05-22-2012, 08:50 AM
5/22 East Texas Fishing ReportMatt WilliamsThe Athens ReviewThe Athens Daily ReviewTue May 22, 2012, 09:11 AM CDT
ATHENS — ATHENS — Water level is 1.71 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 70s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass are good to seven pounds using topwaters and spinnerbaits early, then switching to wacky worms fished vertically over humps in 20 feet of water.
Bream are excellent on crickets in 2-3 feet of water. Crappie are good on live shiners fished around brush piles in 15-20 of water.
CEDAR CREEK — Water level is about two inches low and stained. Water temp in the upper 80s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber says crappie fishing has been good at the Highway 198 and 334 bridges using minnows and jigs in 10-20 feet of water. Brush piles and main lake docks with six feet of water are holding fish, as well.
Catfish are good on main lake humps 12-22 feet deep. Hybrids and whites are hanging out in the same areas. Black bass are hanging around secondary points, hitting topwaters early, then switching to cranks around retaining walls and plastics around boat docks once the sun gets up.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp in the upper 70s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing says fishing traffic as been light as of late. Catfish is the main deal. Black bass are fair in 4-6 feet of water using spinnerbaits and topwaters aound stumps. Carolina rigs are producing the best midday in slightly deeper water.
Crappie are fair on minnows in 15-25 feet of water around timber, suspended 7-12 feet deep. White bass are schooling early over points in 18-25 feet then dropping to bottom once sun gets up.
FORK — Water level is 1.77 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the low 80s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris says bass fishing has been good to seven pounds, averaging 3-5 pounds on 20-30 fish days. Texas rigs, DD22 cranks and Carolina rigs are working in 20-25 feet of water. Topwaters are the ticket when the fish are schooling.
Catfish are excellent to five pounds in 23 feet of water using punch bait. Crappie are glued to brush in 20-25 feet, hitting jigs and shiners. Bridge crossings are holding fish as well.
PALESTINE — Water level is at normal pool and clear. Water temp in the upper 70s, low 80s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says bass are good to three pounds using Carolina rig french fries dragged on points in 10-15 of water. A few fish taking crankbaits. Fishing is slow up up north.
Crappie are grouped in brush piles in 14-16 feet of water, hitting white jigs and shiners. The Highway 155 bridge is holding fish at 16 feet.
Catfish are excellent using worms and punch bait in shallow water or drifted over sand bars. Trotlines and jug lines tipped with live perch are producing flatheads to 60 pounds.
TOLEDO BEND — Water level is 1.77 feet low and clear. Water temp in the upper 70s.
Fishing guide Tommy Martin says bass fishing has been good to nine pounds. Good numbers coming on Texas rig worms worked around offshore structure 10-20 feet of water. Crankbaits are working in the same areas. Down south anglers are using light Texas rigs, crankbaits and drop shots along outside grass edges.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said crappie are setting up on brush piles in 25 feet of water, suspended 15 feet down, hitting shiners and jigs. Catfish are good to 50 pounds on trotlines tipped with live perch and cut bait. Rod and reelers are picking up channels and blues on night crawlers and punch bait.
SAM RAYBURN — Water level is at full pool and slightly stained. Water temp is in the upper 70s, low 80s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass fishing has been slow to fair. Best bite is coming on topwaters and frogs around lily pads and other shallow vegetation in 1-4 feet of water. The offshore bite has been very slow.
Crappie fishing has been excellent on live shiners soaked around brush piles in 20-25 feet of water, suspended at 12 feet. Guides are reporting steady limits.
PINKSTON — Water level is at full pool and stained. Water temp in the upper 70s, low 80s.
Bass fishing has been good to six pounds using Texas rig plastics and soft jerk baits along outside grass edges. School bass are active on still days on the main lake. The schools are ranging 1-4 pounds.
Crappie are scattered around submerged grass in 10 feet of water, hitting jigs and Roadrunners.
