Freshwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of September 27, 2023

Alan Henry

GOOD. Water clear; 80 degrees; 4.20 feet below pool. Crappie are good in 25-35 feet of water using minnows and jigs suspended over trees. Catfish are fair up river using fresh cut bait and prepared baits. Report by The Bait Shop, Post, Texas.

Amistad

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 82-89 degrees; 50.69 feet below pool. Black bass are fair on Texas rig worms, Carolina rigs, weightless senkos, rattletraps, or squarebill crankbaits in 10-20 feet of water on the main lake. White bass are good in 30-50 feet of water on Alabama rigs, rattletraps, blade baits, or Lil George. Stripers are fair in the main river channels in 40-70 feet of water. Happy fishing. Report by Captain Raul Cordero, Far West Guide Service. The catfish bite is improving as fish start to move into shallow water. Fish have been caught from 3-30 feet of water. Starting to see some bigger fish as well. Check ramp status before heading out. Report by Captain Kent Terrill, 3 T’S Guide Service. Bass are slow and a big bite is hard to come by. Punching grass with creature baits as the sun gets high is producing some bites. Topwater baits in shad pattern for the morning and evening bite. Tight lines and pray for some rain! Report by Olin Jensen, Jensen’s Guide Service.

Arlington

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 85-90 degrees; 4.51 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Target areas with current for white bass, catfish and bass. Bass are good on crankbaits and moving baits over rocky areas with current no deeper than six feet of water. Crappie are good on brush piles in 20 feet of water. Report by Chris Rivery, local angler.

Arrowhead

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 8.18 feet below pool. Fishing patterns will remain similar until the water temperature starts to decline. Catfish continue to be good on the main lake drifting with fresh cut shad. Report by Brandon Brown, Brown’s Guide Service.

Athens

FAIR. Water clear; 82-85 degrees; 1.76 feet below pool. Bass are schooling so it can be easier to catch on small shad patterned swimbaits for spinnerbaits. Plenty of fish in shallow grass 2-8 feet of water. Bass on brush piles were not biting. Crappie are still on brush piles. Report by Jim Brack, Athens Guide Service.

Austin

SLOW. Water slightly stained; 82 degrees; 0.63 feet below pool. The bass have been biting well in the morning on soft plastics and small swimbaits. There is quite a bit of vegetation showing up all over the lake. Catching a decent number of bass around the docks. As the weather starts to cool down some bigger fish should start moving shallow to feed up for winter. Overall the lake is fishing well and will continue to improve in the next couple of months. Report by Carson Conklin, ATX Fishing.

B.A. Steinhagen

SLOW. Water normal stain; 84 degrees; 0.43 feet below pool. The river is fishing great for bass using small crankbaits and Texas rigged soft plastics.

Bastrop

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 91 degrees. Water visibility is 3-4 feet down. Bass are good focusing at the base of the reeds with flukes or swimbaits, or focusing on transitions around 8-10 feet with crankbaits. Report Jason Hernandez, Bass Institute of Bastrop. Lake Bastrop is fishing well for bass. Lake Bastrop is fishing well. Frogs or wake baits early over grass is a great presentation right now. Working fast moving baits like shallow and medium crankbaits and spinnerbaits along grass edges is getting some quality bites. Later in the day, work a fluke or Texas rigged soft plastics to finish out the day. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs.

Belton

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 18.27feet below pool. Until the lake turnover occurs, fishing will rise and fall with local weather. Wind and cloud cover enhance fishing, while bright, calm conditions hinder the bite. With the thermocline still firmly in place and topwater action greatly diminished, downrigging for scattered, suspended fish has been the best card to play. With shad continuing to grow, the #13 Pet Spoon downrigger with a multi-lure setup has been a go-to presentation this week. For those without downriggers, using the Pet Spoon behind a Jet Diver, Dipsey Diver, or Hellbender is an option. There has been a noticeable uptick in the number of legal hybrids as part of my catch for the first time in a long time over the past two weeks. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Catfishing has been excellent in 5-15 feet of water. Blue catfish are best slowly drifting with suspended baits around points and river channels. Flathead catfish are becoming more active at night and have been caught near structures and rock piles with live perch or shad. Channel catfish have been great in shallow water around timber using punch bait. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.

Benbrook

SLOW. Water stained; 85 degrees; 13.17 feet below pool. All ramps are closed due to low water levels.

Bob Sandlin

GOOD. Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.43 feet below pool. Crappie are good on brush piles in 15-20 feet of water using minnows or jigs. Catfish are good on baited holes in 15-20 feet of water on baited holes using cheese bait. Sand bass are fair on main lake points in 15-20 feet of water using slabs. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Bass are slow while fish transition to the back of coves for the fall feeding frenzy, but catches can still be had by throwing chatterbaits under boat houses on points. Report by Mike Stroman, R & R Marine. Fly fishing for black bass is slow using topwater patterns and subsurface patterns early and late in the day in the backs of coves and creeks. Look for small schooling bass. Fish poppers around boat houses and main lake points with deceivers and small jig patterns. Try bead heads and wooly buggers for bream. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.

