TPWD Weekly Fishing Report Week of May 10, 2023
FRESHWATER
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 72 degrees; 0.22 feet above pool. Forecasted weather will keep the water temperature in the low 70s and increase the turbidity of the water. Fishing patterns continue to hold steady with bass and crappie scattered in all stages of the spawn. Bass are good flipping crankbaits, jigs and soft plastics into buck brush and timber, and the grass lines in 6-12 feet of water. Some fish can be found on secondary points and in 25 feet of water with crankbaits, Carolina or Texas rigged worms. Crappie on brush piles biting minnows and jigs, some fish still spawning shallow. Catfish are spawning shallow with some catches on the points in creek channels. Sand bass are starting to show up in the main lake, and schooling action should pick up as the weather warms. Big bluegills on brush piles, and moving shallow to spawn. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
Toledo Bend
GOOD. Water stained; 69-73 degrees; 0.37 feet below pool. The water level is 171.74 with one generator running from 3-7 P.M. daily. North of the three-mile Pendleton bridge, temperatures have been running 69-73 degrees. Zoom speed craws and creature baits rigged Texas style and a u-tail swimming worm in all white and white with a dipped chartreuse tail have been producing Bass in shallow water. 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. The spinnerbait bite for bass is starting to pick up with the flooded vegetation in the buck brush. The frog bite has been good on popping frogs and hollow body frogs late in the evenings over vegetation. Flyrodders are catching quality bass over vegetation using 8 and 10 weight fly rods. Top flies this week have been a weighted spoon fly black with red glitter, a Stealth Goober, and shad imitation topwater popper fly. The Crappie bite has moved offshore into brush piles and creek ledges with standing timber using jigs and minnows. Bluegill are starting to show up in the shallow flats and around boathouses. 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. Limits of trout, with sheepshead and drum mixed in are along the jetty walls with live shrimp under a popping cork, or glo chartreuse plastics. Sabine Channel bulkheads and rock piles holding trout, flounder, redfish, bull redfish, sheepshead and drum. Mouths of the bayous in Sabine Lake are good for slot speckled trout and redfish making long drifts over shell pads with live shrimp under a popping cork, or morning glory chartreuse five inch plastics. North Levee is on fire for catches of speckled trout from the first to the second pike dragging swimbaits or quarter ounce jigheads with five inch glo chartreuse plastics. Intracoastal Canal and 1000 Yard Cut are good for redfish and trout on the flats, rock piles and points using live shrimp under a popping cork glo ⅛ ounce jigs. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 72 degrees. The surf is starting to hold some pompano, small sharks and the occasional redfish. The gulf side of the North Jetty is holding sheepshead and trout against the rocks, look for bait up close to rocks. Channel side holding some nice trout and big redfish on the bottom. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
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