Texas Fishing Report
By ELLIOTT MOORE
For The Associated Press
The weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Oct. 2 and also available on the internet at https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/fishreport.phtml :
CENTRAL
AUSTIN: FAIR. Water clear; 81-85 degrees; 0.79 feet low. Largemouth bass are excellent on Carolina Rigs and white spinners in grass beds along the shoreline. Sunfish are good on weighted jigs, cut worms, and corn. Flatheads and blue catfish are fair on prepared baits under 5-10 feet under bobbers.
BASTROP: FAIR. Clear to slightly stained; 84-88 degrees; 0.20 feet low. Largemouth bass are excellent on Texas rigged plastic worms and Carolina rigs. They appear to be schooled along the edge of the vegetation and on creek beds with significant drop offs. Crappie have remained slow on jigs and live bait. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait or cutbait, and flathead catfish are fair on live bait. Creek channels and near the plant seem to be the best spots.
BELTON: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82-84 degrees; 1.36 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on Stickbaits, chuggers, buzzbaits, crankbaits, and plastic worms. Smallmouth bass are fair on grubs and buzzbaits. Good fishing locations are on deeper points and edges of feeder tributaries. Hybrid striper are fair on jigs and crankbaits. White bass are slow but have been hitting Alabama Rigs. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shad, shrimp, blood bait, and stinkbait.
BROWNWOOD: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82-86 degrees; 2.54 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, and topwater. White bass are excellent on slabs and have been best at night under lights. Catfish have been good on prepared bait, and shad baited trot lines.
BUCHANAN: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 83-85 degrees; 1.55 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs and plastic worms at all depths depending on location. Striped bass are fair on plastic swim baits and Rat-L-Traps in schools of bait fish. White bass are good on twisted tail jigs, small crankbaits, and topwaters in early morning. Black Bass good early morning topwater bite on buzzbait or spooner bait in 12-15 ft. Crappie are fair on weighted crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles over 15ft. Channel catfish have been good on stink bait, yellow/blue catfish good on live bait or stink bait.
CANYON LAKE: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 83-86 degrees; 1.77 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwater poppers early and late in the day but have been slow during the day on plastic worms, and crankbaits. Crappie are poor with weighted jigs and white bass have been fair on minnows and found mostly in the river portion of the reservoir. Hybrid and striped bass are fair on topwater baits, grubs, and jigging spoons. Smallmouth bass are fair on white grubs and jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait and prepared bait. The upper part of the lake is where catfish are good on stinkbait and cutbait for channel and blue catfish, and live bait has been working for flathead.
FAYETTE: FAIR. Slightly stained. 83-86 degrees; 0.01 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on buzzbaits have worked early and late in the day, and along the edge of the vegetation. Medium diving crankbaits also have been decent if fished over the top of the grass and along deeper channel edges. Redeared sunfish are fair on worms and crickets. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, live bait, and cut bait.
GRANBURY: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 80-85 degrees; 0.83 feet low. Crappie fishing has picked up fishing around brush piles and boat docks with minnows and jigs. Catfishing continues to be good fishing over baited holes in 10-20 feet of water. Drop offs with timber near the main river channel are holding good concentrations of fish right now. Look for white bass to be schooling mid lake and up towards the dam. Have a lure ready to cast when they surface. They can also be caught trolling and jigging with slabs.
GRANGER: FAIR. Turbid; 82-87 degrees; 0.28 feet low. Largemouth bass have down turned quickly and are poor on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs. White bass are good on spoons along humps and have been seen in medium sized schools chasing shad. Crappie are good on weighted jigs and small minnows. Channel catfish is good on stinkbait, cut bait, and live bait for flatheads.
LBJ: FAIR. Water clear to stained; 83-85 degrees; 0.79 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on worms and jigs in shallow water willow or around docks. Crappie have been decent on jigs around brush piles and around docks. White bass are fair on Alabama rigs, jigs, smaller crankbaits, and minnows. Crappie are good on weighted jigs and minnows with structure. Catfish are good on stinkbait and cut bait, flathead catfish good on live bait.
