The East Texas Fishing Report for the week of Feb. 22:

ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear.

Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 50s.

Charles Spearman at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been good to eight pounds with several fish in the 5-6 pound range in the mix. Best bite has been in 3-8 feet of water around scattered grass, mainly on Berkley blue fleck Powerworms.

Crappie are good to 2 1/2 pounds in 4-8 feet of water. Spearman said the fish are making their moves towards the shallows.

CEDAR CREEK — The lake is about three feet low and stained. Water temp is in the mid-50s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass fishing has been good on jigs and spinnerbaits. Docks with brush are the ticket. The fish seem to be holding to docks situated midway up coves in 2-4 feet of water.

Catfish are good around mid-lake islands and flats in 2-10 feet of water. Barber also is picking up some quality fish around cormorant roosts at the lake's north end.

White bass and hybrids are good on cranks and Rat-L-Traps worked on shallow, clay points.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is about five feet low and clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 50s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has been fair in shallow water, 2-4 feet. Winters suggests targeting wind protected coves to find the warmer water. The fish are relating best to large stumps and laydowns.

Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on jugs tipped with live perch and cut shad. Rod and reel fishermen are picking up blues to five pounds on punch bait soaked on windy shorelines.

White bass are good on points and humps in 20-28 feet of water. Winters suggests looking for flocks of gulls to pinpoint feeding whites.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is at normal level and clear. Water temp is the upper 50s, low 60s.

Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said bass fishing has been excellent to four pounds on Senkos, jigs, spinnerbaits and shallow diving cranks. Best depth range in 1-4 feet. A few fish reported on beds. Vandergriff expects more fish to move shallow by the end of the week.

Crappie fishing is hit or miss. Bridge fishermen are picking up partial limits out of 16-18 feet of water. A few good reports coming from brush piles.

White bass are fair on up the Neches and Kickapoo creeks, but the meat of the spring run is still ahead. Catfish are fair to 30 pounds on jug lines and trotlines tipped with cut bait and live perch.

NACOGDOCHES — Lake Nacogdoches is about two feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 50s.

Bass are good to five pounds on crankbaits and soft plastics worked in 2-6 feet of water. A few fish also taking spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits in the same areas. Just about all the fish are relating to grass. Anglers can look for the bite to get progressively better in coming weeks as more fish move shallow to spawn.

Crappie are on the move towards shallow spawning areas. Small jigs worked around grass are producing a few keepers. Minnows soaked around brush in deep water are producing a few limits.

FORK — Lake Fork is about a foot low and slightly stained. Water temp is ranging in the low-to-mid 50s.

Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said guides are averaging 25-30 fish per day up to seven pounds. A couple of fish the 10-12 pound range reported. Fishing guide Gary Paris said the better numbers are coming from shallow water around grass. Best baits are Senkos, Texas rig lizards, Chatterbaits and Rat-L-Traps. The bigger fish are holding deeper, 12-18 feet along creek channels.

Crappie are beginning to scatter. Parker said the better reports are aimed at deep points near the dam. However, bridges in 24 feet of water are beginning to hold a few fish.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake level is at 158.2 and fairly clear. Water temp is in the upper 50s and low 60s.

Bass fishing has been good to seven pounds. Ann Thomasson-Wilson at Ann's Tackle said anglers are reporting good numbers of bass hanging around shallows with some on beds. Lipless cranks, Senkos and shallow jerkbaits have been deadly in 2-4 feet of water. A few anglers reporting good results on Carolina rig plastics dragged on points and humps in 12-15 feet of water.

TOLEDO BEND — T-Bend is at 168.90 and fairly clear. Water temp is in the upper 50s, low 60s.

Charlie Shivley at Bill's Landing said bass fishing has been good to six pounds. Lots of fish roaming the shallows. Spinnerbaits, Senkos and Texas rig plastics are producing solid limits in 1-4 feet of water.

— Matt Williams