4/25 East Texas Fishing Report

ATHENS - Lake Athens is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the mid-60s.

Charles Spearman at Lake Athens Marina said bass fishing has been excellent to eight pounds. Some anglers are reporting up to 30 fish per day using white crankbaits and spinnerbaits in 4-5 feet of water around hydrilla beds and new growth lily pads.

Crappie are good in 3-6 feet of water, mainly on jigs and minnows fished along the outside edges of hydrilla beds.

No reports on catfish.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS - RC is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is the mid-to-upper 60s.

Larry Winters at Midway Landing said bass anglers are picking up come quality to nine pounds on Texas rig lizards and white spinnerbaits fished in 2-6 feet of water. Good numbers of bass are still occupying beds.

Crappie are good in the backs of creeks in very shallow water, mostly on minnows soaked beneath a cork. Catfish are excellent on punch bait and shad fished on windy shorelines.

White bass are spotty. The better catches are coming in 10-15 feet of water on humps and points.

TOLEDO BEND - T-Bend is at normal level and stained on the main lake, clearer up the creeks. Water temp is in the upper 60s.

Catfish are good on trotlines tipped with cut bait and live perch. Charlie Shively at Bill's Landing has seen several blues and op in the 50-pound range recently. Rod and reelers are picking up some nice channels and blues up to four pounds using punch bait and shad in 3-8 feet of water.

Crappie are slow up north, fair down south. Fishing guide Stephen Johnston reported partial limits on jigs fished around scattered grass.

Bass are good on weightless Senkos and Flukes. Finding clear water in the backs of creeks is the key, according to fishing guide Tommy Martin. Best water depth is 3-5 feet.

SAM RAYBURN - The lake is at normal level and clear. Water temp is in the upper 60s.

Fishing guide Mike Wheatley said bass anglers are reporting good results on wacky worms, Senkos, Chatterbaits and crankbaits. The better fish are coming in 7-10 feet of water around outside edges of the grass on secondary points.

Crappie are good. Wheatley is catching steady limits on outside grass edges in 7-10 feet of water. Best bite has been on a 1/16-ounce Roadrunner with a chartreuse head and black/chartreuse trailer.

NACOGDOCHES - Lake Nacogdoches is at normal level and slightly stained. Water temp is in the upper 60s, low 70s.

Bass are fair on Texas rig worms and lizards fished along outside grass edges. Senkos, wacky worms and medium diving cranks producing a few fish as well.

Crappie are scattered. Some anglers are reporting partial limits on jigs fished slowly along outside edges of hydrilla. Brush piles are holding a few fish, as well.

FORK - Lake Fork is at normal level and fairly clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 60s.

Bass are good to 12 pounds on Carolina rigs, crankbaits and jigs. Chris Parker at the Minnow Bucket said the better bite has been coming at mid-range depths. Parker said most guides are predicting another major wave of spawning activity this week.

Parker said the crappie are scattered in the shallows, but the bite has been good once you find them. Jigs and minnows are the top producers.

PALESTINE - Lake Palestine is a few inches high and clear. Water temp is in the mid-to-upper 60s.

Bass are good to eight pounds, mostly on Senkos, Flukes and light Texas rigs worked slowly around shallow grass from the bank out to four feet. Carolina rigs and crankbaits are producing a few fish on main lake points at mid range depths.

Crappie are scattered in shallow water, but anglers willing to work are pulling in occasional limits. Catfish are strong in shallow water, mostly on punch bait.

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

Fishing guide Jason Barber said crappie anglers are making some good hauls out of shallow water at the upper end of the lake. Jigs and minnows are working equally well.

Largemouth bass to six pounds are taking soft plastics, shallow diving crankbaits and topwaters. Barber the bass appear to be in all phases of the spawn — some are on beds, others are done and few have yet to move up.

Catfish, hybrid and white bass action has been outstanding. Good numbers of channel cat taking shad fished beneath a float in skinny water. White bass and hybrids are best on live shad and slabs fished around humps, points and ridges in 14-25 feet of water.

PINKSTON - Lake Pinkston is at normal level and clear. Surface temp is in the upper 60s, low 70s.

Bass are fair to six pounds. A few fish are still occupying beds in the shallows, but most have moved out to slightly deeper water. Wacky worms, Senkos and crankbaits have been productive when fished in relation to hydrilla beds in 4-10 feet of water.

Crappie are fair. Brush piles are the ticket, according to fishing guide Alan Spruiell.