Freshwater Weekly Fishing Report Week Of Dec. 15, 2021 | Sports | Waxahachiesun.com – Waxahachie Sun

Alan Henry

GOOD. Water clear; 55-60 degrees; 3.37 feet low. Fishing at Alan Henry is excellent. On the days leading up to a cold front, the fish feed heavily. Black bass are good, with great catches on top waters, swim jigs, spoons, and the Kraken large square bill that dives to 10 feet. Crappie are biting on jigs tipped with small minnows. Report by Phillip Pool, Gone Fish’n Guide Service.

Amistad

GOOD. Water clear; 61 degrees; 47.52 feet low. Fishing is good as we head into the weekend and another cold front. White bass and stripers are good below 30 feet of water following shad balls using belly weighted flukes or Alabama rigs on deep edges of grass. Catfish are great on stink bait and cut bait. Remember to stay on the Texas side of the lake unless you possess a Mexican Fishing License. Report by Captain Olin Jensen, Jensen’s Guide Service.

Arlington

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 4.18 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on blue or black spinners, football jigs, drop shots, and diving crankbaits fishing near creek ledges, rocks, and brush. Crappie are good near boat docks and brush on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and chicken liver.

Arrowhead

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 52-55 degrees; 2.13 feet low. Water temperatures have risen slightly, but still dip back down in the evenings. The fishing pattern remains similar to what we have been seeing. Catfish are good on the shallow flats and in deeper water on fresh cut shad. The crappie bite is slowing but continue to be around the derricks and on brush piles. Report by Brandon Brown, Brown’s Guide Service.

Athens

GOOD. Water clear; 58-60 degrees; 0.25 feet above. Fish are clinging to similar patterns, as we head into the weekend. The bass continues to slow, biting on -rigs, jigs, and deep crankbaits off of points and brush piles. Crappie are fair in brush piles in 20-25 feet of water using small jigs. Report by Jim Brack, Athens Guide Service.

Austin

GOOD. Water clear; 56 degrees; 0.73 feet low. Fishing is holding true, until the cold fronts roll in more consistently. The wind will influence the bite by pushing the bait fish, so look to windblown points to find fish chasing their food source. Largemouth bass are good, on deep rocky banks with crawfish imitation plastics and early on top waters and shad imitation swimbaits. Crappie are fair around brush piles on jigs and minnows. White bass are good trolling crankbaits and minnows in the green lights at night. Blue catfish are good on cut live shad. Report by Lee Benton, Fishing Guide Austin.

B.A. Steinhagen

GOOD. Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.18 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.

Bastrop

GOOD. Water clear; 74 degrees. Fishing patterns remain consistent with weeks past. Largemouth bass are good fishing football jigs, crankbaits, and purple or black Carolina rigged plastic worms near rocks, brush, and shaded timber. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and punch bait.

Belton

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 2.10 feet low. This week started and ended with cold fronts which brought high winds and the first frost of the season. White bass are good using the use of the Bladed Hazy Eye Slab transitioning from the MAL Heavy lures as the water temperature declines. Some catches of freshwater drum, striped bass and largemouth mixed in. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.

Benbrook

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 5.49 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair fishing jerk baits, shaky head jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, and blue or purple Carolina rigged worms near docks, brush, rocks, and main lake points. Crappie are good on minnows near brush piles. Hybrid striped bass are fair with live bait and swimbaits. White bass are good with slabs and live bait on main lake drop-offs, ridges, and humps. Catfish are good with chicken liver, shrimp, and cut bait.

Bob Sandlin

GOOD. Water clear; 50 degrees; 1.67 feet low. Fishing is similar as we head into another holiday weekend. Crappie are transitioning, scattered from 30-40 feet of water. Catfish are good on shad or cut bait 20-25 feet of water. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing.

Braunig

GOOD. Water stained, 68 degrees. Channel catfish and blue catfish are good around the jetty and rip rap, on Big Marv’s Cheesebait and worms. Redfish are fair on live tilapia and cut shad around the dam area and discharges. Bank fisherman catching some catfish on cheesebait and worms off the shoreline points with deep water access. Redfish can also be caught using live tilapia in the same shoreline areas.

