4/18 Fishing report

NACOGDOCHES: Lake Nacogdoches is about two inches below normal and stained. Water temp is in the mid-60s. Bass are fair on wacky worms, Senkos and light Texas rigs worked along outside grass edges 4-to-10 feet of water. A few fish also reported on shad and baby bass pattern crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps.

Crappie are fair. Partial limits reported on jigs and shiners fished around brush piles and outside grass edges.

TOLEDO BEND: T-Bend is about six inches high and stained-to-muddy on the main lake as far south as Indian Mounds. Water temp is in the upper 60s.

Bass fishing has been good to six pounds. Fishing guide Tommy Martin reported outstanding action on Senkos and wacky worms fished in shallow, back water pockets where the water is beginning to clear.

Catfishing has been excellent to 50 pounds on trotlines tipped with cut bait and live perch. Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing said the larger op are coming off line sets near the river. Flats are better for blues. Float fishermen are making some good hauls using cut bait.

Rod and reelers are picking up channels and blues in about four feet of water using cut shad, night crawlers and punch bait.

Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows fished about 18 inches deep beneath a cork.

FORK: Lake Fork is at normal level and stained-to-clear. Water temp is in the low 60s.

Fishing guide Randy Oldfield said bass fishing has been fair to 10 pounds on Senkos, craw worms and light Texas rigs worked in skinny water. Oldfield expects another big wave spawning activity later in the month. Good numbers of post spawners are beginning stack up along break lines.

Crappie anglers are picking up fish using jigs and minnows around shallow stumps. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut shad in 2-to-6 feet of water.

CEDAR CREEK: Cedar Creek is at normal level and stained. Water temp is in the mid-60s.

Fishing guide Jason Barber said bass fishing has been good in shallow water, 1-3 feet deep. Lots of fish still on beds that you can't see. Light Texas rig lizards, brush hogs and Senkos are producing best results. A few fish also reported on spinnerbaits

Barber said crappie are hitting jigs and minnows in 1-to-5 feet of water, mostly around shore line brush, stump fields and boat docks. Catfish are good on cut shad and punch bait fished from the bank out to four feet.

White bass and hybrids are good in shallow water early in the day, then moving to points and humps at mid-range depths. Rat-L-Traps and slabs are the top producers.

ATHENS: Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the low-70s.

Charles Spearman at Lake Athens Marina said bass are good to eight pounds on Senkos and white spinnerbaits. Water 4-to-6 feet has been the magic depth range along outside grass edges.

Crappie are excellent on minnows fished beneath a cork in 3-to-6 feet of water. Catfish are slow.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: RC is at normal level and stained. Surface temp is in the mid 60s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass fishing has slowed down somewhat. A few fish still on beds. Winters said the best bite has been coming on soft plastics and spinnerbaits fished in shallow water, 1-to-3 feet.

Crappie good on minnows. The fish are hugging the banks in 1-to-2 feet of water.

Catfish are good on rod and reel. Windy banks are producing solid channel cat up to four pounds. White bass are slow.

PINKSTON: Lake Pinkston is at normal level and clear on the main lake, stained up the main creeks. Water temp is in the upper 60s.

Fishing guide Alan Spruiell said bass fishing has been good to four pounds on small grubs, Rogues and Senkos fished around wood in 8-to-12 feet of water. A few fish still on beds in skinny water.

Crappie are slow.

SAM RAYBURN: Sam Rayburn is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 60s.

Ann Thomasson-Wilson said bass fishing has been good to five pounds on watermelon/red Senkos and wacky worms fished along inside grass lines in about six feet of water. Super Flukes and 1/2 ounce Rat-L-Traps are producing some solid fish on main lake points.

Crappie are good on a 1/16 ounce black/chartreuse Triple Ripples worked over the tops of the grass. Stanley Wedgetails are producing some fish, as well.

PALESTINE: Lake Palestine is about six inches high and clear. Water temp is in the low-to-mid 60s.

Greg Porter at Porter's Sporting Goods said bass fishing has been good to 10 pounds on soft plastics tossed around new growth vegetation in 1-to-4 feet of water. A few fish also reported on Carolina rigs.

Porter said crappie anglers are picking up limits in 3-to-4 feet of water. The fish are spotty. Catfish are good in 1-to-4 feet of water on night crawlers, minnows and cut bait.