My son and I layered up and hit Athens NE Saturday December 30th. Overcast and misting off and on all day. Air and water temps in low to mid 40s, wind 5 to 10mph. No problem launching boat and fished from 9am to 5pm, breaking for lunch and trip to Texas Fishery Center from 12:30 to 3. Fished all over the lake…nothing along dam or in the one arm. Caught 3 bass from 1.8 to 2.5 lbs. Picture is my son's 2.5 (he won big fish of the day and got to pick where we ate for dinner!) Saw 5 deer and a bald eagle. Really enjoyed the day and love the lake…we'll be back in warmer weather.

What worked:

Crawfish pattern rattle trap and rapala shad rap in 6 to 10ft of water off point directly across from launch area, just tipping top of submerged vegetation and ripping out or pausing. 

What didn't work:

Worms and wake baits although only fished them briefly.

Posted By: Christopher Roberts