LIMESTONE: FAIR. Water stained; 84-87 degrees; 2.38 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, spinner baits, buzz baits mostly in the back of the creeks. White bass and hybrid are good on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows or crappie jigs between 12-20 feet in windy conditions. Catfish are fair cut shad, shrimp, worms, or prepped baits.
NAVARRO MILLS: FAIR. Muddy; 80-83 degrees; 1.96 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair along north shoreline and road beds, use deep diving crank baits and soft plastic crawfish baits. Crappie are fair on minnows around brush piles and drop offs. Catfish are fair around intimber on live bait. White bass are fair on slabs.
SOMERVILLE: GOOD. Water slightly stained; 82-88 degrees; 0.02 feet high. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms baits, spinners, and crankbaits. Hybrid striper and white bass are fair in open water chasing shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on stinkbait, live bait, and cut bait.
STILLHOUSE: FAIR. Water clear; 82-85 degrees; 1.14 feet low. Stillhouse is still in slow summer mode. Largemouth are fair on soft plastics fished at the deep edge of hydrilla in about 24 feet. White bass are fair on downriggers fished in open water with small spoons imitating young of the year shad with lots of small fishing being caught. Sunfish are fair in shallow hydrilla/rock/wood mixed areas.
TRAVIS: FAIR. Water stained; 84-88 degrees; 7.60 feet low. Largemouth bass are slowly starting to migrate through the creek channel banks and ridges and are most active in the main channel swing. Striped bass are slow on down rigged jigs. White bass are fair on spinners, jigs, and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and weighted light-colored jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait, prepped bait, and live bait.
WALTER E. LONG: FAIR. Water stained. 80-83 degrees; Largemouth bass are good on jerkbaits, plastic worms, minnows and jigs and best around edges of vegetation. Hybrid striper are slow and are mostly found this time of year chasing schools of shad around open water. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on prepared baits, cut baits, and live bait. Sunfish can be caught on crickets in shallow water spawning beds.
WACO: GOOD. Water stained. 80-83 degrees; 3.05 feet low. Largemouth bass and fair on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chuggers, and plastic worms off the windy points on the main lake and flats next to feeder tributaries. Crappie are good on minnows and weighted light-colored jigs in deep brush piles. Sunfish are fair on worms or crickets. Channel and blue catfish are fair on cut shad, live bait, and blood flavored prepped bait.
WHITNEY: FAIR. Water stained; 80-84 degrees; 6.12 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms and crank baits in 12 feet or less. Striped bass can be found in most depths, river channels and sometimes feeding on the surface. White bass are fair on spinnerbaits, and with minnows and will be found in the main reservoir. Crappie are fair over brush piles and structure with minnows and jigs normally below 10 feet deep. Catfish are good on live shad, stink bait and cut bait.
NORTHEAST
ARLINGTON: FAIR. Water stained; 81-84 degrees; 4.20 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on light colored spinners, plastic worms, and minnows under bobbers. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around docks. Catfish are good on livebait and stinkbait.
ATHENS: FAIR. Water moderately clear; 82-85 degrees; 1.07 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigged baits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs with some cover or and around underwater structures. All catfish are good on cut bait and stinkbait. Trot lines are good with live bait. Sunfish are good on earthworms around vegetation.
BENBROOK: FAIR. Water stained; 83-86 degrees; 9.27 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigged worms and light spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around underwater structures. Hybrid striped bass are good on surface with spinners or spoons. White bass are good on slabs and will be found chasing shad. Catfish are good on stinkbait, and livebait. Sunfish are fair with prepared bait pellets or cut worms.
BOB SANDLIN: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81-85 degrees; 0.95 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on topwater baits at sunrise and deeper crankbaits during the day. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows around underwater structures. White bass are good on jigs. Catfish are good on worms or stinkbait.
