SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 · CEDAR CREEK LAKE
Bright and hot — bass buried deep, low-light bites only. Early morning or give it up till dusk.
WATER 87°FAIR 86°FWIND 3 MPH SWSEASON SUMMERPOOL -5.2 FT
Water's at 87 degrees, so we're in full summer survival mode. Bass aren't interested in feeding during the bright heat of the day. They've pulled out to the deeper ledges and humps where it's cooler and they can find some comfort. What little feeding happens will be right at sunrise and right at sunset when the light softens. The pressure is steady and the wind is light, so there's no weather bump coming. You're looking at a patience day. Hit the dawn window hard, then spend midday working deep structure, and finish strong in that last light before dark.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 7:02 AM to 8:30 AM
Inside creek arms and shallow timber flats in 4 to 8 feet, riprap banks and near-shore cover on the sunny side. Target hard bottom transitions where shade starts to build.
Lipless crankbait, 1/2 ounce, chrome or red, burned fast across the flats and over submerged timber. Work it chest-high or right on top if bass are looking up at first light.
Bass make one quick push shallow in the first 90 minutes when it's cool enough. This is the only strong topwater or near-surface window before the sun takes over. They're hunting active shad. Fast retrieves trigger reaction strikes before they retreat deep for the day.
MORNING · 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Mid-lake humps and ledges in 15 to 22 feet. Focus on sharp drop-offs and channel edges with hard bottom.
1/2-ounce slab jigged vertically with a rapid up-and-down stroke. Bright colors like white, chartreuse, or silver. Drop the slab to the bottom, jig sharply for 3 to 4 seconds, then let it flutter back down. Repeat.
As the sun climbs and the water surface heats, bass suspend slightly deeper. Vertical jigging puts the bait right in their face. The hard thumping action and vibration cut through the stain and pull strikes from inactive fish. Ledges concentrate bass and give them depth options.
MIDDAY · 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Deepest available main-lake structure, 20 to 30 feet. Look for mid-lake points, the edges of channel swings, and humps near the dam area. Work the sharpest drop-offs.
Drop-shot rig with a 3-inch finesse worm in green pumpkin or watermelon, 1/8 ounce weight, on light 6-pound fluorocarbon leader. Lower it to the depth fish are holding and work it subtly with short 6-inch lifts, pause 3 to 5 seconds between lifts.
Midday bass are not feeding. They're hovering deep where water is cooler and denser. A drop-shot keeps the bait stationary and lets you work tight areas where bass are bunched. Finesse size and subtle action don't trigger a strike, they trigger desperation or curiosity. This is grinding work, not exciting, but it separates anglers who want a chance from those who want fast action.
LATE AFTERNOON · 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Same deep structure as midday, but begin transitioning toward secondary ledges and slight shallower drop-offs in 16 to 20 feet as the angle of sun shifts and water begins to cool fractionally.
1/2-ounce slab, white or bright colors, jigged vertically. Maintain the sharp up-and-down cadence, but add slight pauses at the top of each jig cycle. Let the slab fall slowly on slack line.
Water is still too warm for sustained shallow feeding, but as afternoon light begins to angle and intensity drops even slightly, bass will begin moving toward transitional structure. Vertical jigging stays productive because you're keeping bait in the zone and bass are starting to feed again as stress eases. The pauses now matter because fish are more willing to commit.
EVENING · 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Transitional structure moving back toward shallower ledges and secondary drop-offs in 10 to 16 feet. Creek channel edges and points leading to shallow flats. Begin looking at brush piles and timber if present.
1/2-ounce slab or lipless crankbait, 1/2 ounce, in bright colors like white or chartreuse. With a slab, jig more deliberate and slower. With the crankbait, burn it fast in short bursts, then pause. Alternate retrieves.
As light softens and air temperature begins to drop in the final hour before sunset, bass become more aggressive and willing to chase. They start sliding up off the deepest structure toward intermediate breaks. Reaction baits and a bit more speed become effective again. This is the second-best feeding window of the day and it can be as good as early morning if you're positioned right.
