Shonto Ranch Lake Fishing

[Txbart]

Shonto Ranch Lake is a series of private pools on the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, TX. They stock Rainbows up to 8 pounds and 2-3 pound Golden trout every fall. Each pool has a different kind and size of fish, bass to trout to catfish.

Sounds kind of like a kids’ fishing pond on steroids! I could only find one reference on the forum and it was from 2005. The ranch is a 1,000 acre private hunting and fishing reserve with 4 miles of the Guadalupe. Looks like emphasis is on hunting. You wade only if you want to get in the water, they are “primarily bank fishing.” $75 for 4 hours of solo catch-and-release fishing.

Casting practice with the potential of an 8-pound surprise! I’m considering trying it next Monday. Is anyone on the forum familiar with this “venue”?

Thanks in advance.

 

[springcreek]

Never heard of it, but it sounds intriguing as trout fishing here in Texas isn't the most common thing. If you do go, please share your experience.

 

[Txbart]

I fished Shonto Ranch Pavilion Pool today. It is stocked 3 times each season with up to 8-pound Rainbows. Also has some Golden trout though I didn’t see any. Pavilion Pool is all bank fishing. The bank is 1-3’ above water surface and drops straight down to about 3’ of water. Bottom appears to be sand with quite a bit of short grass. It is loaded with very large cruising Rainbows that kept swimming back and forth beneath my feet. Easily 20”+, saw 2 that were probably 25”. Very tentative bite today. I hooked the largest trout of my life, take was like a stocker until I set the hook then be turned into a tarpon, cleared the water by about a foot then swam off with my nymph. Don’t know if he broke my 5X tippet or just broke the knot. Hooked a 12-14” without realizing it, thought I was in grass about 10’ from the shore so wiggled my rod tip, he wiggled back, showed me his side and swam off. All catch an release. I was the only person there today. Tried everything but dry flies to include a small clouser. Family fishing yesterday used spinning rods and strawberry and bubble gum worms. Manager said they caught quite a few fish. I saw a 16-18” trout swim by with a pink worm sticking out of his mouth, obviously still had the hook, too. You need a long handle to net a fish I don’t think you could net one with a stream net even if you got on your knees. I will probably go back.

 

[springcreek]

Thanks for the update. May try it myself


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