Trip Report
Date: Monday February 20, 2012
Time: 05:21 PM CST

Location: Lake Dunlap Ramp
Started within 32.81 feet of:
Latitude: 29.6933
Longitude: -98.1073
Map

Water Conditions: Murky, lots of moss and milfoil. Water level is still low. Deepest water I saw was 12ft. Fairly strong current.
Air Temperature: 69.0∞ F
General Weather:
* Partly Cloudy
* Barometric Pressure: 30.00"
* Humidity: 66%
* Visibility: 10.00 miles
* Last Updated on Feb 20 2012, 4:55 pm CST
* Randolph Air Force Base, TX
* NOAA's National Weather Service
* Station Id: KRND
* 15.3064 miles from location
Wind Speed: South at 10.4 MPH (9 KT)
Lunar Phase: New @ 27.8 days (Not Visible)

Trip Notes: This was my first trip to Lake Dunlap. The fishing was great when I hit the docks with spoons and Berkley pogies. The current is a bit strong -- which made trailer solo almost impossible -- I finally got the boat on the trailer but it took a long time and a lot of effort and trial and error. The combination of the steep ramp and the current -- and the low water level made it a challenge, but the fishing it made it worth it!

Beware that with water level low, you must be very careful when backing down the ramp. There is a drop-off that when I felt it out with a duck-pole was only about 6" behind my trailer tires when I was in the water just enough to launch/trailer.

I'll be back to this lack, trailering difficulties or not.

I never made it to the wide open part of the lack, just fished docks along the river portion. Lost the biggest fish of the night (probably 4 to 5 lbs.) due to having the tension to tight and not being properly prepared to land the fish solo. It gave a strong flip and snapped the line.

Overall the trip would've been much easier and probably as productive had I not gone solo -- at least trailering would've been easier.

All fish released to be caught another day.

Trip Photos:

Low water level! With the trailer where it is here, there is only a few inches to where the ramp drops off!

Total Recorded Catches: 7

• Catch 1: Monday February 20, 2012 07:01 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Black Bass, Largemouth Bass
• Length: 13"
• Bait: Spoon, Silver Painted Firetiger Castmaster

My first catch on Lake Dunlap. Small (13") LMB. A bit of a mess (took the hook hard in the gills), but I think it will recover.

• Catch 2: Monday February 20, 2012 07:17 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Black Bass, Largemouth Bass
• Length: 13"
• Bait: Plastic Minnow, Powerbait Pearl Red Eye 3" Pogy

• Catch 3: Monday February 20, 2012 07:22 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Black Bass, Largemouth Bass
• Length: 16.3"
• Bait: Plastic Minnow, Powerbait Pearl Red Eye 3" Pogy

A chunk 16+" LMB!

• Catch 4: Monday February 20, 2012 07:31 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Black Bass, Largemouth Bass
• Length: 16"
• Bait: Plastic Minnow, Powerbait Pearl Red Eye 3" Pogy

Another 16" LMB

• Catch 5: Monday February 20, 2012 07:39 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Black Bass, Largemouth Bass
• Length: 11.5"
• Bait: Plastic Minnow, Powerbait Pearl Red Eye 3" Pogy

• Catch 6: Monday February 20, 2012 07:54 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Sunfish, Bluegill
• Length: 7"
• Bait: Spoon, Silver Painted Firetiger Castmaster

7" Bluegill or sunfish... This guy bit off more than he could chew I think... That's a fairly big lure for such a small fish!

• Catch 7: Monday February 20, 2012 07:58 PM CST
• Location: Dock Near Condos
• Fish: Black Bass, Largemouth Bass
• Length: 15"
• Bait: Spoon, Silver Painted Firetiger Castmaster

Sent from my iPhone using iFishJournal -- Fisherman's Journal App!

Looks like nice time out there seems you got on some nice bass too.

Great report!!!, the low water level has still got me scared. Hate to damage the boat launching or heading down the lake. were there any areas of concern once you were on the lake?

The only real concern was the ramp area. This is the first time I've ever beached the front-end of my boat in order to park my truck. FWIW, I was far more worried about getting my trailer stuck than any damage to the boat -- but I now have an aluminum hull boat so I worry a bit less than I used to.

Out where I was, I did get to one point where the water was 3 feet -- that's my limit -- where I get nervous. I decided to turn around there and fish docks I'd already passed. I'm sure I could have gotten around that and eventually reached the larger part of the lake, but it was nearing dark so I didn't try. Frankly I'm not even sure if the part I was on is considered part of the "lake".

Most everywhere I went the water was between 5 and 12 feet. I never went more than 3 or 4 MPH, but other boaters were out there running full-throttle. Most if not all were kind enough to slow down around other boaters.

Thanks for the comments. I usually get out there quite a bit since it is closest to my house. With the repairs going on, I have not been able to fish it at all. I have been jones'n to get out there but the water has been too low. I plan to fish Thursday but I don't think it will be up by then. I guess I'll make a run to Bastrop or choke. Been watching the reports to decide which one. Again, thanks for the scoop.

No problem. Good luck! I've only fished Bastrop once from the shore while my son was doing Scout stuff from the Boy Scout camp. Did alright there though. Someday I'll have to take the boat.

I've never been to Choke but here good things about it. Long drive though. I'm in North San Antonio near 1604 / Redland, so nothing is really close. When we lived in Austin I was 15-20 minutes from Lake Travis (when Jones Brother's ramp was open). I miss that, but it sounds like the drought has hit Travis hard.

very nice report!

Once you get around that bend next to that first island, under the power lines there are huge rocks right in the middle that are less than 2ft under the surface. I just so happened to come off plane right before them and looked in the water and saw them.

It sounds like that is where asandoval turned around