BRIDGEPORT: FAIR. Water clear; 84-87 degrees: 3.77 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigged worms, lizards and Carolina rigged worms. Spinners and crankbait have been improving to cover more water. Crappie are schooled in colder temp water with jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on shrimp and cut bait.
CADDO: GOOD TO FAIR. Water stained; 83-86 degrees; 0.36 feet high. Largemouth bass are good on topwater baits in 10-20 feet early, plastic worms, and spinner baits in deeper water mid-morning to afternoons. Crappie are fair on smaller minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, and live bait.
CEDAR CREEK: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 83-85 degrees, 1.77 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits, plastic worms and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are good with Rat-L-Traps following the birds and schools of bait. Crappie are fair on pink and white jigs shooting larger structure. Catfish are good on cut shad, and live bait. White bass are good on Alabama rigs and slabs.
COOPER: FAIR. Water clear; 83-85 degrees; 1.41 feet low. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas rigged craws Carolina rigged worms, spinner and crank baits. White bass are good on slabs and live bait. Search for the schools. The blue catfish bite will continue to get better. The channel cats are good on punch bait and cut bait around the white bass. Night time is right time for most catfish.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 80-86 degrees; 2.02 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, light colored spinners and jig around vegetation. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs also under docks. Catfish are good on cut bait, and prepped bait.
FORK: FAIR. Water stained; 82-85 degrees; 1.52 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, Alabama rigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwaters. Largemouth success comes patience among drop-offs and stumps. White and yellow bass are good on Alabama Rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows in the stumps or man-made structure. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait.
GRAHAM: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83-85 degrees; 2.03 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on topwater, with worms, and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows under docks and with deeper structure. White bass are good on slabs and Alabama Rigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and livebait.
GRAPEVINE: FAIR. Water stained; 83-86 degrees; 1.97 low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas and Carolina rigged worms, spinner baits, and buzzbait. White bass are good on live shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs but you must be patient in your search for structure. Catfish seem to be nocturnal on live and prepped bait.
JACKSONVILLE: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82-85 degrees; 1.11 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair in deeper water along the dam, and deeper structure with spinners and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad, and prepped bait.
JOE POOL: FAIR. Water stained; 79-87 degrees; 2.54 feet low. The largemouth bite is fair to good on T-rigged soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits in 5-15 feet if wind is present. In calm water, a C-rig or drop shot on the edge of creek channels with any structure present and 20-plus feet of depth will produce results.
KEMP: GOOD. Water clear; 83-86 degrees; Largemouth are good on Texas rigged, straight-tailed worms, and white ½-oz. spinnerbait. The lunkers are still gathering in the shade under the bridges in at least 15 feet of water. Crappie have been excellent on crappie jigs that are reflective with smaller crappie structure. White Bass and hybrid have been good on the south portion of the lake on artificial and live baits. Catfish are good with blood and liver prepared baits.
LAKE O' THE PINES: FAIR. Water slightly stained; 84-88 degrees; 0.89 feet high. Black bass slow on swim baits and chatter baits. Crappie and catfish are slow. Some white bass are schooling. As the water cools the bite should be picking up.
LAVON: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 84-85 degrees: 3.88 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on white spinners, Carolina rigged lizards, Texas rigged worms, and some crankbaits. White bass are fair in deeper water near the dam. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on live bait, cut bait, and prepped blood bait.
LEWISVILLE: GOOD. Water stained; 83-86 degrees; 1.44 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, Texas rigged plastic baits and spinnerbaits in medium depth structure. White bass are good on slabs and have been schooling. So follow the birds to bait fish. Crappie are good on minnows and weighted jigs around big structure. Catfish are fair on prepared bait and cut bait. Hybrid are good around humps throughout the main lake.
MARTIN CREEK: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 80-85 degrees; 2.76 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters before 10am, Texas rigged creature baits, deeper crankbaits, and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and minnows around brush piles. Catfish are good on live bait, cut bait, or prepped bait.
