Celebration Park: January 18, 2008

Fished with the "amazing" Fish Pen at Celebration Park and caught a small Catfish. The Fish Pen can handle small fish; may give it a go again later this weekend on some larger fish. Else, I would consider the Fish Pen more a novelty than a serious fishing outfit. Still like the concept. It slips into my shirt pocket, and the reel fits in my hoodie jacket pocket.

Fish Pen:





Chummed with Corn again and caught him on a hook and slip sinker setup. Catfish went about 10".

Catfish:

Quick Note - January 17, 2008

Overall, fishing activity has slowed down here in Allen. With the change in weather, the fish may be waiting for another warming trend.

Looking on the Texas Fly Report Fishing Forum - http://www.texasflyreport.com/, it was noted that Sunfish were biting earlier this week in the lower pond at Bethany Lakes. This is the pond closest to Joe Farmer Recreation Center.

This is promising given the Trout situation - still no reports on anyone catching Trout recently. Best suggestion is to seek other locations or plan a trip based on the next TPWD Trout Stocking. See the link in the sidebar of this Web Log.All for now. Good luck and good fishing!

PS: Saw an ad on TV for the amazing Fish Pen. Opted not to buy it using the Toll Free Number, and then changed my mind when I saw it on Amazon.Com! Package is supposed to arrive today. Will give a product review later in the week/weekend. I know it looks kinda hokie but I liked the concept and wanted to try it out.

Celebration Park: January 13, 2008

Decided to check on the Catfish at Celebration Park having struck out at Lake Lavon earlier in the morning.

Chummed with Corn and then baited a hook on my flyfishing outfit. Caught two 18" Catfish a few minutes after chumming. Both released to fight another day. Still fun on a 5 WT even if I did not use a fly.

See pictures below:

Catfish #1

Catfish #2

Lake Lavon - Dam Tailrace: January 13, 2008

Fished Lake Lavon Dam by the tailrace early morning. No waterflow and minimal surface activity. Observed several fishermen fishing live minnows under a float. One Gaspergou (Freshwater Drum) was caught that went about a pound, else no other action. Checked out the creek that feeds into the main channel. No hook ups and no surface activity. May need to wait later in the month.

Quick Updates

Quick updates from the Team! In the City Of Allen: Bethany Lakes: Slow to no action on Trout. If you do go, use bait in lieu of lures or flies. Celebration Park: Both ponds are quiet. Bluegill and Sunfish have gone deep. For some light action for Catfish, go to the East Pond - the one that does not have fountains. Use catfish dip bait on a treble hook and sponge setup. Should have some fun with catching them. Mainly running about 10" or smaller; however, a 12"-14" Channel Catfish is possible. Allen Station Dam: Creek is murky from run-off but is starting to clear. Did not see the usual Sunfish and Bluegill. Will look for the trio of Catfish that tend to the dam's silting basin. Have not seen them recently; may have gone downstream from the last rainstorm. Out of the City Of Allen: LLELA - Lake Lewisville Ecological Learning Area: Trout limits observed from fishermen using bait - Corn and Salmon Eggs. Lures have been producing but not as consistent as bait. Work the river bends and the deep pools for Trout. Be ready though, you may hook into an occasional Carp. For Crappie, Catfish, and Hybrids fish the tailrace. Some nice Hybrids were taken this past weekend. FYI: The river was stocked with Trout; some are fairly large running 16"+. Denison Dam: Striper action remains consistent with the generator schedule. That is, when the generators are running; fishing action picks-up. However, action can still be had when the water is not flowing by working the deeper pools and/or baiting up for Carp or Catfish. Waterloo Park Pond: Trout were restocked this past Sunday. Trout Derby was held and a number of limits were taken. May be the best bet for stocker-sized Trout. All for now. Will continue to keep the updates forthcoming. Good luck and good fishing!

