Weekly fishing report || March 17, 2022

March 17, 2022
fishing report

File / eExtra News

 

The following fishing report was released for the week by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Alan Henry
GOOD. Water clear; 50 degrees; 4.85 feet low. Look for warmer water for best success. Bass are good on crankbaits. Crappie are good on crappie jigs tipped with minnows.
Amistad
GOOD. Water clear; 58 degrees; 48.58 feet low. Largemouth bass are good around the edges of hydrilla using Texas rig plastics in craw pattern. White bass and striped bass are good below 30 feet of water following shad balls. Catfish are great on stink bait and cut bait. Come out for the Border Big Bass Battle on the 19th. 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. Channel catfish with and few blue catfish mixed in are fair to good in 65-100 feet of water using punch bait. No reports of yellow catfish, the bite usually turns on in April. As water temperatures reach the mid 60s the catfish should move shallow. Report by Captain Kent Terrill, 3T’s Guide Service.
Arlington
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 44 degrees; 3.63 feet low. Fish should push shallow during the full moon, so the best should come early and later into the evening. Bass are good fishing underspins, swimbaits, swim jigs, and chatterbaits around boat docks. Switch to medium diving crankbaits after the sun rises in the sky. Report by local angler Wesley Molina.
Arrowhead
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 2.70 feet low. Catfish are good shallow up to 10 feet using punch bait or fresh cut shad. Crappie are starting to transition into shallower water. No report on largemouth bass or white bass. Report by Brandon Brown, Brown’s Guide Service.
Athens
SLOW. Water clear; 58-64 degrees; 0.44 feet above. Bass are making runs to the shallows for the spawn. Fish with typical baits to catch aggressive males and a few females. Crappie are pushing towards spawning areas as well. Target the outside of docks with jigs and minnows to catch numbers. Report by Jim Brack, Athens Guide Service.
Austin
SLOW. Water clear; 58 degrees; 0.67 feet low. Bass are fair, best at first light or at night using small swimbaits, and stick bait. Crappie are fair. White bass are slow to fair on live bait or small swimbaits on the main lake. The bass are shallow on Lady Bird Lake in the around bridges, vegetation and on spawning beds using small plastic plastics. Report provided by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing.
B.A. Steinhagen
FAIR. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.25 feet below. Black bass are good shallow on creature baits. Crappie are fair using minnows and small jigs on the structure edges and above brush piles. Catfish are good on cut and prepped bait.
Bastrop
GOOD. Water clear; 57 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on beds in the backs of coves in the reeds. Throw your favorite plastics in watermelon or pumpkin.
Belton
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 3.21 feet low. White bass are moving toward spawning areas and tributaries, but cold temperatures and lack of flow is a major hindrance. Using side-imaging to cover large tracts of bottom to find nomadic schools of fish has been very effective. Spot-Locking crosswind from these fish, then casting MAL Heavy or MAL Dense lures to them and working these lures in a sawtooth pattern has been the successful tactic, and will continue to be for the next 2 weeks or so. Using a light spinning tackle with a light (10-15 pound) braided line helps cut through the wind and helps the lure reach bottom quickly. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Crappie and white bass are excellent in the Leon River and Cowhouse Creek biting ATX Lure Company plastics. Report by Zach Minnix, Jig N’ Jerk Guide Service.
Benbrook
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 6.01 feet low. Water temperatures are warming and the bite should improve. Largemouth bass should be staging for the spawn shallow near rocky shorelines. Crappie are slow using minnows and jigs. White bass are fair around the mouths of creek beds on small slabs. Blue catfish are good on cut baits.
Bob Sandlin
GOOD. Water clear; 43 degrees; 1.10 feet low. Crappie are good on minnows or jigs in 15-20 feet of water. Crappie should move shallow for the spawn mid April. Catfish are good in 15-20 feet of water on cut bait. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing.
Brady
Good. Water dirty; 54 degrees; 7.73 feet low. Good. Water dirty; 56 degrees; 2.2 feet low. Similar fishing patterns persist. Largemouth bass to 7 pounds are excellent on shad or craw color square bill crankbaits, white/chartreuse spinnerbaits or chatterbaits around stick-ups, rocky shorelines in 2- 6 feet of water. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs as far up Brady Creek as you can go on stick-ups or stumps. White bass are slow on slabs and live bait around bait fish schools. Catfish are slow on shrimp, chicken liver on jug lines.
