The East Texas Fishing Report

By Matt Williams

May 13, 2008 09:15 am

— The East Texas Fishing Report for the week of May 11:
ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temps is in the low 70s.
Bass are good on Senkos, spinnerbaits and light Texas rigs fished along outside grass edges and lily pad stands in water ranging 5-7 feet deep. A few fish beginning to bust topwaters and buzz frogs.
Crappie are fair on minnows fished vertical around man made brush piles situated on points and along drop offs.
CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the low 70s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass and crappie have begun making the transition from spring to early summer patterns. Barber said bass anglers are finding the most reliable bite on secondary and main lake points using medium diving crankbaits and Carolina rig plastics in 10-12 feet of water.
Crappie are fair on light jigs and minnows fished around boat docks that offer shade and brush in water ranging 5-10 feet deep. Catfish are excellent on cut shad and punch bait fished along windy banks in water ranging 1-10 feet. A few fish also holding around rip raft in 3-6 feet water. Barber said white bass and hybrids are good on topwaters, swim baits and 1/2 ounce chrome Rat-L-Traps. Some schooling activity reported.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid 70s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has slowed down considerably. Best bite has been in 3-6 feet of water, mainly on spinnerbaits and small cranks worked around shaded boat stalls.
Crappie are fair. Best results are coming in 14-25 feet of water using minnows. The fish are suspended at 10-15 foot depths.
Catfish are good. Lots of channel cat coming on punch bait soaked on windy shorelines in 1-2 feet of water. Punch bait and cut shad are producing equally well.
White bass are fair on deep crankbaits trolled in 20-25 feet of water. The fish are suspended about 10 feet down.
PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the mid-70s.
Bill Flashnick at Porter's Sporting Goods said bass fishing has been good to six pounds on buzz frogs worked around scattered grass and lily pads at the north end of the lake. Flashnick said watermelon/red lizards and worms are the top producers at the south end of the lake, mostly around boat docks in 3-4 feet of water.
Crappie are fair in 6-8 feet of water on minnows soaked around boat docks. Good reports also coming at the Highway 155 bridge crossing.
Catfish are fair on punch bait soaked on bottom in 6-10 feet of water. Flashnick expects the fish to begin gravitating towards to rocks to spawn within the next week or two.
White bass and hybrids are good on Storm swimbaits worked on main lake points in 20 feet of water.
FORK — Lake Fork is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the low 70s.
Ken Bull at the Minnow Bucket said bass fishing has been good to 10 pounds on spinnerbaits, wacky worms and Senkos fished from the bank out to 10 feet. A few fish still bedding in shallow water.
Bull said crappie anglers are picking up partial limits on jigs and minnows fished around bridge support pilings at the FM 514 East crossing.
Catfish are good on cut shad and punch bait soaked on bottom on wind blown points and shorelines.
NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nacogdoches is at normal level and slightly stained up north, clear down south. Water temp is in the mid-70s.
Bass are fair to five pounds on wacky worms, Senkos and light Texas rigs tossed along outside grass edges. A few fish taking topwaters early and late. The buzz frog bite has been sporadic around pads.
Crappie are fair on jigs and Roadrunners worked along main lake and secondary points with grass in 9-12 feet of water. A few fish also holding around brush piles on the main lake.
SAM RAYBURN — The lake is about one foot low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 70s.
Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle said bass fishing has been good to six pounds on topwaters and soft jerkbaits fished over submerged grass beds. The frog bite has turned on around lily pads. Crab apple or red bug worms rigged Texas style in 8-12 feet of water are producing some solid fish, as well.
— Matt Williams