6/21 The East Texas Fishing Report

Matt Williams The Athens Review

ATHENS — ATHENS — Lake Athens is about six inches high; surface temp is in the upper 80s.

Bass are fair to six pounds on Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and deep cranks worked along drop offs and main lake humps. Deeper boat houses with brush are good for a few fish on jigs and Texas rigs.

Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked around brush piles in 20-22 feet of water. Several limits reported during the last week.

CEDAR CREEK — The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass are taking jigs and Texas rigs pitched to shade around deeper docks in 5-12 feet of water. Barber said Carolina rigs dragged on main lake points in 12-18 feet of water also are producing some fish to seven pounds.

Crappie fishing is good at the 198 and 334 bridge crossings. The fish are suspended about 10 feet down in 20 feet of water. Deeper brush piles also are holding fish that are taking jigs and minnows.

Catfish are good on cut shad drifted or soaked on bottom in 20 feet of water around main lake humps. Several blues up to 20 pounds reported; most are in the 1-3 pound range. Channel cat are taking punch bait in 6-10 feet of water around stumps and brush.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass are fair on spinnerbaits and topwaters worked around outside grass edges in 3-5 feet of water, mainly early in the day. The midday bite is producing better quality fish on cranks and Carolina rigs fished on points in 8-14 feet of water.

Crappie are good in standing timber in about 18-20 feet of water. Winters said the fish are suspended at 10-18 feet and taking minnows.

Catfish are good on jug sets in 12-15 feet of water. Rod and reel traffic has been light, but the fish are biting over baited holes 12-20 feet of water. White bass are schooling early in 8-15 of water, then moving to points and humps in 20-28 feet.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is five inches high and stained up north, clear down south. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says he is picking up limits of crappie using jigs around brush piles in water ranging 14-16 feet deep. Vandergriff said support pilings beneath the Highway 155 bridge also are holding good numbers of fish that are taking jigs and shiners.

Bass fishermen are reporting keepers up to five pounds using Carolina rigs, crankbaits and spoons on main lake points at the south end of the lake. Up north, there are a few fish taking frogs and buzz baits worked around shallow weeds early and late. Channel swings with wood also are holding some quality bass that are taking jigs and plastics.

Vandergriff said boat houses with brush in 3-8 feet of water are producing limits of channel cat along with an occasional blue. Brush piles also have been productive.

FORK — Lake Fork is one inch low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s, low 90s.

Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been good to eight pounds on Carolina rigs, crankbaits, football jigs and drop shot rigs. Paris says the better catches are coming around deep structure in water ranging 25-30 feet deep. Some schooling activity taking place on the main lake. A few fish are taking frogs and topwaters in shallow water during low light conditions.

Crappie guides are picking up limits using live shiners and jigs around brush piles in 20-25 feet of water. Bridge pilings also are holding fair numbers at suspended depths.

Catfish are good to eight pounds on punch bait and cut shad soaked over baited holes in 12-25 feet of water.

— Matt Williams

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