Shelby County Today

September 18, 2025 - Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing reports are updated each week, usually by Thursday morning. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the information from bait shops, marinas and fishing guides. Only the local lakes are listed below. If you would like to see the fishing report for other Texas lakes, click the following link https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PW.

Toledo Bend

FAIR. 90 degrees; 3.89 feet below pool. Water temperatures are back up in the mid to high 80s, and fishing has been tough on the south end of the lake as it continues turning over, with brown bubbles showing up-something that should settle in the next 5-6 days. For now, it’s best to stay north of the bridge. Main lake ridges in 12-18 feet are producing a few bites on Texas rigs and big crankbaits, while creek bends in 3-8 feet are giving up some small fish and keepers on square bills and lipless baits, though not many over 2 pounds. Crappie remain slow on brush piles and natural timber in 16-22 feet, with most caught on live bait rather than jigs. The fall transition keeps getting delayed by the heat, but signs point to a real shift coming next week once the turnover passes. Despite the tough bite, a few big fish have been landed recently, including several in the 9-pound range. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.

Sam Rayburn

SLOW. Water stained; 80 degrees; 7.11 feet below pool. Lots of trash and clumps of hyacinth and weeds were washed out from the creeks into the main lake. Lots of bass are in the shallows. Top water bite around pencil grass and reeds or any cover you can find. Yellow magic and top water bait early have been seeing some action. Crankbaits on points and drains. Jigs and Carolina rigs off ledges and structure. Crappie r slowly move out to brush and timber. White bass school off points. Catfish move out to deeper water and creek channels cut bait doing good. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Pinkston

GOOD. Water slightly stained; 82 degrees. Crappie are good, slowly fishing a solid white crappie jig. Crappie ranging from 1-1.5 pounds can be found in 15-20 fish groups in standing timber. Bass are good on dropshots and large swimbaits on main points or suspended in the middle of the lake. Catfish are fair on live minnows or cut baits. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Naconiche

FAIR. Water clearing; 83 degrees; full pool. The summer pattern has returned, leaving bass in a bit of a funk and seemingly confused about whether to stay deep or move shallow, making the fall transition uncertain. Still, anglers can find some aggressive feeding fish early and late by running a frog or other topwater baits. Crappie populations remain strong, while catfish are running slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Service. Largemouth bass are good, roaming midlake in large schools. Cast small topwater lures, small paddle tails, or small fluke over schooling bass. Crappie are excellent with limits possible with 1/32 ounce white and chartreuse crappie jigs. Catfish are fair with cut bait or live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Nacogdoches

EXCELLENT. Water heavily stained; 83 degrees; 1.30 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are excellent moving shallow with lots of schooling activity. Target bass in 3-8 feet of water with a bladed jig or swim jig. Crappie are good in 12-18 feet of water with bigger fish in timber, and smaller fish in the brush with crappie jigs. Best color jig will be chartreuse due to the water stain. Catfish are good on cut shad and live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

The Joaquin Rams proved to be the only varsity football team from Shelby County to get a win last week.

The Center Roughriders varsity fell on the road to the North DeSoto Griffins by a 49-20 score. CHS is now 2-1 and they will host the Daingerfield Tigers for the Roughrider’s 2025 Homecoming game on Friday, September 19. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. There will be pregame activities earlier. The Tigers are 0-3 after suffering a 49-7 loss at Pleasant Grove last week.

The Joaquin Rams earned a 50-8 win at Tenaha last week. Joaquin is now 2-1 and they will host the Grand Saline Indians on Thursday, September 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Indians are 2-1 after defeating Rains by a 42-14 score. The Tenaha Tigers are 0-3 and will travel to Linden-Kildare on Thursday, September 18 for a 7 p.m. kickoff at LKHS Tigers Stadium. Linden-Kildare is 0-3 after a 58-0 loss at Hughes Springs.

The Shelbyville Dragons are 0-3 after a narrow 21-19 road loss to the Waskom Wildcats. The Dragons will host the Mount Enterprise Wildcats for Shelbyville’s 2025 Homecoming game on Friday, September 19 at 7 p.m. Mount Enterprise is 3-0 after a 58-30 win over the Maud Cardinals.

The Timpson Bears are 1-2 after a 56-28 loss to Palestine-Westwood on Friday. The Bears will enjoy a bye this week.

Tenaha, Raymond Jackson Stadium on Thursday, September 11, 2025 –

(Photo Album)

The Joaquin Rams varsity football team improved their season mark to 2-1 with a 50-8 point win at Raymond Jackson Tenaha Tigers Stadium on Thursday. Tenaha has now fallen to 0-3 this season.

Tenaha received the opening kickoff but their first drive stalled after 4 plays and they were forced to punt the football to the Rams. On the Rams third play of their first drive Cooper Bragg busted loose for a 42-yard touchdown run with 8:28 minutes left in the first quarter. Bragg added a 2-point conversion run score and JHS led 8-0.

The Tigers second offensive drive went 7-plays but they again punted the football back to Joaquin near the five-minute mark of the opening frame. On first down Ram Jacob Gatlin bolted 69-yards for Joaquin’s second touchdown. Aiden Kilpatrick added a 2-point conversion run which gave JHS a 16-0 advantage with 3:09 left in the first period.

Quarterback Trenton Runnels capped another Joaquin scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown at the 8:06 mark of the second period. Amarion Wilson added a 2-point run to boost the JHS lead to 24-0.

Wilson added another touchdown run to his resume with just 26 seconds left in the first half and the Rams carried a 32-0 advantage into the midway break.

Joaquin added on another touchdown, and a 21-yard field goal, and this ballooned their lead to 43-0 by the end of the third stanza.

The fourth quarter saw Tigers sophomore Kori Miles break free for an 80-yard touchdown run with 10:12 left in the game. Jataivius Malone scored a 2-point conversion run to help cut the JHS lead to 43-8.

Joaquin scored the final touchdown when Wilson went 48-yards to the endzone at the 5:45 mark and JHS took the 50-8 win.

The Rams will host Grand Saline on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Kickoff at Rams Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m.

The Tigers will head to Linden-Kildare on Thursday, September 18 for a 7 p.m. kickoff at LKHS Tigers Stadium.

Two of Shelby County’s five varsity football teams earned wins last week.

The Center Roughriders took a 62-15 home win over the Spring Hill Panthers. Center is now at 2-0. This Friday, September 12 they will travel to North Desoto, La. To face the Griffins at Griffins Stadium at 7 p.m. The Griffins are 1-0 after winning at Union Parrish by a 46-3 score on Friday.

The Joaquin Rams took a 35-16 home win over the Beckville Bearcats on Thursday to improve their record to 1-1. The Rams will travel to Tenaha on Thursday, September 11 for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Raymond Jackson Stadium. Tenaha is 0-2 after suffering a 48-7 loss at West Sabine.

The Shelbyville Dragons are 0-2 after a 55-42 road loss at New Boston. The Dragons will travel to Waskom on Thursday, September 11 for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Wildcat Stadium. Waskom is 1-1 after beating Hemphill 40-6 last week.

The Timpson Bears are 1-1 after a 40-19 road loss to the Lovelady Lions on Friday. The Bears will travel to Palestine Westwood on Friday, September 12 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Panthers Stadium. The Panthers are 2-0 after a 42-28 win at San Augustine last week.