PLEASE NOTE: TPWD has discontinued fishing reports. These reports are from the July 24 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News compiled by Vivian Leopold.
LAKE ARROWHEAD
- Water level is 3.35 feet below pool at 80.2% full
- Water temps are about 80 degrees, stained water
- The lake is fishing well overall; Fish are holding deeper during the heat of the day and becoming more active during low-light periods
- Sunrise through mid-morning are best times to fish and the last couple of hours before sunset; If there is any wind, target windblown points, as baitfish often congregate
- Largemouth bass can be found in points, creek channels, submerged brush and offshore structure in 15- to 25-feet of water
- Texas-rigged worms, deep-diving crankbaits, football jigs and Carolina rigs are all productive
- White bass — Watch for schooling fish early or late in the day; When they are feeding, small spoons, swimbaits and inline spinners can be effective
- White crappie are good around brush piles and timber in 15 to 25 feet
- Minnows and small jigs fished vertically are good choices
- Channel and blue catfish are active on cut bait, shad or stink bait along channel edges and flats, especially after sunrise
BOIS D’ARC
- Water level is 0.05 feet below pool at 99.8% full
- Water temps are around 86 degrees
- Bois d’Arc Lake is fishing well this month, especially if you are targeting bass; Even though it’s still a relatively new reservoir, it’s already earning a reputation as one of Texas’ premier trophy bass lakes; If numbers of fish is what you are after, crappie can provide steady action around the abundant timber
- Largemouth bass (excellent) — Fish are moving to deeper timber, creek channels, and submerged brush during the day, then becoming more active on shallow flats at dawn, dusk, and after dark
- Texas-rigged worms, football jigs, big worms, swimbaits and deep-diving crankbaits are attracting fish; The lake continues to produce numerous bass over 7 pounds, with biologists expecting true trophy-class fish to become increasingly common
- If your goal is a fish over 8 pounds, fish after sunset until midnight; During July, many of the biggest females move surprisingly shallow under the cover of darkness
- A black,10-inch ribbon-tail worm, a slow-rolled spinnerbait or a large black buzzbait around timber and secondary points can produce your best shot at a true trophy
- Crappie (excellent) — Suspend over standing timber and brush piles in 15- to 25-feet of water; Live minnows or 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jigs fished vertically are your best bet
- Catfish (good) — Channel catfish are active on cut shad, punch bait and stink bait around creek channels and flats, particularly in the evening and overnight
- White bass — Available but generally slower than bass and crappie during midsummer; Look for schooling activity early in the morning if baitfish are present
- Fish from first light until about 9:30 a.m., then again in the last two hours before sunset; If you are on the water midday, concentrate on 20- to 30-feet of water around flooded timber and channel swings
- Because Bois d’Arc has thousands of acres of standing timber, forward-facing sonar or good side imaging can make a big difference if you are fishing offshore structure
LAKE LIVINGSTON
- Water level is 0.18 feet above pool at 100% full
- Water temps are about 86 degrees
- The lake is in a solid midsummer pattern right now; The standout species are white bass and catfish, while largemouth bass require more targeted offshore fishing during the heat of the day
- Largemouth bass (fair to good) — Better fish can be found near offshore structure in deeper water during the day; Texas-rigged worms, football jigs and deep-diving crankbaits are good choices, with a top-water bite around dawn
- White bass (excellent) — This is the species Lake Livingston is best known for in summer; Schools are active on humps, ledges and along the old Trinity River channel, especially early and late in the day
- Slabs, jigging spoons and swimbaits are producing well; Fishing has been improving in the mid- and lower-lake areas
- Blue and channel catfish (excellent) — Drift-fishing with fresh cut shad over flats in 15 to 30 feet is producing good catches; Anchoring on creek-channel edges with cut bait also remains productive
- Crappie (good) — Fish are holding on brush piles, bridge pilings and standing timber in 15 to 25 feet; Live minnows have been especially productive
- Best areas to fish for white bass and hybrid striped bass are the lower lake – Onalaska to the dam; Mid-lake is good for white bass and summertime crappie around submerged brush and creek-channel intersections; For largemouth bass and catfish, fish the upper lake toward the Trinity River, though water can be more stained after rains
LAKE BRAUNIG
- Because Lake Braunig is an industrial cooling lake (for CPS Energy), it does not have the same “percent full” or “below conservation pool” metrics used for flood‑control reservoirs. Its conservation pool is simply the normal operating level which is 506.5 feet; The water level fluctuates only 1 to 2 feet during the year
- Water temps are about 83 degrees, generally stained but fishable
- Early morning, late evening and night fishing are producing the best action; Fish are holding deeper during the day
- Redfish/Red Drum (stocked) remain the lake’s top attraction
- Target points, drop-offs and areas with baitfish activity; Look for birds working schools of bait; Redfish fishing is typically strong through summer
- Fish are being caught on live tilapia, fresh-cut tilapia, gold spoons, chrome or silver Rat-L-Traps and deep-diving crankbaits; Gold Rat-L-Traps are a local favorite for Braunig redfish, especially good on sunny days with some water stain
- Catfish are one of the more consistent bites Fish 10 to 25 feet deep using shad, shrimp or punch bait; Channel edges, flats adjacent to deeper water and areas near the old river channel are productive; After sunset is especially good
- Hybrid stripers are fair to good action over deeper water; Live shad is the top producer but vertical jigging spoons can work when fish are schooled up; Focus on humps and channel areas of the lake
- Largemouth bass are not the lake’s primary fishery, but some quality fish are present; Fish early around shoreline cover, grass edges and structure before the sun gets high
CANYON LAKE
- Water level is 0.76 feet below pool at 98.4% full; Canyon Lake has risen dramatically over the past week due to major Hill Country flooding; The rapid inflow has brought significant debris, muddy runoff and stained water into parts of the lake; Some boat ramps have been closed or restricted recently because of floating debris and safety concerns, so check access before launching
- Water temps are around 82 degrees
- Good fishing potential but changing conditions; The influx of water has pushed baitfish and gamefish into new areas; Fish are now found by flooded shoreline cover, creek channels and transition zones where muddy water meets clearer water; Early morning and late evening remain the best periods
- Largemouth bass are fair to good; Fish early using top-water baits over points and flooded cover; After sunrise, work deeper rocky points, ledges and brush in 10 to 25 feet
- Productive baits include green pumpkin worms, watermelon-red soft plastics, white swimbaits, shad-colored crankbaits and top-water walking baits at dawn
- White bass and striped bass are good, one of the lake’s strongest summer fisheries; Look for schooling fish around main-lake points and humps and watch for surface activity and diving birds
- Try using white bucktail jigs, chrome spoons, silver Rat-L-Traps, white paddle tails and live shad in 20 to 40 feet during the day and shallower during low light
- Catfish are good to very good in 15 to 30 feet in creek channels and flats adjacent to deeper water
- Best baits are cut shad, punch bait, chicken liver and prepared stink baits; The upper end of the reservoir produces some of the most consistent catfish action