Lake Athens

I'll be staying up at Houston County June 5-7. Family reunion at the marina... I've always wanted to fish Athens just never made it up that way. I was thinking on leaving early Friday morning (june 5th) and fishing Athens, then head down to the cabin at HC afterwards.. I've fished Houston County countless times.

Is Athens worth fishing right now for someone who's never been to it (or even Palestine, never been there either.) I figured I might as well while up that way. Yes I'm hauling the boat

I have no up to date fishing report for you. Someone will come along with one. But: “YES”! Athens is a gem. Always worth fishing. Of course I’m a big fan of Houston County Lake too. Fishing and scenery.

Yep.

Athens is a great lake to fish 365 days a year. In the summer the bass school off shore so always have you a top water on. After your done if it's still not closed due the Covid 19 pandemic go to the Texas Freshwater Fish Hatchery next door and check it out, some really cool exhibits, it takes about 30 to 45 minutes to see everything.

With that being said what should I expect? Grass, deep water, timber??

Also, anything to watch out for as far as navigation? Stump fields? Shallow water?

Mostly a shallow lake and shallow bite for me but that is also how I like to fish. It is not that big so for first time going,IMO, tie on a weightless or wacky senko, a spinnerbait, and probably a frog now and cover a bunch of shoreline cover and docks. You will likely have a great day just doing that!

No navigational hazards? Just common sense?

Athens is one of the easiest lakes to catch em and catch em good. Frequent anglers report catches of 30+ fish a day up to 10 pounds.

Stay in the middle and watch out for ski boats, pretty much how we do it there.

Rock n roll, thanks guys! If I dont have at least 30 by noon and at least one 10lber i know who's getting a phone call.. LOL

Just kidding, thanks everyone. I'll report on how I do

You’ll catch em so small that they won’t register on a scale too....so don’t get discouraged.

I just enjoy a bite... big or small. I'm not here to catch big bertha.. But if she bites then that's a bonus!

It’s July 4th on Athens, tons of Wake Boats, I would fish Houston county lake, more stumps less wake-tards.

Absolutely. Very easy lake to get around. No main lake timber to speak of. Wide around some shallow points(that’s the common sense you speak of). Hydrilla, pads.....Also there used to be a Youtuber here that literally posted a SAL every trip out there(“new rule” SAL’s)

Athens is a good lake if you have not seen the MLF highlights. I watched it live. No stumps

Palestine is an awesome lake with lots of stumps. Better know where to go. 25lbs. won the FOM tournament on Saturday. From the grass line on a frog to a 10xd.

I'm going June....

All the above suggestions and a chatterbait....

If we did Palestine it'd be the south end of the lake.

I'll do some asking around. If it is windy go to Athens.

So it's not a good lake if I have seen the MLF highlights?

It is a good lake either way... You just being a pain?

Ott whooped some tail in the last round.

With the 3-1/2 pounders being caught in the pads with frogs the last few weeks, I’d hate to think what would have won...100pounds?

Last weekend I went through 3 packs of senkos in one arm of the lake. Catching 3 pounders. Then, I starting chunking a frog to keep from wasting baits. Had no problem catching overs. Same thing today, but no overs. Frog bite was insane. Non stop. Caught frog fish from 6:30am to 1:55 pm. Even caught five GREAT unders on frogs and wacky rig using senkos.

Everyone else in both tourneys, last week and this morning, were complaining how “bad”’it was ....I was having 40 fish days both times.

Athens....you either like it and slow down and enjoy it, or you hate it and can’t figure out the patterns.

Can I go next time?

Yeah, basically no timber on the lake. Lots of grass and lily pads on the lake right now. Haven't fished it in a few weeks but last time I went I caught around 5 pretty quick on a green watermelon senko worm weightless.

I hate to being stepping into this territory but I'll ask anyway...

There is supposedly a hump somwhere in this lake that I've read about and seen on YouTube.

Am I allowed to ask a general area on where this is? I have Garmin chartplotters so it may show up on there, I don't know though haven't checked.

I'll show you if I can go....

I've always done well at Athens throwing frogs.

I usually throw a zoom frog in natural brown and if they miss that ill follow it up with a hollow belly.

Only one we caught all day. Put in around 730, got a bite on a frog 3rd cast on the east side of the lake. This one my buddy got on a frog at around 10am or so. It's his PB so was worth the trip regardless

On the other hand, I'm not in a rush to go back. Wasn't a big fan of all the grass. I like cranking boat docks/stumps and what not. Never have been a big grass fisherman.

Just got to our room at HC.. Let the real fishing begin!

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