The East Texas Fishing Report

By Matt Williams

ATHENS — Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is steamy, about 91 degrees.

Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been good to six pounds on Rat-L-Traps and topwaters tossed to school bass in 15-19 feet of water. Watermelon or green/pumpkin french fries rigged Carolina style are producing good results around docks and main lake points in shallower water.

Crappie anglers are picking up limits around brush in 18-22 feet of water. The fish are suspended at 9-14 feet. Bream are excellent on crickets fished around shaded boat docks. Lots of hand-size fish reported.

CEDAR CREEK — The lake is about four inches low and stained. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Bass anglers are picking up a few keepers working shad and perch pattern crankbaits, light Texas rigs and Carolina rigs around deeper boat docks with brush. Topwaters have been effective early, but the bite is short lived.

Crappie anglers are boxing some quality keepers at the Highway 198 bridge at Caney, Clear and Twin Creeks, and the Highway 334 bridge, according to fishing guide Jason Barber.

Barber said catfish are taking cut shad drifted over humps and channels in 10-30 feet of water. White bass and hybrids are running in mixed packs along lake drops in 12-25 feet of water. Best bite has been on slabs

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is about eight inches low and stained. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Josh Meadows at Porter's Sporting Goods said white bass and hybrids are schooling early over main lake points. Anglers are catching limits using chrome Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits. Black bass are fair early and late on topwaters, when switching to worms and crankbaits in 8-15 feet of water. Crappie have slowed down over the last week.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — The lake is about three-feet low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has been slow. A few fish taking topwaters and spinnerbaits early. Not many anglers out during the heat of the day. White bass are schooling early, usually until mid-morning. Most activity is in the mouths of coves. Points and humps in 18-25 feet of water are holding fish after the schooling activity wanes. A few small hybrids in the mix.

Catfish are good on rod and reel. Standing timber in 15-20 feet of water is the ticket. Shad and punch bait are producing equally well. Crappie anglers are picking up quality keepers in 15-30 feet of water around brush piles and standing timber. The fish are suspended 7-15 feet down.

FORK — Lake Fork is slightly above normal and clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said bass fishing has been fair. Lots of small fish taking crankbaits, Flukes and topwaters fished shallow early and late. Midday bite has been best on jigs, drop shots and Carolina rigs worked along outside grass edges and main lake structure in 18-25 feet of water.

Parker said crappie anglers are making the best hauls around brush piles in 18-22 feet of water. Bridge fishermen are sorting through lots of small fish to find a few keepers.

Catfish are good to five pounds on punch bait and cut shad.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake is about 2 1/2 feet low and stained up the rivers, clearer south of the Highway 147 bridge. Water temp is in the low 90s.

Fishing guide Lynn Atkinson said bass fishing has been spotty due to intense heat. Early and late, try topwaters and buzz frogs around pepper grass stands and lily pads in close proximity to deeper water. Atkinson said Senkos, wacky worms and light Texas rigs are producing some quality fish when tossed around deeper grass out to 12 feet. A few bass taking shad pattern cranks in the same areas.

— Matt Williams