Arlington
GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.39 feet above pool. Conditions are still the same.. Bass continue to be shallow, or on deep points with crankbaits. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Athens
GOOD. Water normal stain; 84 degrees; 0.32 feet above pool. Summer fishing patterns are holding steady. Bass are good in grass in 8-12 feet of water with Texas rig worms, wacky rig senkos and crankbaits. Bass are good on brush in 15-18 feet of water with spoons and Texas rig worms. Crappie are slow on small jigs over brush. Report by Reagan Nelson, Lake Athens Bass Guide. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Bastrop
GREAT. Water stained; 90 degrees. Lake Bastrop schooling bass are good throwing small clear topwaters, small swimbaits in shad colors on a tiny ball jig head, underspins, a small belly weight hook, or drag a shaky head with a watermelon based color trick worm. A Carolina rigged fluke or finesse worm works great on the ledges and a frog around the reeds can land a bigger bass. Wake baits have been decent as well. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. There is some schooling action in the evenings, but the bass are finicky. The shad are small so use smaller profile baits, or small jerkbaits for a reaction bite. Bass are good with clear topwaters and beetle spins early morning and late. Work light weighted Carolina rigs with small profile green plastics in 20-30 feet of water on main lake points, drops and humps, or big flats in front of the discharge 18-25 feet of water. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Belton
FAIR. Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.76 feet below pool. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now releasing water at a rate of 300 CFS to shed accumulated flood water. Abundant, long-lasting topwater action has been the big draw for the last two weeks as large schools of white bass, some with hundreds of individual fish, rise to the surface in the morning to pin mainly small, slow-swimming young-of-the-year shad up against the surface. This past week was not as strong or reliable as the week prior. Mornings with enough wind to ripple the surface, but not to the point of whitecapping, with cloud cover make the occurrence of topwater action much more likely. Although most bait will catch fish in these frenzies eventually, by choosing a bait which resembles the size, shape, and color of the young-of-the-year shad, the opportunity exists to catch a fish on every cast. Cork Rig with a #2 grey and white or olive and white streamers will produce catches. The cork gives the rig weight for long casts and produces commotion on the surface, while the nearly weightless streamer imitates the small shad. If topwater is absent, downrigging is the next best option to cover water. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfish are fair. As the majority of catfish are finishing spawning activity the bite should continue to increase. Shallow water around timber with fresh shad or prepared bait can produce smaller blue catfish under 10 pounds. Flatheads are fair on live bluegill around river mouths and log piles. Channel catfish are good over baited holes and around brush piles using punch bait. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Benbrook
GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.00 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and crankbaits. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch baits. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid striped bass are good early morning on live bait in 20-40 feet of water. Report by Hundley’s Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Bois d'Arc
GOOD. water normal stain; 83 degrees; 0.18 feet above pool. Bass are good early around pond weed with frogs, and rage swimmers. Chatterbaits are working on the outside edge of the pond weed in 3-5 feet. Big timber and small creeks in the timber are good with Texas rigs with beavers or creature baits 4-12 feet. Bass are good offshore in 15-26 feet on brush piles, rock, pond dams and long flats with bushes fish the drop off spot with big worms, and big creatures baits. Deep crankbaits have been good over pond dams and structure offshore in 18-25 feet. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. The lake level is being lowered slowing the bite. As the water stabilizes the bite should improve but the dog days of summer are approaching. Crappie limits are still possible but will take some time. Target fish on timber from 15-30 feet of water with minnows over jigs. The key will be to cover water to catch the active fish, do not beg them to bite. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Bridgeport
FAIR. Water normal stain; 87 degrees; 0.04 feet above pool. Crappie are good in the morning then become sluggish as the days heats up. Largemouth bass are good off main lake points and rocks using Texas rigs and deep crankbaits. Hybrids and white bass are good using slabs and live shad on main lake humps. Catfish are fair using cut shad and big live minnows. Report by Jack Pellegrini, Lake Bridgeport Crappie Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Cedar Creek
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.07 feet above pool. Big numbers of white bass and several trophy-class hybrid stripers have hit the deck. We are consistently finding the best action in 15–22 feet of water. Good go-to setups include a variety of slabs, sometimes paired with 2–3 jigs above, and the always-reliable yellow bladed jig using the proven saw tooth retrieve technique. Trolling spoons at 3 mph in 13–17 feet of water absolutely crushed the white bass. Water temperatures are currently holding around 83 degrees and will continue to rise as summer heats up over the next couple of weeks. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Catfish are good anchoring on humps in 12-24 feet using small shad or cut shad on the bottom. Drifting larger cut bait like carp, drum or big gizzard shad on flats in 10-25 feet all around the lake. Report by Jason Barber, Kings Creek Adventures. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Comanche Creek
0.38 feet above pool. Comanche Creek is closed for the summer and will reopen in October.
