LIKE MUSIC TO OUR EARS – 93 FISH
CLIENTS: This morning, Wednesday, March 18, I fished with a husband and wife team from Waco. Joining me for their first time aboard my boat was Allyn and Tonya Lovorn. Allyn is a mechanical engineer working in the heavy equipment industry, and Tonya is a high school music teacher in Belton. The couple has three kids who went back to school this week after spring break in their own district last week.
TODAY’S DATE: 18 March 2026 (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES FOR FISHING: 30 March (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: Tonya and Allyn Lovorn travelled south from the Waco area to fish with me on Lake Belton while Tonya (who teaches music in Belton) was on Spring Break, but while their kids (in Waco area schools) were not.
FIND LURES HERE: https://whitebasstools.com/
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
Given her occupation, Tonya appreciated why I use a metronome to ensure my clients are reeling at just the right speed to tempt the fish. We found 86 to 92 beats per minute were just right today, given the identical reels both were using.
The fishing remained solid today, starting right as the direct rays of the sun struck the water and remaining strong for a full four hours, with our best catch rate experienced in the final hour as the fish binged a bit before shutting down.
We got an another significant boost at exactly 9:53 AM when the wind ratcheted up a few miles per hour quite noticeably. The fish, which were already feeding well, really put on the feedbag for about a 25 minute span.
100% of the 93 fish we caught this morning were taken on one lure, fished one way.
That lure was the white, 5/8 ounce, Bladed Hazy Eye Slab. Both Garmin LiveScope used in downward mode and the splasher were indispensable for helping capitalize on the potential this fishery offered this morning.
In four hours’ time, Allyn and Tonya landed exactly 93 fish including 90 white bass, 2 largemouth bass, and 1 short hybrid striped bass.
RESULTS: 93 fish, all caught and released
TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW “SLOW SMOKE” A BLADED HAZY EYE SLAB VERTICALLY: Click here for tutorial
OBSERVATIONS:
-For the second consecutive morning, the bite was better in the second half of the morning.
-No bird activity whatsoever.
-Water is significantly silty in the tributaries.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
Taken on Lake Belton on 13 March 2026, approx. 7AM…
0 feet 62.9F
5 feet 63.1F
10 feet 63.1F
15 feet 63.1F
20 feet 63.1F
25 feet 63.1F
30 feet 62.6F
35 feet 61.2F
40 feet 59.2F
45 feet 57.1F
50 feet 55.2F
55 feet 54.8F
60 feet 54.2F
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:20A
End Time: 11:20A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 42F
Elevation: Belton is 1.01′ low with a -0.03′ change in the last 24 hours. USACE is releasing 34 CFS.
Water Surface Temp: 61.5F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: S1-4 in hour 1, S4-7 in hours 2 &3, then bumping up to S12-13 by 9:53AM
Sky Condition: Cloudless, light blue skies
Moon Phase: Waning crescent moon at 0% illumination (day before New Moon)
GT = 0
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH MOST SUCCESS:
Area vic 817 – 20 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (5/8 oz. white); two short hops
Area 2395 – 13 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (5/8 oz. white)
Area 2396 – 31 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (5/8 oz. white)
Area 2267/2315 – 29 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (5/8 oz. white)
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