Texas Fishing Report

The weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Feb. 28 and also available on the internet at http://www.txfishing.com

CENTRAL

AUSTIN: Water stained; 52-56 degrees; 0.76 feet low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs and jigs. Sunfish are fair on cut nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

BASTROP: Water stained; 68-72 degrees. Black bass are good on watermelon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

BELTON: Water stained; 67-71 degrees; 2.65 feet low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits and trolling Rat-L-Traps. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows under lights at night. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, summer sausage, and hot dogs. Yellow catfish are slow.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 67-71 degrees; 3.56 feet low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits, craw colored jigs, and chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps along shorelines. Hybrid striper are fair on silver striper jigs. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies and crawdad crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles in 15-22 feet. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water stained; 70-74 degrees; 4.17 feet low. Black bass are good on Carolina rigged black/blue lizards, Rattlin’ Rogues, and blue flake Whacky Sticks on jigheads along ledges. Striped bass are fair trolling white/chartreuse striper jigs and Rattlin’ Rogues. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles in 12-15 feet. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.

CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 71-75 degrees; 3.76 feet low. Black bass are fair on pumpkin/chartreuse hair jigs with watermelon trailers and Carolina rigged lizards along break lines and ledges. Striped bass are good trolling white striper jigs and vertically jigging Pirk Minnows and Spoiler Shads. White bass are fair jigging Pirk Minnows in 40 feet. Smallmouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and crappie jigs upriver. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.

COLEMAN: Water stained; 66-70 degrees; 2.40 feet low. Black bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are fair on white striper jigs. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend State Park) No report available.

FAYETTE: Water murky. Black bass are fair on chartreuse Rat-L-Traps, soft plastics, and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

GRANBURY: Water stained; 69-73 degrees; 0.05 feet low. Black bass are good on watermelon and watermelon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on chartreuse striper jigs. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp and stinkbait.

GRANGER: Water stained; 70-74 degrees; 0.51 feet high. Black bass are fair on green pumpkin crankbaits and soft plastics. White bass are fair on pet spoons and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

LBJ: Water stained; 69-73 degrees; 0.84 feet low. Black bass are fair on PBJ colored Snag Proof jigs and green pumpkin tubes on docks and seawalls. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair to good on silver Pirk Minnows and Spoiler Shads. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are fair on minnows and worms. Yellow and blue catfish are slow.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 67-71 degrees; 1.41 feet low. Black bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and spinnerbaits. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies and spoons. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

PROCTOR: Water murky; 68-72 degrees; 2.18 feet low. Black bass are good on chartreuse/black soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are fair on white and red striper jigs. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on juglines baited with cut shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 69-3 degrees; 0.58 feet high. Black bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water murky; 68-72 degrees; 3.85 feet low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse and watermelon soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and liver. Yellow catfish are slow.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 69-73 degrees; 12.06 feet low. Black bass are good on chrome spoons and firetiger crankbaits in 15-35 feet. Striped bass are fair on shad crankbaits and chrome spoons in 30-50 feet. White bass are good on minnows, white grubs, and chrome spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and bloodbait in 35-50 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

WALTER E. LONG: Water murky. Black bass are fair on watermelon spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and green soft plastic worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on crickets and shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 68-72 degrees; 4.67 feet low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

NORTHEAST

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 52-56 degrees; 0.68 feet high. Black bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, Texas rigged creature baits and weightless Flukes. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

BENBROOK: Water stained; 53-56 degrees; 2.15 feet high. Black bass are slow on shallow crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged craws. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 54-58 degrees; 0.83 feet high. Black bass are fair on split shot Flukes, black and blue jigs and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and white jigs. White bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

BONHAM: Water stained to muddy; 51-55 degrees; 0.45 feet high. Black bass are slow on crankbaits around shoreline rocks and boat docks. Crappie are good on minnows in shallow cover. Catfish are good along creek channel with cut shad.

BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained to stained, 52-55 degrees: 1.6 feet low. Black bass are fair on medium crankbaits, bladed jigs and Texas rigged creature baits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

CADDO: Water stained to muddy; 54-58 degrees; 4.15 feet high. Black bass are slow on spinnerbaits, black and blue jigs, and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are slow on trotlines and prepared bait.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained to stained; 53-56 degrees; 0.39 feet high. Black bass are good on Texas rigged craws, bladed jigs and squarebill crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and minnows.

