most favorite time of year to fish since morning and evening is crispy cool and afternoons aren’t as hot. It seems any lure works in April. If breezy I like a spinnerbait in the morning followed by a fluke or Texas rig in the afternoons. As always, find grass and you’ll find fish. Go up either river and they will be waiting. I hope everyone practices and promotes catch and release.

LOCATION: Calaveras Lake
HOTSPOT: North Road Bed
GPS: N 29 18.583
W 98 18.450
(29.309722, -98.3075)

Calaveras Lake  

Calaveras Lake North Road Bed

SPECIES: Freshwater Redfish
BEST BAITS: Queen Cocahoe Minnow glow or chartreuse
CONTACT:
Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com
sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Troll the Cocahoe on downriggers over the top of the road bed from 10 foot deep to 15 foot deep, most strikes come on the drop off of the road bed.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake
HOTSPOT: US Side Creeks and Secondary Points
GPS: N 26 52.962, W 99 15.822
(26.8827, -99.2637)

Falcon Lake

Falcon Lake US Side Creeks and Secondary Points

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: 6 red lizards, 5 Watermelon Red Senkos, Watermelon Red Magic Brushogs, big and small Jo Baby spinnerbaits – 3/4 oz chartruese/white double gold willow blades, and 1/2 – 3/4 oz War Eagle in Mouse color, medium-deep diving crankbaits, Power Worms in Motor Oil Red Flake or Plum
CONTACT: Falcon Lake Guide Service – Timothy Griffin
(956) 849-5153
BigBass@FalconLakeGuideService.com
www.falconlakeguideservice.com
TIPS: Fish creeks mainly on the US side of the lake. In April, nearly all of the Mexico side creeks will be spawned out and this will result in the US side creeks bing loaded down with fish. Post-spawn, most fish will be found on secondary points coming out of creeks. Fish spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged Power Worms, and medium deep diving crankbaits in these areas as well as main lake humps and ledges which should be loaded with fish which have spawned in January-March.

LOCATION: Falcon Lake
HOTSPOT: Veleno Creek
GPS: N26 53.60664, W99 14.57088
(26.893444, -99.242848)

Falcon Lake

Falcon Lake Veleno Creek

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Lake Fork swimbaits, Skinny Deepers, 10-inch plastic worms, magnum plastic lizards
CONTACT:
Robert Amaya
956-765-1442
robertsfishntackle@gmail.com
robertsfishntackle.com
TIPS: Veleno Creek is a big bass haven in the early spring. Fish the flats close to the main creek channel and tributary creek channels. You will find post-spawn bass there along with spawning bluegills. The best lure colors are Watermelon red.

 

 

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