New to the site and trying to get back into fishing. Curious to know where the best bank fishing is this late in the summer for bass/crappie/cats and any other tips for fishing phantom/kirby (besides "buy a boat" lol). Thanks in advance guys

ps. First time fishing in TX. Grew up fishing in TN

and sorry if this post is in the wrong place

There is a crappie dock on the north west side that you can pay to fish off of, not to expensive. We used to catch some good crappie off the dam area. It's been awhile since I have fished over there and it may be the wrong time of year for the dam. Also, the dock is covered which is nice. Good Luck!

Dixon
I assume you are talking about Ft Phantom? I have only been out on phantom twice and kirby once so not to familiar with the lakes yet. Covered dock sounds nice though! It was 102 degrees yesterday and we were out by the dam at Phantom...woulda been nice to have some cover then haha

Anybody else bank fish these lakes? I have had zero luck at Phantom so far. Been fishing texas rigged soft plastics and nightcrawlers in the evening with little to no luck. Haven't really had enough time at Kirby yet but the time I went was not productive.

You can catch alot of channel cat with punch bait at kirby. I catch the occasional blue with fresh shad there also. I typically fish anywhere on the east side. Haven't fished phantom in a while, but anywhere by the dam is typically good. If you had a boat, trolling in that area has produced alot of hybrids lately.

Yeah I hear the dam at Phantom is a good spot but always too many people swimming on the west and get tired of burning up on the rocks on the other side. Thanks for the tips on kirby. Planning on going out there this weekend with punch bait/liver and hopefully better results!

Kirby is the way to go. If you can try and catch some shad and use it for bait. I've found the trick at kirby is to get your line out far.

Anywhere on East side will work, Also try the dam by the old silo. Thats the deepest part of the lake right now. Prob about 14ft.

Try nightcrawlers and you should be able to slay the 2-3 lb channel cats.

Awesome thanks for the tips...Didn't get to go this past weekend but planning on trying kirby Wednesday night with nightcrawlers. Did go to Nelson Park (Zoo Lake) for a couple hrs and had a little luck but nothing keeper size just baby channel cats and a big ol' carp lol

Caught a bunch of baby channel cat and little crappie at Kirby off the pier last night fishing nightcrawlers. Going back with some CJ's saturday morning. Surprised how many people were fishing the pier and banks around it. Saw people pull a few decent smb outta the brush by the pier and saw some keeper size cats come off the end of the pier. Not a bad time for Kirby!

I got skunked two days in a row at Kirby! Whole shad, cut shad, live shad, small hooks, big hooks, dead red on everything..nothing but a few baby channel cats...If anyone figures out something that works please share!!!

Kirby around the dam at night!

where were you fishing from mhisaw? bank? pier? boat?

My trucks not 4x4 so I cannot get my boat in Kirby. However Ive had good luck drifting in the past.

I have mostly been bank fishing along East shore down past the first cove past stumps. I also tried far northeast corner by dam.

I made some adjustments and had good luck but all really small. less than 1 lb.

I went to a 25lb line, (Im sure that didn't matter, but helped me cast further), 4 ot hook, small slices of shad instead of entire thing, and then I experimented with a adding a small trebble hook. Dead Red also. I was hooking them but all really small.

crazy thing about that lake Is that I have never seen so many shad. Thinking I might just switch it up and go with nightcrawlers or try shrimp. Give them something different to snack on..

How about you?

I usually start on the pier on the east side. I set up on the right side of the pier and cast as far as I possibly can toward the dam with CJ's or wads of nightcrawlers. I had a few nice ones last week but nothing to be ecited about.

I usually leave the pier after a hr or so and work my way along the shore toward the dam. By the end of the day (9pm usually) I'm throwing whole shad or wads of nightcrawlers. I have seen big blues come out of kirby so I know they are there they just seem pretty reluctant right now lol.

I have been thinking about trying shrimp too! haven't seen a single person throwing them yet...

And just so you know the minute you get a nightcrawler in any kind of shallow water in kirby there will be baby channel cats all over it lol

Thats no joke about the baby channel cat. You see the new laws aas of Sept 1st. At Kirby you can keep up to 50 small (no lenght limit) channel cats, only going to be able to keep 5 a day about 20 inches.

