Reported by TF&G STAFF

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Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin
HOTSPOT: Railroad Bridge
GPS: N 33 4.754, W 95 1.721
(33.0792, -95.0287)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Live minnows, red, chartreuse jigs, bottom rigs; dusk

 

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 22.974, W 95 34.9259
(30.3829, -95.5821)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers
BEST BAITS: Live shad, Swim Shad and crankbaits
SOURCE: Richard Tatsch
936-291-1277
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: Use electronics to find schools of shad and you will find the hybrid in the water column from 12 to 26 feet. Live shad or swimbaits and crankbaits work if you can control the depth.

 

LOCATION: Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman
HOTSPOT: John’s Creek
GPS: N 33 20.186, W 95 44.19
(33.3364, -95.7365)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
TIPS: Fish live minnows or white/chartreuse jigs. Hit the timber and weeds. Morning through afternoon.

 

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Little Caney Creek
GPS: N 32 50.112, W 95 33.6653
(32.8352, -95.5611)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, topwater lures, Grande Bass Airtail Rattler, poppers and frogs
SOURCE: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
www.guideonlakefork.com
TIPS: Shad spawn early in the day, so use crankbaits and topwaters. Main lake points are best to find them feeding. When that is over, fish poppers and frogs in the creeks around flooded cover. If that’s not enough action, tie on a Carolina rig, put a Grande Bass Airtail Rattler on it and fish points and drop offs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Add a rattle in the tail.

 

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: 190 Road Bed
GPS: N 30 45.15, W 95 10.3206
(30.7525, -95.1720)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigging slabs, spoons, troll pet spoon on down rigger, Tsunami Zombie Eyes (1 oz pink/silver glow)
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: Key on old bridge rails, road bed 11-15 foot. Jig slabs and Tsunami Zombie Eyes off the bottom.

 

LOCATION: Lake Murvaul
HOTSPOT: Jones Branch
GPS: N 32 2.593, W 94 26.136
(32.0432, -94.4356)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, crankbaits, plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish the docks or look for brush; dawn, morning, dusk

 

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: Westside Park
GPS: N 31 35.587, W 94 50.226
(31.5931, -94.8371)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
TIPS: Fish live minnows or red/chartreuse jigs. Use a slipcork. Avoid midday.

 

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines
HOTSPOT: Copeland Creek
GPS: N 32 46.076, W 94 35.469
(32.7679, -94.5912)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Frozen shad, shrimp, wigglers
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Carolina rig your bait and fish the bottom slowly. Afternoon and night.

 

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Angelina River
GPS: N 31 26.110, W 94 33.619
(31.435164, -94.560309)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Look for guts & pockets. Buzzbaits are good because you want to irritate the water. Dawn to late morning, dusk.

 

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Bayou Seipe
GPS: N 31 43.602, W 93 49.4879
(31.7267, -93.8248)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows (shiners) and jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Crappie will be moving off beds and following creeks back to the main lake. Locate natural cover along creek channels—Crappie will hold in these areas before heading back to the main lake. Straight-line shiners or jigs over the cover.

 

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: Boogaloo
GPS: N 33 15.909, W 94 21.588
(33.2652, -94.3598)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Junebugs, tubes, jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish a Junebug, red tube jigs, or plum toadies. Work slowly; 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: Saratoga Point
GPS: N 30 21.217, W 97 51.199
(30.3536, -97.8533)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fishing is good all day on this spot.

 

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)
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Bass are on fire shallow along the banks. Fish in 1-5 feet of water. Cast along the banks parallel; the fish are no more than five feet from the banks.

 

LOCATION: Lake Belton
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 31 12.3899, W 97 30.756
(31.2065, -97.5126)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Bass jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Bass will be in their summer pattern at this time of the year. The prime time to be on the lake is early in the morning and in the evenings. Bass will move from deeper water into the shallows looking for baitfish in the evenings and you will catch them still cruising and feeding in the morning. As the sun gets high in the sky they will move back deep. During these times crankbaits and spinnerbaits matching the color and size of the baitfish the bass are feeding on will be key. This is not to say that that you cannot catch them in the heat of the day. Look for shaded areas or large weed beds. Jigs work great here for punching the grass bed. Keep a close eye on your line while fishing grass beds—the Bass will often hit it as soon as it comes through the matted grass.

