Matt Williams
The Athens Review
ATHENS —
ATHENS — The lake is about normal level and slightly stained. Water temp is ranging from the mid-to-upper 80s.
Lake regular Jason Hanson said bass fishing has been good to 4 1/2 pounds on topwaters and floating worms fished along the outer edges of pepper grass beds in 2-3 feet of water, mainly at first light. Some midday schooling activity over main lake points, but most are small. Carolina rigs are working over main lake points in 14-22 feet of water.
Hanson said crappie are taking tube jigs and shiners soaked around brush piles in 15-25 feet of water. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms.
CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek is four inches low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the low 90s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber said hybrids are good to eight pounds on live shad and deep cranks trolled around deep humps in 18-25 feet of water. Catfish are roaming the same areas. White bass are holding slightly shallower, about 12-18 feet.
Black bass are good deep boat docks in 5-10 feet and bridge pilings in 12-20 feet. Carolina rigs, drops shots, crankbaits and shaky heads are all producing fish.
Crappie are taking jigs and shiners fished around bridge pilings and brush piles in 20 feet of water, suspended at 12 feet.
PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is about two inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Josh Meadows at Porter Sporting Goods said catfishermen are reporting partial limits of small keepers using night crawlers and punch bait in around standing timber in 20 feet of water. Crappie are slow.
Meadows said bass fishing has been fair to three pounds. Rat-L-Traps are working well when the fish are schooling. Otherwise, try jigs or Texas rigs along channel breaks, deep cranks on main lake points and frogs over grass flats at the the north end of the lake.
White bass are slow.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is three inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber is reporting good numbers of hybrids up to 10 pounds on live bait drifted over deep humps and main lake ridges in 35 feet of water. The fish are suspended about 15-20 down.
Black bass are fair on Carolina rigs dragged on pond dams, creek channels and standing timber in 15-25 feet of water. A few fish still taking spinnerbaits and Texas rigs up shallow, but most are small.
Crappie are fair with partial limits reported on live shiners soaked in standing timber in 18-28 feet of water, suspended 10-20 feet down. White bass are schooling early, then moving to bottom on main lake points in 20-28 feet of water.
Jug liners are reporting blues to 20 pounds on cut shad. Rod and reelers are faring best on punch bait fished in standing timber in 12-18 feet of water.
— Matt Williams
