Freshwater Fishing Report

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 84 degrees; 1.42’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, spinner baits and spoons. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait, cut bait and stink bait.

AMISTAD: Water lightly stained; 89-90 degrees; 47.18’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters on the edges of vegetation, square-billed crankbaits and Carolina- or Texas-rigged worms over brush piles. Catfish are fair on stink bait and cut bait.

ARLINGTON: Water clear; 87 degrees; 3.76’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, crank baits and Texas-rigged plastic creatures. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on crickets and prepared baits.

ATHENS: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, swimbaits and pur ple Texas-rigged plastic worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in standing timber and boat docks. Catfish are fair on prepared baits.

AUSTIN: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.70’ low. Large mouth bass are slow. Sunfish are good on worms along ledges, boat docks and brush. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and cut bait.

B.A. STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows in vegetation. Sunfish are fair on jigs and crickets. Catfish are good on cut and prepared baits.

BASTROP: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees. Large mouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged plastic worms, crankbaits and poppers. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

BELTON: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 2.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Carolina-rigged plastic worms. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and live bait.

BENBROOK: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 3.90’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, crankbaits and drop shots. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid striped bass are good on live bait and slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water slightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.40’ low. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, crankbaits, chatterbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows in brush piles and standing timber. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 87 degrees; 3.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on deep-diving crankbaits, jigs and Carolinarigged plastic worms. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and live bait.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 86-89 degrees; 2.35’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged plastic craws, chatterbaits and deep-diving crankbaits. Striped bass are fair along the river channel on live bait. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows in timber and brush piles. Channel catfish are good on prepared baits.

CADDO: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.28’ high. Large mouth bass are good near trees and grass beds on plastic frogs, top-water plugs and skirted jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared baits and earthworms.

CALAVERAS: Water stained; 86-89 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, Carolina-rigged plastic worms and light-colored weighted jigs. Red drum are good on live bait. Catfish are good on stink bait, chicken livers and cut shad.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 87-90 degrees; 2.73’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms. Striped bass are fair on slabs, heavy jigging spoons and live bait. White bass are good on slabs and jig ging spoons.. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut bait.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.99’ low. Large mouth bass are good on top-water plugs and pop pers, shaky heads, Texas-rigged plastic worms and crankbaits. Hybrids and sand bass are fair on slabs, spoons and swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait.

CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 85-87 degrees; 20.31’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, plastic worms and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on dough balls, live bait and cheese bait.

CONROE: Water stained; 88 degrees; 1.10’ low. Largemouth bass are on shad imitations, nightcrawlers and Carolinarigged soft plastic worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striped bass are fair on live bait. Catfish are good on cut bait.

COOPER: Water clear; 86-89 degrees; 1.72’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged curly-tailed plastic worms, crankbaits and skirted jigs. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water stained; 87 degrees; 5.53’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water clear; 89 degrees; 1.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters along reeds and grass edges and chatterbaits, jigs and plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and punch bait.

FALCON: Water lightly stained north and clear south; 88-90 degrees; 37.85’ low. Large

mouth bass are good flipping plastics and crankbaits in trees and vegetation. Crappie are good above brush piles on min nows and jigs. Catfish are very good in shallow water on almost all baits.

FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees. Large mouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged plastic craws, plastic grub drop shots and crankbaits. Sunfish are good on worms and crickets around bank ledges and structure. Cat fish are good on prepared baits.

FORK: Water lightly stained; 87-91 degrees; 1.35’ low. Largemouth bass are good on plastic craws, crankbaits, jigs and chatterbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained; 86 degrees. Large mouth bass are fair on plastic worms and crankbaita. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait.

GRANBURY: Water clear; 85-87 degrees; 0.96’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jerk baits and plum or maroon Texas-rigged plastic worms. Crap pie are good around brush piles and boat docks on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs, jigging spoons and swimbaits. Catfish are good on earthworms or prepared baits.

GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 86-88 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms in brush piles, standing timber and rocky areas. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in marinas and near submerged structure. Catfish are fair on dough bait and chicken liver.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 92 degrees; 0.41’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon/red and red finesse worms. Crappie are good on live minnows over brush piles. Sunfish are good on live worms. Catfish are good on juglines using shad.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 84 degrees; 2.43’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and Carolina-rigged worms and crankbaits over points and ledges. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live and cut shad.

JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.81’ low. Largemouth bass are good on finesse worms, craws and crankbaits. Crappie are good beneath bridges and structure on minnows. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and prepared baits.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.02’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait, chicken liver and cut bait.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 2.11’ low. Large mouth bass are fair on chatter baits, plastic worms and crank

baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent on jigs, jigging spoons and slabs. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait and punch bait.

LBJ: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, crankbaits and chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows around brush piles and docks. White bass are fair on slabs, swimbaits and rooster tails. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.95’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to on crankbaits, plastic worms, jigs and jerkbaits. White bass are excellent on slabs. Catfish are good on live bait and prepared baits.

LIVINGSTON: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are good on spoons. Catfish are fair on live baits and stink bait.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 0.87’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, chatter baits and long plastic worms. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait and pre pared baits.

MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.55’ low. Largemouth bass are good on buzzbaits, jigs and plastic worms. Catfish are fair on live bait, blood bait and livers.

NACONICHE: Water slightly stained; 88 degrees. Large mouth bass are good on crankbaits, spinner baits and plastic worms. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on dough balls, cut and live bait.

NASWORTHY: Water stained; 85 degrees. 0.94’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on live and prepared baits.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water clear; 87 degrees; 0.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and blue or purple Texas-rigged plastic worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared baits and live bait. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons.

O.H.

IVIE: Wa ter clear; 85 degrees; 11.66’ low. Largemouth bass are good on steep drops and above brush piles with crank baits, jigs and plastic worms. Crappie are good on jigs. Cat fish are good on stink bait, live and cut bait.

OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 3.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms, crankbaits and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, live bait and cut bait.

PALESTINE: Water clear; 89 degrees; 0.42’ low. Largemouth

bass are good on Texas-rigged brush hogs, shad swimbaits and deep-running crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows around bridges and timber. White bass are excellent on slabs and swimbaits. Catfish are good on earthworms and prepared baits.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water slightly stained; 84 degrees; 1.53’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms and crankbanks. Crappie are good on jigs under docks and some vegetation. Striped bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad.

PROCTOR: Water clear; 89 degrees; 3.51’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms. Hybrid stripers are good on live bait and jigging slabs. Catfish are good on prepared baits, chicken liver and cut bait.

RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 88 degrees; 1.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons on main lake points, humps and ridges. Crappie are fair to good near bridges, brush piles and submerged timber on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.47’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows around standing tim ber and brush piles. Catfish are fair on live bait and prepared baits.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 86-89 degrees; 0.36’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chatter baits, flukes, jigs and jerk baits. White bass and hybrids are good on slabs. Catfish are good on punch bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, light-colored worms and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs under shallow vegetation. Catfish are good on live bait and stink bait.

SOMERVILLE: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 1.24’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms, deepdiving crankbaits and chatter baits. White bass and hybrids are fair on slabs and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on min nows in brush piles. Catfish are fair on earthworms and prepared baits.

STILLHOUSE

HOLLOW: Water clear; 88-90 degrees; 2.23’ low. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, crank baits and Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared and cut bait.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 86-89 degrees; 0.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, dark blue or purple Texas-rigged plastic worms and skirted jigs. White bass and hybrid stripers are

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excellent on live bait and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around brush piles, docks and bridge pilings. Catfish are good on punch bait, earthworms and cut bait.

TEXANA: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.39’ high. Large mouth bass are good on plastic worms and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on stink bait, cut bait and live bait.

TEXOMA: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 0.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on skirted Striped bass and white bass are good on live bait and top-waters. jigs, Texasrigged plastic creatures and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait, prepared baits and live bait.

TOLEDO BEND: Water slightly stained; 88-89 degrees; 2.55’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and plastic worms. Crappie are good on shiners and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stink bait.

TRAVIS: Water clear; 86 de grees; 16.55’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged blue flecked plastic worms, skirted jigs and chatterbaits. White bass are good on swim jigs and slabs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on earthworms and prepared baits.

