By ELLIOTT MOOREFor The
Associated Press

The weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Sept. 23 and also available on the internet at https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/fishreport.phtml:

CENTRAL

AUSTIN: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.69' low. Largemouth bass are fair on medium-sized crankbaits, bladed jigs, and finesse worms near boat docks, bluffs, and rocky shorelines. There are early morning and sundown bites with topwater and chuggers near points with drop-offs and ledges. Sunfish are good on dough bait and live crickets along ledges, boat docks, and brush. Catfish are fair on punch bait.

BASTROP: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84 degrees. Largemouth bass are good fishing creeks ledges and submerged timber on bladed jigs, crankbaits, craws, and drop shots. Crappie are good on minnows in brush piles and standing timber in 14-25’. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

BELTON: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 0.47' high. Black bass are fair near flats, drop-offs, brush, and timber on spinners, crankbaits, and Carolina rigged plastic worms. White bass are good on the main lake flats, humps, and drop-offs with slabs in 18-35’. Hybrid stripers are good with live bait in the main lake from 22-35’. Topwater plugs, crankbaits, and swimbaits are effective with surfacing schools of hybrids and white bass. Crappie are good on minnows in brush piles in 15-28’. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.

BROWNWOOD: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 1.37' low. Largemouth bass are slow with crankbaits, jigs, and Carolina rigged plastic worms in 15-25’ near drop-offs and standing timber. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrids are fair on live bait and slabs in the main lake near humps, drop-offs, and flats. Catfish are good on punch bait and live bait in 10-20’ near baited areas.

BUCHANAN: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83-86 degrees; 2.53' low. Largemouth bass are fair with finesse worms, black/blue skirted jigs, and medium-sized crankbaits working along flats, secondary points, rock ledges, and the drop-offs. Striped bass are fair along the river channel with live bait and trolling in 25-35’. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons when fishing deeper water in the main lake off points, drop-offs and flats. Use sonar to locate schools of baitfish and feeding fish. Crappie are good on minnows in 16-28’ fishing timber and brush piles. Channel catfish have been good on punch bait.

CANYON LAKE: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 3.18' low. Striper fishing is good on main lake humps, drop-offs, and river channel with live bait or jigging vertically. White bass are good on flats and drop-offs with slabs and jigging spoons. Look for birds diving over feeding schools. Largemouth bass are fair with diving crankbaits, shaky heads, and Texas- rigged worms or craws near docks, timber, and steep drop-offs. Smallmouth bass are good on grubs and small cranks in 12-17’ along rock ledges and steep rocky shorelines. Catfish are good with prepared baits and cut bait. Crappie are fair with live minnows over submerged brush piles and timber.

FAYETTE: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged plastic worms, plastic grub drop shots and spinnerbaits. Sunfish are good on worms and live crickets around bank ledges and structure. Catfish are good on punch bait near baited areas.

GRANBURY: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 0.15' low. Largemouth bass are good on shad colored or white crankbaits and bladed spinnerbaits as well as Texas-rigged plastic worms in 13-28’ near boathouses, submerged timber, and rock ledges. Crappie fishing is good around brush piles and boat docks with minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good with earthworms or prepared bait. White bass are fair using slabs, jigging spoons, and swimbaits. Stripers are fair with vertical fishing live bait or slabs or trolling with crankbaits along the main lake channel in 25-40'.

GRANGER: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 1.10' low. Black bass are fair on blue or black spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged plastic worms, and silver crankbaits near rock banks, deeper creek channels, and stumps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs on brush piles in 16-26’. White bass are fair on slabs in 20-30' near main lake humps and drop-offs’. Catfish are good on cut shad, earthworms, and punch baits. Yellow cats are fair on live perch.

LIMESTONE: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.04' high. Largemouth bass are good on wacky-rigged plastic worms, crankbaits and drop shots along ledges, creek channels, and off main lake points with slow presentation. White bass are good with slabs and live bait fishing drop-offs and humps in the main lake in 20-30’. Crappie are good on minnows around brush piles and submerged timber. Catfish are good on cut bait or live baits. Flatheads are more consistent with live bait.

LBJ: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.77' low. Black bass are slow on with plastic worms, jigs and silver spoons. Crappie are slow on minnows around brush piles and docks with minnows or jigs. White bass are fair over main lake points and humps in 20-35’ with slabs and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on punch bait in 15-25’.

NAVARRO MILLS: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.20' high. Crappie are good on minnows around the marina, brush piles, and in standing timber in 15-28’. Catfish are good with prepared bait and live bait. White bass are fair on slabs and jigging spoons in 20-30’. Black bass are fair with spinnerbaits, jigs and finesse worms near docks, secondary points and timber.

PROCTOR: GOOD. Water stained; 82 degrees; 0.46' high. Largemouth bass are good on plum or purple Texas-rigged worms, jigs and crankbaits in submerged timber, creek channels and rocky shorelines. Hybrid stripers are slow with live bait and jigging slabs in the main lake around 22-35’. Crappie are fair with minnows and jigs in 14-28’ in standing timber and brush piles. Catfish remain good on prepared bait, earthworms and cut bait.

SOMERVILLE: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 1.77' low. White bass and hybrids are fair with slabs and jigging spoons in 25-35’ on main lake flats, deep channel ledges, and humps. Crappie are fair on live minnows in brush piles and flooded timber in 18-25’. Catfish are good with live bait and punch bait in 15-25’. Largemouth bass are fair with Texas-rigged worms fished slowly, silver crankbaits and spinnerbaits near the points, drop-offs, rocky shorelines and tops of flooded timber.

STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: GOOD. Water stained; 82-85 degrees; 3.26' high. Black bass are good on jigs, white jigs, Texas-rigged soft plastic craws working brush piles, rock bluffs, and submerged timber. Smallmouth bass are good with small plastic grubs and small crankbaits near rocky banks, ledges, and drop-offs. Crappie are good on minnows in brush piles and standing timber in 14-28’. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs off main lake points, humps, drop-offs, and along the dam. Catfish are good with punch bait. Blue cats are good with live bait near brush piles.

TRAVIS: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 18.59' low. Largemouth bass are good with crankbaits, skirted jigs and spinners near boat docks and marinas, rock ledges, and drop-offs. White bass are fair with swim jigs and slabs working main lake points, drop-offs and humps. Striper action along the main river channel is fair with live bait and heavy spoons with schools moving frequently with the bait. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows in 15-25’ near docks, marinas, and deeper rock ledges. Catfish are good on live bait and prepared baits in 15-25’.

WALTER E. LONG: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on finesse worms, crankbaits, and jigs in timber, humps, and drop-offs. Hybrid striper are good with live shad or trolling. Crappie are good on minnows in 14-24’ near brush piles or standing timber. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared bait. Sunfish are good on worms and crickets.

WACO: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.06' high. Largemouth bass are good on Senkos, spinners, chuggers and drop-shot plastic worms along the river channel, bridge pilings and drop-offs. Crappie are good on minnows fishing brush piles and structure. Sunfish are good on cutworms or live crickets. Channel and blue catfish are good on punch bait.

WHITNEY: GOOD. Water stained; 81-85 degrees; 0.47' low. Black bass are good on secondary points, deeper creeks ledges, grass lines, and weed beds on purple or black plastic worms crankbaits and silver spoons. White bass are good on the main lake with spoons and slabs. Stripers are fair trolling chartreuse jigs along the main lake drop-offs and humps in 15-40’. Watch for diving birds working the feeding schools of white bass and stripers at times. Crappie are good with jigs tipped with minnows in 14-25’ timber near creek channels and brush piles. Catfish are fair on punch bait.

NORTHEAST

ARLINGTON: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 3.19' low. Largemouth bass are fair on poppers, jerk baits and finesse plastic worms. Crappie are good near boat docks and timber on minnows. Catfish are fair on prepared baits in 12-25’.

ATHENS: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.51' high. Largemouth bass are good on shad colored crankbaits, bladed spinners, and Texas-rigged plastic worms working the drop-offs, brush piles, and flooded timber. Crappie are fair with minnows in standing timber and boat docks. Catfish are good on prepared bait. Sunfish are good on cutworms and crickets.

BENBROOK: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 4.53' low. Largemouth bass are fair fishing crankbaits, jigs and finesse worms near rocky shorelines, ridges, drop-offs and humps. Crappie are good on minnows fishing structure and brush piles in 15-25’. Hybrid striped bass are fair with slabs and live bait. White bass are good with slabs on the lake points, flats and humps. Watch for diving birds to mark schools of feeding fish. Catfish are good with punch bait and live bait over baited areas.

BOB SANDLIN: GOOD. Water slightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.44' low. Black bass are good on drop shots, crankbaits, chatter baits, and Texas-rigged plastic worms in 18-28’ near deep water humps, flats, and boat docks with some bass caught in 6-10’ early in the day. Crappie are good on minnows in brush piles, bridges and standing timber. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait in 12-25' near baited holes.

BRIDGEPORT: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83-86 degrees; 1.50' low. Black bass are good on jigs, crankbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms in 12-18’ fishing deeper docks, main lake points with near riprap, drop-offs and secondary points. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs fishing bridges, timber and brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs on main lake drop-offs, flats and channels. Hybrid stripers are fair on main lake humps and points with live bait and heavy spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared bait in 12-20’.

CADDO: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.36' high. Largemouth bass are good in shallow water near trees, stumps and grass beds fishing plastic frogs, chatter baits, skirted jigs in 3-5’. Texas-rigged plastic worms are productive in deeper water near timber and vegetation lines in 8-16’. Crappie are good on minnows near brush piles and timber in 14-25’. White bass are good on jigs and slabs in the main lake. Chain pickerel are slow. Catfish are good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers in 12-20’ fishing baited holes near channels and timber edges.

CEDAR CREEK: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.06' low. Largemouth bass are good working topwater plugs and jerk baits very early on creek ledges and near boat docks. Shaky heads, black or purple plastic worms, and diving cranks fished in deeper water near boat docks, main lake drop-offs and timber are productive later in the day. Hybrids and sand bass are being caught off main lake points and humps with slabs and live bait. Crappie are good with jigs and minnows in brush piles, deep water boat docks and near submerged timber in 15-28’. Catfish are good in 12-25’.

COOPER: GOOD. Water clear; 80-84 degrees; 2.79' low. Largemouth bass are fair on blue finesse worms, medium-sized crankbaits and white skirted jigs in 16-25’. The white bass and hybrids are promising in 25-35’ with live bait, slabs, jigging spoons over humps, flats edges and near main lake drop-offs. Crappie are good with minnows on brush piles and timber near creek channels. Catfish are fair on cut bait and prepared bait in 14-25’.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: FAIR. Water clear; 81 degrees; 0.98' low. Black bass are fair fishing finesse worms and jerk baits near structure or timber. White bass are fair with slabs and jigging spoons fishing humps, flats and drop-offs. Crappie are fair on minnows between 15-25’ working docks, submerged brush and standing timber. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and punch bait.

FORK: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 1.58' low. Largemouth bass are fair on slow-moving finesse worms and jigs near standing flooded timber, points and drop-offs. White and yellow bass are fair in deeper water with slabs and jigging spoons. Crappie are slow on minnows in 18-25’ in brush piles and standing timber. Catfish are good on punch bait in 12-24’.

GRAHAM: GOOD. Water stained; 82 degrees; 0.17' low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged worms, blue or black spinners, and cranks in timber and near flats with drop-offs. Crappie are fair on minnows in 14-24’ standing timber and brush piles. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Hybrid stripers are good on live bait in 20-35’. Catfish are good on cut shad, punch bait and live bait.

GRAPEVINE: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.06' high. Largemouth bass are good on medium-sized crankbaits, craws, and finesse worms in brush piles, standing timber and rocky points. White bass are good in 23-35’ with slabs near main lake humps, flats and drop-offs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in marinas and near submerged structure. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

JACKSONVILLE: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.11' high. Largemouth bass are fair with finesse worms, silver spoons and medium crankbaits in deeper water near docks, riprap and brush piles. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in 14-25’ around submerged structure and brush piles. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.

JOE POOL: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.36' low. Largemouth bass are fair fishing plum and pumpkin-colored finesse worms fished slowly in 14-23’. Shad like crankbaits and spinners along channel edges, mouths and pockets are effective as well. Crappie are good beneath bridges and structure on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.16' low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, football jigs and brown Texas- rigged worms in 15-25’. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in the standing timber areas along the creek channel and brush piles in 15-28’. Catfish are fair on trotlines with cut bait or live bait. Baited holes are producing with punch bait.

LAVON: GOOD. Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.82' low. Crappie are good on minnows or jigs fishing 15-25’ over brush piles and bridges. White bass are good in the 20-30’ with slabs and swimbaits. Look for birds diving over feeding schools of white bass. Black bass are fair on flukes, wacky worms, and blue and chrome crankbaits in 15-28’. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait in 14-25’.

