Weekly Fishing Report Week of April 12, 2023
FRESHWATER
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 65 degrees; 1.19 feet above pool. April showers have flooded the rivers and the water level has risen. Bass are clinging tight to buck brush and timber, and the grass linea in 6-12 feet of water. Best to flip crankbaits, jigs and soft plastics into these areas. Some fish can be found on deeper points with Carolina or Texas rigged soft plastics. Crappie are shallow and easy to spook on brush piles. Catfish are spawning on shallow flats and in the creek channels. Sand bass are good spawning in the creeks, with a few on points using slab spoons and chrome rattletraps. Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
Toledo Bend
GOOD. Water stained; 62-67 degrees; 1.05 feet below pool. The water level is 170.8 with two generators running 24 hours. Water temperature at the Dam is 62 degrees. North of the three-mile Pendleton bridge, temperatures have been running 63-67 degrees. Toledo Bend had several days of cold April showers this past week. The feeder creeks are muddy with fast moving water flowing to the lake. A tip for muddy water conditions is to search out the clearest water area 1-3 feet. Good numbers of bass have been caught on bladed jigs in colors of black/blue, white chartreuse, and watermelon pepper. Other baits for bass are Jig-n-pigs in �½ and �¾ ounce in colors black/blue, peanut butter and jelly, for darker colored water and a Carolina rig with plastic lizards in watermelon red and plum apple. Zoom speed craws have also been producing in shallow water Texas rigged casting to the edge of the grass and buck brush. Best colors have been watermelon red, all white, black with red glitter, and blackberry with purple flake. Some bigger bass have been caught on senkos and flukes in black/blue flake, watermelon red, black/red flake and motor oil colors rigged wacky or Texas style. Crappie bite is a moving target shallow or deep depending on the day. Some crappie have spawned, and others are fluctuating in and out depending on water depth and water temperatures. When using fly rods for crappie use an indicator with a Clouser minnow tied on about 12-14 inches below with a weighted fly 1/80 or 1/64 ounce. Best colors have been white and blue, all black, orange head, and orange body with a chartreuse tail feather. The cadence is slow in 1-3 feet around cypress knees and buck brush. Also using a 1/80-ounce mop fly with success in colors of chartreuse, yellow, and tan. The White Bass are going to be spotty with the water rising and higher water currents. Small bluegill are starting to show up in shallow water and around boat houses. Kids Bank and Bulkhead Report for Six Mile Park, South of Hemphill, Texas on Highway 86. Six Mile Park is a new facility that features a T-head pier with handrails and fencing. You can catch bluegill, bass, catfish, and crappie off the pier. Best baits are earthworms, crickets, minnows, or catfish stink baits. This facility is free of charge and is handicap accessible with a public restroom, boat ramp and covered picnic areas. Get the family outdoors and have some fun. 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.
SALTWATER
Sabine Lake
GOOD. 71 degrees. April showers have muddied the water clarity in the lake, subsequently slowing the bite in the lake. Sabine Pass Jetties will be a good place to start this week. ICW is producing good catches of redfish, sheepshead, and drum on the rock piles and bulkheads using live shrimp under a popping cork. Neches River and Bessie Heights are holding nice limits of redfish with trout mixed in, in the canals off the marsh in 2-6 feet of water. Sheepshead and drum are good in the ditches with six feet of water with live shrimp under a popping cork or Carolina rigged. North Levee is good for limits of speckled trout with live shrimp under a popping cork, or topwater baits early in the morning. Forecasted north winds will concentrate fish to the North Levee. Flounder are good at the North Levee on mullet and live shrimp carolina rigged. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 70 degrees. The surf is starting to hold some black drum, pompano, small shark and occasional redfish. The North Jetty surf side holding sheepshead and trout against rocks look for bait. Redfish in the channel on Carolina rigged mullet, shad, and crab. The end holds nice schools of trout and sheepshead. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
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