Texas fishing report for Dec. 21

Here is the weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Dec. 21 and also available on the internet at https://www.txfishing.com

CENTRAL

BASTROP: Water stained; 62-66 degrees. Black bass are good on chartreuse and chartreuse/white soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait, chicken livers, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

BELTON: Water stained; 61-65 degrees; 0.30’ high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on slabs with bucktails. Crappie are excellent on minnows and blue tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.16’ high. Black bass are good on Bass Hogg spinnerbaits, craw Bass Hogg jigs, Persuader crankbaits, and Grande Bass Baby Rattle Snakes along the shorelines of creeks and off points in coves. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies and crawdad crankbaits. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and tube jigs over brush piles in 12-15 feet. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 2.07’ low. Black bass are good on chartreuse Curb’s jigs, Texas rigged weightless watermelon/blue flake Whacky Sticks, and smoke/red flake JDC Spider Grubs on flats. Striped bass are good on Spoiler Shads, Pirk Minnows, and drifting live bait in 20-35 feet. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and 2” plastic swim baits in deep creeks. Crappie are fair on white crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live bait.

CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.49’ high. Black bass are good on green pumpkin Whacky Sticks on jigheads and Texas rigged blue flake Scoundrel worms on shaky head jigs along bluffs. Striped bass are good on Spoiler Shads, Pirk Minnows, and Red Fins in the lower end of the lake. Smallmouth bass are fair on smoke/red flake tubes, tomato red curl tail grubs on jigheads, and pumpkin Curb’s jigs along ledges and over rock piles in 10-20 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows upriver. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on live bait.

COLEMAN: Water stained; 64-68 degrees; 1.30’ low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are fair on chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait, liver, and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend State Park) No report available.

FAYETTE: Water murky. Black bass are fair on electric blue Carolina rigged Finesse worms in 10-16 feet, and on spinnerbaits along the outside edges of grass. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp over baited holes in 14-18 feet.

GRANBURY: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 0.01’ low. Black bass are fair on watermelon red and pumpkinseed soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Catfish are good on shrimp, stinkbait, and live minnows.

GRANGER: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 0.72’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and minnows. Crappie are slow. Blue catfish are fair on stinkbait, cut bait, and Zote soap. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live perch.

LBJ: Water stained; 61-65 degrees; 0.75’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon spinnerbaits, Bleeding Shad Rat-L-Traps, and chartreuse Whacky Sticks off points. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs. White bass are fair vertically jigging Pirk Minnows under birds. Crappie are good on Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles in 12-18 feet. Channel catfish are fair on minnows under docks. Yellow and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 0.15’ low. Black bass are good on Rat-L-Traps. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and doughbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 61-65 degrees; 0.68’ low. Black bass are fair on black/purple and chartreuse soft plastic worms. Striped bass are fair on white striper jigs and small spoons. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse/black tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on frozen shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 63-67 degrees; 0.26’ high. Black bass are good on silver spinnerbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on silver spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 60-64 degrees; 0.18’ high. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps. White bass are fair on white spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 0.70’ high. Black bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and Li’l Fishies. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow.

WALTER E. LONG: Water murky. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows, and on red/white and chartreuse jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on minnows and frozen shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 3.02’ low. Black bass are fair on green pumpkin and tequila sunrise spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Catfish are good on shrimp, nightcrawlers, and stinkbait.

NORTHEAST

ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 49-52 degrees; 0.44’ low. Black bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, flukes and bladed jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and white jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines and prepared bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 48-52 degrees; 2.03’ low. Black bass are fair on flipping jigs, bladed jigs and weightless Senkos. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are slow on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

BONHAM: Water lightly stained; 47-50 degrees; 2.91’ low. Black bass are slow on crankbaits, jigs and Texas rig soft plastics. Crappie are good on brush piles with jigs and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained, 47-51 degrees: 0.09’ low. Black bass are slow on Megabass Vision 110 jerkbaits in mat shad, lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

CADDO: Water stained; 50-53 degrees; 0.50’ high. Black bass are slow on Texas rigged creature baits, flipping jigs and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 48-51 degrees; 1.88’ low. Black bass are slow on umbrella rigs, lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are slow on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

COOPER: Water stained to muddy; 3.70’ low. No report available.