LEWISVILLE: EXCELLENT. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.17' high. Black bass are good fishing points, humps, drop-offs and standing timber with the medium-sized silver or chrome crankbaits, plastic worms or creatures and bladed jigs. White bass are excellent on slabs and jigging spoons in 20-35’. Look for birds diving over feeding schools of white bass. Crappie are good on minnows around brush piles and standing timber. Catfish are fair on live bait and prepared baits.

MARTIN CREEK: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 1.64 low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and plastic finesse worms in 15-28’. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 16-28’ in timber and brush piles. Catfish are fair on punch bait in 12-25’.

PALESTINE: GOOD. Water clear; 82 degrees; 0.19 high. Largemouth bass are good working Texas-rigged purple worms, white swimbaits, and silver crankbaits near boat docks and rip rap. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs tipped with minnows around bridges and timber in 15-25’. Hybrid stripers are fair on live bait and slabs in 25-35’. White bass are fair on slabs and swim jigging spoons. Look for birds diving over feeding schools. Catfish are fair on punch baits and live minnows.

PALO PINTO: GOOD. Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.08' low. Largemouth bass are good on points with ledges, flats with a drop-off, and brush piles with Texas-rigged plastic creatures, diving crankbaits, and black or purple skirted jigs. Plastic frogs and topwater plugs are working early on grass flats and vegetation edges. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows near boat docks and brush piles in 16-28’. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons near main lake points, drop-offs and flats. Hybrid bass are fair on live shad in 20-35’. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait.

RAY HUBBARD: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.66' low. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse worms, crankbaits, and football jigs in timber, near rocky banks, ledges, and drop-offs. White bass are good fishing chrome slabs and white jigging spoons on main lake flats, humps, and ridges in 18-28’. Crappie are good near bridges, brush piles, and submerged timber in with minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait in 16-25’.

RAY ROBERTS: FAIR; Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.01' high. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigged worms, diving crankbaits, and white spinners in 16-26’ near timber, riprap and channel edges. There is an early and late topwater bite on points with a ledge or drop-off. White bass are slow in 20-40’ on slabs and minnows near main lake flats and drop-offs. Crappie are fair on minnows, and jigs tipped with minnows around standing timber near a creek channel and brush piles. Catfish are fair on punch baits over baited holes.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.06' high. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, flukes, spoons, and finesse worms fishing near boat docks, rocky points, creek ledges and drop-offs. White bass and hybrids are fair on slabs and jigging spoons or deeper near main lake points, flats and humps. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs on bridge pilings and in brush piles. Catfish are good on punch bait and live perch. Bream are good on live crickets or dough bait near boat docks and rocky shorelines.

SQUAW CREEK: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.42' high. Catfishing is good in baited areas using prepared baits and cut bait. The largemouth bass fishing is fair around structure on spinners and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 17-25’ in standing timber and brush piles.

SULPHUR SPRINGS: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 2.35' low. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse worms and brush hogs near brush piles, drop-offs and flooded timber. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 18-28’ near brush piles and standing timber. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared bait in 15-25’.

TAWAKONI: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 78-81 degrees; 1.10' low. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut bait. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, finesse worms and chartreuse swimbaits. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on live bait and slabs with some fish schooling on the surface. Use sonar to locate fish in deeper water near drop-offs, large flats, and humps in the main lake. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles, docks, and bridge pilings.

TEXOMA: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 79 degrees; 1.48' low. Striped bass and white bass are fair on live bait in 25-35’ and topwater baits when fish are near the surface. Diving birds are marking feeding schools on the surface throughout the lake. Use sonar to mark schools along the river channel and flats. Schools are continually moving with the bait. Largemouth bass are fair fishing Texas-rigged plastic worms and diving crankbaits in 16-28’ with some fish moving into shallow water in the 8-12’ range. Crappie are good on minnows by boathouses, timber and brush piles in 15-25’. Catfish are good on cut bait.

TYLER: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.12' low. Black bass are fair on finesse worms, skirted football jigs, crankbaits and drop shots fishing deeper docks, timber, and vegetation edges. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in brush piles, structure and timber in 18-25’. Catfish are good on punch bait and live bait. White bass are good in 18-30’ on jigging spoons and slabs.

WEATHERFORD: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.85' low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms near rocky shorelines, timber and brush. White bass are fair in 20-35’ with slabs and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows around docks, marinas and submerged cover. Catfish are good on live bait.

