Sports
Prairies & Lakes Region fishing report
By TPWD
Feb 14, 2025
Arlington
GOOD. Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.19 feet above pool. Bass are good with creature baits, jigs and moving baits. Water clarity is 1 foot.
Athens
SLOW. Water normal stain; 63 degrees; 0.51 feet above pool. Bass are slow and can be caught in grass 8-15 feet with Texas rig worms, wacky rig senkos and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow on small jigs over deep brush 25 feet. Report by Reagan Nelson, Lake Athens Bass Guide.
Bastrop
GOOD. Water stained; 63 degrees. Bass can be caught utilizing a slow approach in deep water with deep crankbait or jigs around ledges, or a Carolina rigged finesse worm. There is now very little grass on the lake. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.
Belton
FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees; 2.36 feet below pool. The record setting warming trend last week rapidly warmed the upper layer of the water by about 7 degrees from January 31 to February 8. This resulted in some early white bass spawn-related movement. By the time the cold front hit on Sunday, February 9, there were fish strung from the main basin near the dam, all the way throughout both the Cowhouse and Leon arms, with some fish making it to just shy of the spawning areas. The cold and wet weather this week will likely neither encourage nor discourage further movement. After the warming experienced in the upper 15-20 feet of the lake, suspended fish have become much more abundant. These fish tend to be much more aggressive than the colder fish hugging the bottom in 25-plus feet of water. Suspended fish can be accessed using a countdown method by casting, counting to a certain number which you estimate gives the lure time to fall to the 20 feet level, then retrieving it back. When success is had, that countdown number is repeated for continued success. Choosing baits to match the local forage size is prudent. Flatline trolling, though perhaps not as engaging, is beginning to produce, as well. Helpful bird activity still present. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfish are fair. Blue catfish can be found along deeper river channels in 25-50 feet of water. Drifting at slower speeds with fresh cut shad has worked best. Channel catfish have been poor. Flatheads have been slow but can be found around tree piles and rock ledges using live bait. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.
Benbrook
GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.32 feet below pool. Catfish are fair in deeper water. Perch are good in shallow water. Crappie are fair on structure with live minnows. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are shallow around structure using chatterbaits and Texas rigged worms.
Bois d'Arc
SLOW. water stained; 54 degrees; 3.02 feet below pool. Water is still low with water temperature in 52-56 degrees. Suspending jerkbaits and flukes are good around bushes and timber in 4-8 feet. Windy banks have produced a few fish with moving baits like spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and squarebill crankbaits in 3-6 feet. Carolina rigs are fair on offshore brush piles and pond dams in 10-22 feet. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Expect the crappie to become stationary to reserve energy. If the water temperature drops into the 30s a shad kill is possible. If this happens crappie will feed on the shad and follow the fish deep to feed. Crappie are good in 20-60 feet of water on timber in the creek channels. 1-5 fish in a tree but occasionally there will be 20-50 fish. The best approach is a light line with an ¨û ounce jig. The primary species being caught is black crappie. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
Bridgeport
GOOD. Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 8.90 feet below pool. Lake Bridgeport is close to nine feet low. Water temperatures are in the high 40s to low 50s. Water clarity is good, all ramps are open. Hybrids and Sand Bass are fair on soft plastics and slabs. Look around the structure in the north end toward the river. If the fish are there you may find them stacked up and ready to bite. Crappie are in prespawn mode. Look for brush piles near main lake points and creek mouths. Jigs and minnows should produce. Catfish are good on cut bait, look at deep flats north but also look shallow around cormorant roosts. Largemouth bass are also in pre-spawn mode. Check points at the near coves with a flat billed crankbait or a firetiger jerkbait. Keep the jig and pig combo handy for a change of pace. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.
