Caddo
FAIR. Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.65 feet above pool. Another week and another rain event so the lake is muddy and the bite slow. When the water settles and clears a dropshot or Texas rig in the river will land a bass. Work flukes, top water plugs and buzz baits or frog type baits around the pads and grass line. The bite has been slow with all the rain but the good thing is we will have current on the lake all the way through September, so the bite should continue all summer. Lake is still beautiful and majestic to come look at even if the bite is slow. Caddo is a one of a kind lake that God spoke into existence and we get to experience. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.
Conroe
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.11 feet above pool. Catfish are still good. Seems like the spawn is winding down as few fish have eggs in them now and not nearly as bunched up on spots. There are lots more little bitty catfish being caught with some good eaters, and you can expect this to continue until the water cools in the fall. Largemouth bass are still doing good offshore and on docks working monster worms slowly. Report by Brad Doyle with Bradley’s Guide Service. Hybrids and white bass are scattered with some in schools in 18-26 feet of water. Fish are being caught with live bait, jigging a spoon, or trolling with a deep diver with a pet spoon as a trailer. Be sure to use a calmer jigging motion to get more hits. Crappie are in or around structure 12-21 feet using minnows, jigs, or hair jigs. The bite has been very light, and shuts off as quickly as you get one in the boat. Always wear your life jacket and stay hydrated in this heat. Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy.
Fork
GOOD. Water Stained; 81 degrees; 0.09 feet above pool. Bass are fairly slow in the mornings, but there is a shaky head bite with yum dingers in both sizes on timber in 5-7 feet on breaklines. Best bite is Carolina rigs offshore in 15-25 feet on humps, road beds, points, all are producing. Big worms like blue fleck, tequila sunrise and plum seem to be best 10-12 inches. Crankbaits are still good over channel catfish bends deep humps and road beds. Shad patterns and chart blue back XD 6 - XD 8 are best, Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Black bass are chasing topwater patterns early in the day and later in the day when it is dark. Check out the brush piles as big bass are using them to feed on crappie. Bream are excellent in the shallows on wooly buggers and small poppers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing is in full time summer pattern. Huge numbers of black crappie are loading up at the base of trees, on main lake points and lay downs. There are still good numbers of white crappie on brush piles and in trees. Focus on areas in 14-22 feet for the most fish. The bite has been finicky when fishing for schools of fish. Minnows on very small gold Aberdeen hooks and 6-8 pound test fluorocarbon line has been the go to set up. Small hand tied jigs in natural colors are also working if you swim them over and get those fish to chase and grab. Even if you see a hundred fish in a group just catch the few more aggressive fish and move on if you want to catch numbers. Larger soft plastics should still work on bigger white crappies that are solo on timber. The catfish bite is still red hot. You can load the boat fast in roosting areas that have overnight birds in the trees. We are also seeing big numbers of catfish on main lake points in 14-28 feet around timber. If you find an area with lots of bait the catfish will be close by. Bait an area with cattle cubes or sour grain to group those fish up. Then use your prepared bait of choice to get those fish biting. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.
Houston County
SLOW. Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Fishing patterns are consistent. Sunfish are good. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. Bass are slow midday, with the best bite in the morning.
Lake O’ the Pines
GOOD. Water stained; 90 degrees; 1.63 feet above pool. Channel catfish are good in 15-20 feet of water in the bridge shade. Channel catfish bite in 3-4 feet of water under trees. Crappie are good in 16-25 feet in standing timber with minnows on a cork. Report by Joey Crews, Lake Bob Sandlin Chubby Chaser Guide Service. Solid summer pattern is holding steady for the bass. Bass are good with schooling activity starting to pick up. Follow the shad to find the bass. There is still some bass in the bushes along the banks pitching Texas rigged worms and jigs, or wacky rigs. Bass are good on brush piles on points on the south end of the lake in 15-25 feet of water with deep running crankbaits, jigs, wacky worms and Texas rigs. The north end of the lake is producing catches on the grass and bushes. Report by Mike Stroman, R & R Marine.
Livingston
GREAT. Stained; 88 degrees; 1.18 feet below pool. White bass bite is excellent in 10-20 feet of water with white and chartreuse Ducktracker slabs. Report by Michael Richardson, Lake Livingston Adventures.
Martin Creek
GOOD. Water normal stain; 101 degrees; 0.13 feet below pool. Martin Creek is at full pool, 101 degrees south of trestle and the clarity is clear. Bass are good along the hydrilla with swimbaits, watermelon red weightless senkos and Ribbit frogs. Crappie are excellent on deep brush and standing timber in 25 feet of water. The fish are suspended at 18-20 feet using minnows for best bite. When you find the crappie you also have found big catfish using live bait on rod and reel with bait near bottom. Report by Hambone Guide Service.
Nacogdoches
EXCELLENT. Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.24 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are excellent off the bottom in 18-25 feet of water on deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigs and dropshots. Crappie are excellent on brush piles with crappie jigs. Catfish are slow on cut bait and live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
Naconiche
FAIR. Water stained; 88 degrees; 0.50 feet above full pool. We have dried out and the heat is on setting the fish to be in full summer mode going forward. Keep an eye on the thermocline because this tells you the exact depth to present your offering. Even over deep water, do bot go below this line. Found quality bass holding tight to submerged timber with a Texas rigged Mag-worm. The days of Mag-worm fishing are probably here for the next several months. This is a popular tactic, but another approach is a Tokyo-rig. If you catch them schooling, chunk an underspin or a spook style topwater at them. Crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Largemouth bass are excellent on large glide baits and swimbaits. Crappie are good for size but quantity is low, on brush piles with chartreuse crappie jigs. Catfish are slow on cut bait and live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
Pinkston
GOOD. normal stain; 86 degrees. Largemouth bass are excellent medium diving crankbaits and swimbaits. Crappie are fair for numbers of catches with live minnows on standing timber. Catfish are slow on cut bait and live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
Raven
SLOW. Water slightly stained; 88 degrees. Huntsville State Park was hit directly by Hurricane Beryl, and is closed due to storm damage. We apologize to our anglers who were hoping to get on the water this week. Call for up to date information.
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 4.27 feet above pool. The bite for all species seems to improve when the water is being generated. This stirs the water, breaking up the thermocline. Bass are slow in shallow water with many smaller fish being caught on frogs, and spinnerbaits. Deeper bass bite is fair with Carolina rigs. Crappie are slow in the morning, but improve midday. Catfish are all over the lake in 20 feet of water and in 12 feet of water in the creek channels. White bass are on points in the south end of the lake near the dam. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. As the lake continues to drop fish are going to be moving to traditional summer locations pending the thermocline depth. Bass are good early morning on shallow main lake points with medium or deep diving crankbaits, and topwaters. Main lake ledges with Carolina rig shaky head and spoons. Brush piles shallower than the thermocline with Texas rigs, jigs or Carolina rigs. The thermocline is actively fluctuating and will continue to do so while lake level changes. Navigate with caution watching for floating debris, trees, and stumps. Report by Hank Harrison, Double H Precision Fishing.
Toledo Bend
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 91 degrees; 1.42 feet below pool. The lake is slowly releasing water and conditions are normalizing. Hot weather has slowed the bass bite during the day. There is little to no topwater action in the morning while fish stay close to bottom in 8-14 feet and 16-22 feet of water. Target bass slowly working a Texas or Carolina rig. On a day with light wind, shallow and deep diving crankbaits are working. Now the best bite has been at night, and with the full moon coming it will only improve. The best bite is on big spinnerbaits on main lake points in 10-16 feet of water, but while a Texas rigged worm or 9-10 inch lizard are not catching numbers these baits are landing fish up to 9 pounds. Crappie are still hit-or-miss over the lake, but it seems like the mid lake area from around the bridge north a few miles has been the best. Minnows are best but jigs will land a few bites focusing on brush piles and standing timber. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.
Tyler
GOOD. Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.19 feet above pool. Rain and cooler weather in the forecast for the weekend. Crappie are good using minnows and jigs on brush in 16 feet of water. Catfish are good in 12-16 feet of water nightcrawlers, shrimp, and liver. Bream are good on red worms off the barge and throughout the lake. Bass are good on crankbaits, plastic worms and topwater frogs. Carp are biting minnows, worms, and dough bait. Report by The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
Welsh
FAIR. Water stained. 106 degrees. There has been a fish kill in certain areas of the lake. It is believed to be related to low oxygen levels in the water. If anyone sees dead or dying fish call the Texas Parks and Wildlife 24-hour hotline, 512-389-4848.
Wright Patman
GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 3.65 feet above pool. The lake level is high and water is being released. Be sure to check ramp status before heading out.
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