Bridgeport

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 58 degrees; 3.20 feet low. Hybrids and sand bass good on slabs and “Deadstick” rigs in deeper water around humps. These fish continue to move fast! Keep an eye out for birds working bait. Blue and Channel Catfish good on cut shad around wind blown points. Crappie are fair around brush piles in deeper water. Jigs and minnows have been working. Largemouth and smallmouth good on crankbaits and finesse baits against the rocks, especially on sunny days. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.

Brownwood

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.32 feet low. Largemouth bass are good with perch like crankbaits, brown or green Texas-rigged plastic worms, chartreuse bladed spinners, and shaky head jigs near timber, rocky shorelines, and docks. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in brush piles and near bridge pilings. White bass and hybrids are good on slabs, swimbaits, and live bait along the main lake channels, humps, and ridges. Look for birds diving over feeding schools of white bass. Catfish are good on shrimp, chicken liver, and live bait.

Buchanan

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 4.81 feet low. Fishing is holding true, until the cold fronts roll in more consistently. The wind will influence the bite by pushing the baitfish, so look to windblown points to find fish chasing their food source. Largemouth bass are very good, throwing spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, topwaters, and soft plastics on rocky banks. Crappie are good brush piles using live minnows. Striper, hybrid, and white bass are schooling early morning on topwaters and later in the day drifting live shad. Channel, blue and yellow catfish are fair to good using chicken liver and cut live shad. Report by Lee Benton, Fishing Guide Austin.

Caddo

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.85 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.

Calaveras

FAIR. Water Slightly Stained, 68 degrees. Red drum are slow but can be caught around the wall and north shoreline points using shrimp and throwing spoons. Channel and blue catfish have been good on Big Marv’s Cheesebait and cut shad off points with deep water access. Shoreline fisherman catching mixed bags of blues and redfish towards the dam area using live tilapia and cut bait.

Canyon Lake

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.18 feet low. The water is beginning to cool down, and we should see fall fishing patterns coming soon. Striper fishing is good along the river channel edge with live bait. White bass are good with live bait, chartreuse jigging spoons, and silver slabs. Look for birds diving over feeding schools. Largemouth bass are fair with football jigs, red or green Texas-rigged plastic worms, and white-bladed spinners near rocks, timbers, and roadbeds. Smallmouth bass are good on plastic grubs and small silver spoons along bluffs, rock ledges, and rocky shorelines. Catfish are good with punch bait and live bait. Crappie are good with live minnows and jigs near the marinas, timber, and brush piles.

Cedar Creek

EXCELLENT. Water lightly stained; 63 degrees; 1.65 feet low. Largemouth bass are excellent using black and blue three-eighth ounce jigs in shallow brush piles around docks near creek channel swings. Crappie are fair to good on main lake brush piles in 15-25 feet of water. Sand and hybrid bass are good on main lake humps using silver slabs. Catfish continue to be good in baited holes. Report by Kyle Miers, Lake Country Outfitters.

Choke Canyon

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 65 degrees; 18.14 feet low. Fish are holding to the same pattern, but that could change after the cold front blows through this weekend. White bass are good in 18-25 feet of water. Black bass are moderate biting on red shad flukes. They are sitting on their beds getting ready to spawn. Crappie are good in the hardwoods. Catfish are good on cheese bait in structured points. Report by Alex Cruz, Affordable Guide Service.

Cisco

GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.98 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbait and soft plastic rigs in the early mornings and later in the evenings fishing the northern portion of the lake. Sunfish are good on cutworms under structures or vegetation. Crappie remain fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish have been fair on stinkbait, chicken livers, and cut shad.

Coleman

FAIR. Slightly stained; 53 degrees; 1.18 feet low. Hybrid stripers are fair on rattletraps chasing schools deeper, preferring silver coloring. Largemouth bass are fair with topwater, worms, and jerkbaits just off the timber in deeper water and brush. Crappie remain good on jigs off of points. Catfish are fair with stink bait and cut bait.

