11 minute read
LAKE AUSTIN
TOTAL SURFACE AREA: 1,599 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 75 feet IMPOUNDED: 1939
LAKE AUSTIN IS AN EXCELLENT PLACE to fish for trophy largemouth bass. The lake produces eight- to ten-pounders on a regular basis.
The water in Lake Austin is normally clear, with cold water regularly flowing in from Mansfield Dam on Lake Travis to the north.
Lake Austin is a major recreational boating attraction, so summer fishing is best done at dusk and later.
Artificial fish attractor structures have been placed throughout the lake. See this symbol... ...on the map).
Selected hotspots and facilities are shown on the table below and on the map.
SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
Central Texas
TIPS: Fish mid-lake to the dam early morning and late evening. Fish drifting or anchored with 5-8” live shad. Concentrate on 25-30 foot depths on humps and ridges around Flag Island. Mid-day fish near or just above the trees in 50-70 feet of water.
LOCATION: Canyon Lake
HOTSPOT: Dam Area
GPS: N 29 52.2479, W 98 12.276 (29.8708, -98.2046)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: ¼ oz. Picasso Shakey Head, Carolina rigged Watermelon flukes (1/2 oz. or ¾ oz. weights.), Senko type baits Texas rigged w/ ¼-3/8oz Picasso Tungsten weights.
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish the point near the drop off slowly. Work shallow early and then move deeper. With the weather being warm, bass are not apt to be aggressive in nature. Use a heavy weight 7 foot rod for Carolina rigging. Summer colors include, watermelon red, blue fleck, junebug, watermelon candy.
LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 16.11, W 96 7.7279 (32.2685, -96.1288)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Live minnows, crappie jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Hit right side of dam, look for brush in 7-14’ top to bottom; action is good here all day.
LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Pelican Island
GPS: N 32 54.592, W 97 30.002 (32.909871, -97.50003)
SPECIES: crappie
BEST BAITS: jigs
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service
817-243-5858 kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Crappie will get in the shade under main lake docks in the summer. You can catch them by shooting jigs up under them.
LOCATION: Fayette County Res.
HOTSPOT: Point Off Third Boat Ramp
GPS: N 29 55.878, W 96 43.368 (29.9313, -96.7228)
SPECIES: Hybrid Striper
BEST BAITS: Deep diver crankbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: This is a great time of year to load up on hybrids! Troll humps and points on the main lake in 14’ to 24’ with deep divers at about 3 mph.
LOCATION: Lake Corpus Christi
HOTSPOT: Dam
GPS: N 28 2.735, W 97 52.078 (28.0456, -97.8680)
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103 fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Water is 20 feet deep here off the point. Anchor and chum straight down. Use a tight line fishing just off from the bottom.
LOCATION: Granger Lake
HOTSPOT: Standing Timber and San Gabriel River
GPS: N 30 39.894, W 97 23.094 (30.6649, -97.3849)
SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, RatLTraps
SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn, Final Cast Guide Service 817-243-5858 kolbymkuhn@gmail.com
TIPS: Look for fish feeding on the surface early. Cast crankbaits or RatLTraps to them. When the surface feeding stops, troll over the humps with crankbaits.
LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake
HOTSPOT: Fort Worth Boat Club
GPS: N 32 53.599, W 97 29.09 (32.893323, -97.484858)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Jigs and minnows
SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell
512-365-7761 gotcrappie.com
TIPS: Now is a good time to catch crappie in standing timber at the mouth of the river and creek. They suspend at about 6 to 12 feet of water. Try different depths to locate them. This pattern is better than other times of year because the water clears up with light winds during August.
LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool
HOTSPOT: Road/Rockpile
GPS: N 32 37.236, W 97 03.830 (32.6206, -97.0638)
SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Hellbender, spoons
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210 whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Troll with a Hellbender or chunk a silver Pet spoon. Avoid midday. Good spot for night fishing.
