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What's going on at Monticello? #12774205 05/30/18 05:32 PM
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TwoLakes Offline OP
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I'm planning to fish Monticello tomorrow and Friday for the first time since they shut the plant down and lowered the level. Can anyone share some pointers? Are the lily pads deep enough to hold fish now? Still hydrilla in Smith/Blundell to hold fish?

I'm guessing it fishes differently now without the shoreline growth having time to grow at the new water level. Any pointers are appreciated.

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Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774229 05/30/18 05:45 PM
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Chris G Offline
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Lots of grass still everywhere but the decision to leave the gates open has caused some big changes.

First - Smith and Blundell essentially never clear up because every time it rains the water is pulled out from the bottom of the lake into Sandlin. This has caused a lot of the hydrilla in Smith to die off due to the constant turbidity of the water. Don't get me wrong there is still a lot of grass and pads back in both areas but expect most of it to be in less than 3' of water with the deepest stuff maybe being 5-6'. There have been some fish back there but the average fish has been very small by Monti standards.

2nd and could be as big of a deal - the open gates have now introduced both sand bass and spotted bass into Monti. I've caught some sand bass and have 3 buddies who have all caught sand bass with one catching some spots a couple of weeks ago. That sucks!!!

I'm sure the lake will generally be ok long term but this decision made by Luminant and TPWD will forever change what was one of the best lakes in all of Texas. I even contacted both groups and offered to set up an LLC to maintain and operate the gates and was met with the heisman by some PR guy from Luminant. The reality is if a drought sets in over this Summer you won't be able to launch from the ramp any way.

Sorry for the rant......to the OP...fish points on the south end with whatever you like to throw and you should catch some fish. I'm still very p1ssed about the entire situation.


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Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: Chris G] #12774297 05/30/18 06:31 PM
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TwoLakes Offline OP
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Thanks for the reply Chris. Much appreciated. I'm in Texarkana and Monticello has been one of my favorite lakes to fish for 15 years now. I still can't believe they shut the plant down and raised the gates. I'm right there with you being upset about the situation.

I guess we'll hit Monticello for awhile tomorrow and see how it goes. If we can't figure them out, we may move over to Sandlin. Not sure......

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774302 05/30/18 06:35 PM
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Wife and I hit Monticello about a week ago. It wzs way different from past trips. Not the Monti I remember. Caught fish but it was slow and overall size of fish seemed down.
We ended up hitting Sandlin to end the day and had a really fun time there. Way better quantity and quality.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: Mark Perry] #12774307 05/30/18 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted By: Mark Perry
Wife and I hit Monticello about a week ago. It wzs way different from past trips. Not the Monti I remember. Caught fish but it was slow and overall size of fish seemed down.
We ended up hitting Sandlin to end the day and had a really fun time there. Way better quantity and quality.


Ditto for me and from what I recall reading, both of us did this the weekend before Memorial Day. Bob Sandlin saved the day for me.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: Mark Perry] #12774346 05/30/18 07:07 PM
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TwoLakes Offline OP
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OK. Sounds like we'll be fishing Sandlin if our Monti results match the replies. Dang.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774355 05/30/18 07:14 PM
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Had a friend who went froggin in Smith a couple weeks ago, results were fair, I think maybe 7 fish in about 5 hours. It has changed a lot according to him.


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Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774358 05/30/18 07:16 PM
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Mark Perry Online Content
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The frog bite at Sandlin was really good.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774445 05/30/18 08:14 PM
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I'm sure the lake and the fish are just adjusting to the new norm and hopefully it will be fine but it's definitely not been as good lately in most areas. Hopefully our TPWD Biologist is right and the grass will be able to move more and thrive better under "normal" water conditions this summer.


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Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774513 05/30/18 09:08 PM
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I went two Sundays ago for the first time unfortunately. Managed to catch 9 fish in a 4 hour period. None were bigger than 3 pounds but they were the meanest fish I have ever caught. 2 pounds pulled like they were 6 pounders. I mainly fished in the shallow hydrilla. Lots of fish chasing small schools of 1 inch Shad.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774527 05/30/18 09:15 PM
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Hopefully some of the hydrilla from Monticello will find its way into Sandlin.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774548 05/30/18 09:32 PM
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Pintail711 Offline
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Right now is when the lake would really start fishing good.

Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774553 05/30/18 09:38 PM
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Chris G Offline
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Yep...they would start making that migration up North following the shad into the pads seeking out cooler water. I hope that happens this year but that water is now 2-3 foot more shallow than in year's past so I am not that hopeful.


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Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774606 05/30/18 10:51 PM
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They pulled this excremental move and dare to warn us about a hot summer and rolling blackouts because demand is too high! ERCOT is staffed with incompetence at every level!


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Re: What's going on at Monticello? [Re: TwoLakes] #12774772 05/31/18 01:03 AM
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Y'all do know that Luminant(Vistra Energy) and Dynegy are merging and part of the deal
for the new company is that it has to tear down Monti and Big Brown or sell its 3 gas plants. They elected to keep the 3 gas plants(Graham, Stryker & Trinidad) and remove the lignite plants. They are saving lots of tax money that way.


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