B.A. Steinhagen
FAIR. Water stain; 52 degrees; 0.32 feet below pool. Very few anglers on the water due to the arctic blast. Expect all species to relate in deeper water and use a slow approach.
Conroe
GREAT. Water stained; 52 degrees; 0.08 feet below pool. After main lake surface temperatures dropped from 64 degrees down to 50 degrees this week the fish are on the move. Catfishing is good in baited areas from 10-50 feet on Catfish Bubblegum, liver, worms, and punch bait. Drifting creek channels and wind blown ledges with natural baits has been producing some trophy class fish as well as nice eaters. Bass have been fair and with the warm up coming they should move back up on the beds. Crappie have been pretty scattered due to the temperature swings. Report by Bradley Doyle, Bradley Guide Service. Crappie are being caught in 13-22 feet on or near standing timber and other structures. Minnows and hair jigs are out producing other plastics. Many of the hits are light. Hybrids are still being caught deadsticking in 33-39 feet of water, near river channels and flats. This might be the last week for deadsticking After the water temperature increases past 58 degrees switch from deadsticking to live bait or jigging. Always wear your life jacket!
Lake O’ the Pines
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 1.85 feet above pool. Weather has kept water dirty in most areas besides wind-protected pockets on the north portion of the lake. Bass have started to slow down as water temperatures have dropped. Most fish have been caught in 8-14 feet of water with a jig, dropshot, or jig and minnow near docks, channel swings with timber and a steep drop off, and standing timber in 12-15 feet on steep points.
Livingston
GOOD. normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.12 feet above pool. White bass have moved to the creeks and should be there for the next month. Catfish are shallow in the river flow. Largemouth bass should be pushing to spawn on beds, if not on beds they will be on wind blown points. Report by Michael Richardson, Lake Livingston Adventures.
Martin Creek
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 59 degrees; 0.04 feet above pool. Bass are good, fishing the hydrilla with underspin swimbaits, lipless crankbaits and weightless senkos. Crappie are fair to good in brush piles in 15-25 feet of water with minnows and powerbait champ minnows. Sand bass and catfish are good at the warm water discharge.
Nacogdoches
GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.42 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are good in shallow grass with a bladed jig, lipless crankbait or chatterbait. Crappie are excellent roaming in standing timber with chartreuse jigs. Forward facing sonar is crucial to help locate fish. Catfish are slow.
Naconiche
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 52 degrees; 0.50 feet above pool. We experienced another cold snap with a lot of soft, but steady, rain. Expect water temperatures to drop. Large numbers and quality size bass can be caught with deep-diving crankbaits, jerkbaits and the Alabama rigs. As always, natural shad imitations get bit, but dirty water might require bolder colors. Some fish are pre-staging in the grass. A Chatter-bait is good ripped through the tops of the grass. Crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Largemouth bass are good with dropshot and Carolina rigs in 10 feet of water around grass lines. Crappie are excellent suspended 15-20 feet in timber with a white crappie jig. Catfish are slow on live or cut bait.
Sam Rayburn
SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 2.26 feet above pool. Bass are staging on points hitting Carolina rigs or rattle traps. The lake level is up, so expect all species to move to shallow newly submerged structures. Target timber as these areas will be warmer timber. The best bite has been midday.
Toledo Bend
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.41 feet below pool. Water level is on the rise after the recent rains with water temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s. Most creeks are running muddy water, so it should take a week to clear. A few bass can be caught with spinnerbaits and chatterbaits around the flooded bushes and grass. Deeper bass, 8-12 feet of water, are hitting Carolina rigs and football jigs. With the rising water level expect these deep fish to move shallow. Crappie will be slow until the water clears back up. When the water clears live minnows and jigs will boat fish.