Conroe

GOOD. Slightly stained; 64 degrees; 1.17 feet low. Catfish are good on baited holes in 15-20 feet of water using liver, shrimp. Many folks are drifting for big catfish using large shad or perch in 30-40 feet of water. Hybrids are forming larger schools as the water temperature declines in 25-35 feet of water. If you troll for them, use a Hellbender with a pet spoon about 18-inches behind. When using electronics, jig for hybrids. or throw deep diving crankbaits. Crappie are improving showing up in thicker clusters around structure in 12-23 feet of water biting on minnows, and hair jigs. Black bass are in 9-18 feet of water around structures as well as pitching docks using creature baits. Merry Christmas and always wear your life jacket! Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy Lake Conroe Fishing Guide.

Cooper

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees. Fall fishing is holding steady. Largemouth bass are good on deep diving crankbaits, black or red plastic worms, chatter baits, and football jigs. The white bass and hybrids are good over humps and flats using silver or white slabs and chartreuse swimbaits. Crappie are fair with minnows working brush piles and timber in 16-25 feet of water. Catfish are good on punch bait and chicken liver.

Corpus Christi Lake

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 66 degrees; 2.62 feet low. Catfish and freshwater drum are good in 2-4 feet of water on wind blown shorelines using worm, shrimp and soap baits. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and senkos near piers and structure. Crappie and white bass are good on minnows around the dam. Report by Damian Hubbs, Mathis Bait Co.

Falcon

GOOD. Water stained; 68 degrees; 42.13 feet low. Fish are in 10-15 feet of water near rock structures. Crappie are good in brush piles in 12-20 feet of water using small jigs. Bass are in the brush piles. Catfish are good, relating to the edge of the main river channel along the mouths of creeks where there are flats, live bait is key. Bow fishing for alligator gar is fair in the backs of creeks. Report by Ram Reyes, Texas Kings Outdoors.

Fayette

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 75 degrees. Water temperatures are cooling off from the higher summer temperatures. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky head jigs, square billed crankbaits, and purple or black drop shots. Sunfish are good on shrimp, dough balls, and cut earthworms. Catfish are good on earthworms, punch bait, and cut bait.

Fork

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 62-64 degrees; 3.17 feet low. Largemouth bass are good with spinner baits and chatter baits working on windy banks in 3-4 feet of water. Viper XP jigs are good on wood near creeks and ditches in 4-6 feet of water. Suspending jerkbaits are good near points and creeks with timber in 4-7 feet of water. Report by Lake Fork fishing guides Jason Hoffman and Marc Mitchell. The crappie bite is good between the 154 and 515 bridge on creek channels. They are feeding up on bait, so they are shad and happy, if you will. Fish deep in 45-55 feet of water with fish suspended around 20-30 feet on top of timber. Success with small one-sixteenth ounce hand ties with a weight above it, but if they are biting add a minnow. 154- 515 bridge on creek channel in timber two months. Jacky Wiggins, Jack Wiggins Guide Service.

Ft. Phantom Hill

GOOD. Water stained; 52 degrees; 0.96 feet low. White bass are in 4-7 feet of water biting on hardstyle crankbaits. Docks are also productive this time of year.

Gibbons Creek

GOOD. Water stained; 62 degrees; 1.82 feet low. Fall fishing is good. White bass bite is good schooling. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in structure. Channel blue catfish are good on live bait and stinkbait. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Graham

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 2.32 feet low. The winds have kept anglers off the lake this week, so there are no new reports. Crappie bite has slowed with a few catches deep. They will start to school up as the water temperature declines.

Granbury

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.47 feet low. Winter is the time for reeling in those bigger catfish. They are biting in 4-14 feet of water on cut shad. Channel catfish are in deeper water using cut bait. Striper fishing is slow. Report by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC.

Granger

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 0.50 feet high. Fish should be moving to shallower water as the temperatures decline. Black bass are good on medium diving crankbaits, raspberry, and watermelon Carolina rigged plastic worms and pearl or chartreuse swimbaits near points, rocky areas, flats, and channel edges. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in brush piles. White bass are good on jigging spoons and slabs near main lake points, humps, ridges, and flats. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. Yellow cats are fair with live perch.

Grapevine

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.13 feet low. High winds and a forecast of rain will make for inclement fishing weather. If you are able to make it, be prepared for the weather. White bass continue to be good on a stinger bait hook. Winter is the time to reel in larger catfish. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.

Greenbelt

SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 40.06 feet low. The winds are blowing and few fishermen are out on the lake. Report that the crappie are biting has come in.