FYI - Directions to LLELA

FYI - Directions to Lake Lewisville Ecological Learning Area (LLELA) are provided below. Proceed to the city of Lewisville using I-35E, once on I-35E the directions guide you either from the South or North. From the South:

• Drive north on I-35E through Lewisville
• Exit Valley Ridge (east) to the stoplight at Mill Street
• Turn left (north) on Mill Street and drive to Jones Street
• Turn right (east) on Jones Street and proceed east until Jones dead-ends at the LLELA front gate, at the junction of Jones Street and N. Kealy Avenue

From the North:

• Drive south on I-35E through Lewisville toward Dallas
• Exit Valley Ridge (east) to the stoplight at Mill Street
• Turn left (north) on Mill Street and drive to Jones Street
• Turn right (east) on Jones Street and proceed east until Jones dead-ends at the LLELA front gate, at the junction of Jones Street and N. Kealy Avenue

There is a $3 day use fee and Winter hours are 7AM-5PM, Friday-Sunday.

Good luck and good fishing!

LLELA: January 6, 2008

Fished Lake Lewisville Ecological Learning Area this morning. Caught and released small Crappie, and then hooked but lost several Hybrid along the tailrace's rocks. Observed several nice Hybrid taken by fishermen fishing the generator's outflow. Estimate 6+ pounds. Also, two fishermen were catching Catfish in the calm area using liver for bait. Consistent action for about an hour, then it tapered off around 11AM. Did not fish for Trout but noted limits taken by fishermen leaving the area. Looks like Corn is the consistent producer for the Trout.

LLELA: January 5, 2008

Fished Lake Lewisville Ecological Learning Area (LLELA) this afternoon. Caught one 8" Trout, missed three others. Used Flyfishing gear and a Copper Super Duper. Tried a Brown Wooly Bugger with no luck; shifted to the Super Duper and started getting hits. A little tough tossing the lure with a flyrod; still was able to get some action. See picture below.

Saw others limit out using Corn and PowerBait. However, it looked like Corn was the better bait to use.

Also, saw two fisherman with 16"+ Trout. Good to know there are bigger ones in the river.

Before leaving decided to fish along the rocks near the tailrace; caught several small Crappie on White Clouser Variant, and then hooked and lost a nice Hybrid. Broke my tippet; should have used heavier test then the one I was using for Trout.

FYI: Game Warden stopped by and checked bag limits and licenses.

Bethany Lakes: January 5, 2008

Checked out Bethany Lakes this morning before the wind picked up. Tried Flyfishing a Bead Head Nymph with no luck. Several others fishing with bait and lures. Did not observe anyone catching anything.

Bethany Lakes: January 1, 2008

Fished Bethany Lakes around 4PM today. Too windy and cold; no trout taken. Tried flyfishing a Dryfly on a dropper and a Nymph. No luck. Lake Lewisville Ecological Learning Areas is looking more and more inviting this weekend. For directions, I posted information in the January eNewsletter link below.

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January 2008 eNewsletter is available. Click-on January 2008 eNewsletter.

January 2008 eNewsletter

FYI: The January 2008 eNewsletter has been posted. Refer to the Recommended Links in the sidebar or click-on January 2008 eNewsletter. Note: For easier reading, the ads posted on the right frame of the eNewsletter can be closed by clicking on the Tab in the ads section.

Bethany Lakes: December 31, 2007

Fished Bethany Lakes for Trout this evening using fly-fishing gear.  No trout taken.  Tried a Bead Head Hares Ear Nymph with a Dryfly on a dropper.  No strikes but did see one Trout actively feeding on the surface.

 

Saw others fishing with minimal success; however, one fisherman did catch a Trout using Bread fished about two feet below a bobber.

 

Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area: December 28, 2007

Fished Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) for a chance at Trout and White Bass. Caught two Trout, one small White Bass, and one small Crappie.

The Trout were caught using Spinfishing gear and a Copper Super Duper. The White Bass and Crappie were caught using Flyfishing gear and a Clouser Minnow.