Brady

GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 12.71 feet below pool. The bass bite is improving just as the water levels continue to decline. Check ramp status before heading out. Largemouth bass are good fishing in the few remaining salt cedars or rocks early and late. Flip the salt cedars with a watermelon red senko and throw a KVD 2.5 on the rocks. Crappie are fair around the docks and marina on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair schooling early and late with a crankbait. Catfish are fair on trotlines in the creek on live perch or cut shad.

Braunig

GOOD. Water slightly stained, 90 degrees. Redfish are good on the northeast side of the lake to the dam area on dark color soft plastics and gold spoons. Boaters and recreational shoreline fishermen doing good on live bait and frozen Gulf shrimp. Weather patterns and light rains will have a cooling trend that will continue as we start the week. Largemouth bass around the reeds have been hitting some topwaters early in the morning around the reed beds switching to dark worm or jigs as the sun gets higher and the temperature starts rising.

Bridgeport

GOOD. Water clear; 81 degrees; 14.03 feet below pool. The dam and RAB ramps remain open. WCP has one ramp open. The low water ramps are now usable. Crappie continue to be good on minnows and jigs. Docks and old timber have been the best areas. Largemouth bass are good on buzzbaits early in the morning, especially on cloudy days. Sand bass and hybrids are moving around the lake chasing bait. Check flats for schooling fish early and around deeper structure for deeper schools as the sun gets up. As usual, chartreuse slabs are the best bait. Catfish good drifting cut Shad around the main lake structure. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.

Brownwood

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 82-84 degrees; 7.83 feet below pool. Black bass to 4.21 pounds are fair on jigs or shaky heads, and 5.84 pound catches on a whopper plopper, crankbaits and frogs in 2-15 feet of water. Crappie are slow in brush piles and around the docks on minnows in 8-12 feet of water. White bass are fair to 1.00 pounds schooling all over on jigs and small moving baits and under the lights on crankbaits and small jigs. Catfish are slow to 8 pounds on jug lines or rod and reels using prepared and cut bait

Bryan

GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees.Bass are good on on grass edges, rock piles and brush piles with a consistent bite near the dam. Report by Aggie Anglers. The triple digit heat has been reined in as we wait for the fall rains. Catfish catches on minnows. Few reports on crappie. Report by the Bait Barn.

Buchanan

GREAT. Water lightly stained; 79-82 degrees; 25.03 feet below pool. Navigate with caution as several of the underwater humps are starting to become visible, or are just under the surface. Striper fishing is still hit-or-miss using live bait with vertical jigging and trolling still producing around the limited topwater schools. White bass are showing up more regularly with midday surface activity. The best technique is vertical jigging ½ ounce spoons. Report by Travis Holland, TH Fishing.

Caddo

GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.19 feet above pool. Some areas are low and hard to launch your boat or even get off the dock onto the boat, so plan accordingly. The lily pads have taken over several spots and it has made for some fun topwater action working a frog over them. A pop r on the edge of the grass or pads will work well at daylight. Stick with the Texas rig worm or a fluke when covering water in the river, bayou or the main lake. A dropshot or shaky head will work well in the river system around the cuts or any spot where a boat run drops into the river, just set up and cast into the boat lane and pull the worm back into the river. Even with it being shallow the lake looks healthy and majestic and it is a great time to come enjoy this lake that God spoke into existence Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.

Calaveras

GOOD. Water slightly stained, 90 degrees. Redfish are fair for boaters trolling dark soft plastics and gold spoons. Recreational shoreline anglers and boaters alike catching reds on frozen Gulf shrimp and live baits around the boat ramps and Jet Ski Cove. Channel and blue catfish have been good in the coves throughout the lake on cut bait, live baits and worms.

Canyon Lake

GOOD. Water clear to slightly stained; 82 degrees; 18.05 feet below pool. The bass are starting to move out of the matted grass and are extremely catchable along the outside grass line. Slow rolling a spinnerbait and swimbait have been the baits of choice. Report by Evan Coleman, Big Bassin Fishing.

Cedar Creek

GOOD. Water normal stain; 77-81 degrees; 3.53 feet below pool. Crappie are good, the bite has been real soft but it is picking up quick. Minnows are still the main bait but jigs are making a statement. Brush piles in 13-17 feet of water and boat docks with 5-8 feet have been producing fish. This bite will continue strong until early December. White bass and hybrids are good, they have been schooling in the mornings under birds on flats and points. Once they quit schooling go check a few humps and use silver slabs while casting out and bringing the bait back to the boat. Largemouth bass are good on topwaters early around riprap and shaky head jigs around brush and docks in 8-13 feet. Report by Kyle Miers, Lake Country Outfitters.

