Can anyone tell me what kind of bait and type of rig works best for the reds on calaveras. I have never been before and want to take my son. He wants to catch a big red. Thanks for any advice

lures, spoons and crankbaits like a DD 22.

Do you usually fish them around the dam or just troll around the lake? Being my 1st Red season in Texas I am after all the info I can get.

I did catch a few small Reds around Oct last year using bottom bouncers and red worms. I was drifting toward the dock from the power lines in the center of the lake. It worked great cause I just ate a sandwich and held my rod.

Freeline perch,talapia,crawfish around the rocks or go to the wall and use same bait under a cork. Good luck post a report

I have fished Brauning lake which is the sister lake to Calaveras and has the same freshwater redfish. I've been fishing for saltwater reds all my life and fishing for these freshwater reds is a completely different story.

The lures are pretty odd but here we go :
-rattle trap
-yeah-mon shad or crawfish (catfish bait)
- free lined perch or shad

You should have a lot of action
-Moondog

Thanks for the info. If weather is permitting I am heading out in the morning.

Ended up getting out to Calaveras Saturday morning after the storm, around 1000. The kids caught a couple small cats near the dam and a few more around the bridges, most were on chicken livers. I threw lots of cranks, spinners, spoons and other shinny things around the dam and bridges (5-20ft) but never got a hit. Snakes were everywhere. The wall was packed when we arrived at the lake and when we left around 1400 there were cars lined up past the intersection waiting to get through the gate.

I did catch something out of the norm though. I thought I had some weeds but ended up with an Ugly Stick

Trolling and down-rigging are good choices to catch the good size reds.