Big Country Angler's Guide
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Big Country Angler’s Guide Tips and Opportunities T h i r d E d i T i o n Big Country Angler’s Guide Tips and Opportunities This is the third edition of the O u r m i s s i O n Big Country Angler’s Guide: Tips and Opportunities. This booklet is designed to provide information on reservoirs and Provide the best possible fishing opportunities fish species found in the Abilene area. The first edition was published in for present and future anglers while protecting February 1997. This edition includes changes that have occurred since the and enhancing freshwater resources. second edition was published in 2005. Facility, contact and access information provided in this guide are subject to change. Additional information can be obtained from the Abilene Inland There are numerous tasks that directly relate to our mission: we collect Fisheries District Office. information to determine size structure, age, growth, abundance, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries District Office body condition of fish populations, we check the overall health and 5325 North 3rd Street abundance of aquatic habitat, and we determine angler effort and Abilene, Texas 79603 (325) 692-0921 success. We analyze this information and develop management plans Fax (325) 698-3528 E-mail: [email protected] specific to each reservoir. We make stocking recommendations and www.facebook.com/tpwdifabilene stock fish that are raised on state hatcheries located in San Marcos, This booklet was compiled and written by personnel from the Electra, Jasper, Athens and in Graford below Possum Kingdom Abilene Inland Fisheries Reservoir. We develop and implement programs to enhance habitat. District Office: Lance Benson We introduce kids and parents to fishing through fishing clinics Robert Cole Spencer Dumont and seminars. We inform and educate the public, both anglers and Ben Neely potential anglers, about our programs, survey results, and available fishing opportunities through articles, newsletters and presentations. We investigate specific management objectives with fisheries research projects. For example, we recently studied saugeye movements in Lake Kirby and determined angler attitudes and opinions on blue catfish fishing and management in the Big Country. We evaluate various length limit regulations as well as statewide sampling procedures. Our programs, surveys, and management of your public waters would not be possible without angler support. Big Country Reservoirs County/reservoir [Locator Map Code] Page County/reservoir [Locator Map Code] Page Brown County ......................................................................................... 4-5 Jones County ......................................................................................15-16 Brownwood [A] Fort Phantom Hill [S] Fabis/Riverside [B] North Anson [T] Stamford City (College Lake) [U] Callahan County ....................................................................................... 6 Baird [C] nolan County .............................................................................................17 Clyde [D] Sweetwater [V] T&P (Texas & Pacific) [E] Trammell [W] Coke County .................................................................................................7 runnels County .................................................................................18-19 Oak Creek [F] New Ballinger [X] O.H. Ivie [Y] Coleman County .................................................................................8-10 Valley Creek [Z] Coleman [G] Winters [AA] Hords Creek [H] Winters-Elm [AB] Old Coleman (Memory) [I] San Tana [J] shackelford ................................................................................................20 Scarborough [K] McCarty [AC] Sealy [L] Comanche County ..................................................................................11 stephens County ............................................................................. 20-21 Proctor [M] Daniels [AD] Hubbard Creek [AE] Eastland County................................................................................12-13 Cisco [N] Taylor County ....................................................................................22-23 Eastland County [O] Abilene [AF] Leon [P] Buffalo Wallow [AG] Ringling [Q] Cal Young [AH] Kirby [AI] Haskell County ........................................................................................14 Nelson Park [AJ] Stamford [R] Throckmorton County .......................................................................24 Throckmorton [AK] Symbol Legend Shore-Fishing Access RV Hook-ups Bait Store Cabins/Motels Boat Ramp Rest Rooms Golf Marina Picnic Fishing Dock Playground Duck Hunting Camping Biking Swimming 2 Locator Map HASKELL THROCKMORTON 79 Throckmorton 380 Haskell AK 183 277 277 600 R 618 Woodson 283 Stamford U 92 183 67 Hamlin T 277 600 SHACKELFORD 83 AE Anson Albany 180 180 180 Breckenridge 6 600 JONES 83 AC AD 277 351 6 1082 S 183 283 STEPHENS Abilene Sweetwater 604 6 112 20 Q 20 V AH, AJ Clyde N 20 36 Baird O 16 W AI 604 E 20 