PLEASE NOTE: TPWD has discontinued fishing reports. These reports are from the July 10 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News compiled by Vivian Leopold.
PALO PINTO
- Water level is .44 feet below pool at 96.4% full, typically stained
- Water temps are about 84 degrees
- Current conditions suggest a typical midsummer pattern — warm water, active fish early and late in the day, with slower action during the hottest afternoon hours
- Target water 12- to 25-feet deep, as many fish are holding deeper during daylight hours; Focus on shaded docks, rocky structure and submerged brush
- Largemouth bass can be found around deep brush piles, creek channels, and rocky points with Texas-rigged worms, football jigs or deep-diving crankbaits; Low-light topwater action is possible around shoreline cover
- Channel and blue catfish are productive on nightcrawlers, cut bait or stink bait around submerged timber, creek channels and deeper flats, especially after sunset
- Look for crappie suspended around bridge pilings, brush piles and standing timber in deeper water
- Small minnows and jigs work well; Crappie anglers usually do best with colors that provide contrast and visibility in the stained water
- Chartreuse/black is often the most consistent producer with blue/chartreuse excellent around brush piles and docks
LAKE RAY ROBERTS
- Water level is 0.54 feet above pool at 100% full
- Water temps are around 80 degrees; Water clarity varies from lightly stained to clear depending on location
- If you’re heading out in early July, target:
- White bass on deep humps at sunrise
- Catfish during the day on channel edges and deeper flats
- Bass around timber and shaded cover during low-light periods
- White bass (sand bass) schools are holding on main lake humps, ridges and points. Fish in roughly 20- to 25-feet of water
- Slabs, jigging spoons and shad-imitating lures are producing fish
- Catfish are one of the strongest bites on the lake right now; Blue and channel catfish are active around deeper structure, channels and bait concentrations
- Cut shad and prepared baits are working well
- Largemouth bass are holding around flooded timber, submerged points and shoreline cover
- Until 9 a.m., fish in 2- to 8-feet of water using white- or shad-pattern top-waters, white/chartreuse spinnerbaits, green pumpkin soft plastics and watermelon red worms and creature baits; Late evening in 5- to 12-feet of water, white buzzbaits, frogs and spinnerbaits can also be effective
- Crappie are generally reliable year-round on this fishery
- Focus on standing timber, brush piles, bridge pilings and submerged cover near creek channels
- Suspend minnows just above piles and cover; Small jigs in chartreuse/black, monkey milk and blue/white remain productive; Switch to pink/white when the bite gets tough
LAKE NACOGDOCHES
- Water level is 0.74 feet below pool at 96% full
- Water temps are about 79 degrees
- Fishing can be good, but you’ll generally have the best success during the first few hours after sunrise, the last couple of hours before sunset or after dark; Strongest feeding periods are around sunrise
- Lake Nacogdoches is known for producing trophy largemouth bass; During the day, target timber, creek channels, brush piles, and offshore points in 10- to 20-feet of water
- Use Texas-rigged worms, football jigs, deep-diving crankbaits or large swimbaits. Early and late, try frogs or walking top-waters around vegetation and shoreline cover
- Crappie are suspended around brush piles, standing timber and bridge structure; Small jigs and live minnows are the best bets
- Channel catfish should be active on cut bait, punch bait or nightcrawlers along creek channels, timber edges and flats, especially after sunset
- Night fishing can be productive for both bass and catfish as the water cools slightly
LAKE TEXANA
- Water level is 0.27 below pool at 98.3% full; The reservoir has generally remained near conservation pool with healthy habitat including standing timber, vegetation and creek channels
- Water temps are about 82 degrees, typical for early July and keeps most game fish in summer patterns – warm water, fish holding on deeper structure during the day and the best bite occurring around sunrise, sunset and after dark
- Largemouth bass conditions are good
- Fish are holding on creek-channel drops, submerged timber, hydrilla edges and points in about 10- to 20-feet of water
- Early mornings, try walking top-waters or buzzbaits around vegetation; As the sun rises, switch to Texas-rigged worms, football jigs, Carolina rigs or deep-diving crankbaits
- Crappie fishing is fair to good; Submerged brush piles, standing timber and bridge structure are producing fish
- Small minnows and 1/16-ounce jigs are productive, especially in 12- to 18-feet of water
- Good conditions for channel and blue catfish; They are active along creek channels and flats adjacent to deeper water
- Cut shad, punch bait and stink bait should all produce, especially after sunset
- Look for schooling hybrid striped bass and white bass near the main river channel or where baitfish are concentrated
- Jigging spoons and small swimbaits work well when fish are suspended
- Because hydrilla and giant salvinia are present in parts of the lake, concentrate on clean vegetation edges rather than fishing directly through heavy mats
LAKE TRAVIS
- Water level is 9.10 feet below pool at 85.1% full, though recent rains have significantly improved storage compared with earlier in the season
- Water temps are around 83 degrees, clear with approximately 4 to 6 feet of visibility; Because the lake is clear, use lighter fluorocarbon line and make longer casts to avoid spooking fish
- Lake Travis is fishing well for midsummer, especially if you focus on early morning (daybreak until 9 a.m.), late evening, or nighttime
- Good conditions for largemouth bass; Schools are gathering around marinas, bluff walls, offshore humps, rocky points and submerged brush
- Early in the morning, top-waters such as walking baits and poppers can produce explosive strikes; Once the sun is up, switch to drop-shot rigs, Shakyheads, football jigs or deep-diving crankbaits in 15- to 35-feet of water
- Striped bass are good, with live shad remaining the top producer over deep water, especially near the main river channel and humps; Vertical jigging spoons can also be productive when fish are schooling.
- White bass are fair to good; Watch for schooling activity during the first hour after sunrise and use small spoons, swimbaits, or tailspinners
- Catfishing is good; Use cut bait or punch bait on channel edges and flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly after sunset
- Night fishing is often excellent for bass and catfish as water temperatures cool slightly