 

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Lower End of Main Lake
GPS: N 30 45.57, W 98 27.2699
(30.7595, -98.4545)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live Shad
SOURCE: Ken Miliam
325-379-2051
www.striperfever.com.com
TIPS: Stripers and Hybrid fishing should be really good on the lower end of the lake this time of year. Fish in front of the dam on the sand and on deep water humps south of the Black Rock Park area.

 

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Sailboat Moorings & Jacobs Creek
GPS: N 29 52.83, W 98 13.512
(29.8805, -98.2252)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, Jewel jigs in 1/8oz with Net Paca chunks in Texas Craw color, Texas Rigged Trick Worms in Watermelon Red with a 1/8oz Tungston weight.
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: As you approach the sailboat area, fish the point to the right and work your way to left to the marina. Fish in and around the end caps of the slots. Best colors for this time of year are Watermelon Candy, Blue Fleck, and Green Pumpkin.

 

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 10.9379, W 96 4.8635
(32.1823, -96.0811)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish all rocks and rip-rap along ridges, dams, retaining walls etc. Punch bait of any kind will work in 2’ to 10’ of water on the bottom or under a float.

 

LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi
HOTSPOT: Fiesta Marina Creek
GPS: N 28 3.807, W 97 54.136
(28.0635, -97.9023)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Perch, Liver
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Perch, Liver, fish end of Bob’s Pier at creek channel; all day.

 

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Hump
GPS: N 32 52.777, W 97 28.272
(32.879617, -97.4712)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: White bass are finishing up spawning on main lake points and humps. look for fish to be on the bottom throughout the month. The fish will hang around these same areas after the spawn for a while. You can catch them by bouncing slabs off of the bottom in 15-25 feet of water.

 

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain
HOTSPOT: Dam
GPS: N 32 52.496, W 97 27.830
(32.874932, -97.463831)

SPECIES: Channel Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Channel catfish will be spawning in the rocks. Fish with a slip float rig with punch bait off of the bottom just a few inches. keep moving until you find a concentration of fish.

 

LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Park Cove
GPS: N 29 56.544, W 96 44.9639
(29.9424, -96.7494)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Spawn is mostly over by now. Fish will be shallow in the timber. Put chum around the trees and fish with a slip cork.

 

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Brush Piles
GPS: N 30 42.1079, W 97 21.066
(30.7018, -97.3511)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: 1/32 oz. Marabou jig
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: May is the beginning of the best crappie fishing at Granger Lake. The fish are biting in every spot that has brush. Concentrate on open brush piles in 6-12 feet of water. The key is finding the spots with the bigger fish. Those big slab sized crappie are normally in the smaller less obvious underwater cover. A few small sticks in 6 feet of water can produce some of the largest crappie of the year. There is no need to use minnows this time of year since the crappie are so hungry after spawning. I always use a Berkley Crappie Nibble on my jigs. It helps to make the fish hold the bait longer. Fish vertically over the cover and hold the jig still. Wait no longer than 5 seconds for a bite. Then move the jig a little to a new location and do the same. If you feel cover and do not catch a crappie within 5 minutes, you need to move on to the next spot. Good luck and good fishing.

 

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Pratt’s Pond Dam
GPS: N 32 36.839, W 97 00.929
(32.6140, -97.0155)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish live minnows. This spot has lots of bank access and plenty places fish. Avoid midday.

 

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Coves
GPS: N 33 2.2319, W 96 29.37
(33.0372, -96.4895)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: 1/8 & 1/16 jigs with a painted pink head in black and chartreuse and white and chartreuse colors
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Crappie are finally in shallow water. Previously, Crappie started spawning in the button willows on Lavon and the cattails on Hubbard. Depth is 1-4 ft if wading. Try 7 to 18 ft if fishing deeper. Find a firm ground with your back facing deep water and put the jig next to every stick up and the base of every willow. Also fish small rock piles. Try to find a cove if possible protected of the south and north wind.

 

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: 121 Boat Ramps & Marina
GPS: N 33 4.517, W 96 55.465
(33.0753, -96.9244)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, worms
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: When fishing a worm, use a Carolina-rig; fish rocks at boat ramps; all day

 

LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Bridge Rip Rap
GPS: N 31 26.438, W 96 22.947
(31.4406, -96.3825)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Find the rocks on the windy sides; dawn, morn, dusk

 

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Cobb Creek
GPS: N 32 5.4539, W 95 27.8339
(32.0909, -95.4639)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: BD 7 Crankbait in shad color
SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Fishing south of the 155 bridge working points. Concentrate on 8 to 16 feet depths. Work the points for best results. Cobb creek has good points and I catch good numbers in this area. When fishing points I will fish the first point going into a creek and then move to the next inside the creek all the way to the back staying in the depths mentioned above. Try Carolina rigs as well.

 

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: Rush Creek
GPS: N 32 49.292, W 96 29.929
(32.8215, -96.4988)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish live minnows or chartreuse/black jigs. Vertical jig the trees; morning-midday

 

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: Cates Point
GPS: N 33 22.689, W 97 3.22
(33.3782, -97.0537)

SPECIES: Largemouth, White bass
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, small swimbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Post spawn fish will be plentiful in this area in May. The fish will feed on shad on most main lake points. Fish various topwaters and small swimbaits rigged on a 1/8-ounce jig head in 2-15 feet of water.

 

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/fishgamegear
TIPS: Chum the area, drift flats slowly using Carolina or Texas rig; morning and afternoon are best times.

 

LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek Tree
GPS: N 29 1.981, W 96 33.929
(29.0330, -96.5655)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Live minnows under cork or free fall, chartreuse jigs; all day

 

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: The North End , Washita Point
GPS: N 33 52.068, W 96 41.67
(33.8678, -96.6945)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, topwater plugs and live shad
SOURCE: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
www.striperexpress.com
TIPS: May is most fishermen’s favorite month of the year on Lake Texoma. Most of the stripers are finished with the spawn and are roaming the lake. Large schools of post spawn fish are hungry and will strike on artificial lures and live bait. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chugbugs on the shallow banks early in the mornings. After the topwater bite, switch to 1oz white glo Sassy Shad jigs or live shad. Work the jigs on main lake ledges to 30’ depths. Drift or anchor with live shad on the same ledges. Limits of fish are common, and May is an exciting month on Lake Texoma.

 

LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Old Highway 6 South
GPS: N 31 32.646, W 97 12.93
(31.5441, -97.2155)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: RatLTraps
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Work black/silver RatLTraps along the roadbed, watch for birds; morning-afternoon

 

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump
GPS: N 31 54.612, W 97 20.754
(31.9102, -97.3459)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live threadfin shad
SOURCE: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
www.teamredneck.net
TIPS: Stripers have reached maturity and, post-spawn, are gorging and making for some awesome action. Live bait (threadfin shad) is working best. Rigging up on a Carolina rig and fishing straight down around 18’ just off ledges and edges at Whitney hump and other main lake points and humps is the key. Watch your graph along these edges and humps for big balls of bait.

 

 

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Reported by TJ RANFT

Email TJ Ranft: TJRanft17@gmail.com

Online: RanftGuideService.com

HotSPOTLight:

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LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Dam Area
GPS: N 33 3.702, W 101 3.192
(33.0617, 101.0532)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Bass jigs, worms (like Senkos), shakey head jigs rigged with a worm, top water lures
SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
TIPS: May on Lake Alan Henry will find the bass in full spawn. These bass will hit a worm or jig while guarding the bed. Fish can be caught in the dingy water by just fishing with jigs or worms such as Senkos, shakey heads with a worm, and some will hit a topwaters.