— Matt Williams
ATHENS — ATHENS — Water level is 1.71 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the upper 70s.
Jerry Hanson at Lake Athens Marina said bass are good to seven pounds using topwaters and spinnerbaits early, then switching to wacky worms fished vertically over humps in 20 feet of water.
Bream are excellent on crickets in 2-3 feet of water. Crappie are good on live shiners fished around brush piles in 15-20 of water.
CEDAR CREEK — Water level is about two inches low and stained. Water temp in the upper 80s.
Fishing guide Jason Barber says crappie fishing has been good at the Highway 198 and 334 bridges using minnows and jigs in 10-20 feet of water. Brush piles and main lake docks with six feet of water are holding fish, as well.
Catfish are good on main lake humps 12-22 feet deep. Hybrids and whites are hanging out in the same areas. Black bass are hanging around secondary points, hitting topwaters early, then switching to cranks around retaining walls and plastics around boat docks once the sun gets up.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS — RC is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp in the upper 70s.
Larry Winters at Midway Landing says fishing traffic as been light as of late. Catfish is the main deal. Black bass are fair in 4-6 feet of water using spinnerbaits and topwaters aound stumps. Carolina rigs are producing the best midday in slightly deeper water.
Crappie are fair on minnows in 15-25 feet of water around timber, suspended 7-12 feet deep. White bass are schooling early over points in 18-25 feet then dropping to bottom once sun gets up.
FORK — Water level is 1.77 feet low and clear. Water temp is in the low 80s.
Fishing guide Gary Paris says bass fishing has been good to seven pounds, averaging 3-5 pounds on 20-30 fish days. Texas rigs, DD22 cranks and Carolina rigs are working in 20-25 feet of water. Topwaters are the ticket when the fish are schooling.
Catfish are excellent to five pounds in 23 feet of water using punch bait. Crappie are glued to brush in 20-25 feet, hitting jigs and shiners. Bridge crossings are holding fish as well.
PALESTINE — Water level is at normal pool and clear. Water temp in the upper 70s, low 80s.
Fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff says bass are good to three pounds using Carolina rig french fries dragged on points in 10-15 of water. A few fish taking crankbaits. Fishing is slow up up north.
Crappie are grouped in brush piles in 14-16 feet of water, hitting white jigs and shiners. The Highway 155 bridge is holding fish at 16 feet.
Catfish are excellent using worms and punch bait in shallow water or drifted over sand bars. Trotlines and jug lines tipped with live perch are producing flatheads to 60 pounds.
TOLEDO BEND — Water level is 1.77 feet low and clear. Water temp in the upper 70s.
Fishing guide Tommy Martin says bass fishing has been good to nine pounds. Good numbers coming on Texas rig worms worked around offshore structure 10-20 feet of water. Crankbaits are working in the same areas. Down south anglers are using light Texas rigs, crankbaits and drop shots along outside grass edges.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said crappie are setting up on brush piles in 25 feet of water, suspended 15 feet down, hitting shiners and jigs. Catfish are good to 50 pounds on trotlines tipped with live perch and cut bait. Rod and reelers are picking up channels and blues on night crawlers and punch bait.
SAM RAYBURN — Water level is at full pool and slightly stained. Water temp is in the upper 70s, low 80s.
Fishing guide Stephen Johnston said bass fishing has been slow to fair. Best bite is coming on topwaters and frogs around lily pads and other shallow vegetation in 1-4 feet of water. The offshore bite has been very slow.
Crappie fishing has been excellent on live shiners soaked around brush piles in 20-25 feet of water, suspended at 12 feet. Guides are reporting steady limits.
PINKSTON — Water level is at full pool and stained. Water temp in the upper 70s, low 80s.
Bass fishing has been good to six pounds using Texas rig plastics and soft jerk baits along outside grass edges. School bass are active on still days on the main lake. The schools are ranging 1-4 pounds.
Crappie are scattered around submerged grass in 10 feet of water, hitting jigs and Roadrunners.
— Matt Williams