January 5, 2007 Calaveras Don
February 7, 2007 Calaveras Don &
Michael
Costa Rica,
2007
February 12, 2007
Calaveras Don and Ron
February 21, 2007
Calaveras Don
February 23, 2007 Calaveras Don & Mark
February 26, 2007
Calaveras Don & Pi
March 7, 2007
Calaveras Don
March 13, 2007
Calaveras Don & Big Al
March 15, 2007
Calaveras Don
March 21, 2007
Calaveras Don
March 27, 2007
Calaveras Don
April 11, 2007
Calaveras Don
April 21, 2007 Calaveras Get-together
May 8, 2007
Calaveras Don |
June 14, 2007 Calaveras Don
June 25, 2007 Calaveras Don
Summer of '07 Dams of
Highland Lakes
July 12, 2007
Choke Canyon Don & Al
Alaska July 26 - Aug 4, 2007
August 28, 2007
Braunig Don
August 30, 2007
Braunig Don
October 29, 2007
- Calaveras Don
October 31, 2007 -
Calaveras Don & Michael
November 3, 2007 -
Cally & Braunig Report
November 9, 2007 -
Calaveras Don
November
17, 2007 - Calaveras Don & Cliff
November 18-19, 2007 Braunig Don
November 21, 2007
Calaveras Don
November 28, 2007
Calaveras Don & Michael
December 5, 2007
Calaveras Don |
January 5th, 2007
Calaveras Lake
-
Don

Another 25 limit of channels and one
keeper red on shrimp
8:30A - 12:30P |

The biggest was 4 lb 13 ounces |

Very foggy start. I found the
bridge using my new compass. |

New Friends, Elmer and Walt.
|

Guide Harry Lamb caught his usual limit.
|

After this, it was a gorgeous day and
very few fishermen were making waves.
The Swallow Bridge above and all of zone 2 north of the bridge will be
closed beginning Monday, Jan. 8th for about a month. |
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February 7, 2007
Calaveras Lake
-
Don &Michael

27 channels
8:30A - 1:00P
Free Lining shrimp |

The biggest was 4 lb |

Yes, the swallow bridge is open and
that's where we were. |
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January 27 - February 3, 2007
Costa Rica

The view to the Pacific Ocean from out
patio. |

Whale playing right outside our room. |

Lots of these guys...usually in male
female pairs. |

Marylou, one of my fishing buddies.
|

Some of these needle nose come right up
after you.
|

Another Whale wallowing in the surf |

Two miles off shore. Lots of rocks
to fish around. |

Beautiful Linda - the mast head. |

Fighting the Mahi-Mahi (Dorado). |

Our only keeper. 25 lb Dorado.
|

Interesting way to subdue the fish for
about 5 minutes. Line
from loop on tail to hook.
|

Pepe, our great first mate. |

Marylou and her super long Needle Nose |

Time for a break.....
|

Any of you old guys thinking that zip lining is easy, think again.
Once is enough. Congo Trail has 11 zips. |

Scenery on rough mountain roads. 4-wheel
drive required
|

Conchal Beach.
|

Great Sunsets! |
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February 12, 2007
Calaveras Lake
-
Don & Ron

13 channels kept
9:00A - 3:00P
Free Lining shrimp. Started by the swallow bridge and grew tired of
dinks. Boated about 4 keepers there and then began stalking roosts
like Cliff taught me.
Caught the bigger ones in 1 - 2 ft of water near roosts. Caught 8 on
the East fork near the high lines. |

The deep water ramp was closed while
they repaired lighting. |

Wise Willie and Weldon camped out under
the swallow bridge and kept very busy. 50 keepers out of 80. |
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February
21, 2007
Calaveras Lake
-
Don

25 channels kept
9:00A - 1:30P
water temp = 67deg
Free Lining shrimp. Stayed around the swallow bridge. Caught
alot of dinks, but the size picked up considerably between 11:00A and
1:00P. |

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One of the few times my boat is clean |

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February 23rd, 2007
Calaveras Lake - Don & Mark

22 channels kept
7:30A - 1:30P
water temp = 67deg
Free Lining shrimp. Stayed around the swallow bridge. Caught
a lot of dinks. |

The bigger fish are along the edges of
the rip rap. |

Mike (SouthernBoy) |

See Tammy, he is where he said he would be. |

Near the lake on Stuart Road
|

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February 26th, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don

