Crappie, Catfish & Stripers Get ‘Catchy’

Reported by TF&G STAFF

Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

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Location: Caddo Lake
Hotspot: Alligator Bayou and Big Cypress Bayou
GPS: N 32 41.5019, W 94 2.2319
(32.6917, -94.0372)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: V&M Paddletail Frog and V&M Porkpin Worm
Contact: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith
318-455-3437
caddoguide1@att.net
www.caddolakefishing.com
Tips: Fish the edges of these creeks on the upper end of Caddo Lake with the white frogs on top and 1/8 oz. weighted junebug colored worms on the bottom along the edges of the grass. Give extra attention to the bends and points.

Location: Lake Conroe
Hotspot: North Lake Area
GPS: N 30 27.786, W 95 36.1799
(30.4631, -95.6030)

Species: Catfish
Best Baits: Primos stink bait
Contact: Richard Tatsch
936-291-1277
admin@fishdudetx.com
www.fishdudetx.com
Tips: In July the cats have finished eating all the shad they can along the bulkheads after the shad spawn. They are back in the deep water along channel edges and are fairly easy to catch. Just find a stump along the channel on the north end of the lake, throw some range cubes out and give it about 30 minutes. I use sponges to absorb the dipping bait with a #6 treble hook with a small egg sinker. Let it go to the bottom and wait on a little resistance. Once you feel it set the hook and hold on!

Location: Lake Cooper/Chapman
Hotspot: Dam 1
GPS: N 33 20.183 , W 95 38.372
(33.3364, -95.6395)

Species: Catfish
Best Baits: Punchbait, shad
Contact: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
Tips: Fish with Carolina-rigged punchbait or shadand work in about 6-15 feet of water. Action good all day.

Location: Lake Fork
Hotspot: Main Lake Humps and Points
GPS: N 32 49.5059, W 95 33.3
(32.8251, -95.5550)

Species: White Bass
Best Baits: Chrome 1/2 oz. Rat-L-Trap, a Storm swim baits that look like shad, spoons in chrome or gold and a white slabs.
Contact: Doug Shampine
940-902-3855
doug@lakeforktrophybass.com
www.lakeforktrophybass.com
Tips: July fishing on Lake Fork can be fun for the person who does not get out on the lake very much but wants to spend time on the water and catch something. White Bass are schooling and following the big shad schools this time of the year. You can find them on top chasing shad or in schools located on main lake humps or some of the deeper main lake points. Places to look will be SRA point, the hump in the mouth of Little Caney, Bell Hump, and several humps in the dam area.

Location: Lake Fork
Hotspot: Main Lake Points
GPS: N 32 50.754, W 95 35.1839
(32.8459, -95.5864)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Topwater lures, Carolina rigs, big Texas rigged worms and Shaky Heads with Grandebass Airtail Shake
Contact: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
lance@lakeforkbass.com
www.guideonlakefork.com
Tips: “July is the month of heat and I like it hot on Fork. Good shallow topwater bite over grass in the morning. Deep worm bite on roadbeds, humps and points during hottest part of day. Fish 15 to 30 foot deep. Good fishing to all!”

Location: Lake Livingston
Hotspot: The Hump
GPS: N 30 40.8299, W 95 4.992
(30.6805, -95.0832)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Live Shad, 1 ¼ oz. white slabs, spoons, Tsunami Holographic in hot pink/gold, 4 inch Swim Shad.
Contact: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
dave@palmettoguideservice.com
www.palmettoguideservice.com
Tips: Bounce baits off the bottom; look for strikes on falling baits. Troll Tsunami Swim Shad behind a #10 jet diver. BANK ACCESS: Beacon Bay Marina

Location: Lake O the Pines
Hotspot: Alley Creek North Shore
GPS: N 32 47.286, W 94 34.103
(32.7881, -94.5684)

Species: Catfish
Best Baits: Cut bait, stink bait
Contact: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
Tips: Cast and drift. Dusk and night.

Location: Lake Nacogdoches
Hotspot: Anderson Point
GPS: N 31 37.422, W 94 48.915
(31.6237, -94.8153)

Species: Crappie
Best Baits: Minnows, jigs
Contact: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
Tips: Fish live minnows or red/chartreuse jigs under slipcork near trees. Avoid midday.