PALESTINE: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83-86 degrees; 1.57 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigged worms, and crankbaits near the creeks. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows, but you have to find the manmade structure. Hybrid striper are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on shad and chicken livers and improving from dusk on.
PALO PINTO: FAIR. Water clear; 79-85 degrees; 2.37 feet low. Largemouth bass are consistent on Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, and crankbait. Most of the success has come along ridges. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs around cooler structure. White bass are fair on live shad. Striped bass are slow on live shad and jigs. Catfish are fair on live shad, minnows and stinkbait.
RAY HUBBARD: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82-85 degrees; 2.98 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on medium to deep depth crankbaits, spinners and topwater poppers with more success coming among the stumps. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows with larger piles in no deeper than 20 feet of water. White bass and hybrid striper are fair on slabs in the lower lake. Catfish are good on stinkbait, livers, and cut bait.
RAY ROBERTS: FAIR. Water lightly stained: 83-85 degrees; 0.56 feet low. Largemouth bass are slow on light spinners, jerk baits, and crank baits. With more success at dusk. White bass are slow on spoons, and Alabama rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Sunfish are good with cut worms. Catfish are good on live bait and stinkbait.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83-86 degrees; 2.20 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinners, deeper diving crankbaits, and jigs around timber. White bass and hybrid are good on slabs and jigs around the dam. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs with heavier brush piles. Catfish are fair on live bait and cut bait.
SQUAW CREEK: FAIR. Water clear; 88-90 degrees; 1.56 feet low. The largemouth bass fishing has been slow but should improve as the water cools down. Catfishing continues to be good while fishing around the timber next to creek channels. Look for cooler water this time of the year. Chumming with soured grain is a great way to be more successful when targeting these fish.
SULPHUR SPRINGS: SLOW. Water lightly stained; 84-86 degrees; 0.14 feet high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigged plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and bass jigs. Crappie are slow on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, cut and live bait.
TAWAKONI: FAIR. Water stained; 81-85 degrees; 1.19 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on topwater tackle in the mornings and evenings. For mid-day fishing use spinners, worms, and crankbait. White bass and hybrids are good on slabs, spoons, and Alabama rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows under deeper bridges. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, worms, and chicken livers.
TEXOMA: GOOD. Water stained; 80-85 degrees; 0.17 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on morning topwaters, Texas rigged worms, and deep diving crankbaits around channels. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Striped bass are good on slabs, jigs, plastic shad, and live shad. Catfish are fair on live sunfish, cut bait, prepped dough balls, and minnows.
TYLER: FAIR. Water slightly stained; 82-86 1.81 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits and crankbaits in both lakes. Crappie are fair on jigs under docks and in cooler covered water. Catfish are good all stinkbait, and live baits below a cork. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good with Rat-L-Traps following schools of bait fish with birds on the surface.
WEATHERFORD: FAIR. Water stained; 84-87 degrees; 2.54 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, Texas rigged craws, and weighted deep plastic worms around creek beds. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in marina areas and around cover. Catfish are good on crawfish, livers, blood baits, and cut bait.
WORTH: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82-86 degrees; 1.81 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on weed less plastic worm rigs, lighter colored spinners, and crankbait. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs near beds and cover. Catfish are fair on livebait, stinkbait, and cut bait.
WRIGHT PATMAN: FAIR. Water stained; 82-87 degrees; 0.16 feet high. Largemouth bass are good with jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastic worms. White bass have been hitting slabs and spoons. Crappie are fair on jigs with structure below 8 feet. Catfish are good on cut bait, live bait and stinkbait.
SOUTH
AMISTAD: FAIR. Water stained; 86 5-89 degrees; 32.49 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on most topwater tackle, and Carolina or Texas rigged plastic worms near rocky edges or vegetation. White bass are slow on. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on stinkbait and cut bait. Remember to stay on the Texas side unless you possess a Mexican Fishing License.
