Can anybody give me any tips on these lakes. White River Resevoir; Twin Buttes; Ft Phantom; these are the 3 lakes im currently driving to when i have the chance to do night fishing. Im limited to bank onky for now. Ive been using punch baits. Ive onky caught 2 channel cats out of the last 6 trips. Tried multiple locations. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I like twin buttes. I catch some big guys on trotlines and a few nice ones on rod and reel

Do you use fresh caught shad or punch bait? Do you fish shallow or deep? I cant get in very deep water being that im bankin' it.

I've done okay at Champion Creek reservoir from the bank with punch bait

Not many choices for us out this way

Wow. Odessa to Ft Phantom is quite a ways.
If I was bank bound and fishing at night,I'd be looking for feeding areas that are close to deep water.
Phantom has pretty good bank access. Theres the spillway cove, sailboat point, and a few spots on the east bank that can be good for catfish. The west side has good spots too, but not sure if you can access that anymore in a vehicle.

@ Buglemintoday- when was last time you fished Champion Creek? I heard it had golden algae, not sure if its true or if it affected the catfish or not. Ive never been there but will def have to try it out.
@ J Lowe. Yes i know is quite a ways i can get there in 2.5 hrs but any lake i go to will be quite a ways. The closest is JB thomas @ 1.5 hr drive but it just filled back up a couple yrs ago after being completely dry. Most fish arent keeper size yet. Well i caught 1 channel cat, in 6 hrs. I was fishing the boat ramp at the dam when i caught him. Tried pier at johnson park as well and no bite. Danny king blood flavor was what i used all night. I also tried Nasworthy this weekend and got no bites at all in 5 hrs. Maybe im just having bad luck. Ill keep trying though lol wanna fry some fish!

From the spots you described, it sounds like you're fishing too deep. Catfish will move up into shallow water at night to feed.
Just keep at it and you'll find some soon enough. Persistence pays off.

Plenty of keeper catfish in JB Thomas. I live on the lake so no just blowin steam. Lol. It almost went dry but has since filled lil more than half full and TPWD has stocked it several times. About a month ago me & a buddy took home 17 keepers. By no means monsters yet but good eaters.

Get you a cast net and catch some fresh cut bait


If you come down too San Angelo and I ain't got nothing goin on. I'll meet you at Twin Buttes.



My big girl from Twin Butte bank's throwing fresh cut shad

@ encKe...ive tried all 3 parks at jb thomas multiple times. Caught one 6" channel out of 8-9 different trips lol. What bait do you use, and are you catching them upstream in the shallower areas? I havent been able to find anywhere to access the banks upstream anywhere yet. Maybe im using wrong bait, ive used punch bait and worms. Never could catch any shad with net from the banks ive been at.
@ Magged Out... damnit boy! Thats a very nice catch. I havent made it to twin buttes yet. But i def wanna try when i get time. I do have a net. You use a circle hook and half of a big shad or little pieces? What time of year was it when u caught that one?

I believe she took down a gizzard shad head, Was in April. I don't use big o baits. Elephants eat peanuts too


5oz no roll and 5/0-8/0 circles is all I use

Silo's south of Seabee park has been producing all week
Likely due to front and full moon coming but still yanking nice above average box fish blues off jugs every night
Running 3 hook jugs set at 15',no hits on top hook,bottom hook is at 36".
That should offer some clues to keep your bait off the bottom

Think he's saying catching in 12 ft but not sure

Three to six ft in 15FOW
No belly scratchers,everything is suspended this time of year(summer).

@ Magged out...yea your right about that. Damn ive never used a 5oz sinker. I have 3oz no rolls. But im gonna have to come check out Twin buttes soon. I guess you know where all the hard to reach, secluded bank spots are?

@ SARG...i seen seabee park sign on my way to the damn, ill have to fish there next time. Are these silos you talkin bout reachable from the bank? But even if they were, i dont know how to keep my bait off the bottom with a slip sinker rig using enough weight to cast a good distance. Ill have to hold off on the jug style 'til i get me a boat i suppose. So yall think all waters have a thermocline goin on right now and my dry spell is due to fishing the bottoms.