Location: Lake Sam Rayburn
Hotspot: 147 Bridge
GPS: N 31 13.768, W 94 19.269
(31.229467, -94.32115)

Species: Crappie
Best Baits: Minnows, jigs
Contact: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
Tips: Work bridge pillars with live minnows and drop jigs.

Location: Lake Sam Rayburn
Hotspot: Bird Island
GPS: N 31 14.336, W 94 18.745
(31.238933, -94.312417)

Species: Catfish
Best Baits: Night crawlers
Contact: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
Tips: Fish night crawlers on either a Carolina rig or Texas rig. Work the grass beds.

Location: Toledo Bend
Hotspot: Still Water
GPS: N 31 44.928, W 93 50.2619
(31.7488, -93.8377)

Species: Black & white bass
Best Baits: Top water plugs, Rat-L-Traps, crank baits, slab spoons and plastics.
Contact: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages
936-368-7151
gregcrafts@yahoo.com
www.toledobendguide.com
Tips: In July the main lake points will be active with plenty of schooling activity for both the Black and White Bass. Typically, early morning and late evening will be the prime feeding times. Start off shallow and back out to deeper water if need be with deep diving crank baits and soft plastics.

Location: Toledo Bend
Hotspot: Myrick Reach (Green Willow Point)
GPS: N 31 45.0359, W93 50.226
(31.7506, -93.8371)

Species: White Bass
Best Baits: Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners and slab spoons
Contact: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages
936-368-7151
gregcrafts@yahoo.com
www.toledobendguide.com
Tips: White bass will be schooling in the flats, roadbeds and off main lake points close to deep water. Schooling activity is usually the best early morning and late evening. Look for sea gulls feeding on shad and whites are usually close by. Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving crankbaits, tail spinners and slab spoons work best. If the top water action slows down, back out to the first drop and throw a tail spinner or slab spoon.

Location: Toledo Bend
Hotspot: Clear Creek
GPS: N 31 11.616, W 93 39.762
(31.1936, -93.6627)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Bass: Dropshot rigs, Carolina rigs, deep crankbaits | Crappie: minnows, jigs
Contact: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
notechmike@hotmail.com
www.easttxfishingguide.com
Tips: The bass fishing should be great this time of year but T-Bend in the summer is a deep, deep water fishery. Look for bass in 25 to 35 feet on river ledges, humps or channel conflu-ences. Crappie will be bunched up on man-made brush piles in 20 to 25 feet.

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Bass Head for Cover, Other Species Go Deep

Reported by TF&G Staff

Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Location: Lake Austin
Hotspot: Main Lake Rocks, Shade Trees, and Shaded Docks
GPS: N 30 19.464, W 97 50.316
(30.3244, -97.8386)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: V&M Baby Swamp Hog, Pacemaker Jigs, Picasso Inviz-Wire Spinnerbait, Picasso Shock Blade, Gandy Crankbaits
Contact: Brian Parker – Lake Austin Fishing
817-808-2227
Tips: Bass will be searching for cover and ambush positions throughout the lake. Throw spinnerbaits and early when the fish are still on the feed. Later, move closer to the docks and shaded cover, flipping the jigs. Evenings, go back to the morning routine and change to darker colors.

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

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Small rooster tails and small creature baits (3-4 inches long)
Contact: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
Tips: Bass are on fire shallow along the banks. Fish in 1-5 feet of water. Cast along the banks parallel as the fish are no more than five foot from the banks.

Location: Lake Buchanan
Hotspot: Lower End
GPS: N 30 44.646, W98 26.148
(30.7441, -98.4358)

Species: Catfish
Best Baits: Cut Shad
Contact: Clancy Terrill
512-633-6742
centraltexasfishing@gmail.com
www.centraltexasfishing.com
Tips: Catfish are good with live bait right now in 30- 40 foot of water on ridge drop offs. Anchor and fish with rod and reel or fish juglines with cut shad in 15-28 foot of water.

Location: Lake Buchanan
Hotspot: Main
GPS: N 30 47.478, W98 26.4239
(30.7913, -98.4404)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Live perch and shad
Contact: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
kmilam@verizon.net
www.striperfever.com
Tips: On Lake Buchanan stripers will be on the lower end of the lake towards the dam. Some will be caught downrigging. A few top water fish as well.

Location: Canyon Lake
Hotspot: Turkey Creek Point
GPS: N 29 51.7079, W98 12.948
(29.8618, -98.2158)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Sassy Shad in pearl color
Contact: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
(210) 573-1230
capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com
http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com
Tips: Trolling this area with downriggers seems to produce the best catches. Set the downriggers from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped bass. When located, vary trolling speeds until the fish strike. Tight lines and fish on!

