Neches River Sand Bass

It's that time of year again, just figured I'd start the thread. Has anyone had any luck out there since the weekend long rain?

Wondering myself. What part do you fish on?

Usually launch on highway 31 and head down river. Gonna try to make it out there sometime this week.

U guys ever do any good last year? It was off the 2 times i went

Yes sir! I had my limit at least 4 times last year. It's just a matter of catching it at the right time. I'll keep y'all posted. I'm going out this week after the creek drops a little

Wish we could catch crappie out of there like we used too!

Yeah the good ole hot spot

going sunday... no point in posting here if theyre biting or not everyone will line up.. but the river is flooded now and storm coming thru probably wont even get to go sunday... probably monday

I have to wait 2 weeks till I can go 😞

Way early isn't it for the spawn? I believe it's typically late February early March.

Gonna give her a shot this weekend

Might be early for the spawn but I've caught them in January and even December in there before

The males will many times will move up into the creeks in January.

Kickapoo Creek North of Hwy 31 report: Met a father & son this afternoon
fishing from a canoe. They didn't have any bites. I also struck out.
(3) days in the upper 60's & sunshine for humans gets us out & active.
However, the main lake was 48 deg yesterday. I think many of the fish
are still in Chill mode. Made my way north of the RR tracks, past what
I call the "T" area and to the first 90 deg right turn. Another tree
has joined, upstream, the one across the creek that I had to negotiate
the last couple of low water years. The 2nd 90 deg right turn with
a 75 yd straight stretch past it is now blocked by two trees and another
one 10 yds upstream. Saw where someone portaged around it from the left
bank. I think it's the wide bend that had a deer campsite the last couple
of years. The 3 trees have messed up that fishing spot. Unless the "Chain Gang"
cuts passageways, access to Kickapoo with flatbottoms will be limited.

Thanks for the update. I also striked out today

Where exactly is this block of trees? Did you launch from 31 and go upstream?

Too much rain lol

[/url] [url=https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#safe=off&q=tyler+tx+10+day+forecast]forecast


next week 70 something

West of Chandler, Tx. Kickapoo Creek - launch at the most
western Hwy 31 bridge on the north side - bar ditch -
kayaks, canoes, & small boats.
Don't block the rancher's gate. Laydown trees are
+/- 1/3 mile upstream.

Anyone tired the river since the rain?

Went yesterday
No bites

Ledbetter are you saying your catching em there?

Went yesterday morning both south of 31 on the river and north of 31 on Kickapoo. Not a single bump either place.

There are fish in the creeks for sure. Key is if you are not fishing slow you won't get bit.

So u have caught some?

Can not fish any slower than we did. Must have been in wrong spot with wrong color.

Right fished all day not 1 bite

Try crawfish, if they are in there that will catch them.

Gonna try this Friday hopefully this warm weather got em going

They have to be hitting soon with this kind of weather.

On hwy 31 I usually pull off the road right before the bridge too the right heading from Tyler to Chandler. I just follow the trails all the way back too the power lines and fish the bends back towards the 31 bridge. I've always seemed to do good there but its usually middle of feb into March. When dog woods bloom youre almost too late.

I've done pretty good back towards the power lines but it's risky with the trespassing signs up now

I've always been curious about who owns that property, can't say I blame the land owner with all the trash that gets left back there.

We tried it out last week, caught few large mouth which was strange... fished it yesterday on both the neches and kickapoo and not a bite from anything. marked shad but no sandy's yet. Will continue to update as we continue to try and find them. Oh and just for those who live locally, just because the cars are out there doesnt mean they are biting just yet. I talked to every person as we were coming in and all said the same thing... "nope I think its still a bit early"

Feb 20th the run starts in earnest, peaks about March 7th, and is over in
the creeks March 20th. Look at this weekend's rain event.... 49 deg rain
falling on 49 deg veg & soil...the Chill for the fish will continue. Couple
of 60-70 deg days won't warm water in the creeks & main lake that much. Later
on towards the end of Feb we get night temps in the 50's and some 60 deg
rain/veg/soil + Full moon Feb 14 and the "Spawn Will Be On". As mentioned in
the above posts, ain't much going on....yet.

