B.A. Steinhagen
FAIR. Water stain; 85 degrees; 0.36 feet below pool. Mayflies are hatching, so expect some topwater bass action. Bass are fair on soft plastics in the cuts, or with frogs over grass. Crappie are fair with jigs in flooded timber. Catfish are fair on juglines.
Caddo
GOOD. Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.02 feet below pool. Bass fishing is tough after the weather has warmed. We need some cool nights to get these fish fired up again. There is still some schooling action on the lake hitting flukes, pop r’s, buzz baits and frogs. To find the bait ook for the lily pads and grass lines and listen for the pads popping. Fish in the cuts in the river with rattle traps or shad color crankbaits. Once you find fish you can switch to a dropshot, shaky head or Texas rig and catch more after they quit hitting a moving bait. It is about to be a fun time on the lake and with majestic views as the lake turns red and the fall winter colors come around on this majestic lake that God spoke into existence. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.
Conroe
GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.79 feet below pool. Catfish have been excellent this past week on catfish bubblegum, liver, worms, and punch bait in 8-30 feet of water. Bream have been plentiful as well in 4-20 feet of water using Worms and liver. Bass are good up shallow early and late with wacky rigged worms. Offshore structures and docks are good once the sun has risen, with some midday schooling on shad. Report by Brad Doyle with Bradley’s Guide Service. Crappie are not as productive, but some can be caught on structure 12-25 feet. Hair jigs have been working better than plastic. Catch a few then move to the next spot, they have been turning off as quickly as they turn on. Hybrids have been schooled up this week in 12-24 feet with some whites mixed in, hanging on flats and drop-offs. Many folks are trolling with a deep diver and a pet spoon trailer, others are using slabs from Bradley Outdoors to jig for them, as well as casting swimbaits or crankbaits. Always wear your life jacket and stay hydrated in this heat. Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy.
Livingston
GOOD. slightly stained; 89 degrees; 0.73 feet below pool. White bass are great on roadbeds in 6-16 feet of water hitting Duck Tracker slabs. Report by Michael Richardson, Lake Livingston Adventures.
Nacogdoches
GOOD. Water normal stain; 82 degrees; 1.34 feet below pool. The clarity has improved to 4 feet of visibility. Largemouth bass are excellent with 3-5 pound fish being caught on small swimbaits and topwaters. There is a lots of schooling action. Crappie are excellent on 1/16 ounce white crappie jigs. Catfish are fair on live minnows and cut bait. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal’s ETX Guide Service.
Naconiche
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 78 degrees; 0.00 feet full pool. Bass continue to be in a weird mood. They cannot decide if they need to stay or go from their typical summer haunts. Expect the next two cold fronts to get temps to drop back down to the mid 70s before heading further down to set off the fall turnover. Keep an eye on the thermocline. This tells you the exact depth to present your offering. Even over deep water, do not go below this line. The square-bill crankbait 5 feet depth got the most bites over the weekend. If you find them hugging the bottom in 8-10 feet, dragging a Texas-rig Mag-worm can be effective. Crappie population is good. Catfish are slow.
Sam Rayburn
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.82 feet below pool. Bass are schooling more in the morning so expect more topwater action on grass edges and points. Crappie are fair on standing timber in 27 feet on brush piles with minnows over jigs. Blue and channel catfish are fair in 24-27 feet of water and in the river bends on cut bait and minnows. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. Lake level is holding steady, but expect the lake to drop to 5-7 feet low to continue to work on the dam in the future.
Fish are in all stages of the transition. Target bass with jig head minnows and forward facing sonar. Bass are suspended at the mouth of creeks and on offshores flats chasing bait. When bass are schooling on the bottom cast a Carolina rig, dropshot, and shaky head. There is an abundance of shallow fish and this pattern should continue through the fall. Target the hay grass and flooded bushes early in the morning to catch bass chasing bait using a chatterbait, swimbait or frog.
Toledo Bend
FAIR. Water normal stain; 85 degrees; 4.13 feet below pool. It’s really back to summer again here the water temperature is back to the mid to high 80s. Bass bite is back to being just fair with shallow fish on topwater and chatterbaits. Creek fish are in 5-8 feet little better. Fish out deep, but most are small to keepers with dropshots and spoons. Crappie slow.
Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.
Tyler
GOOD. Water normal stain; 84 degrees; 0.84 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Crappie are good with minnows on brush in 16-20 feet of water, and off the barge. Catfish are good in 10-16 feet of water stink bait, liver and nightcrawlers. Bream are good on red worms off the barge and throughout the lake. Bass are fair on topwater baits, crankbaits and spinner baits in 4-12 feet of water. Report by The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
Welsh
FAIR. Water stained. 95 degrees. Few reports from anglers.
Wright Patman
GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.29 feet above pool. Catfish are good with stink bait. Crappie are good with minnows and jigs.
