Arlington
SLOW. Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.52 feet above pool. Bass are spawning from the bank to 5 feet of water. Flip creature bait, or cast moving baits like chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and top water baits.
Athens
GOOD. Water normal stain; 72 degrees; 0.30 feet above pool. Water temperature is ranging from 68-76 degrees. Bass are good in grass in 5-12 feet with Texas rigged worms, wacky rig senko and chatterbait. Crappie are slow on small jigs over brush. Report by Reagan Nelson, Lake Athens Bass Guide.
Bastrop
GREAT. Water stained; 72 degrees. Good topwater bite early and late in the day. As the days become sunny and warm, slow your midday approach with weightless presentations. Some bass are still stacked up in the reeds hitting Texas rigs, but fish are primarily spawned out hitting wacky worms in the submerged grass just outside of the reeds. The plant is starting to generate again so this will increase the water temperatures. As the water temperature rise to 80 degrees, bass will seek the thermocline and start schooling.
Belton
FAIR. Water stained; 65 degrees; 2.89 feet below pool. Big changes on Lake Belton to report this week as the annual threadfin shad spawn has started and is stronger with each passing warm day. This opens up opportunities for shallow water sight casting in the 30 minutes either side of sunrise for those with sharp eyesight who can spot the spawning shad and the gamefish trapping them up against the bank. Throw MAL Originals with chartreuse tails to match the size, shape, and color of spawning shad. After the morning spawning is over, move out to 20-34 feet and use silver, 3/4 ounce Hazy Eye Slabs with forward facing sonar in downward mode to catch fish later in the morning or just before sunset. The spawn also makes catching shad easier for those wishing to fish with live bait. Be sure you have a clean bait tank which insulates, circulates, filters, and aerates your water or your shad will not last long. Fish them on a Carolina rig terminated with a Kahle or circle hook just off bottom. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfishing has been excellent in 10-25 feet of water. Slow drifting with suspended baits around points and river channels has worked best for blue catfish. Flathead catfish are slow, but have been caught near structure and rock piles with live perch or shad. Channel catfish are fair and have been caught in shallow water around timber using punch bait. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.
Benbrook
GOOD. Water stained; 65 degrees; 1.02 feet below pool. Scattered thunderstorms and rain in the weekend forecast. Target catfish with windblown banks and channel edges with fresh bait. Report by Jeffery Sojourner, Sojourner Fishing LLC.
Bois d'Arc
SLOW. water stained; 59 degrees; 2.54 feet below pool. The lake is low and the bass bite has been really good with fish moving into spawning areas and flats and shallow points. Chatterbaits are good on the flats in 1-4 feet. Yum Dingers rigged wacky style crazy good around flats and weeds and some bushes in 2-4 feet. Designated hitters also good with beavers and craws pitched around shallow big wood 2-5 feet. A new lake record pending at 9.20 pounds was caught this week. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. The predicted rain may slow the crappie bite with an influx of water from the creeks. Expect crappie to be scattered in deep water. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
Bridgeport
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 63 degrees; 9.24 feet below pool. The water is lightly stained with temps in the low to mid 60s. Crappie are moving shallow to spawn. Check out shallow stickups and brush with jigs or a minnow and a bobber. The north end will be the most active with the spawn moving south as it gets warmer. Sand bass and hybrids are almost finished with the spawning run. Look around the north end mouth of the river to find fish on the way back to the main lake. Slabs, soft plastics and crankbaits will put them in the boat. There may be a few gulls working that will help you find the fish. Largemouth bass are also moving in to spawn. Check known spawning areas in shallow coves and bays with plenty of cover. Soft plastics, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits are good baits to start with. All ramps are open. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.
Cedar Creek
FAIR. stained; 61 degrees; 0.04 feet below pool. Hybrid and white bass are returning to the main lake after their annual spawning run into the creeks. These fish are now congregating on wind-blown points throughout the lake and on shallower flats near drop-offs and ledges. The shad spawn will begin in the coming weeks, which will trigger early morning schooling action along shallow points and seawalls, attracting birds to the area. To target these fish, use 1/2 ounce to 1-1/2 ounce slabs and spinnerbaits. Work the baits close to the bottom, as this will entice strikes. Thumping the bottom of the boat will also help group fish underneath as you fish these spots. The crappie bite is strong around docks, bridges, and in creeks, with minnows or jigs proving to be effective. Catfish are biting well in shallow flats at the mouths of major creeks and along adjacent points and shorelines in 2-6 feet of water. For deeper water, try anchoring or drifting with fresh shad on main lake flats in 12-24 feet. This catfish bite should remain productive for another month. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Catfish are shallow around creek mouths drifting in 12-24 feet of water with cut shad or rough fish. Report by Jason Barber, Kings Creek Adventures.
Comanche Creek
GOOD. 65 degrees; 0.55 feet below pool. Comanche Creek is closed for the summer and will reopen in October.
Cooper
SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees: 2.00 feet below pool. Expect the crappie bite to slow due to the rain in the forecast. Influx of water in the main lake from the creeks will raise the water level and muddy the clarity and scatter crappie. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
Cypress Springs
FAIR: Water normal stain; 60 degrees; 0.38 feet above pool. Bass are spawning in wind-protected shallow pockets in 4-6 feet of water. Fish are biting Texas rigged creature baits, jigs, and soft jerkbaits. Some fish are still waiting for warmer water temperatures, staging on hard cover near spawning flats and can be caught using a jerkbait or shallow crankbaits and bladed jigs. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service. Predicted rains may have the water on the rise, so plan ahead before heading to the lake. Crappie are excellent from 10 inches to 20 feet of water. The deeper fish are roaming at the back of creek arms. Further from the dam is producing the best bite. Crappie jigs are out producing minnows and hand ties. Give it a few twitches and fish will come. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
Eagle Mountain
GOOD. Water normal stain; 64 degrees; 4.82 feet below pool. White bass are fair on windblown structure using paddle tail swimbaits, and inline spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair to good in boat slips and on brush on jigs and shallow on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on punch bait and shad in multiple depths. Patterns may change daily with changing weather patterns. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.
Fayette
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 75 degrees. Rainy forecast heading into the weekend. Some topwater bass action. Bigger bass are spawned out hitting shaky head worms in 6-8 feet of water. Some bass are still shallow spawning along the banks. Underspins, rattletraps and spinnerbaits worked in less than 5 feet of water will catch fish. Water is being pumped into the lake so the clarity is murky. Report by Mark Fransen, Fransen’s Guide Service.
Graham
SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees; 1.37 feet below pool. Bass are good moving shallow to feed on shad. Crappie are heading up the creek about to spawn. The bite is good on minnows and jigs. Sand bass are schooling main lake flats with shad hitting jigs and spoons. Catfish are good on shad in 10-12 feet of water.
Granbury
GOOD. Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.11 feet below pool. Granbury water levels are at pool and water temperatures are approaching 70 degrees on the main lake and even warmer is the back of sloughs. Largemouth bass are moving to the spawning beds in shallower water and are good on soft plastics, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. The crappies are also in the shallows and are good on small jigs fished under a float. Sand bass are good on numerous areas of the lake with slabs bounced off the bottom on humps. Sand bass are good near the Shores and near Decordova subdivision in 15-20 feet of water. Many sand bass and crappie are in the river near Tin Top as well. Striped bass to 11 pounds are excellent on live shad fished on flats adjacent to creek channels near Decordova and Indian Harbor. Blue catfish to 25 pounds are good on cut bait on the upper ends fished near channel breaks. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.
Grapevine
GOOD. Water normal stain; 63 degrees; 0.22 feet above pool. White bass are on the north bank but can be tough when high winds are present. Schools of white bass are on the edges of humps in 22-25 feet of water with �¾-1 ounce slabs with a stinger hook. The best bite seems to be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The forecasted rain may slow the seasonal bird action. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.
Hawkins
GOOD. Water slightly stained. 60 degrees. Larger chain pickerel are spawning in shallow water. Focus on areas with stumps, brush, and vegetation. Small bass are active in shallow areas relating to vegetation and structure. Focus on windy banks when possible. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.
Jacksonville
GOOD. Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.32 feet above pool. Water temperatures vary from 68-78 degrees depending on location. The lake is clearing up on the south end. Bass are good along the banks and just off the bank with soft plastics. Some topwater action has started, but is not consistent.
Joe Pool
GREAT. Water normal stain; 60 degrees; 0.23 above pool. All species are biting, bank anglers you are not fishing you are missing out! The big bass are shallow on beds, or waiting just off the bank to move shallow. Crappie are on shallow timber hitting jigs and minnows. Carp anglers are having a blast in the Lynn Creek area. Catfish are mixed in on wind blown banks. Let’s go fishing! Report by Gilbert Miller, GTB Outdoors.
Lavon
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 0.44 feet above pool. The crappie spawn started over a week ago, but is still not in the height of the spawn. Crappie catches in 1-12 feet of water targeting the base of button willows with jigs. Get in the water with your back facing the lake and jig towards shore. Use a 8-10 pound mono 1/16 ounce to 1/8 ounce jig. The clarity is murky so use a darker colored jig such as black or red. White also works as well. Some female crappie are suspended around timber outside the spawning grounds. White bass spawn is in full swing in the creeks with running water. Fish can be caught on white, chartreuse, silver, black in-line spinners early morning and late evening, a 4 pound mono with 1/16 ounce jigs in minnow colors, live minnows with a size 6 hook and split shots or under small 2 inch peggable bobbers, or Carolina rig with the split shots. On the main lake, look for fish on points in 10-25 feet. Keep a swimbait handy because fish might blow shad out of the water randomly and have a feeding frenzy for a few short minutes. Black bass are in the creek systems, guarding nests, and in the back of the coves along with the crappie. Target bass are good early morning in 1-5 feet of water casting a white and chartreuse spinnerbaits to the bank then reel it slowly back to the boat. The rest of the day target bass from the bank to 7 feet around submerged button willows or shallow timber with a Texas rig, darker color worms, or senko. Catfish are in 4-15 feet drifting or casting cut shad, carp, and drum. A bobber on riprap is very productive. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.
Lewisville
FAIR. Water stained; 65 degrees; 1.90 feet below pool. White bass are slow to fair in or near river channels and on points and humps in 18-40 feet of water with jigs, slabs, and live bait. Keeper sized hybrid stripers are slow in similar depths as the white bass. If you are keeping fish, please be aware that there are a lot of undersized hybrid stripers in the lake that look very similar to a white bass. Blue catfish are fair to good on cut shad. With warming temperatures, check shallow flats in 1-5 feet near timber or brush around the river and creek mouths or wind blown points and coves. Catfish are also being caught on flats in 20-32 feet of water. Crappie are fair with minnows and jigs in 2-30 feet of water on brush piles, submerged timber, and submerged cover close to a drop off ledge. The feeder creeks are producing as well. Report by Wes Campbell, BendARod Fishing. Largemouth bass are staging around spawning pockets in 4-10 feet of water. Hybrids are around creek channels in 40 feet of water. Crappie are still on deep brush and trees in 20 feet of water.
Limestone
GOOD. Water normal stain; 62 degrees; 1.28 feet below pool. The shad spawn has begun along the banks. There should be a few more weeks of good bank fishing for bass and crappie, especially off docks. A few crappie are transitioning back out to brush, but can still be caught in the creeks. Largemouth bass are in 4 feet or less on Texas rig and chatterbaits. Catfish are 7 feet or less on cutbait and minnows. White bass are in the river for the anglers that like to fish the 164 Bridge with rooster tails and beetle spins. Mainlake white bass are in 12 feet or less with silver jigging spoons. Report by Colan Gonzales, Lake Limestone Guide Service.
