Water conditions – lightly stained; 90 degrees; 0.60 feet below pool. White bass and hybrid striper fishing on main lake points and subpoints using slabs and trolling deep diving crankbaits is good, with daily limits being placed on prepared baits in 10-20 feet of water.
White Bass
Lake Tawakoni, situated in northeast Texas, is renowned for its impressive fish populations and recreational opportunities. Spanning three counties, Lake Tawakoni offers anglers thrilling adventures with plentiful catches all year long – be it casting for trophy-sized blue catfish or hybrid striped bass fishing is top notch here.
Hybrid striped bass are sought-after species at Lake Tawakoni, particularly during seasonal runs when these fish travel upstream to either spawn or feed frenetically. While runs typically occur between April and November, anglers can target hybrid-striped bass with various techniques, including trolling or casting topwater lures.
White bass (also referred to as sand bass) are another prized species at Lake Ontario. Renowned for their power and speed, white bass provide anglers with an exhilarating fishing experience. Anglers can target these fish through techniques such as trolling with crankbaits or casting topwater lures.
Largemouth bass are one of the Lake’s most prized fish species, particularly during spring and fall months. Both recreational and tournament fishermen aim to land these gamefish; their challenge can present them with plenty of sportfishing opportunities. An angler may target largemouth bass by employing various tactics, but the most successful approach involves covering water with multiple baits and presentation styles for optimal success.
Lake Tawakoni offers anglers plenty of opportunities for crappie fishing year-round, although fishing for these fish tends to be most productive during spring spawning. Furthermore, Lake Tawakoni boasts several excellent trophy catfish species that anglers can target using jigs, minnows, liver, and stink baits.
With temperatures expected to decline this week, lake conditions should improve significantly, and fishing should improve. White bass and hybrid striper fishing have been good on flukes, swimbaits, and slabs in the 28-45 foot range near ledges, drop-offs, and humps; crappie are plentiful around brush piles and bridge pilings with fresh gizzard shad for bait.
Hybrid Striper
Hybrid striper fishing is currently at its best, as hybrid stripers feed heavily as they prepare for winter. You can find them feeding in calmer waters at different depths within the lake depending on the time of year and day; during spring and summer they school nearer the surface before migrating up river arms to spawn, while fall finds them following baitfish migration towards deeper bays and flats; they even occupy rocky areas as well as points, humps, and rip-rap of dams; they can be located using sonar units or by watching out for gulls diving down onto schools of baitfish schools before feeding at depth within.
Bucktail jigs and large crankbaits tend to work best. If the fish are near the surface, try casting topwater baits like Zara Spooks or buzz baits for additional success. As temperatures decrease and lake turnover occurs, look for hybrid stripers eating heavily as they chase herring and other baitfish into warmer bays and flats for more accessible feeding opportunities.
Drop-offs, ledges, and other underwater structures that create edges or funnels for baitfish to pass through can produce good numbers of hybrid fish. Look for such spots near creek channels, flooded timber or brush piles, and windblown lake shorelines with mud lines that confuse baitfish while giving predator species an advantage.
An intermediate to heavy action spinning or baitcasting rod equipped with 6-12 pound test monofilament or braided line is advised for optimal spinning action while trolling rods equipped with planer boards can help spread bait behind the boat more easily. Fly rods offer another alternative should you enjoy casting smaller and lighter flies.
Catfish fishing has been fair at best this summer but should improve with the cooler temps. Fresh gizzard shad is ideal, and Carolina-rigged blackworm is also effective. When fishing channels, off-shore humps, or drops, try using 20-40 feet of water with this technique to catch catfish.
Crappie
Lake Tawakoni provides excellent crappie fishing, and anglers using jigs and minnows are finding nice-sized fish in 6-12 ft of water using jigs and minnows. When fishing weedy areas, look for areas with more transparent water or just outside them. When feeling the thick weeds, try looking for places outside them where your lines stay close to the bottom; always replace treble hooks with single hooks or pinch down their barbs so short crappies can be released quickly without damage being caused during release.
At Lake Tawakoni, channel and blue catfish fishing has also been excellent, with several anglers regularly catching limits daily using cut shad, shrimp, craws, prepared baits, or cut shad in 20 feet of water. The best results have come from main lake points with less vegetation growth.
Lake Tawakoni is a large reservoir in Rains and Van Zandt counties northeast of Wills Point. Impoundment by Iron Bridge Dam gives this body of water 936,200 acres capacity; 200 miles of shoreline provide access for recreational, industrial, and water supply purposes.
State park visitors will find campsites, boat launches, picnicking areas, hiking trails, swimming beaches, wildlife viewing areas, and wildlife viewing available at all times of year. It also boasts a 5.2-mile lake offering great bass, crappie, and catfish fishing opportunities and provides the ideal place for family outings or weekend getaways. The park is conveniently situated off FM 214 in Rains County and easily accessible from Interstate 35. For additional details and resources on this topic, please visit their website. Lake Tawakoni is located conveniently close to many East Texas lakes that provide water skiing, house boating, and other outdoor activities, such as Toledo Bend Reservoir, Wright Patman Sam Rayburn Lake Fork Caddo Lake – as well as many others offering something different – such as Toledo Bend Reservoir Wright Patman Sam Rayburn Lake Fork Caddo Lake et cetera – offering something suitable for everyone’s fishing experience levels; making Lake tawakoni an excellent option both beginner and experienced angler alike!
Catfish
Lake Tawakoni catfishing is an all-year activity and a favorite pastime of many anglers, offering trophy-size catfish that are sure to satisfy. Fishing guides provide several ways for anglers to target these tasty species – channel and blue catfish fishing being two options, with fresh-cut bait (shad) being the most successful. Anglers can target these delicious creatures from boat docks, floating platforms, or bridge pilings around Lake Tawakoni in the early morning and late evening for optimal catfishing success!
Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent lately on various baits. Small jigs tipped with plastic worms are particularly effective, while white frogs and weightless jerk baits work just as well. To catch trophy bass during daylight hours is best. Flukes, swimbaits, and slabs are producing good results for hybrid stripers caught between 28-40 feet of water depths.
In springtime, striped and hybrid bass will typically gather near vegetation or timber along shorelines or move to deeper waters such as 40-60 foot humps or creek channels for more excellent feeding opportunities. Largemouth bass may follow similar habitats and be caught using spinnerbaits, jigs, or topwater lures.
Lake Tawakoni may not boast the highest concentration of shad in Texas lakes, but that doesn’t stop catfish from gathering here. Channel and blue catfish can be caught using various baits such as cut bait, liver, and stink baits, fishing them using a trolling motor, or drifting on the surface.
Lake Tawakoni fishing can be done year-round and is an enjoyable pastime enjoyed by both locals and visitors. Situated between Van Zandt, Rains, and Hunt counties, it provides visitors with great recreational activities such as boating, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing opportunities.
Experienced guide Keith Parker of Messin’ With the Fish can assist in helping you catch trophy striper, hybrid striper, or crappie when you book a guided fishing trip with him. His expertise on this lake will allow for a tailor-made adventure designed specifically to your needs; after your trip has concluded, Keith will clean and fillet your catch for you!
