Bass, Cats, Crappie & Sandies on the Move

Reported by TF&G STAFF

 

 

Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

 

•  •  •

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 28.992, W 95 35.064
(30.4832, -95.5844)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Primos Dipping bait
SOURCE: Richard Tatsch
936)291-1277
TIPS: Locate stumps lining the river channel edge and tie off in 20 to 25 foot of water. Use a bag of cattle cubes to bring the fish to you. I will dump a half bag of cubes on two different locations and come back to the first, tie up and get my boat back in the same position. Using a spinning reel with a treble hook, an 1/8-ounce egg sinker and a piece of cut sponge wrapped around it; dip it in the bait and drop it to the bottom. Stay in contact with the bottom raising the bait up and down slowly until I feel some resistance then set the hook. You can on most days catch limits of fish in just a few hours.

LOCATION: Lake Chapman (Cooper)
HOTSPOT: Brush Piles
GPS: N 33 18.363, W 95 37.242
(33.3061, -95.6207)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
TIPS: Look for the buoys and you’ll find the brush piles. You can work them all day!

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 54.0899, W 95 31.6079
(32.9015, -95.5268)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Grande Bass AirTail Flash, walking baits, topwater poppers and frogs
SOURCE: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
TIPS: April on Lake Fork is my favorite time of year. There are a ton of fish spread out in shallow cover and ready to eat top water lures. Walking baits like the Provoke Bully fished in points get big bites. Topwater poppers and frogs catch them in the cover. If they are not eating topwater lures, a weightless Grande Bass AirTail Flash is the ticket. Rig it with a 3/0 hook weightless and put a rattle in the tail. Cast in shallow grass let sink and slow twitch it back. Hang on!

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: The Pocket
GPS: N 30 55.662, W 95 15.0479
(30.9277, -95.2508)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and White Bass
BEST BAITS: Largemouth Bass: Soft plastics, Charlie’s June Bug large crawfish, 1/4 0z. black/blue jigs; White Bass: 1oz. slabs and trolled pet spoons
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
TIPS: Flip lay downs and docks in the Pocket for Largemouth Bass. Cut 1/4 off Charlie’s large crawfish to shorten the bait. Key on the docks close to or in 4’-6’ water. Look for docks with brush piles. In the mornings, fish the sunny side of the Pocket first. April can be a transition month for White Bass and Black Bass on Livingston. White Bass can be caught in April anywhere from the creeks and river on the north to the humps in mid and lower lake. Look for the Whites to start stacking up on mid lake humps 12’-17’ in mid to late April.

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: Big Brush Pile
GPS: N 31 37.795, W 94 48.512
(31.6299, -94.8085)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
TIPS: Fish live minnows or white/chartreuse jigs. Troll brush piles. Morning through afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines
HOTSPOT: Main Lake off of Lakeside
GPS: N 32 45.272, W 94 32.009
(32.7545, -94.5335)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Troll slowly with jigs or dropshot minnows. Morning through afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Five Fingers
GPS: N 31 08.071, W 94 07.210
(31.1345, -94.1202)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, Roadrunners
SOURCE: Mike Knight
936-635-2427
TIPS: Work 4- to 6-foot water with white/chartreuse Roadrunners or live minnows. Dawn to late morning, dusk and night.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Bear Creek Area
GPS: N 31 48.114, W 93 50.7419
(31.8019, -93.8457)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
936-569-8547
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. When you do 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: Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Sabine River, Government Ditch
GPS: N 31 53.5319, W 93 55.896
(31.8922, -93.9316)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving square bill crankbaits, Road Runners, Tail Spinners and slab spoons
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
936-569-8547
TIPS: The White Bass will be in the river proper making their annual river migration to spawn. Concentrate on the bars and the inside bends of the river sandbars. If the current is running, look for the “eddies” where the water is still. The Whites will bunch up in the still water. If the river is high, work the flooded sloughs. A ¼ ounce Rat-L-Trap, or Road Runner lets you cover a lot of water to locate the fish. Chartreuse or chrome colors usually work great. If you catch one, slow down because there are usually more fish in the same area.

