Astros sign top pick for $ 4.8 million

HOUSTON — Carlos Correa, taken by Houston with the top pick in this week’s amateur draft, agreed to a contract with the Astros for a signing bonus of $ 4.8 million on Thursday.

The deal for the 17- year- old shortstop is the first for a top pick since the new collective bargaining agreement that places restraints on spending for selections in the first 10 rounds. It is the lowest guarantee for a top selection since Kansas City gave pitcher Luke Hochevar $ 3.5 million in 2006.

Under the labor deal, agreed to in November, the recommended slot value for the top pick was $ 7.2 million. The values of the slots for a team’s picks in the first 10 rounds are added up, and teams exceeding their totals are penalized with a tax and possibly the loss of future draft picks. All selections are limited to minor league contracts.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have him as a part of our organization,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “It’s a monumental day for us and for him and for the city of Houston. We’re delighted.”

Correa was at Minute Maid Park on Thursday for the announcement and met players and took batting practice with the team. He said he picked the No. 12 jersey he donned on Thursday because he was the top pick in 2012 and because he admires fellow Puerto Rican Roberto Alomar, who wore the number.

Correa will return to Puerto Rico to graduate from high school this weekend before joining the Rookie- Level Gulf Coast League on Tuesday. He’s happy they were able to get a deal done quickly so he could begin his career.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner reports June is typically a good month for trout fishing with good numbers caught by bank and boat fishermen, live- bait presentations work best. Wax worms, meal worms, red worms, minnows and night crawlers are trout killers in slack water or current flow.

White bass are chasing threadfin shad schools and taking live minnows, small jigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits during periods of generation. Walleye are being caught in deep pockets of water close to the dam with Carolina rigs tipped with night crawlers or shad. Freshwater drum are still going strong in the tailrace and can be taken on minnows or crayfish with heavy line; fish more than 20 pounds are common and put up a powerful fight. Striper activity has improved, but few bass have been caught in the last week. Lake conditions: 58 degrees. Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort says largemouth bass are still good on topwater spooks, super flukes, Texas- rigged plastic worms or creature baits. Shad colors are best for flukes and top water; watermelon seed, watermelon candy and green pumpkin are the best colors for Texas- rigged baits. Walleye are very good on jerkbaits, crankbaits and jigging spoons near or over humps and main- lake points.

Stripers are good on topwater C- 10 redfins in main- lake points with the eastern part best for topwater action. Bream are excellent on crickets or worms 20– 25 feet deep. Crappie are very good near and over brush in water 15- 25 feet deep on minnows or crappie grubs in Tennessee shad and rainbow trout coloring. Catfish are very good on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines from 20- 30 feet deep.

Lake conditions: 74 degrees, stained, 576.40 feet MSL.

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery and Bait said bream are biting well on crickets and worms in shallow water. Catfish are good on jugs and trotlines baited with chicken livers, shad and bream in 8- 12 feet of water. No report on other species.

Lake conditions:

546.2 feet MSL.

DeGray Lake: Local angler George Graves said bass fishing is only fair during hot weather with a few decent catches reported in early morning and some surface activity on long, main- lake points with lots of shad. Throw a surface lure such as a Zara Spook, Sammy, Fluke or swimbait. Sometimes the Alabama rig, with white, five- inch zoom swimming shad, works well even on surface- feeding fish; color is not too important as long it’s a natural shad. Best action is before 8 a. m. Afterward, try the deep side of main- lake points and fish a Texas- or Carolina- rigged worm or lizard in green pumpkin or pumpkin seed, working 10- 30 feet down. Also try a heavy jig with a plastic critter trailer in dark colors. Best areas are along the south side of the state park and the big, deep coves between points 2 and 4 on the south side of the lake.

Crappie fishing is fair in early morning on main- lake attractors in 20- 25 feet of water using live minnows. Also try a Kalin’s 2inch Tennessee shad grub on a 16th- ounce jighead, fished vertically over the thickest part of the brush. Bobby Garlands 2- inch baby shad in clear sparkle has been producing well. Look for attractors between Caddo Drive and Iron Mountain.

Hybrid fishing remains good with the five- arm umbrella rig with three- inch, white Curly Tail grubs easily the best producer. Sometimes if the fish are schooled thick, a jigging spoon or big in- line spinner will produce. Look for fish at the mouth of Brushy Creek, the south side of Island 34 and off the points along the south side of the state park.

Bream fishing is good and the fish are bedding under the full moon. The lower end of the lake is best because the water is clearer and the beds are easier to spot. Use a float and red worms or crickets. Catfish are fair at night on noodles and trotlines, especially on Brushy Creek. Use Catfish Charlie, dried blood, hot dogs/ soap or live minnows and small bream for bigger fish.

Lake conditions: low 80’ s, 404.9 MSL.