Hi all,

I'm fairly new to the forums and after many years of bank fishing, I am a fairly new boat owner (yay!). Just got a 2006 Bass Tracker Pro Team 175 about two weeks ago.

My father and I would like to take our boat out on Lake Travis this weekend (most likely on Sunday).

Now having never fished these water, we could sure use some guidance! We're thinking about undocking at Mansfield Dam since they recently opened up all the lanes. Where should we head to for the best catfish holes?

We're amateurs to all of this, so I doubt we're going to steal your best fishing spot, but would appreciate some guidance on where to go (hopefully not too far). Could someone take this picture Lake Travis map picture (right click, save picture as to your desktop), circle/mark where we should try our luck out (via MS Paint), and reupload it to any image hosting website?

Here is the picture of the Lake (remember, we'll be starting off at Mansfield Dam):


What depth of water should we be trying to stay in? We'll most likely anchor down somewhere - hope the waters aren't too rough for our small boat.

Also, any guidance on best way to rig a catfish line for fishing on Travis (i.e. how much weight to use?) would be highly appreciated as well. What's the best bait to be using for catfish during this time of year? I know we're probably going to try stinkbait, chicken liver, and possibly shrimp.. but any other suggestions would be awesome.

This will be our 2nd time out with the boat, so I hope to have a blast this weekend.

Thanks in advance to all those who can provide some input,

~ Im2bz2p345

bait.......go to fiesta on I35 around 45th and 51st.....buy some buffalo.......tell'em to scale it but dont wash it


cut it into pieces to put on your hook

as far as where to go, Travis is a poor fishing lake is my experience. Granger much better, but you have to learn the lake

chat with the guys on www.grangergang.com, espically ZEE....he fishes granger every week for catfish

but if you are dead set on travis, I'd unload at monas at pace bend and go up the river channel (north direction). When you come to the BIG curve to the right you will see cow creek. slowly go in there a little ways and find a spot to anchor or drift.

Do you have a fish finder ? No boat should be w/o one. And be dam sure you wear a life jacket, I dont care how good a swimmer you are.

Thanks for the welcome steveiam!

A big thanks for snowriver2 for sharing your advice. We're definitely set on Lake Travis this weekend (hope to try Granger i n the future, so that information is really valuable as well).

After a few Google searches, I found out that Mona's is another name for Camp Pedernales (located at 25306 Old Ferry Road Spicewood, TX 78669). How much is the fee to unload your boat at the public boat ramp there? I've read between $7-$10 on various websites.

Could you give me some more guidance once you get on the water from there? I have no idea where "cow creek" is and google didn't help much.

Maybe you could guide me a little bit more? I added Camp Pedernale's general location using MS Paint:


Is the BIG curve to the right the first major one you would get to if you went North? If you could pencil it in using Paint and reupload the image file, that would be a huge help.

We do have the stand/stock Lowrance fishfinder on the boat, although it's not that amazing. Mainly use it to show depth. Around what depth should we be fishing for catfish in this area you mentioned snowriver2?

Thanks!

~ Im2bz2p345

you see where that creek is running from 1431 to travis....that is cow creek. You're right , when I said the first curve to the right, I was thing about launching from pace bend. But I'm not sure that ramp is open.

As far as what depth, set out some jugs and see which ones hit. Then move all your jugs to the area where they are biting. Sit back with your rods out and run the jugs when you come back in.

Yeah, that's a great spot you indicated, unfortunately the only public boat ramp lanes that are open are at Mansfield Dam: http://www.lcra.org/parks/boat_ramp_info.html

It would take forever to get to that spot via our tiny boat. Do you know of any spots that are closer to the actual dam?

If you could point them out on the map that would be excellent.

Thank you in advance,

~ Im2bz2p345

never fished the dam area. but I know all the cat fishermen go to the narrows, but I,m not of a open ramp now to get there.

If you are going to be a cat fisherman you are going to have to learn how to throw a net to catch shad. Shad is the best bait no questions asked. buffalo works great too if you cant get shad. I live in cedar park, what town do you live in?

Thanks for the advice snowyriver2. We live in the North Austin area (not far from Round Rock & Cedar Park - close to 620 & Parmer).

My Dad and I are fairly new to fishing on a boat, so it will be a unique experience for us. We fish for a variety of fish, not just catfish exclusively.

Is shad the best bait for Travis? We don't have a net to catch the shad, but maybe I can convince my Dad to stop at a bait shop to either pick up a dozen minnows or shad (if they have them available). Know of any closeby to Mansfield Dam?

Maybe we can fish together sometime snowyriver2; you're not far from us at all!

~ Im2bz2p345

Well, how did you do this weekend?

Yes, there is no bait as good as shad. You have to catch them with a net. The only way I can consistenly catch shad is to be at the boat ramp at daylight, not 5 minutes after daylight, and catch them around the ramp.

You wont be able to buy shad, you have to catch them and you have to learn how to throw a net. And you must be at the boatramp just before daylite or you wont get any. % minutes after daylite is usually too late.

Buy buffalo from fiesta till you learn how to catch shad

No luck at Lake Travis. It was really dead, despite trying a dozen different spots throughout the day.

Time to try a different lake out.

Thanks for the advice,

~ Im2bz2p345

Travis is far from dead, you just have to fish fish it at night. Head out about 2hrs from dark. Use (for cats) live shad, minnows, small perch, nightcrawlers, and cut carp/drum bull shad... I dont waste your time with any thing else. I buy 2dzn minnow in case i cant catch any shad, but when i cam it is all I use.
As for spots I cant mark them on a map, only know them by looking at them. But mainly I pick a spot by reading the lake. The wind really effects were the fish will be. Fish coves that the wind is blowing into.

If your going for blues I'd go to lake austin!

we had some flop out of the baskets we had on the left and back into the water

Thanks for the response Eric. Nice picture by the way! Where about in Lake Austin were you fishing? If you would be kind enough, could you use this map to reference a location: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/austin/access.phtml

Also, what type of bait were you using and at what depth were they biting?

My Dad and I actually tried fishing Lake Austin for catfish as well (although for only a short period of time) and didn't have much luck.

Appreciate the response,

~ Im2bz2p345