Eastland 70 Cisco P TAYLOR Buffalo D C Gap 283 NOLAN 83 183 6 AF AG 84 Gorman 89 CALLAHAN 153 277 EASTLAND 70 36 Deleon F 83 G 16 COKE 153 AA 36 M AB 84 279 277 183 Winters K 2111 283 Comanche Bronte 153 P15 A 158 Coleman 67 H I J 377 67 Talpa 503 COMANCHE Z 206 L B 67 Early X Ballinger Valera Santa 84 Brownwood RUNNELS Anna 503 67 83 Y 283 BROWN CONCHO COLEMAN Paint Rock 3 Brown County Lake Brownwood [7,300 acres] Lake Brownwood was impounded in 1933 and is located LakE BrOwnwOOd rECOrds about 70 miles southeast of Abilene. There are a variety species weight Length Angler Date of recreational facilities available, including Lake Brown- Bluegill 0.44 8.00 Jordyn McIntire 05/05/10 wood State Park. Brownwood Reservoir has a variety of Channel catfish 7.80 24.00 Alexis Mounger 02/06/09 fishing cover/structure, but rocks and docks are most Common carp 10.06 27.25 Christopher Dulaney 08/01/07 common. When full, there are also flooded bushes, black Flathead catfish 44.00 42.00 Darvel Hutchins 02/22/10 Freshwater drum 2.16 19.00 Steve Perkins 03/09/09 willow trees and water willow. Game fish species include Green sunfish 0.22 7.00 James Watson 07/26/04 largemouth bass, white crappie, white bass, blue catfish, Hybrid striped bass 12.43 29.50 Judy Stevens 06/27/06 channel catfish and flathead catfish. Largemouth bass Largemouth bass 12.65 26.00 Audwin Hall 04/22/90 and white bass provide the best angling opportunities, Longear sunfish 0.14 5.75 James Watson 07/05/07 Longnose gar 8.75 47.00 Dustin Ferguson 08/08/03 but crappie can be good as well. For more information Smallmouth buffalo 21.70 30.00 Mark White 06/27/09 about Brownwood Reservoir and its facilities, contact the White bass 1.64 16.25 Raymond Sewell 02/01/97 Brownwood Chamber of Commerce at (325) 646-9535. White crappie 1.72 15.75 Daniel Fish 10/20/09 The phone number for Lake Brownwood State Park is (325) 784-5223. Information on Brownwood Reservoir, the City of Brownwood, and surrounding facilities and attractions are also available on the Internet. Pecan Bayou Byrds John’s Bay to Saunders Cross Plains & SH 36 Bay FM 2559 Goat Tyler Bay SH 279 Park Road 15 Island Buzzard LAKE BROWNWOOD Bay CR 461 STATE PARK McCartney Island CR 594 Turner Bay CR 563 Sandy Jolie Jim Ned Beach Bay Creek Rocky Cove LAKE BROWNWOOD FM 2125 Flatrock Park Mountain View Cason Cove to SH 279 & Brownwood Sowell FM 3021 Draw SH 279 FM 2125 FM 2632 to to Brownwood SH 279 & Brownwood Over 300,000 blue catfish were stocked in Lake Brownwood in 2007 and 2010. 4 Brown County Fabis [25 acres] and riverside Parks [17 acres] Fabis and Riverside Parks are located on the Pecan to Bayou below Brownwood Reservoir. They are about Pecan Lake Brownwood 70-80 miles southeast of Abilene. Many fish species Bayou can be found in the Bayou, but the most common are channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth FABIS buffalo and carp. There are some largemouth bass, PARK white bass and white crappie as well. For more information, contact the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce at (325) 646-9535. dirt road FM 2125 2.6 mi. from SH 279 to to dirt road Cross Plains Pecan Bayou SH 279 RIVERSIDE PARK to Comanche to Bangs U.S. Hwy. 84/67 Ben Lednicky Park Brownwood The average Big Country lake record catfish: Blue catfish: 37.6 pounds Channel catfish: 7.7 pounds Flathead catfish: 50.3 pounds 5 Callahan County Lake Baird [144 acres] to Baird & I-20 Lake Baird is located about 25 miles east of Abilene. Historically, Lake Baird had good fishing opportunities for bass, crappie and catfish. Lake Baird is prone to low-water conditions. An access fee may be required. There is an unimproved boat launch. For LAKE BAIRD additional information on Lake Baird, contact Baird City Hall at (325) 854-1212. U.S. Hwy. 283 LakE Baird rECOrds 2.7 miles species Weight Length Angler date from I-20 Bluegill 0.26 6.63 Logan Cole 06/02/97 Flathead catfish 61.00 46.00 Jerry Barron 04/22/08 Largemouth bass 10.66 23.50 Donald Valdez 03/07/07 Longear sunfish 0.10 4.75 Robyn Cole 06/02/97 Redear sunfish 0.26 7.00 Logan Cole 06/02/97 White crappie 2.44 15.00 Mike Teaque 01/29/92 to SH 36 Lake Clyde [374 acres] to Clyde FM 3217 Lake Clyde is located about 20 miles east of Abilene. The lake 2 mi. was very low from 2000 through most of 2004. It nearly filled in November 2004 and August 2007. It has two public boat ramps North Prong 1.7 mi. Pecan Bayou and good picnicking facilities. An access fee is required. Lake FM 604 Clyde is prone to low-water conditions which can impact fishing FM 3217 success and boating access. to LakE CLydE rECOrds SH 36 species Weight Length Angler date Blue catfish 36.92 38.50 Jon Rister 11/20/09 Bluegill 0.18 6.00 James Watson 07/21/07 City Channel catfish 7.70 26.50 Christopher Ohern 06/21/03 Park Common carp 3.00 19.25 Bob Morrison 05/30/01 Flathead catfish 46.00 43.00 Keith Peterson 06/04/03 Green sunfish 0.32 7.50 James Watson 07/21/07 LAKE CLYDE Largemouth bass 14.80 27.00 Brian Monsey 03/11/01 Longear sunfish 0.08 4.75 James Watson 07/21/07 White crappie 2.60 15.75 Lee Buchanan 04/07/92 to Lake T&P [44 acres] I-20 Lake T&P is located about 25 miles east of Abilene.