CLIENTS: This evening, Wednesday, July 23, I fished an evening “Kids Fish, Too!“ trip for the three brothers – Isaac, Nick, and Sean. The boys were all back in the United States visiting their grandparents while on summer break from school in Dubai, where their dad works for one of the airlines.
TODAY’S DATE: Wednesday, 23 July 2025 (PM)
NEXT OPEN DATE FOR FISHING: Monday, 04 August (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES FOR SONAR TRAINING: 09 August (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Nick, Sean, and Isaac, chaperoned by their grandfather, Wesley Nance, landed 55 white bass on Lake Belton on the hottest day year-to-date. The boys used downrigged Pet Spoons.
FIND CORK RIGS & OTHER WHITE BASS/HYBRID LURES HERE: https://whitebasstools.com/
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
This afternoon was the warmest afternoon of July 2025 thus far as the ambient temperature rose to 97. We begin at 5:15 as I planned for 3.5 hours, with a conclusion right at dark. Unfortunately, grandpa Wesley seriously hurt his knee taking the kids to Schlitterbahn. As he approached the boat, he was obviously in pain. The on-boat activity, rocking in the wind, and trying to help me help the boys did not help.
We caught fish steadily, all on downrigged Pet Spoons, coming in the form of singles, doubles, and triples. I think Isaac and Nick could have hung with me until dark, but, at six, Sean did not last quite so long. About 2.25 hours into the effort, Wesley thought it wise to end on a good note.
By this time the boys had put together a catch of 55 fish, with Nick and Isaac doing the rigging of the downriggers after each catch all by themselves.
I found fish as deep as 30 feet this evening, which is the deepest I have located biting fish since the flood began over the Independence Day weekend.
100% of the catch consisted of white bass. All fish were released in good condition.
RESULTS: 55 fish, all caught and released
TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW “SMOKE” AN MAL LURE VERTICALLY: Click here for tutorial
TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW TO FISH AN MAL LURE HORIZONTALLY USING THE SAWTOOTH METHOD: Click here for tutorial
OBSERVATIONS: Lake Belton is now 6.34′ high with a 0.38′ fall in the last 24 hours with USACE releasing 3037 CFS. Next to no topwater action this morning or this evening.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE: Taken around 6:15AM, Monday, 21 July …
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 5:15P
End Time: 7:30P
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 97F
Elevation: 6.34′ high with a 0.38′ fall in the last 24 hours with USACE releasing 3037 CFS.
Water Surface Temp: 84.9F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: S11-12 all evening
Sky Condition: 10% white cloud cover on a hazy sky
Moon Phase: Waning crescent moon at 2% illumination.
GT = 60
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH MOST SUCCESS:
Area vic 778 thru 818 and Area 437 thru 615 – 55 fish downrigging twin umbrellas, each with three #12 Pet Spoons, for singles, doubles and triples
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