Striper fishing at San Antonio is like the song, when you're hot you're hot and when you're not you're not. Stripers here are big, with the lake record at 36lbs 4oz. The average striper will weigh about 15lbs. During the summer, casting into boiling surface feeding stripers is a guaranteed hook-up. You should always keep a rod ready, with a Zara Spook tied on, just in case a boil erupts in front of you. If you don't, the boil will be gone before you have a chance to tie on that topwater bait. Trolling is a popular method of fishing for stripers, both shallow and deep with downriggers, depending on the feeding pattern. Casting into the shoreline, in shallow water with topwater baits like Zara Spooks can also be productive. This works best in early morning and late evening hours. Another good method is to catch some live shad and flyline a live bait with a #6 lightwire hook and a splitshot. Shad can be dipped early in the morning, from the docks at the marina. Popular striper lures here are, Zara Spooks, 1 to 2oz White Hair Raisers, Big Macs, AC Plugs, and Hopkins Spoons. Good striper hang-outs are, around the marina, Three Fingers Cove, The Chalk Cliffs, and The Dam.

Smallmouth are abundant at San Antonio. They average 1 1/2 to 2lbs, with the lake record at 3lbs 14oz. I have personally caught smallies larger than that, not knowing what the lake record was at the time. Shad and crawdad color crankbaits work good here for smallies. The best time for smallmouth is March thru June. The points around the mouth of Harris Creek, the White Chalk Cliffs, and most other main lake rocky points are good spots.

Largemouth bass average 2lbs here at San Antonio, with the record at 9lbs 4oz. The spring, early summer and fall are prime largemouth times. All the usual plastics and jigs work well here, with main lake points holding lots of fish. The south shore, from Harris Creek to the dam is good largemouth territory. Shad colored crankbaits account for good catches and topwaters are productive early and late. One good rule to remember here is, fish shallow early and move out to deeper water as to day progresses.

Catfish bite good from March thru November. The usual baits are, cut mackerel, anchovies, nightcrawlers, and live or fresh dead shad. Waterdogs work good to entice the bigger cats to bite. There are channel cats and blue cats here. They average a respectable 10lbs, with the lake record at 25lbs even. The last cove to the right of the dam, Bee Rock Cove, and the Shallows are top producers of catfish. Night fishing is allowed at San Antonio and many catfishermen will take advantage of the nightfishing opportunity.

Crappie fishing here has been good for the past few years. Crappie here average 1 1/2lbs, with the record a 3lbs 8oz slab. The best crappie fishing occurs October thru June. 1/16oz white, or chartreuse crappie jigs work best here. Most good crappie fishermen here, will tip their jigs with a meal worm to increase their catch. Harris Creek, the marina, any of the boat docks, and any of the brushy coves, including the Shallows with all the stick-ups, are good crappie spots.

Redear and bluegill bite all year long. They can be found just about anywhere along the shore. Redear fishing use to be good here, but for some reason has really dropped off. Bluegill, however continue to be good bitters and can offer the kids and adults an enjoyable day. The usual baits are red worms, meal worms, and micro jigs. Try the Shallows. They feature lots of brush and stick-ups and are located at the north end of the lake.

Hope this helps

JC