Location: Cedar Creek Lake
Hotspot: Main Lake Humps and Points
GPS: N 32 22.476, W 96 10.05
(32.3746, -96.1675)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Carolina and Texas Rigs
Contact: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com
www.kingscreekadventures.com
Tips: Fish all main lake humps and points
focusing in 8’ to 20’ near dropouts. Constantly be on the lookout for brush or debris.

Location: Coleto Creek Lake
Hotspot: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 43.644, W 97 10.3919
(28.7274, -97.1732)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Buzz baits: half-ounce white or green. Pearl white fluke: rigged weightless with a four ought worm hook rigged weedless
Contact: Rocky’s Guide Service
361-960-0566
Tips: Hot, hot, hot! Now that it’s summer, remember to take plenty to drink. I take extra just in case someone else runs out. The lake is good and full and there is lots of water to fish. Early morning I love the sound of a lunker buzz baits. I usually throw a half-ounce buzz bait in white or green. It’s always been a big bass bait. Another favorite is my usual pearl white fluke rigged weightless with a four ought worm hook rigged weedless. Just stay around grass and you’re sure to get plenty of action.

Location: Lake Eagle Mountain
Hotspot: Dam
GPS: N 32 52.693, W 97 28.006
(32.878217, -97.466767)

Species: Hybrids, White bass
Best Baits: Hell Pet, deep running lures
Contact: Johnny Stevens
817-597-6598
johnlu1313@gmail.com
johnnysguideservice.com
Tips: This area just north of the dam is a series of humps with deep water all around them. As the water heats up, the hybrids that have come down from Bridgeport during a flood hang out in this area. An effective method is to troll a very deep-running lure. A Hell Pet rig with a bell sinker on the front of the Hell Bender to make it run deep is a good bet.

Location: Fayette County Res.
Hotspot: Third Boat Ramp Point
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: There is a 20’ deep point here. Anchor on this point and chum straight down beside the boat. Tight line near the bottom and set the hook at slightest rod tip movement.

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
Contact: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
Tips: Anchor near stumps/trees in 4-12 foot water. Be sure to chum and expect fish to be near the bottom. Use a treble hook.

Location: Lake Granger
Hotspot: Main Lake Humps and Ridges
GPS: N 30 42.1979, W 97 21.8819
(30.7033, -97.3647)

Species: White Bass
Best Baits: 1/2 oz. white slab spoon
Contact: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
crappie1@hotmail.com
www.gotcrappie.com
Tips: As always in the hot summertime at Granger Lake, the crappie fishing is excellent. However during the month of July, the white bass fishing can be just as good. This time of year, the whites school up on humps and ridges feeding on shad. They can be caught very easily on slab spoons. The color really doesn’t matter but I like white. The smaller 1/2 oz. slabs also work a little better than the larger ones. They key is to find the whites feeding close to a high spot like a hump or raised roadbed. The top of the roadbed would be 10 to 12 feet under water with deep water all around. Position your boat on top of the high spot and jig the slabs off the bottom. Sometimes it works to drag the spoon along the bottom like you would a Carolina rigged bass setup. If you see the whites hitting the top away from the ridge don’t be lured into chasing them. Stay on top of the ridge and they will run the shad to you and be easier to catch. The final and most important thing is to fish for the whites in the middle of the day when it is the hottest. Good luck and good fishing.

Location: Lake Joe Pool
Hotspot: Lynn Creek Ridge
GPS: N 32 37.367, W 97 02.088
(32.6228, -97.0348)

Species: White Bass
Best Baits: Jigs, spoons
Contact: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas@gmail.com
whitebassfishingtexas.com
Tips: Fish white jigs or spoons. Throw across the ridge, then bounce back to the boat. Avoid midday. Good spot for night fishing.

Location: Lake Lavon
Hotspot: Main Lake Brush and Standing Timber
GPS: N 33 4.5839, W 96 27.7379
(33.0764, -96.4623)

Species: Crappie
Best Baits: 1/8 & 1/16 jigs with a painted pink head in black and chartreuse and white and chartreuse.
Contact: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
thorn_alex@yahoo.com
TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com
Tips: Concentrate on fishing 7ft-15ft as that will be the target for brush and standing timber. Some fish are still spawning in the button willows and submerged green willows around 2ft-6 ft. Finding any slack areas in 1ft-5ft below the dam when the gates are open will hold crappie hiding from the turbulent water.

