Lake Bardwell advice??

wneubauer · Posted: Mon, Jul 07 2008 06:11 pm Post subject: Lake Bardwell advice??

Anyone ever fished this lake? We are camping down there this weekend and any info would be appreciated. Any good bait shops around to get advice?

Thanks, bros...

Bobby-Catfishing · Posted: Mon, Jul 07 2008 09:06 pm Post subject:

The lake is chock full of eating size channels and some pretty good blues as well. I cut my teeth fishing that lake while growing up in Ennis. We went camping down there about a month ago and wore the channel cats our on Secret 7dip bait and punch bait. Fish shallow along wind-blown banks with either corks or a carolina rig. There is a marina on the lake as well with a fishing barge and a bait/tackel shop. Waxahachie Creek Park is the the best park on the lake for camping. Lots of shade and some pretty decent bank fishing as well. Good luck to you.
_________________
Bobby Kubin
Bobby's Catfish Guide Service
www.bobby-catfishing.com
(817) 455-2894
bobby@bobby-catfishing.com

wneubauer · Posted: Tue, Jul 08 2008 07:02 pm Post subject:

That's good news. I've got several punch baits, but have never seen or used the secret 7. Hopefully mine will work.. Camping at High View... hopefully we don't bake out there as there does not look to be much shade..

Thanks for the info!

Bobby-Catfishing · Posted: Wed, Jul 09 2008 08:52 am Post subject:

There aren't many trees out at Highview Park. Or anywhere around Ennis for that matter.

Secret 7 is a fairly new dip bait made by Team Catfish. It's been outfishing punch bait on my boat about 4 to 1. As far as I know, there are no bait stores selling it locally. I picked up a case of the 16 oz. containers this weekend and have some for sale if interested.
_________________
Bobby Kubin
Bobby's Catfish Guide Service
www.bobby-catfishing.com
(817) 455-2894
bobby@bobby-catfishing.com

Ranger1751 · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 05:21 pm Post subject:

You can pick up minnows at High View Marina.

I started my career with USACE at Bardwell many years ago. Nice quiet lake with very little pressure. Catfishing is excellent and there is a healthly bass population. Too many hybrids for such a small reservoir though.

Next time try camping at Mott Park on west side. Campsites 13 & 14 had decent shade 10 years ago. Bobby is correct: WCP has the most shade and good access to the water. At WCP, try campsites 1-13 or 31-35.

The entire north end of the reservoir is shallow. The Texas Water Development Board conducted surveys while I was working there and the information is published at this link from the Bardwell Lake website.

http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/bardwell/Information/Bathyometric%20Map%20of%20Bardwell%20Lake%201999.pdf

Good luck.

wneubauer · Posted: Mon, Jul 14 2008 07:47 pm Post subject:

I was lucky enough to run into Scott Sandy and he set me up with some shad the thursday evening before I left. Only ended up with about 6 hours total fishing time, but got a couple of small catfish, and maybe the oddest catch I ever have had. I had thrown some DK blood on a carolina rig on the bottom, and caught a 5 in sunfish?? Very weird!

We are going to try WCP next trip down. We really liked the lake and the kids enjoyed the swimming. Thanks again for the info, guys!