The time to fish Lake Livingston is now!!!

“I fished Lake Livingston back when it was good!” the gentlemen spoke as we were getting into the boat on a recent guide trip. “Just thought I would bring my Grandson here to fish Lake Livingston. I remember the days back in the 70’s when we used to fish here. Man! We used to catch the fish!! Those were the days!” he said. Now back at the marina at the end of the day, the obviously tired but smiling Grandpa said, “Wow!! What a day! We are going to have to do this again. Thank you Dave.” We took pictures of their string of fish and a new generation of Lake Livingston fishermen was born!! The day will come, I thought to myself, when this Grandson will tell his Grandchildren how great the fishing was on Lake Livingston in 2010.

Lake Livingston impounded in 1969, has had its ups and downs. The great days of fishing here in the 1970’s were truly remarkable. Yes, those great days of fishing here will be remembered by many, but now is the time for making some new memories. The past several years, the fishery on Lake Livingston has obviously gotten better and better.

White Bass fishing here now is no less than incredible. Whites are swarming the lake everywhere. Limits of 25 fish per person per day, 12 – 14 inches long are common throughout the spring, summer and fall. Recently, White Bass were stacked up the creeks for their annual spawn. In the summer months White Bass feast on the thriving shad population in the main lake. It is common to see acres and acres of Whites surface feeding on shad. Fast action and easy limits can be taken. The Lake Livingston White Bass record was broken in July 1998 with a whopping 4.12 lb fish caught on rod and reel.

Crappie fishing here now on Lake Livingston has been phenomenal. Considering the past several years, the trend here is that it is getting better and better. The population of Black Crappie seems to be noticeably on the rise as more and more are being caught. As recently as this past January, the term “Crappie Run” was being whispered as pre-spawn Crappie were stacked and being caught in 7 – 10 foot of water. In the past several years, late March through April, Crappie have moved up the creeks to spawn in less than 1 foot of water providing outstanding easy fishing for “saddle blankets”. The Lake Livingston record White Crappie was set in 1999 at 3.01 lbs with the record Black Crappie at an amazing 3.52 lbs, also broken in 1999.

Striped Bass have been slow to come on Lake Livingston. Here in the lake they have never seemed to have taken off as biologist had hoped for. Until, maybe now!! Big Stripers are now being caught all over the lake. For the past several years, I have been catching more and more Stripers incidentally, while fishing for Whites. The past several years, I have caught and released hundreds of Stripers under the 18 inch minimum legal length. Now, in the summer months, roaming schools of Stripers 18 inches and over can be found early mornings chasing shad on the south end of the lake. In the river channel, in the Riverside area, Stripers over 18 inches can be caught trolling pet spoons and jigging slabs. It is common here now to hear of giant Stripers being caught on trotlines. The Lake Livingston record Striped Bass remains at 31.50 lbs set in 1986.

Lake Livingston Largemouth Bass fishing in recent years has not received it’s credit due. While those days of Bass fishing here in the early 1970’s may never be duplicated, come on – give credit where credit is due. For several years now, five fish tournament weights have been increasing. Weights of 5 fish 15 to over 20 lbs are common. Single fish weighing 5 to 8 lbs are reported commonly with an occasional 10 lb fish being talked about around local marinas and tournament weighs ins. Maybe Lake Livingston’s Largemouth Bass fishing will gain the respect that it is due with the news of the giant fish caught here recently. The new Lake Livingston Largemouth Bass record broken in January 2010 at 13.18 lbs smashed the old record of 12.45 lbs which has held since 1987.

Lake Livingston has always been respected for its great Cat-Fishing. This trend continues today. The Blue-Cat here is the dominant catch, while Channel Cats and Giant Ops are common. In recent years, I have noticed a continual trend of more of the big Flatheads 20 – 50 lbs being reported caught. The Lake Livingston record Flathead remains at 114 lbs caught on a trotline in 1976. The Blue Cat record stands at 78 lbs caught on a trotline in 1981. The Channel Cat record remains at 10.10 lbs, caught on rod and reel and was set in 1995.

The Lake Livingston Red-Bellied Peru record stands at .30 lbs set in 1998. I have personally been trying to break this record for years. I don’t remember catching one yet!!

One theory for the “New Lake Livingston” is following the lake being drawn down 4 feet for nearly a year in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in 2005, a new lake was created. Thousands of acres of vegetation were flooded when the lake re-filled creating natural biological habitat for an explosion of marine life. The fishing on Lake Livingston has been outstanding for years. The past few years has the obvious trend of the fishing on Lake Livingston getting better and better and better!!