Location: Lake Palestine
Hotspot: Kickapoo Creek
GPS: N 32 16.374, W 95 28.338
(32.2729, -95.4723)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Big Eye Jig in black/brown amber and chart/white spinnerbaits
Contact: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
ricky@rickysguideservice.com
www.rickysguideservice.com
Tips: Fish the creek channel slow and fish the stumps and brush along the channel. Also, fish the islands with the big eye jig and a chartreuse/white spinner bait

Location: Lake Ray Roberts
Hotspot: Barn House Point
GPS: N 33 24.221, W 97 06.338
(33.403689, -97.105636)

Species: White Bass
Best Baits: RatLTraps & topwaters
Contact: Cliff Spindle
940-727-3493
cliffspindle@yahoo.com
spindleguideservice.com
Tips: This is a great time for white bass on Ray Roberts. Roberts has a huge number of white bass and the schooling action has started, hard and heavy. You can find the “sandies” schooling at many areas of the lake. One of the hottest and most consistent areas is Barn House Point, on the west arm of the lake. Some people call it Long Point, because it is close to two miles long. Most any kind of topwater sandbass rig works good. Or, a shallow-running cranbait like a RatLTrap is also productive.

Location: Richland-Chambers Res.
Hotspot: 309 Flats
GPS: N 31 58.368, W 96 6.99
(31.9728, -96.1165)

Species: White Bass and Hybrid Striper
Best Baits: Clear or White Tiny Torpedos
Contact: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
simmonsroyce@hotmail.com
www.gonefishin.biz
Tips: July is often the HOTTEST month of the year in Texas! It can also yield some of the HOTTEST White Bass fishing you’ll experience the entire summer! The White Bass on Richland Chambers normally begin their early a.m. & late p.m. topwater schooling activity in July and it will last through September! Check out the Hwy 309 Flats on the North Shoreline directly across from Fisherman’s Point Marina. Look for the terns and egrets picking up bait over large schools of Whites. Sometimes, the schooling fish will literally be chasing shad in 1 to 5 acre size schools. Tie on a Clear Tiny Torpedo or just about any small silver or white bait and you’re in business. This is a thrill you won’t soon forget!

Tips: Troll here using Hellbenders or other deep diving lures. Get your spoons down close to the bottom. Watch for schooling right after daylight.

Location: Lake Somerville
Hotspot: Little Crappie Point
GPS: N 30 18.4979, W96 31.758
(30.3083, -96.5293)

Species: Crappie
Best Baits: Chartreuse jigs and minnows
Contact: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
weldon_edna@hotmail.com
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
Tips: Sunken trees and rocks can be found here. Fish straight down around brush until you determine the correct depth for the fish on that day.

Location: Lake Tawakoni
Hotspot: Wichita Bay
GPS: N 32 55.932, W 95 59.178
(32.9322, -95.9863)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Carolina rigs, live shad
Contact: Andrew Taylor, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service
903-269-6587
etxbass@gmail.com
www.Laketawakoni.guide
Tips: In July I’ll be Carolina rigging shad on 24” leaders. Typically I’m structure fishing early in the day, hitting humps and sides of embankments. After the sun gets up and the water starts to turn warm, I typically head out to deep water, around 35’-45’, and spend a lot of time on my electronics searching for schools of stripers. Once a school is located and depending on the size, I figure out how we will set up on them. If the schools are moving super-fast, I like to set up a slow drift, dragging large threadfins. If the schools seem to commit and hold under the boat, we will “Spotlock” and let them feed under us.

Location: Lake Texoma
Hotspot: Juniper Point East and the Islands
GPS: N 33 51.888, W96 49.8779
(33.8648, -96.8313)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Top water lures, Sassy Shad jigs
Contact: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
bigfish@striperexpress.com
www.striperexpress.com
Tips: “The big fish move onto the flats in August. Early mornings, cast
Pencil Poppers and Chug Bugs on the shallow banks. Mid-morning,
change your lures to sassy soft plastics. Concentrate on the flats that run about 20 feet in depth. Locate the creek channel and drop offs as these are the routes the fish use to move up from deep water. Later in the month the seagulls arrive. Pay close attention to the birds as they are the best fish finder. Bank Access: West Juniper Point and Mill Creek Flats”

Location: Lake Texoma
Hotspot: Alberta Creek
GPS: N 33 57.54, W 96 36.012
(33.9590, -96.6002)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Slabs and topwater plugs
Contact: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
bigfish@striperexpress.com
www.striperexpress.com
Tips: Top water fishing at its best. Early morning, several large schools will surface around the lake. These schools of fish can be a mile long and a half-mile wide. Cast Pencil Popper Topwater plugs for great action. After the surface action ends, locate the schools of fish with your electronics. Then, vertically drop slabs and use a fast retrieve. The fish will try to pull the rod out of your hands!

