Texas Fishing Report

The weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Jan. 3 and also available on the internet at http://www.txfishing.com

CENTRAL

AUSTIN: Water stained; 44-56 degrees; 0.81' low. Black bass are slow to fair on chrome Rat-L-Traps and Texas rigs. Sunfish are fair to good on cut nightcrawlers. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

BASTROP: Water stained; 46-52 degrees. Black bass are good on Rat-L-Traps and chartreuse jigs. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and liver. Yellow catfish are slow.

BELTON: Water stained; 45-54 degrees; 2.97' low. Black bass are good on Rat-L-Traps. Hybrid striper are good on Rat-L-Traps and live shad in coves early. White bass are good on chrome slabs on the bottom. Crappie are fair on minnows under lights at night. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, doughbait, hot dogs, and summer sausage. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines and throwlines baited with live perch.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 44-53 degrees; 3.30' low. Black bass are good on chartreuse jigs, crankbaits, and watermelon red worms in 10-25 feet. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on Li'l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in 10-25 feet. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait, minnows and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water stained; 43-48 degrees; 4.53' low. Black bass are good on black jigs, watermelon red grubs on jigheads, and suspending crankbaits along ledges and points in 8-20 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair jigging Tiny Traps and Pirk Minnows. Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.

CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 42-47 degrees; 3.46' low. Black bass are good on Texas rigged pumpkinseed and watermelon worms, and tubes on jigheads in stickups. Striped bass are fair trolling Gizz 4's or Shad Raps on down riggers over humps. White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are fair on smoke grubs, chartreuse tubes, and small spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.

COLEMAN: Water stained; 45-52 degrees; 2.42' low. Black bass are fair on watermelon and dark red soft plastics, Rat-L-Traps, and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel catfish are fair on stinkbait and hot dogs. Yellow catfish are slow.

FAYETTE: Water murky. Black bass are fair on Carolina rigged soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps. Channel and blue catfish are slow.

GRANBURY: Water stained; 44-52 degrees; 0.32' low. Black bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on chrome spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait.

GRANGER: Water stained; 43-51 degrees; 0.20' high. Black bass are slow. White bass are fair upriver among shad. Crappie are good on minnows upriver under lights at night. Blue catfish are fair on shad and prepared baits. Yellow catfish are slow.

LBJ: Water stained; 44-49 degrees; 0.74' low. Black bass are fair on black/blue jigs and green pumpkin tubes on docks. Striped bass are fair on live shad. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp and nightcrawlers. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 45-52 degrees; 1.95' low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits near the dam. White bass are fair on Li'l Fishies. Crappie are good on minnows near the dam in brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and cheesebait near the dam. Yellow catfish are slow.

PROCTOR: Water murky; 46-52 degrees; 2.84' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on Charlie slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on frozen shad and shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 45-51 degrees; 0.24' high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and green/black tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 46-52 degrees; 3.50' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastics and crankbaits. White bass are fair on silver spoons and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 46-52 degrees; 11.75' low. Black bass are good on chrome jigging spoons, black jigs, and white grubs. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on minnows and Charlie slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

WALTER E. LONG: Water murky. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are good on white striper jigs in the cove and at the hot water outlet. White bass are good on minnows and silver spoons. Crappie are fair on red wigglers. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 47-53 degrees; 4.56' low. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on pet spoons and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on frozen shrimp, liver, and stinkbait.

NORTHEAST

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 41-46 degrees; 0.12' low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, drop shot worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and white jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

BENBROOK: Water stained; 42-46 degrees; 2.28' low. Black bass are slow on football jigs, shakyhead worms and suspending jerkbaits. Crappie are slow on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 43-47 degrees; 0.86' low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, Texas rigged worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are slow on minnows. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

BONHAM: Water stained; 41-44 degrees; 0.82 low. Black bass are slow on bladed jigs, jerkbaits, flipping jigs and lipless crankbaits around shallow cover, rip rap and boat docks. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair along creek channel with cut shad.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear, 42-45 degrees: 3.97' low. Black bass are slow on shakyhead worms, drop shot worms and Megabass 110 jerkbaits in MB Gizzard Shad. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

CADDO: Water stained; 45-48 degrees; 0.02' high.  Black bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and bladed jigs. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 43-46 degrees; 2.04' low. Black bass are slow on shakyhead worms, Carolina rigged worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. White bass are slow on minnows. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs.