Houston County

GOOD. Water stained; 64 degrees; 0.12 feet below. 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.

Hubbard Creek

EXCELLENT. Water Stained; 55 degrees; 2.26 feet low. White bass continue to be excellent in 25-30 feet of water on main lake structure. Bass are biting on MAL lure, slabs, or small MR Crappie slabalicious swimbaits worked slowly off the bottom is key the day before cold fronts hit, or a few days after a cold front sets in. Largemouth bass are also being caught in the 25-30 foot deep range. Report submitted by Clay Lohse, Respect the Fish Guide Service.

Jacksonville

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.15 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair with deep diving crankbaits, shaky head jigs, Texas-rigged plastic worms near points, timber, and brush piles. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs working for timber and brush piles. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.

Joe Pool

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 59 degrees; 1.06 feet low. This time of year the fish are around boat houses in brush piles and rock banks. The shad are moving to shallow to warmer water and the fish are following to feed. Bass are biting on six-inch Motor Oil worms. Crappie are good in the brush piles around boat houses biting on little minnows.

Lake O’ the Pines

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.47 feet low. Rain is in the forecast this weekend. Crappie are good in the main lake, just off the river channel winding to Watt’s Island, in 30 feet of water using jigs and minnows. The crappie will begin to stack up at the 155 bridge, the fish will be small until the water temperature cools off. Catfish are good in 15-20 feet of water in baited holes using cheese bait. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing.

Lavon

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 3.84 feet low. Fishing continues to be similar as we head into the Holiday season. Crappie are on good, biting jigs and minnows in submerged timber in 25-30 feet of water. White bass are good on windblown banks in 2-10 feet of water using swimbaits and spinners. Blue catfish are great in 17-25 feet of water using cut bait. Black bass are good in brush piles in 20 feet of water, and along rocky ledges using Alabama rigs, creature baits, jerkbaits. Crankbait divers in 12-25 feet of water have also been successful. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.

LBJ

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 0.67 feet low. Fishing is holding true, until the cold fronts roll in more consistently. The wind is influencing the bite by pushing the bait fish, so look to windblown points to find fish chasing their food source. Black bass are good, with an early morning topwater bite using frog imitation baits and on soft plastics around shallow rocky docks. Crappie are good on brush piles using live minnows. White bass are good in the green lights at night, periodically schooling around shallow sandbars on the main lake areas during the day. Catfish are fair fresh cut shad and Danny King’s punch bait. Report by Lee Benton, Fishing Guide Austin.

Lewisville

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 1.59 feet low. Fish are becoming more active, so change locations frequently to chase them around. Check the weather before heading, and be sure to follow safe boating practices. White bass are good as shallow as 6 feet early, moving to 30-feet later. Crappie are good, catching average sizes on main lake brush piles in 18-22 feet on minnows and one-sixteenth ounce shad colored jigs.

Limestone

GOOD. Water clear; 58 degrees; 1.98 feet low. Largemouth bass are good in 9 feet of less using chatterbait, wacky worms, or lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good in 12-23 feet on brush piles and in standing timber using minnows. Whitebass are good on silver jigging spoons in 8-13 feet of water. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.

Livingston

GOOD. Slightly stained; 61 degrees; 0.06 feet low. 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.

Martin Creek

SLOW. 64 degrees. Water lightly stained; 2.31 feet low. Crappie bite is good on shad shaped plastics, preferred color is Cajun Cricket, on one-eight ounce jig. Fish are in 16-24 feet of water in brush piles. No bass or catfish caught. Reports of sand bass moving around humps at the dam. Word of caution, the lake level is down exposing numerous stumps.

Medina

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 46.15 feet low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, moving deeper with crankbaits, spinners, worms, and jigs. White bass are fair on spoons below black bass on deep points. Striped bass are fair cruising deep mid-lake. Catfish are fair on live bait, chicken livers, and blood baits.

Meredith

GOOD. Water stained; 52 degrees; 51.62 feet low. Christmas came early to Lake Meredith as the lake was restocked with trout. The trout bite is good on power baits, spinners, flys, jigs, worms and minnows. Sand bass and catfish are in 35-40 feet of water in North Canyon. Walleye are good in 25-35 feet of water using grubs and minnows. Report by Kenneth Wysong, SharKens Honey hole.

Millers Creek

GOOD. Water stained; 48 degrees; 1.56 feet low. Largemouth bass are good on points and fishing pondweed with worms, topwater frogs, and weedless jigs. Crappie are good in the timber with minnows. White bass are fair and schooling deep off points. Catfish are fair mid-depth in coves with live and prepared bait.

Naconiche

GOOD. Water stained; 58 degrees. The bite has gotten better over the last few days. The bass are beginning to school up in their normal haunts. Shad lures are still the best baits to throw. Try a small underspin with a fluke style soft plastic. The bass relating to the bottom of the lake in 15-20 feet of water are good on deep diving crankbaits. The crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services.

Nasworthy

GOOD. Water murky; 54 degrees. 0.60 feet low. Black bass are great as heat drives bass to shelter and deeper water. Worms, spinners, and crankbaits are good suspending above the brush and fallen timber. Crappie are good with jigs but slowing. White bass are fair mid-depth. Catfish are fair on live and prepped baits throughout the lake.

Navarro Mills

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 1.15 feet low. Crappie are slow on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good off points on the south side of the lake in Liberty Hill. Bass are good off of Crappie Point. Charlie Boze, Navarro Mills Marina.

O.C. Fisher

FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees. 41.78 feet low. Largemouth bass and white bass are great using half-inch pumpkinseed jigs and 10-inch power worms. Crappie are good on minnows near similar drops and more prominent humps. White bass are fair schooling some early but mainly deep late in the day. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, live, and cut bait.

O.H. Ivie

GOOD. Water clear; 58 degrees; 15.72 feet low. The bass fishing has been good on swimbaits, jerkbaits and Texas rigs with a creature off the points. Crappie are good using Crappie jigs in 15-20 feet of water. Report by Brandon Burks, Burks Fishing Livescope Trips.

Oak Creek

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 5.51 feet low. Few reports coming in this week as the colder weather and winds have kept people off the lake. Crappie continue to bite off the docks using little minnows.

Palestine

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 67 degrees; 0.64 feet low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows relating to timber and brush in 12-30 feet of water. Bass are good with a topwater bite early, switching to jigs later in the day. Rely on heavy structures such as the boathouse, brush piles, bridges, and laydowns. Catfish are good on cut bait, chicken liver. You will catch bigger catfish on stink bait.

Palo Pinto

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.31 feet low. Fishing continues to be slow due to the cold fronts rolling through. Crappie are slow on jigs and minnows near docks and moving deeper than they have been. Catfish are good on the flats using perch, chicken liver and off docks using minnows.

Possum Kingdom

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 1.03 feet low. Striped bass continue to be good with some early morning topwater action. Catfish are holding steady on cut shad. Report by TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service. Striped bass are good trolling with soft plastic paddle tails seem to be the ticket. Fish are in 17-60 feet of water from Broadway Channel to Bass Island. Report by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC.

Proctor

SLOW. Water clear; 50 degrees; 1.60 feet low. Fishing is slow as we enter into the winter season. Crappie are fair near brush piles in Copperas Creek Park. Catfish are fair drifting in the high point area. White bass and hybrid stripers are slow on slabs. Black bass are slow.

Raven

GOOD. Water stained; 75 degrees. The bass are good, cruising shallow early and later in the day loving to bite on a shad colored rat-l-trap. The crappie are fair, scattered in deep water hitting on minnows. The catfish have been excellent on cut bait, live bluegill and chicken. Reports of a 43 and 49-pounder being caught.

Ray Hubbard

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 58-60 degrees; 1.32 feet low. White bass are fair on three-fourth ounce slabs with jig 12-inches above slab on lower lake deep flats in 35-40 feet of water. Fish are usually suspended at mid mid-water column. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows in trees 20-35 feet of water and are moving to the deep flats. Report by John Varner, John Varner’s Guide Service.

Ray Roberts

FAIR; Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.73 feet low. White bass are moving quickly in 20-28 feet of water on main lake points biting on one-ounce silver and chartreuse slabs, with better luck on smaller slabs because the smaller size is most similar to what they are feeding on. The bass are moving quickly, so the bite is best on the bottom using Alabama jigs in 30-35 feet, letting the bait hit bottom and slowly reeling up. The bite is best while the wind is blowing and dies down when the wind does. Crappie are good on main lake brush piles 20-30 feet on minnows, with bigger fish in the Buck Creek area in the standing timber around 20 feet with bait suspended in the 10-12 feet of water.

Richland Chambers

GOOD. Water clear; 59 degrees; 2.22 feet low. The wind has kept boaters off the lake, but when you get back on fishing should be similar. White Bass are good using a slabs and jig combination on lake points and humps in 25-30 feet of water. Catfish are excellent on Danny King’s Punch Bait in timber on the Richland Arm in 20-30 feet of water. Fish where the Cormorants roost. Largemouth bass are fair on plastics in 10-20 feet of water on Main Lake Points. Crappie bite is slow in 20 feet of water under bridges and brush piles using minnows. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service.

Sam Rayburn

GOOD. Water stained; 59-61 degrees; 3.39 feet low. Bass are good following shad using crankbaits, and shallow on spinner baits. Crappie continue to migrate into the river, with catches in the brushpiles using whitehead jigs or minnows. Catfish continue to move into shallow water and into the creeks. Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Somerville

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 0.23 feet low. White and hybrid bass are good with white/chartreuse jigging spoons, slabs, and live bait on main lake flats, humps, and points. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in brush piles and timber. Catfish are good with punch bait, chicken liver, and cut bait. Largemouth bass are good with wacky rigs, shaky head jigs, diving crankbaits near the timber, brush piles, and roadbeds.

Spence

FAIR. Water stained; 59 degrees. 37.97 feet low. Fish should be moving to shallower water but still seeking structure. Crappie are good on minnows in structure. Bass are schooling up. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait coming out from flats to deeper water. Blue cats are biting on chicken liver.

Stamford

FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; 1.21 feet low. The crappie bite is good using crappie minnows. Fish continue to be in 7-15 feet of water. A local fisherman reeled in a 29-pound yellow catfish, so the catfish bite is picking up.

Stillhouse

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 1.68 feet low. This week started and ended with cold fronts which brought high winds and the first frost of the season. White bass are good using the use of the Bladed Hazy Eye Slab transitioning from the MAL Heavy lures as the water temperature declines. Some catches of freshwater drum, striped bass and largemouth mixed in. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.

Sulphur Springs

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 5.20 feet low. The report is the same as weeks past. White bass are good early back to the pockets using chatter bait in water depths 1-3 feet. Try topwaters at first light on the main lake points 1-3 feet deep using a KVD Sexy Dawg. Later, try shaky heads worms with GrandeBass Rattlesnakes or Lake Fork Tackle Baby Ring Fry in 5-8 feet of water. Largemouth bass are good on football jigs, crankbaits, and drop shots working near points, drop-offs, and fallen timber. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in near brush piles and standing timber. Catfish are fair on chicken liver, cut bait, and earthworms.

Tawakoni

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 1.84 feet low. The bite should only get better as the cold fronts cool the water temperature even more. Channel and blue catfish continue to bite on the South end of lake in 23-35 feet of water using worms and punch bait. Bigger catfish are best if you anchor and fancast with cut bait. White bass are good on the flats in the mornings. Striped bass have moved to hump edges and flats. Crappie should improve as the water temperature declines using minnows and jigs. Report by Keith Parks, Messin’ with the Fish. Eater size channel and blue catfish are good in 40 feet of water mid-lake and in the trees using punch bait. Trophy catfish are good in 30-32 feet of water drifting over points and edges using gizzard shad. Report by James Evans, Whisk’R Fish’N

Texana

FAIR. Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.40 feet low. Fishing has not changed too much as we are still waiting for water temperatures to drop. Largemouth bass are fair. Crankbaits, jigs, and spinners have been most successful. Crappie are fair with some slowing with jigs under vegetation. Catfish are good on stink bait, cut bait, and live bait.

Texoma

EXCELLENT. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 1.35 feet low. Striped bass are good in the main luck on Alabama rigs, with larger fish biting on swimbaits around structure. The dead stick bite is also producing. Winter is the best time to catch trophy catfish. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.