LOCATION: Lake Lavon
HOTSPOT: Little Ridge Point
GPS: N 33 3.7859, W 96 27.792 (33.0631, -96.4632)
BEST BAITS: White & chartreuse spinnerbaits, square bill crankbaits, Series 5 Sexy Shad
SOURCE: Carey Thorn
469-528-0210 whitebassfishingtexas.com
TIPS: Fish the rip rap and rocks for largemouth bass. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits work well early in the morning. Then switch to a square bill crankbait, a 1 to 6 foot diver, until 9 AM. Then switch to a 12 to 15 foot Series 5 Sexy Shad.
LOCATION: Lake LBJ
HOTSPOT: Honeymoon Hump Area
GPS: N 30 34.35, W 98 21.474 (30.5725, -98.3579)
TIPS: Bass are settled into their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deep water ledges and points. They prefer cover near these areas or around grass edges. Work topwaters, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits before the sun comes up and just before dark. During the day, go deeper with soft plastics, umbrella rigs and spinnerbaits at grass edges.
LOCATION: Lake Lewisville
HOTSPOT: East Shoreline in 22-32’
GPS: N 33 8.058, W 96 57.067 (33.1343, -96.9511)
SPECIES: Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Top water lures, buzzbaits, soft plastics, umbrella rigs, and lipless crankbaits;
SPECIES: Hybrid Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, drift fish
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Live shad, drift fish; all day
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass & White Bass
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear continued on next page u
Central Texas
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
LOCATION: Lake Limestone
HOTSPOT: Mouth of Mine Creek
GPS: N 31 21.58, W 96 18.628 (31.3597, -96.3105)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: White or chartreuse jigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish the large trees in 15-20 of water.
LOCATION: Lake Palestine
HOTSPOT: County Line Area
GPS: N 32 11.1419, W 95 27.306 (32.1857, -95.4551)
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Minnows or red/black jigs, vertical jig trees
LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts
HOTSPOT: Marina Flats
GPS: N 33 21.9376, W 97 4.9271 (33.3656, -97.0821)
Pelican is a good spot to find them. Fish a clear Tiny Torpedo or the smallest blue/chrome Rat-L-Trap you can throw. When they stop feeding on the surface, you can often catch them slabbing off the bottom.
LOCATION: Lake Somerville
HOTSPOT: Little Crappie Point
GPS: N 30 18.4979, W 96 31.758 (30.3083, -96.5293)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie
BEST BAITS: Bass: Indian swim jig w/ Mister Twister Hawg Frog as trailer; Crappie: jigs
SOURCE: Ricky’s Guide Service 903-530-2201 rickysguideservice.com
TIPS: Bass fishing is good around boat docks and along the creek in the county line area. Concentrate on stumps and other structure. For crappie action, fish brush piles in 15 feet of water and under bridges.
LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard
HOTSPOT: Heath Point
GPS: N 32 50.141, W 96 30.528 (32.8357, -96.5088)
SPECIES: White bass
BEST BAITS: topwaters, slabs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Schooling sand bass will be on the flats South of the Marina. When not on top, check your graph for fish hanging on the drop off’s of the flats in 20-25 feet of water. Fish a 1oz. chartreuse/white slab, bounced off the bottom. Also, look for schools around Cates Point and the face of the dam.
LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake
HOTSPOT: Pelican Island
GPS: N 31 58.9439, W 96 10.5959 (31.9824, -96.1766)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs light blue or grey
SOURCE: Weldon Kirk
979-229-3103 fishtales-guideservice.com
TIPS: Fish 1/16 oz jigs, try free falling jig and try lowering jig to crush pile slowly. Minnows under cork fished right above brush or large rocks is best.
LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni
HOTSPOT: Wolf Cove Humps West
GPS: N 32 49.333, W 95 56.962 (32.8222, -95.9494)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows or red/black jigs, vertical jig trees
SPECIES: White Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Rat-L-Traps, slabs
SOURCE: Royce Simmons
903-389-4117 gonefishin.biz
TIPS: Early mornings, acres of whites will be chasing shad to the surface and feeding on them and
SPECIES: Catfish
BEST BAITS: Cut shad, Carolina or Texas rigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Fish cut shad, or drift across the hump a Carolina or Texas rig; best in the morning.
