Prairies & Lakes Region Week of August 17, 2022

Arlington

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 92 degrees; 5.06 feet low. Bass are good holding to structure and vegetation biting on topwaters early, switching to crankbaits later in the day. White bass are good on spoons and slabs. Catfish are good off the bank with punch bait and chicken liver.

Athens

FAIR. Water clear; 88 degrees; 1.52 feet below. Summertime fishing patterns are the same. Bass are fair schooling early and late in the day biting small white moving baits and topwaters, and along main lake grass lines with jigs and shaky head ribbon tail worms. Crappie are slow on deep brush out to 20 feet of water with jigs and minnows. White bass can be caught sporadically near schooling bass. Report by Jim Brack, Athens Guide Service.

Bastrop

GREAT. Water clear; 98 degrees. Bass are good with schooling action the first couple hours after sunrise biting on clear topwater baits, then on points with shaky heads, small spoons and Alabama rigs with very small white grubs. Crappie are slow on live minnows in vegetation. Catfish are good on cut bait. Report by Charles Whited, Barefoot Fishing Tours.

Belton

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 8.43 feet low. Fishing is similar but should improve as the weather moderates and the surface temperature begins to cool. White bass fishing continues to be very tough and difficult to pattern. Small schools are chasing the abundant young of the year shad in above the thermocline, occasionally showing themselves as they burst to the surface to feed on shad, then disappear again. Best chances are to look for brief topwater action at first light and last light, and anticipate this activity to be short-lived. MAL Original Lures work well when white bass are feeding on mature shad, but the #13 Pet Spoons cast on light braid or mono with a fully-spooled spinning reel work well when fish are feeding on young of the year shad. Downrigging will produce bonus fish in the first three hours of the morning and the last 90 minutes of the day. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.

Benbrook

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 9.50 feet low. Summertime pattern persists but fish can be caught with a little dedication and perseverance. Crappie are good in standing timber in 14-25 feet of water with jigs, but best on minnows. White bass and hybrids are slow on main lake humps with slabs and live bait. Largemouth bass are fair in 8-20 feet of water points and rocks and standing timber with deep diving crankbaits and Texas rigged 10 inch worms. Catfish are good in standing timber under roosting birds and punch bait. Report by James Davis, James Davis Guide Service.

Bridgeport

GOOD. Water normal stain; 85 degrees; 6.79 feet low. All ramps are open but may be steeper in the near future. The water is clear with water temperatures staying in the mid 80s range. Sand bass are surfacing randomly around the lake early morning and late evening using small imitation shad. On still days you can see them from a distance. Crappie remain very good around the bridge and main lake structure, docks and brush piles using minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass continue to be good on topwater baits early in the day, moving to main lake points with deep water nearby using Texas rigged worms in pumpkin seed worked low and slow. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait in shallow water. Be sure to check out the new catfish regulations from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Report by Keith Bunch, Lake Bridgeport Guide Service.

Cedar Creek

EXCELLENT. Water normal stain; 82-88 degrees; 4.67 feet low. Crappie are excellent on main lake brush piles in 12-18 feet of water using minnows and small jigs. Largemouth bass are excellent on brush piles in 8-14 feet of water using Carolina rigs and shaky heads, early morning with chatterbaits and squarebills have been productive around points with rocks. White bass and hybrid bass are excellent on main lake deep humps and drop-offs using silver spoons and live shad. Catfish are excellent using shad and cut bait fished along humps and baited holes. Report by Kyle Miers, Lake Country Outfitters.

Cooper

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 88 degrees. Fishing should improve after the cold front, but will definitely improve the temperature for cooler fishing. Catfish are good with juglines. White bass and hybrids are fair with large spoons. Crappie are slow on main lake brush piles and standing timber with jigs and minnows. Bass are fair along grass ledges and standing timber with crankbaits.

Cypress Springs

Water stained; 90 degrees; 2.99 feet low. Fishing patterns are consistent fishing low light hours for bass and crappie. Dark colors lures around lighted areas will produce bites for the bass. Crappie prefer mid depth brush, if you have underwater lighting then you increase your bite substantially. The catfish are moving to a little deeper and cooler water in the mid 20 foot range in areas with a good wind blowing in on it.Your best bite will still be on prepared punch style baits over baited areas. Captain Mike Thompson. Lake Tawakoni Guide Service

Eagle Mountain

GOOD. Water normally stained, 87 degrees; 4.82 feet low. Fishing patterns are similar this week. White bass are fair to good on main lake structures using chartreuse and white slabs with teaser flies, but fish are moving fast so be ready. Some anglers have reported good catches trolling Alabama-rigs and Hellpets. Crappie are fair to good on brush piles, docks and main lake structure on jigs or minnows and shooting docks. Largemouth bass are fair to good on crankbaits around docks and main lake structure. Blue catfish and channel catfish are fair to good on main lake structures on punch bait. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Fayette

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 88-98 degrees. Bass continue to be fair with some topwater schooling action and in 10-20 feet of water on humps and rip rap throwing various jigs and plastics. Catfish are good, hitting punch bait in 12-20 feet of water on tight lines over chum. Bluegill and redear perch are good on worms and crickets around structures. Water temperatures vary from 88 degrees to 98 degrees at the mouth of discharge. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.

Graham

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 3.00 feet low. Largemouth bass are good topwaters early and soft plastics later in the day on docks and brush piles. Catfish are slow drifting. Crappie are slow. Hybrid stripers and white bass are schooling in the discharge area.

Granbury

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 2.20 feet low. Summertime pattern persists but fish can be caught with a little dedication and perseverance. Crappie are good in 10-25 feet of water on brush, docks, timber and stumps using minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass are good in brush using Texas rigged 10 inch worms and swimbaits. Striped and white bass are good with live bait and umbrella rigs. Catfish are fair using punch bait near standing timber. Report by James Davis, James Davis Guide Service. Largemouth bass are good up to six pounds on main lake ledges and drop-offs, and on soft plastics Texas or Carolina rigged in the river. Report by James Moore, North Texas Bass Fishing and Cmoore Striper Guide Services. Fishing patterns are consistent. Stripers and sand bass are moving fast. Catch them shallow early in the morning, but once the sun rises fish in deeper water. Striped bass are good on live bait, crankbaits and jigging spoons early in the morning from mid lake south towards the dam on flats and near the shallow edge of the river channel. White bass are good on live bait, jigging spoons and Alabama rigs in 12-25 feet of water. Catfish are good on cut bait during the day in 15-40 feet of water. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton's Guide Service LLC, Fishing Charter, Marine Electronics & Accessories Installation.

Grapevine

EXCELLENT. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 1.37 feet below. Fishing has improved to excellent with fish biting in a similar pattern. White bass are excellent, slowly fishing a double rigged slab with short lead on the jig. Schooling early in 13-16 feet of water flats as the sunrises, moving deeper to 24-27 feet of water on humps and ridges with a thumper. The bite is aggressive so do not keep a lot of slack as the fish are swimming straight. Bass are good on crankbaits and topwater in the shadows of north and south points. Report by Omar Cotter, Luck O’the Irish Fishing Guide Service.

Jacksonville

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 1.60 feet below. Schooling largemouth bass are good with shallow running crankbaits or flukes, in 16-20 feet of water on brush, and around boat docks with Texas rig soft plastic around boat docks. Crappie are fair in deep timber or brush on minnows.

Joe Pool

GOOD. Water normal stained; 86 degrees; 3.47 feet low. Fishing is better in the afternoon and evening than in the morning. Bass are good in 15-20 feet of water on sharp bends in the creek channels with any kind of bottom structure such as rocks, stumps, and man-made brush piles. In deeper water use Texas or Carolina rigs, dropshots, or slowly drag a soft plastic worm or creature bait. In15 feet or less use Texas rigs and shaky heads. Report by Ben Robertson, Ben’s Bass Excursions.

Lavon

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 4.26 feet low. Summertime fishing patterns are holding steady. Crappie are good in 5-10 feet of water early in the morning, transitioning to 9 -17 feet of water in timber and brush with minnows and jigs. White bass are good with a sporadic topwater bite throughout the day in the middle of the lake, and in 15-25 feet of water on main lake points and humps. White or chartreuse slabs for deeper water and swimbaits in shallow water. A thermocline has settled in, so be on the lookout at about 7:30 A.M. in the middle of the lake for topwater action. Black bass are fair on spooks along riprap during the first hours of sunlight. Bluegills are great, holding to 10-20 feet of water on brush piles using earthworms, crickets or pieces of bacon as it will not fall off the hook as easily. Catfish are good on baited holes and windblown slopes and points in 10-20 feet of water. Big fish are biting best at night on cut shad in 10-20 feet of water on points and flats. Report by Carey Thorn, White Bass Fishing Texas.

