Forums59
Topics1,040,083
Posts13,975,287
Members144,227
|
Most Online39,925 Dec 30th, 2023
|
|
What's going on at Monticello?
#12774205
05/30/18 05:32 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,086
TwoLakes
OP
Extreme Angler
|
OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,086 |
I'm planning to fish Monticello tomorrow and Friday for the first time since they shut the plant down and lowered the level. Can anyone share some pointers? Are the lily pads deep enough to hold fish now? Still hydrilla in Smith/Blundell to hold fish?
I'm guessing it fishes differently now without the shoreline growth having time to grow at the new water level. Any pointers are appreciated.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774229
05/30/18 05:45 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,986
Chris G
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,986 |
Lots of grass still everywhere but the decision to leave the gates open has caused some big changes.
First - Smith and Blundell essentially never clear up because every time it rains the water is pulled out from the bottom of the lake into Sandlin. This has caused a lot of the hydrilla in Smith to die off due to the constant turbidity of the water. Don't get me wrong there is still a lot of grass and pads back in both areas but expect most of it to be in less than 3' of water with the deepest stuff maybe being 5-6'. There have been some fish back there but the average fish has been very small by Monti standards.
2nd and could be as big of a deal - the open gates have now introduced both sand bass and spotted bass into Monti. I've caught some sand bass and have 3 buddies who have all caught sand bass with one catching some spots a couple of weeks ago. That sucks!!!
I'm sure the lake will generally be ok long term but this decision made by Luminant and TPWD will forever change what was one of the best lakes in all of Texas. I even contacted both groups and offered to set up an LLC to maintain and operate the gates and was met with the heisman by some PR guy from Luminant. The reality is if a drought sets in over this Summer you won't be able to launch from the ramp any way.
Sorry for the rant......to the OP...fish points on the south end with whatever you like to throw and you should catch some fish. I'm still very p1ssed about the entire situation.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: Chris G]
#12774297
05/30/18 06:31 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,086
TwoLakes
OP
Extreme Angler
|
OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,086 |
Thanks for the reply Chris. Much appreciated. I'm in Texarkana and Monticello has been one of my favorite lakes to fish for 15 years now. I still can't believe they shut the plant down and raised the gates. I'm right there with you being upset about the situation.
I guess we'll hit Monticello for awhile tomorrow and see how it goes. If we can't figure them out, we may move over to Sandlin. Not sure......
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774302
05/30/18 06:35 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,583
Mark Perry
Super Freak
|
Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,583 |
Wife and I hit Monticello about a week ago. It wzs way different from past trips. Not the Monti I remember. Caught fish but it was slow and overall size of fish seemed down. We ended up hitting Sandlin to end the day and had a really fun time there. Way better quantity and quality.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: Mark Perry]
#12774307
05/30/18 06:38 PM
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,480
K.D.
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,480 |
Wife and I hit Monticello about a week ago. It wzs way different from past trips. Not the Monti I remember. Caught fish but it was slow and overall size of fish seemed down. We ended up hitting Sandlin to end the day and had a really fun time there. Way better quantity and quality. Ditto for me and from what I recall reading, both of us did this the weekend before Memorial Day. Bob Sandlin saved the day for me.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: Mark Perry]
#12774346
05/30/18 07:07 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,086
TwoLakes
OP
Extreme Angler
|
OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,086 |
OK. Sounds like we'll be fishing Sandlin if our Monti results match the replies. Dang.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774355
05/30/18 07:14 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,586
Frank the Tank
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,586 |
Had a friend who went froggin in Smith a couple weeks ago, results were fair, I think maybe 7 fish in about 5 hours. It has changed a lot according to him.
Jesus loves all of us
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774358
05/30/18 07:16 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,583
Mark Perry
Super Freak
|
Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,583 |
The frog bite at Sandlin was really good.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774445
05/30/18 08:14 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,986
Chris G
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,986 |
I'm sure the lake and the fish are just adjusting to the new norm and hopefully it will be fine but it's definitely not been as good lately in most areas. Hopefully our TPWD Biologist is right and the grass will be able to move more and thrive better under "normal" water conditions this summer.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774513
05/30/18 09:08 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 469
TajChauvin
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 469 |
I went two Sundays ago for the first time unfortunately. Managed to catch 9 fish in a 4 hour period. None were bigger than 3 pounds but they were the meanest fish I have ever caught. 2 pounds pulled like they were 6 pounders. I mainly fished in the shallow hydrilla. Lots of fish chasing small schools of 1 inch Shad.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774527
05/30/18 09:15 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,708
Razorback
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,708 |
Hopefully some of the hydrilla from Monticello will find its way into Sandlin.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774548
05/30/18 09:32 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,952
Pintail711
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,952 |
Right now is when the lake would really start fishing good.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774553
05/30/18 09:38 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,986
Chris G
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,986 |
Yep...they would start making that migration up North following the shad into the pads seeking out cooler water. I hope that happens this year but that water is now 2-3 foot more shallow than in year's past so I am not that hopeful.
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774606
05/30/18 10:51 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,112
David Burton
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,112 |
They pulled this excremental move and dare to warn us about a hot summer and rolling blackouts because demand is too high! ERCOT is staffed with incompetence at every level!
David Burton 2015 Skeeter FX 21 +Ultrex +Helix 12 (x3) +Mega360 +MegaLive
|
|
Re: What's going on at Monticello?
[Re: TwoLakes]
#12774772
05/31/18 01:03 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,035
machinist
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,035 |
Y'all do know that Luminant(Vistra Energy) and Dynegy are merging and part of the deal for the new company is that it has to tear down Monti and Big Brown or sell its 3 gas plants. They elected to keep the 3 gas plants(Graham, Stryker & Trinidad) and remove the lignite plants. They are saving lots of tax money that way.
I fish on the edge and stay out of the middle
99 BassCat Jag w/225 Merc Optimax Retired TXU Outage Manager
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|