Choke Canyon

SLOW. Water stained; 85 degrees; 26.55 feet below pool. Bass are slow with a few catches the first hour of sunlight in 4 feet of water with topwaters in the grass. Then fish brush piles or timber or the edge points in 8-15 feet of water with plastic worms and Carolina rigs. No report for white bass. Catfish are slow with few anglers on the water. Crappie are slow on deep, 20-25 feet of water, brush piles in the main lake using minnows or small grubs. Check ramp status before heading out. Report by Scott Springer, Fish Choke Canyon Lake.

Cisco

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 10.77 feet below pool. The crappie bite is starting to improve, fish are hitting good in the evening on small minnows. The lake has been calm and clear. Report by Lake Cisco Rentals.

Coleman

SLOW. Slightly stained; 82-86 degrees; 8.12 feet below pool. Bass are fair to five pounds on Hags soft plastics and jigs tipped with a Hags Undertaker Jr. White and hybrids are fair under the lights on fast moving baits. Crappie are excellent mid lake to the river mouth in the trees along the channel on minnows and jigs.

Conroe

SLOW. Water stained; 87 degrees; 2.09 feet below pool. The catfish bites has improved as the water temperature cool. Baited holes and wind blown ledges have been producing well on Catfish Bubblegum, liver, and punch bait. Trophy catfish have been caught with the eaters but pretty few and far between. They will get considerably better once it gets chilly. Report by Brad Doyle, Bradley’s Guide Service. Water levels remain low, and bass are still biting better in deeper waters from 9-16 feet. Fish are relating to brush piles and lay downs situated around points, drop-offs, rock piles and other similar structures. Crankbaits, Texas rigged worms, and Carolina Rigged plastics are all effective choices. The early bite remains good using smaller crankbaits, trick worms and Texas rigged worms in depths up to 8-9 feet focusing around riprap, docks near creeks, and vegetation on the North end of the lake. Report by Bryan Brawner, Lake Conroe Charters. Hybrids are in 13-23 feet of water some small schools, but more scattered. On points and flats trolling with a pet spoon and a diver. Some success using MTPockets slabs jigging for them, and using large minnows, catching many juveniles but getting some keepers. The crappie bite is still slow, having to hit many spots to get the hotties, thumps have been lighter, Lone Star Crappie Jigs and stunna jigs have been producing, smaller jigs and minnows have been been a hit or miss, finding them in 12-22 feet of water on or close to structure. Always wear your life jacket. Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy Lake Conroe Guide.

Cooper

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 83 degrees: 1.00 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers on the water due to heat. Catfish continue to be good on shad. White bass can be caught with slabs in deeper water. This is the time of year birds start working the lake, so they can lead you to schooling fish.

Corpus Christi Lake

GOOD. 85 degrees; 6.66 feet below pool. Catfish are good in 10-15 feet of water with cut carp. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good in 10-15 feet of water on minnows. Alligator gar are great in the river channel on cut carp. Conditions look great for fishing this week. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters.

Cypress Springs

GOOD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.26 feet below pool. Crappie are good on brush piles in 15-20 feet of water using minnows or jigs. Catfish are good on baited holes in 15-20 feet of water on baited holes using cheese bait. Sand bass are fair on main lake points in 15-20 feet of water using slabs. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Bass are slow transitioning to the back of coves for the fall feeding frenzy, but catches can still be had by throwing chatterbaits under boat houses on points. Report by Mike Stroman, R & R Marine.

Eagle Mountain

GOOD. Water normal stain; 79 degrees; 8.20 feet below pool. White bass are good on main lake structure using slabs, or in mid depths using cocahoe minnows. Crappie are fair to good on brush piles and main lake structure on jigs. Blue catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait on structure. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Fairfield

Closed to the public.

Falcon

GOOD. Water stained; 84-88 degrees; 44.04 feet below pool. Trophy catfish are good with cut or live bait 10-30 feet of water. Gar fishing is good with a rod and reel on cut carp or tilapia in the middle or back of creeks. Bow fishing mouth of the creek of midlake. Crappie are slow and scattered on isolated brush and timber in 30 plus feet of water along the river channel. Black bass are fair on crankbaits or soft plastics in 8-20 feet of water. Report by Ram Reyes, Ram Outdoors.

Fayette

SLOW. Water stained; 88 degrees. The water temperature will slowly decline with the cooler evenings improving the bite. Reports that bass are slow.

Fork

GOOD. Water Stained; 83 degrees; 2.34 feet below pool. The bass bite has been fair to good with the best bite early morning using topwaters, chatterbaits and flukes. Squarebill crankbaits continue to be fair in 3-5 feet of water on points and in front of weeds. Carolina rigs are fair in 5-7 feet of water using smaller baits. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Fly fishing for black bass has improved in shallow water around brush and timber. Look for windy banks late. Bream are shallow, try bead heads with spinners. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing is still awesome on trees and brush in 14-28 feet. Covering water to find the right trees or brush that are loaded with fish. Some fish will be suspended and some fish right on the bottom. Finding a few trees that have both of those fish on the same tree. Lots of fish are moving along creek channels and timber lines from shallower summer areas to the deeper winter areas. Minnows have continued to dominate the bite but we have had some success this week with small hand tied jigs. As the water cools down in October, the soft plastic jig bite will kick in as well. The catfish have continued to stack up on baited holes around timber in 18-25 this week. Tons of smaller fish show up right on the bottom and some larger fish will come up in the water column to 8-16 feet down in 22-25 feet. Use your prepared catfish bait of choice to load the boat with Lake Fork channel catfish. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

Ft. Phantom Hill

SLOW. Water stained; 85 degrees; 6.03 feet below pool. Hybrids are good vertically jigging. White bass are schooling windswept areas biting a rooster tail. Bass can be caught on the rocks early in the morning with topwaters. Blue catfish can be caught drifting with live bait or shad.

