Lake Conditions March 18, 2007 and the Lake is slighly over pool at 200.97 with the water visibility very good in most areas. The surface temperature on the Lake continues to increase with 68 degrees on the main lake and higher surface temperatures in the coves on the North Shores and along the rocks in the afternoon. A front moved through on Thursday the 15th and slowed the fishing somewhat. Strong winds and cooler temperatures keep many fishermen off the main lake.
White Bass and Hybrid/Striped Bass
Limits of Hybrids were the norm for the guides out of Anchorage Marina until Thursday morning when the strike became a little harder to get. The front slowed the bite on both hybrids and white bass, but, those willing to work several locations were still bringing in good catches. Several of the guides with 4 fishermen brought in 20 Hybrids and released many smaller fish. There were lots of White Bass also mixed in with the Hybrids. Most of the fish are on the main Lake points on both the North and South end of the Lake as the shad continue to move to the shallower water. The whites remain in 20-25 feet of water and taking live bait and slab spoons worked vertically. Trolling a petspoon has also been real good. Many of the fish are holding on road beds and on the underwater pipelines. See ESPN HotSpots Maps to study lake. Trolling for the Hybrids using shad colored Storm swimming baits and the countdown Rapal's with leadcore line has also been a favorite of some of the guides. Some fishermen are using silver/gold striper jigs
Catfish
Catfish fishing has been great. The wind the later part of the week made it very difficult to fish out on the main lake and baited holes up in the creeks out of the wind have proven to be good choices. Range cubes and chicken scratch are still good chum. Chicken Liver, Catfish Killer Cheese Bait, Magic Bait Company "Premo" and shrimp dipped in Catfish Killer Cheese bait have all produced some nice fish. As the water warms and the shad are starting to move into the bulkheads. Several reports of nice catches of channel cats have been reported fishing early along the bulkheads in 5 to 8 feet of water. Lots of the catfish caught in the deeper water have been blues to 7 lbs. Now that will make you smack your lips!
Black Bass
Black bass continue to be caught on the beds sight fishing; however, the pollen is getting so thick, the fish are harder to see. Several reports of good solid fish have come in from fishermen working the weeds and grass in 8 to 10 feet of water in all the creeks. As the water warms the rocks around the bridges and bulkheads are producing good solid fish both on the North and South ends of the Lake using shad colored crank baits, perch colored Rat-L-Traps, and white spinner baits. Once fish are located, Texas rigged lizards and worms in pumpkin seed; blue/black and plum have been a good bet. Dark soft plastics have proven very successful on the beds.
Crappie
Good catches of crappie have started to come in using minnows and pink & black tube jigs. The fish are being caught in much shallower water at this time. Two fishermen reported limits caught in 3 to 4 feet of water in Caney Creek on both the North and South banks. Good stringers of just barley legal crappie have been caught in Live Branch. Bream fishing is picking up in the marinas and on the bulkheads in deeper water. Nightcrawlers seem to be the bait of choice.
Water levels, river flow and rainfall can all be view by visiting the San Jacinto River Authority website at: http://www.sjra.net/
Keep A Tight Line And Enjoy!!!
Papa John - Anchorage Marina