It's hard to stay off the water so we've been running trot lines and doing pretty good with that until the run starts. Catfish off westberry landing have been pretty steady for the last couple weeks. Caught some nice blues.

Caught a few this afternoon.

nice catch where they down river of the 31 bridge ? I did good, well up stream of the 31 bridge lots of them upstream past the power lines, in my yak

This weeks recap jig fishing.
1/28..2pm-4pm...(7)- white bass....aggressive bite
1/29..9am -1pm..(4)- whites (2) black...slow presentation
1/31..11am-1pm...(2) whites ...slow presentation
2/1.....6am- 8am....(4) whites (1) crappie...a very slow presentation

Are there any trees across the river, are you making it up the river without to much trouble

Went out this afternoon on Neches just south of Hwy31
at the "South Bend" of the Chandler Park. Caught one nice
male on the 2nd cast....Oh boy! Then the front blew away
the clouds, sun came out, and the wind picked up.
67 casts later, just before I left, caught a small male.
Tunahunter56 - I have also heard reports of males near the
Tyler airport - an FM road access. Color today: 1/8 oz
white jig head + blue/white triple tail 2" grub. Blue/White
was a very good color for me last year.

I agree that we don't need to put it all on here but most of um can't read this anyway.

Very well said Mike. As of a couple weeks ago there were trees down upriver on neches. Could make it maybe 1/2-3/4 mile in a surface drive but no further. That's with jumpin over 4 or 5 logs. Downriver there is one down at the first bend, but you can get around it easily. Clear all the way to the lake after that

U mean everyone's gonna be at the creek anyways

The forecast is looking pretty good for the weekend warriors....could be a major move happening with this full moon and warmer temps...

Good info Klay, I'm sure I'll see you down there this year.

didn't mean to step on any ones toes had a tree down myself , hell figured I would be informative at least some of the confused males are coming in giving and indicator its getting closer for them to make the run

Turns into a Mexican fiesta overnight

Hope the Game Warden pitches a tent in the parking lot.

They were out there pretty hard last year. Already been out there once already

I hope the GW's are out there every single day. Every year we all see so much that shouldn't be happening. It just burns my azz to no end. Almost got into fights trying to tell people to pick up your trash or that sandie is to small or a host of other [censored] that goes on.

This forum and the internet in general has been a boon to the sport of fishing here in Texas. I have learned a ton from offered assistance and just paying attention. That being said, I have witnessed what most of you have. Over the last several years most all of my white bass site have seen significant increases in traffic. I have given up fishing on weekends because of this. If I can't get out during the week, I just don't go.

You should have to be a member to look at these post and topics

Don't we wish! Hey I'm all for helping fellow fishermen out and trust me....I luv to talk about it and tell what I did and so forth. But its also come back to hurt me. Its really not the people on here that make it bad, for the most part the guys on here care about going about it the right way. I just like to let peeps believe its better somewhere else, which in turn makes it better for me and my buds.

Amen!

Passed by at 6:45 am headed to a jobsite...and counted 7 vehicles at the bridge ....wondering how it ended up today?

Slim pick-ins the last 3 days. If the water level drops a foot
or so, there will be many logs that boats w/ motors won't be
able to jump north of the powerlines.

Yeah if nothing else the Neches in a yak is like a free Walmart reach up and pick a color lure u want

So can we walk to the power lines still on the right side of the river or are there NO TRESPASS signs?

Im not sure envy, I am mostly in my yak, seen lots of people on the right past the power lines

More fisherman than fish out there right now

the bass have made it up that far? dang theyre runnin already good then

I fished there last year & did real good.
I plan to make more trips soon.
I fish the east side in the creeks north of the 31 bridge.
Very few people up there when I went.



.

By foot Hookinup?

I fished down to the RR tracks and didn't get a nibble, saw a guy at the ramp catch a small male. Most of the other boaters I passed didn't have any luck either.

I walked in
There's a trail on the East side, North of the bridge
Plenty of good parking, maybe 30+ cars could park there easily
When the Whitebass show up good, they pile up in the creek back there
The water may be 20' wide at most




.

