TPWD Weekly Fishing Report Week of May 7, 2025
Sam Rayburn
GOOD. Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.90 feet above pool. Many bass are still shallow trying to spawn, but this should finish this week. The best bite continues to be in 8-14 feet on ledges, humps and old timber with a big worm on a Texas rig or Carolina rig. Crappie and catfish are moving shallow and deep as they spawn. The magic depth has been 4-12 feet with minnows under corks and around trees on the bedding fish. Some crappie are moving to brush but the bite is not steady yet. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.
Toledo Bend
SLOW. Water stained; 72 degrees; 0.56 feet below pool. Fishing has been fair due to recent storms with more storms in the forecast. Typically the water level falls this time of year, but it is on the rise. Shallow bass fishing is fair with topwaters, frogs and swim jigs. Still very little shad spawn action going on because the water temperature is too cool. Mid range bass are fair 8-12 feet of water with Carolina rigs, Texas rigs and mid range crankbaits. The deeper bite has slowed due to the rising water level. Crappie do not like the flow and rising water so the bite is hit-or-miss. Dam is running both generators 24/7. No flood gates are open at this time. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.
SALTWATER
Sabine Lake
FAIR. 67 degrees. There continues to be lots of wind in our forecast. ICW has been good for very nice redfish and speckled trout on rock piles and our shell flats with live shrimp under a popping cork, or glo chartreuse plastics with 1/4 ounce big heads over the shell flats and off the drops and 8-18 feet of water working it up the ledge. The south levee is producing nice catches of trout with redfish mixed in on live shrimp under a popping cork early in the morning. Once the sun rises move to the Sabine Channel. Target rock piles and the shell flats popping cork or quarter ounce jig with our glo chartreuse 3-1/2 inch plastic baits or 5 inch plastic baits. The fish are on the drop-offs from 4-16 feet of water. They are feeding on the long shad and shrimp that has just come into the system. The red fish have crab in their bellies. Seeing some flounder this last week mixed in on the shell flats. On days with light fish the jetties in the morning for limits of speckled trout, some redfish and sheepshead. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 70 degrees. The tides and water levels are dramatic four tide days that should produce some high fishing activity with the weather changes expected. Big 25 inch plus trout in the surf are still running! Chances of using your trout tag are high. Water levels are back and forth per normal with a lot of sargassum washing in. Anglers are still catching plenty of redfish everywhere, almost guaranteed. There are more keeper speckled trout being caught along with sand trout, black drum, sheepshead and crabs caught along the jetty. The flounder are showing back up for the Spring. The bigger stingrays and sharks are here and the real action is beginning! The surf is producing lots of redfish and huge black drum, huge speckled trout and a lot of sharks along the peninsula with more activity towards Gilchrist and High Island. Anglers are using cut mullet, big menhaden or shad. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
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