I wished I could tell you some good news but I can't. I hit several spots from Key Ranch North up to the sunken island just north of Prairie Creek. Starting out most of the fish I marked were in 30 FOW or deeper. I saw bait balls 25 to 30 FOW and the water temp was in the low 50's. As I made my way up north, the water temp increased slightly and the dept of the fish I marked was coming up. At my most northern point, the surface water temp was above 56 and the depth of the fish was mostly around 20 to 25 FOW with bait holding just above that line. I tried Mepps, Mal and 1/8 oz crappie jigs using various colors and sizes. Several time the fish would look at the bait, maybe follow it a little and then swim off. It's not always about catching. Sometimes it's just fishing. January and February are always my worst months. But that's OK. I did see Dennis out there. He said he was not having much luck. Maybe he will weigh in later.

I echo your report. Most winters are mild here and I can catch fish on structure throughout winter. Not this year. The early January cold snap plunged water temps and the fish left the 20 to 27 fow structures and went out to the deep and suspended. The very few I can see down on structure won't bite. I ran into Fastguy yesterday and he was catching some deadsticking in deep water. I guess I am going to have to learn deadsticking.

I went out for a few hours this afternoon and hit 6 spots. This was more scouting than anything else. In our channel going out to the main lake the water temp was 52F. The spots I looked at on the main lake was 3 Jug hump SE, Key Ranch north, Long ridge East and west, mid lake hump and Merimac Point. The water temps were in the 48F range. One major difference I noticed from last week was that the bait fish have moved up in the water column. They were in 18 to 25 FOW. Long Ridge west was absolutely loaded with bait. A few fish have moved up in the water column as well. I noticed a few in the 20 to 25 FOW range. I did not see any heavy concentrations of SB or hybrids, just a few here and there. They were not real interested in chasing lures. I tried the MAL and Boblade with no luck. I was able to get a few thick females in the boat vertical jigging tandem rigged thump buddies. I also had one break off. It was good to get the string stretched a bit.

Good post and updates.

Thank you guys for the post and updates. Does anyone know of a map that I can purchase or download that gives the GPS coordinates for the fishing locations you are referring to such as Long Ridge East and west, Merimac point, Key Ranch, 3 jug hump etc. New this year to Cedar Creek Lake. Thanks in advance.

Take a look at any of Dennis Christian's posts (he has one in this thread). In his signature line he has a link called CC Map. Click on the link and a map of Cedar Creek will pop up and it shows many of the areas that are referred to by name.

Things are still trending in the right direction. In our channel it was 54F and the main lake was 50F. The fish moved up slightly in the water column as compared to last week. I saw a few that were playing around in the 16 FOW but most were still in 20 to 24 FOW. Their activity level has picked up as well. I fished Long Ridge west, A frame, Merimac and Game Warden. The further north you go, the warmer the water. I only caught 2 fish but they were good ones. I caught a 3 lb blue cat on a thump buddy jig and a 4 lb hybrid on a MAL original. Both fish came from Long Ridge west.

2/15/2024: Found fish late in the day at 3-Jug Hump and Merimac Point. Caught 15 whites and 2 nice yellow bass on structure 15 to 22 fow. Best day in a good while.

Good job Dennis. I think the warm temps this next week will yield a big turnaround. Did you catch your fish vertical jigging a Mepps?

vertical in 20+ fow and casting out in 13 to 15 fow.

02/20/2024 and 2/22/2024: On the 20th friend Paul H and I caught 18 on structure. We first tried 3-Jug, Merimac, Iron Wall, and Kevin's Point but the water was too murky for the fish to see and bite. We then went to the dam area and then to Clear Creek where the water was substantially clearer and caught 18 fish - mostly in 13 to18 fow casting out and reeling back along the bottom. Today I found fish at Flagpole Point and 60 Acre Hump, and caught 32: 30 white bass and 2 yellow bass. About half were in 14 to 18 fow and half in 19 to 23 fow. Mepps #4 and 1/3 oz Little Cleo caught them.

Thanks Dennis. What was the water temp yesterday?