CLIENTS: This past Friday morning, April 4, I fished with a returning crew of three. Joining me were Kelvin Gladden and his two sons, Kelvin and Tevin. The elder Kelvin is a retired U.S. Army noncommissioned officer now residing in Harker Heights, TX. The Gladden family and some of their friends have been out with me on numerous occasions in all seasons, and on both Stillhouse Lake and Lake Belton.
There was a question mark hanging over today’s fishing in the form of a very uncertain weather forecast. The Gladdens wanted to go even in the rain, so we waited right to the last minute to ensure no hail or lightning was going to threaten during our four hour trip, and once it became clear that those were not a thread, we donned raingear, and it was all systems go.
DATE: Friday, 04 April 2025 (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES FOR FISHING: 14 May (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES FOR SONAR TRAINING: 17 May (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Kelvin, Tevin, and Kelvin Gladden with Lake Belton white bass they endured four hours of rain and drizzle for. The fish hit both Hazy Eye Slabs worked vertically, as well as MAL Heavy lures worked horizontally, all in under 25 feet of water.
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
Since these fish were schooled up in many small schools all around the boat, we went with a horizontal tactic, using the sawtooth method with the MAL Heavy lure (silver blade chartreuse).
This was the second day I have observed topwater schooling action by white bass forcing adult shad to the surface, although this morning’s action did not compare in duration or intensity to what I observed yesterday under warmer, brighter, calmer conditions .
When all was said and done, this crew of three landed exactly 225 fish, including one freshwater drum, one largemouth bass, six short hybrid striped bass , and 218 white bass.
RESULTS: 225 fish, all caught and released
TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW TO DO “SLOW SMOKING”: Click here for tutorial
TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW TO FISH AN MAL LURE USING THE SAWTOOTH METHOD: Click here for tutorial
LURES USED SUCCESSFULLY ON THIS TRIP: We used the silver 3/4 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs, and MAL Heavies (w/ chartreuse tail), to catch our fish this trip. Find all MAL Lures and Hazy Eye Slabs here: https://whitebasstools.com/
OBSERVATIONS:
- Light but helpful bird action with ringbill gulls and terns.
- Threadfin shad spawn continues.
- Light topwater action for second consecutive day.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
This is the most up-to-date water temperature profile for Lake Belton, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 7:00AM on Wednesday, 02 April…
This was the previous water temperature profile for Lake Belton, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 7:10 AM on Wednesday, 26 March…
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:20A
End Time: 11:30A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 64F
Elevation: 2.90′ low
Water Surface Temp: 64.4F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: WNW7-8
Sky Condition: 100% grey cloud cover for the entire trip with bouts of rain and drizzle
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent moon at 46% illumination.
GT = 15
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
Area vic 1579 & B0225G – 32 fish slow smoking Hazy Eye Slabs
Area vic B0390G – 74 sawtoothing MAL Heavy Lures
Area vic B0391G – 25 fish slow smoking Hazy Eye Slabs
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
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bobmaindelle