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West Texas

HotSPOTLight: Lake Bridgeport

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LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Stained Water by Power Lines
GPS: N 33 2.126, W 101 7.766
(33.0354, -101.1294)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits
TIPS: Slow roll and thump a 1/2 to 1 ounce spinnerbait with a CO blade; midday-afternoon.

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LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead
HOTSPOT: Apache Park
GPS: N 33 44.667, W 98 23.226
(33.7445, -98.3871)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits
TIPS: Work vegetation with white/chartreuse spinnerbaits or frogs/buzzbaits; dawn through dusk.

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

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
TIPS: Work rip rap and bridge pilings with live minnows or crappie jigs; dawn through morning, dusk.

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

SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS:  Swim baits in glow and chartreuse, live shad
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. Bigger stripers are typically under the smaller fish feeding shallow. Granbury water temperatures continue to fall into the lower 60’s and into the 50’s in December. Patterns are changing towards winter patterns as the water cools. Fish are actively feeding before the winter season. Passing cool fronts continue to dominate the weather pattern. White bass and striped bass are schooling early and late and then are on structure when not on the surface. Many stripers and white bass will be moving towards the upper ends of the reservoir though many will stay in the main lake. Slabbing lead slabs and Mepps spinners are best for putting sandies in the boat. Live bait continues to be the best choice for striped bass on or near structure. Soft plastic swimbaits and jerk baits are effective slow trolling over fish.

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

SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Little Georges, Mepps spinnerbaits, Roadrunners, RatLTraps, holographic slabs in silver and chartreuse
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.

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LOCATION: Lake Kirby
HOTSPOT: Pump House
GPS: N 32 22.6961, W 99 43.7744
(32.3783, -99.7296)

SPECIES: Blue Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut bait
Tips: Lake Kirby’s pump house has been a great bank fishing spot for landing decent blue catfish. Cut shad and carp as well as live sunfish are excellent baits to use. Punch baits can also be effective at landing smaller blues and channel catfish.

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

SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows
TIPS: Fish chartreuse or silver jigs. If fishing live minnows, occasionally jerk the bait and let it fall; late evening.

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits
TIPS: Work the steep channel with deep diving crankbaits. Note the water is much shallower here.

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LOCATION: Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Mid-lake
GPS: N 32 53.434, W 98 30.718
(32.890561, -98.511963)

SPECIES: Striped and White Bass
BEST BAITS Live shad, your favorite topwater, slabs, spoons; colors— silver, chartreuse, white
TIPS: Keep your head on a swivel and watch the birds they will point you in the right direction. As we get into November the winter feeding paterns start to take shape but the fish are not yet fully committed to the winter pattern. Cold fronts will determine the bite and some of the pattern. With each cold front the pattern will begin to slightly and lean toward a winter pattern as we get into December. Birds will begin to show up and start to point you in the direction of fish. Feeding frenzies will not be out of the ordinary, so be prepared. Live shad is my favorite bait this time of year, but I’ve almost always got a topwater or a slab/spoon tied on—just in case they decided to feed on top. Water temps will be in the 50s to 60s depending on cold fronts. Look for fish in 20-30 feet of water but keep an eye open for action all over the lake… and watch the birds.

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