Texas Fishing Forum

HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run

Posted By: Jig & Pig

HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/02/17 02:50 AM

So...no posts yet. Usually start catching a few in January, run starts pretty good with first decent rains mid February. First week in March is peak for me. Usually catch till first of April in a good year. Water temp target is 55 degres. With lake low may be lots of logs to traverse. Moved out of town now and haven't fished consistently since 2013. May go Feb 17-20, President's Day holiday weekend. Good luck! Hope to see some reports soon.
Posted By: skeeter22

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/02/17 02:52 AM

You drive from Cotulla for this?
Posted By: Jig & Pig

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/02/17 03:55 AM

Only when in town to visit family. We come back every other month. Usually haul the kayak.
Posted By: woodrow

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/03/17 01:47 AM

Palestine is full
Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/12/17 02:28 PM

Went Friday afternoon on my first trip of the year. Caught 5 males.
Several fisherman caught +10. Couple here couple there. Later
this week should be better with new water flowing.
Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/15/17 03:48 AM

Should turn on bigtime next week. rain and 75 to 80 degree weather
Posted By: CBoone

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/15/17 03:19 PM

Originally Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend
Went Friday afternoon on my first trip of the year. Caught 5 males.
Several fisherman caught +10. Couple here couple there. Later
this week should be better with new water flowing.


I caught 12 Friday morning - all males but all good size. It should be picking up quite a bit. Not sure how much rain they got down there, but we got 3/4 inch just North of Canton.
Posted By: KOP

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/16/17 06:42 PM

I'm planning on going tomorrow. Hoping the cold weather doesn't mess things up. Any thoughts on if this cold front will shut them down?
Posted By: Fish a holic

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/18/17 02:11 AM

Just got home from the river and caught 4 sandies and 3 black bass. Fished from about 2:30 till 6 from the railroad bridge back to 31 boat launch. Think in another week or two and it should be ON!!!!
Posted By: KOP

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/18/17 03:07 AM

I decided not to go since the weather was [censored]. Plus I had the feeling it would be a slow day. Hoping to make it back in a couple of weeks.
Posted By: bobwhitepointer

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/18/17 04:42 PM

Walked upriver from bridge and caught 8 kept 6. Fished from 8-10
Posted By: The Big Worm

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/19/17 01:09 AM

Is it possible to launch at the Hwy 31 bridge and run down to the main lake at the current water level? I'm running a mud boat/ motor.
Posted By: bobwhitepointer

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/19/17 01:44 AM

Should be ok BW. Went back and fished from 130-330 caught 9. Half males and half big females
Posted By: Fish a holic

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/19/17 02:15 AM

BW, you can easily run a mud boat/motor right now at the current water levels. While I was fishing yesterday, I passed 3 bass boats that were headed back to the 31 W boat launch. They had been fishing in the main lake.
Posted By: Jigs4Life

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/19/17 03:25 AM

I went today, and on the way back to go home I see these two chick in bikini tops in kayak. Wish I had a beer on my line.
Posted By: ETO Fishing / Nick

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/20/17 09:33 PM

Anyone fished the Neches Sunday, if so any good reports
Posted By: ETO Fishing / Nick

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/20/17 09:37 PM

Anyone fished the Neches Sunday, if so any good reports
Posted By: bobwhitepointer

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/20/17 11:24 PM

I fished sunday morning from 730-11. Took home 15. Some good size males and females
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/21/17 02:27 PM

Originally Posted By: bobwhitepointer
I fished sunday morning from 730-11. Took home 15. Some good size males and females


The parking lot was empty when I left at 9:30



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Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/22/17 12:40 AM

Originally Posted By: bobwhitepointer
I fished sunday morning from 730-11. Took home 15. Some good size males and females


Nice cheers
Posted By: ETO Fishing / Nick

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/23/17 12:23 PM

Any report on the Neches river this week
Posted By: Steve Freeman

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/23/17 01:05 PM

My uncle who lives in tyler drove out to the 31 bridge yesterday, said he saw one guy with a stringer full, 3 almost 18" in length.
Posted By: Txmudder

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/24/17 03:33 PM

Originally Posted By: Steve Freeman
My uncle who lives in tyler drove out to the 31 bridge yesterday, said he saw one guy with a stringer full, 3 almost 18" in length.


If they were almost 18" they were hybrids, not sandbass.
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/25/17 08:20 AM

Originally Posted By: Steve Freeman
My uncle who lives in tyler drove out to the 31 bridge yesterday, said he saw one guy with a stringer full, 3 almost 18" in length.

Fake news
Everybody has cell phones but, he didn't bother to take pics ?
BTW, does his eye sight have auto measurement function ?
I've fished that area for years & never seen a 18" Whitebass caught there.
NOBODY is catching limits...........period





Originally Posted By: Txmudder
If they were almost 18" they were hybrids, not sandbass.

Hybrids & Stipers MUST be 18"+ to be legal to keep.





I have been there 3 times in the last 2 weeks & NOBODY is catching limits.
I was there this Friday (2-24-17) till 2:30
Very few people caught more than 5-6
Most were small males about 11"

Water is very murky & barely fish-able.
Game Wardens were out also.

3 guys on this forum keep posting false info. with no proof of what they say.
They did it last year too.
Post the pics or move on down the road.
Creekside Sports in Chandler is also saying that limits are being caught but, have no proof.
They're just giving people false info. to drum up business.

Yes the weather was nice.
If you think conditions are good for fishing, you should go.
You might get lucky enough to hit it just right like I did today.



I caught 6 Whitebass but, only 2 were keepers at 13"
I also caught 2 Stripers.
1 was 17-1/2" & was released.
The other was almost 19" which I kept.

I also caught 3 Hybrids.
2 were 17-1/2" & were released.
1 was almost 19" which I kept.















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Posted By: ETO Fishing / Nick

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/25/17 11:42 AM

I totally agree with you Hookinup. I dont understand why someone has to tell fish stories about how much or how big the fish they caught, pictures say a 1000 words. I was out there yesterday and caught 11 fish with a buddy. I know guys that say they caught a 100 or 150 fish on the Neches this year already. Full of [censored]!!! The conditions didnt call for the fish yet!!!
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/25/17 07:26 PM

Originally Posted By: ETO Fishing / Nick
I totally agree with you Hookinup. I dont understand why someone has to tell fish stories about how much or how big the fish they caught, pictures say a 1000 words. I was out there yesterday and caught 11 fish with a buddy. I know guys that say they caught a 100 or 150 fish on the Neches this year already. Full of [censored]!!! The conditions didnt call for the fish yet!!!


In the age of the internet, I only believe what I see..........not what I read or hear.
That's why I post pics.

The water north of the bridge is very murky or dirty with maybe 6" of visibility.
South of the bridge gets a bit better the farther you go but, still not what it needs to be.

There's a few tricks to catching them in dirty water but, mainly slowing the lure retrieve so slow it's almost not moving.
I saw most everyone reeling real fast which is why few people caught very few fish.

A spinner bait works well sometimes as the vibration from the blade causes massive disturbance that the fish can sense easily.
I could have caught more fish if I had stayed longer.
Considering the water conditions, I had to work hard for the ones I did catch.

Also, I don't see anyone using weedless hooks.
Personally, I always use weedless hooks which makes for far less snags (if any) & more time catching fish.

I make my own weedless lead head jigs.
I also use weedless bait holder hooks.

I think I'll take some small crawdads if I go one day next week.
I think it may get better in a couple weeks if rain don't change things.




.
Posted By: Txmudder

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 03:42 AM


Originally Posted By: Txmudder
If they were almost 18" they were hybrids, not sandbass.


[/quote]
Hybrids & Stipers MUST be 18"+ to be legal to keep.
[/quote]

My point was that sand bass don't get that big. If they were almost 18" they had to of been hybrids and should have been thrown back if under 18". Been way to many people keeping undersize hybrids that they think are huge sandbass. I hate to see so many get taken out before they reach their potential.
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 03:58 AM

Originally Posted By: Txmudder

My point was that sand bass don't get that big. If they were almost 18" they had to of been hybrids and should have been thrown back if under 18". Been way to many people keeping undersize hybrids that they think are huge sandbass. I hate to see so many get taken out before they reach their potential.