Toledo Bend

FAIR. Water clear; 66-71 degrees; 4.18 feet low. The water level is 167.8 with no generators running and we had some rainfall this week. The water is clear in the main lake and is stained in the feeder creeks. Water temperature in the main lake is running 60-61 degrees and further back up in the creeks is 51-52. Largemouth bass have been scattered due to the influx of cold water and cooler nights. The crappie bite has slowed this week but should be back as the weather stables. No kayak report this week due to high winds and cold water. No catfish bites were reported this week. We had our first cold front of the season and it has taken the fishing for a loop. Good luck and tight lines! Report from Captain Steve (Scooby) Stubbe, Mudfish Adventures LLC, Mudfish Rod Shop, Kayak/Guide Service.

Travis

SLOW. Slightly stained; 65 degrees; 18.64 feet low. We are experiencing the typical winter bite, despite the unseasonably warm water. Bass are scattered because the water is the same temperature from top to bottom. They are biting on dropshots and imitation crawfish jigs in 30-40 feet of water on main lake bluff walls and river channels. Report by Captain Randal Frisbie, Central Texas Fishing Guide.

Twin Buttes

GOOD. Water stained. 57 degrees. 12.30 feet low. Check the forecast before heading out as the wind may encourage you to fish from docks and the banks. Catfish are slow on prepared baits and fresh cut. Crappie are slow and they are suspended in open water around 30 feet or deeper using live bait and jigs. White bass are scattered catching smaller fish using live bait and jigs. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.

Tyler

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 0.59 feet low. All the fish have a solid bite on live baits, such as minnows and bream. The crappie are good anywhere from 10-26 feet of water using minnows with a few bites on chartreuse tail jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good all over the lake biting on minnows and anything garlic. Report of an angler catching a then releasing a 42-pounder using a crappie line. Bass are good in the shoreline biting on trick worms and spinner baits. Report by Paul Taylor, The Boulders at Lake Tyler.

Waco

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 59 degrees; 2.79 feet low. Catfish is good, drifting main lake flats and channel ledges on fresh cut baits such as shad and perch. White bass and hybrid bass in the main lake. Report by Jason “SPUD” Barton, Cattin’ Around Adventure’s Professional Guide Service.

Walter E. Long

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 71 degrees. The fish are feeding up as the water temperatures continue to drop. The bass are schooling deep into the coves, staying within 10-12 feet of water or deep inside the reeds. Catfish are good on chicken liver, live and punch bait. Sunfish are good on crickets, cutworms, and shrimp pieces.

Weatherford

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 2.76 feet low. The lake is low but the boat ramp is still accessible. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits or jigs in black or blue colors shallow around docks. Crappie are fair to good at the Crappie House in 12 feet of water using baits that mimic shad such as a black or chartreuse jigs, electric chicken or blue thunder. Catfish are fair to good.

White River

SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 21.47 feet low. The crappie bite has slowed, with a few catches around the pier in 4-6 feet of water using chartreuse colored jigs tipped with crappie bait.

Whitney

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 2.17 feet low. Look to the skies and follow the birds to locate schools of fish. Striped bass are good on live and artificial bait. Bigger bass biting in 10-45 feet of water. Report by Blake Stritz, Blake on the Lake Guide Service. Striped bass are good trolling over flats and ridge lines mid-lake to north lake, near the river the channel, using soft plastic paddle tails in 17-40 feet of water. Report by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC.

Worth

GOOD. Water normally stained; 59 degrees; 1.31 feet low. Crappie are fair to good around boat docks on jigs and minnows and in standing timber and brush piles. Bass are fair on main lake points and ledges 10-20 feet and in standing timber on warmer days. Catfish are fair to good on cut shad and cut bait in all depths. Fish are scattered with current water temps and can be caught deep, shallow, and in between depths. If you cover a lot of water and pay close attention to your electronics and are patient, catfish can be caught in good numbers and larger blue catfish have been caught as well. Most anglers targeting all species are reporting the best catches on the coldest days. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Wright Patman

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 3.40 feet high. Largemouth bass are good on drop shots, shad like crankbaits, and football jigs on humps, flats, and points. White bass are fair on live bait and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs near timber and brush piles. Catfish are good on chicken liver, punch or live bait.

Zebra Mussel Alert To prevent the spread of zebra mussels, the law requires draining of water from boats and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh waters. Get details.