6/15 The East Texas Fishing Report

Matt Williams The Athens Review

ATHENS — EDITOR’S NOTE: The incorrect version of the East Texas Fishing Report was published in Tuesday’s newspaper. The corrected version, for the week of June 14, is printed here:

ATHENS — Lake Athens caught about six inches of water over the weekend due to heavy rains. Water temp is in the low 80s.

Bass are taking assorted baits like topwaters, buzz baits, Senkos and light Texas rigs when worked around shallow grass in the early part of the day. Boat docks are holding fair numbers of slot fish during the heat of the day, as are main lake humps and drops in the 20 foot range.

Crappie fishermen are picking up limits using live shiners around brush piles in 15-25 feet of water. Catfish are fair on night crawlers, punch bait and shrimp.

CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek is about two inches high and stained. Water temp in the high 80s.

Bass are fair to five pounds on jigs, shaky heads and Texas rigs pitched around the deeper boat docks with brush, and on Carolina rigs, crankbaits and Texas rigs fished on drops in 15-20 feet of water. Crappie fishermen are picking up some quality keepers on jigs tossed around docks in 15-20 feet of water. Best bite has been around brush piles in 20 feet of water.

Catfish are excellent on shad drifted over humps and along channel breaks in 18-25 feet of water. White bass and hybrids are roaming the same areas. Some schooling activity during the midday hours, especially in calm conditions.

 RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is four inches high after heavy rains over the weekend. The water is stained towards of the backs of some creeks, clearer on the main lake.

Catfish are excellent on punch bait and shad soaked over baited holes in standing timber 12-18 feet deep. Several blues in the 10 pound range reported.

Crappie are fair in timber 18-30 feet, suspended at 10-20 feet. Partial limits reported on minnows. Best bite is at midday.

Black bass are fair on rattlin' baits and spinnerbaits fished in 2-4 feet of water early in the day. Not much size reported. Most takers are ranging 2-3 pounds. Midday bite is best on Carolina rigs dragged on points in eight feet of water.

White bass are good early in the day. Lots of schooling activity in 8-12 feet of water. Midday bite is best on slabs bounced on points in 28 feet.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine jumped a 1 1/2 feet after heavy rains over the weekend. Water clarity is muddy at the north end, fairly clear down south. Water temp is in the low 80s.

Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said bass fishing has been good to three pounds on Carolina rigs and spoons fished on main lake points in 6-8 feet of water. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are working at mid-range depths.

Crappie are good under the Highway 155 bridge and around brush piles in 14 feet of water. White/chartreuse jigs are working best. White bass are hit-and-miss on main lake points using 'Traps and jigging spoons. Big cranks trolled along the old 155 road bed also are producing some decent catches.

Catfish are excellent on jugs and trotlines tipped with live perch or shad. In shallow water, rod and reelers are picking some nice channels and blues around boat houses in 3-6 feet of water using liver and punch bait.

NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nac is about 16 inches low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Bass are fair to six pounds on wacky worms and light Texas rigs worked around scattered grassbeds in 4-12 feet of water. Frogs are producing a few fish around pads and shallow weeds early and late and under overcast skies. Schooling activity has been sporadic on the main lake. Some anglers reporting success on drop shots and Carolina rigs worked on main lake structure.

Crappie are slow. Night fishermen are reporting the results on live shiners fished vertical around brush.

FORK — Lake Fork is normal and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.

Fishing guide Gary Paris said bass fishing has been excellent on Carolina rigs and drop shots worked around main lake structure in 25-28 feet of water. Lots of 3-5 pounders reported. Chris Parker said the shallow bite has been fair early using swim baits, crankbaits and Flukes.

Crappie fishing is good around deep brush in 20-25 feet of water. The bridge bite is fair. Catfish are excellent over baited holes.

PINKSTON — Lake Pinkston is a few inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Bass are fair to five pounds on wacky worms, Flukes and light Texas rigs fished slowly along outside grass edges in 12 feet of water. A few anglers reporting decent results at night.

Crappie are fair. Fishing guide Alan Spruiell says numbers are low but quality is excellent on shiners soaked around deep brush.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake two feet low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.

Bass fishing has been good to eight pounds. Fishing guide Lynn Atkinson said anglers are plucking some quality fish out of shallow water using Stanley Ribbits and Yellow Magic topwaters around pepper grass and lily pads in 2-3 feet of water. Senkos snaked through shallow weeds and crankbaits worked along deeper, outside grasslines also have been good for a few fish. Main lake ridges in 12-25 feet are holding bass, mainly in areas with concentrations of  bait fish.

Crappie anglers are collecting limits using live shiners and jigs. Brush piles are the ticket. A few anglers reporting decent results around the Highway 147 bridge pilings.

— Matt Williams

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