Took my morning trip to Canyon today.
As normal, I tried a couple new areas today, learning the water. Caught 5 Bass today. A 16" LM and a 15" Smalley. The LM swallowed my Zara Spook and I had to cut the rear hook off to get it back. I also caught a 15" Smalley that I had hooked in the head. Thought I had a bigger fish untill I saw what happened. The other 3 where 12" LM. All on the Spook. Had several other blow-ups but no hook-ups.
I also dropped a nightcrawlwer over while drinking a soda and caught a 17" Channel cat. I kept the bleeding deep-hooked LM and the Cat.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk106/FishInspector/DSCN0001.jpg?t=1214776446

Off the water at 11:30. Same pattern as before, chunck rock with deeper water access and/or points.

FI

How the lower lake level impacting launching and exposed stumps and treetops? I'll be up to the lake to spend the 4th (at the house on the porch- really dodging the water fleas and wakers). but the following week doin some chores - mainly after some morning fishin time.

I'm trying to relearn the lake too. I saw some structure I forgot about from long ago when I was there a couple of weeks ago. I was doing early topwater topedos in chrome black back and then later finess worms around laydowns on main lake points mid lake. Caught two keeper size (released) and 4 non keepers. Mostly in the 2 to 6 ft dept. Tried moving deeper without success.

Hoping the released fish would grow larger.

went on fri and caught one before the wind started blowin 25 mph. we settled into a cove with cheese bait and slammed about 15 cats before we left.

the bass was about 12, he came on a wave worm shallow, but right next to a big dropoff.

that water is coming down fast though!

Fished early today out of the kayak. Started with a tiny torpedo (blue/chrome). Had several fish blow up close to the bank and miss the bait all together. I did land 1 very large sunfish (way bigger than my hand). On the way back to the ramp (#7) I did catch a keeper largemouth on a shakey head jig (watermelon/red). The wind was killing an effective attack. At the rate the lake is dropping the kayak is looking better as an investment in long term fishing on Canyon.

Yeah - the lake level is dropping as fast as fuel is going up. Kayaks have the advantage on the price of fuel.

My concern with a kayak on a big lake is being seen on the water. Alot of fools out there not paying attention or don't care about safety on the water. (TPWD even sends notices about water safety with tag renewal. Guess folks just tosses it.) I try to keep a look out for every kind of watercraft - boats, sailboats, jet skis, wakeboarders and kayaks. I use to fish in a narrow 12 ft john boat on Sam Rayburn and even small wakes will rock n roll ya alot. Even had a close call once getting that boat swamped by some idiot passing by too close and throwing out a big wake. Couldn't imagine in a kayak. But hey if that what you like I say go for it. Life is too short to not enjoy the lake and maybe even catch a fish or too. The lake is big enough for people to spread out and give some room.

From what I read about from you guys I'm preaching to the choir. Sorry bout that but venting out makes me feel better. A good tug on the line makes me feel even better ;-)

ELH. There water level is dropping fast. There are stumps showing up everywhere. Wear your kill laynard. Launching is still OK. And yes, there are idiots everywhere. Why does the ski boats have to come by me when they have the whole lake? That's one reason I'm off the lake at 12:00.

FishOn. I saw some yaks. Maybe one was you. I missed several strikes also.

FISHINNB. Where did you slam those cats. I can't seem to get on any. One here and one there.

FI

In the summer I try to get on the water near sunrise. The latest I will stay on the water is 10am. By that time I have heard at last a couple of jet skis and those who want a decent attempt at some kind of skiing or boarding have finally decided to get on the lake. Canyon can have a decent early bite. I forgot to mention, I too saw lots of new small shad busting. Fall could be excellent.

Good to hear the reports you guys are giving.

Canyon gets very little type, but you guys are doing a good job of keeping us informed.

One note on safety and the yaks!

I was out near Crane's Mill during the white bass run earlier this year, and there were two yaks running side by side coming out of the river near the fishing pier, and one you could see really well (yellow yak, red shirt) with the backround of a grey overcast morning, but the other (green yak, dark shirt) was almost invisible.