Now, as the sun set, casting a reflection on the day fishing with Grandpa and his Grandson on Lake Livingston, I theorized, the time to fish Lake Livingston is now. As time passes, a new generation will be taking their grandchildren fishing and telling them about how great the fishing was on Lake Livingston in 2010.

Bon-Sac-A-Lait, (good crappie) fishing is on.  Lake Livingston is well known for great  Sac-A-Lait fishing and now is the time to get in on the action as paper mouths move shallow to spawn.  Crappie fishing can be hit or miss with fluctuating water levels and water temperatures.  Now with stable conditions and warming water crappie have begun their move to the shallows to spawn.  Here, the average angler can cash in on some great fishing by dabbing minnows and jigs in shallow water around brush tops, lay-downs, cut banks, grass and boat houses.

Serious slab snatchers now have beaux coup specialized equipment for Crappie fishing.  Light weight telescoping poles and scaled down reels all make today’s crappie fishermen more efficient at presenting baits into likely crappie hides.    I  recently watched  a  Crappie angler as she swung a 20 pole dropped a bait in a hole and there with keen concentration on her cork would snatch a slab and with a perfect arc in her pole heave the fish into her lap and drop it into a waiting five gallon bucket.  She could re-bait and re-cast all in about the time it takes you to say Sac-A-Lait  She was skilled, quiet and efficient as one spawning Crappie after another fell victim.

The technique I most often use for catching spawning Crappie on Lake Livingston comes from my lessons learned while growing up fishing the Atchafalaya Basin in South Louisiana.  stump Jumping is what we called quietly dabbing a bait to a piece of visible structure.  If you didn’t catch a fish off of the structure or if you caught two or three you didn’t stay long moving quietly to the next piece of structure.  Probably only two or three fish claimed that piece of structure and sitting there for very long would prove to be futile. Moving from stump to stump picking up a  fish or two here and there and soon your live-well would be full.

Live minnows, jigs spinners and crank baits will all take spawning Sac-A-Lait.  When using live minnows I like the smaller ones.  These are commonly called Crappie minnows at local bait shops.  This size minnow more commonly match the size minnows in the creeks and are what the fish are used to feeding on.  When it comes to jig fishing two of my favorites on Lake Livingston are the tube jig in black chartreuse and the Micro- craw   in pumpkin seed both rigged on a 1/16th oz jig head.

With whatever tackle or technique. Minnows, jigs, stump jumping or just lazily fishing off a dock or pier, now is the time to get  in on the action for beaux coup bon Sac-A-Lait. Fishing on beautiful Lake Livingston.

“Set the hook!” I exclaimed recently while Black Fishing on Lake Livingston. The anglers rod bent double with a solid hook set as the spawning Black Bass swam off with the four inch Texas rigged red flake pumpkin seed lizard. There is no more excitement in fresh water fishing than fishing for Black Bass during their annual spawn. Now is the time of year the average angler will have his or her best chance at landing a trophy Black Bass. “Sows” or female Black Bass heavy with eggs move into shallow water five feet or less every Spring around mid to late March to deposit their eggs. Here, anglers with all levels of experience from the beginner to the seasoned pro can connect with a legitimate trophy.

In early Spring as water temperature climbs into the high 40s and low 50s, Black Bass begin moving from their deep Winter holds to the mouths of large coves. Bass will migrate following submerged creeks and ditches towards the spawning coves. These ditches or “highways” to the spawning areas are where prespawn Bass will congregate. Timing is critical for success. As late season cold fronts push through, water temperature will fluctuate. A drop of several degrees in water temperature will move the fish back to the prespawn area where they will become inactive. With a sustained water temperature in the 60s, the fish will then move down the migration routes and into the shallow backwater of protected coves. The “bucks” or male bass, will move into the spawning area first. Here, they prepare a nest site while the females remain in deeper water. As the sun warms the water over the shallow coves, the females will then follow the migration routes into the coves to deposit their eggs in the nests.

Casting to shallow shoreline structure is always enjoyable but during the spawn the average anglers chances of scoring a trophy are magnified ten fold. Spawning Black Bass can be taken on a variety of baits and techniques. The spinner bait and plastic lizards are two top choices. The spinner bait covers water fast and doesn’t take much technique or finesse to fish. Simply casting it out and reeling it in will produce fish. Stopping the bait in mid-retrieve and letting it fall will often trigger aggressive strikes. Fishermen should vary the speed of their retrieve to see what the fish like. Use a 3/8 oz spinner bait when fishing close in to the bank and 1/2 oz for water 3 – 5 feet deep. When fishing clear water, use tandem silver willow leaf blades. When fishing stained water, use a tandem gold Colorado front blade and a gold Indiana rear blade. As for skirt color, use white in clear water and chartreuse in stained water. With Lake Livingston stained in many areas now from local rains, the extra flash and vibration of the spinner bait will make it a top choice for spawning Black Bass.

