We are headed down thataways around New Years. I heard that the State Park suffered quite a bit of damage during all the flooding. We are staying there in the only open loop so will launching there be a chore? It still shows the courtesy docks are damaged...
Also, a friend of mine thought that he heard that during the past droughts the reds were decimated and are pretty much non-existent now. Anyone know this to be true? I don't mind hooking into a good red while bass fishing out there, makes for a fun trip!

I've been down there the last few weekends and the bass fishing is really good. I don't fish for whites and only fish for reds in the flats around Galveston...so with that I couldn't say if it's good or bad on those species. I don't think there is any reds left in that lake period. I could be wrong, as life finds a way. But, I have not heard or seen anyone saying that they are still there. Sandies probably.

As for bass fishing.....they were in the hydrilla pockets last weekend. Punching was the ticket.

Reds are gone since the fish kill, been multiple ones

Man that sucks about the reds. I will get into some good bass hopefully then.

What was the water temp past few weekends? Heard they werent generating much but would like to know before I make a 2 1/2 hour drive

Low 60's around most of the lake. Mid 60's close to the discharge a few weeks ago. Haven't fish anywhere close to the discharge in a few weeks. It's warm enough to keep em active.

Last Friday most of the lake was 61-62 and hot water creek was 68. The lake is in great shape, it's full so none of the stumps in the creeks are visible, and there is hydrilla growing in places I had never seen it before. there was a tournament out there Saturday, don't know who it was but I'd be curious to see what the results were. We caught 15 to 20 fish, but only two keepers with the biggest about 6 pounds.

4 for 14 won...

Not everyone caught keepers. Everyone caught tons of 17" fish. We had 2 fish to weigh in that were 3 pounds and 4 pounds. Our bag was 6.98. I went through around 16-17 fish to get two overs. Most were heavy 17" fish. I think I had two shorts that weighed more than the two overs.

Fish were very dark green and really fat and healthy.

It was really windy and hard to fish. Some waves were 3'+. Haha.

FYI
After reading this post I went to the TPWD website to look at camping. Found out:

The park will be closed from 5 p.m. Dec. 18 until 1 p.m. Dec. 23, 2016,
and from 5 p.m. Jan. 1 until 1 p.m. Jan. 6, 2017. . . .
The closure is for wildlife management activities. Only drawn permitted hunters will be allowed in during these dates. Contact the park for more information.

Really sad what happened to that lake. I loved going out there and catching about 30 bass and 30 redfish! It was a blast!

Park closed meaning boat ramp to get onto the lake?

Yes. It is all closed. Access is for youth hunting. Haha. I wouldn't wanna be there for that anyways.

Well dangit

Well....you might double check my info as it is second hand....second hand from a tourney director, but second hand nonetheless.

Its right, they do this every year.