Pineywoods Region Week of May 24, 2023

B.A. Steinhagen

GOOD. Water stained; 74 degrees; 0.16 feet below pool. Bass are good targeting main lake vegetation with a hollow body frog, or white and chartreuse swim jig. Water levels have been fluctuating, scattering the fish. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Bob Sandlin

GOOD. Water stained; 79 degrees; 0.13 feet below pool. Fishing patterns should remain consistent until the summer weather pushes the fish into deeper water. Crappie are good on brush piles 15-20 feet deep using minnows or jigs. Catfish are good shallow on cheese bait or cut bait. Sand bass good on main lake points with slabs. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. The shad spawn is on, so the bass are chasing shad along the banks biting chatterbaits or topwaters. Bass are good off the points in 10-15 feet of water with Texas rigged worms, deep diving crankbaits. Report by Mike Stroman, R & R Marine. Bass are excellent and schooling activity is starting so keep a popper at hand. Topwater bass bite is picking up with frogs and popper patterns. Bream are bedding on sandy banks with bead heads and wooly buggers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Caddo

SLOW. Water stained; 72 degrees; 1.44 feet above pool. Fishing is tough while the fish are in transition to the summer patterns. The current is still flowing down the river, but the lake is also falling so bite is slow. There are a variety of ways to catch them right now with some frog action in the lily pads, tree action using flukes and senkos, or working buzz baits in the grass. Shad pattern baits in current around the cuts and points in the current will be in play. Caddo Lake is setting up good for the summer, and it is still always a blessing to come fish Caddo and enjoy the majestic views that God spoke into existence. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Conroe

GOOD. Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.07 feet above pool. The eater sized catfish are great, but as the water temperature increases the average size fish is declining. Some spawning areas are starting to dry up. The bite should remain plentiful throughout the summer, but you will have to work through lots of smaller fish. Trophy catfish have slowed some while they are in the quiet stages of their spawn. Hybrid stripers schooling up and the bite is good trolling deep divers and pet spoons, live shad, and jigging. Stay safe. Report by Brad Doyle, Bradley’s Guide Service. Bass fishing has slowed some with the runoff and higher water levels. Bass can be found early in shallower areas near bulkheads and rip rap, where bait activity is present. Swimbaits, senkos, and medium-running crankbaits are effective for catching them there. However, most bass are staying deeper and are positioned around structures such as laydowns, brush, and wrecks, ranging from 9-22 feet deep. Carolina rigged worms, jigs, and drop shot rigs in darker colors are working well in these situations. Additionally, smaller spinner jigs can yield catches of smaller fish that are suspended in brush tops. Report by Bryan Brawner, Lake Conroe Charters. Crappie are good with an aggressive bite with more solid thump than a lite bite using plastic or hair jigs in 13-31 feet of water on structure. Always wear your life jacket. Report by Mike Cason, Fishical Therapy Lake Conroe Guide. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Fork

GOOD. Water Stained; 79 degrees; 0.73 feet below pool. Bass are good in 2-4 feet of water with topwaters, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits. Caffeine Shad and bull worms rigged weedless in the weeds or grass is also good. Offshore fish are starting to show up more on their summer hang outs and points and humps and creek channel bends in 12-15 feet on most days but a few deeper. Carolina rigs and Texas rigs or Designated Hitters are good choices. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Pro. Black bass are good on topwater frog patterns and poppers around grass lines. Bream are starting to build beds, use small beaded woolies are a good bet. Carp are finishing their spawn and should be ready for small flies. Crappie are scattered in 4-20 feet with beaded woolies. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing is heating up even more than the weather this week. White crappie are finally finishing up their spawn and moving onto trees and brush in 13-25 feet. Black crappie continue to load up on lay downs and certain summer time trees they like to frequent. Both species are holding on bridges as well and each day seems to be a little different on those. Bridges are always worth checking out on hot sunny days. With water levels getting back to normal they seem to be as happy and hungry as ever. Small hand tied jigs are still dominating on my boat and especially when you swim that jig over the top instead of just sitting over them. Green, orange and chartreuse have been the best colors this week. Minnows are working excellent. If you love a little more of a challenge soft plastics will also put some nice crappie in the boat. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Houston County

GOOD. Water stained; 79 degrees; 0.27 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are good along banks, docks and bulkheads in 2-9 feet of water using swim jigs, shaky heads, and weightless yum dingers. Crappie are good on standing timber, docks, and creek banks in 2-12 feet using minnows. Standing timber. Report by Colan Gonzales, DFW Fishing Guide. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Lake O' the Pines