Cedar Creek
GOOD. stained; 48 degrees; 0.38 feet below pool. The pattern is consistent. The hybrid and white bass winter deadsticking bite is on fire! Use half ounce to 1-1/2 ounce jigs with 4-5 inch plastic flukes depending on what the winds are and drift long lengths of the lake in the deepest water 35-55 feet. Drift at speeds of .2-.6 mph using your drift mode on your trolling motor or using drift socks. If the winds are not too bad you can just drift with the wind. Thumping on the bottom of your boat will attract fish and group them up underneath as you drift. Utilizing a splasher also works well with thumping. You will find the fish suspended between 22-28 feet when deadstricking. Look for Birds and Loons early mornings on shallow flats as the fish will come up to follow the bait and feed early especially on cloudier and colder days. The crappie bite has been tough with reports of fish being scattered. Target crappie with small jigs and minnows in 7-15 feet under bridge pylons, hidden brush piles throughout the lake or under docks. Crappie fisherman have been moving spot to spot finding limits. Lots of crappies in the 7-9 inch range. Limits of crappie will happen but you may catch a lot of small ones getting to your limit. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck¡¯s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Catfish continue to be deep with a few fish shallow. The water clarity is stained to slightly stained heading south. The best catfish bite is drifting from 18-35 feet using cut shad or rough fish along the bottom. Report by Jason Barber, Kings Creek Adventures.
Comanche Creek
GOOD. 55 degrees; 0.25 feet above pool. Comanche Creek continues to boast numbers of largemouth bass and channel catfish. Largemouth bass are good to 7 pounds on soft plastics fished near channel breaks. Limits of channel catfish are good on prepared baits. This power plant lake is open Thursday through Sunday and requires a reservation. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.
Cooper
SLOW. Water stained; 50 degrees: 2.00 feet below pool. The lake is low, best to launch near the dam. Historically a strong cold front will shut the bite off when the water temperature is 43 degrees or lower. Expect the crappie to become stationary to reserve energy. If the water temperature drops into the 30s a shad kill is possible. If this happens crappie will feed on the shad and follow the fish deep to feed. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.
Cypress Springs
FAIR: Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 0.69 feet above pool. Bass are good continuing to push shallower to stage for the spawn. Areas near spawning flats with deeper water access and standing timber have been the most productive. Throwing an Alabama rig in deeper water, or a flat sided square bill or jerkbait in 8-10 feet of water has worked well. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service.
Eagle Mountain
GOOD. Water normal stain; 49 degrees; 4.58 feet below pool. White bass are fair on main lake structure on slabs and in mid depths on chartreuse and white cocahoes. Crappie are fair in open water roaming patterns and in mid depths and main lake structure on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait on structure. The report was provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.
Fairfield
Closed to the public.
Fayette
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 62 degrees. Largemouth bass are good in shallow water with shaky heads, Carolina rigs, chatterbaits and rattle traps. Most bass are pushing shallow to spawn. Report by Mark Fransen, Fransen¡¯s Guide Service.
Graham
FAIR. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.85 feet above pool. Fishing is still a little slow for bass. Crappie are good in deeper water near brush in 17 feet on minows and jigs. Sand bass and hybrids are schooling around the hot water outlet. Catfish are good out deep near creek channels drifting cut shad.
Granbury
GOOD. Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.05 feet below pool. The lake continues to be a full pool and water temperatures are in the middle to upper 50s. Sand bass have started their spawning run near main lake points and in the river near Tin Top. Many are still holding in deep water as well. Sand bass are good on roadrunners and small jigs and slab combinations. Striped bass to 14 pounds are scattered on many areas of the lake and are holding in deep water near bait schools. Striped bass are good on 3-5 inch soft plastics worked in deep water. Largemouth bass are good near main lake points and in deeper holes up river with soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie action is good with small jigs on submerged structures from Water¡¯s Edge to Stockton Bend. Big blue and yellow catfish continue to be good to 30 pounds on the upper ends on cut-bait. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.
Grapevine
GOOD. Water Slightly stained; 51 degrees; 0.63 feet above pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady with the best bite on bright sunshine days. Water clarity has improved. White bass are in the main creek channel in 50-52 feet of water with fish suspended 40 feet down. Utilize a thumper and white slabs on a stinger hook with a small jig head with a power gulp minnow tied two feet above. Drop bait to the bottom with a slow retrieve to the fish. Catfish are mixed in below the white bass. Bait fish are along the north bank. Some smaller keeper size male sand bass in the creeks staging for the spawn. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O¡¯the Irish Fishing Guide Service.
Hawkins
GOOD. Water slightly stained. 55 degrees. Larger Chain Pickerel should be ready to spawn in shallow water. Focus on areas with stumps, brush, and vegetation, and do not forget to de-barb your hooks. Small bass are active in shallow areas relating to vegetation and structure. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.