Lewisville

FAIR. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 2.90 feet low. White bass are fair on points and humps in 20-30 feet of water using slabs or live bait, with sporadic top water action. Hybrid stripers are slow, but can be picked off every once in a while mixed in with the white bass. 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 cut shad or chicken breasts in 16-28 feet of water on wind blown points, humps, and flats near creek channels. Crappie are fair to good in 6-25 feet of water near rock piles, stumps, laydowns, brush piles, standing timber, and bridge columns using minnows and jigs. Report by Wes Campbell, BendaRod Fishing.

Limestone

EXCELLENT. Water clear; 89 degrees; 4.20 feet below. Crappie are good suspended in 12-20 feet of water around brush and standing timber using minnows. Largemouth bass are good in 4-16 feet of water on docks and points using topwater frogs, Texas or Carolina rigs, and crankbaits. White bass are good on main lake points in 7-17 feet on silver jigging spoons, look for sporadic schooling action. Catfish are good in 7-20 feet of water with cut bait. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide Booking.com.

Navarro Mills

FAIR. Stained; 85 degrees; 2.37 feet low. Crappie are fair in structure with minnows. Catfish are fair with cut bait and punchbait. Bass are slow along ledges with soft plastics.

Palestine

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 2.01 feet low. Bass are good near boat houses with at least 6-7 feet of water using shimmy shakers. Crappie are slow in 8-10 feet of water on brush, and in 18-20 feet of water in the shade of the 155 bridge. White and hybrid bass are on the points near the 155 bridge with deep diving crankbaits in Tennessee shad color early morning tapering off at 9 A.M. Catfish are good pitching liver under boat houses, or on baited holes in the river. Report by Ricky Vandergriff, Ricky’s Guide Service.

Palo Pinto

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 4.35 feet low. Bass continue to be slow in 15-20 feet of water on deep structure using Carolina rigs with a watermelon fluke, and near deeper boat docks with football jigs with crawfish trailers. Report by James Moore, North Texas Bass Fishing and Cmoore Striper Guide Services.

Ray Hubbard

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85-87 degrees; 2.81 feet low. White bass are good moving shallow 10-14 feet of water slow rolling inline spinners or trolling. Crappie are fair in 25-35 feet of water suspended midway in brush tops with minnows and jigs working equally. Catfish are excellent in shallow wooded areas baiting holes And using prepared stink bait. Report by John Varner, John Varner's Guide Service.

Ray Roberts

GOOD; Water is clear; 84 degrees; 1.32 feet below. White bass are good on jigging slabs off the bottom. Blue catfish are running in the same schools biting the same way. Crappie are fair on brush piles with minnows. Bass fishing has slowed with a few catches on topwater early in the morning moving in the afternoon to 10-25 feet of water with soft plastics around structure near drop-offs. Report by Jim Walling, Ucatchem Guide Service.

Richland Chambers

FAIR. Water clear; 89 degrees; 4.46 feet low. Crappie are fair on brush piles and bridge columns in 15-20 feet of water with minnows. White bass are poor and hard to locate. Hybrid bass are good on live shad in 20-25 feet of water in the 309 flats. Small eater size channel and blue catfish are excellent using punch bait on a #4 treble hooks in the main lake and creek points in 15-25 feet of water, or chumming with fermented grain or range cubes. Best areas to fish are the 309 Flats, Midway and Longarm Branch Point. Report by Royce Simmons, Gone Fishin' Guide Service.

Somerville

FAIR. Stained; 86 degrees; 3.65 feet below. White bass are fair trolling with pet spoons, or using shad and pencil minnows in 6-10 feet of water. Hybrid bass are fair and scattered in deeper water. Black bass are fair hitting slow moving jigs with plastics on drop-offs and brush in 10-15 feet of water. Crappie are good with many undersized catches on main lake brush piles in 8-18 feet of water using minnows and various colored jigs. Catfish and bluegill are fair on minnows and worms early morning and late in the evening at the Somerville Marina. Many submerged rocks and structures are now only two feet below the surface, so navigate with caution. Report by Weldon Kirk, Fish Tales Guide Service.

