Yeah, Mother Nature is changing that calendar every year. The last few years have been very unpredictable and has led me to a new adage..."every year is different".

A new hot lure for every quarter. The same lures don't always work the way they worked last year. New dock where there were none last year and no light where there were lights last year.
That's why we go at least once a week. You can't catch'em if you're not there.

R

Complete fishing report at
http://www.austinbassfishing.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Black_bass;action=display;num=1199641167


BUT HERE IS THE REVIEW!
I launched at Gloster Bend on the Colorado Arm of Lake Travis on Saturday, 1-5-08. I ran all the way up to within a mile of Reimers Ranch. I got to where I could see the boulders in the water and turned around. The water temp was 50.2 degrees and clear. No fish, though...

So I went back down towards Camp Pedenales. I located large schools of fish and bait. However, it was late in the day and only fish 1/2 hour. Caught females whites. Cleaned them to find very bloody red egg sacks. So, I would think that Reimers and further west in some of those pools, the whites should be spawning soon. However, I know that there are whites that spawn at different times of the winter...

If you fish by boat, I would troll or jig across from Camp Pedenales. Even if you had a kayak, I would try it...The water temp at Camp Pedenales is 57.4 degrees and clear.

Thanks for the report, Ranger R!

57.4 deg IS close to that inspirational temp for the whites to do "their thing." You may be absolutely right about some whites spawning in the area soon if they decide to go up further this early. The lake seems to be on a cooling trend, so could this be considered a fall spawn? Isn't it somewhat unusual for the fish to be that far upriver during this type of cooling trend? Makes me wanna hit the lights at night on that upper end...

Have you had much luck fishing closer to the main part of the lake lately (maybe for stripers) or have you actually tracked the majority of the fish to where you mentioned? And I know exactly what you mean about these fish spawning at different times...especially noticed this last year.

You definitely get around on Travis.

-RESPECT-

Ranger, Is the boat launch at Camp Pedernales operational? I heard that the summer floods ruined it. That is such a great area to fish when there is enough water. LBJ is down five feet now for repairs and maintenance. That looks like about a size 7 Shad Rap in that fishes mouth.

Yes,
Camp Pedenales is OK to launch. The big two lane ramp is NOT available, but this other single lane boat ramp is...There were several boat trailers in the parking lot when I was fishing out there on Saturday.


Public Boat Launches

There are public boat launches nearby.

Camp Pedernales -- (512)264-2735 -- $7.00 Launch Fee, Open 24 hours a day/7 days a week. From Hwy 71 go to Pace Bend Road (FM 2322) and go about 2.3 miles and make a Left onto Old Ferry Road. Go 2.5 miles and the ramp is on your Right.

Briarcliff Marina -- (512)264-2666 --- http://www.briarcliffmarina.com/ramp.htm ---$10.00 Launch Fee, Open 24 hours a day/7 days a week. From Hwy 71 turn Left at the light onto Pace Bend Road (FM 2322) and go about 3 miles and make a RIGHT on McDaniel's Dr. for approx 0.2 miles. Turn LEFT on Sleat Dr. to the end of the road. End at 406 Sleat Dr

SIESTA SHORES BOAT LAUNCH & MARINA.-- (512)367-8800 or (512)626-1221 -- www.siestashores.com -- $10.00 Launch Fee inlcudes use of a loading dock. Day Slips available for $15 Per Day. From Hwy 71 turn at light on Pace Bend Park Road (2322) and go 2.3 miles and take a Right on Bee Creek Road--go 2 miles and turn Left onto Siesta Shores and go 1 mile and turn Left on Windy Shores Loop, then go 1 block to Bay Circle and the marina will on your left.

Has anyone fished Pace Bend recently? I have just murdered the whites there in the past when they were staging for their run up the Pedernales. No boat this year, but I do have an inflatable pontoon with a trolling motor. Think Pace Bend is worth a go this coming weekend? The canal I live on LBJ is now dry...I really hope Travis will be my ticket to some magnums this year!

Yes,
I fished near Pace Bend Park, off sandy points...In November caught some 17" to 18" whites...I think the whites are moving up now, is that Lake Travis is full. The last few winters the lake has been low. There is plenty of water, now. I tried trolling in those places I caught fish in November and NOTHING...Also there was no bait..NO BAIT=NO FISH.....

If I was to go again, I might even try up near Starke Dam. LCRA is releasing water into Lake Travis. Lake Travis is up 1 to 2 foot. LCRA is lowering LBJ for a couple weeks. Also lowering Lake Austin. SO, Lake Travis will be above the full mark of 681 for several weeks...

So, do you think the whites are already past the Pace Bend area or that it would be a good place to try this weekend? I have a map of the park, and a little castable, rod-mounted fish/depth finder, so I can launch from any area of that park. Sure would appreciate any tips on where in the park would be best!

You can try....then move all the way to Camp Pedenales. I spent from 11am to 5pm, just searching for bait...Only found it across from Camp Pedenales. There three boats with me...We were fanned out across the river. So, we made sure to cover as much water possible. The first major turn in Pedenales River to the left, had some fish on the left side.

I think if you locate bait, you should slab or use spoons to locate the schools. This year, with all the extra water, the bait is deeper than usual. I even tried within 1/2 mile of Reimers, and only caught a couple small whites.

Good Luck....I have found that white spawn at different times during this year. I have even caught them as late as March, heading up the Pedenales River.

Will try! Thanks for the information a good luck this weekend!

Some friends of mine caught whites trolling around the 71 bridge this past weekend They went to Reimers but said there were very few fish up in that area at this time. In January, the males will be up there, but they will be in schools located in deeper water. I have caught them on jigs by slow rolling it across the bottom, but this is a very slow process but yet productive. What can I say, it�s the winter months, the water is cold, and therefore one has to slow down their retrieve in order to catch these sluggish fish at this time of the year. Two more months and the bite will be on for sure.

Fishytx, the slow rollin' masta.
Long time no see!
I knew it wouldn't be long before I saw you post.

I may see you guys up in there somewhere sometime.

R

I think I will fish Cow Creek and the big bend there at Pace Bend Park and hope to find some whites. I will wait on Reimer's for another few weeks...
I would bet the area around the junction of the Pedernales and Lake Travis has got a few fish. Hopefully I can work myself down that far.

I trolled Cow Creek last week and loaded up with 14-16 INCH Whites. Also took a limit of the Green ones. The Green ones are piled up and are a pain in the butt. Most of them ore 8-10 iches.�Today I fished from 11-2:30� and caught 11 nice whites, 2 good Green ones and many, many little Green ones. It seems to me that the Whites have moved further up the creek?��I have been using a Blue, Shad Rap. I have also tried the Hell/Pet, small Green Bass hit the spoon as soon as it gets down.������ Good luck folks,,,,,,,,

I'll be back home soon, hopefully 2nd week of Febuary.Anyway,looking forward some good early spring fishing back in Texas...Anytime,any place for it's been awhile...Definitely, been to cold here in New Mexico to fish...Plus been working six 12 hour days for the 3 months...
!!! Good Fishing And Fun To ALL !!!