Jacksonville
SLOW. Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.22 feet above pool. Water is muddy in the creeks, temps in the upper 60s. Bass are biting shallow on soft plastics, rattle traps, and chatterbaits. Some bass are schooled up in deep water hitting crankbaits.
Joe Pool
SLOW. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 1.22 above pool. This warming trend will have some fish up shallow until the forecasted cold front kicks them back out to deeper water. It is a great time to target a big largemouth bass. Look for creeks leading up to shallow flats. Bass will travel to shallow water so look for the first major piece of structure on the travel route. Crappie can be found schooled up on deep brush piles or flooded timber. Report by Gilbert Miller, GTB Outdoors.
Lavon
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 0.81 feet below pool. Warming trend in the forecast followed by another cold front. The fishing patterns are consistent. Crappie are in 20-30 feet of water on brush piles and deep submerged timber. There are a few fish sitting 15-18 feet on the structure. Crappie are hugging the bottom so you have to let a ¨û ounce hand tied jig touch the bottom and then slowly lift to entice a bite. Minnows or soft plastics of any color will produce fish. A lot of times in the winter they will hit it in the fall so be prepared. Use a bigger profile lure, so keep a couple 1/8 ounce jig heads. You can also find Fish spider rigging, or dragging a jig through the depth of the baitfish. Sometimes the fish will be laying on the bottom next to the dam, usually no more than 100 yards off the rocks. Fish are laying at the base of the riprap where it turns into silt, and on the first tier of the riprap going underwater up to the rocks, to the dam. White bass are in 20-30 feet primarily on deepwater humps and levees, but some will be on points. Thumping the boat making noise will attract them to the boat if they are in the area. Slabs and 3-4 inch flukes have been getting them. Black bass are in 1-5 feet on rocks or concrete, and in 5-10 feet of water shoreline structure. Texas rigs and bass jigs are pulling them out of 15-20 feet deep brush piles. The swimbait bite dragged a couple inches or so above brush piles has been stellar. Along with Alabama rigs if you can take the arm beating, it gives you. If you have side imaging, scan to find any kind of anomalies that these fish can hold on. A lot of the fish are out in open water suspended at 20-30 feet with stick baits and lead heads with a soft plastic paddle tail. Blue catfish are great in 35-40, and there is also a nice population in 5-10 feet of water. Bigger fish seem to be shallow with a lot of eaters out in the deeper water. Drag cut gizzard shad, drum, sunfish and carp on a Santee rig behind the boat at approximately .03-.05 mph. Every day the school moves so you have to locate them. One day they¡¯ll be on one side of the lake and the next they will we have traveled 3 to 4 miles to the other side of the lake. There is a great school of 15-25 pound fish roaming out there and once you find them, it can be an incredible outcome. If the wind suddenly changes directions, you will notice on your side imaging, the catfish are now laying in the mud and are not giving you a sonar shadow, but you can see them, sitting there. When they do have a shadow that means they are on the hunt and those fish are catchable. To chase monsters sit 3-10 feet on the north end of the lake. Bluegills are becoming harder to find in numbers but can be found in 20-30 feet of water brush piles. The dam has trees and brush bluegill and crappie are mixed in. Worms on a very small hook and a split shot above just to keep it in the strike zone will still produce a nice table of fish. Crickets have been king as they also catch a few crappies. Using a cricket cage bait holder is imperative. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.
Lewisville
FAIR. Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.54 feet below pool. White bass are fair to good on deep flats and in river channels in 42-64 feet of water with jigs, slabs, and live bait. Keeper sized hybrid stripers are fair 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 drifting cut shad on main lake flats near the river channel, and in the river channel in 20-55 feet of water. Crappie are fair in 4-38 feet of water on brush piles, bridge pilings, and submerged cover near a drop-off ledge with minnows and jigs. The feeder creeks are producing as well. Report by Wes Campbell, BendARod Fishing.
