August 2023: Lake Livingston Fishing Report
Normal Lake Level
131.0’
Current Lake Level
131.32’
Water Temperature
75˚- 77˚
Release – cfs. 5,000
Water Clarity – upper river channel clearing, mid lake clearing, lower lake clear, upper creeks, mostly clear.
FISHING FORECAST:
HOT, HOT, HOT, summer weather is hot and so is the fishing on Lake Livingston. Summer 2023 has had some of the best fishing in recent memory. White Bass fishing has been fantastic, reminiscent of the heydays of the 70’s. Summer Crappie fishing has remained good in the major creeks. Typical summer patterns are now consistently producing fish in all parts of the lake. These patterns should continue to provide outstanding action in weeks ahead. Lake Livingston consists of over 90,000 acres of water and 450 miles of shoreline.
SPECIES REPORT:
Black Bass {largemouth} – Black Bass fishing has slowed with higher water temperatures. Some good fish still being caught on Charlie’s June bug creature baits inside the cuts of major creeks. Newton, Upper Carolina and Harmon Creeks producing Blacks. Several good fish caught recently in Bethy Creek near the rocks on medium diving crank baits in sexy shad and chartreuse blue.
Catfish – Good fishing for big Blue Cats on drifted shad mid lake and lower lake regions. Great action now for Blue Cats on trotlines baited with fresh shad near the old river channel. Fishing for Blue Cats on jugs has been good in the bays when the wind is blowing. Harmon Creek is producing Blue Cats early morning fishing under the bird roost.
Crappie – Good Crappie now coming out of Bethy, Harmon, Carolina and Bedias Creeks in clear and tea colored water. Also some good Crappie coming out of lower lake boathouses. Best bait has been live minnows 4-6’ on a slip cork. Lots of short fish being caught now.
White Bass – “Early bird gets the worm,” get on the water at first light to get in on top water schooling action. Then, concentrations of Whites showing up on mid and lower lake humps where they are being caught in good numbers on Tsunami Zombie Eye Blue Silver Glow jigging slabs off the bottom. Hybrids over 18” are being caught along with the Whites.