Winter has been mild and its looking like things are on the warm up. We still have some cold in the forecast but its looking short and sweet. This last week ive been finding everything shallow on multiple lakes in north east Texas and the Brazos river. Water temps between 53 and 64 degrees were found and sure enough Black crappie, Redear sunfish, male Largemouth bass, Blue catfish and Chain pickerel were all playing ball and i mean double digit fish days. Topwater bite is coming and were definitely in prespawn time, its time to get on the calendar and come fly fishing.
In North Texas the Brazos river is in full pre spawn bass mode with crawfish patterns fishing really well and the freshwater drum were eating em too. Expect Better streamer fishing action as we warm and soon topwater maybe hopefully. The crappie are shallow and playing and the white bass are spawning or staging to depending on which section of river and the flows. Were still early but this should pick up over the next few weeks at least. With that said were still having some decent fishing and some big bass are caught in February.
East Texas Lakes ive been finding black crappie and redears shallow in 1 to 5 foot of water near rocks or timber/brush piles with some buck bass around. Recent rains should push some whitebass up into the creeks as well as the crappie and hopefully go a few more weeks as well. Some lakes are so low you cant get a boat into the creeks, at least before the rain. Largemouth are finally on the feed in 3 to 6 foot of water and starting to hang around structure more on the upper end of the lakes. Big ones wont be to far behind but the streamer fishing has been fun either way. Chain Pickerel have been a little more fired up as well and on the lakes that have them they have been in the mix with with bass. Always a good time catching them. Bowfin are also starting to move around the shallows more and the males are greened up. were in prespawn but things will be happening soon.
Houston folks are a bit warmer and are in full whitebass, yellow bass and crappie spawn and the largemouth bass are making beds and playing ball. Bowfin are also picking their nests out and things are happening just a little faster than the north Texas stuff. Gar season is looking like its going to be a good one but were still expecting rain for the spring at least some were hope and that can make things tough or unsafe depending on the flows. If you got this far you can tell fly fishing season has kicked off hard with this warm weather and you need to come catching or at least trying ha
Get on my calendar before its to late and come see what Texas fly fishing is all about.