Limestone
GOOD. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 1.82 feet below pool. After this cold front anticipate the fishing pattern to begin to transition to the spring time patterns. Water clarity is clear on the main lake with a slight stain in creeks from big rain this week. Catfish, crappie and largemouth bass are suspended this week. Catfish are on main lake points in 5-20 feet of water with cut bait and fresh shad. Crappie are in 10-18 feet on brush, standing timber and power line columns with minnows. A lot of crappie are roaming the creek channels getting ready to push to the creeks for the spawn. Largemouth bass are in 8 feet of water On docks, rocks and bulkheads with Texas rigs and chatterbaits. White bass are on main lake points, mouths of creeks biting silver jigging spoons, squarebill cranksbaits, rattle traps. Many are funneling through the 3371 Bridge headed up the Navasota River to spawn in the river. The main lake is 51-55 degrees and the back of creeks is 59 degrees. Many fish cleaned this week had fully developed egg sacks. 60 degrees is the magic number for the fish to push shallow and it will be any day now. Report by Colan Gonzales, CG¡¯s Just Fishing Guide Service.
Navarro Mills
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 48 degrees; 0.30 feet above pool. Crappie are slowly staging shallow for the spawn. Crappie are in 6-8 feet of water off the docks and brushier areas hitting minnows. Catfish are good throughout the lake on cut bait. Starting to see white bass along the banks biting minnows. Report by Navarro Mills Marina.
Palestine
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.58 feet above pool. Before the cold front bass and crappie were spawning along the banks. Another front is in the forecast, but expect to see fish return to the shallows to continue to spawn after another warming trend. Target bass secondary points and ditches near spawning grounds with a slow approach worm, jig or brush hog. Crappie can be found 4-30 feet of water. Trophy catfish continue to be good in 2-6 feet of water with cut shad or live bream. Eater catfish are good with prepared baits in 2-6 feet. Feeding heavily in flooded vegetation.
Palo Pinto
GOOD. Water normal stain; 52 degrees; 0.23 feet below pool. Big blue catfish are biting in 2-18 feet of water on cut bait, or shad. Crappie are plentiful schooling in deep water. Crappie will start to transition to spawning beds as the water temperature continues to increase. Sand bass and hybrids are fair on roadrunners and spoons early in the morning. Black bass are slow. Report by Lake Palo Pinto RV Park.
Ray Hubbard
GOOD. Water stained; 45 degrees; 0.13 feet above pool. White bass are in big schools on the upper part of the lake before the I-30 Bridge. Look for big bait balls in 20-34 feet of water with 3/4 ounce slabs with 2 jigs tied above working best spread at least 16 inches apart. Hybrids are 1-3 feet off the bottom reeling 1 ounce jigheads with 4 inch flukes off the bottom. Drifting has been best with drift socks. Large numbers of white bass are showing up in the feeder creeks above the lake. Small roadrunner type baits and small crappie jigs are working. Crappie are fair on minnows related to brush in 18-28 feet of water. Crappie are moving on and off structure and starting to roam the deep flats. Catfish are good, drifting with cut bait on deep flats. Blue catfish up to 25-30 pounds can be caught making long drifts. Report by John Varner, John Varner's Guide Service.
Ray Roberts
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.68 feet below pool. White bass are good on live bait and slabs in 35-55 feet of water on deep water humps near creek channels. Blue catfish are good drifting or anchored with cut bait in 45-65 feet near the creek channels. Should start seeing some shallow catfish very soon. Report by Justin Wilson, Wilson Outdoor Connection.
Richland Chambers
FAIR. Water normal stain; 48 degrees; 0.12 feet above pool. Richland Chambers has gone through a lot of changes in the past two weeks as the water temperature was as low as 48 degrees and has now risen to 55 degrees. The lake is slightly above full pool with spillway gates open. The water clarity is muddy far up the major creeks, but clear on the main lake. This has all had a slightly negative impact on the overall fishing. White bass and small hybrids can be located in 35-40 feet of water on the Windsock Point and caught on slabs. Eatersize blue and channel catfish are fair punch bait in 30 feet of water in the Richland Creek Arm of the lake as well as scattered timber in coves on the south shoreline of the main lake. Chum with range cubes and fermented grain for best results. Drift fishing with cut bait or shad along creek channels and flats is producing trophy blue catfish for those looking for larger catfish and the patience for a slower bite. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin' Guide Service.
Somerville
SLOW. Water normal stain; 61 degrees; 2.25 feet below pool. Water temperature this week is 61 degrees, 10 degrees warmer than last week. Forecasted warmer weather for the weekend. At Somerville marina the crappie bite is fair, bluegill are fair on crickets and worms, and catfish are fair on minnows and punch bait. On the lake crappie are fair on jigs and minnow over brush 8-16 feet of water. Catfish are fair in 6-10 feet of water using cut shad or punch bait. Black bass are fair moving plastics in 6-12 feet of water. White bass slow, trolling with various spoons or anchored with shad and ghost minnows. Hybrids, slow in deeper water, using cut bait and mussels. Below the dam fishing is slow since there is no water being released. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.
