My wife and I just bought a boat (our first one) and are trying to catch a few before it gets too terribly cold. I have never fished anything except stock ponds that I wasn't with someone that knew the lake well. We took it out to Purtis creek Sunday and got skunked. Anybody got any advise? I have been told by several people that Waxahachie is good and so is Athens for beginners.

Thanks

Ditch waxahachie... That lake takes some time to figure out. Congrats on new boa. Easy to catch fish on athens

First boat, I'd go to smaller lakes.
Some just South of Dallas
Bardwell
Clark
Fairfield
Mexia
Navarro Mills
Aquilla
Athens

Go to a lake that you can run without worrying about stumps. Joe Pool is really new boat user friendly and so is lake athens but most of your east texas lakes will have lanes you will need to learn.

Start with the basics.

T-rigged worm, only three colors, black, purple, and motor oil
Shad rap, Tenneesee shad, deep diver
Spinner bait, chartreuse and white
Hula popper.

Leave the rest at home. Fish slow. Watch for bait, have fun.

I fish Athens couple times a week, I live about 10 mins From it. they have been Biting Pretty aggressively here lately. just find the bait and you have found the fish!

Thanks alot guys. Making the leap from stock ponds to boat fishing is a little overwhelming.
Decided to tey Athens either Sat or Sunday. Hopefully we wont get skunked!

If you see little small fish flicking around on the surface that is an indication of bait fish that are present. Just one clue that you may want to look for. Throw in the shaded areas may help. At times early or even late top water lures will produce (low light=low sun). Over cast skies will extend the top water bite. When you throw a worm watch for a bite on the fall. Eat at Long John's the night before and put yourself in the zone. That part will not work for everyone but i just like to eat there anyway.

PM sent.

THIS >>>> Good advice. Hang in there...this year due to the dang weather, fishing has been 'different'...
God Bless