WACO: Water clear; 86 degrees; 1.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits and Carolina-rigged plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Chan nel and blue catfish are good on chicken liver and prepared baits.

WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and jigs. Hybrid stripers are good on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared baits.

WHITNEY: Water clear; 85-89 degrees; 2.67’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms, crankbaits and jigs. White bass are good on jigging spoons and slabs. Stripers are good on live bait. Catfish are good on earth worms and prepared baits.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 1.32’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chatterbaits and Carolina rigged plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait, chicken liver and earthworms.

Fly-fishing for reds

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had some friends who did.”

Scheduling the trip took some time — a few years, in fact.

“It was hard to get a time, and then came coronavirus,” LaBat said. “I did take some time to fish — my wife and I went to Alaska and I went to the Chandeleur Islands a few times. It revitalized my joy of fishing.”

When it came to fly-fishing, though, LaBat was a novice. But now he and his friend, Paul, have a new fishing passion.

“I took a friend of mine who had fly-fished a little bit, but it was a learning trip for both of us,” he said. “With Scott’s patience and skill, I caught my first redfish on fly on the first day, and caught another one that day and some the next day. Paul caught fish both days, too.”

Sommerlatte said the two anglers came to the trip with a positive attitude, despite their lack of experience.

“They didn’t let their expectations outweigh their abilities,” the guide said. “They both learned a lot and the fishing was real good. The reds were tailing with their backs out of the water.”

LaBat said both anglers already are looking at a second trip.

“It was awesome,” he said. “Scott is an amazing teacher, he can really explain things. I’ll definitely be going back with him.”

Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization which seeks to create hunters and fishermen for a lifetime by creating hunting and fishing experiences for people that have the passion, but lack the opportunity. To donate, call (214) 361- 2276 or visit lsonews.com/lsonf-foundation.

Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for Lone Star Outdoor News

Bites in the surf

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work, but live baits often have an advantage, especially croaker.

August and September are two of the best months to fish the surf, and Matagorda-based guide Charlie Paradoski said that’s when he won’t pass up a chance to fish it.

“We have been wading the surf between Matagorda and the Port O’Connor jetties,” he said. “We hadn’t been in the surf too much at all until August. But as the winds calmed and we had green water to the beach, things changed in a hurry. If it’s flat enough we’ll be wading. That’s the best way to cover a lot of water and find schools of hungry trout. It’s pretty relaxed fishing, and when it’s right the fishing for trout, and the occasional red, is as good as it gets along the Texas coast.”

On the edges of Texas

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Flukes and jigs are the best baits of choice, and just about any color pattern that resembles a tilapia will work.

“Despite the relatively hot weather, we’ve still been catching a lot of fish each day,” Reissig said. “The fish are ranging anywhere from 2 to 6.5 pounds, and it’s nothing for us to catch 25 or more during a morning session.”

Amistad Reservoir guide Olin Jensen said the morning top-water action on the lake is lights out.

“Whopper Ploppers and frog baits are both producing strikes along the surface near the edges of grass,” he said. “Flats anywhere from 1 to 11 feet deep with deeper water nearby have been key.”

Later in the day, the bass have been moving towards the middle of the grass, and Jensen has been switching to Texas-rigged soft plastics once the fish make this transition.

“We are catching a lot of solid, 2- to 4-pound fish right now,” Jensen explained. “Every now and then, a larger one bites, but there’s really no rhyme or reason as to what caused her to feed.”

Jensen said the larger bass have weighed anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds.

“The water on Amistad is really low right now, so there’s not really a lot of deep-water options,” Jensen said. “All of the grass that our larger fish tend to stage up on this time of year is in fairly shallow water due to the low lake level.”

On Toledo Bend Reservoir, guide Josh Sikes has been focusing his attention in deep water.

“We are catching anywhere from 25 to 40 bass per trip in 15 to 18 feet of water near main lake points,” Sikes said. “They are schooled up offshore big time.”

Swim baits, jigs and Carolina-rigged flukes are all producing strikes when they are used in the right location. Lures with shad color patterns have been the most effective baits.

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