COOPER: Water stained to muddy; 58-64 degrees; 6.84 feet high. Black bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, shallow crankbaits and Texas rigged craws. Crappie are slow on minnows. Hybrid striper and white bass are fair on slabs and minnows.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water lightly stained; 52-56 degrees; 0.69 feet high. Black bass are good on squarebill crankbaits, Texas rigged craws and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows on docks. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

FAIRFIELD: Water lightly stained. Black bass are good on weightless Flukes, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged tube baits. No report on other species.

FORK: Water lightly stained to stained; 54-57 degrees; 0.34 feet high. Black bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, Texas rigged creature baits in flooded bushes, and black and blue flipping jigs on timber and docks. White and yellow bass are slow on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows along bridges. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 52-55 degrees; 4.47 feet high. Black bass are slow on bladed jigs, Texas rigged craws and lipless crankbaits. White bass and hybrid bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Crappie are slow on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

JOE POOL: Water stained to muddy; 52-56 degrees; 2.97 feet high. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits and Texas rigged creature baits. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are slow on jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained to muddy; 54-58 degrees: 7.81 feet high. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged craws, lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. White bass are slow on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

LAVON: Water stained to muddy; 53-58 degrees: 5.43 feet high. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged creature baits, bladed jigs and shallow crankbaits. White bass are slow on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained to stained; 52-57 degrees; 2.70 feet high’. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, squarebill crankbaits and Texas rigged craws. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

MARTIN CREEK: Water stained; 78-82 degrees; 0.57 feet low. Black bass are fair on swim jigs, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigged craws. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on trotlines.

MONTICELLO: Water stained; 53-57 degrees; 0.71 feet low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged creature baits. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 53-58 degrees; 1.57 feet high. Black bass are good on Texas rigged craws, green pumpkin flipping jigs and bladed jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on trotlines.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 52-56 degrees; 0.02 feet high. Black bass are good on shakyhead worms, shallow crankbaits and Texas rigged craws. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained to stained; 53-56 degrees; 1.04 feet high. Black bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, football jigs and Texas rigged creature baits. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 52-55 degrees; 1.29 feet low. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged worms, squarebill crankbaits and split shot Flukes. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

TAWAKONI: Water stained to muddy; 53-58 degrees; 2.82 feet high. Black bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, shallow crankbaits and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid bass are good on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

TEXOMA: Water lightly stained; 51-55 degrees; 0.87 feet high. Black bass are good on Texas rigged craws, umbrella rigs and shakyhead worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Striped bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 52-56 degrees; 0.26 feet low. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigged creature baits. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained to muddy; 54-58 degrees; 15.87 feet high. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged creature baits, lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. Crappie are slow on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

SOUTH

AMISTAD: Water murky; 71-75 degrees; 22.97 feet low. Black bass are good on football jigs, crankbaits, jigging spoons, and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Catfish are fair on shrimp and live bait. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines 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 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. Striped bass are good on spoons and jigs near the dam. Redfish are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on liver, shrimp, and cheesebait. Yellow catfish are slow.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 70-74 degrees; 24.98 feet low. Black bass are fair on watermelon spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Drum are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on live bait and liver. Yellow catfish are slow.

COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 92 degrees at the hot water discharge, 72 degrees in main lake; 1.22 feet low. Black bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp, liver, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with perch.

CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water off color; 58-63 degrees; 1.08 feet low. Black bass are fair on jigs and Texas rigs. White bass are fair on Road Runners and slabs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are good on live shad.

FALCON: Water murky; 72-76 degrees; 17.65 feet low. Black bass are fair on watermelon Rat-L-Traps and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on frozen shrimp and prepared bait. 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; 59-63 degrees; 3.25 feet low. Black bass are fair on jigs, medium running crankbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

SOUTHEAST

CONROE: Water stained; 67-71 degrees; 1.08 feet high. Black bass are fair on chartreuse/white soft plastics, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and frozen shrimp.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained. Black bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on liver and stinkbait.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 67-71 degrees; 0.40 feet high. Black bass to 6 pounds are good on live minnows around timber near the north shore. Crappie are good on live minnows near the islands in 12 feet. Bream are slow. Channel and blue catfish to 4 pounds are good on live worms near the marina. Yellow catfish are slow.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 68-72 degrees; 1.11 feet high. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 70-74 degrees; 1.93 feet low. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Bream are slow. Catfish are slow.

STEINHAGEN: 2.05 feet high. No report available.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 68-72 degrees; 0.88 feet high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Bream are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

PANHANDLE

GREENBELT: Water off color; 52-59 degrees; 32.53 feet low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair to good on live and cut bait.

MACKENZIE: 74.4 feet low; 51-56 degrees. Black bass are slow on Texas rigs and jigs. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. No reports on crappie.

MEREDITH: Water fairly clear; 49-56 degrees; 47.67 feet 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, lightly stained up the river; 49 degrees; 6.09 feet low. Black bass are fair on Alabama rigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and spoons. Crappie and bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are slow on live perch and live worms.

ARROWHEAD: Water fairly clear; 51-59 degrees; 2.2 feet low. Black bass are slow on crankbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are slow to fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

COLORADO CITY: 15.6 feet 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.

FORT PHANTOM HILL: Water off color; 52-58 degrees; 2.15 feet low. Black bass are slow on shakyheads and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on live and cut bait.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water off color; 54-59 degrees; 3.22 feet low. Black bass are slow to fair on shakyheads, crankbaits and Texas rigs. No reports on crappie. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

NASWORTHY: 53-58 degrees; 1.06 feet low. No reports on black bass. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair to good on live bait.

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 51-57 degrees; 10.98 feet low. Black bass slow on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are slow on live minnows. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 51-59 degrees; 38.21 feet low. Black bass are fair on shakyheads, Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are slow on live minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water off color; 51-58 degrees; 1.14 feet low. Black bass are slow on drop shot rigs, 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 good on live and cut bait.

SPENCE: 51.58 feet low. Catfish are fair to good on live and cut bait.

STAMFORD: Water stained to muddy; 52-60 degrees; 0.86 feet low. Black bass are slow to fair on Texas rigs. Crappie are slow on live minnows. White bass are fair on live bait. Blue catfish are good on cut and live bait.

SWEETWATER: Water off color; 50-58 degrees; 24.51 feet 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; 44-56 degrees; 21.99 feet low. Black bass are slow to fair on Texas rigs and jigs. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair to good on live bait.

COASTAL

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good on soft plastics and good in the river on live shad. Redfish are good in the marsh on small topwaters and Stanley Ribbits and small Skitter Walks.

SOUTH SABINE: Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair around the Reef on live shrimp and under birds on soft plastics.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. Flounder are fair on the shorelines on Gulps.

TEXAS CITY: Gulf trout and sand trout are good on fresh shrimp around the dike. Bull redfish are good on the end of the dike on natural baits.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good while wading with topwaters. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Gulf trout are fair in the channel on shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Bull redfish are good on the beachfront on crabs, mullet and table shrimp. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout are good on deep shell on the lower end of the bay.

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Bull redfish are good in Cold Pass and San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Redfish are good at the jetties on natural baits.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good in Lake Austin on live shrimp.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good in Oyster Lake on shrimp. Trout are fair on shell and grass on soft plastics. Black drum are fair to good at Shell Island on live shrimp.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on topwaters over soft mud in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: Bull redfish are good in the Lydia Ann Channel on crabs. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with topwaters. Redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats on mullet and shrimp.

PORT ARANSAS: Bull redfish are good in the Shrimpboat Channel and at the jetty on crabs and finger mullet. Redfish are fair to good on the East Flats on topwaters and Gulps.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are fair to good around Shamrock Cove on small topwaters and gold spoons. Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. Black drum are good on the reefs.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good around the spoils on topwaters and soft plastics. Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and topwaters. Redfish are good in the Land Cut on natural baits.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on topwaters around sand and grass holes. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes. Bull redfish are good at East Cut on crabs.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and Gulps. Tarpon and redfish have been caught at the jetty on live shad.

PORT ISABEL: Redfish are fair to good in Cullen Bay on Gulps and She Pups. Trout and redfish are fair to good in South Bay on live shrimp. Trout are fair over sand and grass humps on plastics under popping corks.