so I've been getting some PMs for more info about the Lake Austin vacation rental we were at.. so thought I'd just put up my thoughts here instead of sending individual ones to those interested:

first, go to: www.lakeaustinrental.com

you can get more info/pics there. Note that the maximum # of people allowed there during the day is 12 people. Overnight sleepers max is 6 people, but an additional 1-4 people (for 10 people max) can sleep for an additional $50/night added to the daily rate (NOT per person obviously). The owner just wants to make sure a huge, crazy party isn't going on there.. it is a family home after all, and there are neighbors living there too.

There is a $500 refundable security deposit and an additional non-refundable $150 cleaning fee. Absolutely no pets allowed. You can dock your own boat/jet-ski there if you have one or are planning to rent one. They have one kayak already there for your enjoyment.

There are 3 bedrooms, all were clean, and plenty of linens/towels to spare, and comfortable beds. The master bedroom has its own full bath, while the 2nd bath is in the hallway. There is central AC/heat that worked fine. There are 2 wood-burning fireplaces indoors, and 1 outdoor firepit (you have to bring your own firewood for all of them). The living room has some sofas, a TV with a pretty good DVD library, and standard TV access (no DirectTV/Cable). They do have free wireless internet connection (the password/login is attached to the wireless router in the dining room). The kitchen had all the pots/pans/utensils/basic cooking needs (oil, sugar, salt, etc.) you could need. Dishwasher/electric range/toaster oven/oven/refrigerator were working fine. The have propane BBQ grill out on the deck ready to go. There is a comfy hammock on the deck too. Plenty of deck chairs/loungers to scatter around the deck, by the firepit, and the sun deck over the water. They had outdoor fog lights at night for the patio/firepit area, and the boathouse has a few dim lights around there too with 2 electrical outlets to plug in your heater/laptop/etc. In the summer, I�m sure you can swim right there too as they have one of those ladder things you can go up/down into the water. Oh there is a basketball rim setup in the front of the house that definitely has a friendly bounce (you�ll see what I mean).
So you can reserve the dates you want via the website. The owner is very friendly and communicates well. Once you submit your reservation dates, she will e-mail you the rental agreement. You just initial/sign/date the agreement along with your deposit/payment. You will then either get the keys mailed to you, or they will have the key in a lock box right on the front door with a combination that you will receive prior.

At checkout time, you have to discard all trash/stuff in the refrig, turn off all lights/power, put everything back to where it was (chairs/etc.), put all the dirty linens in the laundry room, and put all the towels in the washing machine and hit start before you leave. They have washer/dryer there if you need it also during your trip.

I didn�t leave the house at ALL during my stay there.. too busy fishing� haha, but my friends/wife who did venture out said there was a convenience store close by, and the supermarket was a bit further away. Maybe a fast food place or two nearby also. They have a booklet filled with places that will deliver pizza/Chinese/etc. in the entrance way also.
So hope this about covers it� like I said, I thought it was a great way to relax with friends, enjoy the water, and have a great time fishing. They obviously have a cheaper nightly rate during the off-season, so I think for now, it is back up to the peak-season rates, but splitting the cost with a few carpers shouldn�t hurt the wallet too much�

Let me know if any of you have any more questions... good luck to everyone going to the ATC... I think I'm gonna try to make it there in a year or two

Fish on while friend is kayaking!


some down time:


some fun in between runs...

Sounds amazing, actually. That's how I wanna fish Austin from now on lol.

thank you very much for the info Danny

at 2500 a week there ill need a few friends with some cash haha. anyone up for a week of fishing O.o

That would be kool but it would have to be around tax time next year for me...

i hear that!!!

Yeah.. 1 week would be pretty pricey, I'd have to do 20 cataract surgeries to afford that ... But 2 or 3 nights split 6 ways more reasonable. The house was nice, but I think camping at Emma is an experience everyone should have!!

danny ill stick to emma. the price of that rental i can spend months at emma had have a great time catching or blanking haha.

yeah chris, I hear ya... I could spend maybe a whole month at Emma doing nothing but fishing... .maybe grow a beard too if I could grow one while I'm there.. haha

anyways, g'luck this weekend man!!!