By Cory Byrnes, for Lone Star Outdoor News
Years of drought have had a significant impact on many of the traditionally hot white bass rivers anglers flock to during the spring.
Many hope the upcoming forecasted rain will help areas like Lake Corpus Christi. Lake Corpus Christi is at a historically low 9.9% capacity, meaning the traditional white bass hotspots up the Nueces River aren’t fishing well at all.
In the Live Oak County area, “this has probably been the very first year in many years that has not been as good as it should be. We think it’s because of the drought, and the lake levels are so low we are not even sure they can make it this far,” said Oscar Alvarado with Big O Kayak Fishing Guide. “This has been the worst drought I have ever witnessed.”
It is tough fishing lately.
“I have buddies go out and only come back with one, two, maybe three fish,” he said with disappointment. “When we have located them, it’s been in the few deep pockets of water in the river. Another thing I look for is a sandy bottom.”
The most productive baits have been jig heads with soft plastics in natural colors.
“Everybody swears by a color, but I don’t think it really matters,” Alvarado said.
He hopes that the rain will put some water in the river, and the fish will get up and be able to spawn. It isn’t so bleak elsewhere in the state.
On Lake Fort Phantom Hill, Capt. Elliot Peters with A&E Outfitters reports the fishing has been excellent.
“Right now, it’s been really good. They are pre-spawn. They are a little deep still in 17- to 30-feet of water,” Peters said. “All of them are big-bellied and really hungry.”
Peters and his clients have been targeting main lake points, ledges, and rock bottoms. He has not noticed them moving up into the creeks yet.
“You’re going to find them a little shallower in the morning, and then they will move off and be a little bit deeper,” he said. “Slabs and spoons in standard colors have been very productive right now. You can catch them with a little jig. Crappie jigs work well; some guys will mainline two of them and catch them two at a time.”
Anglers will have to move, catch a few, and move again.
“They’re moving; they’ll stay in an area, but they’re not stationary. Staying on top of them is a little tougher right now,” Peters said.
A good rain may kick them off into full spawning mode; anglers should look for moving water in the creek. After the spawn, the fish will group up and be easier to target in deeper water.
In the creeks around lakes Ray Hubbard and Lewisville, the run has seemingly turned on.
“Like Rowlett Creek is hoppin,” Carey Thorn with Cary Thorn Fishing reports.
He and his clients are targeting pockets of deep water upstream from the first rapids.
“You’ll get an idea which holes are going to hold more fish,” he advised. “I am using 1/32- to 1/16-ounce jig heads; color doesn’t seem to matter. When the water is a little stained pink, it does work a little better.”
A smaller soft plastic with a lot of glitter has produced the most fish for Thorn and his clients. Anglers can also use small spoons and rooster tails when searching. Thorn predicts that with a little bit of rain, nothing is going to change except that the fish will go further upstream. Keep targeting the deeper pockets as you go up, and you will find them.
Erasmo Carreon out of west Texas reports the fishing has been excellent on the Leon River and the Bosque River. He and his son have been keying in shallow sandy/rocky areas in the rivers.
“That’s where they like to go to when they are spawning,” Carreon said. “Most of his fish have been in 2 feet or less. If you’re not catching them, go a little bit deeper. Once you find them, you won’t have to move.”
A 2-inch curly tail has produced all of Carreon’s fish.
“It’s the only one I use – a 2-inch curly tail with a 1/8-ounce jig,” he emphasized. “I like to use white or off-white/gray to match the bait in the water. For the jig, I do use a chartreuse or an orange, but as far as the bait goes, the color white is my go-to.”