DUSK · 7:00 PM to 7:43 PM (sunset)
Shallow timber, riprap, and hard-bottom flats in 3 to 8 feet. Focus on south-facing banks where the last light lingers. Any wood, rocks, or shade lines.
Topwater plug like a Whopper Plopper, bone or chartreuse, steady retrieve with occasional pauses. Work it slow and deliberate, letting it rest for 2 to 3 seconds between each turn. Or switch to a 5-inch finesse worm on a Texas rig in green pumpkin, dragged slowly along bottom and cover.
The final 45 minutes is the mirror of early morning. Bass know the sun is dropping, water is cooling, and they'll feed before dark. Topwater and shallow cover bites peak here. Any silhouette or disturbance at the surface triggers strikes. This is when big fish often show. Slow presentations work because bass are looking, not just reacting to speed.
NIGHT · 7:43 PM onward
Shallow flats, creek arms, and riprap. Any structure with proximity to deep water. Bass will feed shallow all night if given the chance, but activity remains sporadic.
Finesse worm on a Texas rig or drop-shot, 3 to 4 inches, dark colors like black or junebug. Fish it slowly along the bottom in 2 to 6 feet. Pause frequently. Or use a small crankbait, 1.5 to 2 inches, and work it at a crawl.
After dark, bass lose the light-driven caution that keeps them deep during the day. They'll hunt shallow flats and feed on smaller forage all night, especially if there's any structure for cover. Darkness buys you access to water you can't touch during daylight heat. Slow, deliberate presentations work best because bass are hunting by feel, not sight. The bite can surprise you well after sunset.
Where to fish
- Mid-lake Humps and Points — 15 to 25 feet · Hard-bottom humps, sandy flats, and gradual ledges with sharp drop-offs nearby. Humps near the dam area, Crappie Island, Key Ranch, and spillway area.
These areas concentrate forage and hold cooler water during summer heat. Bass stage on the humps during morning and late afternoon, then suspend off the side during the heat of the day. Proximity to deep water lets bass escape quickly when stressed. - Channel Swings and Drop-offs — 18 to 30 feet · Inside bends of creek channels leading to the main lake. Steep drop-offs where bottom contour changes from 12 feet to 25 feet within 50 feet horizontally. Hard-bottom transitions.
Channels act as highways for bass migration and baitfish movement. The inside bends create current breaks and collect suspended bass and forage. Deep water access is immediate, letting bass rest deep during the day and move shallow to feed at dawn and dusk. - Shallow Riprap and Timber Flats — 2 to 8 feet · Concrete riprap banks, submerged timber, hard-bottom flats. South-facing banks that warm quickest in morning. Any edge where shade meets open bottom.
This is the early morning and dusk window. Bass hunt shad spawning along riprap and in shallow timber. Hard bottom holds baitfish. Shade lines concentrate bass and trigger feeding when light is low. South-facing banks hold residual warmth and are prime at first light. - Creek Arms and Back-of-Lake Shallow Structure — 4 to 12 feet · Timber piles, brush, flooded willows, and shallow coves with depth transitions. Any creek channel mouth or secondary tributary entrance.
As water warms through midday, shad retreat into creeks looking for cooler water and oxygen. Bass follow, positioning on structure leading into creeks. Early morning and evening these areas heat up with activity. Proximity to deeper channels lets bass slip out if the sun gets too intense.
What to throw
- 1/2 oz Slab (white or chartreuse) — n/a · White or chartreuse · 1/2 oz (Morning through late afternoon on deep ledges and humps, anytime bass are suspended or letargic.)
Vertical jig with sharp up-and-down stroke, 3 to 4 seconds of jigging, then flutter down. Pause briefly at top before dropping again. - Lipless Crankbait (chrome or red) — 2.5 to 3 in · Chrome or red · 1/2 oz (Early morning and dusk when bass are shallow and hunting.)
Burn it fast across flats and shallow timber at first light. In late afternoon and evening, use short bursts and pauses. Retrieve steady and close to structure. - Drop-Shot Rig (green pumpkin worm) — 3 in · Green pumpkin or watermelon · 1/8 oz weight (Midday and all-day deep water when bass are neutral.)
