Matt Williams
The Athens Review
ATHENS —
ATHENS — The lake is about an inch low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 70s.
Bass fishing has been good. Several slot fish up to five pounds reported on topwaters fished around lily pads and other shallow vegetation, mainly early and late. Boat docks in 5-8 feet of water are producing some solid fish on plastics.
Main lake humps in 20-25 feet are holding some good quality fish that hitting deep crankbaits.
Crappie fishing as been good on live shiners soaked in 15 feet of water around brushpiles. Catfish are good on night crawlers, punch bait and shrimp fished from the bank out to 12 feet.
CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek about normal level and stained. Water temp is in the mid-70s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass are relating to boat docks and retaining walls in 1-5 feet of water. Windy retaining walls and those with rock are holding good numbers. Cranks, spinners and Rat-L-Traps are working best. Barber is targeting docks with Carolina rigs and shaky heads.
Crappie are taking jigs pitched beneath docks with brush in 6-10 feet of water. Brush piles and bridge pilings also are holding fish.
Catfish are scattered. The shallow bite is best early, late and at night. Water 12-20 feet deep is holding the better fish during the midday hours. Sandies and hybrids are fair in 2-10 feet of water early and late, then moving to deeper drops and taking spoons.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is at normal level and fairly clear in places. Water temp is in the upper 70s
Black bass are fair to five pounds on spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps worked along channel breaks in the mouths of coves in 4-6 feet of water. Not many numbers reported, according to Larry Winters at Midway Landing
Catfishing has been good on rod and reel using punch bait in 2-4 feet of water with brush. Most takers are blues up to five pounds. Crappie are good in standing timber in 15-28 feet of water. The fish suspended at 7-10 feet and taking shiners.
White bass are schooling early under birds. Wind has made for some tough fishing as of late. Limits are coming easy on spoons when the wind allows.
PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is about four inches low and clear down south, muddy up north. Water temp is in the low 80s.
Black bass are fair on Texas rig worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwaters. Just about all the action is coming shallow, 2-4 feet deep around grass and brush. Crappie are good. Limits are plentiful on jigs fished vertical around brush piles in 14 feet of water.
Catfish are fair on liver and punch bait fished on bottom near boat houses in 3-5 feet of water. Jug liners are reporting blues and op to 55 pounds on live perch.
White bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps and spoons fished on windy points.
FORK — Lake Fork is about normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the low 80s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been excellent to eight pounds. Good numbers of slot fish reported in shallow and deep water alike. In skinny water, try topwaters, crank baits and Texas rig worms in 3-8 feet. Paris said there also is a good bite in 25-28 feet of water on Carolina rigs, swimbaits, drop shots and football jigs.
Crappie fishermen are picking up limits off brush piles in 22-28 feet of water. Bridges also are holding fish. Paris said catfish are good to 10 pounds over baited holes along channel swings in 18-22 feet of water.
— Matt Williams
