Took my girlfriend to Cleburne State Park yesterday (6-22-03). We got there by 6am, and started out. Started at the boat ramp and worked towards the dam. Fishing was pretty slow, and I only got 2 between the ramp and the dam. Caught a huge bluegill on a Texas rig! That was a first, and they usually aren't big enough to get the hook in there mouth. Later on, I caught another and it was even bigger.

We flipped the grass with T-rigged baby brush hogs and 4" worms/lizards. I ended up with about 8 fish, but none were over the 18" minimum for the lake.

It was my girlfriends second time fishing, so I spent a little time working with her. She hadn't caught a fish by 11, so I put my rods down and was going along with her explaining how I look at cover and how I approach different situations. I had just explained how to cast to the points and back of any pocket you see in the grass. Fish could be at any location. She makes a perfect cast to the edge of the grass. She starts pulling on the rod and I think she caught some grass. She looks at me and says "There's a fish on there!" I look back to the grass and a bass about 4-5 lbs. comes out of the water, tail walking at the edge of the grass. I told her to set the hook and again and grabbed the camera. Got a few good pictures of the fish jumping in front of her tube. I told her it was up to her to land it. She was a little hesitant with the lip-grip and fumbled with the fish 3-4 times, and it finally came loose while she was trying to lip her. She got it out of the water once, and it was definitely a healthy fish!

She's hooked now, and on the way home said to me "OK, now we need a boat. How else am I gonna fish when it gets cold?"

I think she was the one who got hooked!

Kelly

Hey Kelly I am not a tube fisherman, but do you know if the catfishing is good on the lake? Or maybe crappie?

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David

Nothing first hand, but I talked to a guy who was cat-fishing on Mineral Wells last week. He mentioned he had a friend who lives ON Whitney, but goes to Cleburne State Park to fish for cats. Based on that, and assuming he wasn't confusing the State Park with Pat Cleburne, I'd have to guess it's OK.

I went camping last year there, and a friend caught a 6 lb. blue on a rattletrap, but that fish ain't there no mo!

Don't know about the crappie, but have heard stories also that they are there.

KD

[This message has been edited by Kelly Denham (edited 06-23-2003).]

Kelly,
I was out there Saturday morning and didn't have a lick of luck. I was mainly running the dam with texas rigged black power worms. Tried some spinner baits as well but never even got a bite. A lot of guys out there in boats but the ones I talked to didn't have any luck either. Does that lake usually produce?

Hey Kelly,
Is there good bank fishing access at Cleburne to get to those big bream you were hooking into? I have thought about hitting that lake during their annual trout stockings but never made it. I didnt know they had big bream in there though, that definitely piques my interest!!
Thanks man,
BG

CharlieMac,

I've yet to be skunked on that lake, and have probably fished it 10 times. A morning (6am to noon) with 8-10 fish is on the slow side for me. I fish it very slowly and thoroughly in the tube, and try to hit every piece of grass that I can. I talked to the 2 boaters out there on Sunday, and both gave up and left the lake by 9-10 am, skunked. As soon as I got there, a guy launching told me he saw a guy catch a 10 there last weekend. Said he was dragging a Texas Rig in open water. He also said he took the fish home to be mounted, which is a little disappointing, but it's his fish! Also, I was on Pat Cleburne, just down the road, on Sat. fishing the tube tourney. 5 of us entered, and no one had one over the 14" minimum. I think the results you saw on Sat. reflect more on that particular day, than the lake in in general.

Breamgetter,

This lake should be easy to fish for bream. There is an emergent grass that surrounds the bank of the lake. It's all the way around the lake. You can either fish from the bank, and drop the bait into the grass, or walk out and fish it from the outside edge. The lake is shallow (except the dam) all the way around the edges. I can touch bottom easily with my rod, indicating about 4 foot depth a casts length away from the grass, all the way around the lake, so wade fishing is also a possibility.

You should be able to wear out the bream. Based on my offerings in the past, they definitely like chartruese.

In general, I never see over 4-5 boats on the lake at a time. Nice small lake (75 acres), with a 5 mph speed limit. Great for tubes, bass-busters and other small boats. Good protection from all but the windiest of days. The 18" minimum is hard to get, but flippin' that grass is my favorite way to fish. I like CSP and also Mineral Wells for this reason.

Kelly

[This message has been edited by Kelly Denham (edited 06-23-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kelly Denham (edited 06-23-2003).]

Breamgetter, They have not stocked trout in Cleburne State Park for several years now.
I used to catch them every winter and then one year they just quit.

R Gillihan

Great story Kelly.

KELLY BEEN DOWN TO CLEBURNE STATE PARK BUT NEVER ANYONE IN THE BOOTH TO TALK TO. DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANY KIND OF PERMIT TO PUT IN A BOAT? THANKS

No, it's like any other State Park area. Once you pay your entrance fee, you can launch. I think the fee is $3.00 a day. You just fill out the info, and put the money in the envelope and drop it on the box. They (park employees) usually are at the entrance after about 8am. You'll detach part of the envelope and put it on the dash board.

For $50, you can buy a Conservation Passport that is good at all State Parks and most Corps ramps. It'll get you in for free once you have one.

I might be off a little on the fee since I have a passport, but it's no more than $5, I'm sure.

Kelly

[This message has been edited by Kelly Denham (edited 06-26-2003).]