Bell County outdoors
Fishing, birding and ag reports.
Tight hay supplies and high winter feed prices are challenging Texas cattle producers’ ability to get as many cows as possible through winter in good condition. The 2022 drought and subsequent poor hay production resulted in stressed hay supplies going into winter, according to AgriLife Extension specialists. Those short hay supplies and demand have now pushed hay bale prices toward record high prices. Texas pastures produced the lowest amount of hay since 2011. LAURA McKENZIE | AGRILIFE
Lake Belton fishing report
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 13.89 feet below pool.
The extended cold weather brought in by Winter Storm Mara will likely drive reservoir temperatures to their winter lows thanks to multiple days of unbroken below freezing temperatures, cold winds, frozen precipitation and lack of direct sunlight. White bass fishing will require anglers to reset expectations for lower than average results. Top approaches include snap-jigging with intentional, long pauses between snaps using the smallest, 3/8 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slab in white for bottom-oriented fish, or using a deadsticking approach for suspended fish using a horizontally-oriented shad-imitating soft plastic of less than 3 inches in length on a jighead. Bird activity can be misleading, as gulls and terns turn their focus on feeding around loons and cormorants instead of around shad-eating game fish. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
Catfishing has been great. With cooling water temperatures blue catfish can be found in deeper water flats with soft bottoms. Slow drifting has been productive with cut bait. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.
Stillhouse Hollow fishing report
GOOD. Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 11.92 feet below pool.
The extended cold weather brought in by Winter Storm Mara will likely drive reservoir temperatures to winter lows thanks to multiple days of unbroken below freezing temperatures, cold winds, frozen precipitation and lack of direct sunlight. White bass fishing will require anglers to reset expectations for lower than average results. Top approaches include snap-jigging with intentional, long pauses between snaps using the smallest, 3/8 ounce Bladed Hazy Eye Slab in white for bottom-oriented fish, or using a deadsticking approach for suspended fish using a horizontally-oriented shad-imitating soft plastic of less than 3 inches in length on a jighead. Bird activity can be misleading, as gulls and terns turn their focus on feeding around loons and cormorants instead of around shad-eating gamefish. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
Deidre Dawson photographed these Northern Pintail ducks this week at a pond south of Temple. Northern Cardinals (14), Horned Larks (10), Brown-headed Cowbirds (50), European Starlings (170) and Rock Pigeons (75) were among the birds spotted locally and reported on eBird.
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