13 channels kept
8:00A - 1:30P
water temp = ??deg
Free Lining shrimp along the 1 foot deep water under the bird roosts
|

The work has finally started on the deep
water ramps. They have been shut down for two weeks, but nothing has
been done. There was no reason for them to be closed until today. |

The center dock has been pulled out. |
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March 7, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don
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March 13, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don & Big Al

35 channels
8:30A - 11:30P
Free Lining and bobbing shrimp in 1 - 3ft. |

The water was quite muddy from the
recent rains. The lake is up about a foot. Pump was not
running. The fish were spawning all over the banks. |


This is SouthernBoy's daughter
having a fine time on Monday, March 12. 33 Channels |
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March 15, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don

16 channels kept
9:00A - 12:00P
water temp = ??deg
Free Lining shrimp. The cove produced small keepers....stayed there
about 2 hours. |

Moved over to near Turtle Rock and
fished the wind blown edges under birds. The bigger cats tore me up.
I threw back 10 smaller fish and kept the bigger ones. The shad were thick along the edges. The Northeast wind set up a
great area for fishing. |


This was on the table when I arrived.
If they could, someone should have released this beauty. |

The lake is full, |

Fish are working the edges
|

Good green grass is inundated. |
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March 21, 2007
Calaveras Lake
-
Don


25 channels kept
8:00A - 2:00P
water temp = 76 deg
Free Lining shrimp. The cove produced very few keepers. Fished
the wind blown edges under birds. |

This is the biggest from the
culvert. There is a good crop of baby bullheads.
The fish were smaller than I enjoy catching, still quite a nice size for
eating. I kept 12 filets and gave the rest to my new friend, Alex
whom I met at the cleaning table. He is a bank fisherman who served
us well in Viet Nam. |

The wind was blowing over 20 mph.
The water was sloshing out of my live well. It was a red flag day on
the lake and there were not very many people out. |

Snake report in the cove |

Some of these guys are big! |

|
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March 27, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don
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April 11, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don
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2nd Cally Catmen Get-together
April 21st , 2007
It was a great, fun
time! This is a great group of friends.
Thanks to:
Mike (Southern Boy and his wife
for weighing all the fish and making/cooking the spring rolls and lumpia;
Michael (Catfish-Addiction) and Tara
for setting up burners,
collecting the tourney $$$, advertising, and taking care of the cove;
JD (DSarge), Brad (TxPaleRider)
for taking on the T-shirts and doing
a great job;
Marty (saringas321)
for bringing the trophies; nice guy,,,, one of us needs to invite
him out for a boating/fishing trip.
Marvin (Catfish Killer)
for bringing samples of his bait;
Eric (stikshooter)
for bringing his burner and beans and fries
JD
who brought his burner and and friends, Thanks for helping cook the
catfish.
To everyone else who brought
something to share.
Congratulations
to Pete for getting the heaviest stringer
(25 for 44 lb.) and the largest single (5.1 lb)
The following fisherman had limits:
Pete, JD, Marvin, Justin, David. Matt brought in 22.
The total was 197 cats
for about 270 pounds. Way too many to cook and eat.
 |
 |

The big winner - Pete |
Prize stringer 44 lbs
 |
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May 8, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don

16 channels kept
9:00A - 12:30P
Free Lining shrimp in 3-4 ft, mostly in the 181 cove
 |

Variable breeze < 10 Mph.
Shallow Water Dock is being used, but
does not have cleats on the right side. It is quite shallow. I
have to back in all 4 tires.
|
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June 14, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don

14 channels kept
7:30A - 1:00P
Free Lining shrimp in 3-10 ft, various places
|

South breeze < 10 Mph.

Jeff, Southwest Charters, did some good down-rigging in about 20-25 feet
over old roadbed using plastics. |
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June 25, 2007
Calaveras Lake - Don

10 channels kept
9:30A - 2:00P
Free Lining shrimp in 3-10 ft, various places. Lots of Rat
Reds.
South breeze 10-20 Mph.
H2O temp = 85-89 degrees.
|

Your tax $$$ at work. This is one
of the smallest boats on the lake. Looks well equipped to handle any
threat.
 |
New Grandbaby...Eleonor
3 weeks old.

|
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Summer of '07
Dams of Highland Lakes
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July 12, 2007
Choke Canyon Lake -
Don & Al


17 Blues & channels kept
7:30A - 4:00P
Shrimp on bobbers in 3-10 ft, all over the lake.
Southeast breeze 5-10 Mph.
H2O temp = 84 degrees. Water muddy from hwy 99 bridge down to Mason
Point ramp. A bit clearer nearer to Caliham.
|


This 'gator was crossing Opposum Creek
as we were driving across the hwy 99 bridge. He had a branch in his
mouth and was quite large. |
This is the 2nd time I have been checked
by this very polite, thorough and helpful young game warden. He
offered advice on equipment and on where to fish. We need more
officers like him.

We
look forward to the influx of funds for the parks and wildlife which was
passed by the last session of the Texas Legislature.
|
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August 28, 2007
Braunig Lake -
Don

9 channels kept to 5.5 pounds
7:00A - 12:00P
Bobbers using shrimp in 1-5 ft along cattail reeds on northeast side
of lake
|
Another new grandbaby!
Another due in three weeks
 |
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August 30, 2007
Braunig Lake -
Don

6 channels kept to 5.25 pounds
6:00P - 11:00P
free lining shrimp in 3-5 ft along rocks next to the plant on the northeast side
of lake.
Had the opportunity to watch
Cliff
Hill
and his charter in action.
|
Beautiful afternoon with a large
thunderhead blocking the afternoon sun and keeping the temperature less
than 85.


 |
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October 29th, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don
1 keeper, a ton of dinks
7:30A - 1:00P
Bobbers using shrimp in 1-5 ft all over the lake.
71 - 76 degrees, NE wind @ 10
Lake about 18 inches low


No Flow
|
The Birds are back


|
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October 31st, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don
& Michael
10 keepers, a ton of dinks
7:30A - 1:00P
Bobbers using shrimp in 1-13 ft all over the lake.
 |
Very Foggy until 10:30 A.M.

|

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November 3, 2007
Braunig and
Calaveras Lakes Report - Don
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November 9, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don
Very Foggy until
9:30 A.M.


6 keepers, a few dinks
7:30A - 12:00P
Free-lining shrimp in 1-13 ft all over the lake. Water= 72-76
Day temp = 62-83

They are pumping a
little
 |
|
Problem of the day other than the flat
on my trailer....
When pulling into the
north dock, these folks were fishing where I wanted to pull in...

I asked them to move and
they refused..so I beached my boat on the shore next to the dock and told
them at they were not supposed to be fishing on the boat dock. He
ignored me.

so I went for my car. I helped the lady
with her boat...she had no place to tie off because the fishermen
would not move.
I approached them and
asked them if they knew that this was a boating area. The guy blew
up, cursing me out...threatened to throw me in the lake and said he would
fish there if he wanted to. He also said that he fished there all
the time and that I was the only %$^&-@## that had complained. He
told me to F*** off and get off the dock.!

I informed him that the sign was meant for him and that boaters had to pay
extra to use these docks and that I was calling the office...he flipped me
off some more. I called the store..the attendant told me that there
was no one to come help. I decided to put my boat on my trailer and
clean my fish.
About 45 minutes later,
they were still there.

It is obvious that this jerk had never
been asked to move by park personnel. This could easily have developed
into a physical conflict. I could have challenged the vulgar,
arrogant jacka$$, but I am hoping that SARA Park Managers will get a
handle on enforcing the basic rules of their park.
Response from SARA: Everyone should call the Calaveras
office for assistance in enforcing this rule: 210-635-8359 and report
these people: If the office will not help, call the number below:
Don - we will reinforce to our park partol staff the importance of
directing bank fishermen away from the boat docks and ramps. If they do
not comply, staff can escort them from the park. Most park users "play
nice together", but unfortunately there are some who do not.
Dale Bransford, CPRP
Park Services Manager
San Antonio River Authority
dbransford@sara-tx.org
210 302 3661 or 866 345 7272
|
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November 17, 2007
Calaveras Lake -
Don & Cliff
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November 18 - 19, 2007
Braunig
Lake -
Don
After viewing Steven and Cliff's luck at
Braunig on 11/17 at night, I decided to hit the lake with my box of
Popeye's crispy dark, DK Blood, and shrimp and try to get the big ones
too. Obviously I still need more practice, but I got three meals out
of the effort, and the chicken was great!!! (except for the DK and shrimp
smells on my hands)

10 channels kept 1 - 3 pounds
5:00P - 1:00A
DK blood under bobbers
and
Free Lining shrimp in 2-9 ft

