Freshwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of January 21, 2026

Dunlap

GOOD. Water stained; 63 degrees. Bass are good with creature baits on cloudy days. Reports of 3-5 pound bass and limits of smaller bass. Catfish are biting on punch bait in the middle of the river. No report on crappie. Report by Lee Johnson and Kenneth Linder, local anglers.

Alan Henry

GOOD. 46 degrees; 5.46 feet below pool. Crappie are fair in 25-35 feet with minnows. Report by Randy Britton, The Bait Shop, Post, Texas.

Amistad

GOOD. Water stained 58 degrees; 63.92 feet below pool. Winter has arrived with water temperatures finally dropping into the high 50s after several cold nights that have noticeably changed fishing conditions. Most bass are being caught on points and ledges near deep water, with slower-moving soft plastics and small minnow-style presentations producing best. While a 10 pounder was reported this week, the majority of bass being landed are in the 1-3 pound range. Crappie fishing has slowed as fish settle into a winter feeding pattern. Catfish remain deep in 60-80 feet of water with size 4-6 treble hooks baited with prepared punch bait and heavy sinkers ¾-¼ ounce are getting the job done. Report by Kurt Dove, Amistad Bass Guide

Aquilla

GOOD. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 1.50 feet below pool. Typically when a big cold front comes in the striper bite improves. Schools of stripers will be chasing shad to the surface, and seagulls will be feeding on the shad as well as the striper. So the key to finding the fish will be finding the working seagulls. Fish should be easy to catch by casting chartreuse soft plastics with a paddle tail or swimbaits into the schooling fish and working birds. A slow retrieve works best. Crappie are good on brush piles in 20-25 feet of water with minnows or jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits in 5-10 feet of water. Catfish are good in the timber with prepared baits. Sand bass are fair in 20-30 feet of water on jigging spoons off main lake humps. Report by Captain Cory Vinson, Guaranteed Guide Service.

Arlington

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 55 degrees; 1.80 feet below pool. The fish will be in their winter haunts and seek deep water after the coldest cold front of the season. Bass will bite Alabama rigs and jerkbaits, small swimbaits, and jigging spoons. Sand bass are good on shad in the main basin. Crappie are good on brush piles. Target deep piles by the dam and progressively shallower piles as you move towards the river. Catfish are in deep water feeding below shad. Report by Cade Rudiger, local angler.

Arrowhead

GOOD. Water stained; 47 degrees; 2.81 feet below pool. Catfish can be caught drifting or anchored with fresh cut shad or prepared bait in 25-30 feet of water. Report by Brandon Brown, Brown's Guide Service.

Athens

FAIR. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.31 feet above pool. Fishing should be good before and after the cold front, but anticipate more fish to be offshore post front. Target offshore bass with livescope, and use umbrella rigs. Shallow bass can be caught with a weightless 5 inch stick bait in shad and bluegill patterns around docks. Mix in a dropshot, Carolina rig, and Texas rig worm on the edge of the grass line. Crappie are congregated on main lake brush piles biting crappie jigs or minnows. Report by Captain Kirk Pasalich, Artifishable Fishing Guide Service.

Austin

FAIR. Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.59 feet below pool. Bass are good early in the morning along deep grass edges. Neko rigs, dropshots and Texas rigs fished parallel on deeper straight cut grass edges are good. Keeping bait near or on the bottom is key, very few bites on top of the grass beds. Seeing a decent amount of fish suspended out away from grass edges around small bait. Jerkbaits, flukes and underspins fished over top of them are getting them to react. Expecting a large cold front this weekend. Fish will really be getting on the jerkbait and Alabama rig better with the colder water temperature. Overall the bite is good right now. Report by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing. Bass are being caught on dropshot rigged finesse worms, light Texas-rigged soft stick worms, and crankbaits in 10–20 feet of water. Focus on submerged vegetation and docks for the most consistent action. Unseasonably warm winter conditions have kept bass from fully settling into typical winter patterns, but with a strong cold front expected, anglers should look for fish to shift toward the deeper, outer edges of grasslines. Dropshot rigs should continue to produce, and groups of bass may begin relating more closely to schools of shad in the main river channel. Jerkbaits and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics fished with forward-facing sonar should become more effective as this transition occurs. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.

B.A. Steinhagen

FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.30 below pool. Very few anglers on the water. Target bass in shaded areas or submerged vegetation with a slow approach.

Bastrop

SLOW. Water normal stain; 50 degrees. Expect the cold front to stack bass near the discharge biting any shad related lure. Bass will be near deeper humps and drop-offs biting Carolina rigs, Alabama rig and jigging spoons. Bass will be offshore until water is back in the 60s.

Belton

FAIR. Water normal stain; 54 degrees; 0.89 feet above pool. The bite and the fish have both slowed down as the water temperature dropped into the low 50s. There is a winter storm warning for Lake Belton from January 23-26. This will further drop water temperatures very suddenly, and make the bite even tougher. White bass and hybrid striped bass can be caught with white 5/8 ounce and 3/4 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs as the water is now too cold for faster tactics. When active fish are found, these slabs can be reeled up off bottom slowly while observing 2D sonar or Garmin LiveScope for follows. When a fish follows, maintain the cadence until the fish strikes or turns back. When less active fish are found, snap jigging can be effective, being sure a full, two second pause is used between jigging strokes. If fish do not respond to either, move on and find more active fish. When fish are spread horizontally, a 2.75 inch white grub on a ½ ounce jighead worked with a sawtooth method near bottom is also effective. After the freeze, prepare for deadsticking. Many largemouth bass are being caught with a white 3/4 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slab in 25-35 feet near timber and around isolated patches or pieces of cover. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfish are excellent. Trophy size bluecatfish can be found along river channels, sand flats and around steep ledges in 30-40 feet of water. Larger fresh cut baits have been effective for the trophy size fish while eater size fish under 10 pounds are still active and slow drifting with small cut shad along sand flats is best for those. Channel catfish are slow but can be caught on punch bait around timber in 10-25 feet of water. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.

Benbrook

FAIR. Water normal stain; 53 degrees; 1.92 feet below pool. Fishing patterns remain consistent. Crappie are good on live minnows and small jigs next to timber. Catfish are fair on cut bait. Hybrids are good on live bait and umbrella rigs in 20-40 feet of water. Report by Hundley's Guide Service.

Bob Sandlin

EXCELLENT. Water stained; 56 degrees; 1.47 feet below pool. Crappie are excellent with jigs or minnows. Target river channels and secondary channels with timber in 30-50 feet of water. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.