Lower to target depth, work with 6-inch lifts and 3 to 5 second pauses. Let the worm sit and flutter. Short, subtle motion. - Topwater Plug (bone or chartreuse) — 3 to 4 in · Bone or chartreuse · 0.5 to 0.75 oz (Early morning (7 to 8:30 AM) and dusk (7 to 7:43 PM) in shallow timber and riprap.)
Steady retrieve with occasional pauses and twitches. Work early morning and dusk. Slow and deliberate, let the plug rest 2 to 3 seconds between turns. - Finesse Worm Texas Rig (black or junebug) — 5 to 6 in · Black or junebug · 1/8 to 3/16 oz (Dusk through night, all day on deep structure if needed.)
Drag slowly along bottom and through cover in shallow water. Pause frequently. Let it rest on the bottom for 5 to 10 seconds, then drag forward 12 inches and pause again.
How to work it
- Vertical Jigging — Morning through late afternoon when bass are deep. Anytime the water is too hot for shallow fishing. · Mid-lake humps, ledges, drop-offs, and channel edges in 15 to 30 feet.
Drop slab or jig to the depth bass are holding. Jig sharply with rod tip moving 12 to 18 inches, pause 1 to 2 seconds, then let it flutter back down on controlled slack line. Repeat the cycle. Vary the speed and pause length if strikes slow. - Burning and Pausing with Crankbaits — Early morning and dusk when light is low and bass are aggressive. Also works in overcast conditions or post-front recovery periods. · Shallow flats, timber, riprap, and transitional drop-offs in early morning and evening.
Cast and retrieve with steady, fast speed for 3 to 4 seconds, then stop the lure completely and let it sit for 1 to 2 seconds. Resume the burn. Vary pause length and retrieve speed. Work right on or near cover and structure. - Drop-Shot Finesse — All day when bass are neutral or stressed. Especially effective during the heat of summer midday. · Ledges, humps, drop-offs, and suspended structure in 15 to 25 feet.
Tie the weight to the end of the line, then tie the hook 12 to 18 inches above the weight using a palomar knot or loop knot. Lower to target depth. Work the rod tip with subtle 6-inch lifts and pause 3 to 5 seconds between lifts. Keep the rod tip low, between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock. - Slow Crawl on the Bottom — Dusk through night when bass hunt shallow. Also works during high-pressure or post-front bite when bass are stubborn. · Shallow riprap, timber, brush piles, and flats in 2 to 8 feet, especially at night.
Use a finesse worm on a light Texas rig or drop-shot. Cast and drag the worm slowly along the bottom. Every 12 to 18 inches, pause and let the worm sit for 5 to 10 seconds. Resume the drag. Keep contact with the bottom at all times.
Pro tips
- The 1:28 PM solunar major happens right in the thick of the midday heat, so don't expect a spike. Use it as a reason to switch presentations if the morning slab bite slowed, but a major bite at 1 PM on a day this hot is wishful. Stick with deep finesse and patience.
- Pool is falling slowly and the water temp is rising incrementally. As water gets into the high 80s over the next week or two, the summer pattern locks in tighter. Expect the early morning window to shrink to 60 to 75 minutes, and the dusk window to become your most reliable feed. Start staging deeper locations earlier in the afternoon.
- Pressure is steady and stable, so there's no weather advantage today. No front is dropping in to fire up the bite. This is grind-it-out fishing. Success comes from precision, not luck. Work deep in daylight, time the shallow windows perfectly, and be mentally dialed in. Most anglers quit or fish wrong water. You won't.
If conditions change
If a breeze kicks up or clouds roll in and scatter the light, the shallow bite stretches later into mid-morning and begins earlier in late afternoon. Expand your morning window to 9 AM and push the late afternoon start back to 2 PM. If the water clouds up from rain or runoff, shift to darker or more vibrant baits like black, junebug, or chartreuse, upsize slightly, and fish slower with more pauses. If a cold front blows through after hot like this, bass will burrow into the thickest cover for 24 to 36 hours after it passes. Fish tight to wood and rocks with 4-inch finesse worms, slow drag presentations, and don't waste time in open water. If the wind shifts north and temps actually cool, the bite rebounds everywhere and all day fishing becomes viable again, but that won't happen this weekend.
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