Braunig
GOOD. Water lightly stained, 69-72 degrees. Similar fishing patterns with many catches come in the boat. Largemouth bass are good on reed beds and structure in 5-10 feet of water using jigs, soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Red drum have been picking up for shoreline anglers and boaters casting and trolling crankbaits and swimbaits, using live tilapia and crawfish in 5-15 feet of water. Channel catfish have been good on shrimp, worms, and cheese bait around the jetties and reeds close to the dam area.
Bridgeport
GOOD. Water normal stain; 50-58 degrees; 4.36 feet low. All ramps are open, and the lake is fairly clear. Sand bass are in full pre-spawn mode, feeding heavily on shad. If you see some birds working, take a look! There may also be a few hybrids and blue catfish underneath them. Soft plastics and slabs have been working well. Largemouth bass should be in pre-spawn mode, lurking in deeper water near their usual spawning areas. Try black/blue Craw Jigs and other big slow moving baits for the sometimes sluggish fish. Water temperatures suggest the crappie may be moving shallow to the north end, but staying deeper in the southern end. Minnows and jigs are both working, if the fish can be found. Reports of nice size catfish being caught around feeding schools of sand bass, or drifting in 25 plus feet of water with cut shad. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.
Brownwood
SLOW. Water stained; 47 degrees; 2.18 feet low. Largemouth bass to six pounds are good on shad or craw color square bill crankbaits or chatterbaits around stick-ups, and rocky shorelines in 2-6 feet of water close to the mouth of major coves starting to move shallow getting ready to spawn. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow on slabs and live bait around bait fish schools. Catfish are slow on shrimp, chicken liver on jug lines.
Buchanan
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 4.89 feet low. Largemouth bass are good near rock piles and spawning flats are starting to turn on with some good bites using shaky heads, jigs, worms or crankbaits and spinnerbaits bouncing off or running through rocks. Shallow crankbaits and plastics worked around the flats full of trees are working as well for largemouth. Crappie are showing up around shallow flats with trees and around docks now as well. White bass and stripers are good using your electronics to find them piled up deeper and dropping jigging spoons on them. Report provided by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs Bass Fishing Guide Service.
Caddo
SLOW. Water clear; 55-63 degrees; 1.28 feet high. Hoping this warm weather and the full moon coming will improve the bite. Bass are slow on wacky worms and flukes around trees. Bass should be in full spawn mode any week now. Still enjoying God’s creation on every trip out here and that is why Caddo is so special. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship
Calaveras
FAIR. Water lightly Stained, 67 degrees. Fishing patterns are similar as the water heats up some. Catfish have been fair on cut baits such as tilapia, carp and shad for both shoreline fishermen and boaters alike. Channel catfish have been fair on cheese bait and chicken livers. Redfish are fair using shrimp and silver spoons. Red drum are starting to pick up trolling spoons and crankbaits. Boaters and shoreline fishermen are seeing fair results on live tilapia, shrimp and crawfish.
Canyon Lake
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 1.01 feet low. Bass are good spawning up the river using senkos, and flukes in 3-7 feet of water. The lower end the lake fish are biting good, but not spawning. along bluff walls using Alabama rigs, and dropshots on points and grass lines. Striped bass are good in the morning schooling mid lake biting small swimbaits and topwater. Crappie are decent up river around standing timber using live minnows. Report provided by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
Cedar Creek
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.60 feet low. Fish are comfortable and sticking to similar patterns. Largemouth bass are migrating to the banks to spawn. Fish creek channel docks using weightless Texas rigs, senkos, and red/black chatterbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows around docks, bridge pylons, or brush piles in 10-18 feet of water. White and hybrid bass are excellent following the shad 30-40 feet of water using silver slabs. Catfish are good on main lake humps or baited holes using frozen or live shad. Report by Kyle Miers, Lake Country Outfitters.
Choke Canyon
GOOD. Water stained; 58-62 degrees; 19.33 feet low. Finding clear water will be key as the water is murky due to the swapping north and south winds. Bass are good on RatTLTrap, 10 inch red shad worm off points and grass edges. Bass are spawning up the river biting on weightless senkos, flukes and swimbaits. Sand bass are fair up the river on live bait. Crappie are starting to spawn along the banks, but are hard to catch until they move out to brush piles. Report provided by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours. Choke Canyon is fishing well with the backs of creeks, pockets and points with grass lines all over the lake holding fish. Bass are biting on any soft plastics, especially lizards, flukes and craw worms, also biting on swim jigs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits swimbaits. Report provided by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
Cisco
GOOD. Water clear; 43 degrees; 3.57 feet low. Crappie bite is improving to good on live bait. Bass are good on RatLTraps and divers. Blue catfish are slow. Best bites coming in the evening. Report by Jason Miller, Lake Cisco Rentals.
