15″ White Means Mexican for Lunch!! – 78 Fish

CLIENTS: This past Wednesday morning, January 21, I welcomed back Brandon and Wendy Hunt from Hutto, TX. This is a very outdoorsy couple who enjoy hunting and fishing together. I was supposed to host the Hunts this coming Saturday for January’s Temple College white bass collection effort on Stillhouse Hollow, but, a major winter storm is forecast for that time, so, thanks to flexibility on everyone’s part, we were able to move the trip up and had a solid collection effort.

Joining us from Temple College were Jason Locklin and Felix Greco.

ABOUT THE WHITE BASS STUDY:
Through April of 2026, researchers will be measuring and weighing the white bass captured by my clients to establish a baseline of fish quality on both lakes. If you come out fishing with me to help collect these fish, you will get $70 deducted from your fee in exchange for allowing researchers to accompany your party on my boat ($245 vs. $315). We have designated one sampling day per lake, per month through April of 2026. We will still be catching and releasing all fish.

REMAINING OPEN DATES FOR DISCOUNTED WHITE BASS STUDY FISHING TRIPS:

TODAY’S DATE: 21 January 2026 (AM)


NEXT OPEN DATE FOR FISHING: Tuesday, 27 January 2026 (AM or PM)

PHOTO CAPTION: Brandon and Wendy white captured 74 additional white bass for the ongoing Temple College white bass study. Wendy’s 15″ fish was the largest of the day, which meant she got to choose where the couple went to lunch afterwards. I pointed them to Meno’s in Killeen.

PHOTO CAPTION: My favorite kind of pasta!!

FIND LURES HERE: https://whitebasstools.com/


WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow


SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:

We got started this morning under dreary, grey skies but with much warmer conditions than the 33F start the day before. In fact, there was no time since 2P the day before that the air temperature dipped below the 54F water temperature.

With a nice layer of cloud cover in place, the fish fed pretty well despite a very light (to near zero) wind through about 10:30. During this time we found fish with side imaging with birds offering just a bit of assistance. Once found, we Spot-Locked atop these fish, attempted to consolidate them with a splasher, and then worked vertically for them using white, 5/8 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs with stinger hooks.

Fishing was solid through 10:30 at which time the slightly rippled surface went flat calm and some small patches of blue began to show through the clouds, leading to some brightening. Fishing got tough at this time with the next four groups of fish we found barely responding after we began presenting to them.

Fortunately, I found one school on a bit more heavily sloped topography with enough individuals in it to cause some competition. We stayed on these fish for our final 15 minutes or so and added a final 16 fish to our count which stood at 62 prior to our arrival at this area.

Since Brandon and Wendy really needed no coaching as they fished vertically, I occasionally cast a 1/2-ounce jighead with a white, curl-tail grub and worked it horizontally, picking up a few bonus fish over the course of the trip.

RESULTS: 78 fish, all caught and released

TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW “SLOW SMOKE” A BLADED HAZY EYE SLAB VERTICALLY: Click here for tutorial

OBSERVATIONS:

-Water temps have dropped to 54F, necessitating the use of slabs once again.

-Birds were present and help boost my confidence concerning the presence of fish in several areas, but did not lead us to fish today.

LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:

Taken on Stillhouse Hollow on 20 January 2026…

Bob Maindelle

Full-time, Professional Fishing Guide and Owner of Holding the Line Guide Service

Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide

(254) 368 7411 (call or text)

Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

E-mail: Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle