The East Texas Fishing Report for the week of Jan. 14:

ATHENS — Lake Athens is on a steady rise thanks to heavy rains over the weekend. Anglers can expect the lake to be nearing pool level by the end of the week. Surface temp is in the 40s.

Bass and crappie were fair ahead of the front, but the bite has dropped way off since the weather turned nasty.

CEDAR CREEK — The water level was about 3 1/2 feet low and rising as of Monday morning. Surface temp is in the upper 40s and the water is muddy.

All fishing traffic has been light due to nasty weather, according to Dean Janke at Sunny Glen Resort. Anglers can expect fishing to pick up once things begin to stablize.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC had jumped about three feet as of Jan. 15 and was on a steady rise. Larry Winters at Midway Landing is expecting the lake to rise another two feet by the end of the week, which should put the lake level about six feet below normal. Expect to find muddy water and temperatures in the 40s if you head out.

Winters said all fishing has been slow due to heavy rains. Ramps at Fisherman's Point, Oak Cove and Midway Landing are now usable.

PALESTINE —Heavy rains over the weekend and early in the week got the Neches River and feeder creeks flowing. The lake was nearing pool level at the first of the week.

Water conditions are sloppy, but the catfishing should be dynamite in skinny water. Try punch bait on rod and reel; cut shad and perch will produce best on trotline sets.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake is about a 18 inches high and rising due to heavy rain all around the watershed. The Angelina and Attoyac rivers are rolling. Water temp is in the upper 40s.

Bass are hit and miss to 10 pounds on crawfish and chartreuse pattern Rat-L-Traps ripped over submerged grass in 4-8 feet of water. Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle said anglers also are finding bass with Carolina rigged flukes and jigs in 20-30 feet of water.

Crappie are fair over brush piles in 20-30 feet of water. A few fish also holding around bridge pilings at the Highway 147 crossing.

FORK — Lake Fork jumped about 14 inches thanks to heavy rains. Water temp dropped into the 40s after the front.

Bass are fair to 11 pounds on Carolina rigs dragged in 19 feet of water. Jigs and Rat-L-Traps are producing good numbers of slot fish in 4-6 feet of water.

Crappie anglers are picking up steady limits in 35 feet of water, mainly on minnows and pink jigs. The fish are glued to bottom.

Catfish are fair on punch bait soaked on bottom in 4-12 feet of water.

TOLEDO BEND — Toledo Bend was only two feet shy of being full as of Monday and should be at pool level or above by the end of the week, according to Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing. Shively said the creeks as well as the Sabine River are rolling. Water temp is in the upper 40s.

Shively expects the catfish to go on a tear with the rising water. He expects all other fishing to be slow until the water warms and clears.

PINKSTON — Lake Pinkston was high and muddy due to heavy rain and runoff early in the week. Water temp is in the upper 40s.

All fishing has been slow.

NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nacogdoches is about one foot high and rising due to heavy runoff. Water clarity is stained-to-muddy, about 48 degrees.

All fishing has been slow since the front. Prior to the front anglers were reporting bass to six pounds on cranks and plastics in 8-12 feet of water.

— Matt Williams