WORTH: GOOD. Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.02' low. Largemouth bass are good with spinners, crankbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms working drop-offs, creek channels and boat docks. Crappie are fair on minnows among brush piles, timber and under docks. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.

WRIGHT PATMAN: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.77' high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinners and finesse worms along creek channels, riprap and main lake flat drop-offs. White bass are fair on jigging spoons and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows near structure and brush piles. Catfish are good on punch bait and earthworms.

SOUTH

AMISTAD: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 45.62’ low. As soon as it turns on, it can turn off around here, and we had a little of both the past week. Black bass are inconsistent with some weather shifts. Fish mostly shallower with Carolina-rigged worms, crankbait and topwaters. White bass are fair with some varying depths between 15-22' fishing spoons and small crankbait. Catfish are fair on shrimp, chicken livers, and stinkbait dough balls, especially near Pecos River influence of the Rio Grande. Remember to stay on the Texas side of the lake unless you possess a Mexican fishing license.

CALAVERAS: GOOD. Water stained; 83-84 degrees. Red drum are fair with live bait only right now. Black bass are good along the rocks of the dam with crankbait. The standing vegetation has picked up with topwater, jigs, and worms. Hybrid striped bass are good following the baitfish in deeper water. Catfish are good on stinkbait, chicken livers, and cut shad.

CHOKE CANYON: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 84-86 degrees; 20.67’ low. Largemouth bass are improving to good as they move just a bit shallower for longer periods of the day. Topwater, crankbait, and worms with a 6" leader have continued the success on points, humps, rip rap, and some deeper creek structure with some deep covered spots in the afternoons. White bass remain fair, flashing small spinners and spoons off points. Crappie are good still in northern structures feeding more aggressively than last week. Catfish are fair with live bait and cheese bait.

CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: GOOD. Water stained; 87 degrees; 5.57’ low. Largemouth bass are good with movement and aggressiveness continuing to increase, especially on worms. Still keep rattletraps, jigs, and jerk baits close. Crappie are good favoring jigs over minnows under docks. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait.

FALCON: FAIR. Water lightly stained north and clear south; 84 degrees; 37.39’ low. It’s been raining in the afternoons. The lake is up 3 inches this week, and lake activity has been slow. Black bass are fair with deeper structure still performing better than shallow. Texas-rigged big worms have been as good as any, fished on the rock or in the brush piles. Deeper still seems to be a better choice, especially for the bigger fish. There are still some shallow fish, as there always are, on the points and rocky edges. The white bass are still everywhere, and crappie are good in the brush piles. All sizes of crappie are being caught, including a bunch of 8-to-10-inchers. Looks good for the future. Catfish are always biting, and the influx of a little muddy water seems to turn them on. Remember to stay on the Texas side unless you possess a Mexican fishing license.

MEDINA: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 24.49’ low. Black bass remain good on main lake points, finding submerged rocky structures, and working the deeper tributaries as they feed the lake. Shiny worms are king with success also coming on jigs and crankbait. White bass are fair off points on Alabama rigs. Striped bass are good, just moving a lot with some cooler temps mid-lake. Crappie are slow under vegetation where you can find fish. Catfish are fair on live bait, chicken livers, and blood baits.

TEXANA: GOOD. Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.49’ low. Largemouth bass are good with a deeper structure, still excelling more than shallow, for now. Established brush piles submerged timber and points have continued the best success with soft plastic worms and crankbait. Crappie are excellent with minnows and jigs around vegetation, edges of the underwater timber, and in calmer water Catfish are good on stinkbait, cut bait, and live bait.

SOUTHEAST

BRAUNIG: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees. Red drum are slowing, but still plenty of fish to be had. There is still some bird activity to guide you without much surface activity. Largemouth bass are fair to good along the riprap with crankbaits and worms, as well as using topwater near vegetation edges. Stripers are fair mid-lake and off the southern deep points. Catfish are good on live bait, cut bait and cheese bait.

B.A. STEINHAGEN: FAIR. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.58’ low. At B.A., black bass are best above the brush and along vegetation on topwaters, crankbait and spinners, showing some signs of summer patterns but leaning towards fall patterns. Crappie are good on minnows in more open structures and jigs in vegetation. Sunfish are fair with jigs and crickets under docks. Catfish are good day and night on cut and prepped bait.

