We fished Cedar Creek and could not get a single crappie to bite. In fact we weren't getting any bites. We fished water 68-70 degrees north of the 334 bridge (the shallow areas close to 175). We finally did manage to catch four catfish around docks but that wasn't what we were there for. We then proceeded to Purtis Creek where we fished the entire lake and could only manage three largemouth bass (which all either broke the line or got off right at the boat). Again, that's not the fish that we were there for. We are just stumped at what is up with the bite this year. You'd figure (or at least we would) that fishing shallow this time of the year with the water temps what they are that we'd be catching something (more than the little we did). My friend fishes at least three or four days a week since October 1st in these East Texas lakes and has said that the terrible bite has been going on now since March 1st. We've tried shallow to deeper water. We've tried timber to brush to bridge pilings to shooting docks. We've tried slip bobbers to vertical fishing to casting roadrunners to weightless jigs. We could understand if we just weren't catching crappie, but as much as we have fished, we should have been catching more of something (especially sand bass). Totally perplexed.

Lots of theories going around and not much in the way of reliable answers. But, know that you are not alone, it's been a tough spring everywhere.

Your post describes exactly my east tx experience this year on palestine. Heard lots of theories also but....who knows?