TPWD Weekly Fishing Reports for April 24

May 1, 2024 - Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing reports are updated each week, usually by Thursday morning. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the information from bait shops, marinas and fishing guides. Only the local lakes are listed below. If you would like to see the fishing report for other Texas lakes, click the following link https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PW.

Toledo Bend

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 75 degrees; 0.19 feet above pool. More rain in the forecast so water levels are high and rising. Main lake is clear, but some of the big creeks with the flow are muddy and will take some time to clear up. There is a shad spawn going on in the morning and some afternoons attracting the bass. Bass are good on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and small swimbaits. Once the rises work Texas rigs and wacky worms along edge of the flooded brush. On an overcast day, bass can be caught on topwaters and frogs all day long. Lots of fish, just not many over 4 pounds. Crappie are fair on brush piles and deeper docks using 1/16 ounce jigs with a white or smoke color grub and live bait. Best area has been away from the big flow in the creeks, as crappie do not like the rushing water. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.

Pinkston

GOOD. normal stain; 65 degrees. Bass are shallow in the grass schooled up on bait. Cast chatterbaits, swim jigs, topwaters, spooks and frogs. This should persist for the next few months. Shad are spawning on the docks, hard clay, trees and grass. Crappie are at the end of the spawn in shallow grass and suspended in trees along the edges and mouth creeks. Report by Captain Hank Harrison, Double H Precision Fishing.

Sam Rayburn

GOOD. Water stained; 72 degrees; 3.29 feet below pool. Bass are in 8 feet or less with some in the lily pads on topwater frogs, or with Carolina rigs and jigs on harder bottoms and structures off points and humps. Crappie are transitioning to brush piles using minnows and jigs. Catfish are in deeper water flats and creek channels on cut bait. White bass are transitioning to points and down the river with some schooling activity hitting jigging spoons and crankbaits. Fishing patterns are still behind what is typical for this time of year. Navigate with caution to avoid sandbars and stumps. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. Shad spawn is in full swing. Bass are good keying on hard clay points, grass edges and flooded timber with swim jigs, chatterbaits, topwater spooks or pop-r’s. Offshore bite is 10-20 feet on hard spots and flats, points and creek channel swings using crankbaits, Carolina rigs, shaky heads and dropshots. Crappie have finished spawning in 12-20 feet of water on brush piles and standing timber. Report by Captain Hank Harrison, Double H Precision Fishing.

Naconiche

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 70 degrees; full pool. Bass fishing is good with the first signs of post-spawn bass munching on shad or junior sized jerkbaits. Cast squarebill crankbaits in floating timber in 6-10 feet. Crappie population is good. Catfish are slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Services.

Nacogdoches

GOOD. Water stained; 68 degrees; 0.19 feet above pool. Crappie are on brush piles. Largemouth bass are good in shallow water on chatterbaits, spooks, and frogs. The offshore bite is on crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Report by Wyatt Frankens, Wyatt Frankens Guide Service.