Published: August 21, 2007 10:50 am            

East Texas Fishing Report

The East Texas Fishing Report for the week of Aug. 18:

ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Bass fishing has been excellent to 10 pounds. Good numbers of slot fish reported on topwaters and black Powerworms fished in 6-12 feet of water, mostly at night. Best day bite has been around lily pads and grassbeds in 2-3 feet of water.

Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on night crawlers fished from shore. Good numbers of blues in the 3-8 pound range reported.

CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek is about six inches low and clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Dean Janke at Sunny Glen Resort said crappie are fair at the Clear Creek bridge crossing using small jigs. Hybirds and white bass are fair on chartreuse or silver slabs bounced on humps in 17-25 feet of water. Catfish are fair on punch bait.

Black bass are fair on soft plastics and crankbaits worked around boat docks and main lake points with brush. Best bite has been early, late and at night.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said fishing has improved since the flood gates were closed last week. Crappie anglers are picking up good numbers of quality fish in 15-25 feet of water. The fish are still suspended 7-15 feet down.

Black bass are fair to five pounds, but most are in the 2 1/2 to 3 pound range. Topwaters are working early, then switching to flipping around boat houses with Texas rig worms. Crankbaits also have been productive.

White bass are schooling early and late. Best results are coming on moving baits. Catfish are good on punch bait in 12-20 feet of water. Jugliners are picking up blues to 20 pounds on shad and live perch in 15-20 feet of water.

FORK — Lake Fork is a few inches high and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s, low 90s.

Bass fishing has been tough as of late, according to Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket. Parker said the guides are struggling to catch fish. Most are averaging 6-10 bass per day.

Crappie fishing has been equally tough. A few anglers reporting decent results using minnows over deep brush piles. Catfish are good to 71 pounds on trotline baited with live perch. Rod and reelers are picking up good numbers of channels in the 3-5 pound range using punch bait.

TOLEDO BEND — T-Bend is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Catfishing has been good on trotline and rod and reel. Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing saw good numbers of blues in the 40-50 pound range and a few op to 40 pounds over the weekend. Rod and reelers are picking up blues in the 2-10 pound range using cut bream and night crawlers.

Bass fishing has been fair on topwaters and Texas rig worms, mostly early and late. Crappie are slow.

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

Black bass are fair to five pounds on Texas and Carolina rig plastics worked on points and along outside grass edges in 12-15 feet of water. A few fish taking topwaters early, but most are small. Night fishermen are enjoying a decent bite.

Crappie are scattered. A few keepers holding around deep brush.

SABINE LAKE — Fishing guide Dickie Colburn reported a strong bite on reds and trout at the jetties, weather permitting. Colburn said the fish were taking limetreuse and pumpkin/chartreuse plastics rigged on a 1/4 ounce jig head. Reds to 28 inches were eating the same baits drifted over shell, Colburn said.

SAM RAYBURN — Sam Rayburn is a few inches high and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Black bass are fair to four pounds.The best bite has been coming in 4-12 feet of water around hydrilla using wacky worms, light Texas rigs and crankbaits. A few fish also hitting topwaters and buzz frogs, mostly early and late.

Crappie anglers are picking up keepers around deep brush piles and at the long bridge crossing using minnows and small jigs.

Catfish are fair on punch bait and night crawlers. Trotliners are faring best on cut perch and shad.

NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nacogdoches is about five inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Texas rig worms worms worked along outside grass edges at night. Daytime bite has been best early and late using topwaters and light Texas rigs. Drop shot Flukes also working. Some schooling activity on the main lake, but most are small; the better fish are holding below the school.

— Matt Williams

        

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