Hi folks. Long time Texas fisherman, salt and fresh (but almost always bank, pier or wade), brand new to this forum.

Headed to Wimberley with the family soon and I am looking to catch some panfish, especially on ultralight gear. We'll be on Cypress Creek. I used to love fishing the clear waters of the Comal and Blanco and Guadalupe when I was a kid, almost always used a white Mepps rooster tail or the ol' standby - worms under a bobber. Looking for clear water advice and some suggestions for lures so I can get a few before we head up there. I'll be searching the forum as well, just thought I'd ask for specific location advice. Thanks!

I recently started fishing with the drop shot technique with 3" berkly trout worms and am hooked. I hear it's killer in clear water. I've been using a swivel, 6lb test (soon to test out 4lb) a #6 drop shot hook, 1/8 ounce drop shot 18" below the hook and I have a hard time trying other baits! Good luck.

So mwrose777, how exactly does the rig fit together? Does the swivel go above the drop shot? Are there special "drop shot" hooks and split shot that you are using? Where do you get drop shot hooks and Berkley trout worms?

I have not been through Wimberly since last summer, and last summer Cypress Creek was dry-ola. I'm sure it has rebounded like many other Central Texas and Hill Country streams this year. If it hasn't, the San Marcos is not too far away.

I have had good luck with the Rebel Craw on clear water rivers, the ultra small size

"Shead" to the Texas Fishing Forum. Glad to have you on board. The Hill Country is on fire right now and the fish are very active. All of the creeks including the Cypress are in good shape. I have been having great results using live worms and fishing em off of the bottom. I would bounce em off of the bottom and would get the hits in a matter of seconds. The Blanco, Little Blanco, and Perdernales Rivers are all good. Live Oak Creek in Fredricksburgh is good as well as the Cibolo Creek in Boerne. Fish by brush piles and sunken structure. You should have no problems at all.


Side Note: Let us know how you do!

I use a #6 drop shot hook. Google probably has better explanations than I could type. I'm new at it but already a big fan. I'll snap a couple of pictures for you tomorrow though.

I used to like small marabou jigs in clear water, that was before i started fly fishing.

Thanks for the welcome folks, looks like I am diggin' this drop shot, its new since I fished. Palomar knot, check, hok up, check, now to figure what little soft baits to use. I love tackle, ime to load up. Going to get a new UL rod and reel combo too, this forum has me pretty excited.

Is it too soon to look for good panfish recipes? Heh...

To the TFF/Blue Gill Section. Great section with "GREAT" Anglers. You will learn a lot on this forum along with having some fun. Looking forward to some of your postings and catches.

I like wacky rigging the 3" worms I mentioned earlier. Seems to work for me. They sell them at bass pro and academy. I'll be giving them a shot in Livingston tomorrow so I guess we'll see

To the Forum. Looking forward to seeing some of your catches. Glad to have ya.

to the TFF/Bream Gang!! When you're talking Hill Country, clear water sunfish, you're talking my language! That fits my style of fishing and how I like to fish for them. Really what's more important (at least when fishing lures & artificials) is how you fish. Stealth is the key when fishing those particular waters. It's more like stalking then it is your everyday fishing. Those fish are so skittish and wary that you have to keep a low profile, wear drab colors, and keep a low profile. Lots of folks make fun of me (not many on this board; like minded anglers I think) but I tend to wear desert camo and what ever else I can to break up my pattern. 4lb and even 2lb test are the order of the day. Light braid with a real small diameter mono/copolymer line. Long casts are not normally a concern on those rivers, creeks and streams, but there are parts fo those waters that long casts can be a great benefit.

As far as lures and presentation, #1 rule is keep it clean and compact. You don't want to have a lot of snaps, swivels and what not on your line. These fish see very well and don't mind hitting an artificial as long as it doesn't LOOK like a death trap. For hard baits, I like Rebel creature baits and Rapala Floating Minnows. I really like the Raps because they are silent and don't have an internal rattle. Seems to really work in those gin clear rivers, streams and creeks. Micro Heddon & Arbogast topwaters can be really fun also. I like marabou/feather/hackle jigs, but I prefer plastics for the most part on these waters. Clear, smoke, and other translucent colors are probably 1a and white, black and pumpkin colors are 1b. Electric Blue/Firetail is a great color all across the Hill Country. Roadrunner spinner heads dressed in Marabou or soft plastic are the primary spinnerbaits I throw in these particular waters, but I will throw mini-bass spinnerbaits in big pools or if I know that there are a big population of Rock Bass, Warmouths and/or Green Sunfish.

Bends in the small river/creek/stream are probably the most consistant action. Undercut banks and root wads also usually hold bream in just about all conditions. Bream in these waters are hunting and hiding at the same time so they are usually in ambush mode and not roaming and chasing like they can do in other waters. Shadows = Fish. Moving water (riffles, runs, chutes and what not) are great places for bream to find prey and water with abundant o2. These fish don't hold to the Early Morning/ Evening feeding patterns like most still water bream do. If there is a good bit of current, expect the bit to be on somewhere. Even if the current is light, chances are the fish will still bite, but maybe not as consistant. No current = dropping water and o2 levels and that can stress the fish, but they will still bite if ther is enough o2 and cover.

Hope this helps and once again, to the TFF Bream Board!

Thanks Jagg, that's great info right there! Local knowledge is always best, I appreciate it. The clear/silver/white spinners are what I have used in the past up there. For example, I 'trolled' a rooster tail in white behind a paddle boat of all things, right down the middle of the river, and caught a tone of huge bluegills many years ago. I was sold on that color for clear water. I will be trying a lot of other colors, going to Fishing Tackle Unlimited tomorrow to stock up.

I am really excited, its been a while since I was into fresh water fishing, and I have definitely got the bug! Thanks very much.

Stocked up on some soft baits, drop shot weights and ready to go. ill be out there in a few days, hoping its good.

Anyone know how the creek looks these days?

I do not know about the creeks that are in your area but down here in the San Antonio, south Texas area the creek fishing is on fire. The fish are very active and most of em are off of the nest and looking for food. You should have no problem finding fish on a good filled creek. Good luck and let us know how you do!

Hello all, new to the TFF and to So. Tex fishing in general. Onen of my shooting buddies has gone nuts over panfish and immature large mouth in a buddies pond.

Upon invitation, I have taken inventory of my light tackle and am wondering if it will work around San Antonio. I have Mepps pans #'s 0 thru three, a few Rooster tails and some little Martin spinners. A light spinning rig and a crappie pole.

Think this set up will work in ponds and little hill country rivers ?