CLIENTS: This morning, I welcomed two young men from Belton, Texas, aboard for a morning spent in pursuit of white bass on Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir as part of a 13-month-long study of the white bass populations on this reservoir, and Lake Belton. Joining me were Morgan Locklin and Tristen Barr; the boys have been friends since 3rd Grade.
Also aboard conducting the research were Dr. Jason Locklin, Caleb Fry, and Mervin Narito – all part of the Temple College research team weighing and measuring each fish for the study.
ABOUT THE WHITE BASS STUDY:
Through April of 2026, researchers will be measuring and weighing the white bass captured by my clients to consider establish a baseline of fish quality on both lakes. 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.
REMAINING OPEN DATES FOR DISCOUNTED WHITE BASS STUDY FISHING TRIPS:
January 2026 17th Saturday – Belton – OPEN
February 2026 14th Saturday – Belton – OPEN, 21st Saturday – Stillhouse – OPEN
March 2026 11th Wednesday – Belton – OPEN, 12th Thursday – Stillhouse – OPEN
April 2026 15th Wednesday – Belton – OPEN, 16th Thursday – Stillhouse – OPEN
TODAY’S DATE: Saturday, 25 October 2025 (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATE FOR FISHING: Tuesday, 11 November 2025 (AM or PM)

PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Morgan Locklin and Tristen Barr landed 72 fish, 67 of which were useful for the ongoing Temple College study comparing the quality of white bass populations in Lake Belton and in Stillhouse Hollow.

PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Jason and Morgan Locklin with Morgan’s “personal best” largemouth bass. This 7.25-pound largemouth (weighed on a certified scale) eclipsed Morgan’s previous PB by 1.00 pound. This fish shot up from off bottom, through a school of white bass, and struck Morgan’s MAL Heavy. I was scrambling for the net before he even realized the fish was that big because I watched the white bass panic and flee on Garmin LiveScope to get out of this fish’s way as it rocketed upwards! A fish this size would have no problem swallowing a small white bass of 8″ in length or less.
FIND THE LURES WE USED HERE: https://whitebasstools.com/
WHERE WE FISHED: Stillhouse Hollow
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
Fishing this morning was solid, albeit one dimensional. My two teenaged anglers worked their MAL Heavy lures vertically using a smoking tactic 100% of the time today. They were aided by Garmin LiveScope used in downward mode, and by a splashing device which drew fish him from around us and kept them underneath us once they arrived.
We wrapped up at the 4.5 hour mark. By this time, my four man crew had amassed a catch of 72 fish including 69 white bass, 2 largemouth bass, and 1 freshwater drum.
RESULTS: 72 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:
- Stillhouse is 0.52′ low with a 0.17′ rise in the last 24 hours with USACE releasing 1 CFS.
- Stillhouse has undergone “turnover” with the water temperature now uniform from top to bottom.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE: Taken on Stillhouse Hollow around 7:10AM, Saturday, 25 October…
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:40A
End Time: 12:00 Noon
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 64F
Elevation: Stillhouse is 0.52′ low with a 0.17′ rise in the last 24 hours with USACE releasing 1 CFS.
Water Surface Temp: 76.8F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: Light SW8-11 for 2.5 hours, then slowly shifting and falling to WSW5-6
Sky Condition: 100% grey cloud cover all morning.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent moon at 15% illumination.
GT = 55
Wx SNAPSHOT:

AREAS FISHED WITH MOST SUCCESS:
Area 880/872 – 17 fish smoking MAL Heavys
Area 2269 – 5 fish smoking MAL Heavys
Area 2270 – 5 fish smoking MAL Heavys
Area 2271 – 25 fish smoking MAL Heavys
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



