Bois d'Arc

FAIR. Normal stain; 51 degrees; 2.75 below pool. Water temperatures are 49-53 degrees. The morning bass bite is very slow. Fish stick baits very slowly around bushes in 4-7 feet of water midday when water temperature starts to rise. Square bill crankbaits and chatterbaits are better in the afternoon around shallower drop-offs or points that come up but have a deeper side. Texas rigs and Viper XP Jigs in 5-7 feet of water on the edge of creeks like Timber Creek and Honey Creek are fair. Report by Marc Mitchell, Mitchell's Guide Service. Finding crappie is not an issue, but the bite is very hit-or-miss. The pattern remains consistent in the creek channels in 30-50 feet of water on timber with jigs or minnows. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.

Brady

SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.43 feet below pool. Expect fish to push deeper and the bite slow due to the weather. Bass should be offshore biting Carolina rigs, jerkbaits or small swimbaits. Crappie will be scattered.

Braunig

SLOW. Water stained; 65 degrees; The water level is down about three feet, and redfish continue to be the main bite, with fish in the 5-10 pound range. Anglers are finding success using rattle traps, gold and silver spoons, and some H&H plastics, with a few redfish also being caught from the bank/ Catfish action has been slow, and both stripers and black bass remain sluggish overall as conditions stay tough across the lake. Report by Manny Martinez, Fishing With Manny.

Bridgeport

FAIR. Water clear; 53 degrees; 4.82 feet below pool. Before the cold front the bite was consistent. Expect most species to scatter, relate to the bottom, or both for a couple days. Then crappie, bass, and hybrids will push deeper. Many fish are almost in prespawn mode skipping over the true winter patterns. White bass and hybrids are fair on main lake humps and points, deadsticking slabs or trolling with deep crankbaits. Crappie are good on docks in 10-15 feet, 20-30 feet on offshore brush piles, with roamers suspended top third of the water column in 30-40 feet. Minnow bite is good and jig bite is decent. Largemouth bass are fair using medium crankbaits, Alabama rigs, and swimbaits for deeper schooling fish. Morning bite is along the bank in the morning with crankbaits and chatterbaits on main lake rock and docks. Catfish are good on cut bait and chicken liver on main lake humps, deeper holes in coves, and in the river in creek channels drifting. Report by Jack Pellegrini, Lake Bridgeport Crappie Guide Service.

Brownwood

GOOD. Water stained; 54 degrees; 3.04 feet below pool. Black bass to 9.34 pounds are good on shallow crankbaits on the rocks and docks and Alabama rigs around main lake pockets and points suspended. Crappie are good to 12 inches on minnows, or white and chartreuse or shad colored jigs on the main lake scattered brush piles in 11 feet and shooting jigs under docks in 18-22 feet. White bass are good to 1.5 pounds on crankbaits scattered around the main lake. Catfish are slow on minnows and on jug lines with cut shad or perch in the Main lake docks and drains.

Bryan

SLOW. Water stained; 60 degrees. Bass bite is slow and inconsistent for most of the day, but starts to pick up in the late afternoon once the fish become more active. Brush piles and the dam have been the hottest spots lately with a shaky head, jig, or dropshot worked tight near cover. There have also been a few schools pushing up on offshore humps, and those fish have been eating a Carolina rig really well when you can get on them. Overall, the lake is still a little off, but the afternoon bite and key structure areas are starting to show some solid signs of life. Report by The Aggie Anglers.

Buchanan

SLOW. Water stained; 53 degrees; 2.36 feet below pool. Water is muddy to stained on the majority of the lake. Stripers continue to bite on live bait in 22-36 feet of water. Trolling for stripers has improved, but is still inconsistent. White bass are biting strong up river trolling and casting. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing. The winter weather may disrupt the fishing patterns, so expect patterns to emerge in the coming weeks. Report by Captain Aaron Dick, One Up Fishing Guide Service. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in standing timber suspended 25-30 feet down with minnows. Blue catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with cut shad. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.

Caddo

SLOW.Water stained; 48 degrees; water level at 168.87 feet. The bite will become slow after several 19 degree winter mornings. Once the water temperatures fall below 44 degrees the bite will be tough on the lake, so target the river for the best success with bouncing a jigging spoon off the bottom for catfish, bass, white bass, yellow bass and drum. Before the cold front, rattletraps, jerkbaits, Alabama rigs, chatterbaits will all work and a fluke will work in the salvinia when the bass are jumping in it. A frog may even land a bite. White bass are being caught on rooster tails, Alabama rigs and chrome rattle traps. It is always good on this majestic and divine lake we call Caddo, even when the weather is brutal with low temperatures and snow. Report by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.

Calaveras

GREAT. Water stained; 72 degrees; The lake is sitting about a foot low, with redfish providing the best action right now. Anglers are having good success trolling and casting silver and gold spoons around the outtakes on either side, with fish running in the 5-10 pound range. Catfishing has been fair, with channel and blue catfish being caught in 5-10 feet of water using cheese bait or CJ’s punch bait. Striper and black bass activity remains slow overall, but some redfish and catfish are still being caught from the bank. Report by Manny Martinez, Fishing With Manny.

Canyon Lake

FAIR. Water normal stain; 57 degrees; 20.92 feet below pool. Stripers and white bass are holding in the 30 feet mark near the hump at the dam. Jigging spoons have been the best technique for success. The largemouth bass have moved out a little bit deeper with the colder nights. Soft plastics work slowly have been the ticket for getting most bites. A weightless worm around the edges of deeper grass has been doing most of the damage. Report by Tyler Stanley, Game on Guide Service.

Cedar Creek

GOOD. Water normal stain; 51 degrees; 3.92 feet below pool. The winter deadsticking bite is in full force. Target hybrid striped bass and white bass in 36–45 feet of water throughout the lake. Use a fish thumper and splasher to draw fish beneath the boat, as schools will often move through the water column at depths of 18–28 feet. Depending on wind speed, use a ½–1 ounce jighead paired with a 3–4 inch soft plastic fluke. Be ready for subtle bites and set the hook quickly. Drift at speeds of 0.3–0.5 mph for best results. If you are not getting bites within 20–30 minutes, move to a new location. Key areas to target include sharp drop-offs, ledges, and mid-lake humps and points across the lake. Vary jig and plastic colors based on cloud cover and sunlight, rotating between bright and shad patterns for the best success. The crappie bite continues to improve. Target crappie with small jigs and minnows in 14-22 feet of water around bridge pylons, brush piles, and docks. Anglers are finding limits by moving from spot to spot, catching several fish before relocating. Guides report conditions improving, with larger crappie showing up more frequently. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Catfish are good throughout the lake in 2-40 feet with cut shad. Drift in deep water, or anchored on bottom in shallow water. Report by Jason Barber, Kings Creek Adventures.

Choke Canyon

GOOD. Water stained; 65 degrees; 39.91 feet below pool. At this time, please contact the State Park for the most up-to-date information, as all boat ramps are currently closed and the lake is only about 46 percent full. Fishing from the bank has been excellent, with channel and blue catfish being caught on stink bait, CJ’s punch bait, and cut bait. Anglers are also picking up some black bass from the bank, along with white bass and a few crappie. Report by Manny Martinez, Fishing With Manny.

Cisco

GOOD. Water normal stain; 59 degrees; 16.64 feet above pool. Cooler weather and passing fronts have brought north winds and occasional light rain to Lake Cisco, making conditions a bit tougher but still producing fish. Catfish remain the most consistent bite, with anglers catching good numbers on cut shad and punch bait around creek channels. Crappie action is slowly improving on brush and timber in 12-20 feet using minnows. Bass reports are light, but a few are moving shallow on warmer afternoons and hitting spinnerbaits and squarebills around rocks. Wind can make the lake choppy, so use caution.

Coleman

SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 3.37 feet below pool. Bass are fair to 3 pounds on small finesse worms in 10-15 feet of water. Crappie good to 2 pounds on jigs and minnows in 10-15 feet of water on the main lake docks and in the timber towards the creek.

Coleto Creek

SLOW. Water stained; 62 degrees; 3.27 feet above pool. The lake remains about three feet low, with water temperatures holding in the low 60s. Black bass fishing has been slow, with most fish relating to timber in 6-10 feet of water, as well as off extended points. Anglers are seeing the best results by slowing down and working crankbaits and Carolina rigs in these areas. Report by Scott Springer, Fish Choke Canyon Lake

Comanche Creek

GOOD. 68 degrees; 0.73 feet above pool. Comanche Creek largemouth bass and channel catfish are extremely abundant. The warm water from the power plant draws in anglers from all over the state. Tilapia mania continues on Squaw Creek if you are looking for tablefare. This power plant lake continues to be a breeding ground for this invasive species. The best tilapia catching method is a piece of nightcrawler on a small hook fished under a bobber. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.

Conroe

GREAT. Water stained; 58.3 degrees; 1.13 feet under pool. Catfish action has been excellent, with plenty of good eaters and several trophy-class fish being caught by working baited holes from 10-50 feet deep or drifting the channels with natural baits. Bass fishing has been good along the edges and offshore, where fish are chasing shad schools. Report by Brad Doyle with Bradley’s Guide Service. Crappie have been productive in 15-24 feet of water and near structure, with minnows, plastics, and hair jigs producing, though many bites have been very light. Hybrid striped bass are showing good numbers in 18-37 feet of slabs, spoons, large minnows, and shad, with many keepers mixed in with juvenile hybrids and white bass. Be sure to check the tooth patch or use the Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Annual App for the proper identification. If water temperatures continue to drop, dead-sticking should become more effective. Always wear your life jacket. Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy.

Cooper

FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; 4.67 feet below pool. Crappie are reported to be fair to good with jigs or minnows.

Corpus Christi Lake

SLOW. Water stained; 52 degrees; 17.76 feet below pool. Lake Corpus Christi remains extremely low, with the 28.53-square-mile reservoir sitting at just 11.7 percent. High winds are in the forecast. Due to the very low lake level, fishing pressure has been nearly nonexistent as access is limited mostly to kayaks or paddle boards while traditional boat launches are unusable. Shore fishing may be the most practical option at this time, and any successful catches will be reported as conditions allow. Report by Weber’s Boat Landing.

Cypress Springs

SLOW. Water normal stain; 53 degrees; 0.82 feet below pool. Crappie are excellent roaming open water midlake to the dam with minnows or jigs. Black crappie are in 20-50 fish schools. It is best to cast to the schools. White crappie are suspended individually in deeper water. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.

Eagle Mountain

SLOW. Water stained; 56 degrees; 2.12 feet below pool. Few anglers on the water due to the cold weather. Big blue catfish can be caught on cut shad or cut perch. Big blue catfish and yellow catfish on trotlines with live bait. Crappie are slow. Black bass are slow. Perch will always bite around structures with nightcrawlers under a cork. Report by Captain Bobby Mann, Catch a Dream Guide Service.

Falcon

GOOD. Water stained; 62 degrees; 45.04 feet below pool. Catfish action on Falcon Lake has been excellent, with anglers reporting fish in the 30-50 pound range and even a new lake record recently caught. The most consistent pattern has been targeting transition areas along the edge of the main river channel, especially at the mouths of major creeks where the river feeds into flats and slightly shallower water. Big submerged trees near these creek mouths are holding suspended fish, and anglers using sonar, side imaging, down imaging, or livescope to locate them are finding success. Fresh cut carp, tilapia, and shad have been the top baits, with live bait producing outstanding results when available, and Carolina rigs and santee rigs both working well whether drifting or dragging. Despite cold-weather conditions slowing bowfishing, both trophy and keeper catfish are active, with keeper cats being caught in 10-20 feet of water on shrimp, cut bait, stink bait, and Fishbites catfish bait, which has been especially effective for anglers who have difficulty finding fresh bait this time of year. Report by Ram Reyes, Ram Outdoors.

Fayette

SLOW. Water slightly stained; 60 degrees; full pool. Expect the water temperature to dip to 60 degrees after the cold front. With back to back cold fronts in the forecast, fishing will be tough. Bass should push off the bank due to the cold temperature. Before the cold front shallow bass could be with rattletraps over grass and in front of the reeds in the mornings, then with Carolina rigs and shaky heads in deeper water. Report by Mark Fransen, Fransen's Guide Service.

Fork

GOOD. normal stain; 51 degrees; 3.16 feet below pool. The morning bass bite is still slow, but picks up midday to evening. Boat houses with brush are fair with Texas rigs or Viper XP Jigs in 4-12 feet. Square bills and lipless crankbaits on around and flats with a ditch or channel running through it in 4-7 feet. Viper XP Jigs or Texas rigs also fair on big wood next to these channels 4-8 feet. Report by Marc Mitchell, Mitchell's Guide Service. Black bass are moving up and down as the weather permits. Warm days can be very productive in shallows in the backs of creeks and coves. Try streamers in red and white fished 1 to 6 feet deep. Crappie are being caught in as shallow as 1 feet of water in the backs of creeks with a small clear clouser. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing is in a full winter pattern and fishing is great. Lots of fish stacked up on deep main lake timber in 35-60 feet. You can still find some crappie on brush piles in 18-25 feet. There are some crappie on bridges and tire reefs. Crappie are also on some main lake points and ledges in 18-32 feet relating to the bottom or small stumps. Lots of patterns are working for catching loads of crappie this winter. The bite has also been strong this winter. Minnows, hand tied jigs and soft plastics are all producing very well. You can drop straight down to fish on calm wind days or pitch to fish if the winds and waves have picked up. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

Ft. Phantom Hill

GOOD. Water stained; 56 degrees; 5.56 feet below pool. Catfish can be caught drifting or from the bank with fresh cut bait. Hybrid fishing has been good trolling jigs. Crappie are stacking up on structures in 15-25 feet of water. The bite is good with minnows and jigs. Report by Big Country Guide Service.

Georgetown

FAIR. water stained; 57 degrees; 9.09 feet above pool. Fishing slowed this week as water temperatures dropped into the upper 50s. Water remains stained across the lake. Largemouth bass are related to wind-blown points and deeper rock ledges, with a few fish caught on crankbaits in 10–15 feet of water. White bass activity was limited, though a few were seen schooling near the mouth of the river channel.

Graham

SLOW. Water stained; upper 60 degrees; 4.16 feet below pool. Crappie are good inn 14-16 feet of water on brush with jigs and minnows. Catfish are good in deeper water near creek channels feeding on shad, so use cut shad. Bass are good on main lake points in 8-12 feet with crankbaits or jigs. Sand bass and hybrids are schooling around main lake flats. The bite is good on spoons and jigs.

Granbury

FAIR. normal stain; 57 degrees; 0.54 feet below pool. Water temperatures are currently in the middle 50s and water clarity is good in the main lake as well as upstream in the Brazos River. Striped bass to 7 pounds and sand bass to 2 pounds are slow to fair midlake from near Indian Harbor to in town by the city beach. Look for suspended fish in deeper water on those colder days. Some sand bass are being caught in the river near Tin Top. Striped bass are best on live shad and, or 5 inch soft plastics fished real slow near channel breaks. Best crappie action continues to be from Bentwater to above Hunter Park on small jigs and minnows. Look for suspended crappies on standing structure and under deeper docks. Best blue and yellow catfish action continues to be on cut bait from near Water’s Edge to Hunter park. Bigger blues catfish are in shallow water adjacent to river and creek channels. Black bass continue to be fair to good to 5 pounds on soft plastics around main lake points and near laydowns in the river above Granbury. Best action for black bass are on those warmer days and afternoons. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.

Granger

FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.58 feet above pool. Black bass are fair to 7.5 pounds on jigs fished up river. Crappie are fair on jigs fished up river. White bass are fair to 2 pounds up river in areas where shad are concentrated. Blue catfish are good on jug lines fished along windy shorelines. Yellow catfish are slow. Report by Tommy Tidwell, Tommy Tidwell's Granger Lake Guide Service.

Grapevine

SLOW. Water slightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.68 feet below pool. Inclement cold weather in the forecast will hamper fishing conditions. Sleet and ice paired with high winds will create dangerous conditions. White bass will be deep and scattered. Move small slabs and small swimbaits on stinger hooks very slowly or even deadstick. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O'the Irish Fishing Guide Service.

Greenbelt

SLOW. Water normal stain; 44 degrees; 51.52 feet below pool. Reports of good catches of sand bass on minnows. Few reports of crappie.

Hawkins

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 52 degrees. Small shiny bait fish patterns are a good bet for chain pickerel. Black bass are on the move around grass in shallow sunny banks. Use small white and red streamers with good success. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.

Houston County

FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.12 feet above pool. As the weather cools, bass should transition to shallow water to feed on bait fish. Cast reaction baits to land a catch.

Hubbard Creek

SLOW. Water Stained; 55 degrees; 14.54 feet below pool. Bass are slow with many smaller sized fish in soft plastics in brush piles. Crappie are on brush piles and roaming biting minnows or jigs. Find the bait fish to locate fish.

Inks

EXCELLENT. Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.99 feet below pool. Bass are biting well on jigs, dropshot rigged finesse worms, and crankbaits in 6–17 feet of water. Focus on areas with submerged vegetation, rock, and brush, especially where baitfish are present, as bait concentration has been a major key to consistent action. With a strong cold front expected to move through, anglers should be on the lookout for bass shifting into more traditional winter patterns. Fish are likely to move deeper and relate more tightly to schools of baitfish, making umbrella rigs, mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics fished with forward-facing sonar, drop-shot rigs, and football jigs on deeper structure increasingly effective. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.

Jacksonville

SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.10 feet above pool. Water is stained on the north end. Bass are biting jigs, Carolina rigs, and dropshot out deep, and some action on docks with a jig and dropshot. Deep are being caught on minnow type baits, and shallow fish are biting rattle traps and chatterbaits.

Joe Pool

FAIR. Water normal stain; 57 degrees; 0.52 feet below pool. The fish will be in their winter haunts and seek deep water after the coldest cold front of the winter. Bass will bite Alabama rigs and jerkbaits, small swimbaits, and jigging spoons. Crappie and white bass are good in the main basin. Report by Cade Rudiger, local angler.

Lake O' the Pines

GOOD. Water normal stain; 53 degrees; 0.15 feet above pool. Lake O’ the Pines is holding near full pool for the winter season, with the conservation pool around 228.5 feet above mean sea level, which is typical for this time of year. Unseasonably warm temperatures paired with gusty winds have left crappie scattered and not holding to a predictable pattern. Fish have been located in depths from 13-30 feet, often around brush piles, standing timber, and roaming mid-water. Many of the fish cleaned this week were stuffed with shad, which contributed to a tougher bite. A dead-stick presentation with a smaller profile jig produced the most consistent results, and 1.5 inch soft plastics were especially effective in these conditions. As colder temperatures return in the coming week, expect crappie to tighten back up on timber and structure along the creek channels. We are still a few weeks away from a full shift to deeper water by the dam. Bass anglers found a good bite in 4-6 feet of water along the creek channels this week. Carolina rigs, Alabama rigs, chatterbaits, and rattle traps all worked well to trigger bites in this depth range. Report by ETX Outdoors.

Lavon

FAIR. Water stained; 51 degrees; 2.20 feet below pool. Expect new patterns to emerge after the cold front. Crappie are on the humps or in 25-30 feet of water on structures hugging the silt bottom. Find threadfin schools and the crappie will be nearby. Spider rig fishing with minnows and jigs will land fish. White bass are deep 100-500 yards off the dam. Turn on your noise making thumper or splasher and anchor up for about 10 minutes. Moving a quarter of the way down the dam until you find fish. Use live scope and watch for fish studying the bait. Then start reeling up slowly to trigger a bite. Small swimbaits on 5/8 ounce jigheads, minnows, or slabs will work. Live threadfin, if you can get them and keep them alive, work great. Expect a bi-catch of crappie, catfish, and sometimes some largemouth bass. Catfish are good in 3-15 feet and 25-30 feet. Anchoring up on tree lines in the shallows with cut bait on the bottom seems to be producing some very large catfish. There can be large schools in 25-30 feet of water in the shad wall or bait. This thick wall of bait is from the bottom to 7-15 feet. Drag cut bait and santee rigs along the bottom. Panner boards help tremendously. Black bass are on laydowns and rock piles in 15-20 feet. Cast a squarebill crankbait or a 12 foot diver on boat ramps throughout the day. Any super sharp drop-offs in around 15 feet of water are producing bass with Carolina rigged jigs and 5/8 ounce jigs with a jerkbait soft plastic minnow attached. Free swim it over the bass if you have live scope. Bluegills and tilapia seem to have disappeared for the winter. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.

LBJ

FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.31 feet below pool. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in 25-30 feet of water with chartreuse jigs and minnows. Channel catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with punch bait. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service. Any rock around the lake has been able to produce some bass bites on shad imitating baits. Also, there are schools of bass chasing around balls of shad. Livescoping these fish with a minnow has been productive. Water clarity is 2-3 feet of visibility. Report by Evan Coleman, Big Bassin Fishing Tours.

Lewisville

FAIR. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.54 feet below pool. White bass and hybrid striper are fair in 30-55 feet of water. Check river channels and flats near the channels. Jigs, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits are working. If you are keeping fish, please be aware that there are a lot of undersized hybrid stripers in the lake that look very similar to a white bass. Blue catfish are fair on cut shad drifting points, ledges, and flats near the river channels and in the shallower river channels in 20-45 feet of water. The shallow water bite is fair as well in the far ends of the lake in 2-5 feet. Crappie are slow to fair in 15-38 feet of water. Check brush piles, submerged timber, laydowns, bridge columns, and rock piles near a drop off ledge. The creeks are producing as well, with more short fish than keepers. Minnows and jigs are working. Report by Wes Campbell, BendARod Fishing.

Limestone

GOOD. Water clear; 53 degrees; 2.18 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are steady. Some crappie are as deep as 24 feet with most in 10-15 feet of water. Crappie are on brush, roaming, and on the power line pylons biting minnows. Crappie eggs are still not fully developed yet. White bass, catfish and crappie are roaming fish in 18-24 feet of water. White bass eggs are fully developed though. A few more fish have made the push toward the north end along with a few more headed into the creeks. Largemouth bass have started feeding on crawfish, so red and crawfish pattern baits will be a key to catching bass. Largemouth bass are in 6 feet of water or less on docks, bulkheads and rocks with red chatterbaits, red rattletraps, and Texas rigs. This pattern will be consistent until February when the water starts to warm. Numbers of catfish and white bass are in 18-24 feet of water. Catfish are biting in the creeks and on timber with birds. The best catfish bite will be at the marina for bank anglers. Report by Colan Gonzales, Lake Limestone Guide Service.

Livingston

GOOD. Light stain; 64 degrees; 0.28 feet above pool. Lake Livingston is experiencing cool, stable conditions, with water temperatures in the lower to mid-50s and the lake running below normal pool. Recent weather has been seasonably cool, which has slowed overall activity but helped group fish more predictably. Catfish continue to provide the best action, with channel and blue catfish being caught on prepared baits and cut bait in deeper holes and along river and creek channels. Black bass fishing has been slower, with fish holding tight to structure and timber in deeper water and responding best to slower presentations. White bass and hybrid stripers are scattered but can be found schooling at times, while crappie remain near structure in deeper water, feeding lightly as winter patterns settle in.

Marble Falls

FAIR. normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.72 feet below pool. Crappie should bunch up in deeper water. Crappie are fair in 30 feet of water with chartreuse jigs. Channel catfish are good in 25-30 feet of water on midlake points with punch bait. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.

Martin Creek

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 60 degrees; 2.08 feet below pool. This time of year the boat launch is very busy and parking fills fast. Use extreme caution while running. Most of the timber is just below the surface. Bass are good on most of the lake fishing the hydrilla. Senkos, Texas rigged, wacky worms, chatterbaits and lipless crankbaits are good. Bass are spawning in the warmer waters but most are spawning in the 5-10 feet. Crappie are good on brush piles and standing timber in 22-30 feet. Minnows and larger crappie jigs will catch some nice slabs. Catfish are excellent at the warm water discharge using live and cut bait fishing on the bottom. Reported by Hambone fishing. Reported by Hambone fishing.

Medina

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 85.24 feet below pool. The lake is very low at only 5.8-percent full. Medina Lake is closed due to low water levels.

Meredith

GREAT. Water stained; 46 degrees; 43.91 feet below pool. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and sand bass all have continued to flourish around many parts of the lake. Topwaters such as chatterbaits and spinnerbaits along the banks of Sexy Cove and Bugbee, as well as minnows off the dock have been great. Catfish are fair, the bite has slowed but not stopped this week. They have been caught on the dock, and Harbor Bay. Livers, frozen Shad and stink bait have been used. Crappie have been slow this week again. Sanford Yake Dock, North Canyon, and Fritch Fortress. Pearl white and pearl blue are working great on grey or yellow jigs and minnows. Bluegill and Perch are good hitting on worms and corn. Walleye are great with jigs with pearl blue or white grubs, as well as bottom bouncers 60 feet down between Sexy Cove and the gas well. Report by Dave Wright, Wright-On Bait, Tackle and Watercraft Rental.

Millers Creek

FAIR. Water stained; 47 degrees; 3.65 feet below pool. Crappie are good from the pier with nice size catches reported. There is still a thermocline so be sure to keep baits above. Quality sized bass are good in 2-5 feet of water with spinnerbaits, crankbaits and buzzbaits.

Murvaul

GOOD. Stained; 50 degrees; 0.75 below pool. Largemouth bass are slow on square bill crankbaits or Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on white or chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on live minnows or cut bait. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Nacogdoches

GOOD. Water stained; 51 degrees; 2.06 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are excellent on deep Carolina rigs and deep crankbaits in 15-18 feet of water. Crappie are fair in the trees with white or chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait or live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Naconiche

FAIR. Water stained; 53 degrees; full pool. The lake is at full pool and has started to clear, with some good fish beginning to stack up. This is a great time to run power-fishing presentations such as square-bills, jerkbaits, glide baits, topwaters, and deep-divers. Early morning and late afternoon bites have been best, though mid-day action can still produce through the rest of the fall and winter. Crappie populations are strong, while catfish have been slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Largemouth bass are slow on Alabama rigs or suspending jerkbaits. Crappie are fair with white crappie jigs. Catfish are fair with cut bait or live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Nasworthy

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 54 degrees; 0.96 feet below pool. Fishing patterns remained consistent before the cold front. Bass are fair flipping soft plastics around reed bases in 1-5 feet of water. The key is to cover water until you find a good stretch that holds multiple bass. Bass are holding back in the shade around heavy cover to escape the sunlight. Early morning and late evening topwater is also effective for targeting bass. Baitfish are in the backs of pockets and upriver with the bass close behind. It is important to slow down your retrieve during the winter months because the fish are more lethargic due to the colder water temperatures. Crappie are fair around main lake boat docks on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait around river channel bends. Report by the Angelo State Fishing Team.

Navarro Mills

SLOW. 55 degrees; 0.50 full pool. This cold front should improve the blue catfish bite. Blue catfish have been midlake in 10-15 feet of water biting shad. Expect the crappie bite to shut off as fish scatter in deeper water. Crappie will be lethargic, but action should pick up in February. Report by Navarro Mills Marina.

O.C. Fisher

SLOW. Water stained; 55 degrees; 32.03 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers fishing due to low lake levels.

O.H. Ivie

FAIR. Water stained; 52 degrees; 19.56 feet below pool. Black Bass are fair to 5 pounds on a variety of shad patterned baits. Alabama rigs, jerkbaits, swim jigs and swimbaits are landing catches in 8-25 feet of water. Long tapering points or channel swings are best. No reports of crappie. White bass are good schooling in river channels 35-40 feet. They are suspended down 20-25 feet. Jigging spoons are working best in the lead-day area of the lake and Turkey Bend. Catfish are slow, but a few being reported on rod-and-reel with shrimp and earthworms near Concho Park along the channels along the edges of the brush 8-12 feet. Report by Wendell Ramsey, Ramsey Fishing.

Oak Creek

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 57 degrees; 22.84 feet below pool. Crappie are on brush and roaming open water with jigs or minnows. Bass are slow with soft plastics in deeper water.

Palestine

GOOD. water stained; 48 degrees; 0.06 feet below pool. Fishing patterns should remain similar. Crappie are good on timber in 16-25 feet of water with minnows or jigs. White bass and hybrids are good in open water following bait. Deadstick with swimbaits. Largemouth bass are good in the creeks with moving baits, or on docks with jigs. Catfish are good in shallow water with cut shad. Catfish up to 45 pounds are possible.

Palo Pinto

FAIR. normal stain; 54 degrees; 0.76 feet below pool. Blue catfish are good in 8-10 feet of water with liver, fresh cut shad. Crappie are slow in deep water with minnows. Sand bass and hybrids are slow. There are a lot of bait fish in the creek. Catfish are feeding on the bait fish in the creek. Report by Palo Pinto RV.

Pinkston

FAIR. Water normal stain; 53 degrees. The water visibility is six feet. Largemouth bass are good on small or large swimbaits. Crappie are slow on clear jugs. Catfish are fair on live minnows or cut bait. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Possum Kingdom

GOOD. Water stained; 54 degrees; 2.72 feet below pool. The water temp is 52-57 degrees, but will most likely drop significantly after the cold front. Stripers are fair in 30-40 feet of water with live bait out performing artificial lures. Sand bass are fair in 30-35 feet of water on main lake points and sand flats. White is the best color but chrome is also catching a few. Throw in a few chartreuse lures to change it up and give the fish something different every now and then for best results. Catfish are fair to good with cut shad or live shad in 25-35 feet of water fished on or near the bottom. Bass have been steady in deep water around structure in 40-50 feet of water on live bait but can probably be targeted with deep water baits and deadsticking methods. Bonus rainbow trout below Possum Kingdom Lake Dam at the Hwy 16 Bridge. This is a light tackle fishery so bring your extra light tackle or flys for best results. Use baits like Powerbait in orange or chartreuse colors or whole kernel corn hooked on a very small hook with a light punch bait 12-18 inch above the bait. They will also sometimes hit small jerky baits but dough baits seem to be the best bet. Cast them out and let them sit for best results. Report by TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service.

Proctor

FAIR. Water stained; 49 degrees; 2.90 feet below pool. Crappie are on ledges in about 21-23 feet. Bass moved to deep ledges. Catfish moved deep to 18-23 feet. Hybrids are in the upper end of the lake main river channel on bottom. Report Juan Tienda, local angler.

Raven

FAIR. Water stained; 55 degrees. There hasn’t been much to report lately due to very light fishing pressure in the area. A few anglers are still seen on the fishing piers from time to time, but there have been no confirmed reports of fish being caught, although water conditions are clear at this time. Report by Aric Brooks, Huntsville State Park.

Ray Hubbard

GOOD. Water normal stain; 51 degrees; 1.84 feet below pool. Water temperatures dropped this week and the white bass have grouped up in deep water flats 32-38 feet of water. Midday to afternoons have produced a better bite during the full moon. The south end of the lake is the most productive area. Locate schools of bait and fish in those areas with the 2-3 jigs tied above a 1 ounce slab. Thumping the boat produces the best chances .The fish also were on the lower half of the water column. Crappie are fair and also moving out from brush and in the deeper water along flats and levees reports of catches on bridge pillars. Big blue catfish and larger eating size are on the deep flats lower and mid lake. Drifting with large cut bait best. Report by John Varner, John Varner's Guide Service.