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: Burns Island / Oil Well Slough
GPS: N 33 14.773, W 94 20.785
(33.2462, -94.3464)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish black/red tube jigs or watermelon red jigs. Fish slowly; avoid midday.

 

•  •  •

The Spawn is On for Central Texas Lakes

Reported by TF&G Staff

•  •  •

LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats, Shallows and Docks
GPS: N 30 20.484, W 97 50.7719
(30.3414, -97.8462)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Picasso Swim Jig, Picasso Shake E Football, V&M Pulse Swim Jig, V&M Thunder Shad, V&M Super Shakeyhead, Amphibia Sports Eyegear
SOURCE: Brian Parker – Lake Austin Fishing
817-808-2227
TIPS: March is highly considered the month for all anglers because of the size of the spawning bass in Texas lakes. I personally do not search out beds on a regular basis but when a client asks to do so, I tie on swim jigs and shakeyheads, clean my high clarity Amphibia sunglasses and begin to work the flats, shallows, and docks in shallow water. I typically like to use a bluegill or sunfish pattern swim jig as these are the predominate egg eaters in these situations on Lake Austin. When using the shakeyheads, I will use a V&M Thunder Shad as this will resemble a small fish devouring the eggs and produced strikes from the males and females.

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

SPECIES: Crappie and Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crappie: jigs and minnows / Bass: 10” red and black worms Carolina rigged
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
TIPS: Bass and crappie prospects are good early and late in the day. Bass are in 1 to 5 feet of water and are gorging in the shallows in the evening and morning. At the time of this report, we pulled 8 crappie out of this lake in a couple of hours.

LOCATION: Lake Belton
HOTSPOT: Cowhouse Creek Arm
GPS: N 31 8.7899, W 97 32.088
(31.1465, -97.5348)

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrids
BEST BAITS: Storm Thin Fin in Silver Shad color or a 2.75” Storm Smash Shad in Rainbow Smelt color
SOURCE: Bob Maindelle
254- 368-7411
TIPS: Focus on the middle section of the Cowhouse Creek arm, near the old creek channel. Watch sonar closely for suspended pods of fish and fish the Storm Thin Fin on a downrigger if the fish are deep, or fish a Smash Shad on a flat line if the fish are within 12 feet of the surface.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Upper End of Main Lake
GPS: N 30 50.466, W 98 23.7779
(30.8411, -98.3963)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut bait
SOURCE: Clancy Terrill
512-633-6742
TIPS: Big blue cats are excellent on rod and reel in coves near trees or rocks. Fish the upper end of the lake early or late using cut bait. Remember to use a big bait to increase the possibilities of catching a bigger fish. We have been catching numerous 20 and 30 lb. fish so far. Jug lines are a good method if you are wanting smaller fish to eat.
Jugs good also if you are wanting smaller fish to eat.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Tom Creek Area
GPS: N 29 52.128, W 98 16.1459
(29.8688, -98.2691)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Small crankbaits and jigs or live minnows
SOURCE: Barry Dodd
210-771-0123
TIPS: Look for prime areas for spawning in shallow water. This is one of the best times of the year to fish the back of coves and other shallow water areas. Crappie will hit just about anything during the spawning season. The main difference in lure selection is the sizes. The best fishing occurs just before frontal passage and then a couple days after when the winds return from the south. Generally, the best fishing is in the afternoons on north banks protected from the north winds and areas which receive lots of sunshine.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Spawning Coves
GPS: N 32 19.392, W 96 6.0539
(32.3232, -96.1009)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics
SOURCE: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
TIPS: This month we’re power fishing. Fish all spawning coves as far back as possible. Throw spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics around all shoreline cover in 1’ to 3’.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Ridge South of Pelican Island
GPS: N 32 53.998, W 97 30.454
(32.9000, -97.5076)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fly 12-inch above tail spinner or swim bait when they are surfacing or chasing shad.
SOURCE: Johnny Stevens
817-597-6598
TIPS: This area is a shallow sunken Island. This sunken Island is 6 to 9 feet deep. This time of the year many times the white bass will chase shad along the edge of this island. If the fish are surfacing throw a tail spinner or a bright swim bait like a hot spot. If they are still in the area but not surfacing. Run along the edge of this sunken island using your electronics. When you find them A slab and a fly will work well.

LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks
GPS: N 29 55.05, W 96 44.5559
(29.9175, -96.7426)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
TIPS: Fish are spawning around the rocks now. Use slip cork to fish above the rocks. You can also move down the dam all along the rocks. Use a #6 treble hook.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek
HOTSPOT: Diversion canal
GPS: N 30 37.9079, W 96 4.584
(30.6318, -96.0764)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Shad / CJ’s punch bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
TIPS: Lily pads grow in this area in the summer but for now you can fish close to the shore. Use only one rod for a better hook up ratio. Use cork set two foot deep.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats and Shallow Wind-Blown Banks
GPS: N 30 41.904, W 97 22.0559
(30.6984, -97.3676)

SPECIES: Blue Catfish and Yellow Catfish
BEST BAITS: Shad for Blues and live perch for Yellows
SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
TIPS: Right now the blue catfish are spawning all over the lake. The blues are in shallow timbered areas and windy banks. Fresh shad work for most, but a variety of baits will also produce. Lots of fishermen are using jug lines to catch them but rod and reel will also work well. A good bait for jug lines is Zote soap. It is easy to handle and easier to get than shad. I like to use it whenever I put out jug lines. I use Mustad #11/0 circle hooks and blues rarely get off when hooked. Now is also the best time to catch some of the big yellow cats that are plentiful in the lake. The good places for them are upriver on trotlines and in the wooded areas at the mouth of the river and Willis Creek. Most use live perch or goldfish to catch these good eating fish. Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Lynn Creek Bridge
GPS: N 32 37.377, W 97 02.338
(32.6230, -97.0390)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
TIPS: Fish minnows. Use your graph on pilings for depth then tie to pillars. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Bowman Creek Grass Flat
GPS: N 32 37.194, W 97 03.161
(32.6199, -97.0527)

SPECIES: Largemouth
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, flukes
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
TIPS: Fish red bug topwaters or weightless flukes. Fish grass mats early, and along edges later in the day. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Upper Lake Feeder Creeks
GPS: N 33 10.878, W 96 24.9359
(33.1813, -96.4156)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Cohoe Minnows and chartreuse slabs
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
TIPS: Sand Bass will start their migration up north into the feeder creeks to do their spawn. If there is water coming out of the powerplant, make sure you stop there first. Otherwise, find windblown banks with rocks. Cohoes and chartreuse slabs should put a couple in the boat. Before they start their migration of feeder creeks, they will start gorging on schools of shad. Check all around the island and around the cut through the island. Use extreme caution cutting through the island. There are severe concrete blocks right in the cut. I suggest taking the extra two minutes and going around the island.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Dry Creek Area
GPS: N 30 36.18, W 98 23.4179
(30.6030, -98.3903)

