Artificial Lure here with your November 20th Red River, Shreveport area fishing report. We’re rolling into Thanksgiving week, and local anglers are seeing classic “fall feed” conditions; fish are active and the weather’s holding nicely for a change, with sun breaking through after a stretch of muggy mornings. Today’s forecast is mild, topping out around the high 60s to low 70s by the afternoon, with light winds and just a touch of southern humidity lingering in the air according to the recent five-day forecast updates.

The sun rose this morning at 6:53 AM. Expect sunset right around 5:15 PM. Tidal swings on the Red ain't a big factor, but with the steady water levels and stable flow, the bite windows have been tracking with daylight—strongest just after sunup and then picking up again mid to late afternoon. According to recent solunar tables, best fishing activity aligns 7–10 AM and 3–5 PM, so if you missed the early bite, be sure to hit the river this afternoon.

Fish numbers have been solid: Largemouth bass have been the headliners again this week, with most folks landing 2–3 pounders around the rock jetties and submerged timber. The north end just south of the railroad bridge saw a few firecracker days—one angler reported a limit with two over 4 pounds, and the week’s big bass was a 5-pound-13-ounce toad pulled from grass mats near Caddo Lake, just upriver. White bass are stacking up anywhere the gulls are working over shad balls, especially on the river bends. Catfish action continues steady in both numbers and size, with bank anglers picking off 8–10 pound blue cats on fresh cut shad right below the dam. Smaller channel cats are still hitting nightcrawlers and stink bait in the gentle current near side channels. Crappie are showing up in modest numbers but the slabs are respectable—targets brush piles in 8–12 feet off the side cuts and oxbows.

If you’re looking for high-percentage water today, local favorites are holding up. Give the riprap north side of the Highway 71 bridge a workout—produced both bass and white bass all week, especially with some moving current. The pocket off Stoner Boat Launch and the brush piles in the Hamel’s Park backwaters have been hot for after-work crappie. Main river swing channels near bridge pilings—classic fall spots—are a reliable bet for both species.

Best lures today: For bass, start at sunrise with a ½-ounce white or chartreuse spinnerbait with a paddle tail trailer, or throw a frog if it’s foggy and muggy. Once the sun climbs higher, you’ll want to switch over to shad-colored cranks or Texas-rigged watermelon red soft plastics. The bladed jig bite in white or shad is strong when the wind’s up, and black ‘n blue jigs flipped to timber are drawing reaction strikes in low light. White bass are killing small swimbaits and curly-tail grubs in electric chicken color. For crappie, a chartreuse tube jig or a minnow under a slip float is hard to beat. All catfish species are on cut shad or chicken liver right where the current slackens off deep.

Quick review of the best baits right now:
- Largemouth bass: White/chartreuse spinnerbaits, shad-colored crankbaits, bladed jigs, watermelon red or black/blue soft plastics
- White bass: Small swimbaits, curly-tail grubs, spinners
- Crappie: 1/16 oz jigs—chartreuse or electric chicken, or live minnows
- Catfish: Cut shad, chicken liver, or stinkbait

Don’t overlook those classic local hot spots: riprap under the Highway 71 bridge and that backwater off Stoner Avenue. Both are turning out limits and a few heavyweights.

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