Canyon Lake is pretty, and I like staying at Potters Creek for only $12 (with Golden Age Passport, RVing). The launch ramp inside the campground is GREAT.
BUT, the lake is "the Dead Sea".
So, what is the best guess on when we'll be able to launch at Dunlap (at Shuman's Beach Rd).

2 years

lower end of the lake will now be a permanent NO WAKE zone.

Thanks, this sounds interesting. But, can you tell us exactly where is the line of demarcation? IOW how far from the SBR launch ramp is it?

Thats awesome. During the summer time the lower end of the lake will be jam packed with bassers.

Lake was open ^Tuesday nite. 2 club members went after 9pm till whenever. Only two fish caught, 8.44lb black bass and 24lb yellowcat. They were throwing black/blue 1oz jigs.

I guess I'll find out the LOCATION of the line that describes the "lower lake",.....when I go there.

SEGUIN — Crews at Lake Dunlap will move to Lake Gonzales to make emergency repairs to a spillgate that did not function properly following the flood event from heavy rains recently (9 inches of rain in Caldwell County). Upon completion of that repair, the crews will finish up repair work at Lake Dunlap. In the meantime, refilling at Lake Dunlap will begin Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, to a level that will be a foot and a half below its normal pond level.

Based on the current inflow, the refilling process to the prescribed level should take about a week and be reached by Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Hydroelectric crews have indicated Lake Dunlap will remain at a foot and a half below its normal pond level until work is completed on the dam. Crews estimated completion of repairs should occur around March 30, 2012.GBRA staff will continue to communicate with the contractor about these matters and will relay significant lake level or schedule changes to Lake Dunlap constituents accordingly.

For Guadalupe River emergency information and/or important updates, follow GBRA on Twitter at GBRATX.

The GBRA was established by the Texas Legislature in 1933 as a water conservation and reclamation district. GBRA provides stewardship for the water resources in its 10-county statutory district, which begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Blanco rivers, ends at San Antonio Bay, and includes Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun, and Refugio counties.

it's public information. all you have to do is look.

http://www.gbra.org/documents/resolutions/12012601.pdf

map is on page 2

no wake zone is already in effect by the way.

I wonder what the "illegal activity" was that brought on the excutive order?

Because of some illegal activity undertaken in the stump field on Lake Dunlap that resulted in the lake level remaining low until the end of January, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) Board of Directors had its monthly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, where they authorized the general manager to act, as necessary, regarding the lake level, the timeframe in which it is raised and/or possibly even what areas may be designated as "no wake" zones.

people cutting the stumps

Very Brief History from someone who attended every meeting.

GBRA lowered lake two feet to work on dam gates.

PLDA (lake association) asked for it to lowered to 4 feet to remove navigational hazards. GBRA agreed.

Multiple meetings held to determine process. GBRA included TP&W and Texas Bass Federation Conservation reps in these meetings.

Group agreed that GBRA and TP&W would mark some hazards for removal and some to be left with marker buoys. This was done.

A small group did not agree with the markings because it left the large stump field down by the dam as fish habitat.

Without permission, they went out and cut about ˝ the stump field to water level (about two to four feet off) with chain saws before being stopped.

GBRA declared that lower area of the lake was closed.

GBRA held a new series of meeting where many argued that his made the stump area even more dangerous. TP&W and TBF Conservation arm took the position that this was a terrible action that damaged habitat and all effort to save the remaining area of the stump field should be saved. PLDA’s position was to lower the lake two more feet and cut all stumps even more to make the area safe.

GBRA has the final say and ruled that the lake will remain 1˝ feet low till dam work is finished (around March 30th) and made the lower section of the lake (the stump field area) a no wake zone. This will protect the stump area and makes the area safe.

Issue is not over, PLDA has already contacted some GBRA directors complaining about the decision, legal action still might be taken against the stump cutters, and TP&W is looking at habitat restoration measures on the lake.

This is just another example of things of things that TP&W and TBF Conservation arm does to help our sport where few fisherman are aware that it going on.

I can tell you from experience with GBRA on Lake Wood, they will not allow TP&W to put in artificial reefs, tires, brush piles or any other non-permanate structure. GBRA is afraid it will break loose during flood conditions and damage the hydro plant or the dam structure itself.

Anyone ever fish those stumps down there anyway? There is more brush/boat docks etc. further up the lake that hold allot more fish than those stumps.

there is great fishing around those stumps.

There is far greater fishing up river around those sunken brushpiles and boat docks.

I think I know the lake pretty well. thanks.

The 10#+ below in my signature was caught off the stumps....the lake catch n release record.

10# is the lake catch and release record? I saw a 12 and an 11 pounder weighed in during the same tournament by 2 different anglers a couple of years ago.
The following week I think there was 2 11's weighed in. Phillip caught one of them, and none of them came out of those stumps. Maybe he'll respond with the exact weights.

doesn't go by weight

ah, well you mentioned weight in your post, but I guess its one of "those" type records.

yep, one of those that will be tough to beat. ha ha

That is a good fish you got there in your sig. It looks allot bigger than my Lake Dunlap catch n release record.

it was a very long fish...

Those are serious stumps, too--knocked myself silly on one of them. Then I talked to a warden, who educated me that, going towards the dam, down from Schumann's, it's clear sailing along the right bank, but double trouble over to the left. Don't recall seeing any warnings of this.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,....Hendo and everyone else. I like reading the history of what's behind the action taken by the powerful ones. This action makes sense to me, in view of the fact that a group of private citizens took matters into their hands. But, I can see why the property owners on the Shuman Beach Rd side, on that stretch of the no-wake zone, would be upset.
The new rule won't bother me 'cause I can still go fast where I want. Whereas, I alwasy fish the stump field area slow anyway.
Thanks again

hopefully it will make for a better than average spawn this year. flooding some stuff that has been dry for awhile now plus some recent rain giving the lake some much needed fresh water.

why is schuman's beach gonna take so long to be able to launch at?

Schuman's is still closed?

Can a guy launch a bass boat under 35 yet?

not as of wednesday....maybe another week...maybe. Just be careful not to run your trailer off the end of the ramp cuz there is a 3-4 foot drop off.

Thanks for the update Hendo...was going to hit the big gals at least once more down near sbr before all the big glitter boats come out. Waiting to see what the expected rain does to water clairity.

Where is a functional ramp at?

there is none. I have been backing my boat down the bank.

Anyone been by the 35 ramp in the past day or two? Any thoughts when it will be launchable?

Launched my 18 ft alumacraft under 35 yesturday, I used the ramp. Water might be to low today.

I am going to try to fish Dunlap on Sunday morning if the ramp is open. I have a 19 foot bass boat. Does anyone think it will be ok to launch at the 35 bridge? Thanks for the help.

I heard its 1.5 feet low but the ramp is usable. I am also headed there Sunday with my 19 ft boat. Good luck to you.

Based on the current inflow, the refilling process to the prescribed level should take about a week and be reached by Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Hydroelectric crews have indicated Lake Dunlap will remain at a foot and a half below its normal pond level until work is completed on the dam. Crews estimated completion of repairs should occur around March 30, 2012.

Here's some photos I took this morning at Schumann's Beach.

how did the water look on that end of the lake?

To me it still looked a little murky, but I don't fish it a lot.

thanks

bet its crowded out there today!

Nope not bad at all. Fished from 11am to 3pm with only 2 or 3 other boats. Water is 60 degrees and very muddy from rains. Looks like chocolate milk. Got skunked out there today.