I threw cast net the other day and caught 20 of those baby cats! tore my net all up!

wow I hadn't heard that. I know I'm tired of seeing these little cats gnawing my bait up and jumping on hooks they can barely fit on. I hooked a little guy last night...he was maybe 6in long and he was fiesty. ended up slicing my thumb through the glove I had on! These babys have some sharp, quick barbs! I bet they did a number on that net

I have been going out to kirby as well using CJs and caught nothing but baby cats. I fished off the dock before and close to the rocks. I really want to get into some channel cats but cant find any keepers at kirby. I havent tried Ft. Phantom yet for catfish but I have tore the crappie up out there this past winter. Got here last year late august and caught well over 200 crappie this winter from the crappie house at Charlottes cove. Me and my buddy from base fish all the time. we should get together and try our luck.

Anyone fished Kirby lately. I took a break for about a week. I just got tired of catching babies. However now I can keep them I might head out there tomorrow.
Maybe not, Looks like we can only keep 5.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/fishregs2.php?water=0001

I believe that regulation is for lake abilene. It is within the state park and you are not required to have a fishing license.

Here is the regulation-
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/fishregs2.php?water=0416

I knew I had read that somewhere! Thanks for pointing that out.

My Phantom gonna catch something map... Use it if you like. Many of these same spots are good for Cats. I really like johnson park this time of year for bank fish along with the large cove on the North East side of the lake called the spill way cove. Hope this helps someone.

Lake Kirby regs. Yes that is 50, but only 5 over 20
Catfish
For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length. Daily bag and possession limit = 50 blue and channel catfish in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 20 inches or longer.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/fishregs2.php?water=0416

Caught a 6 lb saugeye at Kirby today. First one I've seen that wasn't a baby. One mean looking fish!

Congrats!!! And a good Lake Kirby fish as well.

I've caught 2 from Ft. Phantom but not that size. Mine were 2 1/2 -3lbs. And I let them go back. But that was in the mid 80's when I was in college. HSU.

Here are a few cell phone photos of the Saugeye

wow mean looking fish man...nice work tho. kinda makes me wanna catch one

mhisaw- nice catch...what were you using for bait? also did you keep it?

Thanks ss7s.

I had a couple poles out with cut shad. I saw that guys tail close to the rocks and tossed out a spinner bait. Black, 3/8oz. Only took a few throws and he hit it. I put him back, he swam off sluggish and hung around the area. Not sure if he was in shock or just tired. I hope he made it.

So I'm contemplating a trip to Lake Abilene saturday for a change of scenery. Anybody been here lately/ever? I have heard it is not a pretty lake but bass and catfish are ok there. Any input? Lake levels? Worth the gas to drive 30min?

I would go to Phantom...

So went to Kirby yesterday afternoon. Hoping to find some hungry fish feeding before the storm front reached abilene and whadyaknow I found em! I caught the first 2 on a white and red beettle spin in the cove just south of the boat dock. Prolly 1.5lb each. Then I moved up to the rocky point between the pier and the dock and got 4 more on a black and blue flecked 1/2oz spinner! Biggest went prolly 3.5-4lbs and all were healthy and fighting. It was nice to have a good day at kirby...been awhile lol

Wow, That is a good day for Kirby. Funny I was there all morning and never got a bite.

However

I caught extra large shad in the same spots your talking about. Some 10-12 inches and over a pound! Never caught them that big before. I went ahead and froze them. Ended up with about 30 big ones and 30 about 6 inches. Was a good day!

Have any of you guys been on the west side of the lake by Charlottes cove? I was thinking about heading out there

I dont Fish Phantom from the bank but I have heard people doing good off the dam.

Went to Kirby Yesterday and slayed the channel cats. My 5 yr old caught over 50 in three hours. Went through an entire 24 oz jug of Sudden Impact. They were all small but he had a blast. He slept good after that!

So I think I have kirby figured out to a small extent. I have been fishing twice a week and haven't been shutout in a month. I have been strictly bass fishing for awhile and have always been able to get at least one recently. I have been lucky to fish back to back wednesday evenings when I could see and feel storm fronts coming and had some awesome times. Any large spinnerbait with big blades will get bit on the east side right before a storm! On clear days with little wind I have had better luck with shallow diving crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps. I have really been impressed with the bass fishing at Kirby! The point right between the dock and pier is the only spot that always produces for me and usually best in the afternoon. I know this is getting long but I had a funny trip to Kirby last night. First fish was a small bass on a crank. 2nd fish was a bigger (3lb?) bass on a crank. 3rd fish was a 1inch perch snagged on Rat-L-Trap!!! 4th was a trotline?????? 5th was a 8-9inch channel cat snagged on rat-l-trap. last fish was a huge shad snagged on rat-l-trap!! weird day but got some funny pics and had fun. I know what your saying about those HUGE shad mhisaw...wow I just wrote a book!