 

LOCATION: Daniel Reservoir
HOTSPOT: South Shoreline
GPS: N 32 38.086, W 98 51.533
(32.634762, -98.858889)

SPECIES: Channel Catfish
SOURCE: Natalie Goldstrohm
Natural Resources Specialist
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
325- 692-0921
TIPS: Good numbers of channel catfish up to 24 inches can be found here. Channel cats should be spawning in June and can be found in shallower waters. Target shallow rocky shorelines or submerged logs. Bait your hooks with commercially prepared catfish bait or even a few corn kernels. Fish on the bottom or suspended a few inches from lake bottom.

 

LOCATION: Lake Brownwood
HOTSPOT: Rocky Point Across from Dam
GPS: N 31 50.4363, W 99 0.5875
(31.8406, -99.0098)

SPECIES: Flathead Catfish
BEST BAITS: Live sunfish, shad, cut bait
Contact: Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: This rocky point has a dropoff of large boulders that are home to some decent size flathead catfish. Live baits work best to land these fish, particularly sunfish, shad, and smaller carp. Cut carp and gizzard shad may also yield a good catch. These rocks also hold decent panfish and bass.

 

LOCATION: Lake Cisco
HOTSPOT: Brush Pile Site 10
GPS: N 32 26.7564, W 98 59.0855
(32.4459, -98.9848)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass, Crappie
BEST BAITS: Largemouth bass
SOURCE: Lance Benson
325-692-0921
tpwd.texas.gov
TIPS: This location features both a rock pile and a brush pile. The rocky and woody structure should aggregate prey fish and largemouth bass to this location and should increase angler catch rates.

 

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Lower End
GPS: N 32 22.659, W 97 42.009
(32.37765, -97.70015)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, willow shaped slabs, bucktail jigs with a curly tail
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Guide Service
254-396-4855
UnfairAdvantageCharters.com
TIPS: Live shad worked near feeding flats. : Downrigging jigs near channel ledges near baitfish can help locate active fish. Live shad fished on a carolina rig fished 15 to 25 feet down is hard to beat. By May, Granbury water temperatures will be in the 70’s and 80’s and summer patterns will start to dominate. Striped bass are returning to the lower ends of the main lake. They are located next to structure and live bait and slabs are effective. Downrigging jigs with trailers are putting fish in the boat.

 

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Brazos River Above Granbury
GPS: N 32 34.559, W 97 49.295
(32.575983, -97.821583)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: White Spinner baits, rattle traps and french fry/power bait soft plastics
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Guide Service
254-396-4855
UnfairAdvantageCharters.com
TIPS: Work points and banks with submerged brush. Top water action is great early and late. Use crankbaits to locate fish. Soft plastics are great near points and dropoffs near creek channels and sloughs.

 

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Big Sandy Creek Arm
GPS: N 32 46.762, W 98 59.955
(32.7793 -98.9992)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Natalie Goldstrohm
Natural Resources Specialist
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
325- 692-0921
TIPS: May can be a great time to fish for schooling white bass. Try fishing for white bass on the three humps along the Sandy Creek arm north of the bridge. If the white bass are schooling, throw a topwater like a popper and if the topwaters are not working change to a bladed bait or a lipless crank bait. Lures that look like shad should work well.

 

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: The Y
GPS: N 32 51.404, W 98 28.299
(32.856733, -98.471651)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Trolling and some live bait
SOURCE: TJ Ranft
940-452-8439
TJRanft17@gmail.com
RanftGuideService.com
TIPS: Fish will be in late spring early summer patterns. This is somewhat of a transition phase. Early morning and late evening will be the best times. Fishing live bait will produce some fish, but the fish should be starting to hit jigs predominantly. Look in 20-40 feet of water. You should start to see a thermocline on your fish finder around 30 feet. Fish will typically not be below that. It is possible to see some schooling action early in the morning and late in the day, so keep a topwater handy. Just about any white or chrome topwater will work when they do school. Jigs and spoons also work great when the fish are schooling.

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