7/13 The East Texas Fishing Report

Matt Williams The Athens Review

ATHENS — ATHENS — Lake Athens is two inches high and stained. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Lake regular Jason Hanson said bass fishing has been fair to five pounds on deep cranks worked in 10-15 feet of water around main lake brush piles. Hanson said Carolina rigs are good for a few fish in 14-18 feet of water, mainly on points. Some schooling activity during the midday hours. Night fishing has been good on spinnerbaits fished around lighted boat docks.

Crappie are fair on tube jigs fished around brush piles in 15-25 feet of water. Bream are excellent on small worms and crickets.

CEDAR CREEK — The lake is two inches low and fairly clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber says black bass are fair to four pounds. The better sacks are coming on Carolina rig and deep diving crankbaits worked along drops with brush in 12-20 feet of water. Some of the deeper boat docks with brush are holding a few fish that are taking shaky heads, jigs, Texas rigs and Carolina rigs.

Crappie are fair around bridge pilings and brush piles in 18-25 feet of water. Live shiners are working for partial limits.

PALESTINE — Lake Palestine is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is the upper 80s.

Bass are fair to 3 1/2 pounds. Josh Meadows at Porter Sporting Goods said bass are taking frogs and poppers at first light, mainly around shallow grass up north. The midday bite has been slow.

Crappie are slow. A few good reports from the Highway 155 bridge, but no limits. Catfish are good on punch bait soaked in standing timber 15-20 feet deep. White and hybrids are slow.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is about normal level and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has been fair to four pounds, mainly on Carolina rigs dragged on humps in 8-10 of water. Spinnerbaits are producing some small fish early around shallow hydrilla.

Crappie are good. Several limits reported in standing timber 18-28 feet, suspended at 10-15 feet. Live minnows are the ticket.

Catfish are fair. Rod and reel traffic is light. Jug lines are good for blues to 20 pounds in 15-25 feet of water. White bass are schooling early, then moving to points and humps, 20-28 feet deep.

FORK — Lake Fork is three inches low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 80s.

Bass anglers are picking up fair numbers of slot fish using drop shots, deep cranks, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs around structure and timber lines in 18 feet of water. Topwater fishing is hit and miss.

Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said crappie are fair at the 2946 bridge and brush piles in 20-25 feet of water, mainly on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait, night crawlers and cut shad soaked on bottom in 12-18 feet of water. The Yantis Chamber of Commerce and Lake Fork Sportsman's Association are hosting the Yantis Catfish Classic on July 24-25 out of the Minnow Bucket. Entry fee is $100 for both days; $26,000 cash and prizes will be paid out.

SAM RAYBURN — The lake is three feet low and clear. Water temps are in the upper 80s and warming.

Ann Thomasson Wilson said Texas rig plum, redbug and black emerald worms are producing some solid fish around brush piles in 18-25 feet of water. Several good reports coming on Ribbits and Spro Poppers fished around lily pads, pepper grass and shallow hydrilla. Areas with deep water nearby are best.

Wilson said crappie are fair on brush piles 20-35 feet deep. Limits are hard to come by.

— Matt Williams

 

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