Low Light = Light Bite – 55 Fish
CLIENTS: This morning, Tuesday, April 14, I fished with returning guests Dr. Jim Wood and Sky Sparks. The two became acquainted when Dr. Wood practiced in the wound care field and Sky was (and still is) a medical scribe in the Killeen area before Dr. Wood retired several years ago. The two have kept in touch, partly through this annual fishing trip, ever since.
TODAY’S DATE: 14 April 2026 (AM)
NEXT OPEN DATES FOR FISHING: 28 & 29 April 2026 (AM)
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Sky Sparks and Dr. Jim Wood kept at it all morning to put together a full legal limit of 50 white bass and then some despite very dark, murky skies keeping the fish in a funky mood. All fish were taken on the white, 3/4 oz. Bladed Hazy Eye Slab.
FIND LURES HERE: https://whitebasstools.com/
WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton
SUMMARY OF HOW WE FISHED:
Today’s conditions were pretty tough, as they typically are whenever the skies are very heavily clouded, dark, and gloomy. It is as if the fish never receive that wake up call that they do at sunrise on a day with unobscured skies.
This morning, it was as dark when we wrapped up at 11:30 as it was when we began at 7:15 AM, possibly darker, as we departed with light sprinkles falling from the sky.
Fish were not at all difficult to find, it is just that they fired up for a few minutes, then settled right back down again. With the threadfin shad spawn going on, I netted a few shad just as an insurance policy, but even the shad did not really turn these fish on once the initial novelty of our lures appearing down among them wore off.
Once again, we fished one way with just one lure. That way was a vertical approach using the smoking tactic with spinning gear, and that lure was the three-quarter ounce, white, Bladed Hazy Eye Slab.
The Minn Kota Spot Lock feature held us atop the fish, the splasher got them (somewhat) riled up, and held them beneath us, and the Garmin LiveScope helped us to know when to keep reeling upwards as fish were pursuing from up off the bottom.
In this way, Sky and Jim landed exactly 55 fish, including one freshwater drum, two short hybrid stripers, one largemouth bass, and 51 white bass.
RESULTS: 55 fish, all caught and released
TUTORIAL VIDEO ON HOW “SLOW SMOKE” A BLADED HAZY EYE SLAB VERTICALLY: Click here for tutorial
OBSERVATIONS:
-The threadfin shad spawn was going full bore this morning but I did not note much harassment from gamefish attempting to pin them against the shoreline.
-Thick, gloomy clouds were an issue today. The fish stayed very subdued most of the morning.
LATEST WATER TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
Taken on Lake Belton on 09 April 2026, approx. 6:55AM…
0 feet 69.2F
5 feet 69.4F
10 feet 69.1F
15 feet 68.4F
20 feet 67.9F
25 feet 67.6F
30 feet 66.9F
35 feet 66.0F
40 feet 64.4F
45 feet 62.3F
50 feet 61.2F
55 feet 60.3F
Taken on Lake Belton on 02 April 2026, approx. 7:20AM…
0 feet 70.2F
5 feet 69.9F
10 feet 69.4F
15 feet 69.0F
20 feet 68.6F
25 feet 68.4F
30 feet 68.1F
35 feet 68.1F
40 feet 67.9F
45 feet 65.9F
50 feet 63.7F
55 feet 61.7F
60 feet 60.0F
WEATHER DATA:
Start Time: 7:15A
End Time: 11:30A
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 69F
Elevation: Belton is 0.16′ low with a 0.88′ change in the last 96 hours. USACE is releasing 60 CFS.
Water Surface Temp: 69.8F on the surface.
Wind Speed & Direction: SSE11-15 all morning
Sky Condition: 100% grey clouds all morning with little thinning.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent moon at 10% illumination
GT = 25
Wx SNAPSHOT:
AREAS FISHED WITH MOST SUCCESS:
Area 676 – 3 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area 2334/2110- 6 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area vic 363- 9 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area 2433- 3 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area BHYD03 – 4 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area 2434- 8 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area vic 154- 10 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area 2337- 8 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 oz. white)
Area 2255- 4 fish on Bladed Hazy Eye Slabs (3/4 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: https://www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle