The Athens Review
ATHENS —
The East Texas Fishing Report for the week of Aug. 30:
ATHENS — Lake Athens is eight inches low and fairly clear. Water temp is in upper 80s.
Bass anglers are picking up some solid slot fish on light Texas rigs, Senkos and topwaters fished around shallow vegetation, mainly early, late and at night. Boat houses doctored with brush also are holding some quality bass. Out deeper, try dragging a Carolina rig or drop shot around drop offs with brush in 12-20 feet of water. Some schooling activity reported on the main lake.
Crappie are fair on live shiners fished vertical around main lake brush piles in 18-20 feet of water. Bream are good on crickets and night crawlers fished around boat docks.
CEDAR CREEK — The lake is 16 inches low and slightly stained. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said hybrids to seven pounds are taking DD22 cranks trolled around humps in 16-22 feet of water. Black bass are hanging out in the same areas.
White bass are good on slabs bounced off main lake humps in 10-12 feet. Catfish are taking cut bait soaked on bottom on humps in 18-24 feet of water.
Barber said crappie are piled up on brush piles 14-25 feet of water. Live shiners are the ticket for partial limits.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is 16 inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishermen are picking up a few keepers in the three-pound range, mainly on spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps and topwaters fished around shallow grass early and late. Winters suggests moving to humps and pond dams in 12-16 feet of water during the midday hours.
Crappie are good in 18-28 feet of water, suspended at 10-15 feet. White bass are schooling early to mid-morning, then moving to bottom on points 28 feet deep. Catfish are fair on punch bait in 8-12 feet of water. Most are keeper size channels.
PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is about 13 inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said bass fishing has been good to eight pounds on deep diving cranks worked around road beds, bridges and rocky points in 6-16 feet of water. Some schooling activity throughout the day; most takers are small with an occasional 3-4 pounder.
Crappie are slow. White bass are schooling periodically over main lake points and along the old 155 roadbed. Catfish are fair on liver soaked on bottom around boat houses in 4-6 feet of water.
FORK — Lake Fork is 18 inches low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-80s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris says bass fishing has been excellent in 20-22 feet of water during midday, then moving to 10-12 feet around grass later in the afternoon. Paris said the shallow bite is best on Texas rig redbug, bluefleck and watermelon pattern worms. Lots of fish under 16 inches in the mix.
Crappie fishing has been fair around brush piles in 20-25 feet of water, mainly on minnows. Paris predicts the bite will pick up around the bridge pilings as the water temp continues to cool.
Catfishing has been fair over baited holes in 14-20 feet of water, mainly on night crawlers and punch bait.
TOLEDO BEND — T-Bend is 4 1/2 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing said catfishing has been good. Trotliners are reporting blues to 20 pounds, mostly on cut bait. Rod and reelers are picking up good numbers of channels and blues on night crawlers and liver fished beneath a cork in six feet of water. There also are come good blues hanging tight to the river's edge in 8-18 feet of water.
Bass fishermen are reporting some quality fish to six pounds on frogs, light Texas rigs and buzz baits. Most activity seems to be in water 12 feet deep or less.
Crappie are fair along the edges of the river in 12-20 feet of water. The fish are suspended at 8-12 feet.
SAM RAYBURN — The lake is 5 1/2 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle said bass fishing has been good to eight pounds. Good numbers of quality fish are taking frogs and buzz baits worked around pepper grass and lily pads in 2-5 feet of water. Light Texas rig Mag 2 worms in plum and redbug also have been effective; black emerald is the best color at night in 10-12 feet of water. Lots of main lake schooling activity during midday hours.
Wilson said crappie anglers are picking up a few keepers around brush, but the bite has been slow overall.
PINKSTON — Lake Pinkston is about 2 1/2 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said says bass fishing has been good to seven pounds, mainly on Texas rig blue fleck worms dragged along 16 foot drops at night. Outside grass edges in 11-12 feet are holding fish, as well. School bass are on and off throughout the day with some solid fish in the mix.
Crappie are fair. No limits report, but there are some quality fish are taking shiners soaked around deep brush.
— Matt Williams