The Texas rigged plastic lizard has probably caught more fish off the beds than any other lure. It is fished slower than the spinner bait and covers less water. The lizard can be used to target specific fish on the nest and will often take less aggressive fish. One way to fish a spawning cove is to go through it first with the spinner bait covering water quickly and catching the more aggressive fish. Then, come back through the same area with the lizard fishing more deliberate and concentrating on key areas such as visible nest, lay downs, rocks and brush piles.

Targeting a specific fish on the nest is the most exciting and challenging aspect of Black Bass fishing. In clear water you can use a good pair of polarized sunglasses to locate the nest and then target a specific fish. These fish however are often nervous and spook easily. Be as quiet as you can , stay low in the boat, make your approach to the nest with the sun in your face so you do not cast a shadow on the fish. Big sows on a nest can get finicky. Targeting a specific fish on a nest may take hours to get the fish to bite. Cast the lizard past the fish then slowly crawl it by the nest using only your rod tip to move the bait and your reel to take up slack line. A smaller lizard is less likely to spook the fish and will trigger more bites. Often, a Bass will pick up a bait just to move it away from the nest. By using the smaller lizard, it is more likely to get the hook in the fish’s mouth. Also, a good fish attractant added to the lizard will encourage the Bass to hold on to the bait longer.

When fishing stained water such as it is on many places of Lake Livingston now, a larger lizard 6 or even 10 inches will be more visible. Also, rattles or beads can be added to create a vibration for fish to home in on in off colored water. As far as lizard colors, here on Lake Livingston, black/chartreuse, red flake pumpkin seed, black/blue and June bug have all been good. Generally, in stained water, use the darker lizards. In clear water use lighter colors.

Fishing for the elusive Black Bass during the spawn is the most exciting time of year for the average angler. Now, fishermen of all capabilities, from the beginner to the seasoned pro, have an equal opportunity at landing a trophy Black Bass while fishing shallow water during the Spring spawn.

“OK young man,” as I spoke to the thirteen year old first time Bass angler on Lake Livingston as the sun rose. “We’re going to stay focused today and try to catch you a Lake Livingston trophy Black Bass. This is the time of year you can do it. It can happen. Female Black Bass have moved shallow here to spawn and there is a good chance of tangling with one. The water temperature has climbed up over 60 degrees here around these rocks. As the days warm in the Spring, these rocks hold heat, warming the surrounding water and increasing the fish’s metabolism making the fish more aggressive. The game plan now before the sun gets up is to take this Popper and pitch it as close to the rocks as you can. Don’t over plant (cast) and get hung up in the rocks. Accuracy in casting is going to be one of the most important factors if we are going to be successful today. We will key on areas of the rocks near deeper water and look for places where green vegetation is growing into the water.”

“Now,” as I spoke to the excited young angler. “The popper is a topwater bait or jerk bait. It has a cupped face that will grab water when you jerk it. You want to make it spit or pop. Throw it out and let it set still, count one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three then pop it. Just imagine that your bait is a big grasshopper that clumsily fell in or that a bird accidentally dropped into the lake. After you let it sit still for the three count, then pop it three to five times and pause briefly. Then do it again. “

“See those rocks just ahead, pitch it in there. Good plant! One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three now pop it three times. Good job.” Suddenly there was a heart throbbing explosion of water behind the popper. Then I saw the green side of a giant Bass as a foaming froth of water sprayed everywhere. “He missed it,” I yelled excitedly as the popper flew up into the air unscathed and settled back down. “Pop it again,” I yelled out. Slurp, slurp, slurp the popper spit water, but the aggravated Bass would not be denied breakfast. The water exploded again sending out another shower of foam. This time, the Bass struck with a vengeance as the popper disappeared. “Set the hook!” I exclaimed. The battle was on. “Let off on the drag, play him down, use your rod, he’s still green ” I coached. The fish made a power surge under the boat. The hook set was true and the fish tired. I leaned over the boat and lipped the fish of a life time for a young man. High fives! “Good job son ,” as I patted the young boy on the back. “Wow! What a fish,” the young angler said, eyeing the beautiful green egg laden female Black Bass. Quickly, snap shots were taken and the trophy Bass was eased back into Lake Livingston, resuscitated and then we watched her disappear into the depths to lay her eggs and be caught again.

Poppers, Buzz Baits, Prop Baits, Stick Baits, Floating Minnows, Jerk Baits, Weedless Frogs and Floating Worms are all designed to take Black Bass on the surface. Each one has its own intricacies, but the common factor is that the thrill of a top water bite defines Black Bass as truly a trophy game fish. There is no other bite in Bass fishing that has the explosive excitement of catching a fish on a top water bait. It can invoke heart palpitations and leave you with trembling hands. For any caliber of Bass fisherman, beginning or seasoned pro, a top water explosion is a memory that will not soon be forgotten.

“Set the hook!” I exclaimed, as the water boiled in the grass. The Falcon rod bent and another Lake Livingston Black Bass was battled to the boat.

Timely Spring rains this year have Lake Livingston shorelines lush with green vegetation. Much of the grass is now covered with water providing excellent habitat for Summer Black Bass. As the lake level continues to slowly rise from a swollen Trinity River, Black Bass are finding food, cover and higher levels of oxygen created by the newly flooded grasses. One thing Lake Livingston needs in order to continue the trend of improved Bass fishing here is habitat. With much of the lake being bulk headed, Black Bass habitat has suffered. This Summer mother nature seems to be giving a helpful hand in providing the much needed grass that Lake Livingston lacks. A day on the water and you will see just how rich and green the surrounding shorelines have become. This is good news for Lake Livingston Bass fishing for now and for the future.

One Summer pattern that has evolved recently is keying on Black Bass in the grass. Black Bass have moved into the flooded grass and are holding shallow in the grass. Look for areas of flooded grass that are close to deep water. Key on wood in the grass such as laydowns, brush or a dead stump. Look for grassy points in creeks and fish where the wind is blowing into the grassy points. Also, key on the shady sides.

There are many different baits and techniques for fishing in the grass. 3/8 oz willow leaf spinner baits, shallow diving crank baits, jigs, Texas rigged lizards, worms and craw-worms have all worked recently.

My strategy when fishing the grass has been to work the area quickly with a shallow diving crank bait in order to catch the more aggressive fish. Parallel cast the crank bait as much as you can to keep it in the strike zone as much as possible. The fish don’t want to leave the security of the grass to follow a bait. Casting accuracy is imperative to getting bit. After fishing the area with the crank bait, come back with a Texas rigged soft plastic. The key to getting bit with the soft plastics is to pitch into the grass. If you cast short, you will not likely get bit. Pitch in the grass, key on wood when you see some. Let your bait fall straight down in the grass, give some slack line if you have to in order for the bait to fall straight. Now, jiggle the bait with your rod tip leaving it in one place. If you don’t get bit, move it slowly through the grass, stop and jiggle the bait again. Often a strike in shallow water grass fishing will be witnessed by a heart stopping boil of water.

Black Neon Chartreuse Craw-worms have been deadly in the grass recently. Peg your sinker to keep it on the bait. Also, I have found that the “crawfish” attractant by Kick-N-Bass not only acts as an incredible fish attractant but the consistency of the oil that sticks to the craw-worm acts as a lubricant and prevents your craw-worm from sticking to the grass. The weedless Texas rigged Craw-worm with Crawfish Kick-N-Bass added is deadly when slithered through flooded grass on Lake Livingston.

Reflecting on over twenty years of duck hunting on Lake Livingston there is one thing that is certain. The challenge of putting together a successful duck hunt on the massive reservoir never subsides. With memories of my first duck hunt here in 1977, I am looking forward to the 2003 – 2004 season with exciting anticipation ahead.

Lake Livingston consists of 450 miles of shoreline and 90,000 acres of water at normal pool elevation of 131′ mean sea level. There are thousands of acres of flooded timber, stumps, oxbows and islands mainly on the lake’s northern end that provides natural habitat for migrating ducks.

Lake Livingston is one of the few remaining public duck hunting properties in Texas. The hunting of waterfowl on Lake Livingston is permitted by The Trinity River Authority in accordance with the state law in areas more than 200 yards from the authority’s fee line at the 131′ mean sea level elevation and 200 yards from another blind. Blinds built on Lake Livingston become public property. Hunters should respect the fact that another hunter has gone to a great deal of expense, time and effort to construct and brush a blind. It is unlawful for any person to discharge a rifle, sidearm or shotgun except in the course of permitted waterfowl hunting. In other words, waterfowl hunting is allowed. Hunting deer, hogs, squirrel, rabbits, dove or target shooting is not allowed.

How does a person narrow down 90,000 acres of water to the place you need to be in order to bag a limit of ducks? First, duck hunters should get a good map of the lake. Ninety percent of the duck hunting habitat on Lake Livingston is on the northern end of the lake, north of Carlisle. Take the lake map and break it into regions. Spend some time scouting each region. August is the best time to scout. Don’t wait until duck season to scout and expect to be successful in December. Pre-scouting is the most important factor involved in putting together a successful duck hunt on Lake Livingston.

The best duck hunting on Lake Livingston is where fresh, shallow water covers green vegetation. This can happen following a dry Summer when the lake remains below 131′ and then fills back to 131′ in the Fall or when the lake level rises above 131′ and “new” water floods existing vegetation and timber. 131′ is the key to remember in order to predict world class duck hunting on Lake Livingston. Remember, 131′ is normal pool level for the lake. Anything above 131′ will push water into vegetation providing perfect habitat to draw and hold ducks here. Extended periods below 131′ and ducks will blow in here behind cold fronts but they won’t stay long without water covering vegetation. A lake level above 131′ will hold ducks on Lake Livingston no matter what the weather is doing. Generally speaking, when the lake is above 131′ hunt north. If the lake remains below 131′ move south.

Looking at the lake by regions for public duck hunting you have to start with “The Jungle”. The Jungle is an immense area of flooded timber west of Sebastopol. Standing timber that was flooded here in 1969 is now all gone, leaving a huge stump flat remaining. The Jungle is so big it is often referred to as the North Jungle and South Jungle. To access the South Jungle, put in at Waterwood, Harts Creek, Galloway’s or Gilmore’s marinas. To hunt the north end of The Jungle, put in at Gilmore’s, Galloway’s, Ed’s or Cove Marinas. One word about The Jungle, this is a tough environment. It can be hard on hunters and equipment. The bottom here is mostly soft, making walking difficult. This is no place to be if you are out of shape.

North of The Jungle is an area known as Robb’s Flat. This is a huge expanse of open shallow water. The best access to Robb’s Flat is from Ed’s, Cove and Bell and Ford Marinas. The north end of Robb’s Flat is a great place to scout.

White Rock Creek is another major body of water that offers some great duck hunting. To hunt the south end of White Rock, put in at Galloway’s or Gilmore’s marinas. To hunt the north part of White Rock, put in at White Rock City or Parr’s Marinas.

The back waters across the river channel from Bell and Ford Marina and Bethy Creek can produce outstanding hunting.

In order to hunt the Riverside region, launch out of Harmon Creek, Bethy Creek and Bell’s Marinas. Look for backwater lakes, sloughs and oxbows off the river channel. The Harmon Creek Flats, Bell’s Lake and Whitson Slough are popular areas here.

The river channel north of Hwy 19 is accessed best by launching out of Bell’s Camp. From here, you can go north or south to hunt several tributary creeks.

If I had to pick the overall best region for consistent duck hunting on Lake Livingston, I would hunt The Jungle and Robb’s Flat.

The most common problem hunters run into while hunting Lake Livingston is getting onto private property. There are numerous ranches and state property on the lake’s edges. As water levels fluctuate, the debate arises about property lines. Some landowners strictly enforce no trespassing. I would recommend to duck hunters, use boat access only. If you are in your boat, you are generally safe. When you start walking across dry ground, you become more susceptible to trespassing charges.

Lake Livingston attracts many various species of puddle and diving ducks. The Mallard and Wood Duck are the most sought after here. They prefer the backwater habitat of sloughs and oxbows common here. Open water flats provide outstanding action for diving ducks. Pintail hunting on Lake Livingston can be as good as it gets and also, don’t count out an occasional White-fronted, Canada or Snow Goose.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the 2002 – 2003 Migratory Game Bird Proclamation, although liberal in scope, will carry some conservative measures, including statewide closure on Canvasbacks and a restricted 39-day season with 1 bird daily bag limit on Pintails.

In the North Zone, duck season will run one week later than in the past and is the latest allowed by Federal framework. This will allow Lake Livingston hunters to hunt Mallards here later in the month as they are typically late migrators. The season will run November 9 – 10, close for five days, then reopen November 16 through January 26. The youth-only season in the North Zone is October 26-27. Hunting for Pintails in the North Zone will be allowed December 19 through January 26.

The South Zone is set to run November 2 through December 1, close for five days, then reopen December 7 through January 19. The youth-only season is October 26-27. In the South Zone and the High Plains Mallard Management Unit, Pintail hunting will be allowed December 12 through January 19. The date is later so that pintails would be in good plumage, since many hunters consider drakes to be a special bird.

