Published: July 01, 2009 09:49 pm      

Texas Fishing Report — 7-2-09

AUSTIN (AP) — Here is the weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for July 1. (Report also available on Web as www.txfishing.com.)

ATHENS: Water lightly stained, 84-87 degrees; 0.23’ high. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Carolina rigs off points. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on punch bait and worms around baited holes.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 86-89 degrees; 0.38’ low. Black bass are fair early on topwaters, midday switching to flukes fished around grass. White bass are very good on Humdingers and 1.5 to 2 oz. slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on Sassy Shad early. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Catfish are very good drifting cut shad.

FAIRFIELD: Water fairly clear; 86-95 degrees. No report available.

FORK: Water lightly stained; 85-94 degrees; 0.09’ high. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters early and late, later switching to Senkos, drop shot rigged finesse worms and Carolina rigged watermelon/red Brush Hogs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs under the bridges and over brush piles. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 85-90 degrees; 0.99’ low. Black bass are fair to good on spinnerbaits, Texas rigged black/blue Power Worms and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad. White bass are good on topwaters and Humdingers. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cheese bait.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off color; 86-92 degrees; 3.14’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Texas rigged lizards or worms and medium diving crankbaits. White bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on Humdingers, topwaters and live shad. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good cut shad and prepared baits.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 90 degrees; 0.24’ low. Black bass to 4 pounds are fair on watermelon red and June bug red flake 10” soft plastic worms near the subdivisions and on the south side of the lake near the dam in 12-16 feet. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles near the pump station and in coves near the dam in 20 feet. Bream are good on live worms off piers and grass beds. Channel and blue catfish to 4 pounds are good on trotlines baited with perch in 12 20 feet.

SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 84 degrees; 2.36’ low. Black bass are fair on minnows and watermelon soft plastic worms. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and blue/black tube jigs over brush piles in 20-30 feet. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers. Catfish are very good on trotlines baited with live bait and cut bait.

TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 84 degrees; 1.40’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are fair on minnows and white striper jigs. White bass are fair on silver spoons.