Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report by Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle
Conditions:
Start Time: 6:45a
End Time: 11:15a
Air Temp: 75F at trip’s start, and 93 for the day’s high
Water Temp: 83.4F
Wind: Light from the SW at 5-6, dying to calm by 11:30a
Skies: Early morning clear skies gave way to a quickly passing layer of murk, followed by fair skies the remainder of the day.
Report:
Fished a half day morning trip this morning and stayed on the white bass from sunup until 11:15a. The fish were truly in overdrive today and were aggressively pursuing shad this entire time.
Pre-dawn, I noted the strong presence of gar sipping on topwater, and the presence of terns patrolling and looking for shad pushed to the top, as I was.
At the very moment of sunrise, I spotted the first open-water school of white bass pushing shad over 25-27 feet of water near Area 209. Early on in the morning the fish seemed more concentrated over deeper water, near Area 209; later in the morning the fish seemed more active over shallower 14-25 foot water nearer Area 204. All of today’s action took place in roughly an ellipse from Area 204 to 209.
Although bottom-oriented fish were consistently present on bottom below active, top-water feeding fish, these fish seemed to shy away from a typically slabbing presentation, as well as a smoking retrieve.
By far the most effective rig/tactic today was the “burnt cork rig”. I found that not only did the surface feeding fish respond to it, but also fish that were suspended a number of feet below the surface would rise toward the surface and chase down the presentation as it passed overhead.
Landed a total of 175 fish today of which ~10 were largemouth bass (3 legal) and of which the remainder were (all) legal white bass. Most white bass were right at the 11 inch mark; only 4 exceeded 14 inches.
Mr. Cleveland M. and I spoke at the boat ramp. He was juglining for channel cat and topwater fishing while staying near his jugs. He reported taking 5 legal blacks on topwater along the shoreline near Area 206. Thanks, Cleveland, for the loaner on the cell phone!!
TALLY = 175 fish, with all fish released
Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing