FORECAST CENTER: Freshwater – November/December 2023

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK-Tides & Prime Times – November 2023
October 24, 2023
FORECAST CENTER: Saltwater – November/December 2023
October 24, 2023

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS

Source: Water Data for Texas

Reported by TF&G STAFF

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LOCATION: Lake Bob Sandlin
HOTSPOT: Cypress Dam
GPS: N 33 3.467, W 95 8.281
(33.0578, -95.1380)

Lake Bob Sandlin: Cypress Dam

Lake Bob Sandlin: Cypress Dam

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Liver, worms
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Chum and fish stumps with liver or worms on a Carolina rig; morning, night.

LOCATION: Caddo Lake
HOTSPOT: Twin Island Area
GPS: N 32 41.7719, W 94 5.604
(32.6962, -94.0934)

Caddo Lake: Twin Island Area

Caddo Lake: Twin Island Area

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Flukes, umbrella rigs
SOURCE: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith
318-455-3437
www.caddolakefishing.com
TIPS: The larger bass are schooling this time of year as the water cools. Stay near the main channel and other creeks. Shad travel up and down these deeper creeks and adjacent shallow flats. Most any shad imitating baits work well this time of the year.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 25.083, W 95 35.55
(30.4181, -95.5925)

Lake Conroe: Main Lake

Lake Conroe: Main Lake

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers
BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad
SOURCE: Richard Tatsch
936-661-7920
www.fishdudetx.com
TIPS: The hybrid stripers are schooling around ledges along the river channel. Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. During the day they will move deeper around the area. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. As the water temperatures drop, they will be at 30 to 40 feet. Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water, but the swim shad will work as long as you can control your retrieve to keep the bait in the depth the fish are going to be in. The depths will vary from day to day.

LOCATION: Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman
HOTSPOT: Hump by South Sulphur
GPS: N 33 17.502, W 95 42.772
(33.2917, -95.7129)

Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman: Hump by South Sulphur

Lake Cooper/Jim Chapman: Hump by South Sulphur

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-593-5077
TIPS: Fish live shad or minnows on a split shot rig. Watch for schooling fish here. Dawn through dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Fork
HOTSPOT: Chaney Creek Timberline
GPS: N 32 47.951, W 95 33.21
(32.7992, -95.5535)

Lake Fork: Chaney Creek Timberline

Lake Fork: Chaney Creek Timberline

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Jigs, crankbaits, swimbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: If big eye jigs and Bomber crankbaits don’t produce, switch to swimbaits; good action all day.

LOCATION: Lake Houston
HOTSPOT: Skier’s Cove
GPS: N 29 57.842, W 95 8.323
(29.9640, -95.1387)

Lake Houston: Skier’s Cove

Lake Houston: Skier’s Cove

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Worms, liver, cheesebait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Freeline worms, liver or cheesebait.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: Lake Cove
GPS: N 30 54.684, W 95 16.432
(30.9114, -95.2739)

Lake Livingston: Lake Cove

Lake Livingston: Lake Cove

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Good Spawning area. Fish white spinnerbaits on a slow roll; dawn through afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston
HOTSPOT: Old Creek Cut
GPS: N 30 45.408, W 95 5.002
(30.7568, -95.0834)

Lake Livingston: Old Creek Cut

Lake Livingston: Old Creek Cut

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, spoons
SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service
936-291-9602
www.palmettoguideservice.com
TIPS: Troll using a downrigger with silver/white slabs or spoons; dawn through dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Murvaul
HOTSPOT: Docks
GPS: N 32 2.545, W 94 26.406
(32.0424, -94.4401)

Lake Murvaul: Docks

Lake Murvaul: Docks

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

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches
HOTSPOT: Loco Intersection
GPS: N 31 38.500, W 94 48.199
(31.6417, -94.8033)

Lake Nacogdoches: Loco Intersection

Lake Nacogdoches: Loco Intersection

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
409-698-9114
TIPS: Work the intersections, hitting the hydrilla and lily pads. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines
HOTSPOT: Lonestar North Shore
GPS: N 32 53.438, W 94 42.476
(32.8906, -94.7079)