Ray Roberts

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 52 degrees; 1.20 feet below pool. Crappie are good in 35-50 feet on brush or timber using minnows or small natural colored jigs. Sand bass continue to school under shad on deep main lake points in 35-55 feet. Fish are biting 2-3 jigs tied above a 1 ounce slab. The wind is blowing bait up on to wind blown points, so this can be a good area to target as well. Blue catfish can be found off main lake points with bait on it. Report by Daniel Koberna, Lt. Dan's Crappie Co.

Richland Chambers

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 54 degrees; 2.31 feet below pool. Catfish are very good on cut bait and punch bait. Anglers are catching big numbers and the trophy size catfish. Hybrids are inconsistent, but this cold front may improve the bite soon. White bass are hard to find at times, but can be found on points in 41 feet of water with ½ ounce jigheads with a 2.5 inch minnow type bait and an Ice jig to catch them. Back bass can still be caught around hard cover. When the water gets cooler I like a tight wobble shallow crankbait or jig. Good Fishing, Terry Hawkins Guide Service Report by Terry Hawkins Guide Service.

Sam Rayburn

SLOW. Water muddy; 54 degrees; 9.32 feet below pool. Conditions remain about the same, with water temperatures holding in the lower 50s and the lake level sitting roughly 9.32 feet low. Fishing activity has been steady but slow overall under these colder, low-water conditions. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Somerville

SLOW. Water stained; 54 degrees; 3.06 feet below pool. Expect the very slow and light bite with the forecasted cold front. At the marina the crappie bite is fair, and catfish are fair on minnows or punch bait. Bluegill are slow on crickets and worms. On the lake crappie are fair with various jigs and minnows holding tight under brush in 8-16 feet of water or roaming. Catfish are good in 5-12 feet of water on drop-offs with cut shad, punch bait or using jug lines. Chumming areas helps. Black bass are slow on craw jigs and slow plastic baits in 6-14 feet of water. White bass are slow trolling with various spoons or anchored with shad and ghost minnows. Hybrids are fair with jigs or cut bait in deeper water. Below the dam all species are slow while water is not being discharged. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.

Spence

FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees; 51.63 feet below pool. Expect this cold front to push fish to deeper water in search of stable water temperatures. Fish will suspend off the bottom, and stack up in channels. Channel catfish are fair on punch and fresh cut bait in deeper water. Blue catfish are fair on fresh cut bait in deep water on flats and channels. On sunny days big blue catfish can be caught on shallow flats. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.

Stamford

FAIR. Water normal stain; 52 degrees; 1.64 feet above pool. Bass are fair. Crappie are fair at the crappie house. Bait balls are in deeper water. Catfish are fair with juglines in 5-8 feet of water on flats.

Stillhouse

FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees; 1.81 feet above pool. The bite and the fish have both slowed down as the water temperature dropped into the low 50s. There is a winter storm warning for Lake Belton from January 23-26. This will further drop water temperatures very suddenly, and make the bite even tougher. White bass and hybrid striped bass can be caught with white 5/8 ounce and 3/4 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs as the water is now too cold for faster tactics. When active fish are found, these slabs can be reeled up off bottom slowly while observing 2D sonar or Garmin LiveScope for follows. When a fish follows, maintain the cadence until the fish strikes or turns back. When less active fish are found, snap jigging can be effective, being sure a full, two second pause is used between jigging strokes. If fish do not respond to either, move on and find more active fish. When fish are spread horizontally, a 2.75 inch white grub on a ½ ounce jighead worked with a sawtooth method near bottom is also effective. After the freeze, prepare for deadsticking. Many largemouth bass are being caught with a white 3/4 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slab in 25-35 feet near timber and around isolated patches or pieces of cover. Largemouth can still be found on warmer days on the outside edge of the thin band of hydrilla growing around the 15 feet mark, but many largemouth bass are being caught with the white 3/4 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slab in 30-50 feet near timber, near breaklines, and around isolated patches or pieces of cover. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Bass are being caught using a mix of techniques as fish transition with changing winter conditions. Some fish are relating to submerged vegetation in 10–20 feet of water, where drop-shot rigged finesse worms and light Texas-rigged soft plastics are producing. Other bass are roaming open water and following schools of shad, especially along main lake areas and channel edges. These nomadic fish can be targeted with suspending jerkbaits and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics when they show on electronics. As colder weather moves in, anglers should expect bass to shift more toward deeper structure and concentrate more tightly around baitfish. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.

Tawakoni

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 2.01 feet below pool. Lake Tawakoni has been warmer than normal, so fishing conditions have been atypical for the season. However, this is about to change as this arctic weather hits this weekend. The hybrid, striper and white bass bite is somewhat slow. We are seeing medium sized white bass on main lake points in 30-35 feet on jogging spoons and flukes. The eating sized blue catfish bite is great with easy limits on punch bait in 35-45 feet. The trophy catfish bite is good in 20-30 feet of water on fresh cut bait. We have not seen fish over 60 pounds in a few weeks, but 20-50 pound fish are being caught. The crappie have been slow, but there is a steady bite at the 2 mile bridge on minnows and jigs. Fish are suspended 17-24 feet over 30-35 feet of water. Largemouth bass bite improved after the big warm up on soft plastics on shallow ledges and ends of docks. Y’all stay warm! Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.

Texana

GOOD. Water stained; 59 degrees; 7.15 feet below pool. Fishing has been slow overall, with the lake level currently at 37.37 feet. Anglers are encouraged to check the LNRA website for the most up-to-date information on boat ramp closures before heading out. Report by Chad Kinsfather, Lavaca Navidad River Authority

Texoma

GOOD. Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.08 feet above pool. With the arctic blast and some wintry weather coming at the end of the week we will be seeing colder temperatures over the next week, and that makes for good conditions for a midday or afternoon fishing trip. Striper fishing into a winter bite. Deadsticking in 50-65 feet of water in the main lake is producing good quality fish. Swimbaits are producing good fish as well on structures and points in 10-20 feet of water. Be on the lookout for active working groups of birds as well to throw swimbaits or drop a deadstick under and around. Catfish have settled in on deep flats 45-60 feet of water. Medium to large cut baits are the bait of choice as the winter is the time to catch trophy blues on Texoma. Drifting at a .5-1.5 mph using drift socks or a trolling motor will help cover water. Crappie are hanging on structure and stumps in 18-25 feet of water, be patient and have a variety of jig color and styles as it can vary day to day. Bigger fish can be found roaming stump flats and creek channels this time of year. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. The cold front will lower the water temperature and improve the deadstick bite. Stripers are good with Alabama rigs or swimbaits on structures in 12-20 feet of water with Alabama rigs and swimbaits. Fish are feeding up and stuffed full of bait. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.

