Weekly Fishing Report Week of January 25, 2023
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 50 degrees; 3.65 feet below pool. On warm days the bass action is on grass, and on dreary days fish are deep. Bass are good on rattletraps inside and outside of grass lines, and offshore near structure, deep points with crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie have slowed with the cold water and continue n migrating into the spawning areas on brush piles. Catfish are in the creek and river channels and bend in 15-20 feet of water cut bait and minnows. White bass are running up the rivers biting jigs and minnows. Report by Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
Toledo Bend
GOOD. Water stained; 52 degrees; 3.29 feet below pool. The water level is 168.7 with no generators running. Water temperature at the Dam is 52 degrees. The back feeder creeks are clearing. The main lake is stained north and clear south. Bass are shallow searching out cleaner water to feed. Bass out to six feet of water are biting on bladed swim jigs, spinnerbaits, rattling flat sided crankbaits, and buzz baits. Top colors will be black, black/blue, red/orange, and white/chartreuse. The water warmed a little this week and �¼ or �¾ ounce rattletraps in chrome blue back, gold, black back, and Rayburn red are one of the top baits right now. Try casting in the drains and along the edge of grass or over the grass. Here is a cadence I use often: cast it out in a drain, rip it up, let it fall, rip it up, and let it fall. Once you get a hit there are more fish in the area. Another pattern for bass this week is to go up in a feeder creek that has a light current and cast a 3/8 to 1/2 ounce jig in black, blue and white with a gray back with a matching trailer up on a vertical wall with an eddy and let it fall to the bottom. The bite will be subtle, watch your line, if it moves or feels heavy, set the hook. Crappie are starting to migrate to the shallows and coves. Some are still out deep and have been caught off the edge of the river channel. The chicken coop area is still producing good numbers of crappie. The white bass are on the run up north in the ditches, drains, and feeder creeks. Catching some good numbers of white bass using a 2-3-inch small swimbait, small beetle spins, road runners in prime colors are red and white, yellow, white grubs, and of course, the Clouser minnow flies in all black, white with a red head and chartreuse/white. 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.
–
LEGACY LARGEMOUTH
Lake Nacogdoches recorded its first Legacy Class largemouth bass of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker collection season when angler Jack York of Emory reeled in ShareLunker 634 Monday afternoon. York’s catch was certified at 13.51 pounds and is the second overall Legacy Class fish donated to the program this year. Nacogdoches has now produced a Legacy Class fish in three of the last four collection seasons.
York started fishing early in the morning and by 9 a.m. had landed several quality-sized fish. He then began fishing around shallow aquatic vegetation before moving back out to search for fish in deeper water. York located his Lunker in roughly 15 feet of water.
“I was using a 6th Sense Provoke Deep Diver bait and cast it way over her and called her up off the bottom,” said York. “Nacogdoches has lot of big fish, and it was an awesome experience to be able to land one of this size out here. I have caught a bunch of 10-, 11-, and a 12-pound fish but to catch a 13-plus pounder to record a new personal best was exciting.”
SALTWATER
Sabine Lake
GOOD. 59 degrees. Limits of redfish are on the ICW rocks biting live shrimp popping cork. Limits of trout coming off the North Levy on live shrimp with a popping cork. South Levy is also producing trout on live shrimp under a popping cork and swimbaits. Redfish and trout coming off the bayous and points. The water in Sabine Lake is fresh, holding trout on the northern end, and redfish on the southern. Sheepshead and drum are biting in 6-8 feet of water in the river and cuts and points in outgoing tides in Bessie Heights with live shrimp under a popping cork. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 61 degrees. Fish 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 Sloughs to Siever’s Cut holding 12-18 inch redfish on grass lines using shrimp under cork or burner shad. Stingaree’s to Rollover holding redfish in deeper marshes on popping cork with shrimp. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Social Media