Coleman
FAIR. Slightly stained; 46 degrees; 1.89 feet low. Few anglers on the lake but fishing should pick up as the spring weather sets in. Largemouth bass are good in deeper water using umbrella rigs.
Conroe
GOOD. Slightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.53 feet low. Catfish are good on baited holes in 12-24 feet of water using liver, shrimp, and catfish bubblegum. Many folks are having success under the 1097 bridge. Hybrid bass are schooling in 21-30 feet of water trolling with a hellbender and a pet spoon, or using your electronics with the deadsticking technique, thumping or splashing. White bass and hybrid bass have started moving up into the shallows. Crappie are shallow standing timber, lay downs, and brush piles in 14-25 feet of water biting white/chartreuse Lonestar Crappie Hair Jigs and minnows. They should begin to spawn when water temperatures reach 59-62 degrees. Black bass are good, you can even sight cast in some areas. Small male black bass are being caught on beds with the occasional bigger female. Look for bigger females in the drains leading up to spawning flats using creature baits, and RatLTraps. Always wear your life jacket. Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy Lake Conroe Fishing Guide.
Cooper
GREAT. Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 4.25 feet low. Fishing similar patterns with same results. Blue catfish are good on fresh cut shad. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits. Report by Johnny Ward, Ward’s Catfish Guide Service.
Corpus Christi Lake
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 3.69 feet low. Catfish are good in 2-4 feet of water on worms, soap baits, shad, and perch. Largemouth are good in 5-10 feet of water near structure on crankbaits and RatLTraps. White bass good 2-4 feet of water near structure. Crappie are good in 2-5 feet of water on minnows and jigs near structure in coves and creeks. Freshwater drum are good in 2-4 feet of water on shrimp and worms. Report provided by Damian Hubbs, Mathis Bait Co.
Falcon
GOOD. Water stained; 55-60 degrees; 41.58 feet low. Fishing is up and down with the cold fronts. Blue catfish are good with some 50-pound catches. Fish near the mouth of creeks in 30 feet of water, and in the creek bends in 15feet of water using fresh cut carp, tilapia and shad. Largemouth bass good shallow using square bills on rip rap, rock, points ledges, bluffs, flipping hardwoods, and flats near the river channel. White bass are good on river on rapids and on north end using small crankbaits, and spec jigs. Crappie are good in 25-30 feet of water in the hardwoods. Report provided by Ram Reyes, Texas Kings Outdoors.
Fayette
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 60 degrees. Black bass are good in 3-8 feet of water on crankbaits. Catfish are fair in 5-10 feet of water near structure using stink bait. Redear sunfish bite is slow, but should pick up in a month. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service. Bass fishing is good using plastics, like lizards, worms and craw worms are working good shallow along with shallow crankbaits and spinnerbaits. When the wind doesn’t blow you off the lake, deep ledges, ridges and roadbeds are good using Carolina rigs, shaky heads and jigs in 10-18 feet of water. A deep crank will pick off some bigger ones throughout the day as well as a big swimbait in the deeper ditches around twilight early morning. Report provided by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
Fork
FAIR. Water Stained; 47-50 degrees; 6.39 feet low. Crappie are finally starting to move to shallower areas for the spring, but they are just not there yet. Water temperatures got knocked back down to the upper 40s and low 50s with the last few cold fronts. The forecast looks really good over the next few weeks and we should see fish moving up shallower than 15 feet soon. Catching good numbers in the 20-25 feet of water, also seeing a lot of big fish just under three pounds. Jigs will get bit this time of year but when fish seam finicky minnows will work really well. Report provided by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service. Largemouth bass are good on square bills and chatterbait around ditches and big wood in 4-6 feet of water, chatterbaits are good in 3-5 feet of water, and Viper XP jigs still doing fair in 3-5 feet of water on big wood and near drop-offs. Report by Lake Fork fishing guides Marc Mitchell and Jason Hoffman, Lake Fork Pro.
Ft. Phantom Hill
GOOD. Water stained; 46 degrees; 1.53 feet low. Hybrid bass and white bass are fair on small flukes in 20-30 feet of water. Crappie are reported to be good on jigs. Catfish are reported to be good drifting with cut shad on deep structure. Report by Clayton Lohse, Respect the Fish Guide Service.
