Went saturday and used the airport ramp. Launching was NOT a problem. Anyone using up a 14ft jon boat or smaller will have no trouble launching; navigating the river is an entirely different matter.

The river is LOW LOW LOW.The navigable water is separated into small stretches bordered by water 4-6 inches deep. I ended up dragging my boat upriver rather than riding in it. Even the canoers and kayakers were having to get out and drag. This applies to both upriver of the launch and downriver. Lots of sandbars and exposed logs everywhere. I went up as far as the 90 degree right turn in the river, not far from the traditional high water riffles and turned back, fishing the multiple riffle areas that have been created by the low water.

I caught 7 whites, a 21 inch blue cat and a large gar. The whites ARE able to get that far up. They're just not there yet. Hopefully I'll try again next week. Next time I'll leave the gas motor and fuel tank in the truck or at home to save from dragging the weight.

The launch at the 59 bridge is no better. you can make it upriver maybe to the first bend before dragging. Down river is the same as airport. some deeper water, 1-3 ft, separated by stretches of inches deep flow.

All the traditional areas and rapids we used to catch at are gone. Hit the riffles and faster flowing water around sand bars, thats where I caught all mine. Minnows were a big problem in three rivers: Everyone was out of them! The fuel stop at 99, in George West, Everyone. I found 4 dozen of mixed size that morning in Three Rivers and was told that they were the last minnows anywhere around. Bring your own if your coming from out of town.

Boats other than Kayaks, Conoes or smaller Jon boats, don't waste your time. You wont get 200 yards before running aground, if you can launch at all.

Sorry for the grim report, my brothers, but yall needed to know the straight up truth from someone who was there, no opinions or conjecture, just cold hard facts. Not looking like a good year this year.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like it is about the same or a little worse than 2 years ago.

I have fished there since the late '80s and its probably the worst I've ever seen it, short of being totally dry.

I have not fished that area and would like to give it a try with my yak and fly rod. Can you provide some pretty specific directions as to how to find the airport and 59 launch sites?

Take I37 south to the Three Rivers/Alice exit, and take it. go thru town, pass the refinery on the right. Continue straight towards George West. You will see a sign saying Live Oak county park and public boat ramp. turn left there and go straight down the road and past the Railroad tracks, the park is the end of the road.

Hey wrknonit, Thanks for the recon info. Looks bleek. How far did you go downstream from the hwy 59 bridge? Did you have to drag your jon boat in any spots going downstream? Did you launch your boat from the boat ramp @ hwy 59?

From past experience with the depth of that river, if you go downstream from 59 to where the river makes that sharp right turn and then turns left, sort of like an "S" which is probably 1/4 mile past the bridge, those pools have been anywhere from 15 to 20' deep when the river was full.

Being as low as it is those pools should be pretty large and around 8 to 10 feet deep now with shallow riffles in between.

It's good to know that the fish can still get up those shallow areas by your report, and that was my concern, but unless we get some significant rains in the next few weeks, you can bet that river is just going to continue to fall unless they sustain it by continuing to let water out of Choke.

Don't worry too much about hauling a boat down there. Just buy you a good set of waders and get in the water and walk.

Do you think it is possible to wade fish the river from hwy 59 downstream & above the airport ramp?

Sure is. As Jimbo said there are lots of deeper hle down from the bridge. Pack lite and just walk down. Aboat is just a waste of effort at current water levels, unless you plan to use it to carry your gear.

Well I have a 10' "pond jumper" boat with a 35 # thrust trolling motor and my wife and I are going to fish on the river this Friday to see if we can hook any of the white bass. I dont know if I am more excited about fishing for white bass or the fact that my wife wants to go with me and it was her idea!

Be prepared to get out and drag. having the boat there will give you a good place to carry your tackle but even that little boat will not be able to get over some of the shallow spots. Take a good pair of waders.

Hey wrknonit, I was thinking about using the ramp at 59 and going south. Do you think that draging will still be a problem or should I just go to Swinney Switch and take my regular boat? Thanks for the help guys and girls!

How much of this rain that we're getting tonight do we REALY need to get the river level up?

Depends o n yer boat. Youll have to drag at some point regardless. I'm going to 59 andworking down.

All of it plus more. If it would com.e up just 1 foot, it would make all the difference.

All of it.

Well it looks like I am going to be buying a set of waders & planning my trips. What lures will work the best? Anyone making trips down there please keep us informed.

Actually what would work the best is one of those float tubes.

You wear chest waders, the boot type and sit in the tube in the deeper sections, and once in the shallows you just drag it behind you using it to hold all your gear.

A lot easier than dragging a canoe or kayak.

One problem is when the weather starts to warm and the days get down right hot, the gators and the snakes like to come out!

How's about 2 tubes with a small piece of plywood attached to the top sides? would make a great and easily towable platform for gear and still be usable to cross deeper sections. Hmmmmmmmm...... an idea and a design is forming.

Two might be a bit much especially if you get much wind you'll be fighting those tubes all day and less fishing.

