CLIENTS: This morning, Tuesday, May 13, I fished with returning guests, Frank Sumner and Mike Tracy for a morning in pursuit of white Bass on Lake Belton.

Frank is a retired U.S. Army veteran who continues to serve the healthcare needs of those still in uniform in his current civilian capacity. Mike is Frank’s pastor at New Beginnings Church, an Assembly of God church located in Harker Heights, Texas.

ABOUT THE WHITE BASS STUDY:
For the next year, researchers will be measuring and weighing the white bass captured by my clients to consider the impact of zebra mussels and hydrilla on our fishery.

If you come out fishing with me to help collect these fish, you will get $50 deducted from your fee in exchange for allowing researchers to accompany your party on my boat.

We have designated one sampling day per lake, per month through April of 2026. We will still be catching and releasing all fish.

The designated dates still open are as follows:

June 2025: 18th Wednesday Belton – OPEN

July 2025: 17th Wednesday – Stillhouse – OPEN

August 2025: 14th Thursday – Belton – OPEN

September 2025: 20th Saturday – Belton – OPEN

October 2025: 18th Saturday – Belton – OPEN
25th Saturday – Stillhouse – OPEN

November 2025: 8th Saturday – Belton – OPEN
15th Saturday – Stillhouse – OPEN

January 2026: 17th Saturday – Belton – OPEN

February 2026 14th Saturday – Belton – OPEN
21 Saturday – Stillhouse – OPEN

March 2026 11th Wednesday – Belton – OPEN
12th Thursday – Stillhouse – OPEN

April 2026 15th Wednesday – Belton – OPEN
16th Thursday – Stillhouse – OPEN

DATE: Tuesday, 13 May 2025 (AM)

NEXT OPEN DATE FOR FISHING: 12 June (AM)

NEXT OPEN DATES FOR SONAR TRAINING: 14 June (AM)

PHOTO CAPTION: From left: U.S. Army veteran Frank Sumner and his pastor, Mike Tracy, worked for every fish they landed today, ending the morning with a 60-fish tally.

PHOTO CAPTION: This one bait, the MAL Heavy, worked one way (see “smoking” video tutorial below) accounted for all 60 fish on Lake Belton this morning.

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

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:

Although the day started comfortably enough at around 62°, the air temperature had already reached 90F by the time we came off the water Just a few minutes after 11 AM. Today is forecast to be the first in an eight day streak of record setting hot days.

Although we found catchable fish most everywhere we searched this morning, at no time did the fish get truly fired up and begin competing with schoolmates to be the first one to our baits. We found fish both on bottom and fish which were suspended in the upper part of the lower third of the water column, but regardless of where we found them, this ambivalence seemed to persist.

As a result, Frank and Mike had to really mind their technique and worked for each and every fish they landed.

In just over four hours time, they put together a 60 fish catch consisting of 57 white bass, 2 freshwater drum, and 1 hybrid striped bass.

This trip was the second in a series of 13 monthly sampling dates set for Lake Belton with another 13 dates set for Stillhouse, during which each white bass landed will be weighed and measured to try to compare the white bass populations on these two reservoirs.

Joining us from Temple College to see this effort through was Professor Jason Locklin, and students, Yessenia Edgecomb and Mervin Narito.

RESULTS: 60 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

OBSERVATIONS:

Threadfin shad spawn appears to be weakening.
A heatwave is due to hit with abnormally high temps for the next 8 days, beginning today

LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:

This was the latest water temperature profile for Lake Belton measured with a FishHawk TD device around 6:30AM on Tuesday, 13 May…

0 feet 73.8F
5 feet 73.9F
10 feet 73.8F
15 feet 73.4F
20 feet 73.1F
25 feet 72.1F
30 feet 71.2F
35 feet 69.2F
40 feet 66.6F
45 feet 64.3F
50 feet 61.9F
55 feet 60.9F

WEATHER DATA:

Start Time: 6:45A

End Time: 11:10A

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 62F

Elevation: 2.47′ low

Water Surface Temp: 73.8F on the surface.

Wind Speed & Direction: WNW4 at trip’s start, gradually increasing to WNW7 by trip’s end

Sky Condition: 0% cloud cover on bluebird sky.

Moon Phase: Waning gibbous moon at 99% illumination.

GT = 15

Wx SNAPSHOT:

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

Area 692 – 8 fish on MAL Heavies
Area 2084 – 37 fish on MAL Heavies
Area 1819 – 6 fish on MAL Heavies
Area B2064 – 6 fish on MAL Heavies
Area B0238G – 2 fish on MAL Heavies
Area Vic B0271G – 1 fish on MAL Heavies

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