Inland fisheries officials with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) have begun their annual rainbow trout stocking and Southeast Texas is once again on their schedule.

Claiborne West Park in Orange County will get 1,260 total fish with stockings Jan. 14 and Feb. 9 and Doornbos Park in Nederland will receive 1,000 rainbows Feb. 22.

TPWD officials report a valid Texas freshwater fishing package is required to fish for trout. Youth ages 16 and younger and all anglers fishing from the bank in state parks are exempt from the fishing package requirement.

I often get emails about what to do with these stocked rainbows and the answer is simple.

Eat them.

These stocked rainbows will not survive into summer so they are put in these ponds to be harvested.

We will give you a reminder about the stockings closer to the release dates and more tips on how to catch these popular fish.

Now onto the report…

North Sabine — Most action for trout and reds has been under the birds but staying with the birds has been difficult. Schools are moving fast. Spoons and light colored plastics fished on jigheads or under a popping cork have worked best. Very few reports of flounder.

South Sabine — Capt. Phillip Samuels reports reds are good along the south levee and under birds. Trout are also biting under birds but all schooling action has been difficult to follow. The fish have been very spooky. Best lures are shrimp imitations in light colors. Very few reports of flounder.

Sabine Pass — Very few reports at mid week. Trout are fair in Keith Lake with some bird action reported. Reds are scattered.

Sabine River — Bass fishing has been fair for larger fish on dark colored worms on Texas rigs and on crank baits fished on main points in Adams and in the upper reaches of Cow Bayou.

Calcasieu (Big Lake) — The Hackberry Rod and Gun Club reports trout remain good on light colored plastics fished under the birds on the main lake. Redfish are good on the main lake and over shell along the shorelines. Flounder are good in the channel around drop offs.

Rayburn Lake — Guide Roger Bacon reports few anglers out at mid-week. The water is low but clear and conditions for fishing are good. There is still a frog imitation bite in the grass early and late. The bigger fish are out on secondary points and taking crawfish or shad colored crankbaits and Senkos. Very few reports for crappie and catfish.

Toledo Bend — Holly Park Marina reports few anglers out for bass although water conditions for them are excellent on most parts of the lake. Crappie are very good up the creeks on shiners and small  spinners. Catfish are good on minnows and Catfish Charlie fished over brush piles.