COOPER: Water stained; 42-49 degrees; 1.41' low. Black bass are fair on black and blue jigs, bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Hybrid striper and white bass are slow on slabs and minnows.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water lightly stained; 42-45 degrees; 1.45 low. Black bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, drop shot worms and shakyhead worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

FAIRFIELD: Water fairly clear. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, Texas rigged creature baits and spinnerbaits. No report on other species.

FORK: Water stained; 43-46 degrees; 1.09' low. Black bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits, and football jigs. White and yellow bass are slow on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 41-45 degrees; 0.58' low. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged craws, suspending jerkbaits, and lipless crankbaits. White bass and hybrid bass are slow on minnows and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 42-45 degrees; 0.73' low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, suspending jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 45-48 degrees: 1.25' high. Black bass are fair on black and blue jigs, lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

LAVON: Water stained; 43-46 degrees: 2.61' low. Black bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 42-45 degrees; 1.45' low. Black bass are fair on medium crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 85-91 degrees; 2.81' low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, weightless Senkos and Texas rigged craws. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are slow on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and cut shad.

MONTICELLO: Water stained; 58-62 degrees; 0.25' low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged creature baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 41-45 degrees; 0.08' low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, shakyheads and finesse jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 43-46 degrees; 0.98' low. Black bass are slow on football jigs, lipless crankbaits and shakyhead worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are slow on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are slow on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 41-44 degrees; 1.22' low. Black bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, Carolina rigged worms and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on minnows and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 43-46 degrees; 2.64' low. Black bass are fair on finesse jigs, suspending jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

TAWAKONI: Water stained; 44-47 degrees; 0.69' low. Black bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, flipping jigs and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

TEXOMA: Water lightly stained; 41-45 degrees; 0.19' high. Black bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, medium crankbaits and shakyhead worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and white jigs.  Striped bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

WEATHERFORD: Water lightly stained; 42-45 degrees; 2.19' low. Black bass are slow on Senkos, finesse jigs and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 44-47 degrees; 4.70' high. Black bass are fair on black and blue jigs, bladed jigs and Rat-L-Traps. No reports on crappie. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

SOUTH

AMISTAD: Water murky; 47-54 degrees; 23.32' low. Black bass are good on silver slabs, crankbaits, and soft plastic worms. Striped bass are fair on slabs, crankbaits, and grubs. White bass are fair on slabs and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on shrimp, nightcrawlers, chicken livers, and cheesebait in 60-90 feet. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines and droplines baited with live perch. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

BRAUNIG: Water murky. Black bass are good on crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms in the reeds. Striped bass are good on liver and shad. Redfish are slow. Channel catfish are good on shrimp, cheesebait, and cut bait. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

CALAVERAS: Water murky. Black bass are good on dark soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits around reed beds. Striped bass are slow. Redfish are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and cheesebait. Yellow catfish are slow.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 46-53 degrees; 24.50' low. Black bass are fair on heavy jigs and large soft plastic lizards in the grass. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Drum are fair on live worms. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and punchbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 82 degrees at the hot water discharge, 58 degrees in main lake; 1.06' low. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Tilapia are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water off color; 45-53 degrees; 0.12' low. Black bass are on Rat-L-Traps and shakyheads. White bass are fair on tail spinners. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers.

FALCON: Water murky; 47-55 degrees; 17.03' low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are good on chartreuse tube jigs around bridges. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

TEXANA: Water stained; 44-53 degrees; 1.95' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

SOUTHEAST

CONROE: Water stained; 45-53 degrees; 0.01' high. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and Rat-L-Traps in 20-30 feet. Striped bass are good on chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, liver, and shrimp.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained. Black bass are good on tequila sunrise soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp and nightcrawlers.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 46-53 degrees; 0.10' high. Black bass are slow. Crappie are good on live minnows in 20 feet. Bream are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 46-52 degrees; 0.20' high. Black bass are good on watermelon crankbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. Blue catfish are good on shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 44-51 degrees; 2.81' low. Black bass are good on watermelon red and watermelon gold soft plastics, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. White bass are fair on Li'l Fishies and chartreuse spoons. Crappie are slow. Bream are fair on worms. Catfish are good on stinkbait, frozen shrimp, and liver.