Graham
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 41 degrees; 3.14 feet low. Fishing is similar still waiting for the water to warm before the pattern changes. Crappie are slow near the crappie house using minnows and jigs. Sand bass are good and the spawn is on in the river biting on silver spoons, and spinner baits. Catfish are still good on jug lines around the first bridge, or using fresh cut bait.
Granbury
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; 0.04 feet low. Blue catfish have been fair this week, with most being caught in around 10 feet of water on cut shad. Multiple fronts have the fish spread out, but this warming trend should have fish fired up by the weekend. Shallow flats adjacent to deeper channels are still producing the most active bite. Warmer water temps have shad moving into shallower areas of the lake, especially around lighted docks. Report provided by Mike Watkins, Personal Best Guide Service. Catfish are scattered on flats in 2-5 feet of water. Shad holding deep in the channel during the day, right off bottom. Report provided by Jeffery Sojourner, Sojourner Fishing LLC. Striped bass are slow but can be caught in 40-60 feet of water near the bottom. Soft plastics with a heavy weight to help sink it lower seems to do the trick. Do this while slow trolling at 0.3-2mph in the main river channel. These fish are holding deep so deadsticking with white or chartreuse will work best along with slabs along the mid lake channel. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC.
Granger
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; 0.13 feet high. Fishing patterns are similar. Black bass are good on swimbaits and Stanley jigs. Crappie are good up the river and at Willis Creek at night under lights. White bass are good up river on Twister Tail jigs. Blue catfish are good on jug lines baited with shad or ZOTE soap. Yellow catfish are slow. Report by Tommy Tidwell, Tommy Tidwell’s Granger Lake Guide Service.
Grapevine
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 1.32 feet low. High winds keeping anglers off the water for safety. Changes to the fishing should happen any day as the water heats up. White bass are fair on small crankbaits, small road runner jigs shallow. Using bait that keys on flash, vibration, scent. Crappie are good biting on jigs and minnows main lake and in the rivers. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.
Greenbelt
SLOW. Water stained; 48 degrees; 40.65 feet low. Fishing is slow and the lake is low. The spawn should be starting soon for largemouth and white bass. Largemouth bass bite is slow and shallow on spinner baits, and Texas rigs. Crappie and white bass are slow biting jigs and minnows.
Houston County
GOOD. Water stained; 45 degrees; 0.25 feet above. Crappie are fair on small minnows near brush piles and structure. Bass are good shallow staging to spawn on beds biting on creature baits. Catfish are fair drifting with cut bait.
Hubbard Creek
GOOD. Water Stained; 56 degrees; 3.13 feet low. White bass are good in the channels using spoons. Catfish are fair using punch bait. Largemouth should be moving shallow to stage on beds as the water gets closer to 60 degrees. Use creature baits to tempt the bite.
Jacksonville
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 0.32 feet above. Fish should push shallow during the full moon, with a good early morning and late evening bite. Largemouth bass are fair near structure with spinnerbaits and shaky head jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs near the mouth of creek channels. Catfish are good drifting with cut bait.
Joe Pool
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 2.05 feet low. Fishing is similar this week. Largemouth bass are slow with some big girls moving up to spawn. Fish a soft plastic bait that you have confidence in and rig it whatever way you like, just fish it slowly, at the entrance of coves and secondary points with any kind of hard cover. A suspending jerk bait will work on windy points and over brush piles. Report provided by Ben Robertson, Ben’s Bass Excursions.
Lake O’ the Pines
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.57 feet low. Crappie are good in the creek channel in 20 feet of water using minnows and jigs. Still waiting for the crappie to move shallow for the spawn. Catfish are good on cheese bait in 15-20 feet of water. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Run shallow wh
Lavon
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 3.88 feet low. Crappie are transitioning to 10-15 feet of water on trees and brush, but some are still deep in 20-30 feet of water on structure biting on jigs and minnows. The big fish are moving around solitary on structure. Black bass are good on Alabama rigs, swimbaits and jigs targeting deep water structure 20-30 feet of water. Catfish are very good in 1-10 feet of water on cut shad. Some still deep on the deep water flats in 25-30 feet. Bluegills are setting up on brush piles in 15-25 feet of water biting on earthworms. White bass are good in open water and on main lake points in 15-30 feet of water using slabs and swimbaits. Some are trying to go up the creeks for the annual spawning run. Most creeks will be too low at the moment for a big run. Need big rain to raise the lake up. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.