I haven't been out in about a week. That spot your talking about is where I catch all my shad. I have seen bass hitting the water there. Keep thinking I'm going to try for them but never do.

yea tons of shad there and deep water right off that point = bass

anybody been to kirby/phantom lately?

Going to phantom tomorrow... or Hubbard depending so maybe.

Spent morning on phantom no hybrids on one bass. 5.6lbs

Anybody having any luck. Hoping to get to go to one of them during the thanksgiving break.

They hybrids should be moving into the coves on the north side.

Tried to go to phantom today and found the boat ramp on the north side closed. Anyone know if there is any other access to a ramp. Its the only one I have used. I do know the one on the southeast side is out of water.

There is suppose to be a place to launch at johnson park and there is another ramp on the other side of the lake down from the powerplant. I dont know the condition of either though?

Went driving around the fort phantom thanksgiving day. I could not find the ramp that is supposedly at Johnson park. Wonder if that got rid of it during the renovation. The only ramp that possibly could be used was the one on sailboat point. It looks stepper than the ramp at Kirby, but may could be used with a 4x4 truck.

The one at Johnson Park they are talking about is where the poles are sticking out of the water on the south west side of the new park. Drive thru the park towards the south and look towards the first house you will see. Look down towards the water and I believe there are 3 poles sticking out of the water, I don't know if it is 3 or 4. This is a pretty crude ramp without any type of dock, but it has cement that gets mucked up with silt and gravel from the winds, but is usable (Parking is limited). It is only used in the past when the lake gets like it is now, around 10 plus/minus feet low. In addition, on the east side of the dam is a very, very steep ramp that I personally would not utilize due to how steep it is. Probably best to make sure and have 4 wheel drive if you do.

Mud-Dabber

I did see those poles, but thought for sure that was not the boat ramp. Thanks for the info

I have not been out in a few months but I think I must be missing something. Are you guys talking about the new ramp by Charlottes cove? I just cant see it not being usable.

Yes, we are talking abou the new ramp that they fixed up by charlottes cove. They have the big boulders back where they were when they were fixing it the first time. Also does anyone know if you can still fish(or if the fishing is any good) at charlottes cove. The place looked for sale and didnt look like anyone was there. Never knew where it was at until I went driving around looking for the ramp in johnson park.

I saw some people fishing this summer. Thats wild about the ramp. I've got to drive out there and take a look.

Seems the city is extending the ramps, thats according to TPWL facebook page for abilene. They also commented that there is a low-water ramp at Phantom at the west end of Johnson Park.
no word yet on the time frame.

going to check out kirby this morning afetr my doctors appointment, if I do any good I'll post a report

I had to go to Abilene to the SS Admin office today, and was going to stop by Lake Kirby when I finished. I didn't get out of the offices until almost 5, so I came on home.

Went out to Kirby for a few hours yesterday. I was quickly reminded how much I hate bank fishing from there. Lost to much equipment. Not a bite. I was using some shad I froze earlier this year but it's to much trouble trying to get past all the rocks. My boats always ready to go if anyone has 4x4. My truck struggles to much on that ramp. Last time didn't think I was going to get out.

Thats what I have been afraid of with my boat. I wont use the ramp till the lake comes up or I get a 4X4. Wish you would have had better luck, but that is how my luck has been the last few times I have went out there. May still try next week if I have time.

I am planning to go do some banking out at Lake Abilene next weekend. I saw on the Texas Wildlife site that they caught some 15in 2lb crappie in their traps recently while testing the population. they said there are plenty of crappie in there.

I'll have to look into that. Love me some crappie fishin!

Me and my buddy are stationed at Dyess and we are wanting to get out on the lakes here but since the drought hit we have been limited from the bank. If there are any guys in the area that have a boat and want to get out on the water we are willing to pay for gas for the boat and lunch if we can get a seat out on the water. If any one would be interested please PM me or shoot me an email @ marrekus1983@gmail.com. Thanks

I know this thread is oooold but I'm bout to be getting back out there after several months of long hours at work. Any Kirby/Phantom/Lake A reports? Also was curious to know what the spawn is usually like at Kirby?

