texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,580
TexDawg 119,524
Bigbob_FTW 94,903
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,523
Mark Perry 72,297
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,853
Posts13,935,648
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? #14062833 07/15/21 05:42 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
It has been 45 years since I fished Bend State Park. Back then it was called Lemon's Camp. I have recently taken up fly fishing and am looking for a place to fish for large panfish. I live in Copperas Cove and am willing to drive in any direction maybe an hour or so to get into some. I have tried a lot of local places but I'm bored with catching 2 to 3 inch sunfish. Any assistance finding a fair number of 6 or better inch fish would be greatly appreciated. I have a hard time considering quarter to fifty cent size bluegill sport fishing LOL!!! I hate pulling in my line only to find that there is a fish on my hook that is so small I would not use it for catfish bait.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Linked Image]
This is just a stock photo but it's close to what I am talking about

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14062886 07/15/21 06:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
banker-always fishing Offline
Pumpkin Head
Offline
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
Brushy Creek and the San Gabriel River in the Round Rock/George Town Area. Good size sunfish in both water bodies. thumb


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: banker-always fishing] #14063436 07/16/21 01:26 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
Banker,

Thank you. I don't know what's up around here (Killeen Copperas Cove) anymore. In the 60's & 70's, I'd fish Nolan creek or the Fort Hood ponds and catch 6-9 inch gills all day long. Now they are mostly like the ones in the picture give or take an inch or two. I have a nice 5wt 7' fly rod that I have never used yet. But I think it would be a blast to catch big fighting brim with it and these.

[Linked Image]

S.B.

Last edited by SteveBob; 07/16/21 02:32 AM.
Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14063508 07/16/21 02:32 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
banker-always fishing Offline
Pumpkin Head
Offline
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
I fish with a couple of Fly Anglers and they have a blast catching big Bluegill (Sunfish). I love watching the fights. boxing


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14063622 07/16/21 05:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
Due to Covid.... I had to learn fly fishing and tying from YouTube and in places like this forum. I will have to take your word on it. I have only met one other fly fisherman and his wife who also fly fishes in my life, and that turned out to be a kayak fishing trip that went wrong. But that's a different story.LOL!!!

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14064964 07/17/21 01:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,021
L
Laker One Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
L
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,021
Love the San Gabriel. Also the Austin area has some good sunfish places. Lady Bird Lake is one.

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: Laker One] #14065435 07/17/21 11:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
I have not been to Ladybird lake since the first moon landing. Are there any lake access requirements? Also you can get there off of Hwy 281 correct?

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14065479 07/18/21 01:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
banker-always fishing Offline
Pumpkin Head
Offline
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
You can get to the lake off of IH 35. There is a park on the east side of the lake with plenty of bank access. There is also walking trails on the west side of the lake with bank fishing spots there. No gas powered motors are allowed on the lake. I have not fished the LBL this year, so you might want to check the rules for the lake to get any updates. thumb



Side Note: There is a kayak ramp in the park on the east side. I also think there is one on the west side but do not know for sure. cheers


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14065651 07/18/21 11:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
Thanks Banker.

I have been tying my idea of the Texas version of a nymph but more like a grub or maggot (It's a bigger in Texas kind of thing) to come with me on my "Aiming for bluegill" fly trip. The nymph is the single one on the bottom. The first 4 on top are the maggots the next 4 are the grubs.

[Linked Image]

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14065783 07/18/21 02:34 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,021
L
Laker One Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
L
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,021
Originally Posted by SteveBob
Thanks Banker.

I have been tying my idea of the Texas version of a nymph but more like a grub or maggot (It's a bigger in Texas kind of thing) to come with me on my "Aiming for bluegill" fly trip. The nymph is the single one on the bottom. The first 4 on top are the maggots the next 4 are the grubs.

[Linked Image]





I also fish with a fly rod. I have a 3wt and 5wt. I know a person who lets me fish his private pond anytime I want. It is only a 20 minute drive from where I live. I love using my fly rod there. I catch plenty of sunnys in the 6 to 8 inch range. I also catch a nice bass every now and then. Let us know how your flies do. Seems to me that they will be fish catchers for sure. woot


Side Note: I fish the LBL a lot from a kayak and catch plenty of nice Bluegill. The nice sunfish are in the 7 to 11 inch range. Most I catch are in the 7 to 9 inch range with a 10 inch trophy on occasions. There are also some huge bass and carp in that lake as well. Park is on both the east and west sides of the lake. The bigger park is on the east side. coolio

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14066005 07/18/21 07:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
7" to 11" WOW!!! I no longer have my kayak and my boat is down right now. So I am stuck fishing from the bank till it's fixed. I have 4wt, 5wt, and 7wt rods. I have caught several small black bass, white bass, crappie, and many tiny bluegills. The biggest fish I have caught so far on a fly rod is a 10" Black bass on a 7wt rod. But pound for pound I think sunfish are some of the hardest fighting fish I have ever caught. So a big one on a light fly rig seems like it would be a hoot. If I can catch a good weather day that's also a day with no honey do's I'll be there. I'm thinking some time this coming week if the boss lady doesn't have other plans for me LOL!!! Thank you once again for the info my friend.

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14068836 07/21/21 01:57 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610
G
Gitter Done Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
G
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610
Go get em SteveBob. Also love your flies.

Re: Any good bluegill/sunny bank fishing around Bend? [Re: SteveBob] #14080378 08/01/21 10:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
S
SteveBob Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 314
Thanks G. D.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3