Weekly Fishing Report Week of February 15, 2023
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 55-58 degrees; 0.22 feet below pool. Lots of freshwater and deep grass after the recent weather. Bass are in shallow brush and grass lines on warmer days biting jerkbaits and soft plastics. Some bass are on deep points biting Carolina rigs, Alabama rigs and jigs. The rattletrap bite has slowed. Crappie are stacked up near the 147 Bridge waiting for the water to warm. Catfish are in the creek and river channel bends in 25-28 feet of water biting stink bait, cut bait and minnows. White bass are running up the rivers biting small rattletraps and roadrunners. Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
Toledo Bend
GOOD. Water stained; 50-56 degrees; 0.39 feet below pool. HISTORIC. The water level is 171.6 feet with both generators running 24 hours a day. Just a note, 172 feet is a full pool for Toledo Bend. Water temperature at the Dam is 50 degrees. North of the three-mile Pendleton Bridge temperatures have been running 50-56 degrees. There has been a lot of rain and runoff entering the lake. The back feeder creeks are muddy and flowing. The main lake is stained and clearing. Five big bass were caught last week weighing in over double digits each, 10 pounds plus; 10.56, 12.63, 13.38, 11.0 and 10.81. Amazingly, five more big bass over 10 pounds were caught this week; 10.11, 11.58, 10.00, 12.00 and a new lake black bass record certified at 15.67 pounds was caught by Bill Cook of Houston. To say the lake is on fire is an understatement. Winning baits for a ten pounder came under the heading of 12-30 feet of water, pre-spawn fish using football jigs, Alabama rigs, Carolina rig, deep diving crankbaits and deep diving stick baits. The bass are starting to move into their staging areas at the mouth of creeks, ditches, and drains. Crappie bite has been slow, and they are on the move too with fluctuating water temperatures. White bass are still running North up in the feeder creeks. Catfish are being caught in shallow water current in the feeder creeks on punch baits, shrimp, and homemade weenie concoctions. Be extra careful running the main lake due to floating logs and debris. Remember, it is always better to play it safe by telling a loved one or friend the area you will be fishing, how many people are in your party and the expected return time. Good luck and keep casting forward! Report from Master Captain Steve “Scooby” Stubbe, Mudfish Adventures LLC, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide, and Mudfish Custom Rod Shop.
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SALTWATER
Sabine Lake
GOOD. 58 degrees. ICW holding limits of nice redfish using live shrimp under a popping cork. Sabine Channel producing a few trout, nice redfish, drum and redfish on incoming tides using live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish continue to bite in the lake off points and drifting out from the points, and into the bayous. Baitfish have moved in the bayou grass lines. North Levy is producing nice catches of slot trout on long drifts with live shrimp under a popping cork, silver swimbaits, or ⅛ ounce glo chartreuse soft plastics. Redfish are biting on Carolina rigs with live shrimp or mullet in the Neches River turnarounds 15 feet deep, and on Bessie Heights cuts heading into the flatst. Sheepshead and drum are biting off the points and drops in the river. nice redfish Carolina rigged live shrimp or mullet. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 59 degrees. The Ditch has some redfish against grass sides with an occasional nice trout using popping cork or artificials. The deeper ends of the reefs or wind protected cuts with popping cork and shrimp. The jetty holding sheepshead and trout on live shrimp close to rocks. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever’s Cut biting on cut bait positioned 12-18 inches under a cork with shrimp, or burner shad. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
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