LOCATION: Lake Texana
HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek
GPS: N 29 1.997, W 96 33.544 (29.0333, -96.5591)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics on Carolina rig, white
West Texas Hotspots
Reported by TJ RANFT
CONTACT TJ RANFT:
Email: TJRanft17@gmail.com
Online: RanftGuideService.com
LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry
HOTSPOT: Dam - Deep Water Area
GPS: N 33 3.6959, W 101 3.1229 (33.0616, -101.0521)
HUBBARD CREEK RES.
SURFACE AREA: 14,922 acres
MAXIMUM DEPTH: 60 feet
IMPOUNDED: 1962
HUBBARD CREEK IS A POPULAR WEST Texas fishing destination, offering excellent bass, catfish and crappie opportunities.
Standing timber is a dominant structural feature throughout the reservoir. Abundant cover is also provided by boat docks, hydrilla, and rocky shorelines.
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Spoons, jigs, spinner jigs
SOURCE: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220
TIPS: Fish clear water with big worms. The clear water will mostly be found near the dam area. If fishing in the daytime, you will need to use your depth finder to locate the schools of shad.
LOCATION: Lake Amistad
HOTSPOT: Marker 17 Flats
GPS: N 29 31.362, W 101 15.167 (29.5227, -101.2528)
West Texas
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigs
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: During daylight (morning to dusk) work inside edge of grass, drag Carolina rigs
LOCATION: Lake Coleman
HOTSPOT: Rear Cove
GPS: N 32 2.3976, W 99 27.6871 (32.0400, -99.4615) worms, Senkos, and trick worms. Sunrise often produces a great top-water bite in the rear cove.
LOCATION: Ft. Phantom Hill Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
GPS: N 32 34.074, W 99 40.902 (32.5679, -99.6817)
SOURCE: Lance Benson, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: Throw flashy lures such as 1/8-1/2 oz. spinner baits, chrome or white RatLtraps, and Texas rigged soft plastics.
LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Lower End
GPS: N 32 22.659, W 97 42.009 (32.37765, -97.70015)
SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: Shad, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, slabs
SOURCE: Lance Benson, TPWD
325-692-0921
TIPS: The coordinates listed mark an old concrete structure surrounded by flooded brush. Fish that shoreline into the rear cove with spinner baits, whacky
Central Texas
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE spinnerbaits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Soft plastics on Carolina rig, white spinnerbaits; all day
LOCATION: Lake Texoma
HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East and the Islands
GPS: N 33 51.888, W 96 49.8779 (33.8648, -96.8313)
SPECIES: Largemouth bass
BEST BAITS: spinnerbaits, RatLTraps, soft plastics
SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live Shad and Perch. White or Chartreuse Curly Tail trailers on large pony head jigs
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage
Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Work channel ledges near feeding flats. Fish large live baits away from the boat under a balloon for the bigger striped bass. Let the balloon float into the shallows where top water action is occurring.
TIPS: The big fish move onto the flats in August. Early mornings cast Pencil Poppers and Chug Bugs on the shallow banks. Mid morning, change to soft plastics. Fish on the flats that run about 24’ in depth. Locate the creek channel and drop offs, these are the routes the fish use to move up from deep water. Later in the month the seagulls arrive. Pay attention to the birds as they are the best fish finder.
LOCATION: Lake Waco
HOTSPOT: Rip Rap along the Dam
GPS: N 31 34.961, W 97 12.038 (31.5827, -97.2006)
LOCATION: Lake Whitney
HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump and Hwy 22 Road Bed
GPS: N 31 54.612, W 97 20.754 (31.9102, -97.3459)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Top water lures and Sassy Shad jigs
SOURCE: Bill Carey, Striper Express 903-786-4477 striperexpress.com
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, worms
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishgamegear
TIPS: Work shallow cranks parallel to shore, bump worms; all day
SPECIES: Striped bass
BEST BAITS: Live threadfin shad fished suspended at 11 to 12 feet.