STEINHAGEN: 1.52' high. No report available.  

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 43-52 degrees; 4.20' low. Black bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on pet spoons and Li'l Fishies. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Bream are fair on worms. Channel and blue catfish are fair on liver, frozen shrimp, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

PANHANDLE

GREENBELT: Water off color; 37-43 degrees; 32.31 low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow to fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

MACKENZIE: 74.03' low. Black bass are slow. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. No reports on crappie. 

MEREDITH: Water fairly clear; 34-45 degrees; 47.59' low. No reports on black bass. No reports of smallmouth bass or walleye. Bream and channel catfish are being caught in limited numbers. 

WEST

ALAN HENRY: Water clear main lake, stained to muddy upriver; 42-51 degrees; 5.19' low. No reports on black bass. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair drifting live bait.

ARROWHEAD: Water fairly clear; 41-49 degrees; 2.25' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow to fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers.

COLORADO CITY: 15.3' low. After a period of drought, this lake caught water and boating is now allowed. However, it is not currently recommended for fishing due to severe golden alga blooms.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water off color; 42-48 degrees; 1.72' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water off color; 41-49 degrees; 3.06' low. Black bass are slow. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait.

NASWORTHY: 43-48 degrees; 1.37' low. No reports on black bass. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair on live bait.

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 41-47 degrees; 10.66' low. Black bass slow on Texas rigs. Crappie are slow on live minnows. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 41-52 degrees; 37.65' low. No reports on black bass. Crappie are slow on live minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water off color; 39-46 degrees; 1.24' low. Black bass are slow on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are slow to fair on live minnow. White bass are fair on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are fair to good on live and cut bait.

SPENCE: 50.98' low. Catfish are fair on live bream, cut bait and nightcrawlers.

STAMFORD: Water stained; 38-49 degrees; 0.44' low. Black bass are slow on Texas rigs. Crappie are slow on live minnows. White bass are fair on live bait. Blue catfish are fair on cut and live bait.

SWEETWATER: Water off color; 39-45 degrees; 24.34' low. This lake is currently experiencing a fish kill due to golden alga. Biologists are monitoring the situation and will post updates as they become available.

WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 38-46 degrees; 21.42' low. Black bass are slow. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.

COASTAL

NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Waders have taken better trout on the Louisiana shoreline on slow-sinking plugs.

SOUTH SABINE: Redfish are fair on the edge of the channel on mullet. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on slow-sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are fair at Rollover Pass on shrimp.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on the east shoreline on Corkies and MirrOlures. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair while drifting deep mud and shell on plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair over deep shell and mud on plastics. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout are good for waders in the afternoon on Slammin' Chicken Bass Assassins.

TEXAS CITY: Redfish are fair in Moses Lake on shrimp and crabs. Pier anglers have taken sand trout and sheepshead on fresh shrimp.

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are fair on live shrimp on the reefs. Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Redfish are fair to good at the mouths of drains on Gulps and shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on Gulps over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal and at the mouths of drains on Gulps and jigs tipped with shrimp.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous on soft plastics and Gulps. Trout are fair in the guts on the incoming tide.

PORT O'CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on Corkies over soft mud in waist-deep water in San Antonio Bay. Redfish are fair to good at the mouths of drains and deep channels.

ROCKPORT:  Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow Gulps. Redfish are fair to good in California Hole and Estes Flats on mullet and shrimp.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good on the ledges of the channel on mullet. Sand trout are good on shrimp in the channel.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. Trout are fair to good on the edge of the flats on MirrOlures, Gulps and Corkies.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and Soft-Dines. Trout are fair to good in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on Corkies, Gamblers and Bass Assassins.

PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair on DOA Shrimp and Gulps under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair on mud along the edge of the ICW on Corkies and MirrOlures.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair on the edge of the Intracoastal and at Gas Well Flats on DOA Shrimp and Gulps. Redfish and sheepshead are fair in the channel on shrimp.

PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics under popping corks. Trout are fair in Cullen Bay and Laguna Vista Cove on shrimp and Gulps. Redfish are fair to good in the holes and guts on Gulps and scented baits.