CHOKE CANYON: FAIR. Water stained; 84-88 degrees; 16.58 feet low. Largemouth bass are improving to fair on topwater buzzbaits early, jigs, plastic worms, or tube baits in decent deep-water cover. White bass are slow with smaller rattle traps. Crappie are slow on all tackle. All catfish are good on larger live bait and cut baits.
CORPUS CHRISTI: GOOD. Water stained; 78-85 degrees; 2.15 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, spinners and crankbaits. White bass are fair on rattletraps. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows and jigs especially lighted at night. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait, and cheesebait.
FALCON: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 34.88 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms, spinners, crankbaits, and topwaters. Early mornings through noon have continued yielding the best results. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good with all live baits and stinkbait. Remember to stay on the Texas side unless you possess a Mexican Fishing License.
MEDINA: FAIR. Water stained; 81-85 degrees; 5.11 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, spinners, minnows and plastic shad near drops. Crappie are slow with weighted jigs and minnow at a depth of at least 10 ft. White bass are fair on small crankbait and jigs. Striped Bass are fair on rattletraps. Smallmouth bass are fair on white grubs and jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait, and blood baits.
TEXANA: FAIR TO GOOD. Water stained; 79-84 degrees; 4.17 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on most reeled baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and Texas-rigged soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs in shallow cover at 8ft and deeper. Catfish are fair to good on stink bait, cut bait and live bait.
VICTOR BRAUNIG: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82-85 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigged plastic worms, spinner baits, and crank baits in at least 8 feet of water or deeper. Striped Bass are fair in open water on jigs and live shad following baitfish. Smallmouth bass are fair on white grubs and jigs. Red drum are fair on rattle traps. Catfish are fair on live bait, and cheese bait.
SOUTHEAST
CONROE: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 78-84 degrees; 1.99 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on top water poppers and buzzbaits early and late. Crappie are improving on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Catfish are good on baited areas from 8 to 25 feet of water improving at night.
GIBBONS: FAIR. Water stained; 80-85 degrees; Largemouth bass are fair on most all light-colored Carolina rigged soft plastics and the depth has risen a bit over the past week. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on live bait and liver flavored prepared bait.
HOUSTON COUNTY: FAIR. Water stained; 80-84 degrees; 0.51 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, buzzbaits, and spinners. White bass are slow with jigs and spoons. Crappie are slow on minnows. Sunfish are good on live cut worms. Catfish are good on shad, and stinkbait.
LIVINGSTON: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 81-86 degrees; 0.93 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina or Texas rigged plastics, spinners, and jigs. Striped bass are good on spoons, and Rat-L-Traps normally in deep open water. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass have been good on spoons. Catfish are fair on live bait, and flavored prepared baits.
NACONICHE: FAIR. Water clear; 80-85 degrees; Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, creature baits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs, and live minnows. Most numbers are found along creek channels. Sunfish are good on jigs, spinners, and crickets.
RAVEN: FAIR. Water clear; 81-85 degrees; 1.99 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-water and soft plastic worms. Redeared sunfish are fair with crickets and worms. Catfish have been good on trot lines with live bait.
SAM RAYBURN: FAIR. Water stained; 83-87 degrees; 2.26 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Carolina rigged soft plastic worms. Some success with largemouth on top water buzzbaits and poppers early & late. White bass are fair on minnows and Alabama rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good with live bait and cut bait.
TOLEDO BEND: FAIR. Water stained; 81-85 degrees; 6.92 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms, jigs and topwaters. Striped bass are fair on topwater, rattle traps and spoons. White bass are fair on spoons. Sunfish are good on pellets, crickets and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on live bait and stinkbait.
PANHANDLE
CISCO: FAIR. Water clear; 79-84 degrees; 2.43 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigged worms, spinners and jigs. Sunfish are fair with mealworms, and minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, live and cut shad.
MEREDITH: FAIR. Water clear; 78-85 degrees; 47.90 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters early and late. With Texas rigged plastics and flukes they have been moving to structure and on ridges more than normal. Smallmouth bass are fair on crank baits, spinners, minnows, crayfish, and worms. Walleye is being caught on crankbait and spinners. Channel catfish are fair on cut bait and live bait.