Picture of the Trout are posted below - about 9.5"; White Bass and Crappie were released - about 8".

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December 2007 eNewsletter is available. Click-on December 2007 eNewsletter.

Bethany Lakes: December 25, 2007

Stopped by Bethany Lakes this evening around 5PM to check out the action.  Observed several fishermen catching trout; however, one fisherman indicated fishing had been slow all day. 

 

Will keep a lookout if the pattern changes and provide updates accordingly.

 

 

Denison Waterloo Park Pond: December 24, 2007

After fishing Denison Dam tailrace, decided to try Waterloo Park Pond in the city of Denison.

Caught three trout on flyfishing gear. All were caught using a Bead Head Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph. Had about ten more strikes but failed to set the hook - operator error or my aging reflexes.

Trout were 8"to 8.5" and caught while fishing slowly along the bottom.

Tried other fishing flies without success. However, observed several fishermen limit out using Salmon Eggs (Red), Corn, and Velveeta Cheese with Garlic.

Examined the trouts' contents. Identified Corn, PowerBait in White and Chartreuse, and pieces of Salmon Egg (Red). Also, noted one with a mushy substance that may be the Velveeta. See picture below.

Note: The PowerBait in White had a small #10 Salmon Egg Hook.

Denison Dam: December 24, 2007

Fished Denison Dam tailrace for a chance at Striped Bass. Arrived around 11AM and noted generators were not running. Minimal current with the water level falling steadily.

Several flyfishermen were wading the river and casting to deep holes. Observed one catch and release Striped Bass, saw others hook-up as well.

Fishing partner caught several carp and shad while baitcasting a Rat-L-Trap. No luck on flyfishing gear.

Picture of Carp below; foot in the picture is about 12" long. Estimate fish went slightly over 24".

Carp:

December 2007 eNewsletter

FYI: The December 2007 eNewsletter has been posted. Refer to the Recommended Links in the sidebar or click-on December 2007 eNewsletter. Note: For easier reading, the ads posted on the right frame of the eNewsletter can be closed by clicking on the Tab in the ads section.

Bethany Lakes: December 23, 2007

Fished Bethany Lakes again this morning. Cold with frost on the ground but no wind compared to yesterday.

Arrived around 8AM and started getting light strikes on Corn. Caught first trout at 8:30AM, and then the action stopped for several hours. Tried Bread, PowerBait, and Corn but no action.

Around 11AM started getting light strikes on Corn. Then, the action remained consistent. Left around noon with a limit of trout.

Examined the stomach contents and noted that they were empty except for the Corn eaten when caught. Thoughts are they were not actively feeding yesterday.

Four trout were 9" to 9.5", and one trout was about 8".

Today's Limit:

Bethany Lakes: December 22, 2007

Fished Bethany Lakes this morning. No trout were taken. Wind was strong, and it was tough to feel any nibbles. Tried Corn, Bread, and PowerBait without a strike. Will have to wait till better weather or at least until the wind dies down.

Bethany Lakes: December 21, 2007

Fished Bethany Lakes for trout this morning. Changed tactics from flyfishing to baitcasting. Fished about 2 hours and limited out with 5 trout. One went 10.5", another went 9", others were small stockers. All were caught using Corn fished on the bottom.

Observed other fishermen catching them on PowerBait. Could not tell what color was hitting, but when I cleaned the trout, their stomach contents were mainly Corn and a nymph-like "bug". Did note one Pink and one Chartreuse PowerBait nugget in one of the trout.

Today's Catch:


Closer look at the 10.5" Trout:


Stomach Contents:


PS: Stopped by later in the afternoon. Observed others continuing to take trout using Corn, Bread, and PowerBait. Bread and Corn were getting consistent action with a lot of light nibbles; saw more missed strikes then hook-ups. Action was not fast but consistent enough for some to ltake their 5 trout limit. Cormorants remain in the area but fishermen are still getting action.