Lake Palestine

Anyone catching Hybrids/Whites on Lake Palestine? I haven't fished there in a few years but had heard of a fish kill some time back.

You'll want ATM to chime in on this one. He knows the HOW/WHEN/WHERE when it comes to the hybrids/whites. I haven't fished for the whites/hybrids lately but in years past, in early April, the Saline Bay area will hold plenty of fish. If I was going for the first time in a long time and I had limited time, this is where I would go:

The river channel swings in close to the mouth of County Line Creek (will be on your right as you are going North into Saline) and there is a stretch of deep water docks right before you hit the mouth of County Line. Small underwater point and a deep hole will hold fish. Stay in 10-15ft of water out from the docks BUT not in the channel itself. Too deep. Once you're done with that spot, go north again about a 1/2 mile and on your right will be a small cove (NOT the golf course cove) of docks that are in the Emerald Bay neighborhood. There's a stretch of several homes/boat docks along that north shore with dogwoods in their backyards down close to the waters edge. Easy to see now because they're blooming. Stay about 100 yards off the bank and you'll be in a spawning flat of 10-12ft of water very close to the river channel. Those whites will group up by the hundreds on this shallow flat. Once you're done there keep going North and right when you hit the big main lake point at the turn going into the main Saline Bay....stop. It's a big point that extends underwater way out into the bay. The whites and hybrids will stack up at different depths on this main underwater point.

Of course if all that fails, then just fish the sunken 155 road bed/bridge and you'll catch plenty there.

Thanks RKD, very useful information

I don't fish the lake but that was one of the most useful reports I have seen in a long time. Good info.

You're welcome. It's my favorite lake. Fished it for 35 years. Always glad to help anyone on Palestine. One more tip-I've tried every slab/spoon in the book and most work well enough. The one exception is a 1/4oz chrome Kastmaster spoon WITH the bucktail. For whatever reason, that little chrome spoon will outfish all other slabs 2 to 1. And the key is having the bucktail. Also, put an o-ring on the spoon. Tie your line to the oring. A lot of Kastmasters don't have an oring and the hole where you tie the line will prohibit the great fluttering action of the spoon.

Good luck. I requested the county put a red light at the Ledbetter bridge. Its crowd and jet skies and tubers are already out. Trollers, everywhere.

Definately a lack of numbers for sandbass. Hopefully they spawned this year. When get out of that funk, they will be hungry.

Fished for crappie today but couldn’t resist checking that first spot you mentioned on the way in. Don’t think I have fished it in years, but remember having some good trips there in April in years past. Wind was blowing pretty good out of the east pushing tons of bait out of County Line across that rocky point and it was loaded with whites and hybrids. Caught an 8.5# hybrid on first cast. Thanks for the reminder. Will have to check those other two spots next trip

Start shallow early in 1-5’ then as sun gets up 10-15’ on wind blown points and ledges. Shad on carolina rig has been king but if they are in the mood you can catch them on anything.




Fresh hybrids grilled on half shell with butter sirache glaze for dinner