MILLERS CREEK: GOOD. Water clear; 79-86 degrees; 1.02 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on any weedless bass bait among submerged structure normally below 15 feet. Crappie have been good on crappie jigs on structure at least 10 feet down. White Bass and hybrid have been good on the south portion of the lake on artificial and live baits. Catfish are good with blood and liver prepared baits.
WEST
ALAN HENRY: FAIR. Water clear 80-84 degrees; 3.59 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on rigged worms, spinner baits and crank baits. Early in the morning buzzbaits have been successful. Crappie are fair on minnows, and jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait and stinkbait.
ARROWHEAD: FAIR. Water stained; 80-84 degrees; 1.49 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwater at dusk and dawn, and Texas rigs and crankbaits in deeper water. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs amid brush piles and under docks. Catfish are fair under lights on shad, cut bait, shrimp and nightcrawlers.
FORT PHANTOM HILL: FAIR. Water stained; 78-84 degrees; 1.65 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, buzzbaits, and spinners before noon. Deep baits are good in the afternoon, and some topwater close to dusk. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs amid cover. Catfish are fair on cut shad and stinkbait.
HUBBARD CREEK: FAIR. Water stained; 78-84 degrees; 1.72 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, crankbait and shakyheads. Crappie are fair to slow on live minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on most all catfish bait including live and cut shad.
NASWORTHY: GOOD. Water stained to clear; 80-85 degrees; 0.93 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on square bills and Texas rigged worms and creature baits. Crappie fair to good on crappie jigs and minnows around bridge pilings.
OAK CREEK: FAIR. Water stained; 78-84 degrees; 1.55 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinners, mid to deep crankbait Texas rigs and Carolina rigged worms on drop-offs. Crappie are fair on jigs and live minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, live and cut shad.
O.H. IVIE: FAIR. Water stained; 77-84 degrees; 9.35 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina and Texas rigged worms and minnows. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs primarily at night. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, live, and cut bait.
POSSUM KINGDOM: FAIR. Water clear; 79-84 degrees; 1.15 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, and spinner baits. Crappie are good on jigs, and minnows. White bass are good on jigs, slabs, and spoons. Striped bass are fair to good on live shad and jigs, follow the birds. Catfish are good on cut bait, live sunfish and stinkbait.
EV SPENCE: FAIR. Water clear; 78-84 degrees; 35.35 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on points leading into coves and creeks. Crappie are fair to good on channel edges and drop offs.
STAMFORD: FAIR. Water stained; 78-84 degrees; 1.04 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigged plastic worms, crankbaits and spinners. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs by mid to deep structure. White bass are fair on live shad and slabs. Catfish are fair on live bait and stinkbait pellets.
WHITE RIVER: SLOW. Water stained; 77-85 degrees; 20.99 feet low. Drought conditions have changed fishing this summer. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs and craws. Crappie are slow on live minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait, cut bait, and prepared bait.
B.A. STEINHAGEN: SLOW. Water stained; 78-85 degrees; 0.14 feet low. The lake is almost fully recovered after the dam repair. Sunfish have been slow on cut worms. Crappie have been slow on jigs and minnows, and catfish are fair on cut and prepped bait.
COASTAL
NORTH & SOUTH SABINE: GOOD. The waters to the west of the lake including the ship channel are still cloudy with the water in Sabine Lake being mostly clear north and in the south. Trout, red fish, and flounder are good with jigs as well as soft plastics early till around 10am. Golden croaker are continuing to make their run to the Gulf and can be caught near bayou mouths and channels in ten to twenty feet of water on fresh dead shrimp. Bull reds are running in surf. Best bait is fresh cut mullet.
BOLIVAR: No report available.