Location: Lake Whitney
Hotspot: Hwy 22 and McCowan Flats
GPS: N 31 57.2879, W 97 25.224
(31.9548, -97.4204)

Species: Striped Bass
Best Baits: Down riggers with a 1/2 oz. buck tail jig with plastic trailers
Contact: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
teamredneck01@hotmail.com
www.teamredneck.net
Tips: The thermocline has set in and the stripers are hanging out on top of it. This time of year turns into a reaction type strike a lot of times. The fish will feed early, late or even at night when it’s cooler. Using down riggers with a 1/2 oz. buck tail jig with plastic trailers. Troll the flats and ledges and edges anywhere from 13’ to 18’ down. Keep in mind the thermocline usually sets in at 22’ on Whitney so keep your baits above it.

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A Few Adjustments to Beat the Summer Heat

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

Email Dean Heffner at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Location: Lake Alan Henry
Hotspot: Little Grape Creek
GPS: N 33 2.7719, W 101 3.8159
(33.0462, -101.0636)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Deep diving crank baits, worms, and flukes worked on a drop shot
Contact: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
nclayton42@sbcglobal.net
www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm
Tips: July will heat up and send the bass into the channels of all the creeks and rivers. The Shad will bunch up, and the bass will follow. The main river, the Brazos, will have many schools of shad and I will be using my electronics to locate the schools. These schools will be one of the main keys to finding the bass. The creeks of Ince, Little Grape, and Big Grape will have schools of shad out over the channels. I follow the channel until I locate the schools of bass or shad. Then, I will concentrate my efforts there.

Location: Lake Alan Henry
Hotspot: Mouth of Rocky Creek
GPS: N 33 1.698, W 101 6.504
(33.0283, -101.1084)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Large soft plastic worms
Contact: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
nclayton42@sbcglobal.net
www.lakealanhenry.com/fishing-guides.html
Tips: August is the perfect month to try to fish at night and beat the heat. 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 change day to day.

Location: Lake Amistad
Hotspot: Point at Marker 17
GPS: N 29 31.558 , W 101 15.262
(29.5260, -101.2544)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Jigs
Contact: Stan Gerzsenyl
830-768-3648
stan@amistadbass.com
www.amistadbass.com
Tips: From midday to afternoon, Pitch jigs to hydrilla 10-12 feet off bottom in 25 ft. water.

Location: Amistad
Hotspot: Rough Canyon
GPS: N 29 36.31098, W 100 58.377
(29.605183, -100.972950)

Species: Largemouth bass
Best Baits: Pop Rs, buzzbaits, Zara Spooks
Contact: Stan Gerzsenyl
830-768-3648
stan@amistadbass.com
www.amistadbass.com
Tips: Fish topwaters from the main lake grass beds to the backs of the creeks. Zara Spooks are my favorites but Pop Rs and buzzbaits also can be effective. Look for schooling fish throughout the day.

LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: Hydrilla Pocket
GPS: N29 32.53482, W101 12.918
(29.542247, -101.215300)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Texas and Carolina-rigged plastic worms, topwater lures, crankbaits
CONTACT: Larry Scruggs, Amistad Lodge and Adventures
210-789-1645
fisherofmenlrs@hotmail.com
TIPS: Fish topwater lures in the far backs of all the pockets here during the early-morning hours and then target the underwater hydrilla beds at 12 to 15 feet with bright-colored plastic worms and crankbaits during late-morning and afternoon hours.

