The August 2018 Fishing Report for Lake O’ the Pines, Texas is compiled from my personal fishing trips on the lake.
Compared to last year at this time, fishing has been much slower. Lake O’ the Pines heated up to the mid 90’s in June, and then cooled down with some cool weather and rain. Locations I fished last year that
produced Bass and Crappie are not producing as well this year. The Lake has again heated up, but this fluctuation in the lake temperatures has made it difficult to consistently locate fish.
Crappie Fishing Report for Lake O’ the Pines
I have been catching some Crappie and the ones I am catching are huge. On one outing I caught 11 Crappie and 4 of them exceeded 15 inches, and the other fish were a minimum of 12 inches. I was fishing the trees and stumps mid-lake. Most fish were caught in 23 to 30 feet of water, 12 to 15 feet down. I am using a Roadrunner Chartreuse jig head with Monkey Milk or similar jig bodies. I talked with one fisherman who was having some success with a jig tipped with a live minnow.
Bass Fishing Report for Lake O’ the Pines
Bass fishing on the lake is fair at best. The best fishing is in the morning or when the Solar Lunar tables say it is time to fish. The lower water level is making the hot spots from last year unproductive at best. I have caught a few fish in the evening in the Johnson Creek area in 3 to 4 feet of water on crank baits and rattle traps as they feed on the minnows coming to the surface. These fish are not big but they do show up consistently. Reports indicate that they are hitting weightless plastic flukes, Texas Rigged Crawfish and top water frogs. I have caught a few good sized fish hanging around the crappie structure.
Catfish Fishing Report for Lake O’ the Pines
Catfish are all over Lake O’ the Pines and are easy to catch on both trotlines and rod and reel. They are easy to train as well. I bought floating catfish food from Tractor Supply. If you throw it out in the evening for a few days, the fish will come. Sour grain works well also. This has worked in several places on Lake O’ the Pines. Catfish are biting live worms and dough bait pretty aggressively. Cut Shad or Bream seem to be the fisherman’s favorite on trotlines.
Lake Conditions
Water Temperature, 89 to 92 degrees. I was fishing on yesterday and the water temperature was 92 on the surface.
Water Clarity, The lake is stained.
Water Level, The current water level on Lake O’ the Pines is 227.11. 230.00 is normal pool elevation. The Corps of Engineers is releasing 26 cfs.
This Lake O the Pines Fishing Report is done as a courtesy.
Useful Information
Place to Stay on Lake O’ the Pines, Texas
Boat Rental on Lake O’ the Pines
Lake O’ the Pines Public Access Information
Park and Boat Ramp information
Zebra Mussel Alert Information