Navarro Mills
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Catfish are fair with mostly smaller catfish sized fish caught shallow. Crappie are great shallow near the boats, and on brush piles with black and chartreuse jigs or minnows. Several 2 pound fish have been caught. Largemouth bass. White bass are slow off the banks. Report by Navarro Mills Marina.
Palestine
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 74 degrees; 0.16 feet above pool. Catfish are good around the boat houses, retaining walls and buck brush along the bank with chicken liver and cut shad. Crappie are good spawning along the bank, or staged in 8-16 feet of water. Bass are good spawning along the bank, with some staging to spawn or post spawn in less than 8 feet of water on boat houses at the ends of docks hitting spinnerbaits, chatterbait and soft plastics.
Palo Pinto
GOOD. Water normal stain; 64 degrees; 0.48 feet below pool. Crappie still have not moved shallow to spawn. Forecasted thunderstorms will delay the spawn until the water and weather settles. Black bass are slow. Catfish are good in shallow water with cut bait. Hybrids and sand bass are good on minnows and spoons. Report by Lake Palo Pinto RV Park.
Ray Hubbard
GOOD. Water stained; 56 degrees; 0.05 feet below pool. White bass are spawning or staging on flats and points in 25-31 feet of water. Use your trolling motor to stroll �¾ ounce slabs with 2 jigs tied above working best spread at least 16 inches apart. White bass are also still being caught in the feeder creeks above the lake. Small roadrunner type baits and small crappie jigs working. Crappie are fair and numbers are showing up in the creeks and shallow water with minnows. Catfish are good on the north end of the lake off long points and around timber 15-24 feet using prepared stink baits. Chumming will help bring the schools into your areas. Report by John Varner, John Varner's Guide Service.
Ray Roberts
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.72 feet below pool. The spawn is in full swing along the banks with white and chartreuse or natural shad colored jigs, or minnows. Expect an aggressive post spawn bite in 6-12 feet of water the next week or so. Catfish are shallow on wind blown points with cut bait. Largemouth bass are staging on secondary points hitting slow moving swimbaits, or along grass edges with chatterbaits. White bass should be hitting in the creeks. Report by Daniel Koberna, Lt. Dan’s Crappie Co.
Richland Chambers
FAIR. Water normal stain; 68 degrees; 0.05 feet above pool. White bass are good scattered on main lake points and humps in 25-35 feet of water with slabs and jigs. Check out Pelican Island for some of the best white bass fishing of the spring! Hybrid striper action is fair with live bait anglers off the 309 Flats and Windsock Point. Eater size blue and channel catfish have slowed, but are fair on punch bait in shallow water on the Richland Creek Arm of the Lake. Chum with Range Cubes. Blue catfish are in the shallow water on the main lake windblown points. Crappie are in 2-4 feet of water on minnows in the creek tributaries. The shallow water spawn bite is improving daily. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin' Guide Service.
Somerville
SLOW. Water stained; 68 degrees; 2.11 feet below pool. Spring is slow coming to the lake. At the Marina the crappie bite is good, bluegill are fair on crickets or worms, the catfish are fair on minnows or punch bait. On the lake crappie are fair on jigs and minnows over brush in 10-20 feet of water. Crappie are full of eggs and close to spawning. Catfish are fair in 3-10 feet of water with cut shad or punch bait. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in 2-8 feet of water. Bass are spawning. White bass are excellent trolling with various spoons or anchored with shad and ghost minnows. Hybrids are fair with many undersized fish being caught in deeper water using cut bait or mussels. Below the dam fishing is slow, since no water is being released. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.
