Boss Beards Boat Bass – 140 Fish

CLIENTS: This morning, Thursday, October 8, I fished with a group of four, all converging on Central Texas for an annual family reunion. Joining me were Josh Rogers, Josh’s dad, Jeff Rogers, and in-laws Curtis Jackson and Johnny Billingsley.

I first got to know Josh when Josh’s father-in-law, Dwight Stone, brought Josh’s kids out fishing for their birthdays.

TODAY’S DATE: 08 October 2026 (AM)


NEXT OPEN MORNING DATES: 19-22 Oct. 2026

NEXT OPEN AFTERNOON DATES: 19-22 Oct. 2026

PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Curtis Jackson, Jeff & Josh Rogers, and Johnny Billingsley landed 140 fish as we begin to see things vastly improve thanks to a downward trend in the water temperature ushered in by our first significant cold front.

SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:

Because everyone already knew how to cast with spinning equipment, I came prepared with both topwater outfits, and rods and reels intended for vertical work.

Over our four hours on the water we put both to use. The fish really didn’t get going this morning until about 7:25. They first made a brief appearance on the surface over a rocky bottom in about 20 feet of water and stayed up for perhaps 10 minutes or so. We got in on the tail end of their feeding activity and everyone picked up one white bass this way, however, once the fish left the surface, they milled around in this area for another 20 minutes or so, allowing for an additional 10 fish to be caught on MAL Dense lures with silver bodies and chartreuse tails fished vertically with a smoking tactic.

Once we left that area, all other fish would be caught fishing the MAL Dense vertically.

In all, but one area, the fish we found were oriented on the bottom. The one exception occurred when I spotted two Forster‘s terns diving repeatedly over open water. I mentally marked the spot and drove to it, slowed down, spotted shad at around 45 feet over a 55 foot bottom, then spotted white bass mixed in with them. I had all four fellows use Garmin LiveScope in downward mode to drop their lures beneath the bait and the white bass, and smoke their lures up through the fish observing the monitor for a chase.

In all other cases, the fish were on or within 2 to 3 feet of bottom, but otherwise, fishing for them was the same.

Right at the four hour mark, these four anglers managed exactly 140 fish landed, including 1 drum, 1 largemouth bass, 1 smallmouth bass, and 137 white bass.

There has been a significant uptick in the white bass activity level thanks to the cool down which took place since a cold front moved in over a week ago, leaving cooler, drier weather in its wake. I anticipate this fishing is only going to get better as the water temperature continues to cool toward the 60° mark.

It is interesting to note that this catch was made under otherwise tough conditions with light winds, clear, bright skies, and post frontal conditions.

RESULTS: 140 fish, all caught and released

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

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

SEE THE “SMOKING TACTIC” TUTORIAL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3FMEQHOMQ

OBSERVATIONS:
-Last week’s cold front and associated rains brought water temperatures down significantly and have brought us to the cusp of fantastic fall fishing. I’ve found more fish on bottom in more places than at any time since the thermocline formed earlier this summer and the fish have been very aggressive.

-These fish have been feeding aggressively despite weather conditions which normally hinder. I am curious to see what breezy, cloudy conditions will bring.

LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:

Taken on Lake Belton on 07 Oct. 2026, approx. 2:30PM ..

Taken on Lake Belton on 29 Sep. 2026, approx. 6:50AM…

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: https://www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle