Matt Williams
The Athens Review
ATHENS —
ATHENS — Lake Athens is few inches low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-80s.
Bass are fair to four pounds, mostly on deep cranks and Carolina rigs worked along drops and humps in 20-25 feet of water. Shady boat docks in 5-10 feet of water are holding a few fish that are taking jigs and Texas rigs pitched to tight spots. Frogs and assorted topwaters have been effective around pads and shallow weeds during low light conditions
Crappie fishermen are making some good hauls using live shiners around deep brush. Bream are excellent on crickets.
CEDAR CREEK — The lake is a few inches low and stained. Water temp is in the mid-80s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said white bass, hybrids and catfish are excellent on live and cut shad drifted on main lake humps in 16-22 feet of water. Some midday schooling on whites and hybrids. Most cats are blues running 1-3 pounds, up to 10 pounds.
Barber says crappie are on deep brush piles built along drops in 17-25 feet of water and around docks. Best docks are in 8-15 feet of water. Live shiners and jigs are working equally well at times.
Bass are fair to three pounds on shaky heads and jigs pitched around brushy docks. Crankbaits, big worms and football jigs worked along rock and retaining walls also have been effective.
PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is six inches low and clear down south, stained up north. Water temp is in the mid-80s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said bass are good to six pounds on jigs and Chatterbaits worked around docks with brush in 4-6 feet of water. Carolina rigs are working in some of the same areas and on points in 5-20 feet of water.
Crappie fishing is best in 14-16 feet of water around brush and at the Highway 155 crossing. Lots of limits reported. Vandergriff said catfish are excellent on cut bait drifted along creeks and sloughs in 18-20 feet. Punch bait is working in shallower water, 4-6 feet. White bass are very spotty. Best bite is on main lake points using Rat-L-Traps and spoons.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.
Catfishing has been outstanding using punch bait and cut shad over baited holes in 10-15 feet of water. Good numbers of blues and channels in the 2-5 pound range reported. Crappie fishermen are picking up limits in 15-28 feet of water in standing timber. The fish are suspending at 10-18 feet.
Not much bass fishing traffic lately. A few fish reported on topwaters fished around grass edges in three feet of water. Midday bite is best on Carolina rigs dragged on points in 8-15 feet of water.
White bass are schooling early, then moving to mainlake points in 18-24 feet of water.
SAM RAYBURN — The lake is about 16 inches low and clear. Water temp is in the low-to-mid-80s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said there are lots of bass shallow, 1-3 feet. The fish are taking frogs, Texas rigs and swim jigs worked around scattered pepper grass and hydrilla. Several sacks topping 20 pounds were caught during the Bass-N-Bucks event over the weekend.
Crappie guides are scoring plenty of limits using live shiners and jigs around brush piles in 20-25 feet of water. Catfish are good on jugs tipped with cut bait or shad.
FORK — The lake is about normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the high 80s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been outstanding to nine pounds. Lots of slot fish coming in deep water, 20-25 feet deep, mainly on Carolina rigs, drop shots and spoons. Paris is averaging 25 fish per day, most in the 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 pound range. A few fish taking soft jerkbaits, Texas rigs and shallow diving cranks in 8-12 feet.
Crappie fishermen are plucking limits off brush piles in 22-25 feet of water. Paris says catfish are good to eight pounds over baited holes along creeks in 18 feet of water.
TOLEDO BEND — The lake is about two feet low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass fishing has been fair. The topwater bite has slowed, but anglers are still reporting a few fish on buzz baits and Yellow Magics worked around milfoil beds in 6-7 feet of water. A few fish schooling during midday hours. Outside grass edges are holding some groups of fish that are taking deep cranks.
Johnston said crappie fishing has been good on live shiners soaked around brush piles in 22 feet of water. The fish are suspended at 12-15 feet.
NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nac is about 18 inches low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.
Bass are fair to three pounds on light Texas rigs and wacky worms worked in scattered grass 3-12 feet of water. Brush piles situated on main lake points and other structure in 18-25 feet of water are a few fish that are taking drop shots and Carolina rigs.
Crappie are slow.
— Matt Williams
