Tips on Bass Fishing at Cedar Creek Lake in Texas

Best Spots to Fish

Follow the birds to find schools of hybrid striped bass and white bass. You will typically find more largemouth bass in the clearest areas of Cedar Creek Lake--typically in the lower end of the reservoir. The lake's record largemouth bass was found in this area, and the fish weighed almost 15 lbs. Choose fishing spots around Clear and Caney creeks, where there is submerged vegetation. The northern end of the lake has emergent vegetation, but most of the areas are very shallow.

Best Season to Fish

While the moderate temperatures of northeast Texas allow for year-round fishing opportunities, the warmer months are the best time to catch bass, according to information from the Texas Department of Wildlife published at anglerguide.com. For example, fishing for white bass (sand bass) and hybrid striped bass are typically better between late March and September, with March and April being the best months. All types of bass typically are in strong feeding patterns in the top water sections at dawn and dusk during the hot months, when they tend to be more aggressive.

Best Fishing Techniques and Bait

Bass are hunter fish, so you'll be using different techniques to catch them than you would with other types of fish. The weather and season will also affect your fishing techniques. For example, if you are fishing in the daytime in the warmer months, most bass will be found in deep, cool holes at the bottom of the lake. Dredge the bottom and use plastic worms to lure them out. If you are fishing in the cooler seasons or on cooled-off summer evenings, most bass will be found in shallow water. You can find schools of them under overhanging tree branches and along the shoreline. Use top water lures and slabs (lures used mainly for bottom fishing) to catch them.

Many local fisherman use live bait, such as night crawlers and other bugs to catch hybrid striped and white bass. Consider using frog-style bait for largemouth bass. According to an article in Game and Fish Magazine, largemouth bass are such ferocious predators that they will eat frogs.