Gonna bump this as my first post, planning on getting out to either Kirby or Phantom next week and would like some reports if anyone has them. We went out to Phantom last week and tried some spots but nothing, was gonna try some of the places listed in here previously.

Was at Kirby on the bank this past saturday....WINDY!!! Got shut out pretty hard but also didn't hit all the spots I wanted to. Don't really have a good report yet. Kinda wanting to check out the submerged grass on the west side at kirby next week. Not sure how deep it is right there.

Anybody finds dip net at Kirby let me know, on south east bank.

We got out Tuesday to Phantom and hit up some spots on the east side but had zero luck, not sure if it was the wind or just nothing is biting out there.

Bump. I'm putting the boat in the water this week. Hopefully this warm up will have the fish biting.

I was born and raised in Abilene and moved to Ft. Worth when I was 13. Now that I'm 45 and have my own boat. Definitely want to fish those lakes. Let me know how you do.

Whites and hybrid are really good at phantom, pm for details.

Pm and bump

Replied

Got out to Kirby yesterday evening from around 5pm to midnight. Just went to the eastern side around the middle of the lake, right off the last part of the paved Kirby Dam road between two coves. Lots of things jumping, most looked like shad but unsure of two bigger things jumping completely out of water. We had six poles out and with various baits but we only caught 3 little catfish (a guy south of us caught a small one as well).

We may try a little further north next time near that small bluff section.

I haven't had any luck at Kirby or Phantom this year, but my brothers friend lives on lake lytle and he catches HUGE fish.. recently a 45lb cat and an 8lb bass.. wouldn't believe it if I didn't see the pics! Does anyone know where you can bank fish at lytle? I know there is a creek by Cal Young park, going to try it out today..

I fished just across from the hockey rink and the key city baseball field from the bank.. I believe you can fish it without getting a ticket a cop drove right pass me and didn’t stop. I didn’t stay long and didn’t get a bite. However, I saw some large fish jumping and there was about a 3 lb bass in the parking spot next to me.. looks to be a good spawning area

Went out again, took the exit off Maple right after Colony Hill Rd (going south)... that oilfield area. We didn't catch a thing at our first spot so moved there and still nothing.

Was wondering though, entering the northern part on Kirby Dam Rd you get that sign saying it closes at midnight and you can only use two poles. If you're on another part of the lake, say that southern area or the west side, do those rules still apply?

I think those rules apply for the whole lake, but I've never seen em strictly enforced. That area past the tank batteries have been producing, nothing huge but have got a few.

Darn, was hoping to get an all-nighter in down there... though I don't know how well it would have went anyways since we usually don't get bites after 10 it seems.

And yea I've never seen a warden there, nor Phantom for that matter, but I'd rather not risk it if it may not even be worth it.

I fished kirby tonight. 7-9 nothing . Haven't had any luck on east side at al what the dea? I'm gonna try fresh cut shad saturday. Any suggestion?

In 5 trips we've only had one good one and that was when we had that big rain a few Monday's ago... some decent channel cats and a bass. We've used small whole shad, cut shad, night crawlers, stink bait and a grub worm from the backyard we found before we left. Usually go at 5 and stay until 12, action tends to die down at night. It's a shame cause we're used to night fishing at Brownwood (before the drought) and catching some pretty large ones.

We're mainly using worms and do decent with those, stink bait and cut shad haven't caught a thing (got a 7in one with a small whole shad). The one grub worm used I got around a 14in channel within 5-10 minutes of throwing the line out.

Bump. Anyone have any updates? We tried going yesterday but the entire east side was full of people and couldn't get anywhere without invading other peoples space.

I got skunked at Phantom two weeks ago. New boat ramp is nice. Ive been trying to get out to Kirby but might hold off with these reports.

Just a note I have been stopped by the game waren at both Kirby and Phanton. They don't really enforce the two pole limit, but did check me for fishing license.

The new ramp is open?

It is open.

Small channel cats are going great at kirby. Have had little luck on anything larger than about 2 pounder there, but caught alot of smaller fish from the bank.

Saw a kid with a 5 1\2-6 lb. channel and a couple of little 1 1\2 lb'ers off of the boat dock @ Kirby Wed. night, but we haven't had much luck anywhere out there this year. We went out to Phantom with a buddy last weekend and caught 9 good-sized crappie and a couple of white bass off of his pontoon.

Are they fishing the Thursday night tournament?