Graham

FAIR. Water stained; 85 degrees; 5.44 feet below pool. Catfish are good with cut bait and cheese bait. Bass are slow around brush piles in deeper water on jigs and deep diving crankbaits. Sand bass are schooling biting slabs.

Granbury

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 78-81 degrees; 1.49 feet below pool. Sand bass are schooling on several areas of the lake including the Shores, Indian Harbor and near Decordova subdivision. Largemouth bass to six pounds are possible near main lake points and shallow humps or flats. Some good topwater action is reported on these feeding flats. Striped bass continue to be good to near 10 pounds on live bait and trolled jigs or crankbaits on the lower ends. Crappie are excellent on small jigs and minnows fished on submerged structure and near bridge pilings. Catfish action continues to be best in the evening on cut shad. Some bigger yellows and blues to 25lbs are possible. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters. Largemouth bass are good with sizable catches around bridges and in cove areas using live minnows. Crappie has slowed to fair on live bait and structures. Catfish are slow in the morning on cut bait, minnows, and any bait with a smell. Striped bass are poor at this point from shore. Perch and bluegill are still good with worms. Report by Terry Hodges, local angler. Striped bass can be caught on the south end from Decordova to the dam on live shad, swimbaits, umbrella-rigs and deep diving crankbaits along ledges and points. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton's Guide Service LLC, Fishing Charter, Marine Electronics & Whitney.

Granger

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 3.31 feet below pool. Black bass are good to five pounds on swimbaits fished around hydrilla. Crappie are good on 1/32 ounce jigs fished around cover in 4-12 feet of water. White bass are fair on crankbaits and spoons fished around shallow road beds. Blue catfish are good on shad baited jug lines. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines fished up river. Report by Tommy Tidwell, Tommy Tidwell’s Granger Lake Guide Service.

Grapevine

GOOD. Water clear; 85 degrees; 4.47 feet below pool. White bass are fair trolling or with slabs. The larger fish are scattered in 15-17 feet of water, with mostly smaller and undersized fish on humps and edges of flats. Very little bird action, but this should improve with cooler weather. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.

Greenbelt

GOOD. Water normal stain; 80 degrees; 45.77 feet below pool. Few anglers on the lake but fishing conditions will only improve as the cooler weather settles in. Catfish and bass are biting on minnows. Check ramp status before heading out. Report by Greenbelt Lakeside Marina.

Hawkins

SLOW. Water slightly stained. 84 degrees. Fly fishing continues to be slow for black bass using small poppers and streamers fished above grass or near lily pads in the backs of creeks. Try small poppers and bead heads for bream. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.

Houston County

FAIR. Water clear; 80-84 degrees; 2.16 feet below pool. Crappie are good in 6-14 feet of water on standing timber and brush using minnows. Largemouth are good in 4-14 feet of water on squarebill crankbaits or shaky heads. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.

Hubbard Creek

FAIR. Water Stained; 85-88 degrees; 11.04 feet below pool. White bass should be schooling in coves. When the water is calm, scan the lake to find them. There are some hydrilla near the boat ramps so use a senko or topwater for bass, or fish in deeper water with Carolina rigs or deep diving crankbaits.

Jacksonville

SLOW. Water clear; 83 degrees; 1.97 feet below pool. Bass are biting good deep on soft plastics, but moving shallower with catches on swim jigs, topwaters, and squarebill crankbaits.

Joe Pool

FAIR. Water clear; 85 degrees; 2.02 feet below pool. Fishing is steady, with some bass found up shallow on squarebills. Crappie on the bridge pillars. Water is beginning to cool slightly but expect it to decrease more in the weeks to come then we will experience the lake turnover. Report by Gilbert Miller, GTB Outdoors.

Lake O' the Pines

GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.54 feet below pool. Crappie are slow on standing timber in 25 feet of water using minnows or jigs. Catfish are fair on baited holes in 15-20 feet of water on baited holes using cheese bait. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. Bass are slow transitioning to the back of coves for the fall feeding frenzy, but catches can still be had by throwing chatterbaits under boat houses on points. Report by Mike Stroman, R & R Marine.

