Shad push into creeks as heavy Sunday rain approaches

What anglers are reporting The last solid reports from Belton were back in the spring, so we are fishing current conditions and seasonal patterns this week. With air temperatures holding in the 70s during the day and upper 50s at night, expect water temperatures to be sitting in the mid to upper 60s.

This week's outlook November on Belton means shad are pushing into the creek arms, and both largemouth and smallmouth will follow them. The lake is deep and clear, so fish will use the long rocky points and limestone bluffs to ambush bait. Look for active fish to push shallow early in the day or when the wind picks up, then slide back to 15 to 20 feet of water on those same rocky structures when the sun gets high.

Where to start Focus on the secondary rocky points and bluff walls in the lower half of the lake for smallmouth, or head up the Leon River and Cowhouse Creek arms to find largemouth relating to chunk rock banks. Keep your boat in 20 feet of water and cast toward the bank, working your bait down the slope. If you find isolated boulders on your side-imaging, pick them apart.

Bait box

• Medium-diving crankbaits in shad patterns
• Spinnerbaits with white and silver willow blades
• Drop shot with a small natural shad plastic
• Finesse jigs in craw colors for rocky points

This weekend A major front is forecast for Sunday, bringing over four inches of rain and dropping daytime highs by 11 degrees. Saturday will be your best window to fish the pre-front conditions with a moving bait. By Sunday, expect the creek arms to muddy up quickly and the bite to shut down as the cold rain washes in. If you have to fish Sunday, slow down and target the deeper bluff ends on the main lake where the water stays clearer.