We fished Saturday as far north as you could go by boat(two trees blocking the river)and as far south as the RR bridge and only caught one small one. Most everyone we talked to had about the same luck as we did.

We went yesterday just running the graph, starting to see more shad but not alot of fish. Caught a few largemouths by accident, 2 male sandies and a good buzz... thanks budlight!

I'm not complaining, caught 13. did take some work though

Rockhill Baptist Church served free breakfast tacos, juice and coffee in the parking lot next to river this morning. They will be there most every Saturday with breakfast til the white bass run ends....food was great...thank you Rockhill!

I was wondering what that stand was

Any new reports? I know Sabine is killing it right now

I'm out of town. Going Saturday if it doesn't rain

Though it's been cold all week, I plan to hit the kickapoo in my yak tomorrow morning. Anyone have any idea what the water temp is? I will give a report asap...

I'm thinking about hitting the Neches in my yak today Nate, might check out kickapoo also. I'll try to give you a temp/report if I remember.

In about to head out there now. I'll report as well

Thanks guys... I prefer the kickapoo over Neches. Less people to deal with, easier place to fish imo...

Not much going on at the Neches today. Met up with Nutrarat and fished down passed the RR tracks with no luck. State guys were out with the elctrofishing equipment and said they'd only seen a few small Sandies. I believe Nutrarat said the water temp was 49F. I had to head back in pretty early. Nutrarat can probably give a better report.

It's sometimes hard to treat everyone with the same respect when some don't respect the laws of the land. I was just playing off your words with the Klan remark and trying to be humorous as you were with yours.

Went to the kickapoo, saw a few others out there. Water is to cold to even try, warmest I got was 52, and that was to shallow to hold any fish. 50 was the best in water at 8 foot deep. I think we are at least two weeks away from the spawn, especially with this cold front blowing in.

Yeah I agree all this cold and rain is messing em up. Cmon spring!

Was going to go this morning, but the wind and the cold front told me to save my gas. I think tomorrow may be more of the same. I am going fishing still, except the targeted quarry is the catfish. I am going to practice catch and release...

into the grease, tomorrow evening, either near Chandler Hwy 31, or the spillway off of FM1892 east of Frankston. The road is closed and NO ONE was there today around 1500hrs

Most of the creeks have a few scouts in them at least. With this weather though you almost have to dead stick to get them to eat. Sabine is still seeing males showing up buddy just got back. I'm headed that way in ten days or so when it warms back up. Nothing like the smallest fish over two pounds lol. It's coming guys always does waiting on red buds and bluebonnets!

Let the games begin! 28 big females in 3 hrs,Sat 21st,great new parking lot & ramp at hwy 31 bridge.Meet me at ramp for some fun fishin! Remember to count your blessings!

Let the games begin!28 big females in 3 hrs,Sat 21st,great new ramp at hwy 31 bridge,meet me at the ramp for some fun fishin! Always!!!! count your blessings.

Things must of changed in a hurry. I bet this cold front slows it way down...

DDOF Guide I msged you

We were there Friday and Saturday...nothing but males....did not talk to anyone who had any females, including game wardens.....

I don't believe you! Lol and with this weather I don't care if they are running or not. The next time I go out I'll have a legit report on what's going on. Never heard of sand dicks running in 39-41 degree water

Chad I caught six in two hours tonight... well probably an hour and half

2 damn cold! Only thing I'm catching is zzz's maybe in a week or 2 I'll come out of hibernation and do a little fishing. I bet your the only 1 fishing out there at night or day

how far up river did u go envy54? i was out today for a little bit...nothing...water is way way up and moving

Gonna be a week before anyone can put a boat in there!

So what's your guess chad as to when the fish will b n the river?
The water needs to warn up a lot first

Past the power lines

Has anyone tried fishing up around the 64 bridge or 279 bridge past the airport? Just curious if any sandbass or up that far?

I'd say it would have to warm up to at least 47-52 degrees before a huge run starts. I think those few warm days awhile back triggered a small run. I've seen em run 2 to 3 times in 1 spring

fish dont know what to do. they start to move in then we get snow and ice... hit it last weekend and caught 5 females, and 1 crappie. This week with the rise of the rivers and cold temps i doubt its worth getting out there.

