East Texas Fishing Report
Published 8:27 pm Thursday, January 23, 2025
Tyler — SLOW. Water normal stain; 48 degrees; 0.12 feet above pool. Very few anglers on the water due to the cold fronts. Expect the bite to continue to be slow for all species. Report by The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
Palestine — GOOD. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.26 feet below pool. Now getting ready for the Spring crappie spawning season. Typically this begins around the first week of February near a full moon, but is highly dependent on lake level and water temperature. Lake level is good with water reaching up into the shoreline reed level, but water is very cold. We had a late and warm fall, and winter seems to have just begun with at least two more weeks of cold. Crappie are still being found in the normal winter habitat in about 13-23 feet of water by the Live Scope anglers. Very few scattered reports of a few males coming up into the shallows, some reports of males working into the shallow lead in areas of piers and boathouses in 6-12 feet. White bass are also highly dependent on water temperature but not so much on water level. A few reports of males coming up into Kickapoo and Neches, but not a run yet. Report by Jim Beggerly, Jim’s Fishing Lake Palestine.
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Bob Sandlin — FAIR. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.17 feet below pool. Water clarity is 1-2 feet in windblown coves and bass have been biting on small-profiled flat sided squarebills in craw colors, dark colored jigs, and dark colored finesse worms on a shaky head. Using slow and small movements have worked the best. Hard cover and relative depth transitions on creek channel bends and ledges are holding good fish during the day, and can also be caught using an Alabama rig in 10 feet or deeper. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service. Windy, sunny banks and retaining walls are good bets for black bass. Try subsurface fish patterns in 5-10 feet of water. On warm, sunny days, small shad pattern flies might produce bass around submerged vegetation. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.
Caddo — GOOD. Water stained; 40 degrees; 1.10 feet above pool. Water temperatures have fallen and continue to do so with the cold mornings. Expect a slow bite until the lake warms back up. Some white bass are in the river system. Typical temperatures for this time of year are forecasted next so expect the bite to improve when water temperature returns to mid to upper 40s. As the water increases to the upper 50s bass will be getting ready to spawn. It is always a majestic trip on Caddo to fish this lake that God spoke into existence even when the bite is slow. Report provided by Vince Richards, Caddo Lake Fishing & Fellowship.
Fork — GOOD. Water Stained; 43 degrees; 1.68 feet below pool. Bass are very slow but the bite is fair on Alabama rigs over deeper water 20-25 feet around baitfish. Suspending jerkbaits are fair in 7-12 feet around channels and big wood. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing has been up and down just like the weather the last few weeks. We have settled into the winter pattern and you can find fish from about 18 feet to as deep as you can find. Some fish are just 8-18 feet down on the timber even in sixty-plus feet deep water. You can also find fish down as deep as 45-50 feet on the same timber. We are seeing a lot of fish but we are seeing tons of small fish. Seems like you can pick a bigger fish or two out of a group and then just find you another group of fish. Smaller baits are working well for my boat and 1/16 ounce hand ties on 6-12 pounds fluoro is my best bait in neutral colors. The key is to hold those baits very still and wait for the bite. If you move the bait or the waves move your bait that fish will most likely not bite. You will need to find fish in protected areas if the wind is blowing that day. Minnows and soft plastics will get you bit as well. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.
Lake O’ the Pines — FAIR. Water slightly stained; 50 degrees; 0.62 feet above pool. Water clarity is 1-2 feet in windblown coves and bass have been biting on small-profiled flat sided squarebills in craw colors, dark colored jigs, and dark colored finesse worms on a shaky head. Using slow and small movements have worked the best. Hard cover and relative depth transitions on creek channel bends and ledges are holding good fish during the day, and can also be caught using an Alabama rig in 10 feet or deeper. Report by Blake Doughtie, Lake Country Lunkers Lures and Guide Service.
Martin Creek — GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.05 feet above pool. Bass are good in the warmer water from the scrapper cut into Dry creek. With the spawn under way in this area spinnerbaits, rattle traps and Texas rigged worms or creature baits work well. Crappie are slow while fish are primarily scattered with a few found in deeper brush piles using minnows. Catfish are good at the hot water discharge using live and cut bait. Sand bass are good at the discharge using small slab spoons and little George’s. Report by Hambone Guide Service.
Athens — SLOW. Water normal stain; 50 degrees; 0.24 feet below pool. Bass are slow and can be caught in grass 8-15 feet with Texas rig worms, wacky rig senko and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow on small jigs over deep brush 25 feet. Report by Reagan Nelson, Lake Athens Bass Guide.
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Hawkins — GOOD. Water slightly stained. 55 degrees. Chain Pickerel are active in shallow water. Concentrate on areas with stumps, brush, and vegetation. Small bass are active in shallow areas relating to vegetation and structure. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service.
Jacksonville — SLOW. Water stained; 48 degrees; 0.16 feet above pool. Few anglers on the water due to the cold front. Bass are slow on rattletraps and squarebills in shallow water.