SOURCE: Randy Routh
817-822-5539
TIPS: Fish early morning using live bait suspended at 12” drifting along the hump. Watch graph as the fish are changing depths sometimes daily.
Current Lake Levels West Texas
LOCATION: Lake Granbury
HOTSPOT: Decordova Area
GPS: N 32 25.269, W 97 41.402 (32.42115, -97.690033)
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
BEST BAITS: Texas Rigged Soft plastics in Red Shad, Blue Fleck and Black
SOURCE: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters
254-396-4855
TIPS: Look for shaded docks and stick ups with some deeper water close by. Work main lake points and creek channels. Early top water bite is possible. Summer patterns are in full force. The fishing is best early and late.
LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Reservoir
HOTSPOT: Main Lake
SPECIES: Largemouth Bass
GPS: N 32 47.974, W 99 00.084 (32.799567, -99.001404)
LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Lower End
GPS: N 32 51.332, W 98 26.346 (32.855536, -98.439095)
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, buzzbaits, lipless crankbaits, jigs
SOURCE: Natalie Goldstrohm
Natural Resources Specialist, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
325-692-0921
TIPS: August can be a great month for bass fishing around the islands at Hubbard Creek Reservoir. Largemouth Bass will be waiting to ambush prey along the edges of the hydrilla mats. In the cooler mornings, try fishing a top water such as a white/ chartreuse buzz bait along the edges of the hydrilla mats. Once the water starts to warm up, switch over to a chrome lipless crankbait fished along the hydrilla edge. Also try using a black and blue football head jig and punch down into the holes of hydrilla.
SPECIES: Striped Bass
BEST BAITS: Live shad, jigs
SOURCE: TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service
940-452-8439
TJRanft17@gmail.com
TIPS: Stripers will be in their summer patterns. Live bait and downriggers will be the best ways to catch them. Live shad and jigs with some form of tail on them will be best for downriggers. Some may be caught using large spoons. Chartreuse, white, silver, and the occasional pink are typically the best colors. Look at points, ledges and even tree tops. It is definitely a early morning and late evening bite. May see some surface action early in the mornings and late in the evenings so be prepared with some form of topwater tied on ready to go.
LOCATION: Possum Kingdom
HOTSPOT: Stump Patch
GPS: N 32 52.516, W 98 29.427 (32.875267, -98.49045)
SPECIES: Crappie
BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs
SOURCE: TJ Ranft, Ranft Guide Service
940-452-8439
TJRanft17@gmail.com
TIPS: Fish the treetops in 40 to 50 feet of water, at around 20 feet.
Tides and Prime Times
The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for our Base Point, Galveston Channel (N 29.317, W 94.88)
Tidal movement and daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many fish and game species.
AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.
AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moon reaches its highest point overhead as well as when it is “underfoot” or at its highest point on the exact opposite side of the earth from your positoin (or literally under your feet). Most days have two Major Feeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.
PEAK TIMES: Our Forecast Calendar uses both Tide and SoLunar projections to predict the best fishing times and days. Generally, if a SoLunar Period (Major/Minor) falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset, fishing conditions should be better. On certain days where Tidal Activity is stronger, the best fishing times may fall ouside the normal SoLunar range. While tides are not a direct factor in FRESHWATER FISHING, SoLunar Activity still accounts for increased feeding activity in freshwater species. It is also a prime factor in the movement and feeding habits of game species.
Tide Conversion Table
Instructions for reading the Graphs on the opposite page)
SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the Green Boxes on the Calendar pages. Moon Overhead and Underfoot times are given in the SoLunar Box and illustrated on the Fishing Graph. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE on the map below to adjust times for points East and West of our Base Point at Galveston Channel.
Solunar Adjustment Scale
PREDICTIONS are located in the White Area at the top of the Calendar Pages. You can use the CONVERSION TABLE below to make adjustments. It is keyed to 23 other tide stations along the Texas Coast (see these map icons: T1 ). Adjust low and high tide times, plus or minus in minutes, from the times given for the Base Point at Galveston Channel.
TIDE