LBJ
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 60-62 degrees; 0.66 feet low. Bass are good at Tropical Hideaway the spawn is best. Bass are biting on senkos, swimbaits and Alabama rigs. White bass and crappie are good using live bait and jigging spoons. Report provided by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
Lewisville
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 1.84 feet low. White bass are fair in 32-65 feet of water near river channels using jigs or live shad. Hybrid stripers are slow, but can be picked off every once in a while mixed in with the white bass. Catfish are steady with a good bite most days drifting cut shad or chicken breasts near wind blown points and flats near creek channels. More and more catfish will move shallower as that water will warm faster this time of year. Anchor in 1-24 feet of water drift the points and flats. Crappie are fair all over the lake using minnows and jigs in 2-35 feet of water in piles of leaves, stumps, laydowns, brush piles, standing timber, and bridge columns. Here in the next week crappie will make their way shallow to spawn. Report by Wes Campbell, BendaRod Fishing.
Limestone
GOOD. Water clear; 56-63 degrees; 0.62 feet low. Largemouth bass are good in 1-4 feet of water using chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, weightless senkos, and finesse jigs. Crappie are good in 5-15 feet of water using minnows in brush and standing timber. Whitebass are good in 5-14 feet of water using silver jigging spoons, square bill crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.
Livingston
FAIR. Stained; 52 degrees; 0.11 feet above. The white bass are on fire up the creeks using jigs. Catfish are good in the river and getting better in the lake using cut shad and cut buffalo. Report provided by Randy Reynolds, Randy’s River Adventures Guide Service.
Martin Creek
FAIR. 55 degrees. Water lightly stained; 2.12 feet low. Fishing is similar to weeks past. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and swimbaits sitting on beds in structure. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs near creek channels. Catfish are fair on cut bait, moving shallow as the water heats up.
Medina
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 44 degrees; 49.50 feet low. Fishing should be good shallow early morning and late evening with the full moon. Black bass are good shallow using chatterbaits and crankbaits. White bass are good on spoons in the creeks. Striped bass are fair deadsticking with small slabs. Catfish are good drifting with cut bait.
Meredith
SLOW. Water stained; 51 degrees; 52.24 feet low. The bite should changing any day now as the weather warms. The best bite is early morning and evening. Walleye are good shallow on grubs, and on minnows in 20-49 feet of water. Bass are good on plastics, grubs, and creature baits. White bass are good on minnows. Catfish are still slow. Crappie are still slow. Report by Kenneth Wysong, SharKens Honey hole.
Millers Creek
GOOD. Water stained; 46 degrees; 2.19 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair using Alabama rigs and creature baits. Crappie are good in the timber with minnows and small jigs. Catfish are fair moving shallow using cut bait.
Naconiche
GOOD. Water clear to stained; 54 degrees. The morning bite continues to be better than the evening. Bass are good with Alabama rigs producing the best for bigger bass. However, just about anything “Shad-like” should get bit during these pre-spawn conditions. We have officially seen a few beds made in shallower water, even though the water temperature says this is a bit premature, but the bucks know better than we do. The crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services.
Nasworthy
GOOD. Water murky; 59 degrees. 0.70 feet low. Bass are fair up the river fishing overhanging trees, as well as on the main lake flipping reeds. Crappie are good shallow around the banks, boat docks, and around bridge pylons using minnows and chartreuse crappie jigs. Catfish are good using live bait around the dam and bridge pylons. Report provided by the Angelo State Fishing Team.
Navarro Mills
SLOW. Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; 1.49 feet low. Crappie and white bass are in the creeks biting on hand ties and minnows.
O.C. Fisher
FAIR. Water stained; 45 degrees. 42.58 feet low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Alabama rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and small jigs in deep brush piles. White bass are fair on silver spoons. Catfish are fair on stink bait, live, and cut bait.
O.H. Ivie
GREAT. Water clear; 50-54 degrees; 16.76 feet low. O.H.Ivie is fishing good. Fish have moved up and you can work over backs of creeks in 5-12 feet of water using squarebills, chatterbaits and jerkbaits or flip trees using worms, lizards and craw worms in all your green colors with red. Report provided by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Crappie are fair in 52 feet of water worked 3 feet off bottom using live minnows. Channel catfish are good in 50 feet of water worked 1 foot off bottom with prepared bait. Largemouth bass are excellent reports of lunkers using umbrella rigs. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.