UH OK
I have personally caught Whitebass 18" at the Somerville spillway & Lake Conroe before the die off a few years ago.
On the Neches I have caught 17" Whitebass albeit on rare ocassion.
In fact, the last great Whitebass run in Feb.-March 2014 I caught several 17" females on the Neches at the 31 bridge.

I educate people when I can about the difference in tooth patches so they hopefully don't get a $500. citation from the game warden.




Posted By: Txmudder

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 04:12 AM

You're right. I meant to say the sand bass usually don't get that big on the Neches. You may occasionally catch some around the 16-17" mark but I would say that it would be unusual to catch that many that were nearly 18" there.
Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 03:11 PM

There are stripers in lake Palestine?
Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 03:15 PM

Hookinup u said "I also caught 2 Stripers.

The other was almost 19" which I kept.

I also caught 3 Hybrids.

1 was almost 19" which I kept."













So which one is the striper???
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 07:06 PM

A better pic at the bank.
Looks like a Striper.
No broken lines.
Striper gill plates are narrower than Hybrids.
Eyes on Stripers are smaller than on Hybrids.

I don't care as long as they're big fish & I catch 5 keepers.
Lots of big fish south of the bridge using top water plugs.

Posted By: fmclee

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 08:26 PM

Sunshine bass ...........
They are a hybrid of a female white bass and male striped bass that does not occur naturally.
Sunshines often have broken stripes on the front half and straight lines on the rear half of the body.
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/26/17 09:13 PM

Originally Posted By: fmclee
Sunshine bass ...........
They are a hybrid of a female white bass and male striped bass that does not occur naturally.
Sunshines often have broken stripes on the front half and straight lines on the rear half of the body.


After a quick search for Sunshine Bass it seems you are right.
I didn't know about them till now.
Also found Palmetto Bass.

Last stocking in Palestine was 2014
http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/acti...3&Submit=Go


The pics I found for Sunshine Bass is different than the one I posted here.
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/sunshine-bass/

Regardless, the limits are the same which makes it easy to determine if legal or not.
Posted By: fmclee

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/27/17 12:35 AM

Another dead giveaway is the double point on the gill plate on a striper.
Hybrids only have 1. Look at the 2nd pic on the post below

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt.....#Post12101695
Posted By: Steve Freeman

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 02/27/17 09:45 PM

he said they were hybrids, forgot to say that on my post. Sorry.
Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/01/17 02:30 AM

yup got about 16 in 2 1/2 hours. first hour only 2 then i found 2 areas had all 15 to 16 inchers. tossed them back didnt think i would get that many first trip. gotta try different spots their not all over the creek yet. lost alot of jigs to sticks. may try wednesday but withweather change so who knows how that will go. getchasome. gl gotget
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/01/17 03:49 AM

Originally Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal
yup got about 16 in 2 1/2 hours.

Pics or it didn't happen.
In this age of the internet & computer experts who want to have bragging rights I know it didn't happen.





Originally Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal
first hour only 2 then i found 2 areas had all 15 to 16 inchers. tossed them back didnt think i would get that many first trip.

That says it all right there.
Somebody who does something nobody else can.
roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao
Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/01/17 05:35 AM

Originally Posted By: Hookinup
Originally Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal
yup got about 16 in 2 1/2 hours.

Pics or it didn't happen.
In this age of the internet & computer experts who want to have bragging rights I know it didn't happen.





Originally Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal
first hour only 2 then i found 2 areas had all 15 to 16 inchers. tossed them back didnt think i would get that many first trip.