Anyone hit the Neches today by boat or shore by chance? We went to Sabine and struck out. High and fast! Heard report of someone catching 18 at river ridge in a creek. One guy caught a couple on minnows as well. I'd avoid Sabine till the water drops.

The neches is up and moving way 2 fast. Not worth a stop

Another couple days of 48 deg rain falling on 48 deg veg/soil.
Warm sunny days predicted ahead will do little to warm the
water flowing in Neches/Kick. Water just doesn't warm up that
fast. The L.Palestine spawning run usually starts in earnest
Feb 20, peaks March 7, and is mostly over March 20th. Looks
like a slim to poor run this year. Perhaps, they'll wait and
spawn on main lake windy points, which isn't very productive.
Most of the concern by the fisherman is catching fish...da.
However, I'm also concerned about the amount of successful
spawning and the survival of the fry. In normal years, haven't
had many with the droughts, the fry migrate to the upper end
of the lake where it is warming & the biology (plants/zooplankton/etc)
is in full swing to support their growth. So, what will be
future spawning runs be like? Slim to poor? Perhaps TPW
or someone with a Bio degree can weight in.

I would think its triggered by water temps and not calendar dates. once it hits 55 degrees in the creeks and rivers they should head on in. I would think some years its early and this year unusually late...I hope you are wrong. but I am not an expert on it.

when dog woods bloom they will be there.. late run i hope

UPDATE, sand bass run cancelled. All have drowned.

Went and checked out Hwy 31 & Neches R. The muddy water is all the way up under
the bridge a couple feet below the road. The current is really moving. The new
asphalt parking lot is almost an island & the new metal fence just disappears
a few yards to the north. On the south side, the water is almost up to
the picnic tables - or to the 3rd row of trees. Doesn't look like there
will be many places to fish without some sort of boat this weekend.
Kickapoo's current wasn't as focused as Neches/31 bridge.

Went yesterday morning to Kickapoo. Two Kick gurus were coming back to
the "Ramp" - a bad sign - as I was about to push off. The current was
too strong for them. They hadn't caught any the last (4) trips over the last
(2) weeks. I caught one female on a white curly tail pearl body/blue head jig.
Water temp was 50 deg. Didn't make it to the RR tracks.

Current was too quick for comfort at Kickapoo Wednesday. Had to play nice guy and tow a boat back. FYI it ain't smart to go a mile downstream in a flat bottom with no motor and the intent to paddle back. Thanks to those of you who moved out of the way for me to come through to the ramp.

On a lighter note, I did see one amigo pull about a 15lb blue out on one of the bridges.

Any updates?? I saw a bunch of cars on my way to work this afternoon

Went Monday morning to Kick. Water was 56-58 deg & clearing.
Several of us found pockets of small males.
Guru's said that ANRA had opened the floodgates
(on L. Palestine) and let 1.5 ft water out with
an eye out for predicted rain events Wed, Fri, Tues.

I fished at 31 just upstream from the bridge Sunday morning and Monday after work. Caught a few small males and a whole bunch of freshwater drums. Seen some folks with stringers of females and said they caught them way upstream. I may try today after work and walk upstream as far as I can and see what happens.

Most fisherman on "Kick" were mainly catching small males.
Comparing notes on the few females. "Catch any with eggs in them"?
Nope. Water temp 60 deg. Still thinking most will spawn
on windy lake points. Unless the reports from Neches
above Hwy 31 are different than "Kick".

Anyone been north of the 31 bridge in Chandler the last couple days? Any luck?

Was at the river yesterday afternoon, was north of highway 31 only caught two male undersized. No one was catching any fish one guy was there for three hours and did not get a bit. The water was moving pretty fast.

kick has small males today .

Is anybody going to the Neches or Kickapoo this afternoon (3/26/15)?

Must be on like donkey kong...no reports

Any reports from the river lately?

last week they were in kickappo creek. mostly 10 1/2 ichers but some spots i caught real nice ones