Cooper
GOOD. Water stained; 80 degrees: 0.50 feet below pool. As the summer temperatures increase the water temperature target crappie are in deeper timber along the river channel, and brush piles. Start on the edge of the timber line working towards the dam then to the timber in coves. Summer bite is typically best on live bait. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
Cypress Springs
FAIR: Water normal stain; 83 degrees; 0.28 feet above pool. There is a very distinct thermocline in the lake, so be sure to fish above. Bass are plentiful and patrolling structure in the 20 foot range. Crappie can be caught in large numbers on timber and brush just above the thermocline. Crappie are biting minnows mainly. Channel catfish are being caught in the 15-20 feet on all types of baits. Report by Chris Caswell, Lake Bob Sandlin Crappie Fishing Guide. Crappie are excellent on brush piles and docks but you will have to weed through numbers of small fish to catch a limit. Minnows are outperforming jigs. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Eagle Mountain
FAIR. Water normal stain; 85 degrees; 0.21 feet above pool. Thermocline has set in 25-30 feet of water. Catfish are good on manufactured baits 20 feet of water on deep water humps and points. Sand bass are fair to good on chartreuse and white slabs in 15-20 feet of water on ridges south of Pelican Island. Sand bass are schooling in the lights at night biting medium diving crankbaits and rattle traps. Crappie are fair to good on jigs or live bait on brush piles and rock piles. Perch are good along the banks and docks with worms under a cork. Bass Report by Captain Bobby Mann, Catch a Dream Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Fayette
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 92 degrees. Bass are good 20 feet of water biting deep diving crankbaits, shaky heads and Carolina rigs. The bite slows midday. Perch can be caught from the bank to 10 feet of water on nightcrawlers. Report by Mark Fransen, Fransen’s Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Graham
FAIR. Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.33 feet above pool. Bass are slow. Crappie are slow on minnows. Sand bass and hybrids are good schooling on the main lake flats with spoons. Catfish are good in the mouths of creeks. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Granbury
GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.12 feet below pool. Granbury water temperatures are in the middle 80’s on the main lake and even hotter in the back of sloughs. The lake is settling out but be cautious of floating debris. Schooling sandbass are numerous and are good on little georges, in-line spinners and slabs. Sandbass are schooling from Indian Harbor to the dam. Striped bass are slow to fair on live shad and trolled jigs mainly on the lower ends. Largemouth bass are good to 7lbs on main lake points and in the back of sloughs chasing shad. Catfish are good at night on prepared and cut bait on many areas of the lake. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Grapevine
GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.60 feet above pool. White bass are good on humps with slabs. Some blue herons and egrets are working, but primarily standing along the banks. Water level continues to be high, so check ramp status before heading out. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Hawkins
GOOD. Water slightly stained. 80 degrees. Topwater lures early and late will produce good black bass action. Bream should be making their move shallow for their spawn. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Jacksonville
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 90 degrees; 0.15 feet above pool. The lake is clearing up in places, but still a little murky. Bass are biting on jigs and soft plastics in 6-15 feet on brush and structure. Schoolers can be caught on rattletraps and swimbaits. Topwater bite is fair in the mornings. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Joe Pool
GREAT. Water normal stain; 80 degrees; 0.66 above pool. The lake is over the pool and dropping 2 inches a day. Water temps are in the low 80s, and holding steady. Bass can be found shallow during the early morning hours before the sun rises on topwaters and small soft plastics Texas rigged. Look for shore grass with some water depth, and submerged pond weed. The shallow fish will be your 12-14 inches fish with the occasional slot fish. Once the sun rises up the bite moves out to mid depths 5-12 feet of water. Here you can use soft plastics and mid depth crankbaits in shad colors. Look for timber and submerged brush and structure. Larger slot fish and occasional oversized bass are in this depth range. You have to time it right due to there being bite windows where they feed then shut off. If you are not getting bit keep moving. Crappie are out on your favorite summer deep spots on minnows. Please wear your life jacket and be mindful of the weather. Be sure to always have safety equipment, bilge pumps, batteries on board because it could save your life. Stay safe and wear your life jacket! Report by Gilbert Miller, GTB Outdoors. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Lavon
