Every spring and fall my company does a retreat on a ranch in either Texas or Oklahoma. In the past we have been to a ranch in West Texas with a private 500 acre lake, 10,000 acres in the pine covered Southeast Oklahoma with creeks and rivers, and a ranch just southeast of Dallas with one the best quarry lakes in the state, but this ranch takes the cake.

The 700 Springs Ranch consists of 18,000 Acres and 5+/- miles of the South Llano River, including the headwaters of the South Llano and Llano Rivers. The crown jewel of the ranch is the 700 Springs. The 700 Springs is the second largest spring on the South Llano and the 13th largest in the state. On an average day it produces 10.5 million gallons of water which winds its way through the hill country and provides water for Austin. We estimated it to be about 65 degrees and it tasted mighty good coming straight from the limestone. The 700 Springs is about 100 yards long with the water cascading down 12 feet. We were told that conquistadors and Native Americans would meet next to falls to exchange goods. The Native Americans also believed the 700 Springs had healing powers.







The spring I'm sitting in shows up a 1:13 in the video for reference.










Where one of the springs came out of the limestone they built a retaining wall to create a pool. It was dated 1927.


Fishing report to follow.

Matt and I were the first to arrive at the ranch, so we were given the tour of the river first. We were taken to a single spring up river and were told that a water bottling company offered the owner $1 million a year to pump the water. That in itself is fun fact, but he told of something swimming in that spring water that we found more interesting; Striper.


Never in a million years would I ever think there would be Striper in that part of Texas, but I guess the spring water stays cold enough.

And a picture of the "$1 Million" Spring.


After that bomb we were told that the river had "African Perch" in the main fishing hole. Well, those "African Perch" turned out to be Rio Grande Cichlid. Rio Grande Cichlids are only found in a few Hill Country and Southwest Texas rivers. The Cichlids in this stretch of were huge with most weighing over 1 lbs. Electric Chicken Crappie jigs bouncing off the bottom were the ticket. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2pm until dark we throttled the Cichlids using our ultralight gear and fly gear.


And I got to model for renowned outdoor photographer Russell Graves.


For 3 hours in the morning on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday JR and I attacked the Guadalupe and Largemouth Bass throwing soft plastic frogs in the lily pads. We never hooked into a monster, the largest was about 2.5 lbs, but the numbers were there and they were feisty. I love some frog action in the morning.




Unfortunately, we had to do some work related things on Wednesday and Thursday that cut into our fishing time, but at the end of the trip I think I converted three of our agents to kayakers.

Man Neumie that's an awesome looking place!!! Those are some great shots. You happen to know what kind of camera was used? Thanks for sharing bro...

Is that guy on the phone in the front yak named Ralph?

Holy cow that is awesome. Great report.

No, that's Matt(left) and Brad(right).

Wow, Matt has a twin!!!

My camera is the Sony TX5 (their waterproof Point & Shoot) and Russell's is a high dollar Canon.

Great post and pics. I never knew there were stripers in the S Llano. I've fished it for years and never heard of them being in there. They may be just in that specific hole.

Nice report Josh! That place looks awesome!

Nice write up.

I love the Hill country.. thanks for sharing!

+1

That is one of the rivers in Texas I haven't been to and REALLY REALLY want to see. One of these days Ill get out there.

SA-WEET!!!!!! Heaven truely is in Texas.