This is a very beautiful place and it was a very beautiful day (yesterday) in the low � 70�s. It gets busy by the dam, but otherwise was pretty uncrowded. After fishing below the dam, I waded a long stretch of river. Tried an olive woolly bugger, a woolly worm, a yellow salmon egg with a red dot, a dark orange salmon egg, a black and bluegill, and even a copper john. Not a single bite.

I saw a couple of spin casters catch a fish and it seems like they had at least one more. I�m not sure what they were using, but some dark orange power bait floated by at one point so perhaps that�s the answer. There were a number of fly fishers there yesterday, but none of them seemed to master the puzzle either. Anybody have the secret to this place?

One thing was very disappointing to see. I saw a couple of fly fishers by the small island below the damn. One of them seemed to be handling a large fish on the island that was flopping around. This of course roused my curiosity. After they left, I went over to the island since it seemed like a good spot. To my dismay there were four carp laying in a pile on the island. It looked like at least two of them had been bashed with rocks. Two were barely alive so there was no point putting them back. I thought about approaching the two fly fishers who were still in the parking lot, but I could not prove it was them. Perhaps they just stumbled upon the fish like me?

Hopefully, and I'm sure it wasn't, one of us. It is a problem in this area of the country. Pretty common in the rivers around here especially on the weekends. I haven't fished LLELA but other rivers and tailraces. One day I came to what had been a pristine stream the day before only to find 2 large dead 20-30# carp floating in some pocket water and a gar that had been decapitated floating along side. And the was area packed with trash.

I was there yesterday too and saw the whole event unfold. There were some kids bow fishing and they shot a bunch of fish (they were actually buffalo) and dumped them on the island. I guess that's legal??? The couple that was fly fishing just saw the fish flapping around on the island and went over to check it out.

That was my first time there and I was impressed with the place, too. I didn't spend a lot of time trying to catch trout but I caught a few nice buffs- alot of fun on a 5 wt! I talked to some people catching trout and they were using egg patterns and worm patterns. The secret is probably just figuring out where the trout are holding and getting the fly down to them.

According to the TPWD website, I'd say that was an illegal act. I'd guess the only time that wouldn't apply would be on invasive species such as non-approved "grass" carp in a non-approved body of water, but I don't know. Most folks don't know there is any difference between a buffalo, a carp, and a "grass" carp. I can't find the law currently, but I think there was once a law that grass carp found outside a permitted body of water were supposed to be gutted immediately. I think a lot of folks assume that means all carp all the time.

Hell, did I just take up for carp? Tune in next week when I'll be hugging a snake.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/general/penalties/


"Waste of Game: It is an offense (Class C misdemeanor) if a person while hunting kills or wounds a game bird or game animal and intentionally or knowingly fails to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal or bird and include it in the person's daily or seasonal bag limit. It is an offense if a person intentionally takes or possesses a game bird, game animal, or fish and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, or with criminal negligence, fails to keep the edible portions of the bird, animal, or fish in an edible condition."

Did you holler out, "Don't Look, Ethel!!!"?

Thats too bad about the buffs. I can kinda understand using them for bait, but killing them to just throw on the beach baffles me. I really want to get one of those on the fly, but they have eluded me so far. Matt if you have some hints, I am all ears.

As far as fishing for the stockers, I would avoid the power bait crew by the dam. They are loud and if you catch a fish, you will have a new friend standing 5 feet from you. There's plenty of good water down stream. For what its worth, a couple weekends ago the trouts only wanted something stripped fast. The water was low, and you could see fish flashing in the pools. Mix in a pinch on weight or two to get to the right depth.

The law is to disembowel grass carp and tilapia if caught unless in a body of water that has a permit to keep or stock them.

SC, you inspired me to look a little harder. Here is the exact language from the regulations summary available at the website below. Also included is the section applicable to wasting fish.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/media/regulations_summary_2010_2011.pdf

"General Prohibited Acts
It is a violation to:

Fail to immediately remove the intestines from tilapia, grass carp, or any other fish listed as harmful or potentially harmful, except on those waters where a valid Triploid Grass Carp Permit is in effect. In those waters, it is illegal to possess grass carp. Any grass carp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed."


"Waste of Fish � It is unlawful to leave edible fish or bait fish taken from the public waters of the state to die without the intent to retain the fish for consumption or bait."

Well it's good to know we have a law against that.

I would have punched them in the throat...but I am a carp hugger.

Thank you all for the information and clarification. Matt, what did you catch those buffs on?

An olive wooly bugger with some flash tied into it works like magic on those buffalo. Pinch 2-3 split shot on your leader to get it down to them. They'll eat it up like crazy.

I caught several on some bead head carp flies dead drifted past them. Then I switched to a white wooly bugger to try to catch some whites and I caught a few buffs on that fly too.