Lake O the Pines: Lonestar North Shore

Lake O the Pines: Lonestar North Shore

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Dropshot minnows along the grasslines. Avoid afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn
HOTSPOT: South Needmore Point
GPS: N 31 08.285, W 94 02.780
(31.1381, -94.0463)

Lake Sam Rayburn: South Needmore Point

Lake Sam Rayburn: South Needmore Point

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish live minnows, or slow roll crappie jigs over grass.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend
HOTSPOT: Chicken Coop
GPS: N 31 31.558, W 93 47.092
(31.5260, -93.7849)

Toledo Bend: Chicken Coop

Toledo Bend: Chicken Coop

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Work vegetation with minnows or jigs. Use green lights at night; dawn, morning, dusk, night.

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman
HOTSPOT: McGuthrie Slough
GPS: N 33 18.885, W 94 11.137
(33.3148, -94.1856)

Lake Wright Patman: McGuthrie Slough

Lake Wright Patman: McGuthrie Slough

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut bait
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
903-938-1007
TIPS: Fish cut bait on a split shot and Kahle hook. Drift channel edges. Action best from midday through night.

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Reported by TF&G Staff

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LOCATION: Lake Austin
HOTSPOT: University Club
GPS: N 30 20.506, W 97 53.828
(30.3418, -97.8971)

Lake Austin: University Club

Lake Austin: University Club

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Crankbaits are your best bet on this spot and the action should be good all day.

LOCATION: Lake Belton
HOTSPOT: Dam Rip Rap
GPS: N 31 06.596, W 97 28.412
(31.1099, -97.4735)

Lake Belton: Dam Rip Rap

Lake Belton: Dam Rip Rap

SPECIES: Smallmouth
BEST BAITS: Jigs, craws
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish 1/8-1/4 oz. black hair jig, pork eel, small plastic craws.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 30 51.582, W 98 25.4519
(30.8597, -98.4242)

Lake Buchanan: Main Lake

Lake Buchanan: Main Lake

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass
BEST BAITS: Striper: Live shad, 1 oz. Roadrunner jigs with flirt tails in white and yellow/chartreuse-any combination | White Bass: white and chartreuse slabs for jigging and small spinners and Rat-L-Traps for top water
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Stripers should be improving with cooler water on the way. Cold water holds oxygen better than warm or hot water. These fish should be gathering together to make their migration up the lake but will be concentrated in the channel with feeding times on the deep ridges near the channels and over the tops of the trees. Drifting live bait or trolling 1 oz. Roadrunners with flirt tail seems to yield the best results. Fish mid-lake up towards Rocky Point. Whites should gather and move up the lake and can be found on ridges and humps from mid-lake to Garrett Island.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Potters Creek Park
GPS: N 29 54.1799, W 98 16.134
(29.9030, -98.2689)

Canyon Lake: Potters Creek Park

Canyon Lake: Potters Creek Park

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass
BEST BAITS: 5/8 oz. Red Hoginar
SOURCE: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures
210-573-1230
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 and white bass like to school in this area this time of year.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Docks and Secondary Points
GPS: N 32 18.5279, W 96 8.862
(32.3088, -96.1477)

Cedar Creek Res: Docks and Secondary Points

Cedar Creek Res: Docks and Secondary Points

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: 1/16th to 1/8th oz. crappie jigs
SOURCE: Jason Barber
(903) 603-2047
www.kingscreekadventures.com
TIPS: Fish all docks with 6’ or more of water. Depth and plenty of shade near main lake or secondary points throughout the lake should produce well. Medium action spinning tackle with 6 pound line and 1/16th to 1/8th oz. jigs works best.

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 28 45.792, W 97 11.3219
(28.7632, -97.1887)

Coleto Creek Res: Main Lake

Coleto Creek Res: Main Lake

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Zoom pearl white or watermelon fluke using a 4/0 worm hook rigged weedless
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish will be shallow around hydrilla. Both ends of the lake will be good. The north end is the best this time of year. Twitch your lure slowly, letting it sink a little, then twitch it here and there. The big ones can’t resist it. It’s not uncommon to catch from 30 to 50 fish a day. On sunny days, try dipping your lures in chartreuse.

LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi
HOTSPOT: Railroad Bridge
GPS: N 28 13.473, W 97 56.66
(28.2246, -97.9443)

Lake Corpus Christi: Railroad Bridge

Lake Corpus Christi: Railroad Bridge

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Work pilings and rip rap with live minnows or crappie jigs; should be productive all day.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Dam
GPS: N 32 52.558, W 97 28.088
(32.875972, -97.468139)

Eagle Mountain Lake: Dam

Eagle Mountain Lake: Dam

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Largemouth bass will be feeding up on shad this time of the year. Look for rocky areas such as the dam and fish a medium or shallow diving crankbait.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: River Channel
GPS: N 32 52.776, W 97 28.100
(32.879608, -97.468334)

Eagle Mountain Lake: River Channel

Eagle Mountain Lake: River Channel

SPECIES: catfish
BEST BAITS: cut bait
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858
kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Look for big scools of bait in the river channel. Catfish will be under them feeding and can be caught with cut bait such as shad or any other native baitfish from the lake. Fish vertically on anchor or drift through them to get them to bite.

LOCATION: Fayette County
HOTSPOT: Pond at End of Discharge
GPS: N 29 55.662, W 96 45.054
(29.9277, -96.7509)

Fayette County Res: Pond at End of Discharge

Fayette County Res: Pond at End of Discharge

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: This pond is just right of discharge. Water is cooling here now. Rocks are close by and there is a sand bottom near rocks. Fish tight line here. Fish shallow at night and 10’ deep in daytime.

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

Granger Lake: Open Lake Flats

Granger Lake: Open Lake Flats

SPECIES: Blue Catfish
BEST BAITS: Shad, cut bait
SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell
(512) 365-7761
www.gotcrappie.com
TIPS: Depth of water really doesn’t matter. Some places to start would be windy sides of the lake. Shad are blown into these areas and thus concentrate the hungry blues. I like to use #11/0 Mustad circle hooks with no more than two hooks on each jug line.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Walnut Creek Banks
GPS: N 32 35.562, W 97 04.492
(32.5927, -97.0749)

Lake Joe Pool: Walnut Creek Banks

Lake Joe Pool: Walnut Creek Banks

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
GPS: N 33 5.5079, W 96 28.6799
(33.0918, -96.4780)

Lake Lavon: Main Lake

Lake Lavon: Main Lake

SPECIES: White Bass & Crappie
BEST BAITS: Flukes
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210
whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Both white bass and crappie will be suspended in about 18-25 feet this time of year. Tapping on the boat with a rubber mallet or a broom stick will usually call them in as they will come to investigate the noise. Dead sticking flukes is usually the best bet.

LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: Deadman’s
GPS: N 33 7.464, W 96 58.869
(33.1244, -96.9812)

Lake Lewisville: Deadman’s

Lake Lewisville: Deadman’s

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs, shad, topwaters
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish silver or white slabs with a bumping action, live shad, or yellow topwaters; good all day.

LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Running Branch
GPS: N 31 20.481, W 96 20.686
(31.3414, -96.3448)

Lake Limestone: Running Branch

Lake Limestone: Running Branch

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Use chartreuse/white spinnerbaits along shore & move to back; dawn through dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek
GPS: N 32 16.992, W 95 29.9639
(32.2832, -95.4994)

Lake Palestine: Kickapoo Creek

Lake Palestine: Kickapoo Creek

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: 3/8 oz big eye jig in black/brown/amber and black/blue/red flake, Texas Spinnerbait Lake Fork 430 special in chartreuse/white, Texas rigged Mr. Twister Pocket Craw in black/blue
SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff
903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201
www.rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Fish the islands and concentrate on grass along the banks and any brush or stumps you can see. Fish 2-6 foot as this will be your best depth range. Fish slow, covering all your key spots.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: Robertson West Side
GPS: N 32 51.961, W 96 31.236
(32.8660, -96.5206)

Lake Ray Hubbard: Robertson West Side

Lake Ray Hubbard: Robertson West Side

SPECIES: Hybrid Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Slabs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish 2 oz. slabs, look on graph for fish close to the bottom; morning, afternoon.

LOCATION: Ray Roberts Lake
HOTSPOT: Johnson Branch
GPS: N 33 24.084, W 97 2.812
(33.4014, -97.0469)

Ray Roberts Lake: Johnson Branch

Ray Roberts Lake: Johnson Branch

SPECIES: Crappie/White Bass
BEST BAITS: Minnows, 3/4-1oz slabs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Look for big schools of white bass stacking up on points and flats close to creek channels in 20-30 feet of water. Slabs off the bottom are usually the best with bucktail teasers tied on as well. The crappie bite should be picking up. Look for these fish holding close to brush piles in 20-30 feet of water. Jigs work well, but the quality of fish tend to be better on minnows. Bridge pylons and other concrete/rock structure should be good as well.

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

Richland Chambers Lake: Windsock Point

Richland Chambers Lake: Windsock Point

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers
BEST BAITS: 1 oz. Silver Glitter RSR Shad slabs (www.rsrlures.com)
SOURCE: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117
www.gonefishin.biz
TIPS: As long as we have the normal pleasant December temperatures, you can fish the Windsock Point in the far Southeast corner of the lake near the dam and the Hwy 309 Flats. Fish will relate to the deeper sides (30-35-foot depths) of the Windsock Point and will be on or near the bottom. Try a 1 oz. RSR Silver Glitter slab and jig it slowly off the bottom. Keep the drag set loosely on your reel as this is a prime time to hook into a large hybrid striper. The initial “hit and run” is when most folks lose large fish!

LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Rocky Creek Road Bed
GPS: N 30 18.522, W 96 33.39
(30.3087, -96.5565)

Lake Somerville: Rocky Creek Road Bed

Lake Somerville: Rocky Creek Road Bed

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103
www.fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish Carolina rig with shad using a 3/4 ounce egg sinker and tight line. Water is 18 feet deep here.

LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni
HOTSPOT: Cedar Hump
GPS: N 32 52.570, W 95 54.961
(32.876163, -95.916013)

Lake Tawakoni: Cedar Hump

Lake Tawakoni: Cedar Hump

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Circle the hump, locate a school and look for current in saddle; dawn, morning, dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: Navidad River
GPS: N 29 1.176, W 96 35.048
(29.0196, -96.5841)

Lake Texana: Navidad River

Lake Texana: Navidad River

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Free fall either live minnows or crappie jigs; catch fish here all day.

LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Speegleville Bay
GPS: N 31 33.373, W 97 14.878
(31.5562, -97.2480)

Lake Waco: Speegleville Bay

Lake Waco: Speegleville Bay

SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Stinkbait, shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish the bottom with cut shad or stinkbait; morning, dusk through night.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 31 54.8279, W 97 21.1019
(31.9138, -97.3517)

Lake Whitney: Main Lake

Lake Whitney: Main Lake

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass
BEST BAITS: 1/2 oz. jigs with 4” chartreuse swim baits, 1 oz. slabs
SOURCE: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
TIPS: Colder water pushes bait from the creeks and they gang up in the main lake. Schools of stripers trap bait to the surface and up in the cuts, along the shoreline and in the mouths of creeks. With the 3/4 oz. lead head and swim bait, make long casts and count your bait down about a foot per second, then make a medium to slow retrieve. On days the fish aren’t pushing bait to the surface, make long casts with swim baits and troll with the trolling motor set on medium slow speed. The shad are lethargic. When you think you’re fishing slow enough, slow down a little more. Fish 1 oz. chartreuse slabs for white bass. Find schools on ledges and edges and drop the slab to the bottom, bounce it up and down slowly and try different depths.

 

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Reported by TJ RANFT

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Email TJ Ranft at TJRanft17@Gmail.com

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LOCATION: Lake Abilene
HOTSPOT: Elm Creek, Abilene State Park
GPS: N 32 14.140, W 99 53.412
(32.235664, -99.890207)

Lake Abilene: Elm Creek, Abilene State Park

Lake Abilene: Elm Creek, Abilene State Park

SPECIES: Rainbow Trout
BEST BAITS: Small spinnerbaits, corn, cheese
SOURCE: Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: Fish for Rainbow Trout in the one-acre pond at Abilene State Park. During winter months, Rainbow Trout are stocked throughout Texas. Use light tackle since they have excellent eyesight. Try small white inline spinners or a small cricket hook with a sinker.

