Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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November 18, 2009

11/18 The East Texas Fishing Report

ATHENS — Lake Athens is about three inches high and stained. Water temp is in the low 60s.

Bass are fair to five pounds. Good numbers of fish are still hanging around the shallows and taking Rat-L-Traps, Chatterbaits and topwaters, mainly during low light conditions.

Crappie anglers are reporting limits on live shiners soaked around brush piles in 20-22 feet of water. A few docks holding fish, as well. Catfish are fair, mainly on punch bait and frozen shad.

CEDAR CREEK — Cedar Creek is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the low 60s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber said crappie fishing has been good over the last week. Good numbers of fish taking jigs shot beneath docks in 7-12 feet of water; brush is the ticket. Bridge pilings also are holding fish.

Bass anglers are reporting good results on Texas rig Baby Brush Hogs, Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits fished tight to dock pilings and retaining walls.

White bass and hybrids are running in mixed packs around lighted boat docks. The bite has been especially good at night, mainly on swim baits and Rat-L-Traps.

Catfish are excellent on punch bait soaked on bottom on windy shorelines and points, or drifted over main lake humps in 25 feet of water. Cormorant roosts at the lake's north end also are coming into play.

PALESTINE — The lake is four inches high and clear down south, stained up north. Water temp is in the mid-60s.

Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff said bass fishing has been hit and miss. Shallow cranks are producing good numbers on main lake points and around docks in 3-6 feet of water. Brush is essential around docks. The better quality fish are taking jigs pitched into 2-3 feet of water along creek channel breaks in 5-10 feet of water. Catfishing has been good on punch bait soaked around brushy boat docks and retainer walls in four feet of water. Main lake points with a hard bottom also are producing good numbers of channel cat and blue cat.

— Matt Williams

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