Belton Lake is sitting nearly full at only half a foot low, with 4–6 ft visibility and surface temps in the low 70s. The bite has been strong early in the day, especially for smallmouth, with an occasional solid largemouth mixed in. Targeting both steep rocky banks and open-water nomadic fish has been productive.
The best results have come on topwater stickbaits fished tight to steep, rocky shorelines and also cast toward roaming bass spotted on forward-facing sonar. These fish have been chasing shad near the surface, providing some fun topwater strikes when conditions line up.
Big Bass Score = 2; Numbers Score = 3; Total = 5
O.H. Ivie Lake Fishing Report – October 28, 2025
O.H. Ivie is sitting about 19 feet low with 3–4 ft visibility and surface temps in the upper 60s. The bite has been challenging lately due to strong winds, which have made it tough to effectively target fish using forward-facing sonar. Despite that, we still managed to put some bass in the boat, and conditions should improve as the weather stabilizes.
The most consistent action has come from spinnerbaits fished shallow over submerged vegetation. Anglers who can find a break in the wind can also connect with open-water bass chasing baitfish by using mid-strolling minnow-style soft plastics with forward-facing sonar. With the next calm window, expect the bite to pick back up.
Numbers Score = 1; Big Bass Score = 2; Total = 3
Stillhouse Hollow Lake Fishing Report – October 20, 2025
Stillhouse Hollow Lake is sitting at full pool with clear water in the 4–6 ft visibility range and temperatures around 76°. Despite the date on the calendar, unusually warm conditions have kept the bass in more of a summer pattern.
The most consistent action has come from targeting nomadic schools of bass with forward-facing sonar. These fish are following shad, so depth, structure, and cover don’t play much of a role. Weightless soft plastic jerkbaits and mid-strolling techniques have been producing the best results.
There are also a few scattered bass to be caught around submerged vegetation and shoreline cover, but those bites have been less consistent lately.
Big Bass Score = 2; Numbers Score = 5; Total Score = 7
Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Report – September 27, 2025
Stillhouse is sitting at full pool with stained water in the 2–4 ft visibility range, depending on location. Days have been bright, sunny, and hot, while mornings have started out cool.
The larger bass are coming from submerged vegetation in 12–20 ft of water, with drop-shot rigged finesse worms being the top producer. For better numbers, we’ve been targeting nomadic schools of open-water bass chasing shad. Small weightless soft jerkbaits and swimbaits have been effective, but forward-facing sonar has been essential for staying on these roaming fish.
Big Bass Score = 2; Numbers Score = 4; Total = 6
Inks Lake Fishing Report – September 11, 2025
Inks Lake is holding steady at normal level with stained water (about 2 ft visibility) and temps in the low 80s. Fishing has been scattered and patterning bass consistently has been tough. We’ve been catching them with a mix of techniques around all sorts of cover, structure, and depths — a classic late summer/early fall “junk-fishing” bite.
For anglers comfortable with forward-facing sonar, there are nomadic bass roaming open water and relating to shad. Mid-strolling minnow-style plastics have been the most consistent way to connect with these fish.
Big Bass Score = 2; Numbers Score = 2; Total = 4