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.64 feet above pool. Bass are great in 3-6 feet of water on hard structure and flooded solitary brush and stumps with shallow square bill crankbaits in crawfish red. The best bite is from 6-9 a.m. Crappie can be caught in 7-9 feet of water on laydowns, or on deep piles in 25 feet. The bite is inconsistent, but the fish are huge. Best bite is on minnows, hair jigs, and 1/16 ounce soft plastics. If fish are nosing down and avoiding the lure or bait, downsize the jig to a 1/32 ounce or smaller. Match the shad hatch which is just about an inch long right now. White bass are excellent with catches of 14-15 inch fish possible. Target main lake points in 10-20 feet of water. If there is a lot of bait in the area, the sandies are there somewhere. When the fish surface cast topwaters, but throwing a swimbait can catch bigger fish. Smaller fish cannot get their mouth around the hook gap on a quarter ounce lead head. Also, if you throw a topwater bait, there are two dangling travel hooks that you have to deal with versus one on a swimbait. If fish are not surfacing use a 1 ounce white slab. Channel catfish are good on baited holes in 5-15 feet of water with punch bait, chicken liver, shad one to two cranks off the bottom or under a bobber if in shallow water. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Lewisville
FAIR. Water normal stain; 82 degrees; 0.60 feet above pool. White bass are slow to fair on points and humps in 15-32 feet of water with slabs, spoons, spinnerbaits and live bait. Keeper sized hybrid stripers are fair in similar depths. 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 anchored or drifting humps and flats in 15-32 feet of water. Channel catfish are good on baited holes on humps and points, and riprap in 15-28 feet of water on cut shad or punch bait. Crappie are fair in 15-28 feet of water on brush piles, submerged timber, and submerged cover near drop-offs with minnows and jigs. Report by Wes Campbell, BendARod Fishing. Water clarity is about 1 foot. Largemouth bass can be caught shallow around bushes and rock in 5 feet of water. Hybrid striper 20-30 feet of water near creek channels with live bait or slabs. Crappie are on main lake brush in 15-20 feet of water or cruising deep hard bottom flats. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Limestone
GOOD. Water normal stain; 90 degrees; 0.10 feet above pool. Crappie are in 10-18 feet of water on power lines, standing timber, or offshore brush with minnows. White bass are in 7-17 feet of water with slabs. Catfish are good in 10-20 feet with cutbait, or large minnows. Largemouth bass are good in 4-14 feet of water with boat docks, bulkheads, and rocks with chatterbaits, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and spinnerbaits. Report by Colan Gonzales, Lake Limestone Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Navarro Mills
SLOW. Water stained; 75 degrees; 4.04 feet above pool. Few anglers on the lake as the lake continues to drop. White bass are slow and difficult to find. Crappie are slow on brush piles hitting jigs or minnows. Seeing more than normal yellow catfish on brush piles and near docks. Catfish are good for eaters with shad and perch. Largemouth bass are slow. Report by Navarro Mills Marina. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Palestine
GOOD. Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Crappie are good on brush in 14 feet of water with minnows, or in timber in 18-25 feet of water with jigs. Channel catfish and small blue catfish are good near reading walls with stink bait or cut bait. Bass are good in 4-7 feet of water with senkos. White bass are good around sunrise in the morning on main lake points with small rattletraps or shallow diving crankbaits. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Palo Pinto
SLOW. Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.03 feet above pool. Lake conditions are looking good. Catfish are good in 8-10 feet of water with cut bait. Crappie are in the brush. Sand bass and hybrids are slow. Report by Lake Palo Pinto RV Park. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Ray Hubbard
GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.10 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. White bass are excellent in the mornings with surface activity common on the flats. Throw small swimbaits, tail spinners or rattle traps. Later in the morning white bass are moving out to deeper water on long points, road beds and levees. Crappie are related to brush piles in 12-18 feet of water. Crappie are showing up at bridge columns and moving around drop-offs going from structure to structure. Catfish are good in wooded timber 15-18 feet of water prepared punch bait. Chumming will help bring the schools into your areas. Report by John Varner, John Varner's Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Ray Roberts
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.32 feet above pool. Summer patterns are holding steady. Largemouth bass are in 18-25 feet of water primarily on rock piles with 10 inch worms, crankbaits and football jigs. The best bass bite is flipping shallow cover early in the morning. Crappie are good in brush piles and timber in 18-25 feet of water. Sand bass are on humps and points in 20-25 feet of water with slabs. Blue catfish are good in 20-25 feet of water on humps and flats with live shad. Channel catfish are good in 10-25 feet of water on flats. Report by Daniel Koberna, Lt. Dan’s Crappie Co. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Richland Chambers
FAIR. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.13 feet above pool. The lake is six inches above full pool with four spillway gates open. Bardwell Lake and Navarro Mills Lake are both about five feet over pool level, so expect the spillway gates to be open for another week or so. The main lake still has clear water and the creeks are stained. White bass are slow and we are still waiting on the typical summer topwater action. A few fish can be caught in shallow water and on creek points and humps in 10-15 feet of water. Hybrid striper action is good with live shad off the 309 Flats, Windsock Point and the South Shoreline near Cherry Mountain. Blue catfish are fair on cut bait and shad on windblown points. Eater size blue catfish and channel catfish can be caught on punch bait on windblown points out to 20 feet of water. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin' Guide Service. Water is stained but stable and is in the upper 80s. Topwater or a glide bait shallow early should produce some bass, then target docks around points on the main lake after that. When the morning bite slows, target the thickest brush piles and fish them with deep diving crankbaits and then a 10 inch worm. Crankbaits are likely to get hung up, so carry a lure retriever with you. It is a good time to catch a big fish and maybe several. Good fishing Terry Hawkins Guide Service. Report by Terry Hawkins Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Somerville
