Local Fishing Reports - Dec. 18th, 2008

Bass and crappie are all reported fair to good on the larger lakes. Lake Gilmer reports slow action and little traffic.

The TPWD reports are all fairly good, indicating cooler water, still showing some color.

Lake Gladewater - No report, as Ranger Richard Ross is on vacation. Any anglers with first hand knowledge of conditions are encouraged to post them in the Comments section.

Lake Gilmer - Ranger Danny Lancaster reports the lake level is full and the water is clear. Crappie and bass have been slow, and fishing pressure has been very light. He was surprised at the sparse turnout over the weekend, and speculated that most anglers might be heading to Lake Fork.

Bob Sandlin - Water stained; 45-49 degrees; 0.35' low. Black bass are fair on wacky rigs, Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around the Hwy 21 bridge columns a few cranks off the bottom. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

Caddo - Water off color; 45-49 degrees; 0.57' high. Black bass are fair on jigs, white spinnerbaits and Texas rigged Senkos (with a light weight). Crappie are excellent on red/white or red/green jigs in the pads along deeper creeks. White and yellow bass are good on small spoons and tailspinners.

Caddo - Dennis North, Caddo guide and Director of the Fishers of Men Texas North East Division, had the following report for Caddo on Dec 10th:
Water clear; 48 degrees; Pool level - 169.31" Release 2437 (cfs)
Crappie - Slow. I can’t say who had the two big fish of the day, but they came on the Caddo Lake Dream Signature Series Jigs, made by BNB Crappie Jigs. We will have some at the Longview Boat Show in January.

We only put 9 keepers in the boat, but all of them 10 to 15" long. Crappie were taking jigs in white-orange-white in 10-12' of water under the docks.

Lake Fork - Water lightly stained; 45-50 degrees; 0.63' low. Black bass are fair on slow rolled spinnerbaits, spoons and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and nightcrawlers.

Lake O' The Pines - Water stained; 45-48 degrees; 0.43' high. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and black/blue Power Worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in 20 - 25 feet (December 1st thru February 28th anglers keep their first 25 crappie regardless of size). Catfish are good on bloodbait. Bream are slow to fair on cut nightcrawlers.