[photo_box title=”CURRENT LAKE LEVELS” image=”” align=”” link=”” target=”_blank” greyscale=”0″ animate=””]

[heading tag=”h4″ align=”left” color=”#0153a5″ style=”lines” color2=”# 0153a5″]Source: Water Data for Texas[/heading]

[/photo_box]

 

November & December East Texas Forecasts 

Reported by TF&G STAFF

HotSPOTLight

 

•  •  •

LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin
HOTSPOT: Bob Sandlin Dam
GPS: N 33 4.069, W 95 0.204
(33.0678, -95.0034)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Liver, worms on C-rig, anchor, chum & tightline
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Liver, worms on Carolina rig, anchor, chum & tightline; morning, night

LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Big Cypress Bayou Cuts and Bends
GPS: N 32 41.5559, W 96 2.292
(32.6926, -96.0382)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Umbrella rigs, chatterbaits, crankbaits, topwaters
SOURCE: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith
318-455-3437
www.caddolakefishing.com
TIPS: This late fall/early winter time of the year the bass are really feeding up. Shad is the main food source for them now so any white or shad colored lures like the ones listed above work great. Stay in the main channel and other creeks and concentrate on the cuts, intersections, and bends along the edges of the channel. Sometimes you might find them schooling on a nearby flat from the channels.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 22.9799, W 95 34.9259
(30.3830, -95.5821)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers
BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad
SOURCE: Richard Tatsch
936-661-7920
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: The hybrid stripers are in full swing now; They will be all around the lake on main lake points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity! Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year, they will range in the water column from 12 foot to 30 feet. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. Live shad will be the bait of choice, but the swim shad or shad colored crankbaits will work if you can control the depth.

LOCATION: Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman
HOTSPOT: Pelican Point
GPS: N 33 19.811, W 95 40.300
(33.3302, -95.6717)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
TIPS: Fish red/shad topwaters early & late. Pitch jigs into willows when topwater action slows.

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Deep Points, Humps and Creek Channel Bends
GPS: N 32 48.7319, W 95 36.504
(32.8122, -95.6084)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: When fish are on bottom: spoons, deep swim baits When fish are suspended: umbrella rigs. When fish are on surface schooling: Owner Flashy Swimmer with a Grandebass Air Tail Flash as a trailer in shad colors
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: The fish are feeding for winter, so the best water temperature is between 65 and 55 degrees. Best locations are deep points, humps, and creek channel bends. Best feed times are late in the afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Houston
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Point
GPS: N 29 56.143, W 95 8.927
(29.9357, -95.1488)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut minnows, troll, drift or use flagged juglines
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Cut minnows, troll, drift or use flagged juglines

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: White Rock Creek
GPS: N 30 58.1159, W 95 20.07
(30.9686, -95.3345)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: 1/4 oz. Tsunami Cocktail Spinners – White, Bear Paws- White Bleeding Ribbed Shad, 1/8 or ¼ oz Rattletraps, Bluefox, Sassy Shad,
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: The major White Bass run up the Trinity should be starting now. The Trinity River produces some of the best white bass fishing in the world. Best time is following a warming trend after a 1 -2 inch local rain with the water getting up over 60 degrees. Go all the way up the creek until the water clears and fish the sandbars and points where they drop off into deeper holes. Fish slowly downstream until you find the fish.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: Wyndell’s Hot Hole
GPS: N 30 45.1319, W 95 10.2959
(30.7522, -95.1716)

SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Tsunami Zombie Eye Slabs, live shad
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: Jig slabs off the bottom. Look for water depths 11-14 foot. Keep line tension tight as the slab falls. Be ready for strikes on falling bait.

LOCATION: Lake Murvaul
HOTSPOT: Docks
GPS: N 32 1.906, W 94 26.77
(32.0318, -94.4462)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Look for brush under docks, flip under; dawn, morning, dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: IP Cove
GPS: N 31 37.197, W 94 50.067
(31.6200, -94.8345)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Just about any artificial
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
TIPS: Work the back brush, docks, hydrilla, stumps, etc. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines
HOTSPOT: Johnson Creek
GPS: N 32 47.152, W 94 32.541
(32.7859, -94.5424)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish black/blue jigs or minnows. Use your depth finder to locate the fish. Midday thru afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: 103 Bridge
GPS: N 31 22.380, W 94 28.274
(31.3730, -94.4712)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish the bridge area and creek channel with live minnows.

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Still Water to Bayou Seipe
GPS: N 31 44.5248, W 93 49.764
(31.7421, -93.8294)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Shiners, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: On the north end of the lake the crappie will start moving and bunching up along the ledges of the river channel. Use your electronics to locate the bait fish and natural cover or drop your own brush tops. As the water temperature falls the crappie will move deeper. Shiners or jigs will load up an ice chest of crappie.

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: The Hump
GPS: N 33 18.342, W 94 10.6
(33.3057, -94.1767)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Little George
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish a green Little George and work the top and edges of the hump. Dawn through dusk.

Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

 

•  •  •

Central Forecasts for November & December

Reported by TF&G Staff

HotSPOTLight:

Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

•  •  •

LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: Big View Drive
GPS: N 30 20.982, W 97 52.121
(30.3497, -97.8687)

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

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed line. Crappie are under the bridge this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Silver Creek and Paradise Point
GPS: N 30 50.5139, W 98 24.942
(30.8419, -98.4157)

SPECIES: Striped, Hybrid & White Bass
BEST BAITS: Large shiner, live perch, 1oz or 1/2 oz. silver or chartreuse slabs, Large Zara Spooks, Pencil Poppers or any other topwater lure that splashes.
SOURCE: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
www.striperfever.com.com
TIPS: The stripers will be on the upper end of the lake around the Silver Creek and Paradise Point area as well as around Shaw and Garret Islands. Watch for feeding seagulls. White bass will be in the river channel. Troll shad colored diving baits.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Comal Park Area
GPS: N 29 51.7079, W 98 14.28
(29.8618, -98.2380)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Generally, just before a front arrives and as the front is pushing in, fish become more active and feed much more aggressively. This secondary point has deep and shallow water along with brush. The brush extends into the cove and along the bank.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 18.906, W 96 9.72
(32.3151, -96.1620)

SPECIES: Blue Catfish
BEST BAITS: Fresh cut shad or other cut bait
SOURCE: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: Best technique this month is drift fishing for catfish. Fish long stretches in deep water throughout the lake. Fresh cut shad or rough fish is the best bait. Just cover lots of water in various depths from 20’ to 40’ deep. Use big tackle for big fish!

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 43.2959, W 97 11.7359
(28.7216, -97.1956)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, Zoom pearl white flukes
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: November is when the holidays begin, the weather starts cooling and the lakes are not as busy. The lake is quiet the weather is comfortable, and the fishing is great. The big hogs move up shallower sometimes you can catch them all day shallow. Spinnerbaits are the fish locators. When the fishing gets slower during late morning, Slow your baits down. The rule of thumb when fishing this time of year is to slow your bait down. Usually, fish are more aggressive in the early morning and then they lay back later in the day. If you watch the fry carefully, they are moving slow also. Fast baits don’t look natural. When it’s windy, get more aggressive. Focus on back of creeks early and move out during the latter morning.

LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi
HOTSPOT: River Channel
GPS: N 28 11.96, W 97 56.433
(28.1993, -97.9406)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Live minnow, perch
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Live or cut shad, cheesebait, use bottom rigs.

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain
HOTSPOT: River channel
GPS: N 32 54.236, W 97 29.695
(32.903938, -97.494912)

SPECIES: catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut bait
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Fish the edge of Pelican Island where the river channel meets the drop off. Early in December anchor up and fish cut bait on the bottom near the top of the slope. As the water gets cooler later in the month, fish the bottom of the river channel near the drop off.

LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Cedar Creek Bridge Pilings
GPS: N 29 56.448, W 96 44.562
(29.9408, -96.7427)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Water is about 40’ deep. Throw a buoy and chum close to the buoy. Anchor up or use a trolling motor to stay over chum. Fish tight line straight down.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Open Lake Flats
GPS: N 30 42.216, W 97 21.324
(30.7036, -97.3554)

SPECIES: Blue Catfish
BEST BAITS: Shad, cut bait
SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: Now is a good time to catch blue catfish on jug lines fished all over the main lake. Some places to start would be windy sides of the lake. Shad are blown into these areas and thus concentrate the hungry blues. Use #11/0 Mustad circle hooks with no more than two hooks on each jug line.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Hump Point w Brushpile
GPS: N 32 35.871, W 97 00.781
(32.5979, -97.0130)

SPECIES: Largemouth
BEST BAITS: Red bugs, topwater
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish midday with Carolina rigged red bug, topwaters along the point, Texas rig on the brush pile.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 33 3.3479, W 96 30.438
(33.0558, -96.5073)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: 1-3 ft diving crankbaits, soft plastics
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish 1-3 foot divers early in the morning and then soft plastics when the sun is up.

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: Dam Area
GPS: N 33 4.211, W 96 58.132
(33.0702, -96.9689)

SPECIES: Hybrid Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, drift fish
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Live shad, drift fish; all day.

LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Dooley Creek
GPS: N 31 25.374, W 96 22.61
(31.4229, -96.3768)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: If pondweed or cottontail is present, use worms, buzzbaits.
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: If pondweed or cottontail is present, use worms, buzzbaits.; dawn thru dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: River Channel
GPS: N 32 3.666, W 95 26.4479
(32.0611, -95.4408)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: 1/4 oz. Big Eye Jigs in black/blue
SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Bass fishing has been good in the river channel. Pitch around the stumps located along the river channel in 4-6 feet of water. Fish your lure slow for best results.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: I-30 East Bridge
GPS: N 32 53.285, W 96 29.398
(32.8881, -96.4900)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Black jigs or live minnows, work bridge pylons
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Black jigs or live minnows, work bridge pylons; morning-midday

LOCATION: Richland-Chambers Res.
HOTSPOT: Windsock Point
GPS: N 31 56.586, W 96 7.452
(31.9431, -96.1242)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers & White Bass
BEST BAITS: White Bass: 1 oz. Silver Glitter RSR Shad Slabs (www.rsrlures.com) & 1/4 oz. Blue Chrome Rat-L-Traps Hybrids: 2 oz. Chartreuse Slab
SOURCE: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
www.gonefishin.biz
TIPS: If it’s a really cold November, bait and fish may be suspended in 40’ plus water. If it’s a warm fall, watch for the gulls and pelicans feeding on shad off the surface. Concentrate on the sides of Windsock Point in depths from 20’-30’. Bounce the Slab off the bottom and when the strike occurs HOLD ON! It might be a BIG Ol’ hybrid! If surfacing action occurs, bring out the Rat-l-Traps.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Yegua Park West Shoreline
GPS: N 30 17.76, W 96 32.784
(30.2960, -96.5464)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s Monster Punch Bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish off shore a in 6’ of water to keep from hanging up on stubble that died during 2016 floods. Tight line toward the shore. Chum close to the boat.

LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni
HOTSPOT: Holiday Humps
GPS: N 32 48.945, W 95 56.459
(32.8158, -95.9410)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Chartreuse sassy shad, slabs, fish hump top and edges
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Chartreuse sassy shad, slabs, fish hump top and edges; morning and afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: Brackenridge
GPS: N 28 56.053, W 96 32.64
(28.9342, -96.5440)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Fish jigging spoons or crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish jigging spoons or crankbaits; all day.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: Five Creeks
GPS: N 33 54.8339, W 96 42.3959
(33.9139, -96.7066)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, live shad
SOURCE: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
www.striperexpress.com
TIPS: The stripers are running in large schools. Pay close attention to the seagulls as they will locate the stripers ambushing large bait balls. The favorite artificial are 4-inch Sassy Shad on a 1-ounce jig head. The best colors are white glow and chartreuse fleck. Live shad fishing is also a great way to catch stripers.

LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Hog Creek
GPS: N 31 30.793, W 97 15.396
(31.5132, -97.2566)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Fish the bottom
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish the bottom; morning, dusk thru night

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Big Rocky Creek
GPS: N 31 52.794, W 97 23.682
(31.8799, -97.3947)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Cut bait and live shad
SOURCE: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
www.teamredneck.net
TIPS: Cast out 30 feet behind boat and turn trolling motor on medium speed and drag baits behind boat in the mouth of the creek and hump just out from creek. Stripers have baits pushed up in the mouth of Big Rocky gorging on them.

 

•  •  •

West Texas Forecast for November & December

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

HotSPOTLight:

 

Email Dean Heffner at ContactUs@fishgame.com

•  •  •

LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Res.
HOTSPOT: Main Body
GPS: N 32 34.8359, W 99 41.202
(32.5806, -99.6867)

SPECIES: White Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: Fort Phantom Hill has seen a boost in its crappie population since catching water in 2015 and 2016. In December, crappie can be fished off the bottom with 1/8-14 oz. jigs. This same location has produced great crappie catches throughout the year.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Lower End Pump Station
GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.550
(32.383567, -97.709167)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Swimbaits, live shad
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Slow troll using your trolling motor with your bait in 20 to 25 feet of water near channel ledges. Look for birds to point you to active fish. Patterns are changing as the water cools. Fish are actively feeding before the winter season. Passing cool fronts continue to dominate the weather pattern.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Blue Water Shores
GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.550
(32.383567, -97.709167)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: White flukes and bass assassins on a 3/4 jig head.
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Jigs worked off the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water where baitfish are located. Look for hovering birds and tip your bait with chartreuse dye. Bring your binoculars.

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Hubbard Creek Arm
GPS: N 32 46.122, W 99 04.364
(32.768692, -99.072731)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Shad soft plastics, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Glenn Chancellor, TPWD Abilene
325-692-0921
TIPS: December is a great time to hit the Hubbard Creek arm of Hubbard Creek Lake for crappie! Launch at Peeler Park and start fishing up creek working the large sections of standing timber. Throw small swim shad at standing timber lines and work larger piles with your favorite crappie jig combo.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Oil Well Slough
GPS: N 32 55.322, W 98 27.857
(32.922033, -98.464283)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, jigs
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
Fav7734@gmail.com
TIPS: Pay attention to the cold fronts. Stick to natural colors and add some yellow or chartreuse when it’s cloudy. You can still catch some fish trolling, but this is the time to be slabbing. Look for fish on the 20-foot breakline and keep in contact with the bottom—unless the fish are up and active. Then, make long casts under the birds and hop one or two retrieves back to the boat and pause right before you pull it out of the water. Half and one-ounce jigs with Mister Twister curly tails are still deadly and are great to flatline or vertical jig.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Tree Island
GPS: N 32 56.337, W 98 25.987
(32.93895, -98.433117)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, jigs
SOURCE: Dean Heffner
940-329-0036
Fav7734@gmail.com
TIPS: Try a technique we call “thumpin’.” You can just thump the bottom of your boat with a rod butt, or check out Bobo’s Thumper (bobosthumper.com). It’s an electronic thumping box that does the trick for you. This technique works all year, but especially in winter. Stick to the 20- or 30-foot breaklines and, once you find a fish, stick to that depth for a few minutes. Usually, more fish will show up. Slow down and let your graph find the fish. If you find them under birds, remember to shut off the big motor and sneak up on them.

LOCATION: Lake Sweetwater
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 25.852, W 100 18.141
(32.430865, -100.302350)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Lance Benson, TPWD Abilene
325-692-0921
TIPS: Lake Sweetwater in Nolan County is a small impoundment fed by Bitter Creek and Cottonwood Creek. Fishing for Largemouth Bass in November can be excellent here! Top water baits in the morning and evening can produce some pulse pounding strikes.

•  •  •

 

[button title=”Return to CONTENTS Page” link=”https://fishgame.com/2211-november-december-2022-issue/” target=”” align=”” icon=”” icon_position=”” color=”” font_color=”” size=”2″ full_width=”” class=”” download=”” rel=”” onclick=””]