Thinking about making the trip from Waco this weekend to fish it for the first time. Is it worth going out there right now? Bringing a buddy and would really love to put him on some fish.

Thinking I'll just go to the back of some creeks and try my luck pitching grass or throwing a spinnerbait/rattletrap/chatterbait around. I've also heard success can be had in the cypress trees but are those just all over or in certain areas in particular? Satellite image makes it a little hard to tell.

& any tips on running the lake? Don't really want to buy a boat lanes chip, will probably just play it safe and focus in on one area of the lake so I don't have to make long runs. Don't want to lose a lower unit. Thanks all!

Lake is 4 foot low. I haven't been on it for awhile but heard the humps off caney creek was fishing good.

As stated the lake is low. Running has everything to do with there you plan to fish. I fished the 147 area weekend before last and did pretty good but with all the cold weather we received since then I expect some change in pattern. The ramp I normally use is to low for me to launch so I’m having to fish other areas. I fish the north end most of the time. As far as your plan tactics I think your right on target for a good start. I’ll be out there Saturday morning but not sure where I’m launching yet. Waiting on the wind forecast tomorrow. Good luck.,

You can pretty much cross the cypress trees off of your gameplan as 90% of them on the lake are high and dry at 4' low.

I have had a few guide trips over the last week and we are catching really good numbers offshore however the bigger fish don't seem to be catchable out there yet as it is still too warm for the shad to truly group up in the mega bait clouds I look for in late October and November. The brushpile bite is not very good right now as most of the fish are basically roaming on bait. I am having to keep moving covering water scanning with the Lowrance looking for the fish until I find them. Once you spot them near the bottom, they are usually easy to catch with whatever you want to throw, but baitfish are the key. You won't always find the bass around the bait, however you will always find bait around the bass! Keep moving, don't sit in one place or area waiting on a bass to show up. 50-100 fish days aren't hard to do if you know what to look for and keep moving.

The shallow bite is what it is right now but the same theory applies, KEEP MOVING! The lily pad bite seems to be fairly consistent and probably the easiest pattern to get on because you can drive around and find them. With the water lower, the topped off hydrilla isn't hard to find either. Frogs, topwater, wakebaits, swimjigs and shallow crankbaits seem to be the best. In my opinion, flipping grass is very hit and miss because it is slow and you still have to cover water. If I was solely trying to target better quality, I would stick with the pads or grass knowing I wasn't going to catch nearly as many fish as spending time offshore.

Thank you for the replies and advice! We are staying in Lufkin. Is cassels boykin the best ramp to use? I was honestly planning on heading to the south/east area of the lake (Had originally planned to launch from Umphrey and fish the northeast end, like NE from umphrey, but lodging didnt work out in Jasper). And is the middle of the lake clear of stumps for the most part? Any tips on how to run it?

Headed up tonight, hopefully we can get on them. Need to find some crappie for my grand daughter, her first trip with me.

Look up Ken Smith Fishing for info on the lake. There is also a thread on here about some boat killer stumps that are around due to the lake level, I think it was related to the Sealy tournament a few weeks ago. I was there two weeks ago and only caught dinks. We had the front come in on us Friday so it was one of those weekends.

We launched at Hanks Creek Friday and Monterrey Saturday. If you get a north wind Cassel can be fun! Caney is a good ramp, big creek right there to fish.

Good luck and be safe.

Ended up launching from Caney Creek today and fished for a couple of hours. Stayed close to the ramp because I don't know the lake at all and, from what I've heard, don't want to mess with north of the 147 because I hear it gets sketchy running. Fished lily pads and hydrilla. Caught one on a green pumpkin swim jig but no bites other than that. Couldn't get on the lily pad bite. We'll hit it hard tomorrow but not sure what my game plan is yet.