Calaveras Lake Redfish Methods

[Tylerj5699]

Been reading up a lot about redfish in Calaveras Lake in San Antonio. I grew up as a coast fisherman but getting my bass boat back from the shop next week and would like to give the redfish a try.

Has anyone ever fished for them with artificial's in Calaveras? Would my conventional methods I would use on the coast apply here? Going out on the coast, you're obviously considering various factors that aren't at play here (tides, etc.). Wanted to see if anyone has had luck and what methods other than live bait are viable.

Thanks!

[CityLimtRedneck]

I went on a couple guided trips about 10yrs ago and all we did was troll around with outriggers. Guide was using 4-6" soft plastics, paddletails and grubs, and we were fishing pretty deep I beleive.

[CityLimtRedneck]

The guide service we used was called Fishing with Manny, could maybe get some intel from his website.

[HoustonHunter94]

My experience was same as above. Went with a guide and we just trolled around looking for them on the electronics.

[PoppinPiggies]

Same as the others have stated. I went on a guided trip and we just trolled. I remember the guide telling me there are some giant bass in that lake but most people fish for the reds or catfish

[dustoffer]

Years ago I fished Braunig a lot and we would cast crankbaits along the riprap and watch for the reds to hit the surface after shad schools and head at them. Stop far enough away to not spook them and cast into the school with shad-like crank baits (Rattletraps). Could usually catch 1 or 2 before the school went back down.

[LuckyCards2006]

My buddy I grew up with owns Lone Oak Adventures, he guides there and Braunig all the time. I actually just went with him over spring break, caught a few reds but the winds blew us off the lake. Mainly trolling with either soft plastics, rattle trap type lures. But he does catch them casting as well, but conditions have to be just right. They are a schooling fish so using electronics to find them is mostly used. I grew up fishing both lakes and caught a lot of bass, hybrid stripers and redfish. You can usually find them in the reeds and cast lures that way.

[mikeyb_23]

We would catch them when catfishing, always used live perch or tilapia for bait. Otherwise it's trolling for them with downriggers.

[Lincoln Hawk]

As a teen, caught some whoppers out of Braunig with a fish-finder rigs and crawfish. At the big jetty in the middle. Watch out for snakes.

[Mule Skinner]

Troll with Rattletraps and Shad Raps unless you have downriggers, then use soft plastics and spoons. The shad spawn should be happening now, early and late fish will be going shallow to gorge on shad.

[SCHC]

I used to fish Tradinghouse when it had reds. They decommissioned the power plant so no more reds. Would troll with deep diving crank baits and also bottom fish on structure - road beds and humps. When bottom fishing, used dead shrimp or live crawfish. Caught the big ones while bottom fishing. They were not the eating quality of saltwater reds IMO but fun to catch.

[gander]

Look up James Bray, or Lone Oak Adventures, he is part owner of it. James has it dialed on these lakes.

[kmack]

Years ago we fished the "wall" at the end of the outflow area. You could tie-off at the wall and then cast over to the other side. We used rattle traps all the time and would catch 4-5 big ones in a short time. I believe tying-off to the wall is not allowed anymore, unfortunately. It's been awhile since I've been over there.

[jaker_cc]

We troll with downriggers with bridled tilapia trolling slow. Once we found a school on sonar we would adjust depth and get it in front of them.