That says it all right there.
Somebody who does something nobody else can.
roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao

that coming from the man /woman that caught 2 striper off a creek on lake palestine. well there aint no striper ever been pulled out of lake palestine . but only by u. lololololol. u must be the greatest fisherperson . next fake news will be u caught 2 giant walleye. and u will have pics to prove it. lolol.






lolo





Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/01/17 05:48 AM

anyways for a 30 minute span there i was getting as busy as a one-legged cat in a sandbox. then they stopped about 5:30.
Posted By: Finaddict

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/01/17 10:39 PM

Went this mornng from 7-9:30 by boat fishing to bridge. Caught 3 whites and lost a biggie I figure was a striper/Hybrid. Two other boats had 3 in one and 4 in the other. One boat zero. 4 bank fishermen and one had one White. No current, normal pool, and normal stain. Tried plastic, spinner, and rattle trap in several colors. Need rain and current before it gets much better.
Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/02/17 12:37 AM

Re: Walleye.....mid 1980's I trolled up a 4-5 lb Walleye on Smith's Point.
Record is a 4.13 oz. I didn't realize that I should have registered it to
try for the record. It went on the diner table.
Posted By: gotreal formerly known as getreal

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/02/17 01:20 AM

well today only 6 in 3 hours. had a couple get off. weather changed it i guess. tried same spot as yesterday. nobody home. try again tomorrie. ledbetter too bad they dont
stock them anymore. hear they eat good
.
Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/02/17 12:17 PM

Re: Reports of slow catching. Full moon is off a ways (Mar 12th)
+ need a fresh amount of + 60 deg rain.
Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/04/17 01:14 AM

Dullsville on Kickapoo this afternoon.
Most of the fisherman were heading downstream
to the ramp with an hour of daylight left.
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/04/17 01:55 AM

Originally Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend
Dullsville on Kickapoo this afternoon.
Most of the fisherman were heading downstream
to the ramp with an hour of daylight left.


Is fishing so slow they have to fish all day to get a few ?




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Posted By: Finaddict

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/04/17 03:19 PM

Very slow. No current equals stagnant movement. Most fish seem to be in holes on sharp curves south of bridge. Some stripers between railroad tracks and first curve.

Opinions on next year? Building trailer park across from parking lot next to ramp! Under construction are large sections of steps at waterfront for access of campers. TPWD has listed this location on thier web site as number one in the state for Whites and Kayaks. Next year it will be overun.
Posted By: KOP

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/06/17 11:51 PM

Well that just sucks!!!
Posted By: 84CJ7

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/08/17 03:54 AM

Anyone do any good today? I'm planning on going in the morning.
Posted By: 84CJ7

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/09/17 01:02 PM

Went yesterday caught 12 sandies and 2 hybrids, 8 of the sandbass were too small to keep and the 4 keepers I got were all females full of eggs.
Posted By: Txmudder

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/09/17 02:04 PM

Hoping to get out there this weekend. It has been a slow so far this year.
Posted By: bobwhitepointer

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/09/17 07:48 PM

I will be trying this weekend. Hope they start biting
Posted By: Bass fro chop

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/10/17 01:58 AM










Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/15/17 10:37 PM

Congrats on that nice hybrid pictures above. I'm out of pocket
for Neches or Kick this week.......I'm not seeing any recent
reports....so it still ain't "ON" ? Too many chilly days/nights.
The tug of the Full Moon is waning. So will they probably just attempt
to spawn on windy lake points. If you are a newbie.... the actual
spawn is when a female rises toward the surface with one or more
males near her sides...lots of splashing etc.... the fertilized
eggs are supposed to be carried by the current for a few days vs.
settling down in the muck and dying. Gilbo & I have spent many
past fishing hours in our kayaks watching the peak of the run. For
Lake Palestine's sand bass run, it is pretty much over by Mar 20.
Posted By: Bass fro chop

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/16/17 04:45 AM

It's been almost a week since I fished neches. Unbelievably caught more hybrids than sandbass on a couple days. Downriver
Posted By: Hookinup

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/18/17 11:47 AM

Originally Posted By: The Leadbetter Legend
For
Lake Palestine's sand bass run, it is pretty much over by Mar 20.


Not true.
We're still catching Whitebass in the creeks.
Last year we were catching them till April 14th.

The Catfish are just starting to move in.



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Posted By: Finaddict

Re: HWY 31 - Neches River White Bass Run - 03/18/17 03:59 PM

True...whites are being caught. No limits and you work for them.
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