Oak Creek
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 6.14 feet low. Catfish are fair on cut bait. Crappie are fair in brush piles using minnows and small jigs. Bass are slow on deep diving crankbaits and Alabama rigs.
Palestine
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.11 feet high. Fishing is similar to week past. Bass are good on big eyed jigs and shimmy shakers and small square bills in 3-9 feet of water near boat docks. Crappie are good in 20-25 feet of water on timber in the river channel. Sand bass are good up river with anglers lined up throwing RatLTraps, and spinnerbaits. Catfish are good along the river and in baited holes using night crawlers. Report by Ricky Vandergriff, Ricky’s Fishing Guide Service. Fishing is still very tough for crappie as the fish are scattered in 8-35 feet of water, and suspended 4-16 feet deep. Report provided by Mark Standrige, Three Nails Guide Service.
Palo Pinto
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 48 degrees; 0.64 feet low. White bass are in the channels using silver spoons. Crappie are slow on jigs and minnows near the mouths of creeks. Catfish are good drifting with cut bait.
Possum Kingdom
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 50-54 degrees; 1.56 feet low. Striped bass are fair scattered from midlake to the north end on deadstick flukes in chartreuse, silver, and white. White bass are very hit or miss and should be moving up into the creeks to spawn soon. Catfish are good on cut shad in shallow water fished on bottom. Report provided by TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service. Striped bass are slow, but can be caught in 25-89 feet of water near the bottom on the north end of the lake. Soft plastics with a heavy weight to help sink it lower seems to do the trick, but be careful not to get hung up in the trees while slow trolling at 0.3-1.5 mph in the main river channel. These fish are holding deep so deadsticking with white or chartreuse will work best along with slabs. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC.
Proctor
SLOW. Water clear; 46 degrees; 1.86 feet low. Fishing continues to be slow but should improve as the weather warms the water. Fish between fronts for the best success. Blue catfish are slow in shallow water on cut shad. Hybrid bass are slow on cut bait drifting 10-15 feet of water. Crappie are slow on brush piles using minnows and jigs.
Raven
FAIR. Water stained; 55-60 degrees; 3.50 feet low. Decent. Water temps are around 60 degrees on the south end and 55 on the north end. Bass are fair on chartreuse spinners and red or black/blue chatterbaits. Catfish are slow on cut bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
Ray Hubbard
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 49-53 degrees; 1.93 feet low. White bass are good mornings and midday with large schools roaming the flats in 27-33 feet of water hugging closer to the bottom to 3 feet using half ounce slabs with multiple crappie jigs tied 12 inches apart. A lot of female white bass are full of eggs already and are starting to stage moving from the south end of the lake to mid-lake and northern part. Crappie are good in shallow creeks when the sun is out to warm the shallow water using a slip bobber and jig working. Report by John Varner, John Varner’s Guide Service.
Ray Roberts
SLOW; Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 0.79 feet low. Fishing is similar as the water warms. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good in 3-10 feet of water using cut shad. Crappie are good in the main creek channels, bridges and structure. Largemouth bass are good on structure in 15-18 feet of water using umbrella rigs. Report provided by Trey Franklin, Tight Lines Guide Service.
Richland Chambers
FAIR. Water clear; 49-55 degrees; 2.29 feet low. Crappie are fair as they move to the shallows for their spawn. A few nice catches on minnows in 3-6 feet of water have been reported. Continued cold fronts will make them stop and go. White bass are fair fished slowly on slabs on main lake points and humps in 20-30 feet of water. Fish are scattered, most often difficult to find and are nearing their annual spawn. Eater sized blue catfish and channel catfish are fair on Danny King’s punch bait Catfish on a #4 Treble Hook in timber on the Richland Arm. The larger blue cats tend to move to 5-10 feet of water on main lake windblown points as the water warms during the day biting on shad. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin’ Guide Service.
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 55 degrees; 3.36 feet low. Full moon draws the fish shallow so the bite will be best early morning and evening. The fish are waiting for the 60 degree water to change the pattern up. Bass are fair shallow on beds on the south end. Cast crankbaits on points, ditches and drains. Switch to Carolina rigs or drop shots near the creek channel ledges. Crappie are slow migrating back into the lake for the spawn. Catfish are in 12-18 feet of water in the channels biting on cut bait. White bass are slow. Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
Somerville
FAIR. Stained; 58 degrees; 1.13 feet high. Finally breaking into spring weather patterns. Crappie are good in 12-18 feet of water on minnows, or fire cracker jigs. Catfish are moving in 5-8 feet of water biting on shad or stink bait. Bass are good in 5-7 feet of water, they have eggs but not on beds yet, biting on crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.
