My wife and I went to New Braunfels to visit our Grandson and his girlfriend. We took the boat and went to Calavaras to fish for Red Fish. Had not luck at all. Tried shrimp and shad. The big disappointment was it cost $29 to put 4 people and the boat on the water. That is to much to charge for launching a boat.

Yes it is, but since Thousand Trails runs the park now they have increased the fees to where if you fish a lot, you have to buy an anual permit to ease the pain.
It was run from the time the lake opened back in the late 60's by San Antonio River Authority. They pretty much kept the fee's low, but the park most of the time looked unkept and dirty. Also a lot of questionable character folks hung out there with little security to curb the goings on.
The facilities have improved but they shut down over half of the park and that took away a lot of bank access, so in effect you get a lot less for more money charged.
Another thing is the fishing hasn't been all that great the last couple of years. Used to be you could go out and catch a mess of catfish anytime. That has changed and it's hard to find them. The reds are always finicky and if you don't fish the crappie wall and fight the crowds you have less chance at the reds.
My recommendation is to hire one of the guides and with the number of guides competing out there now the prices aren't that bad.
The guides are having a hard time as well finding fish lately.
Just hope it picks up soon, but I know where you are coming from.

Thanks for the info. It does seem that you are paying more for less these days in everything. I will probably try the fishing again in the fall. We found some shad while throwing for talapia. We did not find them either. Did catch some Plecostomases in our net. At least that is what we were told they were. Do not even know if you can keep them or if you can eat them.

I call them lake roaches. To me they are disgusting, and have literally taken over the lake. I've heard of people eating them so I just wish those people would come out and put a dent in the population.
All I know is there are so many of them that they are bound to have a negative effect on the fishery.
I'm no expert, but I do fish out there often enough to see patterns, and I know that as the Plecos increased in population, the fishing for channel catfish, and blue catfish has been deminishing. Has it effected the other species? In my opinion probably not since they are stocked regularly so there is no reproduction there. The catfish are pretty much left to fend for themselves.

Jimbo is dead on..Also there is great fishin in the evenings right here in New braunfels after the skiers go in, but no reds in the river. Monster cats, crappie and bass though.

If you catch a pleco you are supposed to kill it by degilling and gutting. Invasive species and very damaging.

How did they get in the lake? Are you serious about killing them? What lake is in the area where you can catch fish after the skiers go home?