Published: July 15, 2008 01:06 am      

The East Texas Fishing Report

The East Texas Fishing Report, for the week of July 14:

ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is about 89 degrees.

Charles Spearman at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been excellent. A couple of 10 pounders reported on Texas rig black worms fished in eight feet of water. Good numbers of slot fish reported.

Crappie are good on minnows fished around deep brush piles in 18-25 feet of water. Catfish are fair to six pounds on frozen shad fished on jug lines.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake is nearly two feet below normal and clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 80s.

Bass fishing has been fair to six pounds on Yellow Magic and Pop R topwaters twitched over scattered grassbeds in water ranging 4-6 feet deep. Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle said the bite has been good all day long at times. Wilson said there also have been some solid fish reported on light Texas rigs and Flukes worked along outside grass edges on points and creek breaks.

Crappie are fair on minnows soaked around deep brush. Brush piles also are holding some quality channel cat and an occasional blue.

CEDAR CREEK — The lake is about one feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass fishing has been fair to seven pounds. Barber said the better quality fish are hanging tight to brush piles on points and drop offs in 10-20 feet of water. A few fish taking crankbaits, light Texas rigs and shaky heads around deeper boat docks.

Barber said catfish are good to six pounds on cut shad and shrimp drifted over main lake humps in about 20 feet of water. Crappie are fair on shiners soaked around bridge pilings and brush piles situated on main lake structure.

White bass are excellent. Steady limits coming on spoons cast to main lake points in 12-22 feet of water. Some schooling activity reported.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 80s.

Josh Meadows at Porter's Sporting Goods said bass fishing has slowed down considerably; most anglers are struggling.

Crappie are fair on minnows soaked around man made brush in 15-20 feet of water. White bass are fair. The fish are schooling at first light and taking Rat-L-Traps and small spoons.

Catfish are holding in standing timber near river and creek channel breaks in 15-20 feet of water. Several limits of channel cat reported on punch bait and frozen shad.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is about one foot low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said white bass anglers are scoring steady limits using spoons and Rat-L-Traps on main lake points in 15-25 feet of water. The best bite has been during the first two hours of daylight.

Largemouths have been fair at best. Winters said the best bite has been early and late around boat docks with brush, mainly on Texas rig plastics, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Carolina rigs dragged on main lake structure in 8-15 feet of water are working best during the heat of the day.

Crappie anglers are picking up partial limits using live shiners in standing timber in water ranging 15-30 feet deep. Winters said the fish are suspended.

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

Bass fishing has been good to around 10 pounds on jigs and 10 inch worms fished along outside grass edges at night. Topwaters and buzz baits are producing good numbers of solid slot fish early and late. During midday, anglers are using spoons and Carolina rigs to pluck some quality fish off roadbeds and humps in 18-25 feet of water.

Crappie fishermen are making the best hauls off deep brush piles in 20-25 feet of water. Bridge pilings are holding a few fish, but the quality is not very good.

Catfish are good to 11 pounds on assorted baits fished on bottom along outside grass edges and in standing timber 15-20 feet deep.

NACOGDOCHES — The lake is about 16 inches low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 80s.

Bass fishing has been fair to five pounds on dark worms dragged around creek channels and scattered grass at night. Lake regular Billy Rogers has been picking up some quality fish up to six pounds using wacky worms around docks, lily pads and grass near creek channels.

Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked around deep brush piles and along creek channels.

PINKSTON — Lake Pinkston is about two feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Bass anglers are picking up some quality fish to eight pounds using Texas rigs around main lake.

— Matt Williams