East Texas Fishing Repor
January 25th, 2006 by Fishing admin
East Texas Fishing Report for the week of Jan. 22:
ATHENS - Lake Athens saw a slight rise with the weekend rains, but remains well below normal level. Water temp is in the mid 50s.
Black bass are fair to four pounds on Carolina rigs and drop shot rigs dragged on points near deeper drops; areas with brush are holding the better fish.
Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked in 15 feet of water around man made brush piles. Catfish are fair to four pounds on shrimp fished off the bank.
CEDAR CREEK - The lake caught a few inches of water after two inches of rain fell on Sunday, according to Mike Dent at Harborlight Marina.
Dent said the water is very muddy and the surface temp is in the mid 50s. All fishing has been slow due to low water access and a lack of traffic.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC caught a few inches of water after steady rains on Sunday, but still remains more than 4 1/2 feet low. Water temp is in the mid 50s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has been fair to four pounds on spinnerbaits and plastics worked in relation to outside grass lines. Crappie are slow.
Catfish are good on jugs baited with cut shad. Several blues in the 10-15 pound range reported.
White bass are sporadic. Spoons and slabs fished on main lake humps and points in 25-28 feet of water are producing occasional limits.
PALESTINE - Weekend rains put a few inches of water back in the lake, but water levels remain more than three feet below normal. Surface temp is in the mid 50s.
Bass are fair to four pounds on jigs and plastics crawled along creek breaks up north. Most bites are coming around stumps and other wood cover in creek bends. Down south anglers are throwing Carolina rigs and crankbaits on deep points and hauling in a few keepers.
Crappie are fair on live shiners soaked around bridge pilings and man made brush piles on main lake points.
SAM RAYBURN - The lake saw a slight rise with the weekend rain, but still remains close to five feet below normal. Water temp is in the mid-50s.
Carol Ener at the American Angler said crappie fishing has been excellent along the edges of the Angelina River. Anglers are using live shiners and jigs to pluck limits off the channel breaks south and north of the 103 bridge. Fishing has been good up the Attoyac River arm, as well.
Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, wacky worms and Rat-L-Traps fished over scattered hydrilla in 4-6 feet of water. Carolina rigs dragged on points in 12-16 feet of water also are producing a few strikes.
Catfish are fair on chicken livers and prepared bait fished over baited holes. Most are frying size channels.
NACOGDOCHES - The lake caught some water over the weekend, but anglers should continue using caution when motoring north of the powerlines as water levels remain dangerously low. Water temp is in the mid-50s.
Bass are fair to three pounds on crankbaits, spinners and soft plastics fished in 3-6 feet of water around scattered patches of hydrilla. Shallow areas near creek bends are good bets. Carolina rigs and drop shots dragged on main lake points and ridges with brush also are producing some hits.
Crappie are fair over deep brush using shiners. No report on catfish.
FORK - About two inches of rain fell at Lake Fork over the weekend, but the water level remains close to four feet below normal. Water temp is in the mid 50s.
Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said bass fishing has been fair despite high winds. Bass up to 10.95 pounds are taking jigs fished in 18 feet of water along creeks. Parker said good numbers of slot fish are hitting ‘Traps and spinners in the shallows.
Crappie are excellent when the wind allows. Anglers are taking limits in 45 feet of water on live shiners. The fish are holding on bottom.
Catfish are good under cormorant roosts. The bite is best on overcast days.
TOLEDO BEND -Charlie Shively at Bill’s Landing said the lake caught 8-10 inches of water and appears to be on a slow rise. Access should improve, but boaters should still use caution when motoring.
Shively said catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch. Several op to 12 pounds reported over the weekend. Rod and reelers are taking blues to 20 pounds on live perch fished in isolated lakes and along the edges of the Sabine River.
Crappie are good on live shiners soaked in 14-22 feet of water along the breaks of the river. Black bass are fair to four pounds on Carolina rigs and crankbaits worked along channel breaks out of Huxley.
PINKSTON - Heavy rains over the weekend should have brought a welcomed rise at Lake Pinkston. Anglers can expect to find off-color water up the Big Sandy and Little Sandy creek arms due to the influx of run off.
Prior to the rain, fish were beginning stage on points and creeks in 8-15 feet of water. Try burning a ‘Trap around shoreline hydrilla or slow rolling spinnerbait in the same areas. Jigs and soft plastics rigged Carolina or Texas style also could be productive.
No report on crappie.
-Matt Williams