I am looking to go out there oct 9 its me b day and we wanna go to a bigger lake and catch some big fish anybody know how to get there from calaveras lake?

how strict are the GW's out there and whats a good bait to use? for big cats, are there reds in that lake whats the best spot on the lake to ensure a good day and night of fishing as in
(on stop action lol)no really though we just wanna hit a bigger better lake and we dont want to hit canyon cause its gonna suck with jets and skies and the like, we also dont want to go as far as choke, or i would just go there,

anyway any info of this nature on medina lake would be great thanx in advance JJ

i have only driven by medina lake, i know u get on 1604 and turn right on culebra and go a ways down that road until u see signs to the lake, i have never fished there, let me know how it is, i plan on going sometime this fall.
rc

Go out Bandera Rd. passed Helotes on Hwy. 16 passed San Geronimo, and turn left on Park Rd. 37. It will take you right into the park at the lake. You can also go out Culebra rd. until you get to the dam and you will see a sign that says Reds Cove. It's a private launch that charges a fee and they have a pier and restaurant. Fish the small coves and off the lake points with a little brush on them and it should produce some action. There is a convenience store at the first intersection on 37 that sells bait, and they can usually tell you what's been biting, and on what.
Medina is one of the oldest lakes in Texas and is deep and clear. It's a good lake when you get familiar with it, and can produce consistant results if you take the time to learn how to fish it. As for how strict or the Game Wardens? I guess if you break a law they will write you up, and not give a warning, just like most Game Wardens. Just stay within the law and you'll be alright. Calaveras is a more user friendly lake and it will spoil you, but there are some good fish in Medina.
Also with the close proximity to the city you will not escape the Jetskis and recreational boaters unless you go during the week or fish early and late.

Jimbo thanks for your post, but growing up on Medina Lake I just wanted to add a few things to your post.

Red's Cove is NOT A PRIVATE LAUNCH, it might as well be how they treat folks over there these days, it is a PUBLIC LAUNCH that charges $8.00. The launch is terrible, nothing but rocks and you probably will ruin your trailer and or boat if you don't know what you are doing, trust me I know several that have. The one dock they have is rotten and lined with nothing to protect your fiberglass. The only thing they have going for them is they do serve up a MEAN BURGER AND FRIES though.

Joe's Marina is next to Red's Cove and Wayne and Gloria are happy to see you. You can take 1604 West to FM471 to FM1283 to geat there. They are a PUBLIC LAUNCH and have TWO GREAT CONCRETE RAMPS. They charge $6.00 to launch and are making several improvements to the property for us. I myself would like to support a place like Joe's as the money is put back in the property, not lining someone's pocket. Now Joe's does not open early as there is a gate to gain access to the property. He does sell a annual launch pass that gives you access to come and go as you please. He does sell minnows and allows fishing off his property. Here is their website http://www.joesmarina.com

Next to Joe's Marina is the Oasis Restaurant on the water. No launch just great food and drinks. Here is their website http://www.medinalake.com

Next to the Oasis Restaurant is Rox's Bed and Breakfast. This place is awesome also for parties. Our annual Christmas party held there every year is great.

Hope this clarifies it some for you. I was just there with a local newschannel and wound up with a 4 1/2 lber for the camera crew. This lake doesn't get alot of exposure, but over the years it has produced some big fish. The lake looks great and the bite has not been bad there lately. With school starting now the recreational traffic is easing up.

Debra Hengst
http://www.debrahengst.com

Might mention that the lake held the state largemouth record of 13 and a half pounds from 1943 until sometime in the 1970s.

Hey jj1rox,

Watch out for Red's Cove, he does'nt like bass clubs and/or bass boats/fisherman.

A friend of mine was fishing a tourney there about 3 weeks ago and the owner there was un-hooking the boat trailers and taking them to other places of the parking area!!

He told my friend that bass tourneys, clubs, and bass boats are really not welcomed!!

I haven't been there in a while and all this information is also new to me and quite welcome. Glad to see some new businesses putting in new facilities. I just got used to the old rundown, business as usual places out there.
Debra: Is that the old Lackland A.F.B Outdoor recreation site? I have been there many times when it was open. We used to catch some big old slab crappie off that Marina, back when it was Lackland. I'm going to have to check it out! Thanks Debra!
Well I clicked on the web. site and answered my own question. Glad to see the place open again. Thanks Debra, and I know where I'll be launching from now on.

hey thanx everyone for your response i want to have a good b-day fishing trip, also is that a good lake for large cats, and or reds? i guess i have gotten spoiled living on calaveras an all, also the GW's out there i guess there just leanant with me cause i know most of em for over the years, anyway yea i am gonna be all within the law so i wont have to worry about that, can you take alcohol in there glass bottlles ect.? not beer bottles but like liquor? oh and is that a good lake for big catfish and or reds, wait i already asked that sorry.

thanx JJ

bump

No reds in Medina.

Catfish, yes. Big catfish? I imagine Medina holds some, but for numbers you're better off at Calaveras.

Bottles of hard liquor? I suppose they are allowed at Medina just as they are at any other public reservoir.

jj1rox
Theres some good catfish out there. Your best bet if you just wanna catch some fish is to try for stripers. At night just drop some chicken liver or minnows up near the dam which is just past reds cove. Drop your line almost all the way to the bottom and reel up a litte bit and hang on.
I definately agree with everyone reds is a very tricky place to launch and you have to be very careful, Joes is a much better place the only thing is he closes and locks the gate at 9 or 10 pm, so you have to be gone by then unless you buy a yearly luanch pass.

well you cant take bottle into calaveras so thats why i was asking, as far as striper goes where would i get the minnows could i catch my own with the castnet? are they pretty big? joes locks the gate at 930 10 then if your camping you should be alright? also does anyone know what the predominant bait fish is in that lake?

If your camping and planning on staying the night yeah it wont matter. Joes marina also sells minnows all sizes, we do just as well with chicken liver though but its nice to have a variety.

jj1rox, we fished there last year and we took some store-bought minnows and we also used the cast net around the docks and caught some big red horse minnows. If you had a red horse minnow on your hook, you had a fish (whites, stripers, crappie, even a black or two). When we put a store-bought minnow on the hook, we were just drowning minnows.

does anyone or do you know what the red hoarsew minnow looks like?

taht must be the predominant bait fish in that lake, caus eits the same thing with gizzard shad at calaveras!

anybody posssibly got a pic?

thanx in advance. JJ