B.A. Steinhagen

Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.45 feet low. The sunny weather has cooperated for fishing and the fish are biting in the same patterns. Black bass are fair on crankbaits. Crappie are fair with minnows on the structure edges and above brush piles. Catfish are good on cut and prepped bait. 

Caddo

Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.06 feet high. Largemouth bass are good working crankbaits, flipping jigs, buzz baits, wacky rigs, drop shots near creek channels, crossings, points, and trees. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs near brush piles and timber. White bass are good on slabs, live bait, and jigging spoons on the channel edges, flats, and main lake humps. Chain pickerel are slow. Catfish are good on live bait, nightcrawlers, and punch bait.

Conroe

Slightly stained; 64 degrees; 0.98 feet low. Water is slightly stained form the recent rains but has been clearing back up. Catfish are good on baited holes in 16-30 feet of water using liver, shrimp, and catfish bubble gum. Many folks are drifting for big catfish using cut bait or perch. Hybrids are good, forming tighter schools in 20-30 feet and 35-40 feet of water. If you troll for them, use a Hellbender with a pet spoon. When using electronics, jig with a M.T. Pocket slab, or drop a chartreuse tail with white blade MAL Lure to bottom straight down with a slow retrieve to 15-feet. Catches of large white bass using the same technique in shallower water. To distinguish between the two species check the Texas Parks and Wildlife website to see the tooth patch. Crappie are improving, but you may need to hit several spots before you find some willing to bite. Success in 10-14 feet and 22-30 feet of water using plastic jigs, but preferring hair jigs. Black bass are being caught around docks and other rift-raft, flipping earth creatures and running a shaky head as well in 20-25 feet of water. Happy New Year and always wear your life jacket! Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy Lake Conroe Fishing Guide. 

Houston County

Related Articles

Onalaska, Coldspring fight for playoffs

Eagle, Lady Eagle track athletes headed to Regionals

 Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.17 feet above. Dredging has the water murky. Crappie are good, suspended around brush and standing timber in water depths 12-18 feet using minnows. White bass are schooling from the surface to 20 feet of water and biting on silver slab spoons. 

Livingston

Slightly stained; 59 degrees; 0.12 feet above. Fishing continues to be good. White bass are good on reaper duck tracker slabs in 9-15 feet of water. Crappie are good on jigs in the creek. Black bass are fair on crankbaits along the rip rap. Small blue catfish are good cut shad on the river banks. 

Sam Rayburn

Water stained; 59-61 degrees; 3.48 feet low. Fish are confused by the warm water this late into the season. They are still chasing bait in 15-22 feet of water and 34-44 feet of water. 2022 should be a fun year of fishing. Bass are good biting on shad and crankbaits, and spinner baits in shallower water. Crappie are in the main lake brush piles biting on minnows. Catfish are good on minnows in shallow water and creeks . Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. 

Toledo Bend

Water clear; 58-65 degrees; 3.85 feet low. GOOD. The water level is 168.1 with no generators running. The water is clear in the main lake and in the feeder creeks. Water temperature in the main lake is running 58-65 degrees and further back up in the creeks is 58. Largemouth bass have been scattered. Don’t forget to cast your big lizards on a Texas rig, Carolina rig, spinner bait and flukes in shallow water for bass. Deep water fishermen are still finding winter bass chasing shad. Find the bait balls of shad on your electronics and you will find big schools of bass. You can also slow roll an A-rig, deep diving crankbait, big jigs (black/blue, black/red or watermelon red) or vertical jig a slab spoon. The crappie guys reported they were catching good numbers of fish on the breaks in the river channel north of the bridge. With freezing weather coming, the chicken coop area should start getting right for the January bite. The white bass should be moving north to the head waters very soon for their spawn. Kayakers reported bass on flukes in 2-4 feet of water. Also a three-eighth ounce double blade white spinner bait paralleling just off the bank at a 30-degree angle with a slow 5-1 or 6-1 gear ratio reel. No catfish bites were reported this week. Now is the time to go out and scout to find your underwater structures before the water starts coming back up for Spring fishing. Take your camera and map. January and February are good months on TBend for a fish of a lifetime. Good luck and tight lines! Report from Captain Steve (Scooby) Stubbe, Mudfish Adventures LLC, Mudfish Rod Shop, Kayak/Guide Service.