SPECIES: Crappie and Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crappie: 1” to 2” small crank baits and jigs or live minnows, Bass: hard plastic jerk baits, soft plastic jerk baits, top-water, slow-rolling spinnerbaits, lipless or square-bill crankbaits
SOURCE: Barry Dodd
210-771-0123
TIPS: Look for prime areas for spawning in shallow water. This is one of the best times of the year to fish the back of coves and other shallow water areas. Bass and crappie will hit just about anything during the spawning season. The main difference in lure selection is the sizes. The best fishing occurs just before frontal passage and then a couple days after when the winds return from the south. Generally, the best fishing is in the afternoons on north banks protected from the north winds and areas which receive lots of sunshine.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Stone Chimney Creek
GPS: N 32 5.202, W 95 24.4199
(32.0867, -95.4070)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Pink/white and yellow/white jigs in 1/16 oz size and live minnows
SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
TIPS: Crappie will be shallow in the 2–5-foot range this time of year. You will find them in the small pockets in the Stone Chimney Creek area down on the East side of the lake near the dam. Crappie will be good in most of the creeks on the lake, but Stone Chimney Creek will be one very good one. Rig jigs up with a slip bobber so that you can set the depth that you will want to fish. Minnows will work good as well fished just like the jigs. I like to use an 8 ft rod so that I can reach out over grass or brush to place my Bait in a hole in the cover I’m fishing. Fish your areas slow giving your fish time to find your bait. I like to look for water temps ranging in low to mid 60’s.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points
GPS: N 32 49.7459, W 96 32.166
(32.8291, -96.5361)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad or buffalo
SOURCE: The Cajun Guide/Johnny Procell
972- 814-8942
TIPS:Catfish will be on a tear and will hit cut shad or buffalo in 2 to 8 feet of water off all the main points. Good areas are the two points below Bass Pro and the one out form the Power Plant on the lake side.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: South End
GPS: N 33 21.5069, W 97 4.2175
(33.3584, -97.0703)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, crankbaits
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
TIPS: With a warmer winter, April will be a good month to fish for largemouth bass on Ray Roberts. Fish will be spawning and the topwater bite will be on. The spawning fish will be on the South End of the lake. The fish on the north end of the lake will start to guard fry. A white buzzbait worked along the grass edges and secondary points in the Northern creeks is a great way to start the day. Squarebill cranks and weightless flukes will continue to get bites. Watermelon flukes and shad colored crankbaits usually fair well. Fish will be starting to relate to the humps and main lake points.

LOCATION: Lake Richland Chambers
HOTSPOT: Timbered Areas of Richland Creek Arm
GPS: N 31 58.95, W 96 10.9241
(31.9825, -96.1821)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Danny King’s Blood Punch Bait
SOURCE: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
TIPS: If the winter hangs on into spring and the crappie and whites still aren’t biting, the catfish will be. Water temperature is the key to getting most fish interested in the spring spawn, but the catfish love the cold water and will bite all Winter through early spring. Fish punch bait on a #4 treble hook in 15-25 feet of water.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Big Creek East Shoreline
GPS: N 30 19.992, W 96 33.882
(30.3332, -96.5647)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait/Crawdad
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
TIPS: This is a windy shore and the shad run shallow. Use tight line or slip corks and fish close to the weeds.

LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 31 1.9499, W 97 35.0519
(31.0325, -97.5842)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Weightless lizards, wacky-rigged Senkos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Henry Niemiec
254-368-0294
TIPS: April can be a tricky time of the year for catching Bass. Early in the month, there is still an opportunity to catch one of the larger female up on the bed, however here in Central Texas for the most part the spawn is almost over. Now is the time to use a weightless Lizard or wacky rigged Senko up shallow around the beds. The smaller males have moved back in to protect the beds and will attack anything that falls on or close to the bed. Towards the end of the month the Bass will become much more active, feeding early in the morning and towards evening. At this time crankbaits and spinnerbaits will work great. You will want to work the shallows around lay-downs and spawning flats. This is the time of the year to catch more in the way of numbers, rather than size.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: Mill Creek cut
GPS: N 33 49.7879, W 96 45.3059
(33.8298, -96.7551)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: RoadRunner and Sassy Shad jigs
SOURCE: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
TIPS: Stripers are staging up the main tributaries. Structure like main lake points, ditches and creeks will hold stripers. 1oz. RoadRunner and Sassy Shad jigs in white or chartreuse will work best. Fish the creeks in 12’ to 20’ of water with a slow retrieve for fish up to 20lbs. Pay attention to the seagulls, they can be your best fish finder. When you are fishing under the birds keep your lure in the top 15’ of water. Most activity will be west of the Willis bridge and north of the railroad bridge on the Washita arm of the lake. Bank Access: Slickem Slough, Paw Paw creek

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Striper Point
GPS: N 31 57.1139, W 97 25.2119
(31.9519, -97.4202)

SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass
BEST BAITS: Swim baits and live shad
SOURCE: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
TIPS: The big stripers are running shallow. Start early throwing chartreuse swim baits and ripping them back to the boat in 3 to 10 of water. The big sow stripers are up shallow gorging on shad. Small swim baits and RatLTraps will put a lot of white bass in the boat in the same area as well. After the sun comes up, back off and anchor up and use a Carolina rig and cast live gizzard shad up shallow along the grass and hang on! Big sow stripers are roaming flats and will pick up the bait and run!

 

•  •  •

Now is the Time to Be Out on the Water

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

WATER TEMPERATURES on West Texas Lakes are getting into the 60s and fish are spawning and migrating. So are the baitfish. Now is the time to be out on the water. Stripers, hybrids, largemouth and others are either spawning or fixing to.

Stick to natural colors, but mainly fish the right length baits to up your catch numbers.

On the bigger lakes, such as Possum Kingdom and Amistad, watch the birds, as many of them haven’t migrated yet. Blue herons will put you on fish. So will turtles.

Catfish action is great on cut shad and hotdogs fished under deeper docks and creek entrances.  Black bass action is excellent on soft plastics worked near bedding grounds.

In April, crappie will be at peak activity. Bring jigs in white and chartreuse, pink, red and pearl. Their spawn is nearing its end on most water bodies, and these tasty species are moving out to deeper docks and structure. Best bait for crappie are small jigs or small minnows. Catfish are spawning and can be found in the backs of creeks and are good on cut shad, worms and prepared baits.

Passing cold and storm fronts will continue dominate the weather patterns through March.

Watch for spring rains, and work the headwaters of creeks for all spawning species.

 

 

 

Email Dean Heffner at ContactUs@fishgame.com

•  •  •

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Gobbler and Ince Creeks
GPS: N 33 1.506, W 101 9.3179
(33.0251, -101.1553)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shad colored crankbaits, Shakey Head jigs with a blue, camo, or green pumpkin worm, Bomber Fat Free Shad in Foxy Shad Color, Strike King XDS in Sexy Shad color
SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
TIPS: Look for the warmest water you can find, and you will find the bass. Even though Big Grape is a south creek, it still is one of the warmest creeks in the early spring. If you do not have any luck in the creeks, go to the steep banks close to deep water, and throw a shaky head jig and worm.

LOCATION: Amistad
HOTSPOT: Rough Canyon Area
GPS: N29 34.20456, W100 58.4892
(29.570076, -100.974820)

SPECIES: largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastic worms, crankbaits, soft plastic jerkbaits
CONTACT:
Stan Gerzsenyl
830-768-3648
TIPS: Fish the shallow pockets in the various arms off the river channel. Start at the mouths of the coves and work your way to the back of them slowly. On bright days, make long casts with soft plastic jerkbaits and Carolina-rigged worms.

LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: East Side of Devil’s River
GPS: N 29 30.708, W 100 58.256
(29.5118, -100.9709)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jerkbaits, crankbaits
SOURCE: Stan Gerzsenyl
830-768-3648
TIPS: Fish flats to the back during spawn, early morning through the afternoon.

LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Old Water Intake
GPS: N 32 34.833, W 99 41.197
(32.580545, -99.686617)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Ghost minnows, crappie tube jigs
SOURCE: Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD Natural Resources Specialist
325-692-0921
TIPS: Springtime is great crappie fishing at Fort Phantom Hill. The old water intake facility is only accessible by boat. Fishing this spot while the water temperatures are still below 65° might pay off big if the crappie are still in deeper water. Fishing ghost minnows works well, but if you don’t have bait try fishing a crappie jig tube in purple glitter with chartreuse.

LOCATION: Lake Falcon
HOTSPOT: Rio Grande River/San Ignacio
GPS: N 26 54.949, W 99 19.230
(26.9158, -99.3205)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad, worms, shrimp
SOURCE: Robert Amaya, Robert’s Fishing Tackle
956-765-1442
TIPS: Rig your bait to fish the bottom.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: River Near Tin Top
GPS: N 32 34.559, W 97 49.295
(32.575983, -97.821583)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Small jigs with soft plastics in Electric Chicken and Chartreuse colors worked near structure near banks/docks
SOURCE: MichaelAcosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Swim or bounce your jigs across the bottom. Work the bends in the river and look for fish either in the deeper holes and when active on top of flats adjacent to the deeper water. Crappie will be spawning creeks and sloughs all over the lake and in the river.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Mid Lake
GPS: N 32 24.324, W 97 44.648
(32.4054, -97.744133)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Look for schools of baitfish holding on the bottom and bounce your slab off the bottom to draw the bite. Work spinnerbaits vertically. Chartreuse and silver are best colors. When surface schooling, chrome and white spinners and Little Georges are effective.

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Lower Creek Arm
GPS: N 32 45.468, W 99 0.6751
(32.7578, -99.0113)

SPECIES: White Crappie
BEST BAITS: jigs, small spinnerbaits
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: With Hubbard Creek Reservoir catching full in 2016, the crappie production is expected to be substantial in 2017. Historically, anglers have reported catching great numbers of crappie in the lower creek arm in the southern end of the reservoir. Fishing the submersed brush and vegetation with curly-tailed jigs and small spinners may yield a bite.

LOCATION: Kirby Lake
HOTSPOT: Dam
GPS: N 32 23.1205, W 99 44.0777
(32.3853, -99.7346)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Live or cut carp, sunfish, punch baits
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: Kirby Lake is a catfishing gem in the Big Country. The reservoir is home to productive blue and flathead catfishes. While winds often blow from the south toward the dam, rigging your line heavy will allow you to cast in the windiest of days. Fishing off the dam can yield a catch of a large fish hanging out in the deeper waters. Cut carp, shad, or sunfish on slip sinker, three-way, or slip bobber rigs work well. Live 3-5” carp or live sunfish works for flatheads. Punch baits, cut shad, and carp also work well for smaller fish. Be sure to use heavy test line and round sinkers to avoid getting snagged on the rocks too badly.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Sand Flats
GPS: N 32 53.200, W 98 30.988
(32.886667, -98.516467)

SPECIES: Striped Bass, Hybrids
BEST BAITS: Jigs, slabs
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
TIPS: Fish are spawning as well as the baitfish. Slabs with Mister Twister Curly Tails are mainstays. Troll crankbaits and RatLTraps. Swimbaits can help find fish.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Cedar Creek
GPS: N 32 49.897, W 98 33.323
(32.831621, -98.55539)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live shad, jigs, Sassy Shad, RatLTraps, crankbaits, minnows
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
TIPS: Crappie jigs in white, chartreuse, pink, red and pearl. With all that said, live shad is always your best bet, with minnows next. Fish them on bobber and split shot, 18-24 inches below the bobber in 2 to 5 feet and deeper in the trees.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res.
HOTSPOT: Pickwick Bridge
GPS: N 32 54.777, W 98 27.939
(32.91295, -98.46565)

SPECIES: All species
BEST BAITS: Jigs, RatLTraps, crankbaits, live shad
Contact: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
TIPS: The spawn is on, so either fish are running upstream or coming back into the lake from spawning. Of course, all of this depends on rainwater coming in and temperatures. But the mighty Brazos is the main tributary. Some fish spawn up Cedar and other creeks coming into the lake, but most are staged up to go up the Brazos. The lake is full of shad and now is the time to be fishing live shad. Also, downrigging, trolling and various artificials are working this time of year. We are tipping our jigs with Mister Twister curly tails and also trolling RatLTraps and crankbaits. Live shad for multiple species and fresh dead cut shad for catfish.

 

•  •  •

 

< PREV Return to CONTENTS Page NEXT >