If he had been running alone, a boater could have easily not seen that person or his yak until he was right on top of him.

Just a word of safety with all the boaters, and jet ski's on Canyon, if you guys are on the water, make sure you wear bright, bright colors that can be seen for long distance, and don't wear dark colors, especially dark blues, greens, or greys!

Never kayaked on canyon before this morning, Tuesday, July the first. I put my kayak in at Jacob's Creek Park off of 306. I paid my 6 dollars and set sail about 7 this morning. I caught 5 total fish.

1 smallmouth about 10 inches long on a 6" blue and white rapala

4 largemouth- one 10", two 14" and one 17"- the small one on the blue and white rapala, the two middle on a green and brown imitation rapala, and the big one on a manns baby -1 perch pattern crankbait.

The lake was smooth as glass at 7 am. I worked the bank north for about 3 hours and then kayaked back. Evidently it was the way to go, the wind had picked up pretty heavy by the time I wanted to return on the main lake and the skiers were out and about. I was guarded by the bank once I got around the top of the turn and never noticed the waves or the wind. Good trip, I thought, for the first time on the lake.

Next time out, I think that I will take a crankbait that runs 10-12 feet deep. I didnt have anything that would run deeper than a couple of feet so I think that limited me on bigger fish. I had a pretty good time. If anyone wants to go to Canyon in the next few weeks, just let me know, I will try and work something out with my work schedule. I would like to get to know some local kayakers.

Jerry

fish inspector we have been having luck up the river fishing very shallow. i can honestly say that we had no luck until trying big marv's cheese bait. it is a winner.

i have had three or four break me off with 15# test, but we can usually put a few in the freezer. they are some great tasting fish too!

when i say shallow i mean shallow. between 6 inches and 3 ft.

i have never had luck on the main lake for catfish. hope this helps. be careful up the river you don't have to go too far. seeing all the stumps sticking up a few inches above the water line, i have counted my blessings. its like a mine field. we were slow cruisin in about 35 ft of water and still bounced of a tree.
maybe i'm a weenie, but i never run wide open on the river.

Nope you're not a weenie for taking it easy up river, especially with the lake dropping like it is.

I've hit stumps in areas that I traveled many times in deep water in the middle, so I know what you are saying.

I call those hidden stumps just below the surface widow makers, and if some of those skiers would only realize it, they wouldn't be anywhere near that river.

The floods over the years have broken off huge trees in that river, and what remains are those jagged nasty telephone pole thick stumps just inches under the surface.

Only a fool would run up the river on plane.

Big Marv's is a winner, but you still have to be on the fish.
I'm not use to fishing shallow like that also.
Maybe that's why I'm not cathing any numbers.
Thanks fishinnb !

FI

Hey everyone! Just found you guys in time. I'm in San Antonio for the fourth of July visiting my fiancee and wanted to get in a morning of fishing. I don't have a canoe or boat, anyone have any recommendations on a location for bank access? I'm not familiar with canyon lake, so if anyone could provide a more detailed description I would really appreciate it.

Any other advice on this lake in terms of lures or bait for bass or catfish beyond what has already been posted in this thread?

Thanks for your tips already, I really want my fiancee to enjoy fishing. It's hard enough to get her out there, I really want her to catch one or two fish.

Goat the Greenhorn,

The fishing pier at Cranes Mill people catch fish and I see bank fisherman at the ramp area across the lake from Potter Creek.
There looks like lots of room to fish.

Fish early. Big Marv's or Liver is a good Cat bait.

Saw an 18 lb. yellow cat caught off the pier once, with a live perch. Seems like it's best after a good rain. I wonder if yakers might not do just as well, and be a lot safer, up Tom Creek, which pleasure boaters and jet skiers tend to avoid, because of all the old cypress trees. Don't suppose anyone has seen any striper spray this summer. Funny how the birds have all but disappeared the last few years.