Reported by TF&G STAFF

HotSPOTLight

Email us at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin
HOTSPOT: Ridge Main Lake
GPS: N 33 4.208, W 95 1.149
(33.0701, -95.0192)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Liver, prepared bait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Fish liver or prepared bait on Carolina rig, anchor & tightline; dawn, morning, dusk, night.

LOCATION: Brandy Branch Res.
HOTSPOT: Intake/Spillway
GPS: N 32 25.835, W 94 29.051
(32.430583, -94.484183)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Hydrilla normally forms a point at the intake, hit edges with soft plastics; best fishing at dawn through the morning, and at dusk.

LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Jackson’s Arm and Alligator Bayou
GPS: N 32 43.1699, W 94 5.4359
(32.7195, -94.0906)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Fall time is beginning this month and as the water cools the bass will begin to feed much more and school up. Any type baits listed above in light or shad colors work well. Watch for shad grouped up along the grass edges and you will find the bass.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: 1097 Bridge
GPS: N 30 26.226, W 95 35.508
(30.4371, -95.5918)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Pop’r, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, Bass Assassin shad
SOURCE: Richard Tatsch
936-291-1277
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: The Black Bass will begin to feed on shad in preparation for the cold weather when they will begin to selectively feed. This is good for us fishermen who enjoy the top water bite. Baits like Pop’rs and buzzbaits will work good on overcast days. If you’re on the water this time of year immediately after a cold front (up to the 3rd day after) and it is at daylight or an overcast day, locate the rip rap rock around the lake and start by throwing a small single blade spinner bait at the rocks then retrieving it back at a very fast rate where the bait is waking the surface. This is a very productive and very fast way to catch a lot of fish that will attempt to pull the rod out of your hand. The next thing to try would be a Pop’r, working this bait in the same areas and alternate between the spinnerbait to determine which they want on that particular day. Another tried and true method is the Bass Assassin shad. Rig them using a barrel swivel and about a 10 inch leader to keep my line from twisting. Then depending on what you want the bait to do or how fast you want to work it will determine the hook size you use. If you want it on the surface, rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 hook. If you want it deeper, use a 5/0 hook. The way to work it is an erratic fast twitching action.

LOCATION: Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman
HOTSPOT: Miller’s Point
GPS: N 33 19.197, W 95 41.478
(33.3200, -95.6913)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, topwaters
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
TIPS: Fish chartreuse slabs off bottom or fish topwaters. Work them slowly. Dawn through dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Major Creeks
GPS: N 32 54.804, W 95 38.352
(32.9134, -95.6392)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Topwater Lures like the Zara Spook and Grandebass Airtail Wiggler on a shakey head
SOURCE: Lance Vick
903-312-0609
www.guideonlakefork.com
TIPS: September on Lake Fork is fun due to the fact fish school on the surface quite a bit. Nothing gets people fired more than a bass chasing bait on the surface. So have your favorite popper or Zara spook ready to throw. Start looking in the backs of major creeks for this action. Birch and Little Chaney Creeks, for instance, are great places to start. If the topwater action is slow a Grandebass Airtail Wiggler on a shakey head fished on hard bottom spots like points and roadbeds should get the trick done. Good fishing all!

LOCATION: Lake Houston
HOTSPOT: River Bend
GPS: N 29 56.741, W 95 9.542
(29.9457, -95.1590)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, spoons
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Fish live minnows or spoons on spider rig

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: The Pocket
GPS: N 30 55.662, W 95 15.054
(30.9277, -95.2509)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics and jigs
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: Flip docks, lay downs, boat houses and rocks with Charlie’s June Bug 6 inch Gecko and Charlie’s 1/4 oz. Green Pumpkin Swimming Jig tipped with Charlie’s Chunk Green Pumpkin Blue Flake.

LOCATION: Lake Murvaul
HOTSPOT: The Spillway
GPS: N 32 1.607, W 94 24.869
(32.0268, -94.4145)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Minnows, look for brushpiles around spillway poles; dawn, morning, dusk

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: Island Cove Point
GPS: N 31 37.825, W 94 48.986
(31.6304, -94.8164)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
TIPS: This is a good night spot all summer. The action is best dawn and night.

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 Pinkston
HOTSPOT: Point #5
GPS: N 31 42.708, W 94 21.331
(31.7118, -94.355517)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish hydrilla inside and out on the point; best fishing at dawn through the morning, and at dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: Warsaw Hump
GPS: N 31 15.278, W 94 19.702
(31.2546, -94.3284)

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Spoons, live minnows
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Fish silver spoons or live minnows. Look for birds and boils.

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Pendleton Bridge Area and South
GPS: N 31 26.754, W 93 45.234
(31.4459, -93.7539)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Rat-L-Traps, Texas rigged 10-inch worms, heavy football jigs, crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: There will be some schooling activity with top water lures and Rat-L-Traps mostly in the south below Pendleton bridge. Also, there will most likely be some good bass action early on main lake points—5:30 am until 8:30 am and then it’s over. There will be lots of big schools of offshore bass including some giants, but you need to know and trust your electronics. The good news is if you find one of those schools they should be dependable all through the month. Try a Texas rig 10-inch worm, heavy football jigs and crankbaits that will run to 20+ feet deep.

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: 2×4 Hole
GPS: N 31 46.6848, W 93 49.986
(31.7781, -93.8331)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, tail spinners, and Rat-L-Traps
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: October is always a great time to be on the lake. Not much traffic, the days are getting shorter, and the water temperature is starting to fall, signaling that winter is on its way. The fish will start feeding heavy bulking up in anticipation for the coming winter season. The White Bass will start migrating to the north end main lake river channel sand bars. Concentrate on the inside river channel bends. Use your electronics to locate the bait- fish. There will usually be plenty of schooling activity in these areas.

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: Overcup
GPS: N 33 14.257, W 94 22.173
(33.2376, -94.3696)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Brush Hogs, tubes
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish black neon Brush Hogs, white tubes. Flip & pitch; midday through afternoon.

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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: Panorama Ranch
GPS: N 30 20.775, W 97 52.409
(30.3463, -97.8735)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Crankbaits work best; this spot produces well all day.

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: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Bass are on fire shallow along the banks as shad are running shallow too. Fish in 1-5 feet of water using the bridge for shaded cover. Cast along the banks parallel as the fish are no more than five feet from the banks. At the time of this report, 1-8 pound fish are being caught!

LOCATION: Lake Belton
HOTSPOT: Westcliff Ramp
GPS: N 31 06.879, W 97 30.782
(31.1147, -97.5130)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: RatLTraps
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Work RatLTraps around the ramp, dock, flat and shoreline.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Mid Lake Area
GPS: N 30 47.556, W 98 25.4459
(30.7926, -98.4241)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Topwater Lures
SOURCE: Ken Milam
325-379-2051
www.striperfever.com.com
TIPS: Look for white bass to be in the Garrett Island area. Fish with topwater lures in the early morning and late evenings

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Canyon Park Point
GPS: N 29 53.2559, W 98 13.638
(29.8876, -98.2273)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Hogies 4” Super Shad Pearl / Black Back
SOURCE: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
www.sanantoniofishingguides.com
TIPS: Look for the Striped Bass to be shallow (20-40 feet). They will be suspending over the river channel and feeding on the point in this area. Fishing the Super Shad close to the bottom produces fish in this area.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Point
GPS: N 29 51.7079, W 98 12.948
(29.8618, -98.2158)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad in Pearl color
SOURCE: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
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.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Docks
GPS: N 32 19.044, W 96 10.0139
(32.3174, -96.1669)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits
SOURCE: Jason Barber
903-603-2047
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: Fish all docks throughout the lake with jigs, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Fish 2- to 10-feet and cover everything. Any rocks you find in shallow water can be good as well.

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 44.4959, W 97 10.818
(28.7416, -97.1803)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Trap in silver and black
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: September is usually the last hot month of the year. Bugs are flying over the water and top water is usually explosive. It’s hard to beat top water action. Early morning and late evening are great times but don’t discount the middle of the day.

LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi
HOTSPOT: Small Islands
GPS: N 28 5.223, W 97 52.777
(28.0871, -97.8796)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Live minnows, fish are around the island in 8-12 feet; good spot all day.

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain
HOTSPOT: Craft Point
GPS: N 32 53.120, W 97 27.772
(32.885333, -97.462861)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkhuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Crappie will still be in the shade under main lake docks in September. You can catch them by shooting jigs up under them. Look for docks that have the darkest shade under them, or docks that are closest to the surface of the water. Also, try fishing the posts that support the dock.

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain
HOTSPOT: Pelican Island flats
GPS: N 32 54.210, W 97 29.890
(32.9035, -97.498167)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punch bait
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkhuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Catfish will be under large schools of shad in October. When you shad schools with your graph, anchor and drop punch bait to the bottom. Look for fish to be at any depth this time of the year. The lake will be turning over, so find the bait to find the fish.

LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Northwest side Main Point
GPS: N 29 56.5679, W 96 44.0639
(29.9428, -96.7344)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Concentrate on fishing timber here in 8-12’ water. Chum around the boat, use tight line and expect very light bite even for big fish.

LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 41.952, W 97 23.22
(30.6992, -97.3870)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Marabou jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: The crappie are in shallow water this time of year and are being caught in 3 to 7 feet. Try standing timber at the mouth of the river or Willis Creek. They are also in very shallow artificial structure and brush piles. Use Berkley Crappie Nibbles on your jigs and loop knots. Any cover will hold crappie, and they will be big after feeding heavily on shad all summer.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Swim Beach Pond
GPS: N 32 37.118, W 97 03.527
(32.6186, -97.0588)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Shad, topwaters, RatLtraps
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish pond edges and middle. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 33 7.248, W 96 29.8079
(33.1208, -96.4968)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Black and chartreuse jigs
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish 15-18 feet in standing and submerged timber. Crappie action is good this time of year.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Contour Hump
GPS: N 30 34.59, W 98 22.6259
(30.5765, -98.3771)

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits and spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: October is the month that the water temperature falls into the 70’s and marks the beginning of the fall fishing season. Bass and crappie begin moving from the depths of the lake into shallower water and the catching percentages start improving.

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: Twin Trees Point
GPS: N 33 5.213, W 96 59.417
(33.0869, -96.9903)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, jigs, worms
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Silver crankbaits, jigs, Carolina rig worms and fish structure 2-12 inches; avoid mid-day

LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Power Line Timber
GPS: N 31 23.094, W 96 20.529
(31.3849, -96.3422)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Fish trotlines and jugs while tightlining Brazos; all day

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Back of Flat Creek Near Dogwood Point
GPS: N 32 12.912, W 95 31.548
(32.2152, -95.5258)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Big Eye Jig and Texas Spinnerbait
SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Bass fishing is good mid-lake fishing the back of Flat Creek near the dogwood point. Fish the creek and shallow water around the islands. Best lures will be the Big Eye Jig along the creek and the Texas Spinnerbait around the islands and grass.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: West Dam
GPS: N 32 48.442, W 96 31.648
(32.8074, -96.5275)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Punchbait, shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Carolina rig punchbait or shad, work in about 6-20 feet of water; all day

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Point
GPS: N 33 24.257, W 97 2.269
(33.4043, -97.0378)

SPECIES: White Bass & Blue Catfish
BEST BAITS: 3/4 to 1 oz. slabs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Use your electronics to locate schools of White bass holding near the bottom in 25-40 feet of water. They can be on any main lake point however the one located with these GPS coordinates is one of the best. Once fish are located, use 3/4-1 ounce slabs. Jig the lure near the bottom but keep an eye on your electronics for fish coming up.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: 309 Flats
GPS: N 31 58.368, W 96 6.99
(31.9728, -96.1165)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Danny Kings Blood Punch Bait
SOURCE: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
www.gonefishin.biz
TIPS: Both blues and channels will congregate in the timbered areas up the Richland Creek Arm of the Lake. You can also find them off the Hwy 309 Flats along the edges of drop offs in 20-foot-plus water depths. Punch Bait fished near the bottom will result in a nice box of quality Cats ranging from 2- to 5 lbs.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Brushy Creek
GPS: N 30 20.94, W 96 33.2039
(30.3490, -96.5534)

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait/Crawdad
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Anchor here, chum around the boat, fish tight line on outside of the dying cane.

LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni
HOTSPOT: Sun Point Reach
GPS: N 32 51.707, W 95 55.436
(32.8618, -95.9239)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Chartreuse slabs, fish on point edges, look for birds; morning through afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: Highway 111 Bridge
GPS: N 28 57.199, W 96 31.58
(28.9533, -96.5263)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Free fall live minnows, chartreuse jigs

LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: North Island and Tabletop
GPS: N 33 52.068, W 96 41.67
(33.8678, -96.6945)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Topwater plugs, live shad, and Sassy Shad jigs.
SOURCE: Bill Carey
903-786-4477
www.striperexpress.com
TIPS: The big fish are on the banks early in the mornings in October. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chug Bugs for vicious strikes in shallow water. Mid-morning, change your lures to four inch Sassy Shad on a one ounce jighead. Favorite colors are white-glow and chartreuse fleck. Always keep your eyes on the seagulls. They can locate schools of stripers roaming in open water. Live shad fishing is also an excellent way to catch stripers.

LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Point N of Koehne Park
GPS: N 31 33.476, W 97 12.665
(31.5579, -97.2111)

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Whites chase shad around point out to the main lake; morning through afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: McCowan Flats
GPS: N 31 55.4519, W 97 24.6239
(31.9242, -97.4104)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: 1/2 oz Bucktail jigs, plastic trailers
SOURCE: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
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 feed early, late, or even at night when it’s cooler. Using down riggers 1/2 oz buck tail jigs 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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Reported by TJ RANFT

HotSPOTLight:

Email TJ Ranft at TJRanft17@Gmail.com

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LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Mouth of Major Creeks and Coves
GPS: N 33 2.6279, W 101 3.7379
(33.0438, -101.0623)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Chatterbaits, shaky head jigs with blue worms, shad colored crankbaits, top water lures and Red Eye Shad
SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services
806-792-9220
TIPS: Bass fishing in October will really start to pick up action when the cool fronts start the water cooling down. When the water gets back in the mid 70’s, the shad and bass will start moving into the backs of the creeks and coves. Check for schooling shad up Big Grape, Little Grape, Ince, Gobbler and Rocky Creeks. The bass will first be in the mouths of the creeks, and then slowly work their way to back of the creeks. Start at the mouth and work your way back into the creek.

LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Marker 7-9
GPS: N 29 29.098, W 101 08.851
(29.4850, -101.1475)

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, jigs, Carolina rigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/FishGameGear
TIPS: Slowly troll white slabs or jig or Carolina-rig vertically. Dawn to mid-morning; afternoon to dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead
HOTSPOT: Apache Park
GPS: N 33 44.667, W 98 23.226
(33.74445, -98.3871)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, frogs, buzzbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Work the vegetation with white/chartreuse spinnerbaits, frogs of buzzbaits; action good from dawn through dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Brownwood
HOTSPOT: 279 Bridge
GPS: N 31 50.060, W 99 05.985
(31.834333, -99.09975)

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Lance Benson, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: Work rip rap & pilings; Best action dawn through morning and at dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Cisco
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 26.7579, W 98 59.0834
(32.4460, -98.9847)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits
SOURCE: Lance Benson, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: Cisco Reservoir is a great largemouth bass fishing reservoir. The reservoir has a variety of fishable habitat features such as submersed boulders, fallen timber, aquatic vegetation, and docks. Texas-rigged soft plastics, spinner baits, and crankbaits should produce a bite. Watermelon, chartreuse, and brighter colors are great colors for soft plastics.

LOCATION: Lake Leon
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 21.63, W 98 40.692
(32.3605, -98.6782)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, trick worms, Senkos, crankbaits
SOURCE: Lance Benson, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: Lake Leon has seen a good influx of water in the last two years. As a result, habitat has very much improved for largemouth bass, sunfishes, and crappie. September should offer good bass fishing along vegetation, docks, and rocky areas. Spinner baits, trick worms, Senkos, and crankbaits should produce a bass bite. Early morning, use topwater baits.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Twin Humps Near Town
GPS: N 32 26.404, W 97 46.977
(32.440067, -97.78295)

SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Holographic slabs in silver and chartreuse
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Look for bait congregated on or near the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water. Look for striped bass and largemouth bass in these same locations. Granbury water temperatures are generally in the 80’s as summer continues with a slow cool down towards fall. Summer patterns will be in effect for September and October. Fishing continues to be best early and late. Passing cool fronts will be the norm rolling into October. Thermoclines will start to disappear, and lake turnover will start with surface cooling. White bass are located near structure and are feeding near drop offs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Slabbing with silver or chartreuse slabs will put white bass and stripers in the boat.

LOCATION: Lake O.H. Ivie
HOTSPOT: Yellow Bluff
GPS: N 31 34.702, W 99 42.759
(31.578367, -99.71265)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
FishGame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Bass will be holding in trees below 10 feet; good action from dawn to dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Broadway
GPS: N 32 52.724, W 98 31.809
(32.8787, -98.5302)

SPECIES: White, striped bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, live bait, jigs
SOURCE: TJ Ranft
940-452-8439
RanftGuideService.com
TIPS: Fall is here, and fishing is great. Fish are fattening up for the fall run and spawn or faux spawn. You can troll RatLTraps and cranks for white bass and most other fish, but of course live bait is best for quick numbers. We also are still catching nice big stripers down rigging. We use jigs with Mister Twister Curlytails, but a lot of thing work this time of year.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Costello Island
GPS: N 32 54.5126, W 98 27.6275
(32.9085, -98.4605)

SPECIES: Catfish, crappie
BEST BAITS: Fresh shad, minnows, crappie jigs
SOURCE: TJ Ranft
940-452-8439
RanftGuideService.com
TIPS: Catfish are great north of Costello Island on fresh dead cut bait shad and crappie good in same areas with crappie minnows or crappie jigs. Keep your drag backed off though as you might catch the biggest bass or striper while catfishing or crappie fishing. Start by working the 20 and 30-foot breaklines. The fish use these as natural highways.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Sandy Beach
GPS: N 32 53.354, W 98 31.599
(32.889234, -98.526658)

SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, trolling jigs
SOURCE: TJ Ranft
940-452-8439
RanftGuideService.com
TIPS: September and October striper fishing on PK means covering ground and using different tactics daily. Trolling and live bait are solid tactics this time of year. If trolling use jigs that are white, chartreuse, yellow, and the occasional pink. Downriggings are a great way to get the jigs down deeper in the water column, but they aren’t always necessary flatlining jigs out the back while trolling can also produce good numbers of fish. The fish will be transitioning into a fall feeding pattern so always be prepared for some fast action when they decide to feed.

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