Fishing Report For Canyon Lake, TX

Current Report: Fair To Good

SUMMER. Water temperatures are in the high 80's, so summer patterns are in full swing. This is the slow time of year, as Fall, Winter and Spring are the prime bass seasons. Some bass are feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms are catching finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, a few fish are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 20 to 45 feet deep.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where spoons, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons are often the ideal bait.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found shallow, out to about 25 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding and awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

Current Report: Poor To Fair

Both black crappie and white crappie reside here with neither one the dominant species.

SUMMER. Water temperatures are currently in the mid to high 80's, and crappie fishing has been very slow. Now that the spawn is over, and the hot Summer sun is warming the shallows, crappie have retreated to depths of 15 to 30 feet, anywhere they can find cover, especially brush piles. Anglers are also locating crappie hanging around submerged timber, and around creek channel edges.

FALL. Baitfish, which will be moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, will draw crappie into these areas, where they will feed heavily in preparation for the cold Winter. Small spoons, along with minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 10 to 35 feet of water. Warm afternoons often brings the baitfish and crappie shallower.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 12 feet of water, just outside shallow spawning bays and flats. Spring is the ideal time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 4 feet of water. Docks, brush, wood and vegetation are where most anglers are catching good numbers using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie move outside the spawning area and typically hold deeper on nearby cover. Once they move off the beds, anglers report good success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is a popular choice.

Current Report: Good

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following, and feeding, on baitfish. They are being caught on spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish.

FALL. Early Fall finds white bass moving into shallow coves and bays, following baitfish. Once the shallows cool down from chilly Fall temperatures, large schools of white bass, along with baitfish, move deeper and are relating to most any structure that includes drops into deeper water.

WINTER. Winter fishing for white bass is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper. They are being caught on the same lures, but a slower retrieve works best.

SPRING. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50's, where they migrate to the river, inflowing creeks, or along windy points where they stay for several weeks. Early Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 15 to 30 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.