The daily bag limit for ducks is 6 and can include no more than 5 Mallards or Mexican-like ducks, only 2 of which may be hens; 3 Scaup (Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup in the aggregate); 2 Wood Ducks; 2 Redheads; 1 Mottled Duck and 1 Pintail during open season for Pintails. The possession limit is twice the daily bag.

The Eastern goose hunting dates are:

Dark Geese – October 26 through January 19

Light Geese – October 26 through January 19 (in the portion that lies in the South duck zone)

Light Geese – October 26 through January 26 (in the portion that lies in the North duck zone)

Light Geese Conservation Rules – January 20 through March 30 (in portion that lies in South duck zone)

Light Geese Conservation Rules – January 27 through March 30 (in portion that lies in North duck zone)

During the Conservation order, the use of electronic calls, unplugged guns and shooting one half-hour after sunset are legal. Additionally, there is no bag or possession limit during the Conservation Order.

Eastern goose zone bag limits for light geese are 20 in the aggregate; Dark geese (Brant, Canada and White-fronted geese) will have an aggregate daily bag limit of 3 to include no more than 2 Canada or 2 White-fronted geese.

In the Western goose zone, the season for light and dark geese is October 26 through February 9. The light goose conservation season is February 10 through March 30.

Bag limits in the Western goose zone for light geese are 20 in the aggregate, and for dark geese, 5 in the aggregate, to include no more than 1 White-fronted goose.

Hunting Lake Livingston provides some of the finest waterfowl hunting in the Central Flyway. Time spent scouting and you could be on your way to a world class waterfowl hunt of a lifetime.

Lake Livingston is one of the few remaining public waterfowl hunting areas in the State of Texas. Hopefully, it will remain remain that way for generations to come!

Lake Livingston White Bass fishing is as hot as the July temperature. Structure oriented fish and schooling fish on the lake’s southern end are keeping anglers busy bending rods.

It is no secret that White Bass are migratory fish. They move into northern creeks in the Spring to spawn and return to the main lake to spend the Summer.

In my home region of the lake (the northern part) White Bass fishing here every year during the Spring spawn draws the attentions of anglers with a fanatical reverence. When word gets out White Bass have moved into northern creeks to spawn, anglers swarm the creeks in a feverish anticipation of finding schools of White Bass and taking easy limits of the hard fighting fish. For many people this has become an annual ritual, not being satisfied until a boat load of spawning white are caught. When the ritual is finally accomplished, satisfied anglers often gloat about the great success of their Spring fishing until the next years Spring spawn.

Lake Livingston White Bass fishing does not end with the coming of Summer. IT MOVES!! By June, White Bass have migrated to the southern reaches of the lake and have set up Summer Camp. Here, the fish become structure oriented and feast on shad. Summer fishing for White Bass on “the main lake” is more predictable and is far easier to pattern fish than it was on feeder creeks during the Spring spawn.

Fishing for spawning White Bass can be hit or miss. Rarely is there an “ace in the hole”. during dry Spring conditions the fish will spawn in the river channel. A wet Spring will draw fish far up the creeks. White Bass will migrate up and down creeks with fluctuating water levels and constant changing water quality. Volatile Spring weather can wash out a pattern just as it emerges. I have been “on fish” prior to a guided Spring spawn trip, when shockingly the day of the trip the fish have moved and clients casts are unrewarded. Moving up or down the creek a short distance depending upon the water levels will often get you back on the fish. This means spending time hunting fish instead of catching fish.

During Summer months on Lake Livingston the average angler can get on the White Bass and stay on fish as the fish are more predictable and easier to pattern than during the Spring spawn. White Bass now become structure oriented and can often be caught in the same area all day. At times the fish will move off of the structure to follow schools of shad and can be spotted by watching for feeding birds and churning water.

To catch structure oriented fish you need several pieces of helpful equipment. A map, a fish locator, marker buoys and a GPS would also be helpful. A good map of the lake such as the Hot Spot Map will show changes in contour and depth. Look for humps, cut banks, river bends and submerged road beds. Some fish finder maps now come with GPS coordinates for some of the best known fishing holes. Some well known places on Lake Livingston are the Old 190 Road Bed, 190 Flats, Walker Lake, Prayer Creek Area, The River Bend east of Pine Island and the Banana Hump. Use your fish finder to locate the structure and to look for fish. With more experience you will learn how fish relate to structure and the difference between bait and fish on your fish finder. Once fish are located, drop a buoy marker on the fish and then troll back to the marker and jig a slab or jigging spoon. Let your bait go all the way to the bottom then take up the slack, pick up your rod tip and let your bait fall again. Once you have found fish on structure, a GPS unit can record the coordinates and put you back on the same spot with less effort. Time spent on the water searching for fish is invaluable. Armed with a fish finder, a GPS and a marker buoy, you can run from hole to hole with little wasted time, therefore keeping you on the fish. Also, a good pair of binoculars will help you locate diving birds and schooling fish. When surface schooling fish are spotted, get to them fast but as you get close slow down and kill the big motor so you don’t spook the fish. Approach the schooling fish from upwind so the wind will help blow your boat into the fish. If the fish go down, stay in the area a few minutes, it is likely that they will come up again.