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creeks
GPS: N 33 1.6679, W 101 6.5459
(33.0278, -101.1091)

Lake Alan Henry: Main Lake Creeks

Lake Alan Henry: Main Lake Creeks

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Shaky head jigs, crankbaits, jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: In December the bass will be hitting crankbaits and jigs, especially shaky head jigs. Depending on the amount of cool down, the bass will still be fairly shallow. Any of the steep banks close to deep water will be the place to start looking. If the water is still 50 degrees or above, bass can still be caught up the creeks on shad and bluegill colored crankbaits.

LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: US 90 Bridge Pilings
GPS: N 29 29.124, W 101 01.984
(29.4854, -101.033067)

Lake Amistad: US 90 Bridge Pilings

Lake Amistad: US 90 Bridge Pilings

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Find suspended fish with a Roboworm on a dropshot rig, fished vertically; afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead
HOTSPOT: State Park Piers
GPS: N 33 45.298, W 98 23.080
(33.754967, -98.384667)

Lake Arrowhead: State Park Piers

Lake Arrowhead: State Park Piers

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: Fish live minnows on a bobber, 1-2 feet off bottom near brush; dawn through morning, dusk.

LOCATION: Lake Brownwood
HOTSPOT: 279 Bridge
GPS: N 31 50.060, W 99 05.985
(31.834333, -99.099750)

Lake Brownwood: 279 Bridge

Lake Brownwood: 279 Bridge

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: Work the rip rap and bridge pilings with live minnows or crappie jigs; dawn through morning, dusk.

LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Res.
HOTSPOT: Main Body
GPS: N 32 35.505, W 99 41.493
(32.591745, -99.691549)

Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir: Main Body

Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir: Main Body

SPECIES: White Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: 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: Blue Water Shores
GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.550
(32.383567, -97.709167)

Lake Granbury: Blue Water Shores

Lake Granbury: Blue Water Shores

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Little Georges, Mepps spinnerbaits, Roadrunners, RatLTraps, holographic slabs in silver and chartreuse
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Jig slabs off the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water where baitfish are located. Look for hovering birds and use the Little Georges, rattle traps and Spinners on schooling fish. Bring your binoculars.

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res.
HOTSPOT: Sink Creek Timber
GPS: N 32 49.812, W 99 0.018
(32.8302, -99.0003)

Hubbard Creek Reservoir: Sink Creek Timber

Hubbard Creek Reservoir: Sink Creek Timber

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Office
325-692-0921
TIPS: Fish chartreuse or silver jigs, or live minnows, occasionally jerk the bait and let it fall; late evening.

LOCATION: Lake O.H. Ivie
HOTSPOT: North Island Channel Edge
GPS: N 31 32.584, W 99 40.663
(31.543067, -99.677717)

Lake O.H. Ivie: North Island Channel Edge

Lake O.H. Ivie: North Island Channel Edge

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Work the steep channel with deep diving crankbaits. Note the water is much shallower here.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Broadway
GPS: N 32 51.924, W 98 32.070
(32.8654031, -98.5345061)

Lake Possum Kingdom: Broadway

Lake Possum Kingdom: Broadway

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, deadstick baits, topwaters
SOURCE: TJ Ranft
TJRanft17@gmail.com
RanftGuideService.com
TIPS: The stripers will be moving out of the fall pattern and into their winter patterns. Water temps will be falling from the mid 60’s to the low 50’s with cold fronts moving through almost weekly. This will affect the fish dramatically—sometimes just sitting on fish waiting them out will be the best option. There will still be schools that are feeding, so look for the birds. If there are birds around, there will most likely be feeding fish around. Live shad is the ticket, but they can also be caught using deadstick techniques closer to the end of December. Look for the fish in the river channel and ledges in 20-30 feet of water. They will be on the move, so don’t be afraid to just sit in an area for a little while. Also, keep a topwaters handy as the stripers could surface at any time.

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