I fished a partial morning trip today in advance of a booking this coming Thursday. With the recent boat show and a trip last week specifically requested on Stillhouse, it’s been a while since I’ve been on Belton.

Start Time: 7:00a

End Time: 10:00a


Air Temp: 35F at sunrise heating up to 58 by afternoon.


Wind: Winds were strong from the NW at 15+ before sunrise and only increased through the morning hours. By 10am winds were gusting to 35+ and made boat control very difficult

Skies: Skies were high, bright and clear.

Today’s trip was taken with the accompaniment of D’Shawn G. of Killeen. He’s been staying with my wife and I as his mom is in the hospital with heart problems. D’Shawn had only fished a few times in his life up to now. Today he learned to use a spinning reel, and to vertical jig. For his efforts, he caught 7 fish unassisted (which was 3 more than on any other trip he’d ever been on), and he caught the largest fish he’s ever caught.

Upon launching this morning we found ample bird activity stetching over a vast area from Area 134 all the way to Area 187, however, these birds were sipping shad and were not on top of concentrated fish.

To escape the hard wind and continue the search for fish, we headed to Area 211. Sonar revealed plenty of fish, all tight to bottom in 26 to 34 feet of water, and fewer fish beyond that depth out to 45 feet or so. Fish were in tight, distinct groups and it was necessary to buoy on top of the groups, jig for them, catch until they quit, then move a few yards and repeat the process. These fish were tight lipped and would not move horizontally or vertically to chase a bait. All action came in the vicinity of Areas 211 and 327.

Over the 2 hours of actual fishing time we had before the wind sent us packing, we managed 28 fish, all on the new 3/8 oz. TNT slab. Of these fish 2 were keeper largemouth, 24 were white bass from 8 to 12.5 inches, and 2 were short hybrid stripers.

We left at 10a when the wind blew too hard to stay in the open water areas we found the fish at.

TALLY = 28 FISH, all caught and 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