Stillhouse Lake Fishing Report by Central Texas Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished a morning and an evening trip today. Reports for each trip are posted separately.

Morning Trip: Fished from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The air temp. was 43 F and the water surface temp was 58F. I delayed the start of the trip beyond sunrise to allow for a little wind to build. Once the wind got going in a steady direction, it came ENE at around 8 mph. Any wind from the NE typically means slow fishing, and today was no exception. Although I found plenty of fish, beyond an initial, quick feed, they were tight to the bottom and difficult to coax into striking.

I located fish at 3 areas this morning: Area 135, Area 122, and Area 128 (N). At Area 135, fish were initially very active and were found in schools on the bottom and in small packs of 3-4 fish up higher in the water column. Once the burst of activity that coincided with the start of the wind died off, these fish, as well as the fish at 122 and 128, became lethargic, often barely coming off bottom, or swimming upward with or at the slab lifted high or reeled in, but with nowhere near the speed necessary to overtake the bait. Area 135 produced 15 fish, then I left to search for other active areas. Area 122 gave up 15 fish as well. A final quick-check stop at Area 128 gave up a white bass, as well.

Notable today was the number of black bass in the catch (nearly half) and only 2 of them going the 14 inch limit.

Every fish was caught on slabs ranging from 1/8 to ¾ oz. 2 pairs of white bass came on a tandem rig, at Area 122.

TALLY = 31 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Belton Lake Fishing Report by Belton Lake Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished two trips today, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The results are posted in separate reports.

Fished a Kids Fish, Too! trip with Brandon T. and Joseph H. of Killeen. We launched around 4:30pm and explored the Cowhouse Arm with disappointing results. The upper end still had a good bit of color from Tuesday’s ~3 inches of rain, from BLORA and to the west. We vertical jigged with slabs for 3 largemouth & 1 crappie out of Area 134 (Terns were pretty actively patrolling parallel to the shore here, over the 45 foot flat, but I saw little on sonar amongst them). We also managed a 3 pound blue cat out of Area 31.

We headed downlake to the Leon Arm, found clearer water and did well for the boys after locating some school whites thanks to a tip by fishing friend Rodney T.

We were able to slab up 33 white bass, 1 short hybrid, and 1 largemouth at Area 133, and then encountered light surface action right at sunset at Area 11 and were able to add 7 more fish to the count here, including 2 short hybrids.

TALLY = 47 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report by Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished two trips today, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The results are posted in separate reports.

Fished from 8:15am to 12:00 noon with Don C. (grandfather), Scott S. (father), and Spencer and Austin S. (10 & 12 year old brothers). We targeted deep schools of white bass with slabs today and did well despite the fish being in a fairly non-aggressive mode all morning.

At launch time the air temp. was 54 F and the water temp. was 60-61F. The wind was light from the S at 6, increasing to 15 by 9:30, then tapering off to 8mph from 10am and for the remainder of the trip. We ran a milkrun of deepwater areas, slabbed briefly at each area to check for fish activity level, stayed if the fish were hitting, or ran elsewhere if the fish were turned off or sluggish. We got into a good bunch of fish right off the bat at Area 77. Terns were present all around this area, but dissipated after 30 minutes. We never found solid bird activity again the remainder of the trip. Our findings were as follows:

Area 77 – solid fishing on bottom

Area 78 – solid fishing on bottom

Area 54 – nothing

Area 104 – suspended single fish only

Area 77 – nothing

Area 128 – solid fishing on bottom

Area 88 – nothing on sonar

Area 129 – nothing on sonar

Area 124 – nothing

Area 125 – nothing

Area 79 – nothing

Area 122 – scattered fish on bottom

By trip’s end we’d landed 66 fish, primarily consisting of smallish white bass, with several largemouth, crappie, and drum thrown in for good measure.

TALLY = 66 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report by Temple Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished a “Kids Fish, Too!” trip this afternoon from 3:00pm to dusk with Bill (granddad) and kids Tanner and Skylie, both 9 years of age. At launch time the air temp. was 68F and the water surface temp was 60F.