Spence
FAIR. Water stained; 56 degrees. 38.95 feet low. Fishing is improving as the water temperature rises with the warmer weather. Crappie are fair in deeper brush piles using minnows and jigs. Bass are fair, moving shallow to spawn. 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; 45 degrees; 1.80 feet low. Crappie house has been busy with the bite warming with the weather. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Blue catfish are fair on juglines.
Stillhouse
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 3.15 feet low. White bass are moving toward spawning areas and tributaries, but cold temperatures and lack of flow is a major hindrance. Using side-imaging to cover large tracts of bottom to find nomadic schools of fish has been very effective. Spot-Locking crosswind from these fish, then casting MAL Heavy or MAL Dense lures to them and working these lures in a sawtooth pattern has been the successful tactic, and will continue to be for the next 2 weeks or so. Using a light spinning tackle with a light (10-15 pound) braided line helps cut through the wind and helps the lure reach bottom quickly.
Sulphur Springs
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 5.33 feet low. Look for fish to move shallow with an early morning and late evening bite with the full moon. Crappie are fair on brush piles using minnows and small jigs near creek channels. Catfish are good drifting with cut bait.
Tawakoni
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 2.42 feet low. Fishing on Tawakoni continues to be up and down this week for many species as we continue to warm up and cool down creating the “yo-yo” effect so many of us fishermen have grown to not be fond of. Trophy blue catfish have been overall slow with catches up to 45lbs on rod n’ reel being reported. The smaller eating sized fish in the 3-5 pound range have been lights out with limits being reached on many outings. Small pieces of fresh cut shad have been the ticket fishing shallow points and sub points with wind blowing into them. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits like Mr. Whiskers Punch bait. These fish have been targeted over baited holes in 20-35 feet of water. Striper, hybrid and white bass bite this week has been slow. Fish have moved off the main lake and up into the west and north arms of the lake to spawn. Catching them has been tough and will be for a few more weeks. Crappie are good if you can catch 2-3 days of warm temperatures In that case, look for them in knee deep water along the banks. The bass have been good with several tournaments reporting BIG sacks of bass. Again, super shallow water near dock pilings, isolated rocks and other shallow structure are reducing most of the fish. Shallow crankbaits and flukes are doing most of the damage. Report provided by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.
Texana
FAIR. Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.57 feet low. Largemouth bass are good shallow on crankbaits, jigs, and spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines and points. Crappie are fair on small jigs and live minnows near structure and at the mouths of creeks. Catfish are good on cut shad.
Texoma
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 1.30 feet low. Fishing patterns are similar this week. Fish should move up shallow with a good early morning and night bite with the full moon. The spawn is approaching and bass are seeking shallow warmer water working river ledges, drop-offs and humps biting on swimbaits. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors. Striped bass are good in 60-75 feet of water using live bait. Success in 15-25 feet of water deadsticking flukes. Blue catfish are good in 5-20 feet of water on cut shad, carp and drum. Crappie are staging in 15-20 feet of water on structures. The warmer weather could push them shallower to spawn. Report provided by Trey Franklin, Tight Lines Guide Service.
Toledo Bend
FAIR. Water stained; 55 degrees; 2.30 feet low. The water level is 169.7 feet with no generators running. The water is clear in the main lake and stained in the feeder creeks. Water temperature in the main lake is 55 degrees and 50-55 degrees in the creeks. The feeder creeks are running 5-10 degrees colder due to the cold rainfall on Monday. Look in the back of coves and pockets for 58 degree water with no runoff you should be successful catching bass and crappie. Male buck bass should be starting to spawn soon, but no beds have been seen yet. Crappie are holding in 12-20 feet of water and some schools are moving shallow in 2-5 feet of water using jigs under a slip cork as the water warms in the afternoon. Successful colors are monkey milk, bluegrass blue and chartreuse, and fly fishers are casting a white/red collar fly jig and a white/chartreuse Clouser minnow. Catfish are still holding in 2-4 feet of water early in the mornings at the base of Cypress trees mid lake. Catfish are biting on a slip cork rig using shrimp, chicken livers and Captain’s garlic weenies. The air is crisp, and the campfires are warm so get the family and go fishing for those good times and memories! Good luck and tight lines! Report from Captain Steve (Scooby) Stubbe, Mudfish Adventures LLC, Mudfish Rod Shop, Kayak and Fishing Guide Service.