GOOD. Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.93 feet above pool. At the Marina the crappie bite is fair, and the catfish are fair on minnows or punch bait and bluegill are fair on crickets or worms. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows over brush in 8-18 feet of water. Catfish are good in 10-15 feet of water with cut shad or punch bait. Black bass are slow on crankbaits and shiny spinnerbaits in 6-14 feet of water. White bass are good trolling with various spoons or anchored with shad and ghost minnows. Hybrids are good in deeper water using cut bait or jigs. Below the dam all species are fair with 189 CFS of water being released. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Stillhouse
GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.76 feet below pool. The water is warming rapidly and the fish are suspending more and more each day. The two drivers for this stratification of the water by temperature which will eventually lead to the creation of the thermocline by mid-June, and the increasing presence of young-of-the-year shad making their way into open water. When fish are suspended, utilize 2-D sonar, traditional sonar or colored sonar, as the three-dimensional cone it makes use of extends the echo signature of the fish into long arches which are larger and much more easily seen on a screen then the shorter "rice grain" signatures seen on side-imaging and down-imaging. The MAL Heavy with silver blade and chartreuse tail is my goto when the fish are aggressive, and downrigging with Pet Spoons is my backup plan when the fish are not aggressive. The MAL shows up remarkably well on forward-facing sonar and 2-D sonar. Drop it either to the bottom if fish are on bottom, or below the level of suspended fish, and crank it up at a steady cadence at least two cranks above the fish showing highest in the water column. If a chase occurs, keep cranking at that same steady cadence until the fish either catches it, or turns away. When a strike occurs, keep right on cranking without a hard hookset. On the downriggers, run balls just 1-2 feet above the shallowest fish showing on 2-D sonar. Mornings are best, from 7:20-10:15 a.m. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Tawakoni
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.46 feet above pool. Fishing has been good on Tawakoni as we work our way into a solid summer pattern. Hybrid striper and white bass are good on swim baits, slab spoons and live bait in 17-35 feet. Fish are following to the bait fish. Find the bait, find the fish. Eating sized catfish are rock solid and limits are pretty easy right now. Fish are biting on prepared baits such as punch bait and dip baits. Best depths have been 12-25 feet. Crappie are good on bridge columns and shallow brush on jigs and minnows. Best depths have been 12-18 feet. Largemouth bass are good at daylight on frogs in the pads and mid morning and evening on shallow cranks, flukes and smaller rattle traps on shallow points. Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Texoma
FAIR. Water stained; 84 degrees; 2.44 feet above pool. Striper fishing is good on ledges and humps. Fish are moving quickly on contour in 15-20 feet of water, or suspended 30 feet down on deep humps in 50-70 feet of water on live shad. Topwater baits will be hit-and-miss in the mornings and late evenings before dark. Channel and blue catfish are great on points and ledges in 25-30 feet of water using punch bait. Bigger blues are roaming deeper water flats in 50-70 feet of water, cut shad and whole gizzard shad are working. Bass fishing is good near docks and rocks on crankbaits and quick moving baits. Look for pockets of clearer water and fish to be suspended. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass are tough with an inconsistent bite. The flood gates have been closed and the bite should improve as the water settles. Best bite has been with live bait or trolling 20-30 feet of water. Some reports of catches anchored in deep water. Still waiting for the small threadfin shad to run midlake. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Weatherford
FAIR. Water stained; 85 degrees; 3.02 feet below pool. Crappie are good in 15 feet of water on brush piles with minnows and jigs. Bass are slow on soft plastics or crankbaits in deeper water. Catfish are fair with cut bait and shad on rocks. Water clarity is 7 inches. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Whitney
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 82 degrees; 0.29 feet above pool. Water level has risen a few feet but the bite remains consistent. Catfish are fair using cut bait in 25-30 feet of water. Striped bass bite is fair on live bait in 25-30 feet of water. Crappie are on main lake brush piles in 15-30 feet of water. White bass fishing is good on slabs on main lake humps in 25-30 feet of water. Largemouth bass fishing is good using soft plastics on deep structure. Report by Captain Cory Vinson, Guaranteed Guide Service. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
Worth
FAIR. Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.06 feet above pool. Reports of catches of carp with bait balls. Catfish can be caught on punch bait. Anticipate increased boater traffic this weekend as we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day.
