Decisions decisions...after clicking and dragging around the google map for my area (75019), there must be between 40 to 50 "swims" within a 5 mile mile radius of where I live, but due to limited free time, I usually prefer to go to places that are proven fish catching swims.

A few places do keep circling in my mind as potentials...anyone ever fish below this dam near McKinnish park? If so, how'd you do?



http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=map+801+West+Main,Lewisville+TX+75067&ll=32.965624,-96.944481&spn=0.002372,0.005536&t=h&z=18

caught plenty of white bass there, no carp for me though

Many times. I've fished above it and below it, caught whites, largemouth, crappie, drum, catfish, and a few carp and buffs, though the carp and buffs came from above the dam, not below it.

The potential is great for a variety of fish. You'll have to put in a few sessions before catching some worth while bounty.

Do y'all think the fish are safe to eat from here? I live pretty close and have always wanted to try this spot. It's kinda a plus that it is right next to a bait shop, too.

you can eat the fish there. It's not that far from Lewisville.

I used to fish that area alot when I was younger.....caught carp above, below, downstream. The ponds at McCinnish Park may even have carp in them again.....but I know for a fact that the big drought of '99 or so dried them up completely. I stopped fishin' them long before that though, due to the dang speed=boat crowd overtaking the pond.

used 1-2lb carp for flathead bait there

There are some fish back in the pond at McKinnish park, probably even more since all of the flooding last year.

I went there last spring before I started carp fishing and saw some gar and a lot of fish crashing out in the middle of the pond. I never caught anything that day and then I learned that it had completely dried up in the late 90's.

Thanks for all the responses...I'm definitely going to try fishing for carp around the dam.

How does carping in a river differ from carping at the lake?

I'm guessing I'll need a heavier weight than my standard 3/4oz I normally use. Probably stronger line than my 8# too since chances of getting stuck seem greater.

Do you cast in middle, or near the bank? If I chum with corn and pellets, will it float away?

Last time I was there it was all very shallow with lots of big rocks in it. Knee-deep or so. Didn't catch anything. Maybe 6 yrs back.

I had more success in the shallows below the dam. Corn had a slow bite and dough bait had a quick bite. I fished in an area that was surrounded by rock and debris, but was mostly clear in the middle. The problem with trying to tell you to fish where I fished is that with every heavy rain, new debris is taken and distributed in different areas.

You can also go through McCinnish Park....go way back, just past the nature trail and take a right into the parking area and follow the trails to the river. You can walk around and find various spots to fish off the bank that's shaded there, but watch for snags. I've caught just downstream of there under the bridge also (catfish also). There used to be a trail to drive down and fish off the river just downstream of there, which is Beltline Rd., but you may have to walk it now....not sure. There was a small inlet type area where water would flood into the river and there was sufficient bank space, but with development over there, I'm not sure if it's still the same, since it could've been looked at as a possible erosion problem in the future, though it was mostly clay..haha.

When I was there, I parked at the bait shop and walked to the water. There was a tall fence that had been put there because alot of people were getting into trouble in the water there during floods. I didn't see where it could be fished from that side.

The lady at the bait shop had a little bitty Carp as a pet in the minnow tank- Pretty cool.

Chad

pm me for access point to the water below the spillway

there is a bait shop on the west side of the spillway park there and walk through the fence.

I went to McCinnish Park tonight trying to fish for bass and catfish, but didn't catch anything. I'm sure it's a great place to fish. I only stayed out there about 30 minutes anyway. Does anyone know if there is good bass and catfishing out there? There was also a big fish that splashed way out of the water. It looked brown.

If you're talkin' about McCinnish Park ponds....well, I'd say if there's anything there, there's at least gar.

Back in a major drought, about 10yrs ago, I watched the ponds dry up to completely bone dry. Before that happened, there were all kinds of fish, but the only structure in the big pond was on the bank and the only real structure in the small pond was an island and weeds around the bank. Both ponds are shallow enough to walk the entire distance through the water. Both are clay bottom. I wouldn't be surprised if people and the city have had stocked some fish in there. But, I would stick to the river or other ponds around the area....there are tons of ponds around there.