I'm headed down that way for the holidays and thought it might be a good way to kill some time. Looking at the map there doesn't appear to be much down there outside of Falcon lake or the Rio Grande, both of which I prefer to stay away from. I thought the brain trust at TFF might have some suggestions.

I used to live in Mission. You might check out Bentsen State Park's Resaca. I used to catch a lot of bass there and it ought to have crappie, too. Here's their website for you to call and see if there is still fishing allowed there: <http://www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Bentsen.html>

Falcon should be good in the mouths of the arroyos below Zapata about 20 ft over brush piles, but stay clear of the IBWC markers, i.e. the border buoys. It's a windswept monster sometime, so you'll need plenty of boat. I haven't checked lake level lately.

After all that being said, if I were visiting the RGV, I would have to get back on the Laguna Madre out of Port Isabel for speckled trout. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

Smak, I just read a summary on Falcon that pretty much negates what I said. The tackle shop in Zapata says that both crappie and white bass have been so heavily impacted by netting by Mexican fisherman as to render them unfishable any more. Too bad. However the bass fishing is still top notch.

There is a nice little lake at Bentsen State Park.. Canoe, Tube, Kayak, or bank fishing only.. Whatever you can carry in you can fish out of.. Even a small flatbottom if you can.. You may get lucky and the "Tram" might give you a ride.. This is not a heavy visited park..

Good bassin' and brem fishin.. Lots of reeds and grass.. At least last time I was there (one year ago)

Neat place to go see even if you don't go fishing..

Good Luck! Merry Christmas!

Thanks for the suggestions Blue Heron and James. Looks like I'll be checking out Bentsen State Park. From looking at the website it looks like it will be a good place to take my nephew along since his parents never take him fishing and he is dying to go. I figure that will be be a lot more fun that sitting around watching tv and visiting with the in-laws. I have to be busy doing something!

If the weather is decent I already had plans to go to SPI for one night and spend one day surf fishing. We plan on doing that after we leave my mother-in-law's house. Hopefully I can catch the tail end of the bull red run.

Good luck Scott. Catch some of those big South TX crappie.

Thanks Dave! I figured I would give our San Gabriel crappie a little rest.