It was a bass-tastic day for the RR Fishing Club. Pictured are Randy Shoff, Carl Caruso, and Scott Baker.
Scott Baker
Here in Texas, winters, for the most part, are mild. A couple days of freezing weather with a skim of ice on a stock tank is about as “wintery” as it gets. For most anglers, though, it means storing the boat away, winterizing the engine, and sitting by the fire. So, what’s a fella to do? For those who can bundle up, brave the elements, and get out on the water, it means fishing!
Yep, fishing. Holding true to the RR Fishing Club’s 2026 New Year’s resolution to explore new waters to fish, we headed to Cedar Creek Lake in early January. With nighttimes dipping into the 30s and water temperatures likewise dropping, fishing gets pretty tough. But, thankfully, white bass saved the day.
Cedar Creek Lake is the fourth largest lake in Texas, approximately 18 miles long and just over 2 miles wide, covering 32,623 acres. The shoreline is just over 220 miles from point to point, with a maximum depth of 62 feet. It’s home to a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, white bass, yellow bass, hybrid striped bass, alligator gar, and bowfin.
Specializing in targeting hybrid striped and white bass, our master guide Brent Herbeck has been fishing Cedar Creek Lake since 2007. We climbed aboard his newly rigged Ranger 622FS PRO, which glided across the waters like we were flying through the clouds! Outfitted with the latest in cutting-edge electronics and accessories, we had full access to top-of-the-line gear. Our boat featured Humminbird’s new Mega Live 2 forward-facing sonar at the bow and a massive 16-inch Garmin LiveScope at the stern. Premium St. Croix rods were paired with Shimano spinning and baitcasting reels. We were set.
After a short ride, Herbeck slowed the boat and we set up to fish in a water depth of about 32 feet. Using a technique called “deadsticking,” we dropped the bait to the bottom then slowly lifted the line. It didn’t take long before we were catching fish. Not just one, but one after another, reaching our limit in just over 1-1/2 hour, all good eater size in the 2- to 7-pound range.
Winter hybrid white bass fishing gets the nod from us. They pull hard, are overly aggressive, and react to flash and violent movement, making them a ton of fun to catch. And we never got tired of feeling that “thump” on the end of the line. So, when you ask, “When is a great time to fish?” Well, anytime is a good time.
Get ready for an exciting year, as the RR Fishing Club plans excursions throughout Texas and beyond. Interested in dropping a line? The RR Fishing Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Wildhorse Grill Boardroom at 4 p.m. For any inquiries, comments, or suggestions, contact RobsonFishing@gmail.com or Scott Baker at 214-334-7664.