By Gary Emmert
A pair of October cold fronts has turned Central Texas lakes into a fisherman’s dream, according to veteran guide Bob Maindelle of Holding the Line Guide Service, who says some of the best fishing of the year is unfolding right now on Lakes Belton and Stillhouse Hollow.
Maindelle shared his latest fishing report during a recent edition of “On the Dock with Rick Smith,” heard Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:15 p.m. on KNCT-FM.
“The fishing is just nothing short of spectacular right now,” Maindelle said.
He credits a combination of cooling water temperatures and seasonal fish movement patterns for the surge in activity. The first cold front arrived at the beginning of October, followed by a second front in mid-month. Despite calm conditions, bright skies and almost no wind throughout much of the week, fish continued to feed aggressively.
“I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when we get the wind and some cloud cover to mix with these cooler lake temperatures,” he said. “We’re going to see a 200- to 250-fish trip in the next couple of weeks.”
Maindelle came close to reaching that milestone recently when three brothers joined him on Lake Belton. After just three hours of fishing, the group had landed 199 fish. He even extended the trip in hopes of reaching 200, but the fish eventually stopped feeding.
“When they’re done, they’re just done,” he said.
The near-record outing was part of a week that produced impressive numbers overall. Maindelle reported catching 511 fish during four guided trips, averaging more than 127 fish per outing. While a few hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass were included in the tally, the overwhelming majority were white bass.
The action has followed a predictable pattern. Early in the morning, schools of fish gather on feeding areas in about 20 feet of water. Once the sun rises and begins shining directly on the lake, the fish move deeper, settling into water closer to 30 feet deep.
Interestingly, Maindelle said the late morning bite has often been the most productive.
“From about 9:30 to 11:30 is actually where I’ve been doing my best,” he said.
During that period, multiple schools often combine into larger concentrations, creating opportunities for rapid-fire catches in a relatively small area.
Technology also plays a major role in locating fish. Maindelle relies heavily on side-imaging sonar to identify schools of white bass, which appear as tightly grouped clusters on electronic displays. Once fish are located, anglers can use GPS-enabled trolling motors or waypoints to position themselves directly above the schools.
To trigger bites, he often uses noise-making devices to attract fish and then presents a fast-moving lure retrieved steadily through the water column.
The key, he said, is resisting the temptation to overwork the bait.
“Those fish do not want the bait presented that way,” Maindelle explained. “They just want a flat-passed, running bait going away from them, and they will put on the afterburners, overtake it and grab it.”
For anglers looking to get on the water this fall, Maindelle believes the best may still be ahead.
With cooling temperatures expected to continue and additional weather changes on the horizon, Central Texas lakes appear poised to deliver exceptional fishing opportunities in the weeks ahead.
Listeners can hear more fishing reports and outdoor insights from Maindelle during future editions of “On the Dock with Rick Smith” on KNCT-FM.
