Published: June 23, 2009 07:41 pm      

The East Texas Fishing Report

ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishermen are picking up good numbers of slot fish to six pounds using Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits and Texas rig worms worked from the bank out to eight feet.

Crappie anglers are picking limits around deep brush down to 20 feet, mainly on minnows. The fish are suspended about 12 feet down.

Bream are excellent on crickets and worms fished around shady boat docks and main lake points in 1-6 feet of water.

CEDAR CREEK — The lake is about two inches low and stained. Water temp is the mid-80s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass anglers should look to rocks and docks. Several tactics are working. The guide suggests throwing topwaters early, then switching to a Carolina rig or medium-diving crankbait.

Crappie fishing has been good. Best results are coming around bridge pilings and brush piles using jigs and minnows. Catfish are taking cut shad drifted around humps and channels in 10-30 feet of water; some good results reported at night.

White bass and hybrids are excellent. Barber is picking up limits on slabs bounced on main lake drops in 12-25 feet of water. Topwaters and shad cranks also producing decent results.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is about three feet low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.

Larry Winters Midway Landing said catfishermen are picking of mixed limits blues and channels using punch bait around standing timber and stump fields in water ranging 12-18 feet deep. The fish are snugged tight to bottom. Wind blown shorelines in shallow water also have been productive. Winters said crappie fishermen are picking up partial limits in 14-25 feet of water, mainly on live shiners. The fish are suspended 7-14 feet down.

White bass are good. Lots of fish schooling early over main lake points, then moving to deeper water, 15-20 feet, during the midday hours.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is eight inches low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.

Bill Flashnick at Porter's Sporting Goods said bass fishing has been good to seven pounds. Good numbers of quality fish coming on crankbaits, Texas rigs and Carolina rigs worked along underwater roadbeds and main lake points in 12-20 feet of water. Brush piles situated around deeper boat docks also holding good numbers of fish.

Crappie are ganged up around brush in 12-18 feet of water. The catfish spawn is winding down. Flashnick said there have been a few fish caught shallow, but most of the better reports are coming deep around brush piles and baited holes.

White bass and hybrids have been spotty. Best results are coming on Hellbender/Pet Spoon combos trolled along roadbeds and mainlake points.

NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nac is about one foot low and clear. Water temp is in the low mid-to-upper 80s.

Bass are fair to four pounds on shad pattern medium diving cranks worked around grass in 4-8 feet of water. A few topwater fish early and late, mostly around lily pads near channel breaks. Flipping soft plastics into pads bordering creeks has been effective once the sun gets up.

Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked around deep brush in 20-25 feet of water. Bream are good on Berkley Waxies, earthworms and crickets.

TOLEDO BEND — T-Bend is about one foot low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.

Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass fishing has been good to seven pounds on crankbaits, jigs and crankbaits worked along outside grass edges in 12-16 feet of water.

Crappie fishing has been excellent. Johnston is picking up good numbers on jigs and minnows soaked around deep brush in 25 feet of water. The fish are suspended at 17 feet. Bridge crossings at Six Mile and Palo Gauch have been cranking out good number at night.

Catfishing has been good on rod and reel. Best results are coming shallow, 3-4 feet, using cut shad, punch bait and night crawlers. Pepper grass beds are holding lots of fish in the 3-7 pound range.

PINKSTON — The lake level is at full pool and very clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s, low 90s.

Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said bass fishing has been hit and miss. Best results are coming on jigs and heavy Texas rigs flipped along outside grass edges in 16 feet of water. Some schooling activity near the dam, but most are very small.

FORK — Lake Fork is about three inches high and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Bass fishing has been fair to nine pounds on Carolina rigs, light Texas rigs and crankbaits worked along outside grass edges in 8-10 feet of water. Roadbeds, ridges and points in 15-25 feet of water also holding some quality fish. A 9.28 pounder won the Skeeter Owners Tournament held Father's Day weekend.

Crappie are fair over deep brush piles in 18-22 feet of water. The fish are suspended anywhere from 8-15 feet down.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake is about two feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Ann Thomasson-Wilson said bass fishing has been fair, mostly and early and late. Topwaters, 10 inch worms and deep diving cranks are producing some solid fish up to five pounds worked along outside edges of scattered grass in 8-12 feet of water. A few fish taking frogs early and late.

Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs soaked around deep brush in 20-30 feet of water.

— Matt Williams