Our trip started out predictably slow as the afternoon skies were extremely bright, and the evening feed has been regularly starting around 5pm and going to dusk. We started out flatline trolling up shallow and got 1 largemouth bass W. of Area 116, and a mixed bag of 9 fish NE of Area 999 (white bass, largemouth, crappie). These trolled fish came on 10-12′ diving crankbaits.

By 4:30p we began looking at deepwater areas known to hold fish in the afternoons. We looked at Area 100, and found a few, fairly inactive fish. Landed 1 small largemouth bass here.

Moved to the Area 54 complex and looked at several areas with sonar and found little.

Moved to Area 131 and “rode the curve” of the wax, peak, and wane of the evening feed from 5:00p to dusk. During this 2.25 hour period, the two children landed a total of 80 fish, aided only occasionally by Granddad and I. At first, only a well-placed, bottom jigged slab would be hit, then suspended fish began to present themselves. After that intense action died, we had to again focus on bottom-oriented fish, but they were a little more tolerant of an occasionally sloppily adjusted slab near bottom. Finally, just before dusk the fish fed very strongly and were found throughout the water column from 12 feet deep down to bottom (28-32 feet) and responded well to a variety of retrieves. Most fish here were “just short” white bass around 9.5 inches in length, although a few keeper whites were mixed in, as were largemouth bass and a good number of 1.25 pound drum.

TALLY = 90 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report by Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Afternoon Trip: Fished with Susan (adult), and with Aspen, Genesis, and Ronnie of Harker Heights/Killeen while they enjoyed their Spring Break. As we began our trip, the winds continued out of the N. at 22mph, so slabbing out in open water was not an option due to safety considerations.

We began our trip around 2:30pm and flatline trolled to the N and E of Area 999, and then moved to and trolled to the NNW of Area 116. By the time this played out, we had boated 15 fish, including 12 largemouth, 2 crappie, and 1 white bass.

We continued to keep an eye on bird activity over open water everywhere we went, and, around 4:15pm began to see terns appear and patrol, but did not see concentrated feeding over any specific areas.

Just the fact that the birds were up and flying clued us in that the fish might again get active for a final feed before dusk. So, with the high winds subsiding, we began to make a “milk run” hitting humps and other deepwater areas looking for fish just beginning to turn on.

We found fish at both Area 77 and Area 124. The fish at Area 77 “spurted”, yielding 9 small white bass, and then shutting down. The fish at Area 77 stayed consistent and allowed us to finish out the trip with an additional 21 fish, including a drum, 4 largemouth, and 16 white bass.

The big fish of the trip was taken by Genesis C. She caught an 8.25 pound largemouth bass on a slab. This qualifies her for the Junior Angler Record for that species on Stillhouse, pending submission of appropriate documentation. This egg-laden female was safely released.

AFTERNOON TALLY = 45 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

19 MARCH 2008

03/19/08 9:54 PM

Stillhouse Lake Fishing Report by Stillhouse Lake Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished two “Kids Fish, Too!” trips today, one from 8:15 am to 11:30 am, and the other from 2:30pm to 7:30pm.

Morning Trip: Fished with brothers Charles and Nathan Y. of Killeen. Charles is a cadet in the USMA Class of 2011 (West Point) and was home on Spring Break and brought his younger brother along for a little catch-up time.

When we got on the water the wind was out of the NW at 15mph, but proceeded to increase to 22mph, gusting to 30+ by noon. With 3 on board, it was difficult at time to run the trolling motor, maintain position, unhook fish, etc., but we managed just fine and did well on this first day of clearing weather following a day and a half of winds and rain.

The air temp. was 54 F and the water surface temp. finally breached the 60F mark.

With 2.8 inches of rain from the recent storms, Trimmier Creek was muddy and muddied the entire Cedar Gap area. We passed on that entire area and fished downlake.

Our best action came in the first hour of the trip at Area 54 and vicinity for 26 fish, and again in the last hour of the trip at Area 130 and vicinity for 17 fish. Slab spoons worked on bottom and for suspended fish did the trick.

In between these two activity peaks we attempted downrigging as an alternative to fighting the wind, but the murky, cool water just wasn’t a good fit for that approach. We landed 2 small white bass and 1 small largemouth via that approach. A white HTL spoon got a black and a white. The other white came on a Pet.

MORNING TALLY = 46 FISH, all caught and released

Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report by Temple Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished a half-day “Kids Fish, Too!” trip today from 7:45a to 12:05p with Wes P. of Harker Heights and Ryan F. of Killeen. These two young men were on their Spring Break from Killeen ISD. The air temp. at launch time was 69F and the water temp. was 59F. The skies were leaden grey with heavy clouds and winds 16-20mph from the S with higher gusts starting around 11:30a.

As we began our trip we immediately noted about 8 large herring gulls patrolling a 100 yard stretch of shoreline in the vicinity of Area 93 that was being pounded by the high wind. We got in as close as we dared and trolled flatline crankbaits behind the boat but failed to contact fish. Sonar really didn’t reveal much in the way of gamefish, but did show abundant shad. We made 3 passes and moved on.

We tried flatline trolling to the W and N of Area 116 and picked up 3 short largemouth bass. At this time we noted some sparse tern activity over open water.

Upon further investigation, we found fish with sonar in the vicinity of Area 54, and northward, half way to Area 108. For the next 2+ hours we “rocked” back and forth over this entire area and stayed steadily on the fish. By the time the fish started to wane, we’d put 99 more fish in the boat including primarily 10-11 inch whites with some larger and some smaller, but with none exceeding 13.5 inches. We also landed 2 drum, and 1 largemouth bass. All of these fish were caught on slabs. The boys followed directions wonderfully, and that, coupled with (literally) hyper-active fish spurred on by the wind and changing weather, made for a great time on the water.

The boys remembered their “Yes, sir’s” and “thank you’s” without mom or dad there to prompt them, and handled themselves very well on an unsteady platform in the wind today. They were a joy to have aboard.

TALLY = 102 fish, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Stillhouse Fishing Report by Temple Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished a half-day evening trip today from 3:30pm to 7:20pm. At launch time the air temp. was 74F and the water surface temp. was 58-59F. Winds were from the NE all day, and were at 9-11mph this afternoon.

After launching, I noted 5-6 large herring gulls resting on the surface, but all near one another. I slowly motored around them and found some fish showing on sonar to the NE of Point 777 along the drop from 25′ down into deeper water. Put 6 fish in the boat here including 3 largemouth, 2 whites, and 1 sunfish. All but the sunfish were suspended, and no schooled fish appeared here on bottom. I continued the search.

Went to Area 128 and noted an irregular bottom reading along the 31′ breakline into deeper water. I knew if they were fish, they were tight to bottom and that there was a bunch of them there. Sure enough, I dropped a slab down and they rose up to meet it. About half of these fish were nice, beefy 13-15 inch whites. One went 16.25″, the largest I’ve caught in a while. I caught 20 fish here just as quickly as I could unhook them and drop the slab back down. Since the fish were definitely turned on, I decided to seek out other areas during this window of activity so see where else fish were holding. So, I left those fish biting to find other productive areas.

Went to Area 129 and clearly saw fish on bottom and suspended, as well as shad. Again, I dropped down and the fish got all over the slab in 34-37 feet. These fish were smaller, and, after an initial spurt of interest, their interest declined. I dropped back to a smaller slab than the 3/4oz. I had on to catch the last 6 here. Once I landed 20 fish here (18 whites and 2 drum), I decided to move to continue to find other productive areas.

Went due S. of Area 126 in 43 feet of water after seeing some flying terns and gulls look “fishy” here. Found small, suspended fish here only. Got 7 fishing including 5 white bass and 2 small largemouth bass.

Again moved, this time NE of Area 126 in 25-27 feet of water after seeing some flying terns and gulls look “fishy” here. Got 3 small largemouth bass off bottom and decided to leave the area after failing to locate shad or schooled white bass on bottom.