FAIRFIELD: Black bass fishing reported as significantly improved. TPWD discontinued stocking the lake after the fish kill in September 2011. Redfish survived the kill in limited numbers.

FORK: Water lightly stained; 47-50 degrees; 3.20’ low. Black bass are fair on Carolina rigged flukes, umbrella rigs and lipless crankbaits. White and yellow bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and white jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water lightly stained; 46-49 degrees; 0.16’ high. Black bass are slow on suspending jerkbaits, weightless Senkos and squarebill crankbaits. White bass and hybrid bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait.

JOE POOL: Water lightly stained; 48-51 degrees; 1.04’ low. Black bass are slow on finesse jigs, weightless soft plastics and jerkbaits. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 48-52 degrees: 0.60’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged creature baits, bladed jigs and flipping jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

LAVON: Water stained; 49-52 degrees: 3.44’ low. Black bass are slow on bladed jigs and bladed jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 46-49 degrees; 0.04’ low. Black bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, Flukes and umbrella rigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 84-88 degrees; 1.86’ low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits, squarebill crankbaits and Texas rigged craws. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are fair on minnows and slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

MONTICELLO: Water stained; 86-90 degrees; 0.18’ low. Black bass are good on Texas rigged creature baits, soft plastic swimbaits and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and cut shad.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 47-50 degrees; 1.69’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged worms, jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and white jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow on trotlines and cut shad.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 48-51 degrees; 1.20’ low. Black bass are good on shallow crankbaits, umbrella rigs and shakyhead worms. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 47-50 degrees; 0.01’ high. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, soft plastic jerkbaits and Carolina rigged creature baits. White bass are slow on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 46-49 degrees; 1.53’ low. Black bass are slow on bladed jigs, umbrella rigs and spinnerbaits. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow on trotlines.

TAWAKONI: Water stained; 47-51 degrees; 2.74’ low. Black bass are slow on bladed jigs, shallow crankbaits and flipping jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

TEXOMA: Water stained; 46-49 degrees; 0.95’ high. Black bass are good on suspending jerkbaits, umbrella rigs and shakyhead worms. Crappie are fair on jigs. Striped bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and cut shad.

WEATHERFORD: Water lightly stained; 0.84’ low. No report available.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 3.05’ high. No report available.

SOUTH

AMISTAD: Water murky; 66-70 degrees; 16.60’ low. Black bass are good on soft plastics in 18-25 feet. Striped bass are good on jigging spoons under birds in 40-60 feet. White bass are good on jigging spoons under birds in 40-60 feet. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch in 18-30 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch.

Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

BRAUNIG: Water murky. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on live shad and silver jigging spoons. Redfish are slow. Channel catfish are good on liver, frozen shrimp, and cut shad. Blue catfish are good on cut bait and shad.

CALAVERAS: Water murky. Black bass are fair on small crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Redfish are fair on live perch and shad in 15-30 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, frozen shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 19.57’ low. Black bass are good on chartreuse and pumpkinseed soft plastic worms and Rat-L-Traps over grass. White bass are good on minnows and Tiny Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch.

COLETO CREEK: Water murky; 69 degrees at the hot water discharge, 54 degrees in main lake; 2.41’ low. Black bass to 5 pounds are fair on dark soft plastics and crankbaits in 8-10 feet. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish to 7 pounds are fair on live perch in 8-12 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

FALCON: Water murky; 65-69 degrees; 28.88’ low. Black bass are fair on football jigs, large soft plastic worms, and 7” Carolina rigged Senkos. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut bait and doughbait. Yellow catfish are slow. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

SOUTHEAST

CONROE: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 0.04’ high. Black bass are fair on watermelon and pumpkinseed soft plastics and jigs. Striped bass are fair on white striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained. Black bass are good on tequila sunrise soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 0.12’ high. Black bass are fair on watermelon Brush Hogs on the north side of the lake. Crappie are fair on live minnows at drop offs with brush in 20 feet. Bream are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 61-65 degrees; 0.13’ high. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and dark tube jigs. Blue catfish are fair on shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 62-66 degrees; 2.92’ low. Black bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows, watermelon spinnerbaits, and white striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bream are good on worms. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and minnows.

STEINHAGEN: 1.47’ high. No report available.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 63-67 degrees; 3.75’ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Bream are fair on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

PANHANDLE

GREENBELT: 31.27’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs and finesse jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows.

MACKENZIE: 73.67’ low. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

MEREDITH: 60.91’ low. TPWD has begun restocking the lake with Walleye. Reports of black bass are rare. No reports of smallmouth bass. Bream and channel catfish are being caught in good numbers.

PALO DURO: 57.4’ low. No report available.

WEST

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 52 degrees; 1.77’ low. Black bass are good on crankbaits, swim jigs, and shakyheads with Grande Bass worms at first light. Crappie are slow on minnows. Catfish are fair on rod and reel with punchbait up the river and slow on juglines baited with goldfish, perch or minnows.

ARROWHEAD: Water fairly clear; 49-56 degrees; 0.8’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, drop shot rigs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

COLORADO CITY: 12.81’ low. No report available.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water murky; 50-56 degrees; 0.5’ low. Black bass are fair on shakyheads, chatterbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water off color; 51-55 degrees; 0.57’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

NASWORTHY: 49-55 degrees; 1.28’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Texas rigs and chatterbaits. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 48-56 degrees; 9.38’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, crankbaits and shakyheads. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on chartreuse (use Worn-Glo) nightcrawlers.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 49-56 degrees; 34.04’ low. Black bass are fair on pearl crankbaits, Texas rigs and swimjigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water off color; 48-55 degrees; 0.09’ low. Black bass are fair to good on swimjigs, Texas rigs and medium running crankbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers.

SPENCE: 50.04’ low. No report available.

STAMFORD: 0.3’ low. Black bass and crappie are fair to good, but mostly undersized. White bass are fair to good on minnows and Rooster Tails. Blue catfish are fair to good on cut and live bait.

SWEETWATER: Water off color; 47-53 degrees; 23.16’ low. No report available.

WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 45-52 degrees; 19.47’ low. Black bass are very slow (the bass population was greatly reduced during the drought). No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

COASTAL

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics. Redfish and flounder are good in the marsh on shrimp.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Redfish are good at the jetty on live bait and cracked crabs. Flounder are good on the falling tide around marsh drains on jigs tipped with shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout, black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. Trout are fair to good while drifting shell on plastics. Bull redfish are good on the beachfront.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working birds on soft plastics. Redfish are good on spoons on the north shoreline.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Redfish and flounder are fair to good in the marsh around drains on shrimp. Trout and redfish are good under the birds.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Bull redfish and flounder are good at San Luis Pass on shrimp and shad. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs.

TEXAS CITY: Gulf trout are good in the channel on fresh shrimp. Sand trout and black drum are good at the wells on fresh shrimp. Flounder are fair to good on Gulps and mud minnows.

FREEPORT: Bull redfish are good at jetty on crabs, shrimp and mullet. Redfish are good on the beachfront on shad and mullet. Trout are good on the reefs in Christmas Bay on shrimp under a popping cork.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout and redfish are fair to good under the birds when the wind allows. Trout are good at night in the channels.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are fair on live shrimp at Shell Island and Twin on shrimp and mullet.

PORT O’CONNOR: Redfish are good in the back lakes on shrimp and mullet. Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs, mullet and shad. Trout are fair to good on the reefs in San Antonio Bay on soft plastics.

ROCKPORT: Redfish are good on the edge of the flats on live shrimp under a popping cork. Trout are fair to good on topwaters around shell in St. Charles Bay and Aransas Bay.

PORT ARANSAS: Trout are fair to good on reefs on live shrimp and mullet. Bull redfish are good at the jetty and on the beachfront on natural baits.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair in the guts on Corkies. Bull redfish are good in the surf on mullet and shrimp. Redfish are good in the holes on live bait.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good while drifting deep rocks on plum plastics. Trout are good in the Land Cut at night under lights. Trout are fair to good on plastics worked along the spoils.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on the shorelines and spoils on soft plastics and plugs. Redfish are good while drifting pot holes on topwaters and soft plastics under a popping cork.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good on soft plastics under corks on the edge of the channel. Redfish are good on the flats on DOA Shrimp and Gulps.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good on flats adjacent to the ICW live shrimp and Gulps under corks. Redfish are good on the edge of the flats on the outgoing tide on shrimp under a cork.