If someone could get a celebrity or someone with stupid money on board with this project things seem to happen much quicker. I know we all are equal but the ones that are in power always seem to think different. I hope this can all be worked out. The fishing world is growing but the places to fish seem to be getting smaller.

I would like to echo what Chris G has said here. I am a reluctant but prolific user of Facebook as I am a writer and a photographer and thus far, it is the only real outlet I have for that. With that said, I have made (I think) a pretty decent case with some of my earliest posts on that page as Admin. For those who still use FB, please do share some stories of the good trips you all had there. I was a local who did fish there but took it for granted and did not really fish it as much as I should have over the years.

Monticello holds many memories for myself and my friends. We frequently drove from Tyler to fish it during the week while we were in college. I continued to make the drive all the way from Arlington after relocating and fished it up until a few weeks before the park closed. Keep us posted about ways we can be helpful. Thank you to everyone who has been making efforts to get public access open to this Great Lake.

BUMP

I have heard from 2 pretty reliable sources that there are possible plans off adding a gate or opening on the dam so that you could access Monti from Sandlin. Has anyone else heard this?

Interesting, in Iowa and Nebraska if the state stocks your pond, you have to allow public access and it is listed on a private waters public access map.

I've heard countless rumors over the last 3 years regarding that dam. They are nothing more than that...rumors. I'd personally rather see those gates closed again and let Monti get back to its old level. There is ZERO risk of anything flooding around that lake today. in the future, who knows but in the last 500 year flood, literally a parking lot and beat up old dock were under water. That's it.

Following on Facebook. I'd love to fish there again.

Mgfan58

I did not know it was for sale. Is there a listing for it?

Luminant has been trying to sell the plant, lake and all of the land around it for the last 2+ years. They have only been successful in selling the plant and the land it sits on to a remediation company at this point.

If they ever develop it I"m buying a lot and retiring there. Wife might be pissed but I've lived in stinking Arlington TX for 35 years for her. She owes me.

After watching a Honey Hole episode of Jerry Dean fishing powerline cove I hired Gerald Roebuck to guide the wife and myself on Monticello. We caught some nice fish but the real benefit was he showed us how to fish the lake all 4 seasons. We learned how to fish 20-25' of water in the heat of the summer and had unbelievable numbers of 3 to 8# fish. In Louisiana when we fished deep we were fishing 6 to 8' of water! It was addictive!!! We learned how to use a flasher and drop a jigging spoon down to them and have them try to take the rod away from you. Carolina rigged worms and lizards were the bomb and a magnum mudbug in ANY color would nail big ones. We brought numerous friends from LA over for the weekend to experience Monti and all were amazed. And no, none of the bass were released in the grease ( that's the south LA version of us Louisianians). We did however accidently find beds of giant coppernose bluegill and ate the hell out of them! When I heard of the plant closing and the lake being shut down we were dismayed we wouldn't be able to bring our grandsons there to experience the lake. They are just now old enough to do it. I really hope there will be a way to re-open in the future!

Here is the article about who bought it.

Lake Montecillo sold

Here is info about the company who bought it.


Commercial liability Partners

As of the last one of these threads the lake and the rv park area was not sold, they are taking offers.

I see no reason why the gates couldn’t be closed on Monticello. Like Chris said there is little to no concern about that lake flooding.

Closing the gates and fixing one stupid ramp would bring so many people back to that area every weekend benefiting gas stations, local stores, motels etc.

Us bass anglers are not pick all we need is a ramp and a trash dumpster.

Heck even if they charged $20 for a ramp fee I would pay it.