My final stop of the evening was at Area 124. Fish were congregated on the NE (upwind) side of this feature at 25-27 feet deep. Fish were tight to bottom and had to be “coaxed” a bit to hit a small slab. Wound up with 8 white bass, 1 drum, and 1 largemouth here.

By 7:10, just prior to sunset, the action died off.

TALLY = 66 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report by Fort Hood Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished from 7:45a to 1:45pm today. Temperature at start of trip was 55F, climbing to 84F by mid afternoon. Water surface temp was 57F. Winds were from the SSW at 7-8 pre-dawn, and increased to a peak of around 25mph by 12:30pm, and then slowly decreased through sunset. Skies were heavy grey and overcast through around 11:15am, and then began to lighten to fair.

Things got off to a slow start this morning, with only 8 fish boated by 10:15am. These fish all came on a flatline troll E & W of Area 888 and N of Area 999. All of these fish were smallish and included 4 largemouth and 4 white bass.

Around 10:15 the terns which had been patrolling widely began to coalesce over specific areas indicating the whites were beginning to feed there. I hit a number of areas while the fish were active in order to determine which areas were holding fish and which were not. The results of this milk run were as follows; all fish were taken on a slab:

Area 54 (and to the NE) = 80 fish at 24-28 feet, vast majority caught from suspended schools; 79 whites, 1 largemouth. Got 5 sets of doubles on tandem rig.

Area 104 = 20 fish at 27-33 feet, vast majority caught from suspended schools; 18 whites, 2 largemouth

Area 34 = 4 fish at 24-27 feet, 2 whites, 1 sunfish, 1 largemouth; all fish came off bottom; couldn’t really fish this area well due to heavy winds crashing into it. Sonar showed more fish there, but I couldn’t get them

Area 120 = 20 fish at 24-26 feet, 19 whites, 1 drum; all fish were tight to bottom and were caught by “teasing” fish off bottom, one at a time

Area 100 = 10 fish at 21-25 feet, 7 whites, 2 largemouth, 1 sunfish; all fish were tight to bottom and were caught by “teasing” fish off bottom, one at a time

By 1:30 the action had just about ground to a halt.

TALLY = 142 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing

Stillhouse Lake Fishing Report by Killeen Fishing Guide Bob Maindelle

Fished a half day morning trip today with Don and Paul C. We fished from 7:45a to 1:00p. At launch time the air temp. was 46F with a heavy fog blanketing the lake. The water surface temp. was 55F. Winds were light and variable for about the first hour, and then turned SW, and remained light from that direction for the duration of the trip, pushing from 3-6 mph.

We navigated through the fog to our first stop of the day by way of GPS. We flatline trolled crankbaits at Area 116, and well to the W and N of it, picking up 6 short largemouth in about an hour’s time.

Around 9am, the fog began to thin, and the birds began to work tentatively. We got on and stayed on fish for the next 2 hours, with the action centered around Area 106. Terns worked this entire area over pretty well and gave good indication of what was happening. The action began deep, moved shallower, and ended deep. By around 11:15 this action had played out. We had boated 63 fish during our stay here, all on slabs. Our catch included several drum, a crappie, a few largemouth, and white bass of all sizes, with none exceeding 15 inches. Most came off bottom, some out of suspended schools.

As the breeze slacked off and the sun got bright due to the absence of fog, we headed to some deeper water locations. Areas 124 & 125 yielded nothing on a quick sonar sweep so we headed deeper yet to Area 122.

At Area 122, we dropped our slabs and immediately came up with 3 fish, one of which was a drum which coughed up a threadfin shad which clued us in to increasing our slab size to match the forage there. Don and Paul proceeded to catch 17 more fish in approximately 45 minutes spent there, including a mix of whites, blacks, and drum.

By 12:45, the lake was flat calm, the sun was bright, and the fish were done. We headed in having enjoyed one another’s company for a few hours, and with some good memories made in the outdoors for these two hard-working fellows.

TALLY = 87 FISH, all caught and released

Bob Maindelle, Owner Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing