BELL COUNTY OUTDOORS

Here's the latest fishing and birdwatching reports.

Jenny and Mike Splawn hold four of the 66 fish they caught New Year’s Eve during a four-hour trip on Lake Belton with local guide Bob Maindelle, owner of Hold The Line Guide Services.

Lake Belton fishing report

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 13.50 feet below pool.

• A weeklong warm up following the hard freeze has improved the white bass and hybrid fishing. Bird action by gulls and terns is slowly making a comeback. The smallest Bladed Hazy Eye Slab, 3/8 ounce, in white with a stinger hook is a good default bait. A slow-smoking retrieve or a long, slow pull upward off bottom works well for active fish, and snap-jigging on bottom works well for inactive fish. If immobile, suspended fish are found on sonar, deadsticking is a good approach for such fish. Mid-morning and just before sunset seem to be the most consistently productive times. Focus on 24-38 feet depths. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.

• Larger blue catfish are fair drifting main lake flats with fresh cut bait. Eater sized blues and channels are good anchored around structure 20 feet or less using shad,chicken and other prepared baits. Report by Brian Worley, B&S Catfishing.