GOOD. Water stained; 75 degrees; 1.33 feet below pool. Fishing patterns should remain consistent until the summer weather pushes the fish into deeper water. Crappie are good on brush piles 15-20 feet deep with minnows or jigs. Catfish are good shallow on cheese bait. Sand bass are fair in creek channels using slabs or deep diving crankbaits. Report by Marty Thomas, Lake O the Pines Crappie Fishing. The shad spawn is on, so the bass are chasing shad along the banks biting chatterbaits or topwaters. Bass are good off the points in 10-15 feet of water with Texas rigged worms, deep diving crankbaits. Report by Mike Stroman, R & R Marine. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Livingston

GOOD. Stained; 73 degrees; 0.06 feet above pool. White bass are excellent on the humps and points on the mid to south end of the lake jigging with �¾ ounce slabs off the bottom near the island. Some schooling action is starting up. Catfish are fair on the bulkheads. Shad spawn on the bulkheads. Crappie are slow. Report by Jeff Friederick, Fishin’ Addiction Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Martin Creek

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.09 feet above pool. Bass are good to seven pounds along the edges of hydrilla using June bug color worms either Texas or wacky rigged. Topwater frogs are good where lily pads and hydrilla are mixed. Crappie bite has been slow due to the abundance of mayflies. Look for crappie to start bunching up within the next couple weeks around brush. Catfish remain good in 4-8 feet of water along county line road. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Nacogdoches

GOOD. Water clear; 71-76 degrees; 0.04 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are good shallow on grass edges or along creek channels. Topwaters in the morning hours can be a very productive technique in May. Crappie are good on brush piles and timber. Report by Blake Oestreich, Brushbuster Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Naconiche

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 85 degrees. Water clarity is three feet. Bass are good shallow in 3-7 feet of water with squarebill crankbaits, or any bait with flash and rattle.The crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Raven

GOOD. Water clear; 80 degrees; 0.00 feet full pool. Bass are good on topwaters early and late along the grass edges. Crappie are good on minnows and Gulp baits around the piers. Catfish are fair to good in 10-15 feet of water on cut bluegill. The hydrilla is really coming on strong, so be mindful of where you are casting and boating. Please note, the gators are in full swing warm-weather mode, so do not use stringers for your fish and try to get them landed as quickly as you can. Otherwise, you may lose your catch to the local apex predators. Our turtles are nesting, so you are likely to see them moving around and crossing the road. If you see one, leave it be. If they are crossing the road, please let staff know and we will assist in moving out of harms way. Do not move them yourself. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Sam Rayburn

GOOD. Water stained; 77 degrees; 1.31 feet above pool. The water has been calm, and this still water is an indicator that summer is around the corner. Water is off-colored. Bass are good on topwater frogs and senkos shallow. Crappie are coming out of the spawn with lots of small fish on piles biting minnows. White bass are good using jigs and minnows. Fish are starting to run on points, with a few on piles. Catfish are near the piles, deeper points and creek channels. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Toledo Bend

GOOD. Water stained; 76-83 degrees; 0.35 feet below pool. The water level is 171.62 with both generators running 24 hours daily. Water temperature at the dam is 78 degrees. North of the three-mile Pendleton bridge, temperatures have been running 76-83 degrees. Bass are good on zoom speed craws and creature baits rigged Texas style and a u-tail swimming worm in all white and white with a dipped chartreuse tail have been producing in shallow water. Some bigger bass have been caught on senkos and flukes in black/blue flake, watermelon red, watermelon red candy, black/red flake and motor oil colors rigged wacky or Texas style. The spinnerbait bite for bass has been hot this week around buck brush and laydowns on the edges of grass up in the creeks. Popping and hollow body frog bite has been producing late in the evenings over vegetation. Flyrodders are catching quality bass over vegetation using 8 and 10 weight fly rods. Top flies this week have been a weighted spoon fly black with red glitter, a Stealth Goober, and shad imitation topwater popper fly. Crappie bite is heating up offshore with quality catches around the lake. Bluegill are starting to show up in the shallow flats and around boathouses. Remember to Stay Afloat. This week is National Safe Boating Week. While on the water, what life jacket do you wear Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3? For more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Remember, it is always better to play it safe by telling a loved one or friend the area you will be fishing, how many people are in your party and the expected return time. Good luck and keep casting forward! Report from Master Captain Steve “Scooby” Stubbe, Mudfish Adventures LLC, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide, and Mudfish Custom Rod Shop.

Tyler

GOOD. Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.18 feet above pool. Bass are good out to 16 feet of water using crankbaits, spinnerbaits and worms. Crappie are good in 16 feet of water on brush piles preferring minnows over jigs. Catfish are good in shallow water with nightcrawlers and chicken liver. Bluegill are good on red worms. Report by Paul Taylor, The Boulders at Lake Tyler. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

Wright Patman

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 72 degrees; 1.72 feet above pool. Catfish are good on baited holes with punch bait or in shallow water. White bass bite slowed to fair after the rising water levels. Try trolling a shallow crankbait around main lake points. Crappie are slow but still being caught in 14-15 feet of water on brush piles. Report by Brooks Tarkington, Lake Wright Patman Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

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