Stillhouse
GOOD. Water stained; 54 degrees; 2.82 feet below pool. The record setting warming trend last week rapidly warmed the upper layer of the water by about 7 degrees from January 31 to February 8. This started some early spawn-related movement for white bass. By the time the cold front hit on Sunday, February 9, there were fish strung from the main basin near the dam all the way into the Lampasas River proper, with some fish making it to just shy of the spawning areas. This cold and wet weather this week will likely neither encourage nor discourage further movement. Suspended fish have become much more abundant after the warming experienced in the upper 15-20 feet of the lake. These fish tend to be more aggressive than the colder fish hugging the bottom in 25-plus feet of water. Suspended fish can be accessed using a countdown method by casting, counting to a certain number which you estimate gives the lure time to fall to the 20 feet level, then retrieving it back. When success is had, that countdown number is repeated for continued success. Choosing baits to match the local forage size is prudent. Flatline trolling, though perhaps not as engaging, is beginning to produce, as well. Helpful bird activity still present. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
Tawakoni
FAIR. Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; 0.56 feet below pool. Lake Tawakoni caught a lot of water over the last 10 days and is over full. At the start of the week ample water was going over the spillway. This adds an opportunity for anglers to catch white bass, hybrids and catfish behind the dam. The hybrid striper and white bass bite has been decent. Most of the fish on the main lake have moved towards the Sabine River. Targeting these fish has been tough as they have one thing on their mind. Trophy blue catfish have been great with a 69 pound and 81 pound catch this week, both were released to fight another day. Best depths have been 2-10 feet with drum, buffalo or gizzard shad. The eating sized catfish bite is picking up. With the warm water last week the smaller fish moved up shallow and bit well preferring small pieces of fresh shad. Crappie have remained steady on bridge pilings in 15-20 feet with jigs outfishing minnows. Largemouth bass are good last week as the shallows warmed up. Square bills and flukes worked best in 1-3 feet. Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.
Texoma
FAIR. Water stained; 48 degrees; 2.46 feet below pool. Striper fishing is good with the best bite on overcast days with north winds. Look for gulls feeding over loons and active fish in river channels and on ledges. Structure fish are holding to humps and ledges in 15-35 feet of water using soft plastics. As water temperatures start to fall, look for crappie in deeper water on brush and structure in 18-25 feet of water. Use jigs or a spinner near the bottom of the piles for bigger fish. Bass are hitting soft plastics and slow moving baits off the banks in 8-12 feet of water as fish are pulled to deeper water due to falling water temperature and lake levels. Bait fish are plentiful in deeper water along the bluffs and near rocks off the river channels. This is a great time of year to mark spots on the banks that may be underwater come spring and summer. Target catfish on shallow flats near the river and creek inlets. Trophy blue catfish will be roaming shallow water looking for big gizzard shad. Anchor up or drift whole shad in 10-30 feet of water off ledges and in ditches. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass are excellent on structure in 15-25 feet of water with Alabama rigs and swimbaits. Some fish can be caught deadsticking under the bird activity. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.
Weatherford
FAIR. Water heavily stained; 46 degrees; 4.88 feet below pool. Crappie are good in the Crappie House on jigs and minnows. Bass and catfish are slow deep and around rocks. Water visibility is 12 inches.
Whitney
GOOD. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.29 feet above pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Catfish are good using punch bait in 20-25 feet of water. Striped bass bite is good while dead sticking with flukes, or live bait in 30-45 feet of water. Crappie are good on small jigs and minnows in timber in 15-20 feet on the north end of the lake. White bass fishing is fair, some are being caught on flukes and slabs. Largemouth bass fishing is fair around the docks. Report by Captain Cory Vinson, Guaranteed Guide Service.
Worth
FAIR. Water normal stain; 49 degrees; 2.33 feet below pool. White bass are fair on main lake structure on slabs. Crappie are fair to good on brush piles and in the river on jigs. Blue catfish and channel catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait on structure. The report was provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service