The lake is as low as I have ever seen
it. The underwater vegetation prevented me from fishing many of my
favorite spots. I can understand the low levels of this lake during
the ramp construction. Perhaps they will get the ramp deep enough on
this one. |
Air Temp 55-70, water temp 72.
ENE breeze < 10 Mph.
New Ramp Work



 |
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November 21, 2007
Calaveras
Lake -
Don
Went out preceding the cold front to see
if the bite was hot. It was not hot...just pretty steady if you
moved around to different spots. The birds were starting to roost
and the fish were in the shallows, just scattered. Caught about 15,
kept 6 to clean and gave them away to a new friend at the fish table:

6 channels kept 1 - 2 pounds
9:00A - 12:00P
Free lining
DK Garlic
and
Free Lining shrimp in 2-9 ft
The lake is too low, but I am getting
some contact info soon. |
Air Temp 70 - 85 , water temp 78.
SE breeze 10-20 Mph. just before big
front moved in.
Floating docks reported by Roger were indeed the rental docks.


 |
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November 28, 2007
Calaveras
Lake -
Don and Michael
Gorgeous day for fishing and being with
a friend.
3 channels kept 1 - 2 pounds
8:00A - 12:00P
Free lining
DK Blood
and
Free Lining shrimp in 14 ft
Air Temp 40 - 65
water temp 64 - 72.
SW breeze 10 Mph., just before big
front moved in.

Three fishermen found some blues on
chicken liver in the mouth of the first 181 cove.


The park guys are stenciling the
warning signs on the end of the ramp. There really is not much
difference between the pavement and the bed of stones that SARA installed.
My trailer hardly knows the difference when unloading. Lake is still
abnormally low.

Regarding the pictures in the right hand column:
Those of you who know Hippie might want to know that he is battling
cancer again. He is refusing chemo and has been very ill for about 3
months.
Hippie lives a very simple life in one of the sheds and helps fishermen
and other campers in maintaining their equipment for any donations they
want to give him.
He has come to my rescue numerous times without any hesitation.
He has a giving heart of gold and is a wealth of information about the
lake. He has family in Floresville.
|
Here are my yacht's new digs.
Love the asphalt floor. Paying $55/month with 1 month free for a
year in advance.



Below are the old digs. Stayed there about three years. The
first year, the original owner kept it up and it was pretty nice.
Then she sold it to some guys who don't give a darn about the place.
They raised the rent from $45 to $50 and did not even mow the grass once.
If it weren't for Hippie who lives in one of the sheds, the place would
have been more unusable than it was.


Below the boat in front of one of the sheds is there because the door
won't open enough to put it inside.




The gate has been broken for over six months.

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December 5, 2007
Calaveras
Lake -
Don
Gorgeous day for fishing!
7 channels kept 1 - 2 pounds
Caught about 100 dinks
11:00A - 5:00P
Free lining DK Blood, shrimp, and chicken liver in 13-16 ft
Air Temp 40 - 70
water temp 63 - 73.
SE breeze 5 Mph.


Here I found the floating dock moved to allow them to paint a yellow
warning stripe to step up.

They moved it over here

It does not get calmer than this...

Good News!!!!, but not a bite in the cove.

Osprey is resident in the cove.

There are spider or caterpillar webs flowing in the wind...they attach
to everything.
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Two significant events today!!
I was motoring past the Swallow bridge up to the dead tree bay when
I noticed a lone white pelican about 30 ft off shore...flopping around.
I stopped to investigate and observed that he/she could not bring it's
head up and appeared to be caught in something.
Video
It was caught in an unattended trot line. It had a hook thru its
bottom bill hooking into its breast so that it could not lift its head.
The left foot was caught in the trot line and had another hook drop
wrapped around its leg.
I prepared my tools and approached on the bank side...sliced the trot line
so that it would not pull that way. The bird swam toward open water,
but was still caught on the other end of the trot line. I approached
with a lasso and threw it around its neck and let it pull gently until it
gave up. Then I pulled it in and took the head in my hand. I
cut the barb out of the breast and worked the hook out of the lower bill.
The leg was still wrapped solid, so I cut the lines off the leg while
holding the head...wow..those wings gave me a bath!
On the final slice, I let him go and he started swimming...
Video
I proceeded to my spot and took this video of the flock he joined...
Video
The 2nd miracle was retrieving this expensive set of pliers after
throwing them in with my anchor rope



Everytime I go out now, I notice that Homeland Security keeps an
eye on me...must be the pressure I am keeping on CPS and SARA about the
park maintenance.
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