I've done this before in years past on the Medina river back in the day.

Tied on a plywood board onto a large truck inner tube like the ones you ride the Guad on, and it makes a good base to haul your gear and Ice chest.

I was never in water deep enough to need to use it as a boat, but it makes a nice seat to sit on with your feet in the water along the shore.

Sure sounds like it will be a tough year up there. I guess I will plan on walking or taking the kayaks.

Also, I've never explored the area around the 59 bridge, I've always put it at the airport launch. That might have to change.

Thanks to all for the reports and keep them coming. I will probobly try to get up there in a couple of weeks.

did the rain do anything to the river? Planning on going to 59 bridge sat with the 14' john boat with a 15hp on it. Will we be able to get around or is it still to shallow in areas?

From what Ive been able to find out from calling friends and reading other reports, not much of the rain fell on the Nueces watershed. Meaning, little to no effect on the river level. I plan on going to the airport on saturday with my 14 ft jon minus the gas motor and fuel tank for weight savings. Just the troller, battery, paddle and rope for dragging. Now if I could just locate some minnows between here and there..........

if you don't make it up there saturday, i'll let you know how it is. the boy and i are going sunday. if you do make it saturday then let me know how it goes. good luck

wrknonit, if you're coming from San Antonio going down I37, just after the Loop 410 exit take the "Floresville" exit. About a half-mile after you exit, you'll come to a convience store called Mr. C's. I don't know what time in the morning he opens, but I believe it's about 6 am. He's always had minnows when we've stopped there. You'll need an aerated container to keep them alive since you'll be about 65-70 miles from your destination. After you buy the minnows, you'll have to loop around to get back on I37.

Yeah, I know the place. I stopped there last week and was told that they no longer dealt with minnows. thanks guy. Moot point anyways, since I wont be going down this weeked after all. Family business to take care of instead.

Hey wrkonit, I believe I saw you at the river. Do you recall seeing three teenagers walking down the stair on the first bend? I think you had all your rods out on holders around the sandbar.

yes I do. good to hear back from you. I caught five more in that hole upriver from that sandbar. how did your party do? I couldn't make it back this weekend, , you know.

the weather was awesome, the fishing not so good. me and the boy were in kayaks and went up river until the large gravel bar on the right, nothing. then went down stream from the launch not as far and still nothing. with kayaks you can't go up stream 100 yards with out hitting bottom, pretty shallow. walked a little and paddled a little. saw two canoes and one small boat and everyone had nothing. hope this helps. a few more weeks and the run will be on.

Sorry to hear that. After catching a few up there last week I hoped they were on the move. Were you using minnows or artificials? Hopefully someone who went to 59 and down will chime in with a report. I've found, more time than not, when they are in prespawn mode, that they wont take artificials too readily. Tight lining live minnows and staying put in an area is the best wayn to pick up some of them sluggish fish. Now, when the run/spawn is in full swing, they hit artificials like a madman. Still have faith in the airport.

Only four very small ones and also got three small Crappie.

How far up did you go? minnows or lures?

lures. went up 3 or 4 turns. stopped at the large gravel bar on the right where there is a trailer up on the bank. i'm not giving up just getting started.

I'm gonna wait till monday the 6th to go again. Probably hit that wide spot and riffles after the second turn, set out some minnows and wait.

i'm looking at the 20th the boy is off that day and i'm hoping the run in on by then.

we went saturday. used minnows and drug the boat way up river from airport. Pretty pathetic. Not sure if we are going to be going back. Probably focus on medina and canyon...Not worth the drive from SA.

Sounds like a terrible weekend. I'm going back on the 6th, as we may be a little early for them yet. Not willing to give it up just yet. Thinking about medina too, but with no inflow worth mentioning and lake levels incredibly low, Its gonna take some looking to find where the whites and crappie are hanging out.

This time last year we had been to the river three times during he month of January and each time we had a 50 fish two man limit of those BIG whites we had mentioned on earlier threads.

Traditionally we've caught them really well in January and with the water levels being what they are, I wouldn't look for it to get much better.

Little or no current those bass won't stay or venture very far up, so it's not looking very promissing.

I know that the flow into Choke is also pretty much non existant, so you can rule out the run in the Frio as well.

Canyon has fared a little better with the recent rains, with Medina not so much.

All we can do is keep our fingers crossed and hope it rains enough to put some water into those tributaries while it's still early enough to salvage the spawn.

Yep, hope for some rain. There is still time. I got this stringer on Feb. 24, 2010 and did even better March 4th of the same year. Just need the rain to hit the right spots now!!!

Still gotta try it again. Dang drought already screwed up my hunting season and now my white bass run too? I cannot deal with total defeat, man. I'll fight it all the way.

Well you bought the last of the damn minnows!! Hahaha we were just using the classic jigs. Tried to switch it up and use spoons, spinners, crankbaits, and other stuff but the fish just weren't there! This happened to us last year on January 17, 2010 when we only bagged four whites.