Location: Lake Coleman
Hotspot: Rear Cove
GPS: N 32 2.3976, W 99 27.6871
(32.0400, -99.4615)

Species: Largemouth bass
Best Baits: Live shad, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, slabs
Contact: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
325-692-0921
Tips: Coleman Reservoir is now full, and largemouth bass production has been great. The coordinates listed mark an old concrete structure that is surrounded by flooded brush. Fishing that shoreline into the rear cove works best with spinner baits, whacky worms, Senkos, and trick worms to catch bass. Sunrise often produces a great top-water bite in the rear cove. Occasionally hybrid striped bass can be caught in this cove, which these fish will put up a nice fight. Anglers targeting hybrids may have the best luck using live shad for bait or spinner baits, chrome or white suspending jerk baits, or slabs.

Location: Hubbard Creek Lake
Hotspot: Goat Island
GPS: N 32 45.764, W 99 00.499
(32.762738, -99.008317)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: topwaters, deep-diving crankbaits
Contact: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
325-692-0921
michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov
Tips: July is hot here. The fish know it too. Out deep around the sunken bridge and between Goat Island and the Dam are the hot spots. Bass like the deep divers and during early morning and late evening they will hit a topwater like a rocket.

Location: Lake Falcon
Hotspot: Cox Point
GPS: N 26 43.298, W 99 11.697
(26.7216, -99.1950)

Species: Largemouth Bass
Best Baits: Spinnerbaits, soft plastics, crankbaits
Contact: Robert Amaya, Robert’s Fishing Tackle
956-765-1442
www.robertsfishntackle.com
Tips: Fish shallow early, hit numerous cuts, points & drop-offs until the action slows in the afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Falcon
HOTSPOT: Alejandrejas Roadbed
GPS: N26 44.22498, W99 11.9439
(26.737083, -99.199065)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastic worms, spinnerbaits
CONTACT:
Robert Amaya
956-765-1442
robertsfishntackle@gmail.com
robertsfishntackle.com
TIPS: Fish the brush here early with topwater lures, Texas-rigged plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Carolina-rigged soft plastics also work well off the roadbed and in the openings where the water drops off from five to 8-12 feet. Also fish nearby humps.

Location: Lake Falcon
HOTSPOT: Dos Creeks
GPS: N26 55.44252, W99 19.56072
(26.924042, -99.326012)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, topwaters
CONTACT:
Robert Amaya
956-765-1442
robertsfishntackle@gmail.com
robertsfishntackle.com
TIPS: Fish shallow points early with topwater lures and buzzbaits. Once the sun is up, move out to six to eight feet of water and fish the thickest brush with a Texas-rigged plastic worm.

Location: Fort Phantom Hill Res.
Hotspot: Rocky Point
GPS: N 32 35.2862, W99 40.8191
(32.5881, -99.6803)

Species: Hybrid striped bass and largemouth bass
Best Baits: Slabs, crankbaits, soft plastics, spinnerbaits
Contact: Michael D. Homer Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
325-692-0921
Tips: Hybrid striped bass fishing has ramped up at the reservoir, and largemouth have been biting as well. Fishing off some of the drop-offs with slabs, deep-diving crank baits, and rattletraps may be the best way to land a hybrid. Fishing along the shoreline, consider throwing Texas-rigged soft plastics, spinnerbaits, or suspending jerk baits for largemouth.

Location: Possum Kingdom Res.
Hotspot: Stump Patch
GPS: N 32 51.600, W 98 29.700
(32.860, -98.495)

Species: Striped bass, hybrids
Best Baits: Live shad, jigs, shad-imitating soft plastics
Contact: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
Fav7734@aceweb.com
Tips: It’s the heat of the summer. Look for the bite to be early and late, and under cloud cover. Stripers will be feeding early on shad, so live shad or shad imitations work best. Perch sometimes will work, but you need the right size: about 4- to 6-inches, and we trim the top fin off. Downrigging with jigs and Mister Twister Curly Tails. Trolling big stickbaits can also work. They will be on natural highways under water, and like 20 to 40 feet depths. Fish hybrids the same way—especially with chartreuse colors.

Location: Lake Possum Kingdom
Hotspot: Gaines Bend
GPS: N 32 52.689, W 98 28.001
(32.8782, -98.4667)

Species: Striped, White Bass
Best Baits: Shad, Mister Twister
Contact: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
Fav7734@aceweb.com
Tips: Summertime translates into early morning bites, so set that alarm early! Shad are best, but we have found that the hotter it gets, the faster the fish want the bait moving past them. That’s why we do so good downrigging and trailing with Mister Twister Curly Tails. Watch your graph and look for fish suspended at 16 to 42 feet, in 50 feet or deeper water. The magic number has always been 24 feet. Remember: The early bird gets the worm!

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