What a day. I think that was gail force winds. I think we had fish on the screen, but could not entice a bite. We spotted fish on the north shore line in a 19 to 20 foot of water. Sworms of shad were swimming around. We could fill our net with shad with one throw. We spent most of the day trying to stay on top of this area, but the wind would noy cooperate. We also tried trolling by the dam. Most of the guides were gone by 11. I don't think anyone was catching fish. It is a 2.5 hour drive so we stayed all day.
We gave up on the reds and went the outlet and wore the talapia out. We filled the live wells and finished cleaning them at dark.
Enjoyed the experience except for the boat ramp situation. Had to get a little wet.

Get the tilapia with the throw net?

I need to get into some talapia

Yes we did. We looked like the crew of the deadliest catch. We had a 7ft. and 5ft. net going at once. We had another guy in the middle working the trolling motor and loading the live well.

sounds like fun

whats the deal with the boat ramps?

THe lake is so low that you have to basically put your boat in and out of the water. I have not gone down in a while because I did not want to mess up my boat.

when the water levels are really low, thats the time to fix the ramps...I'd be willing to pitch in with a donation, and labor...anybody else interested...who would you contact ?.....I'd be willing to donate 100.00 dollars and a days labor. I'd be worth it to have a place to go fishing and not tear up your boat.

I am sure the park would be able to put ramp contributions to useful work, mail a check with a purpose listed on it to the park office.

Fairfield Lake State Park
123 State Park Rd 64
Fairfield TX 75840

FYI From TPWD Website dated Jan. 22, 2009:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
TPWD�s State Parks Division requested a 75 percent matching share grant in the amount of $78,750 to improve two one-lane boat ramps, new courtesy docks, dredging and signs. The facility provides public boating access to Fairfield Lake. The Commission approved $78,750 in matching funds.This provides funds for the ramp and new courtesy docks built beside them.

Three weeks ago I understood the bid solicitation, recieval, and bidder selection phase steps had commenced.

I am told the fishing barge/dock will be a separate project still needing approval.

FYI, As of last week the lake had about 6 weeks of evaporation left before the power company has circulation issues. They need rainfall equalling 1.2" to extend that window by one week at a time (e.g. the lake drops 1.2" per week). We need the spring rains to come early and heavily.

Campground Fire ban was lifted mid last week.

Found this link on TDPW website. I guess it is not a dead horse.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/meetings/2009/0122/agenda/item_5/

Does anyone else see something WRONG with 80k to repair 2 ONE LANE RAMPS THATS BS

Sounds about right to me.

Opus if you think you can get it done for less they are still working the bidding, and TPWD and we tax and fee payers would appreciate a cheaper project.

The State Park Division is requesting a 75 percent matching share grant in the amount of $78,750 to renovate/improve a two 1-lane boat ramps, new courtesy docks, dredging and signs. The facility provides public boating access to Fairfield Lake. .....One ramp is being undercut and other ramp has material build-up, too shallow to launch most craft.

.......This is a slight mistatement, both ramps in good working order are two lane ramps.

Part of the expense is because they have to haul away all dredgings, longer docks will be built, berm problems are so far from dry firm ground that either special long reach equipment is needed to reach out to it, or normal reach equipment needs to be floating on a barge that will be very difficult to get launched.

with all the washes and ditches at the park the burm that is dug out could be used to fill these places. just look at the wash by the north boat by the main road comming to the ramp. the whole diggings would not fill this hole. that would not even be a 1/4 mile haul.

All the noise about mercury from the power station stack, has upper TPWD folks insisting dredging must be taken out of the park.

Ya-Ya I know, so how is the soil at the camp sites any different? The only thing that soil has over the lake bottom is rain fall errodes the top soil layers slowly down hill into the lake. If there really is mercury there it will be greater in the lake bottom, near the shoreline than up on the land.