CONROE: GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.46’ low. Black bass are great and even getting better with some early fall patterns now in place. Natural structures near vegetation and some brush piles are best, but points are good too with worms, spinners, and poppers. Crappie are fair on suspended minnows. Hybrid striped bass are fair and improving on rattle traps moving in schools. Catfish are fair on cut bait, live bait and dough balls. Sunfish are fair with live worms, crickets and power bait pellets.

GIBBONS CREEK: GOOD. Water stained; 84 degrees. Largemouth bass are good over brush on rigged worms, topwater, jigs, and slug os. Creek structures have improved working timber or thick edges. Crappie are fair at night on minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait throughout the lake along with some dough pellets. Sunfish are fair on cutworms in shallow water.

HOUSTON COUNTY: GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.08’ low. Black bass are good working around vegetation, brush piles, and other mid-depth structures with many 5-7-pound catches this week, along with lots smaller. Carolina-rigged worms, synthetic nightcrawlers, jigs and crankbaits continue to work. Crappie are good on small minnows on the pier, especially at night with lights. Bream and bluegill are good using live worms coming quickly out of structure. Catfish are good on juglines using shad.

LIVINGSTON: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.03’ high. Black bass have turned on to good with the start of the fall pattern along with more rain this week. Fishing are great right after a long extended period of rain. Fall starts bass moving shallower, being aggressive and heading towards the shelter of creeks. Worms are preferred, jigs have emerged, and crankbaits are good when working deeper structure and brush piles. Striped bass are improving as well but still fair on live shad. Crappie are good on jigs owing to the covered structure. White bass are good on spoons below 15'. Catfish are fair on live baits and stinkbait in the main river channel.

NACONICHE: GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees. Largemouth bass are good getting more aggressive and flipping the switch to fish all day. Vegetation is the magnet at Naconiche, and creek structures turn it on too. Baits are best mixing a variety of topwater, worms, and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows moving to deeper structure. Sunfish are fair on pellets, jigs, and crickets. Catfish are good on dough balls, and cut and live bait.

RAVEN: FAIR. Water stained; 82 degrees. Largemouth bass remain fair working topwater frogs, worms, and jigs staying close to the vegetation line, and few drops off points, especially south. Sunfish are fair on cutworms and crickets fishing the open banks next to cover.

SAM RAYBURN: GOOD. Water stained; 84 degrees; 3.43’ low. Largemouth bass are good with daytime bites coming on with timber, brush, and moving to all shallow structures, making the bass very aggressive. Topwater, crankbait and spinners are on right now all day. White bass are good always below largemouth. Crappie are fair on jigs using all structures. Catfish are good on live and stinkbait.

TOLEDO BEND: FAIR. Water stained; 84-86 degrees; 3.46’ low. The lake community is bracing for another storm after struggling to recover from Laura, so please support the area any way you can. Black bass are good finding the best vegetation edges mid-lake to south. Start the day with topwater poppers, wacky rigs, Carolina-rigged worms with a 4' leader, and Carolina-rigged Baby Brush Hog. White bass have been tough to find with structures moving and being inconsistent on the weather side. Crappie are fair on jigs between 6-10' under the vegetation covers. Bream are good with small jigs and crickets. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait.

PANHANDLE

CISCO: FAIR. Water clear; 87 degrees; 4.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on points, boulders, and feeder creeks. Best lures are buzzbait, weighted worms and weedless jigs. Sunfish are good under docks and near shore on cutworms, especially out from timber. Crappie are fair with jigs. Catfish have been fair on stinkbait, chicken livers and cut shad.

MEREDITH: FAIR. Water stained; 87 degrees; 49.67’ low. Black bass are fair on points, along the rocky banks, and drops on worms, minnows, and spinners. Walleye are fair to slow with small crankbaits and spinners. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs finding shade. White bass are good off points with disappearing shells due to low water. Therefore, go close to mid-lake. Channel catfish are fair fishing stink bait in most places.

MILLERS CREEK: GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.06’ high. Largemouth bass are good working timber shallow and pondweed with topwater and worms moving the shallowest they’ve been since spring. Crappie are good working shallow humps on jigs. White bass are fair off points and edges on Alabama rigs. Catfish are fair mid-depth in coves with live, blood and liver prepared baits.

WEST

ALAN HENRY: GOOD. Water clear 82 degrees; 2.33’ low. Black bass are good with aggressiveness and found all day, especially on rocks and submerged vegetation. Worms continue to be the barometer. Add brining topwaters to the mix in less than 10' depth. Jigs have also emerged in structures and crankbait, where you can focus on deeper structures. Crappie are fair but appear to be slowing with jigs in structures. Catfish are fair on live bait, cut bait, and stinkbait.

