Cooling trend pushes shad into creek arms around standing timber

What anglers are reporting The last solid report from Ivie was back in mid-July. Without fresh updates from the ramp, we have to lean on the seasonal transition and the current weather patterns to break down the lake.

This week's outlook Fall is in full swing, and the cooling trend is likely dropping water temperatures into the mid-60s. Shad should be pushing into the creek arms of the Concho and Colorado rivers. Bass will follow this forage, setting up on secondary points and along the edges of standing timber. Multiple fronts are rolling through, which should keep the fish moving and feeding in spurts.

Where to start Focus on the creek arms and look for isolated timber near channel swings. Idle with your side-scan to locate bait balls before you start casting. Target the edges of flooded mesquite and saltcedar in 5 to 15 feet of water. If the shallow bite stalls, back out to the first major depth change and look for suspended fish in the trees.

Bait box

• Squarebill crankbaits (shad patterns for shallow wood)
• Spinnerbaits (white or chartreuse willow blades)
• Suspending jerkbaits (for fish holding off the timber)
• Texas-rigged creature baits (pitching into heavy brush)

This weekend A front pushes through on Saturday, bringing rain and dropping highs into the low 60s. Sunday stays cool with lingering showers and a light northeast breeze. The pre-front window on Saturday morning could offer a solid reaction bite. Once the front passes, expect conditions to tighten fish to the timber. Slow down and pick apart the wood with a Texas rig. Keep an eye on the wind forecast if you plan to fish into next week, as heavy gusts arrive by Wednesday.