ATHENS – The water level is 1.44 feet low and clear. Water temperature is in the mid-60s.
Fishing guide Jim Brack says bass fishing has been slow. Best bite around brush piles to 25 feet on Carolina rigged jigs and worms. The grass edges outside of 12 feet are also giving up some fish on machines and shakyhead worms. Fishing has been fair around the brush piles using rigs and jigs. Some limits have been reported, with anglers selecting many undersized fish.
CEDAR CREEK – The water level is 4.76 feet and stained. Water temperature is in the 60s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber says white bass and hybrids are still best on humps 16 to 24 feet, using slabs and fresh bait. Look for the fish to start hanging out as the water temperature drops into the upper 50s. Crappies are best around brush in 12 to 20 feet, hitting fish and jigs suspended about five feet off the bottom. Blue cats are fair in shallow stump fields in the north. Drift fishing is picking up in deep water to the south. Black bass are best on docks and rocks, hitting lures and jigs on the move.
FORK – The water level is 6.81 feet down and stained for cleaning. The water temperature is in the 60s.
Fishing guide Brooks Rogers says bass fishing continues to be slow with a few slot fish coming on Texas rigs and moving baits worked in shallow spots and ridges in 2-8 feet. The jigs and plastics were working along the creek channels producing bites as well. The nibble continues best around old wood and bridge columns at suspended depths. Jigs and minnows produce equally well.
‘PINS – The water level is six inches low and clear. The water temperature is in the mid-60s.
Jim Tutt says bass fishing has been slow up north. Small worms and leaf blowers are the best bets around shallow grass beds. To the south, the topwaters worked around the rock are producing some solid keepers. Fishing has been fair at Bridge 155, mostly on minnows. Lots of duck hunters on the upper end of the lake over the weekend.
PALESTINE – The water level is 2.53 feet and stained for cleaning. The water temperature is in the mid-60s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says bass are good in the back of creeks targeting the shallows with wacky rigs and bladed rigs. Also, some fish taking Carolina rigs on points in 4-17 feet. Fishing has been fair to brush along the Neches and natural timber in 17-22 feet. Channel catfish are good on nightcrawlers fished in 16-21 feet around baited holes along the river.
NACOGDOCHES – The water level is about 4.04 feet low and is stained to clear. Water temperature in the mid to high 60s.
Fishing guide Stanley Gresham says bass fishing has been fair, hitting small traps and blade rigs around the shallow grass. Some fish are fishing hitting square spikes along channel breaks and deep divers on points and other offshore structures in 15-20 feet. Crappie remain fair, with a few limits around the 20- to 35-foot brush piles using cabinets and jigs. Look for the fishing to continue to improve as the water temperatures drop.
NACONICHE – The water level is slightly low and clear. The water temperature is in the mid-60s.
David Russell says bass are starting to group up as water temperatures drop, hitting A-rigs, bladed jigs, and swimbaits in the mouths of creeks. There are no reports on shit.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS – The water level is 5.41 feet low and fairly clear. The water temperature is in the mid-60s.
Fishing guide Royce Simmons says white bass fishing is greatly improved by using slabs in 15-25 feet around Pelican Island and on the fairways. Anglers reporting a few limits of fish were fishing around brush piles and bridges in 15-20 feet. Hybrid stripers are slow. Channel cat are excellent on jig bait fished around the Richland Creek channel in 15-20 feet. Cormorant roosts are hosting good numbers.
SAM RAYBURN – The water level is 6.21 feet low and clear. The water temperature is in the mid-60s.
Fishing guide Brian Branum says bass fishing has been good around scattered grass on the edges of big flats with big topwater, swimbaits, and swimbaits. Also, some fish holding around grass in drains and drawdown points, hitting swimbaits and “traps”. Branum says deep-water fish are hooked or sent, suspended about 10 feet over ledges and log fields, hitting spoons and tails.
TOLEDO BEND – The water level is 4.19 feet low and fairly clear. The water temperature is in the mid-60s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston says bass fishing has been good with decent numbers coming along creeks in 3-8 feet of water using Texas rigs and lipless cranks in areas occupied by walleye. Also, some fish on main lake ridges and points, hitting Strike King 6XD and 8XD cranks as well as Carolina rigs.
Spoon fishing should improve with the cooling water temperatures. Crappie guide Ben Matsubu is reporting excellent results with big numbers and good quality on 1 1/2-pound LiveScoping around natural lay-downs with jigs. The fish are suspended 10-15 feet down in 20-25 feet of water. No report on catfish.