Trolling with a jig behind a downrigger is another productive method for catching Summer Whites. This is a relaxing way to find fish and is very popular. When you get a hook up while trolling, throw a marker buoy out to keep your bearings and troll through the area again. It may pay off to go to the jigging spoon once fish are located this way. The wave action and noise of the boat will often spook the fish, therefore the jig will ultimately produce more fish.

Yes, White Bass move North and South from one end of Lake Livingston to the other. Summer patterns are more predictable than Spring patterns. Anglers that move as the fish move will catch White Bass Spring and Summer on Lake Livingston. 

Black Bass fishing on Lake Livingston is back. For the last couple of years, fishing for Black Bass here just seems to be getting better and better. Tournament weigh-ins are as good as any popular bass fishing lake in Texas. Tournament results reported in the Texas Sportsguide Magazine reflect just how good the fishing has been here. Winners of local, state, national and club tournaments here proudly boast their winning weights. It is common to see five fish weights over 10 pounds. Weights of 13, 15, 17 and over 20 pounds have been winning tournaments recently.

This past year, I brought up the subject of great bass fishing on Livingston to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Fisheries biologist there have no concrete explanation for the resurgence in the fishing here, but never the less are equally excited. The stocking of fish here has continued for years, but what fish need for survival is habitat. Lake Livingston badly needs vegetation. Attempts to introduce much needed vegetation have been dismal.

Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist keeping an eye on Lake Livingston give credit to the improved fishing here to mother nature. Reflecting back on the past few years, Lake Livingston has endured several droughts and floods. These types of extremes in water levels produce flooded young vegetation creating the habitat that bass need to grow and reproduce. What mother nature has done in a few short years could not possibly be accomplished by the best efforts of man.

Lake Livingston is over 30 years old now. Most of the standing timber that was flooded in 1969 is now gone. The Black Bass fishing will never be like it was in the 1970s. That doesn’t mean that the fishery here is not great. The powers of mother nature have blessed Lake Livingston with a resurgence of the Black Bass fishery. Now is the time to take advantage of the cyclick turns of nature. Realistically, if Lake Livingston remains at or near normal pool of 131 feet in the future for extended periods, bass habitat will die. There is no way to predict the future, but Lake Livingston Black Bass fishing is as good as I have seen it in many years. I believe the good ole days are now. Regular readers of tournament results in the Texas Sportsguide Magazine know just how good the Black Bass fishing is here on Lake Livingston.

Blue winged teal are headed toward Lake Livingston. By late August, early migrating Bluewinged Teal will be dropping their landing gear and cupping their wings over Lake Livingston. Bluewinged Teal are all ready beginning their long migration South. Mature drakes are the first to leave breeding grounds in Saskatchewan in late Summer, followed by adult hens and juveniles. Bluewinged Teal migrate earlier, fly faster and farther then any other duck species. Blue wings will stop to rest and feed on Lake Livingston in September in route to their wintering areas in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Early teal season will run 16 days. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, this years North American blue wing breeding population is well above the 4.7 million threshold for determining an extended early hunting season. The teal season will run Sept. 13-28.

The past several years have been a time of plenty for Blue wing Teal hunters on Lake Livingston. Hunters straps have been heavy here in recent years and indications are this will be another great year for the special September early Teal season. Over 6 million Teal are predicted to migrate South this year and Lake Livingston is in great shape now to attract and hold Teal. Lake Livingston has remained in good shape throughout the Summer and Spring rains this year have Lake Livingston’s shorelines lush with duck attracting vegetation.

Look for Teal to invade The Jungle, Robbs Lake, Little Robbs and White Rock Creek by September 1st. Family groups of Teal will buzz the shoreline looking for a place to rest and feed.

Techniques for Teal hunting are similar to regular season duck hunting, but a few adjustments could bring added success. Foremost is concealment. Build a natural brush blind and you are on your way to fast action on opening day. While Teal are not as wary as late season Mallards or Pintails, they have excellent eye site and will flare off from unnatural movement or shinning faces. Secondly, early season ducks are mostly dark in color. Therefore, I leave colorful Mallard drake and Pintail drake decoys at home, using only the darker hens. This will give your spread a more natural look. I use 3 dozen decoys or more, mixing in Teal decoys with regular size blocks. Leave an opening in your spread right in front of your blind with a couple of the little Teal decoys in the middle for teasers. The Teal should set down right in front of you.

