Texas Fishing Report

WEEKLY FISHING REPORT

Edited and compiled by J.P. Greeson, Bink Grimes, Kendal Hemphill and Mark Perry for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department under a federal grant provided by the Sport Fish Restoration Program - updated 4-6-16 at 2:45 p.m.

CENTRAL

BASTROP: Water clear; 63-67 degrees. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on live bait, liver, and bloodbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

BELTON: Water murky; 61-65 degrees; 0.79’ high. Black bass are good on watermelon crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on live bait, shrimp, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 60-64 degrees; 0.06’ low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse Bass Hogg spinnerbaits and jigs, craw colored crankbaits, and watermelon soft plastics. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water murky; 58-62 degrees; 4.02’ low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse Curb’s jigs, black/blue JDC Skip-N-Pop topwaters, and wacky rigged watermelon Whacky Sticks in creeks and pockets. Striped bass are good drifting live bait and jigging chartreuse Curb’s bucktail jigs in 20-30 feet. White bass are good vertically jigging Pirk Minnows and red shad Tiny Traps near Paradise Point. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are good on juglines and trotlines baited with live bait.

CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 59-63 degrees; 0.50’ high. Black bass are good on watermelon JDC grubs, green pumpkin Whacky Sticks on jigheads, and grape Scoundrel worms in 10-15 feet. Striped bass are fair vertically jigging green striper jigs and chrome Pirk Minnows. White bass are fair trolling shad and vertically jigging Pirk Minnows. Smallmouth bass are good on white Rat-L-Traps, root beer grubs, and watermelon Scoundrel worms in 8-18 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on live bait.

COLEMAN: Water murky; 58-62 degrees; 3.76’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms and lizards, and on small crankbaits. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend State Park) No report available.

FAYETTE: Water murky. Black bass are good on watermelon and chartreuse spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on shad and shrimp over baited holes.

GRANBURY: Water murky; 57-61 degrees; 0.08’ low. Black bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms with chartreuse tails. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. Catfish are fair on shrimp and stinkbait.

GRANGER: Water murky; 60-64 degrees; 1.15’ high. Black bass are fair on black soft plastic worms and white spinnerbaits upriver. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and minnows upriver. Crappie are slow. Blue catfish are good on prepared baits on rod & reel, and on juglines baited with Zote soap. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch.

LBJ: Water stained; 61-65 degrees; 0.76’ low. Black bass are good on dark red Rat-L-Traps, watermelon/chartreuse soft plastics, and pumpkin topwaters in 10-20 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and Shad Raps under birds. Crappie are fair on live minnows and blue Curb’s crappie jigs in 6-12 feet. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on live bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 60-64 degrees; 0.51’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are slow. Blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

PROCTOR: Water murky; 62-66 degrees; 0.63’ high. Black bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms and lizards. Striped bass are fair on green striper jigs. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 58-62 degrees; 0.26’ high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 59-63 degrees; 0.92’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

TRAVIS: Water murky; 60-64 degrees; 0.09’ high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

WALTER E. LONG: Water murky. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 58-62 degrees; 0.47’ low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

NORTHEAST

ATHENS: Water stained; 64-68 degrees; 0.41’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged craws, weightless Senkos and Flukes and hollow body frogs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are slow on prepared bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 63-66 degrees; 0.44’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged creature baits and shallow crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad.

BONHAM: Water stained to muddy, 64-67 degrees; 0.11’ low. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged creature baits and flipping jigs around shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows around the bridges. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink baits.

BRIDGEPORT: Water stained to muddy, 63-67 degrees: 0.01’ low. Black bass are fair on squarebill crankbaits, Texas rigged craws and finesse jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

CADDO: Water muddy; 1.85’ high. No report available. Please call ahead as some ramps may be closed due to flooding in the area.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 63-66 degrees; 0.02’ low. Black bass are fair on swimjigs, squarebill crankbaits and Texas rigged soft plastics near docks and shallow cover. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

COOPER: Water stained; 0.08’ high. No report available.

FAIRFIELD: Black bass fishing reported has significantly improved. TPWD discontinued stocking the lake after the fish kill in September 2011. Redfish survived the kill in limited numbers.

FORK: Water stained to muddy; 64-68 degrees; 0.18’ low. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged creature baits, weedless soft swimbaits and hollow body frogs. Some fish are on beds. White and yellow bass are good on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows near bridges. Catfish are fair on prepared bait and cut shad.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained to muddy; 6.88’ high. No report available. Please call ahead as some ramps are closed due to high water.

JOE POOL: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.12’ high. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged craws, swimjigs and buzzbaits. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on rod and reel.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water muddy; 11.18’ high. No report available. Please call ahead as some ramps are closed due to high water. Use caution when navigating lake.

LAVON: Water stained to muddy; 64-68 degrees: 0.30’ high. Black bass are slow on flipping jigs, Texas rigged creature baits and bladed jigs. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.09’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged tubes, creature baits and flipping jigs in flooded bushes and shallow cover. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 75-80 degrees; 0.02’ high. Black bass are good on Texas rigged craws and hollow body frogs. Crappie are fair on minnows and white jigs. White bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Catfish are good on trotlines.

MONTICELLO: Water stained; 65-69 degrees; 0.49’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged creature baits, bladed jigs and buzzbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are slow on prepared bait and stink bait.

PALESTINE: Water stained; 64-67 degrees; 0.92’ high. Black bass are fair on flipping jigs, Texas rigged craws and tubes. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.08’ low. Black bass are fair on small plastic swimbaits, squarebill crankbaits and Texas rigged soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on trotlines and prepared bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water stained; 63-66 degrees; 1.76’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged creature baits, tubes and swimjigs. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows near brush piles. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.03’ high. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, shakyheads and spinnerbaits. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow on trotlines and prepared bait.

TAWAKONI: Water stained to muddy; 65-68 degrees; 0.31’ high. Black bass slow on white spinnerbaits with a Colorado blade, black/blue flipping jigs and Texas rigged creature baits around docks and shallow structure. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

TEXOMA: Water stained; 63-66 degrees; 2.08’ low. Black bass are good on crankbaits, swimjigs and Flukes. Crappie are good on minnows. Striped bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and cut shad.

WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 0.03’ high. No report available.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water muddy; 64-68 degrees; 28.22’ high. Black bass are slow on bladed jigs, shallow crankbaits and black/blue flipping jigs. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

SOUTH

AMISTAD: Water murky; 63-67 degrees; 24.5’ low. Black bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs, white grubs, and small crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs, white grubs, and small crankbaits. Catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines and droplines baited with live perch. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

BRAUNIG: Water stained. Black bass are good on small spinnerbaits around structure. Striped bass are fair to good on chicken livers. Redfish are good on live perch and tilapia. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp and stinkbait. Blue catfish are fair on shrimp, stinkbait, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

CALAVERAS: Water stained. Black bass are good on chartreuse soft plastic worms and minnows around reed beds. Striped bass are good on shad and silver spoons. Redfish are good on perch and shrimp on the bottom. Channel and blue catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, shad, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

CHOKE CANYON: Water murky; 60-64 degrees; 23.00’ low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, and soft plastics. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on chartreuse tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp in 10-25 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

COLETO CREEK: Water murky; 68 degrees in main lake. Black bass are good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in 10-20 feet. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs in 10-12 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with perch and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch.

FALCON: Water murky; 68-72 degrees; 17.78’ low. Black bass are very good on watermelon red spinnerbaits, Brush Hogs, crankbaits, and magnum flukes. Crappie are excellent on minnows and tube jigs under bridges. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut bait, especially in the upper end of the lake. Yellow catfish are slow. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

SOUTHEAST

CONROE: Water murky; 60-64 degrees; 0.06’ low. Black bass are fair on black/blue spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics in 10-20 feet. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Catfish are fair on bloodbait and shrimp.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water murky. Black bass are fair on pumpkinseed Rat-L-Traps and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and pink tube jigs. Catfish are good on hot dogs and frozen shrimp.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 66-70 degrees; 0.13’ high. Black bass are very good on watermelon red soft plastic worms near the marina in 5 feet, and on watermelon red lizards near Paradise Island in 4 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows. Red ear bream are slow. Channel and blue catfish are very good on trotlines baited with beef hearts, cut shad, and chicken livers. Yellow catfish are slow.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 61-65 degrees; 0.05’ high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 59-63 degrees; 5.09’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Bream are slow. Catfish are slow.

STEINHAGEN: 2.16’ high. No report available.

TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 60-64 degrees; 0.34’ high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Bream are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

PANHANDLE

GREENBELT: 33.85’ low. No report available.

MACKENZIE: 72.02’ low. No report available.

MEREDITH: 58.19’ low. No report available.

PALO DURO: 54.31’ low. No report available.

WEST

ALAN HENRY: Water fairly clear; 58-65 degrees; 2.84’ low. Black bass are fair to jigs, Texas rigged lizards and flukes. Crappie are fair on live minnows in the shallows. Catfish are fair on live bait.

ARROWHEAD: Water stained; 54-60 degrees; 0.48’ low. No reports on black bass. Crappie are slow on jigs and minnows in the shallows. White bass are slow on Rooster Tails. Catfish are good on worms and stinkbait.

COLORADO CITY: 20.44’ low. No report available.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water murky; 59-65 degrees; 0.06’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and Senkos. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows around shallow cover. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water off color; 61-69 degrees; 14.51’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and small swimbaits. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and split shot weighted minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

NASWORTHY: 59-65 degrees; 1.54’ low. Black bass are fair to good on jigs, Texas rigged lizards and weightless flukes. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 58-66 degrees; 15.28’ low. Black bass are fair on jigs, Senkos and Texas rigged creature baits. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs in the shallows. Catfish are fair on chartreuse (use Worn-Glo) nightcrawlers.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 59-67 degrees; 46.59’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs fished shallow. Catfish are fair to good on live bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water off color; 58-67 degrees; 0.11’ low. Black bass are fair on chatterbaits, Texas rigs, drop shot rigs and Senkos. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

SPENCE: 56.41’ low. No report available.

STAMFORD: 0.19’ high. No report available.

SWEETWATER: Water off color; 59-67 degrees; 27.32’ low. No report available.

WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 58-66 degrees; 17.05’ low. No report available.

COASTAL

NORTH SABINE: Freshwater continues to be a problem on the north end of the lake.

SOUTH SABINE: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair to good around Blue Buck Point on topwaters and live shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Most of the bay continues to suffer from freshwater.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good on the south shoreline on Catch 5s, MirrOlures and She Pups. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters working shell on live shrimp. Trout, sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. Redfish are good in the back lakes on shrimp and Gulps.

TEXAS CITY: Redfish and black drum are fair to good in Moses Lake on shrimp. Trout are fair to good on live shrimp on the reefs.

FREEPORT: Trout are fair at San Luis Pass on live bait. Sand trout, trout, redfish and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas Bay and at the jetties.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout and redfish are fair for drifters in the back lakes on live shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the edge of Oyster Lake on shrimp and crabs. Black drum and redfish are fair to good at the jetty and on the reefs on live shrimp.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics over sand and grass near Grass Island and fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair to good in Morris-Cummings Cut on free-lined shrimp. Black drum are good in the Lydia Ann Channel on crabs. Redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats on mullet and crabs.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good at East Flats on gold spoons and small topwaters. Black drum and redfish are fair to good in the channels on crabs and finger mullet. Redfish, trout and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on Gulps and live shrimp. Black drum and redfish are fair to good in the channels on crabs. Redfish are good on sand and grass flats on shrimp.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good on sand and grass on topwaters, Gamblers, Bass Assassins and Down South Lures. Redfish are fair to good at Yarborough on gold spoons and plastics. Trout are fair to good in the Land Cut on live shrimp.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on topwaters around sand and grass. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes on Gulps. Black drum and redfish are good on crabs at East Cut.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good around the spoil islands and grass flats on DOA Shrimp and live shrimp. Black drum, redfish and Spanish mackerel are fair at the jetty on live bait.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good at Gas Well Flats on live shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in South Bay on DOA Shrimp.