CLIENTS: This morning, Tuesday, April 29, I fish with a crew of five – a combination of members of the Fellowship Of Christian Sportsmen and the Austin Woods and Water‘s Club. Joining me were Kevin McConnell, John Pickens, Ron Prince, Ray Brown, and Flint Deshazo.
DATE: Tuesday, 29 April 2025 (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATE FOR FISHING: 12 June (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES FOR SONAR TRAINING: 21 June (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: This morning’s crew, from left: Kevin McConnell, John Pickens, Ron Prince, Ray Brown, and Flint Deshazo
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
Fishing was tough this morning. The skies stayed gray and murky for fully half of the morning, and, once again, the wind prevented us from getting to some of the areas which typically produce fish this time of year.
Even so, live bait still put fish in the boat when the fishing was difficult. We once again enjoyed a multi-species catch consisting of white bass, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, white crappie, and blue catfish.
As I searched for fish with sonar this morning, only twice did I see fish schooled tightly enough on the bottom that I felt they would afford us a chance to present artificials. Even when we did so, the fish did not fire up and chase artificials upwards off the bottom. Even as I watched 2D and DI sonar with baits down, the fish showed a reluctance to move up off bottom to grab/chase the live baits.
When all was said and done, a combination of four area areas produced all of our fish with none of these four seeing fish really turn on to any great extent nor for any great length of time.
My crew landed a total of 51 fish today. In a word: tough.
RESULTS: 51 fish, all caught and released
OBSERVATIONS:
- Threadfin shad spawn continues.
- No helpful bird activity.
- Live bait had an edge over artificials once again today.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
This is the most up-to-date water temperature profile for Lake Belton, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 6:40AM on Thursday, 24 April
This was the previous water temperature profile for Lake Belton, measured with a FishHawk TD device around 6:55AM on Tuesday, 15 April…
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:00A
End Time: 11:40A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 72F
Elevation: 3.23′ low
Water Surface Temp: 71.9F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: SSE13-16 through 10:50, then settling back to SSE14 thereafter
Sky Condition: Moderately overcast grey skies all morning with 100% coverage
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent moon at 5% illumination.
GT = 105
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
Area vic 363 – 16 fish on live shad
Area B0246G- 14 fish on live shad
Area vic 147 – 9 fish on live shad
Area vic 1624 – 12 fish on live shad
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