Toledo Bend

FAIR. 56 degrees; 4.13 feet below pool. This weekend is shaping up to be unsafe at the lake, with all tournaments canceled for Saturday and Sunday due to extreme weather conditions, including forecasting calling up to ½ to 1 inch of ice around the lake area. Ramps are expected to begin freezing Friday night, and anyone attempting to launch Saturday risks not being able to get their truck or boat back up the ramp, with limited emergency response available if trouble occurs, so everyone is strongly encouraged to stay off the water and avoid putting first responders at risk. Conditions should improve by Tuesday, with a return to more normal activity expected next week. Fishing has been tough this week as water temperatures have dropped back into the low 50s and are expected to fall into the 40s, making the shallow bite very difficult, while a deeper pattern should improve next week in 22-28 feet of water using spoons, drop shots, and swimbaits. Please be safe and use good judgement this weekend. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.

Travis

SLOW. Water normal stain; 58 degrees; 14.11 feet below pool. Bass are slow, but with the right conditions you can have fun. When the wind picks up and the weather warms up later in the day the fish will pull up in that warmer water. Cover water and target rocky wind blown banks throwing medium diving finesse crankbaits. Another tactic is slowing down with a jig or dropshot fished around drains in that 20-30 feet depth range. Be sure to slow way way down with your presentation when fishing the bottom. Report by Tyler Torwick, Torwick’s Guiding Service. Bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and shaky head finesse worms in 8–17 feet of water. Focus on windblown rocky shorelines and main lake ledges with brush for the most consistent action. Schools of bass are also roaming open water following shad and can be targeted with jerkbaits when they are active. With a strong cold front expected, anglers should look for bass to shift more toward deeper offshore structure such as rocky ledges. Alabama rigs, football jigs, and drop-shot rigged finesse worms should become more effective, and nomadic fish relating to shad schools can be caught using umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, and mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics with forward-facing sonar. Report by Ander Meine, Bassquatch Fishing.

Twin Buttes

FAIR. Water stained; 54 degrees; 35.69 feet below pool. Expect this cold front to push fish to deeper water in search of stable water temperatures. Fish will suspend off the bottom, and stack up in channels. Channel catfish are fair on punch and fresh cut bait in deeper water. Blue catfish are fair on fresh cut bait in deep water on flats and channels. On sunny days big blue catfish can be caught on shallow flats. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs on brush. No white bass report. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.

Tyler

SLOW. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 1.16 feet below pool. Crappie are slow with fish scattered on brush piles and roaming in 20-30 feet of water with minnows. Catfish are slow caught in 20 feet of water with minnows. Bass are slow and scattered. Report by The Boulders at Lake Tyler.

Waco

SLOW. Water stained; 48 degrees; 0.64 feet above pool. Search in 15-25 feet of water in creek and river channels in the lake. Target the edges with depth changes like deep pockets in the mouth of the inlets and slews. Check standing timber and other structures. Live bait is best, but live bait or jigs need to be presented extremely slow. Crappie are slow and lethargic with fish scattered in 15 feet of water. Crappie are very finicky, so use live bait and be ready to feel the light bite. Report by Greg Culverhouse, Crappie King.

Walter E. Long

GOOD. Water normal stain; 55 degrees. Water levels are very low, and the boat ramp continues to be closed to power boats due to ongoing repairs. You can still launch personal watercraft like kayaks and canoes from the shore, and bank fishing is possible. Much of the submerged vegetation has died back. Try locating vegetation with a couple feet of water above it. With cooler water you'll want to slow down your presentations or possibly look for reaction bites with jerkbaits, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and lipless crankbaits. Weedless soft plastics, stick baits, dropshot rigs, and jigs are also good options at grass edges and across submerged vegetation. Report by Team YAKUSA.

Weatherford

SLOW. Water slightly stained; 52 degrees; 5.98 feet below pool. Crappie are slow at the crappie house with minnows and jigs. Bass are slow around docks with soft plastics. Catfish are slow in deep water with liver or stink bait. The visibility is 12 inches.

Welsh

GOOD. Water stained. 55 degrees. Crappie are good with fish loaded up on brush piles in 12-25 feet of water. The best bite is on hand tied jigs. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.

White River

FAIR. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 19.20 feet below pool. The Arctic front will push fish to deeper water. Expect fish to be scattered and suspended off the bottom.

Whitney

FAIR. Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 1.65 feet below pool. Typically when a big cold front comes in the striper bite improves. Schools of stripers will be chasing shad to the surface, and seagulls will be feeding on the shad as well as the striper. So the key to finding the fish will be finding the working seagulls. Fish should be easy to catch by casting chartreuse soft plastics with a paddle tail or swimbaits into the schooling fish and working birds. A slow retrieve works best. Striped bass are fair on live bait and swimbaits in 25-30 feet of water. Catfish are good using punch bait in 30 feet of water. Crappie are fair on the main lake brush 20-30 feet of water. White bass are slow on slabs in 20 feet of water. Largemouth bass are slow using soft plastics on deep structure and around docks. Report by Captain Cory Vinson, Guaranteed Guide Service.

Worth

GOOD. Water normal; 52 degrees; 1.90 feet below pool. Bass slow this week. Crappie are good under bridge pylons on minnows. Sand bass are good trolling through schools of shad mid lake. Catfish are good on cut shad. Report by Michael James, local angler.

Wright Patman

FAIR. Water normal stain; 53 degrees; 2.85 feet above pool. Crappie are good on laydowns in 10-18 feet of water up river. Fishing is good on structure in the channels on the main lake. The closer to the dam you get the better. Report by River Bottom Boys Guide Service.

Houston

GOOD. Water clear; 59 degrees; 0.11 feet above pool. Lake Houston is in excellent condition and fishing has been on fire, with crappie and white bass being caught at a rapid pace and anglers consistently filling quality boxes. Crappie are producing well in the East Fork and Lucious Bayou on small hand-tied jigs, soft plastics, and live minnows, while white bass are actively feeding throughout the system, especially around Jesse H. Jones Park, where Rooster Tails, Road Runners, curly-tail grubs, and tandem rigs worked along the bottom have been most effective. Largemouth bass fishing remains solid, with healthier, larger fish being caught on deep drop-offs, under docks, along ledges, and secondary points using grubs, Texas-rigged worms, and crankbaits. Catfish action is fair, with the best bite along the main channel bends on punch bait fished on the bottom. Always wear your kill switch and be safe! Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

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