Lavon

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84-86 degrees; 5.10 feet below pool. Crappie are stacked up on submerged trees in 8-12 feet of water, with a few deeper, but brush piles in 7-11 feet of water are gold. 1/16 ounce jigs are outproducing minnows. Bushy top submerged trees are fishing great, single branch trees will hold 1-7 fish. Condo and bushy trees hold up to 100 or more fish. White Bass are in 7-15 feet of water on flats and ledges, and main lake points and the very end of boat ramps. Some sporadic topwater action can be found. At the boat ramps 7 feet or deeper, look for white bass hunting the shad that are using the ramp as structure. Some days your thumper will end up spooking the fish. Try taking a broken rod and slapping the water over and over like the fish popping and feeding on the surface. Sometimes that triggers them to come in and feed. Use a 1 ounce white or chartreuse slab. If fish surface or you see a bird along the bank on points or flats out 10 feet throw 3-4 inch paddle tails, or swimbaits. If you do not get a bite after 10 casts, move to the next bird. Black bass are good in 10-15 feet of water using diving crankbaits Series 5 KVD sexy Shad 12 foot diver, zoom motor, oil worm, BeaverTails in watermelon-red, and watermelon Green. Bass are near ramps, rock piles, brush piles, on standing timber, underwater points, tire reefs and submerged boat ramps. Catfish are in 10-20 feet on ledges and slopes or flats in 15-18 feet of water using cut shad or cut bluegill. Gizzard Shad are roaming in 1-4 feet of water in the back of coves and flats. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.

LBJ

GOOD. Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.26 feet below pool. Fishing patterns will hold steady until the winter months. Catfish are good in 30 feet of water with punch bait. Crappie continue to be good with minnows and chartreuse jigs in 16-22 feet of water over brush piles. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.

Lewisville

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 81-83 degrees; 4.70 feet below pool. Water temperatures are now in the lower 80s. White bass are fair on the bottom near humps, points, and drop off ledges in 10-26 feet of water and shallow in 2-8 feet of water. Fish off the bottom with slabs, jigs, and live bait. Keeper sized hybrid stripers are fair in similar depths as the white bass, and there can be topwater action on large flats and points. 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. Catfish are fair drifting in 12-26 feet with cut shad or chicken breasts. Check near wind blown points, humps, and flats near creek channels if drifting. Crappie are fair in 8-32 feet of water on standing timber, rock piles, stumps, laydowns, and bridge columns using minnows and jigs. Report by Wes Campbell, BendaRod Fishing.

Limestone

GOOD. Water clear; 80-84 degrees; 3.59 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are good in 2-12 feet of water using Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, spinnerbait, chatterbaits. White bass are good in 8-14 feet of water using silver slabs, or at night near docks with lights using white beetle spins. Crappie are on offshore brush of standing timber suspended in 6-13 feet with minnows. Still 100 fish days on crappie trips. Catfish are good on points, humps and creek channels in 10-20 feet. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.

Livingston

GOOD. Stained; 85 degrees; 3.91 feet below pool. Navigate with caution as water level is low with many exposed obstacles or just below the surface. Check ramp status before heading out. White bass are fair transitioning to the fall bite. The typical fall pattern will be early morning schooling action, or fishing humps and points. This pattern could change due to low lake levels. Striped bass are slow. Catfish are fair to good off the edges of the river. Crappie are slow. Largemouth bass are slow. Report by Jeff Friederick, Fishin’ Addiction Guide Service.

Martin Creek

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 86 degrees; 3.41 feet below pool. The lake level is low revealing exposed obstacles, with many just below the surface so navigate with caution. Bass fishing is improving with the cooler weather. Swimbaits and rattletraps over the hydrilla work well. Plum and watermelon red worms do well along the outer edge of the grass. Crappie are good with many limits caught suspended over brush using Bobby Garland jigs and minnows. Catfish remain good fishing on bottom in 15-20 feet of water using punch bait, nightcrawlers and minnows.

Medina

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 86.71 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers on the water due to the limited access and low water level.

Meredith

GOOD. Water stained; 72-74 degrees; 44.24 feet below pool. Bass are fair on minnows and artificials. Catfish are good on crawlers, minnows, chicken liver and frozen shad. Crappie are fair on artificial baits and minnows. White bass are excellent on minnows, slabs, or any vertical presentations. Trout are slow on powerbaits, minnows, worms, small spinners and flies. Walleye are good with lots of small fish being caught using minnows, grubs, crankbaits and other artificial baits. Reports that the night bite is good. Please be safe out there, watch weather reports. Reports of a nice catfish from North Canyon, and a good crappie from the docks over the weekend. Best of luck on finding your next catch. Life vests save lives. Report by Kenneth Wysong, SharKens Honey Hole.

Millers Creek

FAIR. Water stained; 80 degrees; 8.77 feet below pool. Fishing patterns will remain similar until the water temperature starts to decline. Bass are slow on topwaters early in the morning, then on soft plastics off drop-offs. White bass are fair trolling with slabs. Blue and channel catfish are fair on cut bait. Crappie are on submerged structures with minnows and jigs.

