Sports
3/2 The East Texas Fishing Report
Athens — ATHENS — Lake Athens is about five inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 40s, warming to low 50s by the end of the week.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said crappie fishermen are picking up limits around shallow grass in four feet of water. A few bank fishermen are posting limits.
Bass are in a pre-spawn holding mode in 15-20 feet water. With warmer weather in the forecast, Hanson predicts a big surge towards the shallows towards the end of the week and over the weekend.
CEDAR CREEK — The lake is at normal pool and muddy. Water temp is in the upper 40s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said catfishing has been fair to 16 pounds on cut shad and drum soaked on bottom in 5-7 feet of water. Bass are slow. A few fish caught shallow at the north end of the lake on spinnerbaits and plastics, but the bite as been tough overall.
White bass are fair in the mouths of creeks. A few still holding on humps in 18-25 feet of water, but bites are hard to come by.
PALESTINE — The lake is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-50s. Bass are active in the shallows and taking spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and Texas rig lizards. Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff is picking up decent numbers in the 3-4 pound range at the north end of the lake.
Crappie are good at the Highway 155 crossing. The fish are holding tight to bottom in 25 feet of water taking shiners. The rock wall at the dam also has been good for limits.
FORK — Lake Fork is a few inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-50s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris is reporting several fish up to five pounds on weightless plastics and Chatterbaits fished around grass flats in 3-6 feet of water adjacent to major creeks. Suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits are producing a few fish along outside grass and secondary points.
Crappie are fair. A few limits coming on jigs and minnows fished around bridge crossings.The fish are suspended at 18-25 feet.
No report on catfish. Paris suggests targeting baited holes in 22-25 feet of water near creek bends for channel cat and an occasional blue.
— Matt Williams
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