Yes, I remember trotline fishing as a kid in Choke Canyon when it 1st opened, Tilapia were the preferred bait... Then they realized the destructive potential of Tilapia & shut them off

there is already a problem with the amount of bank fisherman at both these lakes and turning one back into a bass lake would mainly benefit boat owners and limit the amount of space for bank fisherman at the other.fishing medina or canyon lakes is too difficult from the bank.they should continue to stock reds and put in some more corvina , this would benefit both bank and boat fisherman.there are plenty of lakes close to san antonio for bass and crappie.

that may not be such a bad thing, seeing as for the most part bank fisherman are the ones trashing these lakes with the miles of mono broken off, and strung all over, to the beer cans, and fish carcases all over the bank, causing so many fire ants, i cant imagine anyone wanting to fish from the banks. Make calaveras the bass lake, and let the bank fisherman trash braunig.

I agree that they should have one for the Reds and such and turn one back into a crappie/bass lake. I was so disappointed to learn of the demise of bass and crappie in these lakes.
There are no good crappie lakes "close" to San Antonio........

It's kind of funny to read all these post, and just reading the comments you get the impression that there is some kind of rumor about changing it back to strickly a native species lake, but in truth it most likely would never happen.

These lakes are now too well established and you have your die hard redfish fans and and lot of them, as well as numberous guides who make their livelyhood from them. So there would be too much of an outcry.

It's just mainly us oldtimers bit&*@# and remembering about the good ole days which sadly ain't never coming back!

Just be thankful we've still got Choke and Canyon which isn't a bad Crappie lake either.

Let it be a lesson to you young guys if anyone starts to tamper with your lakes you need to speak up. Problem was what they did with those lakes was a little slight of hand, but that was then and this is now!

Just keep your eyes and ears open, or it can happen again!

There are crappie on Medina and Canyon. And they can be caught. Maybe just a little bit more difficult than other lakes.

I like Braunig, I have fished it many times. I will disagree with anyone who thinks either lake should be made into an exclusive bass lake. There are enough of these wannabe trophy lakes as it is. Choke is right down the road to the South, and to the North you have Canyon and many lakes all around the central Texas area that have good numbers of decent bass. I am not against growing big fish, but the elusive quest for the record fish is a pipe dream in most lakes; it's just not going to happen for several reasons, the least of which is that redfish are eating the fry. Even mature fish in most of the lakes in central Texas are healthy, but not gigantic. The fact that the largest to ever come from this state is just over 18lbs is testament to the fact that monster bass need more to grow than just a slot limit and C&R. I love catching bass, it's great fun, however I also like to have a lake I can get away to where I am not inundated with bass tournaments and busy ramps where people think a bass is the 2nd coming of Christ. There's something to be said about launching on a lake that's calm, where the prey of choice isn't bass but catfish and the exotics. It's quite the rush to be in the midst of a redfish feeding frenzy, especially if you happen to have a large rattle trap or a super spook tied on.

Good point Kat-man-do, and I think what really needs to be addressed and soon will be what is going to be done about the plecostomus invasion?

The Talapia was the boogie man before, but the cold temps and commercial fishing as well as the reds have kind of kept that species in check.

Now we've got those fresh water roaches as I call them seemingly growing in number which not only make castnetting a pain, but what are they going to do to the environment of the catfish and other species?

There is nothing to my knowledge of any predator that can keep their numbers from multiplying, and what if any effect will those numbers have?

Might be a big problem in the near future if not already!

Thats funny u mention those critters last time i was over on cally back in feb I noticed the water was pretty cold (59-62 degrees) for calaveras standards and was doing a lil bass fishing up the west arm near the rr bridge and there was bunches and bunches on the plecos dead and laying on the rocks!! I got pics I will post them later...

That makes sense, since they are a tropical fish.

Good news and hopefully that put a big dent in the population, but I'm sure they are thick and wall to wall in the hot water discharge.
Probably about like this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqgjgN7HIig

Canyon is far from a good crappie lake and choke is not just down the road, more like two hours or more pulling the boat. Medina..hehe.... It would just be nice to have a good crappie lake near by.

I would love to have one of the lakes turn back into bass/crappie lake!!!!!! I have always said that, but people love them reds just as much we love them bass!!!

my vote would be for calavaras!!!!! Hearing all the big bass stories and being to little remember fishing it back in the 80's I sure would like to see it like that again!

Some of the comments for the video are very telling:

kirbylight (10 months ago) Show Hide -5 Marked as spam
Reply Wow, that's too many.
in our country, philippines, they destroyed native fish habitats on lakes, 75% of fish population on a lake here are now of of plecos, so today they are hunted for pig feed, leather or use them as biofuel, explorerrocker09

ericifish (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam
Reply a local spring in florida where i snorkel looks like this. you can swim to the bottom and sit in the middle of hundreds that are all around you. a few years ago i didnt see a single one when i went swimming...

Let's hope the cold put a big dent in the population.

All I know is they may help keep your aquarium clean, but they kind of creep me out with their annoying "sipping sound" they make when they surface all around you gulping air!

I tell you, they are like roaches! disgusting!

I grew up fishing those two lakes and remember these days well.