Blue wings make a sort of a short raspy quack. There are several types of Blue wing calls on the market now and they can be very effective. A few short burst of raspy quacks when birds are bumping your spread should convince them to pull on in. I combine the short raspy quacks of the Blue wing Teal with a peep peep whistle sound of the Greening Teal. Be patient and bring the birds in close for select shots and clean kills.

I expect that the early Teal season on Lake Livingston this year will be another great one. The Lake is in great shape, Teal numbers are up and Lake Livingston duck hunters will soon have a chance at bagging a Blue wing Teal. Brush up your blinds, camo your faces and prepare for fast fun action on Lake Livingston in September!

Lake Livingston has long been recognized as a great cat fishing lake. This is rightfully so as action is again heating up. The Blue Cat is the top draw on Lake Livingston where there is an incredible population of the hard fighting sport fish. The action usually peaks in mid-May as Blue Cats move into shallow water.

There are three techniques for catching Blue Cats on Lake Livingston that I have used over the years to consistently put fish in the boat. (1) Baited holes, (2) The upper river and (3) The lower lake flats. Using either one or all of these methods in May and you should be on your way to catching Blue Cats.

(1) Baited Holes – This technique takes some prep work but is almost a guaranteed ace in the hole for catching Blue Cats. First, you need to prepare your bait. Pick up a 50 lb bag of chicken scratch from the feed store. Pour it in a trash can and add 2.5 gallons of water and 2 quarts of beer or several packages of yeast. The yeast will speed up the fermenting process. Stir the mixture up and let set in the sun for at least 5 -7 days. Now that your bait is ready, the question is where to put it? I usually bait three holes at different depths and locations. This way with the fluctuating water temperature of Spring, you will be sure to bait an area the fish are comfortable with. I use my depth finder to locate depths of 4 -5 feet, 6-15 feet and 16-25 feet deep. Key on areas where there is a creek bend, drop off or a sand flat. After I have selected the locations, then start baiting 2 days prior to fishing. Spread the grain liberally in the areas and it should sink as it hits the water. On the third day, anchor over the baited hole and immediately throw out more bait to further attract the fish. Rig your rods to tight line straight down letting your weight out until it hits the bottom and then reel in the slack until your line becomes tight. This will keep your bait right on bottom and allow you to feel the slightest strike. A small treble hook baited with chicken liver, fresh cut shad, minnows or one of the prepared cheese baits will work. Don’t be surprised if the Blue Cats you catch look like they just finished Thanksgiving Dinner as their bellies will be sticking out from eating all the soured grain.

(2) Upper River – This technique depends on some help from mother nature but when conditions are right, you can load up on Blue Cats. First, by referring to the upper river, I mean the river channel north of Lake Livingston, basically from The Jungle northward. Look for cuts in the river where creeks come in. Nose the bow of the boat onto the North side of a cut and cast downstream into the river channel. Use a small Khale (or stinker hook) on a Carolina rig with a 3/4 or 1 oz egg sinker. The heavy sinker is needed to keep the bait on the bottom. The best fishing on the river is when the river is swollen from rains and the current is swift. There can be times when there is too much current or not enough current. Hit it right and a Blue Cat will inhale a piece of cut shad, night crawler or minnow as soon as it hits the bottom. Catalpa Worms are another great bait to use in the river. Swift currents in the river can be dangerous to navigate and also watch out for floating logs and trees.

(3) Lower Lake Flats – With a sustained water temperature over 72 degrees in May, Blue Cats will then migrate onto the shallow flats of lower Lake Livingston. This is where the real bonanza gets heated up and anglers of all capabilities can get in on the hot action. Simply casting a cork rigged shallow and baited with chicken liver or shad off of a bulkhead can produce fish. I often meet my parties at the 190 bridge where before daylight I throw out a cast net and catch fresh shad. Anchor up on a main lake point or sandbar at daylight and cast cut shad Carolina rigged on the bottom. The action is often fast and furious until the sun gets up and the fish pull back to deeper water. On overcast days, the action can stay hot throughout the day.

Blue Cat fishing on Lake Livingston in May can be outstanding fun for the entire family. Keep in mind these techniques and tackle, pay attention to current conditions of the lake and you will be on you way to a 25 fish, 12 inch minimum length limit of Blue Cats on beautiful Lake Livingston.