Reported by TF&G STAFF

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Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin
HOTSPOT: Charlie’s Ridge
GPS: N 33 2.615, W 95 4.615
(33.0436, -95.0769)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Live and artificial trout bait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Live and artificial trout bait; night

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
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
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 June bug colored worms on the bottom along the edges of the grass. Give extra attention to the bends and points.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 28.992, W95 35.064
(30.4832, -95.5844)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Primos Dipping bait
SOURCE: Richard Tatsch
936-661-7920
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: Locate stumps lining the river channel edge and tie off in 20 to 25 feet 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, and 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 you feel some resistance. Then set the hook. On most days you can catch limits of fish in just a few hours.

LOCATION: Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman
HOTSPOT: Dam 2
GPS: N 33 19.924, W 95 37.942
(33.3321, -95.6324)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punchbait, shad
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
TIPS: Fish with Carolina-rigged punchbait or shad and work in about 6-15 feet of water. 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 slab.
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
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 damn area. You are allowed 25 keepers per person in your boat and there is a 10” minimum length on the White Bass.

LOCATION: Lake Houston
HOTSPOT: Scott’s Point
GPS: N 30 1.878, W 95 7.736
(30.0313, -95.1289)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows or jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Use spider rigs when trolling.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: Dam Area in Deep Water
GPS: N 30 37.974, W95 1.5059
(30.6329, -95.0251)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, 1 ¼ oz. white slabs, spoons, Tsunami Holographic 4 inch Swim Shad in hot pink/gold
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: Bounce baits off the bottom and look for strikes on falling baits. Troll Tsunami Swim Shad behind a #10 jet diver.

LOCATION: Lake Murvaul
HOTSPOT: 1971 Bridge
GPS: N 32 2.342, W 94 28.822
(32.0390, -94.4804)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, crankbaits, topwaters
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Soft plastics, cranks, tops, hit rip rap around bridge; dawn, morning, dusk, night; All Year, dawn, morn., dusk, night

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: Highline Point
GPS: N 31 37.304, W 94 49.482
(31.6217, -94.8247)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, soft plastics
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
TIPS: This spot has a good point with a sharp edge and hydrilla. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines
HOTSPOT: Dam Schooling Area
GPS: N 32 45.234, W 94 30.319
(32.7539, -94.5053)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, RatLTraps
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish minnows or silver RatLtraps. Look for surface action in the creek. Dawn through midday.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Eagle Point
GPS: N 31 22.756, W 94 28.880
(31.3793, -94.4813)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish the back brush on the point and the creek’s ledge. Dawn to late morning, dusk.

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

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

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: Persimmon Cove
GPS: N 33 15.24, W 94 23.734
(33.2540, -94.3956)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish shad spinnerbaits, medium to heavy. Work the cover; dawn thru midday.

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Reported by TF&G Staff

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Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

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LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Little Bee Creek
GPS: N 30 17.814, W 97 47.228
(30.2969, -97.7871)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: RatLTrap, lipless crankbait; All year, all day

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and chatterbaits
SOURCE: Corey Thorn
whitebassfishingtexas.com

TIPS: This time of year, bass will usually always be in 1 to 5 feet of water until August then they move out a little deeper in the middle of the lake. Spinnerbaits seem to work the best along with chatterbaits. When it gets a little warmer and it’s bright out, fish the bridges or the rip rap where there is access to deeper water.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake to Dam Area
GPS: N 30 46.53, W 98 25.2119
(30.7755, -98.4202)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish mid-lake to the dam early morning and late evening. Fish drifting or anchored with 5-8” live shad. Concentrate on 25-30 foot depths on humps and ridges around Flag Island. Mid-day fish near or just above the trees in 50-70 foot of water.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Jacobs Point
GPS: N 29 52.668, W 98 13.3259
(29.8778, -98.2221)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigging spoon in white color
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish from the point back to the swim beach casting out the spoon and try to maintain a depth of 20 to 40 feet, the Striped Bass like to school in this area this time of year. Tight lines and Fish On!

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 16.11, W 96 7.7279
(32.2685, -96.1288)

SPECIES: Hybrid Striper
BEST BAITS: Deep diver crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: This is a great time of year to load up on hybrids! Troll humps and points on the main lake in 14’ to 24’ with deep divers at about 3 mph.

LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi
HOTSPOT: Goat Island
GPS: N 28 4.306, W 97 53.524
(28.0718, -97.8921)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Work the island’s edges

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Channel Ledge
GPS: N 32 54.426, W 97 29.445
(32.907106, -97.490752)

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: crankbaits
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: The white bass will be actively chasing shad this time of the year. Look for surface activity or birds working to help find the fish. Crankbaits are a good choice to cover water or to cast to the fish. Look for the fish to go deeper down to 15-20 feet during the heat of the day.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Deep Docks
GPS: N 32 53.156, W 97 27.855
(32.885925, – 97.464244)

BEST BAITS: Jigs
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: The crappie will be pulling up under deep boat docks to get in the shade. You can target these fish by skipping jigs up ender the walkways and floats. Look for the fish to be either suspended right under the docks or down towards the bottom.

LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Snake Island Point
GPS: N 29 55.877, W 96 43.366
(29.9313, -96.7228)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait, cut shad
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
TIPS: Anchor 20-25 foot deep off the point. Chum close to the boat and fish straight down, using tight lines. It is best to fish on a light wind day here at this hotspot.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Lynn Creek Grass Flat
GPS: N 32 37.671, W 97 02.722
(32.6279, -97.0454)

SPECIES: Largemouth
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, flukes
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
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: Little Ridge Point
GPS: N 33 3.7859, W 96 27.792
(33.0631, -96.4632)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass & White Bass
BEST BAITS: Largemouth Bass: white & chartreuse spinnerbaits, square bill crankbaits, Series 5 Sexy Shad; White Bass: white top water lures
SOURCE: Corey Thorn
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish the rip rap and rocks for largemouth bass. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits work well early in the morning. Then switch to a square bill crankbait, a 1 to 6 foot diver, until approximately 9 AM. Then switch to a 12 to 15 foot Series 5 Sexy Shad. There might be top water action every morning and evening. Otherwise look for them on every main point and the humps outside of Little Ridge point.

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: Hickory Creek
GPS: N 33 6.14, W 97 3.265
(33.1023, -97.0544)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish tree tops with live minnows or white/yellow jigs; all day

LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Lambs Creek
GPS: N 31 22.878, W 96 18.206
(31.3813, -96.3034)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Hit large, isolated trees in 15-20 feet of water; dawn thru dusk

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: Indian swim jig w/ Mister Twister Hawg Frog as trailer; Crappie: jigs
SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff, Ricky’s Guide Service
rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Bass fishing is good around boat docks and along the creek in the county line area. Concentrate on stumps and other structure. For crappie action, fish brush piles in 15 feet of water and under bridges.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: Heath Point
GPS: N 32 50.141, W 96 30.528
(32.8357, -96.5088)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish live minnows or red/black jigs, fish a vertical jig action in the trees; morning-afternoon

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 33 22.5895, W 97 3.1718
(33.3765, -97.0529)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, worms, buzzbaits, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: August can be a tough time to get largemouth bass to cooperate. Main lake shallow willows and grass will be holding some fish. Double willow leaf white spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged Blue Fleck power worms, should work around the willow. Early morning is a good time to work a buzzbait and frog around the willows. Fish may be holding on main lake ridges and pond dams in 12-18 feet of water. I like a 3/4 oz football head jig and Norman DD22 in Chartreuse/Shad.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: Pelican Island
GPS: N 31 58.9439, W 96 10.5959
(31.9824, -96.1766)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Rat-L-Traps, slabs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: The hot summer months are ideal for schooling top water white bass action and the Pelican Island area is always a good hotspot to check out in the early morning. Literally acres of whites will be chasing shad to the surface and feeding on them, and Pelican is as good as any spot to find them. Tie on just about any small shiny top water lure and you’re in business. I like a clear Tiny Torpedo or about the smallest blue/chrome Rat-L-Trap you can throw on a spinning rod. When the fish stop feeding on the surface, don’t leave right away as you can often catch them slabbing off the bottom.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Little Crappie Point
GPS: N 30 18.5001, W 96 31.7601
(30.3083, -96.5293)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs in light blue or grey
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish 1/16 oz. jigs. Try free falling jig and try lowering jig to brush pile slowly. FIish minnows under a cork, right above brush or large rocks.

LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni
HOTSPOT: Arm Point
GPS: N 32 52.981, W 95 59.951
(32.8830, -95.9992)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Chum area, drift flats slowly using Carolina or Texas rig; morning, afternoon

LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek
GPS: N 29 1.671, W 96 33.278
(29.0279, -96.5546)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad, shrimp, cheesebait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: fish cut shad, shrimp or cheesebait on a bottom rig; all day

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East and the Islands
GPS: N 33 51.888, W 96 49.8779
(33.8648, -96.8313)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures and Sassy Shad jigs
SOURCE: Bill Carey, Striper Express
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 Shad soft plastics. Concentrate on the flats that run about 24’ in depth. Locate the creek channel and drop offs, these are the routes the fish use to move up from deep water. Later in the month, seagulls arrive. Pay attention to the birds; they are the best fish finder.

LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Speegleville Marina Sunken Rd.
GPS: N 31 33.487, W 97 14.01
(31.5581, -97.2335)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Work crankbaitss & spinnerbaits along sides & top of road bed; early morning, late afternoon

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump and Hwy 22 Road Bed
GPS: N 31 54.612, W 97 20.754
(31.9102, -97.3459)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Live threadfin shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish early morning using live bait suspended at 12 feet drifting along the hump. Watch graph as the fish are changing depths sometimes daily.

 

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Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

HotSPOTLight:

Email Dean Heffner at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Little Grape Creek
GPS: N 33 2.6279, W101 3.7439
(33.0438, -101.0624)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: 10-in. worms, jigs, and spoons
SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
TIPS: July and August will find the bass on the deep ledges and flats. Locate them on your electronics before ever making your first cast. Look up Big Grape, Rocky, and Ince Creeks as well as Little Grape. This is also a good time to fish at night with 10-inch worms.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Lower End
GPS: N 32 23.262, W 97 42.432
(32.3877, -97.7072)

SPECIES: Striped bass and white bass
BEST BAITS: Live Shad and Jigging Slabs in Chartreuse and Holographic Silver
SOURCE: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Fish near humps and ridges around 20 feet down. Early surface action is possible on spinners and rattle traps. Granbury levels are close to normal. All species are in their summer patterns as the lake continues to heat up. Thermoclines are sure to start developing late into July which will congregate the fish in the thermocline and above.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Decordova Area
GPS: N 32 25.269, W 97 41.402
(32.42115, -97.690033)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Texas Rigged Soft plastics in Red Shad, Blue Fleck and Black
SOURCE: Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Look for shaded docks and stick ups with some deeper water close by. Work main lake points and creek channels. Early top water bite is possible.

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Shoreline
GPS: N 32 48.666, W 99 01.985
(32.811105, -99.03308)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs
SOURCE: Lance Benson, Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
325-692-0921
TIPS: August can be a great month for fishing for largemouth bass on Hubbard Creek Reservoir. Hubbard Creek has an abundant amount of vegetation deep in the summer months that can be great for bass waiting to ambush prey. Hydrilla is the prominent vegetation in the reservoir and can be as deep as 18 feet. Fishing the edge of the hydrilla with a jig can produce some large numbers of fish. In shallower water a bladed jig can be a great option.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Bass Island
GPS: N 32 51.956, W 98 32.449
(32.865929, -98.540822)

SPECIES: Striped, hybrid striped bass
BEST BAITS: topwaters
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
Fav7734@gmail.com
TIPS: Most of the stripers and hybrids are back in the make lake channel or old river bed. Concentrate in the morning on primary and secondary points. A good pair of binoculars is a must this time of year. Position yourself on one of the lake bends where you can see both ways and scan the water for action.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Stump Patch
GPS: N 32 52.516, W 98 29.427
(32.875267, -98.49045)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, topwaters
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
Fav7734@gmail.com
TIPS: In the dog days of August, topwater action can be found by the dam. Live shad is the name of the game after the morning bite.

LOCATION: Lake Proctor
HOTSPOT: Promontory Point
GPS: N 31 59.348, W 98 28.639
(31.989135, -98.477319)

SPECIES: Hybrid striped bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: Lance Benson, Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
325-692-0921
TIPS: July at Lake Proctor in Comanche County is a great time to troll for hybrid striped bass. These fish are normally schooled up chasing shad on some of the wind swept points. A medium diving crankbait in white or chartreuse colors tends to work well. Promontory Point is a long point that extends out three of four hundred yards from Promontory Park. This area seems to hold lots of hybrids.

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