Stillhouse

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 8.46 feet low. The white bass fishing on Stillhouse is strong, but technical. Quality sonar and the ability to read it are a must as fish are found in small tight schools at, or near, the bottom in up to 52 feet of water. Once fish are found, primarily using side-imaging, hover on top of the fish with Spot-Lock and work MAL Dense Lures with chartreuse tails vertically. Largemouth bass are good working soft plastics in dark, natural hues along the deep edge of hydrilla in 22-26 feet of water. Quantities of smaller fish can be caught by sight-casting in the first three hours of the morning using small, clear soft plastics like grubs and small fluke-style baits. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.

Tawakoni

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 90 degrees; 3.68 feet low. Overall fishing has slowed due to the low oxygen levels and warmer water. Despite this white bass and striped bass are really good in 9-15 feet of water. These fish are not sitting still, so trolling is putting more fish in the boat currently. Channel catfish bite is red hot and excellent. Catching limits easily by 10 A.M. using punch bait and dip bait fished over baited holes in 25-30 feet of water. Crappie bite is surprisingly good with minnows out fishing jigs. Changing locations frequently to get a nice box of fish. Largemouth bass bite is slow. Fish extremely shallow water early in the morning at daylight with topwater baits. Captain Michael Littlejohn, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service.

Texoma

EXCELLENT. Water stained; 88 degrees; 1.78 feet below. Striped bass are good, chasing schools in 30-70 feet of water with slabs and live bait. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors. Striped fishing is excellent in 25-35 feet of water using live shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 10-15 feet of water in the mouths of creeks and main lake structure. Eater sized channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut shad and punch bait in 40-50 feet of water on main lake ledges. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are slow off the banks in 10-15 feet of water on rock piles and structure with swimbaits and soft plastic baits. Report by Jacob Orr Lake Texoma Guaranteed Guide Service.

Weatherford

SLOW. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 8.13 feet low. Fishing should improve as the water stabilizes. Catfish are fair with cut bait and shad in the channel on main lake points and near the dam. White bass are slow on slabs. Bass are slow off points and rocks with crankbaits and worms. Crappie are slow on main lake brush piles with minnows and jigs.

Whitney

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 7.39 feet low. Summertime pattern persists but fish can be caught with a little dedication and perseverance. Striped bass are excellent using live bait, swimbaits, and topwaters. Crappie are fair in 10-25 feet of water in standing brush. White bass are slow using live minnow and slabs. Largemouth bass are fair using big spoons, swim jigs and Texas rigs. Catfish are good suspended in 30 feet of water along the edge of the river channel using cut bait and punch bait. Report by James Davis, James Davis Guide Service. Striped bass are very good with heavy topwater action early and late in the day. Report by James Moore, North Texas Bass Fishing and Cmoore Striper Guide Services. Stripers and sand bass are moving fast. Catch them shallow early in the morning, but once the sun rises fish in deeper water. Striped bass are great on live bait, crankbaits, swimbaits and jigging spoons from mid lake south towards the dam on flats and near the shallow edge of the river channel. White bass are good on live bait, jigging spoons and Alabama rigs. Look for schooling fish then anchor outside of the school and cast into them. They are moving fast. Catfish are good on cut bait during the day in 15-50 feet of water. Report provided by Kraig Sexton, Sexton's Guide Service LLC, Fishing Charter, Marine Electronics & Accessories Installation.

Worth

GOOD. Water normally stained; 87 degrees; 2.41 feet below. Fishing patterns are similar as we head into the weekend. White bass are fair to good on main lake structures using chartreuse and white slabs with teaser flies, but fish are moving fast so be ready. Some anglers have reported good catches trolling Alabama rigs and Hellpets. Crappie are fair to good on brush piles, docks and main lake structure using jigs or minnows and shooting docks. Largemouth bass are fair to good on crankbaits around docks and main lake structure. Blue catfish and channel catfish are fair to good on main lake structures with punch bait. Report provided by Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

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