Corpusfishing.com

[gulftrout]

Last Monday I wanted to take a short drive to survey the water situation at Lake Mathis. I have heard that the lake would have completely dried up if they did not release water occasionally from Choke Canyon. What I saw was pretty shocking to say the least. The Park Ranger at the entrance of the State Park mentioned that none of the boat ramps were usable at this time. Upon inspection, I doubt they will be useable at any time in the near future.

[gulftrout]

When I arrived at the entrance I asked if I could take a free drive through the park so I could get a few pictures for my report. The lady at the entrance wanted to know what kind of report I was doing. I said an official one! She gave me a "Presidential Pass" so I could make a quick trip through the park for pictures. She also mentioned that they had just had a kids fishathon the previous Saturday. She suggested after I get my pictures I buy a day pass and catch five rainbow trout since they had stocked 1200, just the Wednesday before. She gave me a map to where the rainbow trout were trapped in in the back of a shallow cove. I said I would check it out while I was making my "Presidential Visit."

[Tyler]

Thanks Gulftrout. I can't wait until my grandson is old enough to catch the trout. Maybe next year as he is only 10 months old now
_________________
Like Corpusfishing.com on Facebook!

[J.McDonald Knives]

I remember Medina Lake like that. Once we get a whole lot more rain up there we will see the lake rise. I remember driving on the dry lake bed of Medina Lake 6yrs ago which would normally have been 30ft underwater but later that year after we got a lot of rain, the lake came back up to the normal level.
_________________
Jacob McDonald
210-445-9402
www.jmcdonaldknives.com

[gulftrout]

When I heard about 1200 trout being stocked just the week before, I pretty much forgot about the pictures and now I wanted to go fishing. I made a quick trip to where the trout were caged by a long net at the back of this cove. I decided I would go up to the lakeside store and buy a can of corn for bait. Then I would pay my entrance fee and catch me a mess of rainbow trout for supper. I have never caught rainbow trout so I was excited at the thought of catching five in just a few minutes since there are over 1000 still trapped in the cove. The Lakeside store was all out of corn from the previous weekend so I settled on what the clerk suggested, "Crappie Bites."

[gulftrout]

I "Almost" speed back to the state park, pay my entry fee, drive to the cove and proceed to almost run down the bank from the parking area in anxious anticipation. I quickly threw out two fishing rods baited with "Crappie Bites" and watched in amazement as nothing touched my bait. I waited over 30 minutes and still no bites. Well, it has to be the bait, there are over 1000 hungry rainbow trout trapped in an area no bigger that a couple nice sized yards. At this moment I decide to load everything up and head to the local convenience store and buy a can of corn and catch these little boogers before I head on my drive back to Portland. Upon leaving the park I take an immediate left and head the back way to Mathis. I see a convenience store and stop so I can stock up on corn!

[gulftrout]

Well, the store is out of corn, imagine that, what luck. They do have a can of what sort-of looks like corn. On the can is printed, "GOYA, Chick Peas, Garbanzos." I'm not sure what this is, but I buy it so I will have every opportunity of catching my limit of "Rainbows" this afternoon. I ask the clerk were the HEB store is in Mathis. She coldly replies, "In town." I thank her for the valuable information. My next stop, "Downtown Mathis The HEB." I am still going to buy some corn, just in case it is needed.

[gulftrout]

As I drive back through the entrance for the third time I wave to the Park Volunteer that had told me about the trout stocking. I have already spent, $5 Park Entrance, $4.50 crappie Bites, $5 at the convenience store(Man I really paid for all that convenience) and $.65 for the can of corn at HEB. I have spent $15.00 to catch 5 small trout. That's $3.00 a rainbow no matter how you look at it. Oh well, I now have everything I need to finish the task at hand, so I park my truck and proceed to slowly stumble down the bank toward the shallow cove that holds it's bounty close to it's sleeve. I bait up both fishing rods with whole kernel corn and cast them to opposite ends of the cove. An hour later I still have had 'NO" fish, bites or even a nibble from anything. I come to the conclusion I am on "Candid Camra" and there are hidden cameras on every tree limb catching my every cast into the empty cove. I finally eat the can of corn, load up and start the long walk back to my truck. I decide to go ahead and take a few pictures of the lake on my way out of the park.

[gulftrout]

[gulftrout]

[gulftrout]

[gulftrout]

[gulftrout]

I'm not sure what happened to all the rainbow trout, but the park itself is really nice at this time. I would be a great place for a kayaker to go camping for the weekend and pretty much have the lake to their self. If I had the time, I would pitch a tent and enjoy the peace and quite of the outdoors for a day or two. Also, the State Park system could use the business at this time.

[J.McDonald Knives]

Never hurts to keep a couple of Mepps beetle spinners in your truck as well as a jar of green trout bait and a jar of orange trout bait and even a jar of red salmon eggs. Don't forget that even tho they are farm raised, they are still a little line shy. I found that going with 4lb to 6lb clear line works well plus completely covering the small hook completely in bait. They are fed round pellets as food so thats what they are used to eating. I used to go to the trout stockings all the time as a kid.
_________________
Jacob McDonald
210-445-9402
www.jmcdonaldknives.com

[shallowsport]

That's the lowest that Imhave ever seen the lake.
1000 hungry trout and they are still,picky eaters! Sounds like a lot of the fishing that I do. Is a relief to hear that even GT can get skunked every now and then.
Thanks for the update on Lake Corpus Christi.