Nacogdoches

FAIR. Water clear; 78-84 degrees; 2.96 feet below pool. Recent rains and some cooler mornings have lowered the water temperatures a few degrees. Fall fishing is right around the corner. Largemouth bass are good. We are still a few weeks away before any real transition begins. Once water temperatures get into the low 70s fish will begin their fall transition. Crappie are good on minnows, but as the water temperature cools jigs will begin to excel. Report by Blake Oestreich, Brushbuster Guide Service.

Naconiche

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 2.00 feet below pool. We did receive the most rain, in one event, since early spring. This should help the lake level and ultimately the bite. The overall bite has tightened up a bit which is somewhat typical for September., as the water temperatures start to cool and as we head toward the fall transition. Some bass wolfpacks of fish offshore in the main lake area. Keep in mind the thermocline and do not fish below it. Crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services.

Nasworthy

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 85 degrees. 0.47 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Bass are fair on white chatterbaits or flipping soft plastics in the reeds in 1-3 feet of water. Crappie are good around boat docks on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait around the dam. Report provided by the Angelo State Fishing Team.

Navarro Mills

GOOD. Water clear; 82-86 degrees; 2.097 feet below pool. White bass are good on chartreuse slabs in the main lake. Crappie are good on live minnows around brush and trees. Catfish are good on cut bait and Danny King’s stink bait near timber. Largemouth bass are good on rat-L-traps along the dam and main lake points. Report by Clay Major, Major Guide Service.

O.C. Fisher

SLOW. Water stained; 84 degrees; 50.35 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers fishing due to low lake levels.

O.H. Ivie

FAIR. Water stained; 85 degrees; 28.49 feet below pool. White bass are fair live baits and plastic baits. Crappie are fair live bait or jigs. Largemouth are fair. As the lake level continues to drop, navigate with caution watching for trees. Report by Concho Park and Marina.

Oak Creek

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 14.92 feet below pool. Channel and blue catfish are good on stink baits or punch baits 8-12 feet of water. Bass are slow 15 feet of water using crawfish colored soft plastics, or a few catches on rattletraps. White bass are slow in 20 feet of water on flashy shad colored baits. Few reports of crappie catches off of docks. Report by Randall Pate, Sportsman’s Lodge.

Palestine

GOOD. Water clear; 83-88 degrees; 2.16 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are holding steady. Crappie are good using minnows and jigs on brush piles in 10-20 feet of water, standing timber and bridge pillars in 18-25 feet of water. Crappie will be suspended between 10-18 feet down. Thermocline is at 20-22 feet, so very few fish will be deeper than that. Sand bass and hybrids are good during the early daylight hours on Hwy 155 bridge and main lake humps. Largemouth bass are good offshore in 8-18 feet of water. Catfish are good in 15-20 feet of water with cut bait. Baiting areas helps. Channel catfish are best with stink bait. Report by Sam Parker, Freshwater Fishing Adventures.

Palo Pinto

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 10.67 feet below pool. Few reports and angler activity while the lake level is low and ramps are closed. Check ramp status before heading out.

Possum Kingdom

FAIR. Water clear; 81-84 degrees; 3.04 feet below pool. Striper are great with live bait but do not be afraid to move around with the trolling motor and search for them. Look for them in 20-30 feet of water. Sand bass are fair. Small live bait and small slabs or small swim tail on a jig head are good baits. Look in 20-30 feet of water. Catfish are good. Small cut and live shad is the bait of choice. Look for them in 3-20 feet of water. Suspend baits slightly off bottom for best results. Water clarity is staying steady at 5-15 feet of visibility. Report by TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service. Lake Whitney continues to boast good catches of striped bass fishing downrigger jigs or live shad. Some good top water action is being reported as well. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters.

Proctor

FAIR. Water stained; 80 degrees; 13.24 feet below pool.Black bass are slow. Catfish on punch bait in shallow water. Hybrid and sand bass can be caught on top water. Crappie are hitting minnows around rock structures. Boat ramps are closed, but it is possible to launch a kayak. Report by Richard Wade, Richard Wade’s Guide Service.

Raven

GOOD. Water clear; 87 degrees; 2.00 feet low. Conditions are still low. The hydrilla is breaking up. It still seems like the bass are rolling more than biting. However, our assistant superintendent caught a very nice bass across the lake from the camping loop in the grass. Bluegill are biting under the piers.

Ray Hubbard

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 79-81 degrees; 4.16 feet below pool. White bass are fair scattered along edges 13-16 feet of water on flats, some schooling activity, using small lures like baby rattletraps, tail spinners and in line spinners working best. Fish are also showing up on humps 16-27 feet later in the mornings. Crappie on brush piles in deep water, jigs or minnows keeping the baits 17-24 feet with a few showing up on bridge pylons. Catfish are moving deeper on points roaming in 17-28 feet of water. Report by John Varner, John Varner's Guide Service.

Ray Roberts

GOOD. Water is clear; 79 degrees; 2.02 feet below pool. Bass are good with topwaters for an hour at sunrise, then dropshots rigged with a flat worm in 10-20 feet of water. Sand bass are good on the bottom in 30 feet of water with slabs with a hair jig as trailer. Crappie are slow to fair for keeper sized fish in standing timber in 15-30 feet of water. Report by Jim Walling, Ucatchem Guide Service.

