Fish & Game Forecast Center

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Laguna Madre

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HOTSPOTLIGHT:

HOLLY BEACH AREA

THE LAGUNA MADRE SYSTEM IS THE ONLY HYPER-SALINE COASTAL LAGOON IN North America and one of only fi ve in the world. The Laguna stretches from the lower end of Corpus Christi Bay to below the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

The lower end, below Port Mansfi eld offers some of the most active fi shing waters along the Gulf Coast. On the Laguna Madre’s western shoreline above Port Isabel is the Holly Beach area, which provides access to a number of good fi shing spots.

Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.

SPECKLED TROUT

KEY HOTSPOT NAME GPS BEST BAIT & TACTIC

1 Bayside Drive

N 26 10.226, W 97 18.012

Red/black topwaters, live bait, Wade mouth on outgoing tide; Jan-Mar, Jun-Sep, dawn-midday

2 Islands at Holly Beach N 26 08.839, W 97 16.377

Live shrimp under cork, drift, best after cold front; MarSep, dawn, midday, dusk

3 Spoils at Marker 97 N 26 09.242, W 97 14.573

Cut bait, live shrimp, anchor between spoils @ night; May-Oct, dawn-midday, night

4 Long Bar

N 26 08.902, W 97 14.352

REDFISH

5 Long Bar @ ICW edge N 26 08.349, W 97 14.144

Live shrimp, pinfi sh, red/wht. plastics, drift the area; All Year, dawn thru dusk

Live fi nger mullet, soft plastics w 118/4 to 118/8 oz. jigs hds.; All Year, dawn thru midday

6 Holly Beach

N 26 08.392, W 97 17.257

Live bait, spoons, Wade/drift in 2-3’, Work mouth w tide; Mar-Nov, morning thru afternoon

7 Laguna Vista Cove N 26 07.211, W 97 17.767 FLOUNDER

8 Loma de la Grulla

N 26 07.139, W 97 16.931

SNOOK

9 Texaco Channel

N 26 07.424, W 97 16.638

Live mullet, fi sh cove mouth outgoing tide, back incoming; Mar-Apr, Jun-Nov, morn.-midday

Live shrimp, fi nger mullet, drift between shore & spoils; Jul-Oct, morning thru afternoon

Large live shrimp on slip shot leader, fi sh edges; MayNov, morning-afternoon

WADEFISHING

1 Airport Cove

2 Holly Beach

N 26 10.199, W 97 18.083 N 26 08.190, W 97 17.507

Trout & redfi sh, soft plastics with 1/4-1/8 oz. jig heads; March thru November

Trout & redfi sh, same as above or use spoons, topwaters; March thru November

3 Laguna Vista Cove

N 26 07.343, W 97 17.782

Trout & redfi sh, soft plastics with 1/4-1/8 oz. jig heads; March thru November

SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020 LOCATION: Baffi n Bay HOTSPOT: Cayo de Gruello Bay GPS: N 27 20.686, W 97 40.6602 (27.3448, -97.6777)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfi sh BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8 jig head SOURCE: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 TIPS: If you wade, use soft plastics, working the grass and sand spots and up along the rocks. Stay in the back of de Gruello to get away from all the boat traffi c.

LOCATION: Baffi n Bay HOTSPOT: Center Reef GPS: N 27 16.206, W 97 34.362 (27.2701, -97.5727)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in dark patterns, Corkys SOURCE: Captain Joey Farah 361-442-8145 TIPS: Trout prefer to forage around areas that can provide cover. Fish the deeper edges of the reef with soft plastics and Corkys.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Fishing Shacks GPS: N 26 26.4756, W 97 20.591 (26.4413, -97.3432)

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, Fresh Shrimp. SOURCE: LG Outfi tters 956-371-0220 TIPS: Anchor up near a set of pilings marks where a shack used to be, or where on may still be standing, and toss a live shrimp or fresh shrimp out on a fi sh fi nder or split-shot rig towards the edge of the ICW. If the current is pulling hard, you may want to go with the heavier weight of the former. LOCATION: Port Mansfi eld HOTSPOT: Green Island GPS: N 26 30.0049, W 97 24.0035 (26.5001, -97.4001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Spook Junior SOURCE: Capt. Mitch Richmond 956-944-4000 TIPS: Fish the Spook Jr. with a slow walk-the-dog, extended pause retrieve, maybe four or fi ve walks, and then an extended pause, then walk it again. Don’t keep it moving all the time. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Horse Island GPS: N 26 20.3539, W 97 20.2489 (26.3392, -97.3375)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfi sh BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joel Ramos 956-626-5143 TIPS: Ramos likes to use a three-inch Berkley Gulp in different colors, along with a 1/16 oz. jig head under a popping cork, or without the popping cork. The 1/16 oz. jig head keeps the bait in the water column longer.

Bass, Cats, Crappie & Sandies on the Move

Reported by TF&G STAFF

EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 28.992, W 95 35.064 (30.4832, -95.5844) BEST BAITS: Primos Dipping bait SOURCE: Richard Tatsch 936)291-1277 TIPS: Locate stumps lining the river channel edge and tie off in 20 to 25 foot of water. Use a bag of cattle cubes to bring the fi sh to you. I will dump a half bag of cubes on two different locations and come back to the fi rst, tie up and get my boat back in the same position. Using a spinning reel with a treble hook, an 1/8-ounce egg sinker and a piece of cut sponge wrapped around it; dip it in the bait and drop it to the bottom. Stay in contact with the bottom raising the bait up and down slowly until I feel some resistance then set the hook. You can on most days catch limits of fi sh in just a few hours.

LOCATION: Lake Chapman (Cooper) HOTSPOT: Brush Piles GPS: N 33 18.363, W 95 37.242 (33.3061, -95.6207)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 903-593-5077 TIPS: Look for the buoys and you’ll fi nd the brush piles. You can work them all day!

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 54.0899, W 95 31.6079 (32.9015, -95.5268)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Grande Bass AirTail Flash, walking baits, topwater poppers and frogs SOURCE: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 TIPS: April on Lake Fork is my favorite time of year. There are a ton of fi sh spread out in shallow cover and ready to eat top water lures. Walking baits like the Provoke Bully fi shed in points get big bites. Topwater poppers and frogs catch them in the cover. If they are not eating topwater lures, a weightless Grande Bass AirTail Flash is the ticket. Rig it with a 3/0 hook weightless and put a rattle in the tail. Cast in shallow grass let sink and slow twitch it back. Hang on!

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: The Pocket GPS: N 30 55.662, W 95 15.0479 (30.9277, -95.2508)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Largemouth Bass: Soft plastics, Charlie’s June Bug large crawfi sh, 1/4 0z. black/blue jigs; White Bass: 1oz. slabs and trolled pet spoons SOURCE: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 TIPS: Flip lay downs and docks in the Pocket for Largemouth Bass. Cut 1/4 off Charlie’s large crawfi sh to shorten the bait. Key on the docks close to or in 4’-6’ water. Look for docks with brush piles. In the mornings, fi sh the sunny side of the Pocket fi rst. April can be a transition month for White Bass and Black Bass on Livingston. White Bass can be caught in April anywhere from the creeks and river on the north to the humps in mid and lower lake. Look for the Whites to start stacking up on mid lake humps 12’-17’ in mid to late April.

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS EAST TEXAS

LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT %

As of 2/08/2021 (Acre Feet) (Acre Feet) FULL Addicks -n.a.- -n.a.- -n.a.B A Steinhagen 69,186 65,166 94% Barker -n.a.- -n.a.- -n.a.Bob Sandlin 192,417 192,417 100% Bonham 11,027 10,744 97% Caddo 29,898 29,898 100% Coleto Creek 31,040 21,275 69% Conroe 410,988 410,604 100% Crook 9,195 8,986 98% Cypress Springs 66,756 66,756 100% Fork 605,061 585,480 97% Houston 130,147 129,359 99% Houston County 17,113 17,113 100% Jacksonville 25,670 25,670 100% Jim Chapman 260,332 248,951 96% Lake O’ the Pines 241,363 241,363 100% Livingston 1,741,867 1,736,955 100% Monticello 34,740 30,430 88% Murvaul 38,285 38,285 100% Nacogdoches 39,522 35,658 90% Palestine 367,303 367,303 100% Pat Mayse 113,683 113,683 100% Sam Rayburn 2,857,077 2,675,870 94% Striker 16,934 16,934 100% Sulphur Springs 17,747 17,747 100% Toledo Bend 2,236,450 1,977,001 88% Wright Patman 122,593 122,593 100% •

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches HOTSPOT: Big Brush Pile GPS: N 31 37.795, W 94 48.512 (31.6299, -94.8085)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 409-698-9114 TIPS: Fish live minnows or white/chartreuse jigs. Troll brush piles. Morning through afternoon.

10 miles southwest of Mount Pleasant

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE MONTICELLO

LOCATION: in Titus County on Blundell and Smith Creeks in the Cypress River Basin, approximately 10 miles southwest of Mount Pleasant SURFACE AREA: 2,001 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 40 feet IMPOUNDED: 1972

LAKE MONTICELLO IS ONE OF THE most popular largemouth bass fi sheries in Texas. On September 1, 1998, the slot length limit was changed from 14-21 inches to 14-24 inches in an effort to protect larger fi sh and possibly increase trophy fi shing opportunities. Channel catfi sh are also popular at Lake Monticello

Structural habitat is comprised of inundated timber, brush, and creek channels. Aquatic vegetation also provides cover.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Main Lake off of Lakeside GPS: N 32 45.272, W 94 32.009 (32.7545, -94.5335)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Jigs, minnows SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 903-938-1007 TIPS: Troll slowly with jigs or dropshot minnows. Morning through afternoon. LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Five Fingers GPS: N 31 08.071, W 94 07.210 (31.1345, -94.1202)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, Roadrunners SOURCE: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 TIPS: Work 4- to 6-foot water with white/chartreuse Roadrunners or live minnows. Dawn to late morning, dusk and night.

EAST TEXAS

LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Bear Creek Area GPS: N 31 48.114, W 93 50.7419 (31.8019, -93.8457)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 936-569-8547 TIPS: The White bass will be moving back into the main lake returning from the river after their spawn. Work the north end river channel sand bars with slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits. Use your electronics to locate the baitfi sh and watch for the birds. When you do you will fi nd the Whites. Try to locate a number of schools and rotate fi shing those areas so as not to over fi sh one location. The Whites will remain in those locations unless we have a weather change, or the location is over fi shed. LOCATION: Toledo-Bend Reservoir HOTSPOT: Sabine River, Government Ditch GPS: N 31 53.5319, W 93 55.896 (31.8922, -93.9316)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving square bill crankbaits, Road Runners, Tail Spinners and slab spoons SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 936-569-8547 TIPS: The White Bass will be in the river proper making their annual river migration to spawn. Concentrate on the bars and the inside bends of the river sandbars. If the current is running, look for the “eddies” where the water is still. The Whites will bunch up in the still water. If the river is high, work the fl ooded sloughs. A ¼ ounce Rat-L-Trap, or Road Runner lets you cover a lot of water to locate the fi sh. Chartreuse or chrome colors usually work great. If you catch one, slow down because there are usually more fi sh in the same area.

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman HOTSPOT: Burns Island / Oil Well Slough GPS: N 33 14.773, W 94 20.785 (33.2462, -94.3464)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 903-938-1007 Fish black/red tube jigs or watermelon red jigs. Fish slowly; avoid midday. • • • • •

The Spawn is On for Central Texas Lakes

Reported by TF&G STAFF

CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats, Shallows and Docks GPS: N 30 20.484, W 97 50.7719 (30.3414, -97.8462)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Swim Jig, Picasso Shake E Football, V&M Pulse Swim Jig, V&M Thunder Shad, V&M Super Shakeyhead, Amphibia Sports Eyegear SOURCE: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 TIPS: March is highly considered the month for all anglers because of the size of the spawning bass in Texas lakes. I personally do not search out beds on a regular basis but when a client asks to do so, I tie on swim jigs and shakeyheads, clean my high clarity Amphibia sunglasses and begin to work the fl ats, shallows, and docks in shallow water. I typically like to use a bluegill or sunfi sh pattern swim jig as these are the predominate egg eaters in these situations on Lake Austin. When using the shakeyheads, I will use a V&M Thunder Shad as this will resemble a small fi sh devouring the eggs and produced strikes from the males and females.

LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS CENTRAL TEXAS

LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT %

As of 2/08/2021 (Acre Feet) (Acre Feet) FULL Aquilla 43,243 40,157 93% Arlington 40,157 33,125 83% Athens 29,503 29,503 100% Austin 23,972 22,788 95% Bardwell 46,122 46,122 100% Belton 435,225 428,217 98% Benbrook 85,648 79,186 93% Buchanan 860,607 717,476 83% Canyon 378,781 334,787 88% Cedar Creek 644,686 644,686 100% Choke Canyon 662,820 229,516 35% Corpus Christi 256,062 62,618 25% Eagle Mountain 179,880 165,878 92% Georgetown 36,823 24,433 66% Gibbons Creek 25,721 23,068 90% Granger 51,822 50,439 97% Grapevine 163,064 163,064 100% Halbert 6,033 5,247 87% Hubert H Moss 24,058 23,821 99% Inks 13,962 13,035 93% Joe Pool 175,800 165,612 94% Lavon 406,388 406,388 100% Lewisville 563,228 563,228 100% Limestone 203,780 202,664 100% Lyndon B Johnson 115,249 110,697 96% Marble Falls 6,901 6,847 99% Martin 75,726 75,726 100% Medina 254,823 101,533 40% Mountain Creek 22,850 22,850 100% Nasworthy 39,522 35,658 90% Navarro Mills 49,827 49,827 100% New Terrell City 8,583 8,583 100% Ray Hubbard 439,559 434,981 99% Ray Roberts 788,167 774,347 98% Richland-Chamb. 1,087,839 1,083,558 100% Somerville 150,293 127,109 85% Stillhouse Hollow 227,771 227,771 100% Tawakoni 871,685 871,685 100% Texana 159,566 156,091 98% Texoma 1,243,801 1,221,458 98% Travis 1,113,348 747,023 67% Tyler 72,073 72,073 100% Waco 189,418 184,113 97% Waxahachie 10,780 10,417 97% Weatherford 17,812 16,108 90% Whitney 553,344 502,523 91% Worth 553,344 502,523 91%

10” red and black worms Carolina rigged SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Bass and crappie prospects are good early and late in the day. Bass are in 1 to 5 feet of water and are gorging in the shallows in the evening and morning. At the time of this report, we pulled 8 crappie out of this lake in a couple of hours.

8 miles East of Edna

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE TEXANA

LOCATION: On the Navidad River in Jackson County, eight miles east of Edna, Texas on US 59 SURFACE AREA: 9,727 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 58 feet IMPOUNDED: 1980

BLUE CATFISH AND LARGEMOUTH bass are the most popular sportfi sh in the reservoir. Blue catfi sh are abundant with frequent reports of large stringers. Flathead and channel catfi sh also provide noteworthy fi sheries. Fishing for largemouth bass has improved in recent months. White bass provide excellent angling opportunities in the Navidad and Sandy Creek channels during the cooler months and in the main reservoir near the dam during summer. Although crappie fi shing can be tough in the summer, respectable catches are not uncommon during the spring.

Most of the reservoir contains submerged timber and numerous stumps, ideal structure for catfi sh.

CENTRAL TEXAS

LOCATION: Belton Lake HOTSPOT: Cowhouse Creek Arm GPS: N 31 8.7899, W 97 32.088 (31.1465, -97.5348)

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrids BEST BAITS: Storm Thin Fin in Silver Shad color or a 2.75” Storm Smash Shad in Rainbow Smelt color SOURCE: Bob Maindelle 254-368-7411 TIPS: Focus on the middle section of the Cowhouse Creek arm, near the old creek channel. Watch sonar closely for suspended pods of fi sh and fi sh the Storm Thin Fin on a downrigger if the fi sh are deep, or fi sh a Smash Shad on a fl at line if the fi sh are within 12 feet of the surface.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Upper End of Main Lake GPS: N 30 50.466, W 98 23.7779 (30.8411, -98.3963)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Cut bait SOURCE: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 TIPS: Big blue cats are excellent on rod and reel in coves near trees or rocks. Fish the upper end of the lake early or late using cut bait. Remember to use a big bait to increase the possibilities of catching a bigger fi sh. We have been catching numerous 20 and 30 lb. fi sh so far. Jug lines are a good method if you are wanting smaller fi sh to eat. Jugs good also if you are wanting smaller fi sh to eat. LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Tom Creek Area GPS: N 29 52.128, W 98 16.1459 (29.8688, -98.2691)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Small crankbaits and jigs or live minnows SOURCE: Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 TIPS: Look for prime areas for spawning in shallow water. This is one of the best times of the year to fi sh the back of coves and other shallow water areas. Crappie will hit just about anything during the spawning season. The main difference in lure selection is the sizes. The best fi shing occurs just before frontal passage and then a couple days after when the winds return from the south. Generally, the best fi shing is in the afternoons on north banks protected from the north winds and areas which receive lots of sunshine.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Spawning Coves GPS: N 32 19.392, W 96 6.0539 (32.3232, -96.1009)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics SOURCE: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 TIPS: This month we’re power fi shing. Fish all spawning coves as far back as possible. Throw spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics around all shoreline cover in 1’ to 3’.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Ridge South of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 53.998, W 97 30.454 (32.9000, -97.5076)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fl y 12-inch above tail spinner or swim bait when they are surfacing or chasing shad. SOURCE: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 TIPS: This area is a shallow sunken Island. This sunken Island is 6 to 9 feet deep. This time of the year many times the white bass will chase shad along the edge of this island. If the fi sh are surfacing throw a tail spinner or a bright swim bait like a hot spot. If they are still in the area but not surfacing. Run along the edge of this sunken island using your electronics. When you fi nd them A slab and a fl y will work well.

LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks GPS: N 29 55.05, W 96 44.5559 (29.9175, -96.7426)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 TIPS: Fish are spawning around the rocks now. Use slip cork to fi sh above the rocks. You can also move down the dam all along the rocks. Use a #6 treble hook.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Diversion canal GPS: N 30 37.9079, W 96 4.584 (30.6318, -96.0764)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Shad / CJ’s punch bait SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 TIPS: Lily pads grow in this area in the summer but for now you can fi sh close to the shore. Use only one rod for a better hook up ratio. Use cork set two foot deep.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Flats and Shallow WindBlown Banks GPS: N 30 41.904, W 97 22.0559 (30.6984, -97.3676) SPECIES: Blue Catfi sh and Yellow Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Shad for Blues and live perch for Yellows SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 TIPS: Right now the blue catfi sh are spawning all over the lake. The blues are in shallow timbered areas and windy banks. Fresh shad work for most, but a variety of baits will also produce. Lots of fi shermen are using jug lines to catch them but rod and reel will also work well. A good bait for jug lines is Zote soap. It is easy to handle and easier to get than shad. I like to use it whenever I put out jug lines. I use Mustad #11/0 circle hooks and blues rarely get off when hooked. Now is also the best time to catch some of the big yellow cats that are plentiful in the lake. The good places for them are upriver on trotlines and in the wooded areas at the mouth of the river and Willis Creek. Most use live perch or goldfi sh to catch these good eating fi sh. Good luck and good fi shing.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Lynn Creek Bridge GPS: N 32 37.377, W 97 02.338 (32.6230, -97.0390)

CENTRAL TEXAS

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Fish minnows. Use your graph on pilings for depth then tie to pillars. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Bowman Creek Grass Flat GPS: N 32 37.194, W 97 03.161 (32.6199, -97.0527)

SPECIES: Largemouth BEST BAITS: Topwaters, fl ukes SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Fish red bug topwaters or weightless fl ukes. Fish grass mats early, and along edges later in the day. Avoid midday.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Feeder Creeks GPS: N 33 10.878, W 96 24.9359 (33.1813, -96.4156)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Cohoe Minnows and chartreuse slabs SOURCE: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 TIPS: Sand Bass will start their migration up north into the feeder creeks to do their spawn. If there is water coming out of the powerplant, make sure you stop there fi rst. Otherwise, fi nd windblown banks with rocks. Cohoes and chartreuse slabs should put a couple in the boat. Before they start their migration of feeder creeks, they will start gorging on schools of shad. Check all around the island and around the cut through the island. Use extreme caution cutting through the island. There are severe concrete blocks right in the cut. I suggest taking the extra two minutes and going around the island. LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Dry Creek Area GPS: N 30 36.18, W 98 23.4179 (30.6030, -98.3903)

SPECIES: Crappie and Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crappie: 1” to 2” small crank baits and jigs or live minnows, Bass: hard plastic jerk baits, soft plastic jerk baits, top-water, slow-rolling spinnerbaits, lipless or square-bill crankbaits SOURCE: Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 TIPS: Look for prime areas for spawning in shallow water. This is one of the best times of the year to fi sh the back of coves and other shallow water areas. Bass and crappie will hit just about anything during the spawning season. The main difference in lure selection is the sizes. The best fi shing occurs just before frontal passage and then a couple days after when the winds return from the south. Generally, the best fi shing is in the afternoons on north banks protected from the north winds and areas which receive lots of sunshine.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Stone Chimney Creek GPS: N 32 5.202, W 95 24.4199 (32.0867, -95.4070)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Pink/white and yellow/white jigs in 1/16 oz size and live minnows SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 TIPS: Crappie will be shallow in the 2–5-foot range this time of year. You will fi nd them in the small pockets in the Stone Chimney Creek area down on the East side of the lake near the dam. Crappie will be good in most of the creeks on the lake, but Stone Chimney Creek will be one very good one. Rig jigs up with a slip bobber so that you can set the depth that you will want to fi sh. Minnows will work good as well fi shed just like the jigs. I like to use an 8 ft rod so that I can reach out over grass or brush to place my Bait in a hole in the cover I’m fi shing. Fish your areas slow giving your fi sh time to fi nd your bait. I like to look for water temps ranging in low to mid 60’s.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 49.7459, W 96 32.166 (32.8291, -96.5361)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Cut shad or buffalo SOURCE: The Cajun Guide/Johnny Procell 972- 814-8942 TIPS:Catfi sh will be on a tear and will hit cut shad or buffalo in 2 to 8 feet of water off all the main points. Good areas are the two points below Bass Pro and the one out form the Power Plant on the lake side.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: South End GPS: N 33 21.5069, W 97 4.2175 (33.3584, -97.0703)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits, crankbaits SOURCE: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 TIPS: With a warmer winter, April will be a good month to fi sh for largemouth bass on Ray Roberts. Fish will be spawning and the topwater bite will be on. The spawning fi sh will be on the South End of

the lake. The fi sh on the north end of the lake will start to guard fry. A white buzzbait worked along the grass edges and secondary points in the Northern creeks is a great way to start the day. Squarebill cranks and weightless fl ukes will continue to get bites. Watermelon fl ukes and shad colored crankbaits usually fair well. Fish will be starting to relate to the humps and main lake points.

LOCATION: Lake Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Timbered Areas of Richland Creek Arm GPS: N 31 58.95, W 96 10.9241 (31.9825, -96.1821)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Danny King’s Blood Punch Bait SOURCE: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 TIPS: If the winter hangs on into spring and the crappie and whites still aren’t biting, the catfi sh will be. Water temperature is the key to getting most fi sh interested in the spring spawn, but the catfi sh love the cold water and will bite all Winter through early spring. Fish punch bait on a #4 treble hook in 15-25 feet of water.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Big Creek East Shoreline GPS: N 30 19.992, W 96 33.882 (30.3332, -96.5647)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait/Crawdad SOURCE: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 TIPS: This is a windy shore and the shad run shallow. Use tight line or slip corks and fi sh close to the weeds. LOCATION: Stillhouse Hollow Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 1.9499, W 97 35.0519 (31.0325, -97.5842)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Weightless lizards, wacky-rigged Senkos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits SOURCE: Henry Niemiec 254-368-0294 TIPS: April can be a tricky time of the year for catching Bass. Early in the month, there is still an opportunity to catch one of the larger female up on the bed, however here in Central Texas for the most part the spawn is almost over. Now is the time to use a weightless Lizard or wacky rigged Senko up shallow around the beds. The smaller males have moved back in to protect the beds and will attack anything that falls on or close to the bed. Towards the end of the month the Bass will become much more active, feeding early in the morning and towards evening. At this time crankbaits and spinnerbaits will work great. You will want to work the shallows around lay-downs and spawning fl ats. This is the time of the year to catch more in the way of numbers, rather than size. SOURCE: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 TIPS: Stripers are staging up the main tributaries. Structure like main lake points, ditches and creeks will hold stripers. 1oz. RoadRunner and Sassy Shad jigs in white or chartreuse will work best. Fish the creeks in 12’ to 20’ of water with a slow retrieve for fi sh up to 20lbs. Pay attention to the seagulls, they can be your best fi sh fi nder. When you are fi shing under the birds keep your lure in the top 15’ of water. Most activity will be west of the Willis bridge and north of the railroad bridge on the Washita arm of the lake. Bank Access: Slickem Slough, Paw Paw creek

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Striper Point GPS: N 31 57.1139, W 97 25.2119 (31.9519, -97.4202)

SPECIES: Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: Swim baits and live shad SOURCE: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 TIPS: The big stripers are running shallow. Start early throwing chartreuse swim baits and ripping them back to the boat in 3 to 10 of water. The big sow stripers are up shallow gorging on shad. Small swim baits and RatLTraps will put a lot of white bass in the boat in the same area as well. After the sun comes up, back off and anchor up and use a Carolina rig and cast live gizzard shad up shallow along the grass and hang on! Big sow stripers are roaming fl ats and will pick up the bait and run!

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Mill Creek cut GPS: N 33 49.7879, W 96 45.3059 (33.8298, -96.7551)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: RoadRunner and Sassy Shad jigs