Page 1 of 1

East Texas Fishing Report

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:49 pm
by wgbassgirl
The East Texas Fishing Report

Athens Review

By Matt Williams

The East Texas Fishing Report for the week of Dec. 17 :

ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

Bass are fair on shad pattern crankbaits and watermelon plastics worked slowly around brushy points and drop offs near creeks. A few fish still roaming the shallows.

Crappie anglers are scoring limits using jigs and minnows around man made brush piles. Catfish are fair on minnows, night crawlers and punch bait.

CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek is about one foot low and slightly stained. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

High winds meant light boat traffic over the weekend. Best bass reports are coming on Carolina rig plastics, jigs and crankbaits fished around brush near creek channel breaks. A few anglers picking up some solid hybirds over deep humps using shad and spoons.

Crappie are fair on minnows soaked at varied depths around deeper brush piles.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is about 13 inches low and clear on the main lake, stained along wind blown shorelines. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

High winds kept anglers off the water over the weekend, according Larry Winters at Midway Landing. Bass anglers are finding a few fish in 5-8 feet of water using jigs.

Catfish are good on rod and reel. Windy shorelines and standing timber in 12-16 feet of water have been equally productive. Jug liners are reporting blues in the 15-20 pound range, mostly on shad.

White bass are fair on spoons. Humps in 22-28 feet of water are holding the better concentrations of fish.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is about one foot low and clear. Water temp dipped into the mid-50s after the front.

Josh Meadows at Porter's Sporting Goods said fishing traffic has been fairly light. Meadows said crappie anglers have been reporting decent catches around the Highway 155 bridge pilings when the wind allows. Deep cedars near the dam are holding fish, as well. Minnows and jigs are producing equally well.

Bass fishing has been slow. Catfish are fair on punch bait soaked on bottom around shallow stumps.

NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nacogdoches is about two feet low and slightly stained to clear. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

Black bass are good. Billy Rogers reported several quality fish up 11 1/2 pounds on crankbaits and spinnerbaits worked slowly around scattered patches of hydrilla. Chrome Rat-L-Traps and firetiger jerkbaits also producing some solid fish.

No report on crappie.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake is about five feet low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's tackle said bass fishing has been good to six pounds on lipless crankbaits in gold, Rayburn red and wild shiner patterns. Best depth range has been in 2-8 feet of water around scattered hydrilla beds. CC spoons are producing a few fish over deeper structure and in the mouths of creeks.

Crappie fishing has been fair around deep brush. The Triple Ripple jig in a black/chartreuse pattern has been a hot seller as of late.

TOLEDO BEND — T-Bend is about four feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 50s.

Trotliners and stump hookers are making some good hauls when the wind allows them to get out. A 67-pound flathead was recently reported on trotline baited with live perch. Rod and reelers are picking up solid blues using shad and minnows wormed on a hook.

Crappie and bass fishing traffic has been light under windy conditions. Best bite has been coming along the edges of the Sabine.

Bass are fair to three pounds using Rat-L-Traps, spoons and crankbaits.

PINKSTON — Lake Pinkston is about two feet low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

Bass fishing has been fair on cranks and soft jerkbaits crawled along outside grass edges. Texas and Carolina rig plastics also have been productive when dragged on main lake points with brush.

Crappie are fair on shiners. Brush piles are the ticket.

FORK — Lake Fork is about five inches low and clear. Water temp is in the mid 50s.

Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said high winds kept anglers off the lake over the weekend. Crappie are beginning to stack on deep points near the dam. Key water depth is 32 feet.

Bass anglers are capitalizing on two patterns. Most are fishing shallow around grass with Rat-L-Traps, chrome black and chrome blue. Spoons and Tail Kickers have been effective on main lake ridges, humps and points in 18-25 feet of water.