Richland Chambers

FAIR. Water clear; 83 degrees; 2.51 feet below pool. Hybrid stripers are fair with live bait off the 309 flats in 25 feet of water. White bass are slow. Eater size blue and channel catfish continue to be the best bet to consistently catch fish. They can be caught on shad or Danny King's Punch Bait in the timber off the Richland Creek Channel in 25-30 feet of water. The early morning bite has been good, and the fish are often suspended at various depths. No reports from the crappie or largemouth bass anglers. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin' Guide Service.

Sam Rayburn

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 81 degrees; 5.05 feet below pool. The best should be in the evening and early morning with the full moon. Bass are good in the lily pads with frogs, along the edges of the pads with senkos and wacky worms, in the drains and points with Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie and a few bluegill are stacking up on brush in 16-22 feet of water biting on minnows or jigs. Catfish are good around brush piles and creek channels points in 12-24 feet of water. White bass are good schooling on the flats and points on jigs and crankbaits. The lake level is low so navigate with caution watching for obstacles. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Somerville

FAIR. Water clear; 85 degrees; 5.13 feet below pool. Fishing patterns continue to hold steady. Catfish, bluegill, and crappie are fair on minnows and worms at Somerville Marina early morning. Black bass are fair hitting slow moving plastics and jerk baits on drop offs and brush in 8-14 feet of water. Crappie are fair on main lake brush piles and pilings using minnows and various jigs. Catfish are fair early in the morning in 8-14 feet of water. Larger catfish are slow in deep water drifting or using jug lines baited with shad or cut bait. White bass are slow trolling Pet spoons on points or using shad and ghost minnows on humps in 6-10 feet of water. Hybrids are slow using cut bait and 2 ounce jigs. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.

Spence

FAIR. Water stained; 86 degrees. 46.53 feet below pool. Bass are slow on topwaters and reaction baits in shallow water. A few bites are possible in deep water using plastics. Wear your life jacket and stay safe. Report by Bill Brasher, Bronte Fishing Guide Service.

Squaw Creek

GREAT. Water stained. 83 degrees; 0.27 feet below pool. Closed for the season. Scheduled to reopen October 1, 2023.

Stamford

SLOW. Water normal stain; 85 degrees; 2.77 feet below pool. Fishing should start to improve with the cooler temperatures. Crappie are fair at the crappie house. Blue catfish are biting stink bait. White bass bite has improved with the cooler temperatures and fish are schooling hitting minnows. Report by Anchor Marina.

Stillhouse

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 18.42 feet below pool. Until turnover occurs, fishing will rise and fall with local weather. Wind and cloud cover enhance fishing, while bright, calm conditions hinder. With the thermocline still firmly in place, downrigging for scattered, suspended fish has been the best card to play. With shad continuing to grow, the #13 Pet Spoon downrigger with a multi-lure setup was my go-to presentation this week. For those without downriggers, using the Pet Spoon behind a Jet Diver, Dipsey Diver, or Hellbender is an option. Quality largemouth bass fishing continues with dark, naturally colored soft plastics fished on the outside edge of the hydrilla now standing in 20 feet of water, both early morning and just before or after sunset. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service. Bass are schooling in the top quarter of the lake. Scale baits to the size of shad. Report by David Townsend, Austin Fishing Guide.

Tawakoni

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 90 degrees; 1.54 feet below pool. Tawakoni continues to fish good as we begin to come out of our summer pattern. A series of cool fronts has cooled water temperatures to the lower 80s and we are seeing active fish feeding in many areas of the lake. The hybrid striper and white bass are herded up in big schools on many different lake points in 8-15 feet. Best lures have been slabs and small swimbaits. The eating size catfish have been very good over baited holes in 20 feet. Prepared baits, such as punch baits and dough baits are working best. We are starting to see Trophy Catfish caught up to 30 pounds using fresh cut gizzard shad in water 15-25 feet. The crappie bite is not bad in 10-20 feet using minnows near bridge pilings and brush piles. The largemouth bass bite has improved in the last 10 days. Early morning frogs and flukes are the ticket then follow it up with a square bill on the rip rap. Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service Report by Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.

Texana

GOOD. Water stained; 85 degrees; 5.13 feet below pool. Few reports and anglers on the water due to low lake levels.

Texoma

GOOD. Water stained; 86-88 degrees; 3.22 feet below pool. Striped bass are hit-or-miss with smaller sized fish being caught under the birds, then blind casting shallow flats in 1-6 feet of water for larger fish. Best baits have been pencil poppers, slabs and now swimbaits are in play. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors. Striped bass fishing is great. Big fish are along flats in 5-15 feet of water drifting gizzard shad, or working topwaters along the banks. Box fish are running the ledges in 30-40 feet of water on threadfin shad picking through a lot of smaller fish. Catfish are good drifting cut shad along flats in 15-25 feet of water and catching numbers on anchor in 30-40 feet of water off the bottom. Bass fishing is slow with the low lake levels but it’s a great opportunity to drop waypoints on exposed boulders or lay downs that will be covered this fall and spring. Crappie are slow on minnows fishing brush piles in the little mineral arm using electronics to locate active fish. Seeing a lot of small fish. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma Guaranteed Guide Service.