ARROWHEAD: FAIR. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.03’ high. Largemouth bass have gotten better to good with all structures showing signs of a substantial fall on riprap, vegetation, docks, timber and very shallow structure under 6'. White bass are slow off points and riprap. Crappie are fair on jigs under bridges and docks. Catfish are good on cheese bait, stinkbait and minnows.

FORT PHANTOM HILL: GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.76’ low. White bass are good near the spillway and deeper humps on Alabama rigs and small spinners. Black bass are good working rock structures and steep ledges with spinners and plastic worms. Crappie are good but slowing with cooler temps. Catfish are fair on cut shad and stinkbait throughout the lake.

HUBBARD CREEK: FAIR. Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.97’ low. Largemouth bass are good with thick coverage of timber, vegetation, brush, and shallow structures. Fall presents different challenges with bait and colors, so be willing to adjust along with the water clarity on worms and spinners. Crappie are good on jigs in shallower timber and cover. White bass are fair, staying below 14'. Sunfish are always fair on worms. Catfish are fair on live and cut shad.

NASWORTHY: GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees. 0.89’ low. Black bass are good sticking to vegetation recently on topwaters and weedless baits to cut threw the vegetation. Crappie are good with minnows around bigger man-made structures that provide cover. White bass are fair on Alabama Rigs, working no more than 6' of the lake floor. Catfish are fair on live and prepped baits throughout the lake.

OAK CREEK: FAIR. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 2.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged plastic worms and jigs moving into creeks where you can, flooded timber and rocks. Crappie are fair on suspended minnows under docks. White bass are fair to slow on points with little change. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, live bait, and cut bait. Many trotlines have been successful with live bait.

O.C. FISHER: FAIR. Water stained; 81 degrees; 40.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair following any shallow structure with weighted worms along with topwaters anywhere due to the low water. Crappie are fair, slowing on humps with jigs. White bass are fair with decreased movement and aggressiveness. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, live, and cut bait.

O.H. IVIE: GOOD. Water clear; 82 degrees; 12.12’ low. Black bass are great working vegetation with depths below 8' and in timber with topwater, worms, crankbaits and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs working brush, and shallow at night. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, and live and cut bait. White bass are fair on points.

POSSUM KINGDOM: GOOD. Water clear; 82 degrees; 0.19’ low. Black bass are fair around rocky canyon-like banks with gravel underneath, and submerged vegetation anywhere in the lake. Soft plastic worms, crankbaits, and spinners are best this time of year. White bass are good in deeper rock structures. Crappie are good fishing jigs through very shallow brush or under larger docks. Striped bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad with increased activity at night.

SPENCE: FAIR. Water stained; 81 degrees; 38.54’ low. Black bass are good near vegetation, with some brush piles, rocks and humps until noon and after 5 p.m. with spinners and worms. The low water is affecting typical fall patterns. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow on jigs and minnows. Hybrid bass are slow. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait coming out from flats to deeper water.

STAMFORD: GOOD. Water stained; 82 degrees; 1.95’ high. Black bass are good within natural structures like stumps and rocks with worms and crankbait. When times slow, make sure and bottom bump around 10-foot depth to attract attention. Crappie are fair on jigs in timber. White bass are good between 8-14' with Alabama rigs, spoons and small spinners. Catfish are fair on live bait and stinkbait.

TWIN BUTTES: FAIR. Water stained; 81 degrees; 11.16’ low. Black bass are good working riprap, humps, and vegetation on live and plastic worms, minnows, and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs west and shallow humps. White bass are fair with Alabama rigs on points. Catfish are fair on live and prepped baits.

WHITE RIVER: FAIR. Water stained; 84 degrees; 23.79’ low. Drought conditions continue to be in place. Largemouth bass are good near dam points with newly discovered shelves close to the dam, working the top and bottom of the shelf with Carolina rigged worms, jigs, rattle traps, and spinners. Crappie are fair in grass and timber on jigs. Walleye are slow. Channel catfish are good on live bait, cut bait, and stinkbait, just not finding the big guys.

COASTAL

SABINE LAKE: GOOD. Water stained, 87-88 degrees. Bull reds are good around the jetties on mullet. Speckled trout and redfish have been holding in water 8-10' over shell humps on live mullet or shad. Flounder are still plentiful in the ship channels.