TRINITY BAY: Fair. Salinity Levels trying to rebound. Lots of small speckled trout activity under birds using soft plastic or live shrimp. Bigger fish coming on topwater plugs. Red fish good on live shrimp and live mullet.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: Fair. Salinity levels trying to rebound. Speckled trout on live shrimp and soft plastics. Red fish on live shrimp & live mullet, very good in and at the mouths of the marsh on and outgoing tide on top water. Flounder activity increasing.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: GOOD. Trout and reds remain good on both shell and around the marsh on Croakers and live shrimp, soft plastic and topwater plugs early in the morning or late evening along oyster reefs. Redfish good on live shrimp, live mullet and soft plastic around drains and oyster reefs. Flounder activity increasing and good around the marsh openings on soft plastics. Good Bull Red activity along San Luis Pass.
TEXAS CITY: VERY GOOD. 83 degrees. Excellent bull red catches along the Texas City Dike. Cut mullet, fresh shad and cracked crab fished along the bottom. Flounder action fair along the levee. Trout are good on flats adjacent to the channel
FREEPORT: VERY GOOD. 84 DEGREES. Red fish are excellent in Cold Pass, Bastrop Bay and Christmas Bay. Speckled trout are good along ICW. Brazos River is still fresh, but bull red activity is good at the mouth of Brazos.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: GOOD. Trout are fair on live shrimp in shallow water. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastic. Spotted seatrout is good with topwater. Red drum is good on live shrimp. Snapper is good on live shrimp.
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: GOOD. Conditions have been good with a new moon. Trout are fair on soft plastics. Redfish are showing continued success on live shrimp, cobia is decent on eel or pinfish.
PORT O’CONNOR: GOOD. Trout are fair on topwaters in 3-8 feet. Redfish are good on live shrimp. Spanish mackerel is very good on sardines or cut bait. Mahi mahi is good on squid or live cigar minnow, tuna is good on squid, tarpon is very good on mullet or pinfish, flounder is good on live bait.
ROCKPORT: GOOD. Amberjack is excellent on squid or cigar minnows. Cobia continues to be slow. Mahi Mahi is excellent on squid or live cigar minnows. Blackfin tuna is excellent on squid or threadfin herring. Kingfish is good on silvery live bait.
PORT ARANSAS: GOOD. Amberjack continues to be excellent on squid, cigar minnows, cobia is slow. Mahi Mahi is excellent on squid along with cigar minnows. Snapper is fair with fresh squid or cigar minnows. Blackfin tuna is excellent on squid or threadfin herring, Kingfish is good on live pilchards or cigar minnows.
CORPUS CHRISTI: GOOD. Conditions are unchanged from last week. Redfish are good on croakers or mullet, Spanish mackerel are fair on glass minnow, Mahi Mahi on squid or live cigar minnow. Blackfin tuna is good with fresh or frozen bonito is best. Tarpon on worm jigs. Flounder is fair using live bait.
BAFFIN BAY: GOOD. The high tides have helped with speckled trout in deeper grassy areas on a lot of tackle options. Redfish are schooling and feeding behind large schools of mullet in the flats use cut mullet on a bottom rig
PORT MANSFIELD: GOOD. Trout are good on the flats using gulp under a popping cork, kwigglers ball tail in red and white and top water in pink and silver. Start shallow and work out deeper later in the day. Reds also in the shallows using kwigglers paddle tail in Mansfield margarita, gold spoons, gulp and top waters. Look for flounder around east cut along the edges and run offs.
SOUTH PADRE: EXCELLENT. Water clarity is slightly stained. Very high tides. Speckled trout are good in deeper grassy areas on lures. Redfish are schooling and feeding behind large schools of mullet in the flats use cut mullet on a bottom rig
PORT ISABEL: GOOD. Spanish mackerel has had improved success recently on cut bait, squid or shrimp. Mahi Mahi is being caught on squid or live cigar minnows. Redfish continues to be excellent on natural baits. Sailfish are fair on sardines or cigar minnows at least a ¼-mile offshore. Amberjack is good on squid, black drum and spotted seatrout have improved.
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