Toledo Bend

FAIR. Water clear; 86-90 degrees; 3.88 feet below pool. Few catches of bass on topwater in the first couple hours of the morning. Once the sun gets up over the pine trees then it is time to get out a little deeper. The best bite is in 12-18 feet of water has been best on crankbaits in a shad color, and a Texas rig in a dark color, like June bug. There has been few good fish schooling in the middle of the day, but with it warming back up schooling action should be slowing. Few crappie showing up on some deep brush piles from 18-25 feet. Jigs and live bait are the best. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.

Travis

FAIR. Water slight stain; 81-83 degrees; 51.82 feet below pool. Lake Travis is fishing great for bass. The topwater bite has been good using walking style baits along the shores as the bass are chasing bait up tight. You can move out to deep water ledges, points and humps to catch some good ones as well. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Bass are good with nice size fish being caught in shallow water fishing fast with topwater frogs. Fishing fast on the high points starting at the mouths of creeks working back. All public ramps are closed, so plan accordingly. Report by Randal Frisbie, .

Twin Buttes

GOOD. Water stained. 80 degrees; 30.33 feet below pool. Catfish are very good on punch bait in 15 feet of water. Crappie are slow in 10-12 feet of water holding tight to cover using jigs, the bite is slow on minnows. Sand bass are chasing shad staying above the thermocline at 15 feet of water. Report by Captain Michael Peterson, 4 Reel Fun Guide Service.

Tyler

FAIR. Water stained; 83 degrees; 2.40 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are similar, with the full moon expect the best bite in the evenings and early morning. Catfish are good all over the lake on nightcrawlers and stinkbait. Bass are good on crankbaits and black finesse worms in 8 feet of water. Crappie are fair in 10-30 feet of water on minnows. Bluegill are fair on red worms all over the lake. Report by Paul Taylor, The Boulders at Lake Tyler.

Waco

GREAT. Water stained; 85 degrees; 11.27 feet below pool. Crappie are great on the same brush piles we targeted during the hot summer months. Catches can be had in 8-16 feet of water with jigs tipped with minnows, but the live bait bite will phase out soon to jigs. With the cooler air temperatures the fish are hungry and feeding aggressively. Report by Robert Stover, Workingman Crappie Guide.

Walter E. Long

GOOD. Water stained; 1.00 above pool; 87 degrees. Bass are good along the shorelines in the first couple of hours of the day, then the bite slows. You can get lucky after that if you find some schooling fish, but fish seem to be scattered around the lake. We are just one cold front away from better fishing. Decker is just inches away from not being able to launch, which is similar conditions as this time last year. Report by David Townsend, Austin Fishing Guide. Bass are good with Texas rigged 4 and 5 inch worms in the grass. Always have some small swimbaits or jerkbaits ready to catch some big fish when the bass begin schooling later in the day. Report by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs. Crappie are good in 12-18 feet of water using chartreuse and black jigs. Report by Jess Rotherham, Texas Crappie Fishing Service.

Weatherford

SLOW. Water stained; 78 degrees; 8.78 feet below pool. Crappie are fair with a few keepers on brush piles near the dam with minnows or jigs. Catfish are fair with a few catches on the rocks near the dam on cut bait or shad. Bass are slow still in deeper water on crankbaits and Texas rigged worms.

White River

FAIR. Water stained; 87 degrees; 20.66 feet below pool. Catfish continue to be good on cut shad and minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Water clarity is stained due to runoff.

Whitney

GREAT. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 8.14 feet below pool. Lake Whitney continues to boast good catches of striped bass fishing downrigger jigs or live shad. Some good top water action is being reported as well. Report by Michael Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters. Striped bass are excellent from Bear Creek to the dam in 25-45 feet of water on live bait, flutter spoons, umbrella-rigs or swim baits. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton's Guide Service LLC, Fishing Charter, Marine Electronics & Whitney.

Worth

FAIR. Water normally stained; 79 degrees; 2.97 feet below pool. White bass are good on main lake structure using slabs, or in mid depths on cocahoe minnows. Crappie are fair to good on brush piles and main lake structure on jigs. Blue catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait on structure. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Wright Patman

GOOD. Water stained; 82 degrees; 0.20 feet above pool. Fishing patterns remain similar. Crappie are good in the spillway on minnows or jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait off the rocks and in the spillway.

Houston

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.11 feet above pool. Fishing patterns are similar, look for the best bite at night and early in the morning. Blue catfish are good on shad in the mouths of rivers. Crappie are fair on submerged structures in 10-20 feet of water with jigs tipped with minnows. Bass are fair with an early morning topwater bite, transitioning to deeper structure with crankbaits and Texas or Carolina rigged worms.

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