Travis
GOOD. Stained; 54-57 degrees; 20.87 feet low. Lake Travis is fishing well. Check the backs of coves for bedding bass and catch them using soft plastics such as lizards, craw worms and straight or curly tailed worms. Some of the better bites are coming around staging areas just outside of spawning flats and coves where big females are hanging out either going in to spawn or on the way out of spawning. Deep ledges and boat docks are holding fish as well. A shaky head, drop shot or jigging spoon will get you bit. Report provided by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Bass are good on jerkbaits around points and bluff walls using shallow running shad crankbaits. Night fishing in the green lights is good for crappie and stripers from the dam to midlake and Briar Cliff using live bait and small swimbaits. White bass are trying to move between the Pedernales split and Colorado River biting on jigging spoons. Report provided by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.
Twin Buttes
FAIR. Water stained. 55 degrees. 12.75 feet low. Someone turned the switch off for Crappie because the bite is slow, but finding a few deep. Catfish are slow. Largemouth bass are excellent on umbrella rigs, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics. White bass are slow with a majority of undersized catches, and the bigger sized catches are males. They are still in open water not staging for the spawn. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.
Tyler
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.16 feet above. Crappie are still good in 10-12 feet of water. Bass are good on live bait, crankbaits and trick worms. Bluegill are good shallow on red worms. Catfish are still slow. Report by Paul Taylor, The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
Waco
GOOD. Water stained; 57 degrees; 4.54 feet low. Cattin’ Around Adventure’s Professional Guide Service. Crappie and white bass are excellent in North and South Bosque biting ATX Lure Company plastics. Report by Zach Minnix, Jig N’ Jerk Guide Service.
Walter E. Long
GOOD. Water clear; 60 degrees. Bass are shallow in the grass biting plastics, stick baits, and small swimbaits. Crappie are good on brush piles along the dam in main lake on live minnows and jigs. Hybrid bass are good on live shad or minnows, and trolling with deep diving crankbaits. Report provided by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing. At or below freezing temp several days last week dropped the water temperature several degrees and slowed the bite, but the bite should improve as temperature rise. The bite is running 2-3 weeks behind last year. Success will come using loud and vibrating baits or dead stick worms. Reports of a 22 pound bass catch on Yum 4 inch dingers in Watermelon or Green pumpkin. Report provided by David Townsend,
Weatherford
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 41 degrees; 3.27 feet low. Fish early morning and later in the evening for the best bite in the full moon. Crappie bite has slowed on minnows and jigs in brush piles. Catfish are good on cut shad.
White River
SLOW. Water stained; 38 degrees; 22.43 feet low. The crappie are slow on structure and brush piles using small jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass are fair shallow using crankbaits. Catfish are fair on cut and prepped bait.
Whitney
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 2.31 feet low. Striped bass is good but can be caught in 25 to 60 feet of water near the bottom. Look for fish suspended off the bottom as those are the ones that are feeding more actively. Soft plastics with a heavy weight to help sink it lower seems to do the trick. Do this while slow trolling at 0.3mph to 1.8mph in the main river channel. These fish are holding deep so deadsticking with white or chartreuse will work as well along with slabs. Fish are scattered throughout the reservoir from the dam all the way to the river. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton’s Guide Service LLC.
Worth
GOOD. Water normally stained; 52 degrees; 2.07 feet low. White bass are good in creeks and in the river as well as on main lake points in shallow water on Johnson Min-O-Spins and Roadrunners. Crappie are good around marinas, brush piles, and walls with minnows and jigs with white color combinations on cloudy days. Some fish are being reported caught shallow in pre-spawn staging areas. Bass are fair on boat docks and in standing timber on crankbaits and finesse baits. Catfish are good on cut shad and cut-bait in all depths both drifting fishing and fishing anchored both mid-depths and shallow. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service and Catfish Edge.
Wright Patman
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 3.97 feet high. Fish should push shallow in the full moon with best bites early morning and later in the evening. Largemouth bass should be in spawning mode shallow on beds. Throw crankbaits and weightless senkos. White bass are fair on live bait and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs near timber and brush piles. Catfish are good on chicken liver, punch or live bait.

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