ATHENS – The water level is 1.48 feet low and clear. Water temperature in the low 60s and upper 50s.
Fishing guide Jim Brack says A rigs are producing some solid fish for LiveScopers around humps in 25 feet of water. The 10- to 12-foot outer grass edges are yielding some decent numbers on soles, shaky heads, and “traps.” Also some schools of fish around the grass. Fishing has been good around brush piles up to 28 feet, suspended about 15 feet off the bottom. Very few short fish reported. Bobby Garland 3/32-ounce jigs with monkey milk and patriotic color patterns work well.
CEDAR CREEK: Water level is 4.90 feet low and fairly clear. Water temperature in the mid 50s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber says baitfish are starting to congregate in 30 feet of water along with some schools of white bass in 28-35 feet. Crappie are still in brush piles 16 to 24 feet, hitting fish and jigs. Docks and rock are still bets for largemouth on jigs and rigs. Catfish are good around shallow stump fields to the north and around cormorant roosts. Look for drifting over deep water to steadily improve as the water temperature drops.
FORQUA – Water level is 6.94 feet low and fairly clear. Water temperature in the upper 50s.
Crappie guide Gary Paris says fishing has been good targeting suspended fish around brush piles, bridges and standing timber with jigs and fish. Schools are suspended at 15-20 feet. Sounding forward is a plus. Bass are hit or miss along the channels using square bits, jigs and blade jigs. Channel cat are still excellent over baited holes using drill baits.
‘PINS – The water level is about seven inches low and clear. Water temperature in the upper 50s.
Jim Tutt says the north end is very crowded with duck hunters and choked with salvinia. Bass are fair on slow on blade machines and Flukes fished around shallow grass. Further south, bass are targeting shallow rocks with topwater, square beaks, ‘traps and spinners’. Crappie are fair around the long bridge to the north using jigs in 16-20 feet; also some fish in the old channel.
NACOGDOCHES – The water level is 4.14 feet from low and clear to stained. Water temperature in the mid 60s.
Fishing guide Stanley Gresham says bass fishing has been fair. Moving lures such as blade rigs and traps are producing some solid fish around shallow grass in 3-8 feet. Also some fish hitting the square spikes along the creeks to the north and the Carolina rigs on hard bottom structure, points and isolated stumps away from shore. Crappie are fair with the best bite around brush piles in 22-34 feet of water.
NACONICHE: The water level is a few centimeters low and stained to fairly clear. Water temperature in the 60s.
Most anglers still target fish suspended in creek mouths on umbrella rigs or on standing timber using swimbaits and swimbaits. There are no reports on shit.
PALESTINE – Water level is 2.51 feet low and clear to stained. Water temperature in the upper 50s, low 60s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says bass fishing has been fair in 3-7 feet, hitting small jigs and wacky rigs along channels and points. Deep cranks also produce some fish up to 4 1/2 pounds on points at 10-17 feet. Fishing has been good in 18-20 feet using crankbaits and minnows around the old timber and along the river to the south. The 155 Freeway Bridge is also giving up some keepers. White bass are slow. Catfish are great for nightcrawlers, cut bass and big fish around baited holes.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS – Water level is 5.51 feet low and fairly clear. Water temperature in the upper 50s.
Fishing guide Royce Simmons says fish are fair around brush piles and bridge posts in 15-20 feet. White bass are very good on slabs in 15-25 feet near Pelican Island and the old bed of Highway 287. Catfish are good in 15-foot limits with drill bait. Wood in the arm of Richland Creek and cormorant roosts that hold lots of fish.
SAM RAYBURN – Water level is 6.25 feet low and clear. Water temperature at 60 degrees.
Fishing guide Brian Branum says bass fishing has been good around shallow grass pulling 1/2 ounce lures with sexy gold and blue chrome patterns. Also some solid fish suspended in 15-22 feet in 35-44 feet of water near creek mouths and over ridges. One-ounce tail spinners and spinning spoons sometimes produce quick catches. Forward sonar is an advantage when targeting fish offshore. There are no reports on shit.
TOLEDO BEND – Water level is 4.47 feet low and clear to stained. Surface temperature in the mid 60s.
Rhonda Shivley, at Bill’s Landing, said walleye fishing has been good, with some solid limits on minnows and jigs fished along the river in 16-18 feet. A few flathead catfish in the mix. Catfish are good on trolling lines and stump hooks with cut and live perch. Good numbers of eight to 50 pounds reported. Also some big bream hitting waxworms and night crawlers in the creeks. Fishing guide Ben Matsubu reports hit or miss fishing around natural loops in 25 feet, suspended 10 to 15 feet down. Blue ice jigs and minnows are the best bets.