TRINITY BAY: GOOD. 84-85 degrees. Unchanged. Speckled trout have been under the birds, and redfish are good around the flats on shrimp under a popping cork. Flounder activity has increased, and they are biting on minnow around the rocks. The north and northwest shoreline is a great area year-round due to the generating station. The cooling canal flows into the north side. Work the structure and watch for what’s under the birds.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: GOOD. 84-85 degrees. North and south jetties are good for bull reds on fresh bait. The reef areas along the south side are best for speckled trout and redfish using mullet or croaker. Sheepshead have been producing along the rocks and piers on shrimp.

TEXAS CITY: GOOD. 84-85 degrees. Bull reds are still being caught around the dike in decent numbers, on mullet or crab. Redfish and speckled trout are still excellent along the shoreline on shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics. Some have been in slightly deeper water as well. Flounder are good on minnow around the rocks. Black drum are good on blue crab around deep structure or vegetation. Sheepshead are good around the rocks on mullet.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: VERY GOOD. 84-85 degrees. Bull reds along the jetties are great on fresh shad along the bottom in 20-30'. The shell reefs around the Intracoastal Waterway and San Luis Pass are great for speckled trout and redfish on shrimp under a cork. Topwaters are the best choice for wading, shrimp under a popping cork is good for the rest.

FREEPORT: GOOD. 86 degrees. Redfish are excellent around the jetties, and the best chance of catching them is throwing right in the rocks. Speckled trout are good around San Luis Pass on shrimp, MirrOlures and soft plastics. Redfish, black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp under popping cork around the reefs.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: GOOD. 86 degrees. Wading the mid-bay reefs for redfish is great using live shrimp or croaker. Speckled trout are great around Brown Cedar Flats using the same baits.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: GOOD. 86 degrees. Large schools of redfish have been great along the north shoreline or around Crab Lake on live shrimp or mullet. Speckled trout have been great on soft plastics in the grass beds.

PORT O’CONNOR: GOOD. 86 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are excellent on topwaters and shrimp. Black drum are good on crab around deep water and grass beds. Concentrate on flats that are close to deep water, throw topwaters in the morning. Flounder is good on live mullet around the rocks.

PORT ARANSAS: GOOD. 87-88 degrees. Spoons and topwater and rattle traps have produced very well. The piers have been great for all species. North jetty or redfish bay has been great for redfish and speckled trout on shrimp or mullet. Black drum are good on crab or crankbaits around deep structure or vegetation.

ROCKPORT: VERY GOOD. 84-85 degrees. Spoons and topwaters are still producing outstanding results. The shipping channels are still hot as well. Flounder are great around jetties and piers. Redfish and speckled trout are best on live shrimp or croaker if you aren’t getting results with spoons and topwaters.

CORPUS CHRISTI: GOOD. 85 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good around Laguna Madre on croaker or shrimp. Flounder is good around the rocks and on the backside of the island. Black drum are good in the deep water transitions or vegetation on blue crab or crankbaits. Keep your eye out on the approaching Tropical Storm Beta.

BAFFIN BAY: GOOD. 90-91 degrees. Speckled trout have been in the deeper water around 5-7'. Redfish are schooling and feeding behind large groups of mullet. Black drum are best around vegetation. Topwater action is still best early in the morning for speckled trout and redfish.

PORT MANSFIELD: GOOD. 86-87 degrees. Trout and redfish have been OK with water levels up from the high tides, start closer to the shallows, and work out over the grass and potholes using topwater, KWiggler willow tail in garlic, and shrimp under a popping cork. Both north and south of the east cut have been good.

SOUTH PADRE: GOOD. 82-83 degrees. The area just north of the Saucer has good numbers of reds and trout in the flats. They are great on shrimp. Black drum are in big numbers and will continue to form in stained waters, and trout will be more likely to hit artificials.

PORT ISABEL: GOOD. 85 degrees. As September comes to a close, the redfish are starting to bunch up to attack the shrimp along the edges of the grass. The lower Laguna Madre is a tried and true spot with plenty of shallow sand flats. Speckled trout will be in the shallow water near vegetation in the very early morning hours and are best on shrimp under a popping cork. Sheepshead are good on minnow around the rocks. Flounder will be in the back marsh feasting around the drains. Black drum are right on blue crab around deep structure.

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