Hello,

I am a young 15 year old angler and I am about to turn 16. I am getting a jon boat soon to fix it up into a bass boat. I will not have very much money to spend so I dont think I can get an outboard right away. I do have a 46lbs trolling motor though. I have heard alot of people talking about electric only lakes, no outboards, near the DFW area. If you dont mind would you mind telling me some electric only lakes to fish or a website with the names listed or something, I have been looking and cant seem to find very many of them.

Thanks Robert

You've got a few options here. One is lakes that are electric only. Those are mainly controlled by the Feds, and are in the LBJ Grasslands in Decatur. Here is a link. You're mainly interested in the ones from Black Creek to the bottom of the page.

The second option are lakes that are within state parks that have no wake speed limits on them. These are also excellent to fish from with a jon boat, bassbuster or float tube. Some of these will include Cleburne State Park, Mineral Wells State Park (prudent speed limit), Meridian State Park, Tyler State Park. Here is a link to help you find State Parks that will fit your needs.

Once you get your drivers license, it'll open up lots more choices to fish. Also, check out the destinations page that one of the float tubers has put together. Lakes that are good for tubing will be good for a jon-boat. Many of the ones I listed will be covered, but he may have a few there that I didn't list.

www.lsfta.com

If you'd be interested in joining a small lake/pond fishing club, check out THIS site. They only fish very small lakes and ponds. I met a guy on Ray Roberts once that belonged to it. He really enjoyed the guys in the club too. Nobody was worried about how big and powerful their fishing boats were. After all what can you do to pimp up a 10 ft. pond boat. Give them a call, they may be able to help out a young fisherman. Here is a page showing the smaller lakes that they fish.

That is an awesome website. Thanks for the help. I sent them an email. I might ahve to think about joining them. Are you a member?

I was a member of the GTBC a few years ago. I highly recommend them. You'll catch more and bigger fish per trip there than you'll ever catch on public lakes. If you can swing the annual dues and daily fishing fees, you'll have a blast.

Hey HuntingRDR,

A little strategy and you can fish various sections of the big lakes. Although I'd stay within a few hundred feet from shore there are a lot of stump fields on most of them where power boaters will not bother you. Weekends and cooler weather there are less crazies. I see a lot of guys out on public park ponds. Also don't rule out creeks and rivers.

One point, wear your life jacket and be careful in the winter months as the water can freeze you pretty quick.

Good luck,
Tony

white rock lake in dallas. there are several ramps to choose from depending on the wind and area of lake you want to fish. also try to have a "rudder" built for the back of the jon boat it will keep the wind from blowing you in circles.
look at BusterBoat's web site for their rudder accessory. you might consider buying a wind sock to slow a down wind drift.

Thanks for the help guys!!

RDR, I joined GTBC (thats their old name) when I first moved to Austin in 2002, when I did not know any other basser's there and it was a ggreat way to get out an catch some nice fish. If you can afford the dues and such I highly recommend it for your situation. Tell Derek Kelly from Alabama said HELLO! Good luck to you!