Stillhouse
GOOD. Water stained; 65 degrees; 3.64 feet below pool. There are mature white bass now returning from the spawn, there are white bass up in the tributaries spawning, and there are white bass yet to spawn. Stillhouse white bass tend to scoot right through the upper third of the lake after spawning. The fishing is tough, and will be until at least the third week of April. After the sun has risen and been up around 40 minutes, look at the 30-34 feet edges of slow tapering areas for sluggish fish, presenting white or chrome, 3/4 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs to them by dropping to bottom and reeling smoothly and continuously for about five cranks. Largemouth bass continue to move shallower with the spring warm-up. Medium sized soft plastics 6-8 inches in length with dark, natural hues fished with a Carolina rig are producing well, as are white, single blade spinnerbaits with a silver blade in the heaviest wood cover in coves and in the Lampasas River. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
Tawakoni
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 0.40 feet above pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady to this spring pattern. Water temperature on the main lake is 55 degrees and the upper ends are closer to 60 degrees. The hybrid striper and white bass bite is still slow on the main lake, but we are seeing signs of fish finally showing up. The creeks and rivers are still fishing good on small inline spinners, jigs and roadrunners. The trophy catfish bite is great. Consistently seeing fish up to 60 pounds being landed daily including a whopper of 74.5 pounds landed. Target fish in 2-20 feet with fresh cut gizzard shad and drum. The eating sized catfish bite has kicked off with great numbers of quality 2-5 pound fish in 5-15 feet on wind blown banks and small pieces of fresh shad. The crappie bite continues to improve in shallow and mid depths. Jigs are good in knee deep water, buck brush and grass. Shallow bridge pilings and dock pilings are good. Largemouth bass bite has improved. On warmer days bass are good on rip-rap with squarebill crankbaits, senkos and spinnerbaits in 4-12 feet. Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.
Texoma
FAIR. Water stained; 60 degrees; 2.98 feet below pool. Target striped bass on structure, ledges and humps in 15-35 feet of water with swimbaits. Fish are roaming deep flats in 40-55 feet of water, with good numbers anchoring up with live bait. Crappie fishing will pick up with the rains and look for fish to move towards creeks. Bigger fish will be roaming 8-12 feet on flats and numbers will be on brush and structure in the mouths of coves and creeks. Jigs and minnows. Bass are near creeks and docks on crankbaits and jerkbaits. Fish will be in small schools, so spend time in a spot you catch one. Spawning fish will be moving up with the inflow and warmer temperature. Catfishing is slow as fish have scattered and they have plenty of bait to eat. Look for numbers in deeper water along ledges on whole shad. Bigger fish will move up with the inflow. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass are active under the birds. Fish on the structure are hitting Alabama rigs or swimbaits, and open water fish can be caught with live bait or swimbaits. The spawn is in full swing. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.
Weatherford
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 64 degrees; 5.20 feet below pool. Crappie are primarily suspended near the dam, but some can be found shallow and in the crappie house. There are still a few in the crappie house and in boat slips. Bass are fair with soft plastics and crankbaits in shallow water near spawning areas. Catfish are slow in deep water and around rocks.
Whitney
GOOD. Water normal stain; 60 degrees; 0.29 feet above pool. Fishing patterns continue to hold. Striped bass are good with live bait in 25-30 feet of water. Catfish are good using cut bait in shallow water. Crappie are beginning to move up the rivers in shallow water in preparation for spawning. White bass are good on slabs in 20-25 feet of water. Largemouth bass are good using soft plastics on deep structure. Report by Captain Cory Vinson, Guaranteed Guide Service.
Worth
FAIR. Water normal stain; 64 degrees; 2.74 feet below pool. White bass are fair on windblown structure using paddle tail swimbaits, and inline spinners. Crappie are fair to good in boat slips and on brush on jigs and shallow on jigs and good reports have been coming from the river. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on punch bait and shad in multiple depths. Patterns are changing daily due to warm and cool days. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.
