A group of three of us are ready for our annual week of fishing starting 3/15. Most recent years we have fished at Choke Canyon with a couple days of Falcon sprinkled in. It sounds like a whole new plan is in order this year since Choke Canyon is so low it is nearly impossible to launch a 21ft boat.

We are open to just about anywhere in Texas that offers great springtime fishing with a chance to catch a DD. Here are some ideas:

Lake Fork - lots of waypoints and lake knowledge. At least 12 days with local guides. Reasonable accommodations and some flexibility with Athens reasonably close as an alternate for a day or two. Fork will likely be swamped with other boaters.

Lake Conroe - never been before but heard great things on this forum. Further south, so temperatures may be warmer. No idea about accommodations.

Sam Rayburn - medium to low lake knowledge. A few weeks worth of knowledge over the years including one day with a local guide. Southern location may help with the temperatures. Large size offers many completely different patterns.

Lake Lewisville - closest lake and lots of local knowledge. Good fish quality and numbers but probably less chance for DD than other area lakes. Lake traffic likely lighter. May be too close to home.

OH Ivie - zero lake knowledge. Have heard about the SALs on this forum. Accommodations a little questionable with much fewer places for lodging and local eateries. Certainly willing to invest a week there if the wise ones on this forum think it is our best choice.

Bois D’Arc - little lake knowledge and low confidence. Have fished three times with limited success. Not included on my Lakemaster chip.

Toledo Bend - Several multi day trips with some success. Seems to become limited due to wind much quicker than some of the other lakes. We have caught numbers there but never seem to get on the really big fish.

These are my honest thoughts about each and we are open to totally different Texas lakes. I welcome and appreciate any feedback you may have about our best choice for a regular bite and chance for a big one.

Choke Canyon is so low as to be IMPOSSIBLE to launch a boat of any size from a trailer. Go north and east if you want lakes with plenty of water.

I had slight hopes the other day when some guys cleaned the ramp; but they were quickly squashed the next day when it was said that only small flat bottom boats could launch.

I would fish all week at Falcon if it were me. The drive every day down to the state park is a pain in the butt, but I would do it as I have done before.

Falcon. Amazing food, good people, and you know the lay of the land.

I have never heard anyone say food in Zapata was amazing. Always sucked when I was down there.

Rayburn and Toledo.

El Paraiso Restaurant. Get the Cheese and gravy Chicken Fried steak.. MMMM good.

Instead of popular lakes, I’d be looking at a few smaller east TX lakes and when you crush em, keep it off the socials!

Amazing……

I can vouch for this one. Been 3 or 4 years since I've been down there but their food is pretty good.

That is so rare these days. Folks need attention so bad.

Bougie fat girls fighting for a chance to go to Athens.

The Stripes gas station is about as good as it gets,

No way I’d waste a week on Conroe. Nice lake to fish, I just wouldn’t suggest spending a week at it. It’s damn near impossible to fish after about 10am because it gets swarmed with wake boat.

Go to Rayburn/Toledo bend.