Any recommendations?

yep, don't go!!!!!!!!!!

If there were any better lakes in the Houston area, especially during the fall and early spring, I'd be there instead.

Hell, just about anywhere in Texas a powerplant lake will be better.

Check out John Sparks. Me and two other buddies loaded up with John this past April to catch some post-spawn Fayette County bass.

The day looked to be terrible for fishing. The moom was full the night before and the morning started with 40 degree temps and 20 mph winds. However, John had pre-fished the two days before and as the weather got better that day, so did the fishing. Between the four of us in the boat we netted over 65 bass with two thirds in the 3-5lb range. Good fighting fish!

John was a great guide! We used our own tackle, but he will provide rods and reels if you need. What was suppose to be a half day trip turned into a full day free of charge because the fishing was so good! Needless to say, we tipped him nicely.

Contact info: skraps2908@houston.rr.com

I have his phone number somewhere. Let me know if you need that as well. When I get home today I will post some pics from our trip. He has an amazing boat - 21ft Ranger Commanche with all the gadgets and gizzmos.

With the weather cooling down and the water temp at Fayette going down as well, the fall is a great time to catch bass on Fayette. I love that most think of it as a poor bass lake. During the summer time, like most lakes, the water is warm and the fishing is brutal. All other times of the year are great for Fayette bass!

[This message has been edited by lostboy (edited 11/8/2006 2:37p).]

Here are some pics from our trip:



John Sparks, our guide, is on the far left. This is his boat. Beautiful fishing machine. I can only hope to have one like it someday.




This is the kind of day it was. The guy taking the picture had just released a hefty 4lb bass so we had 4 bass on the lines at one time!



Just for proof that yes - this was Fayette County (smoke stacks in the back). Great rod bending action all day!

[This message has been edited by lostboy (edited 11/9/2006 12:43p).]

Gene Ballard if he is still around. He really knows the lake as he was there when it opened.
I love that lake for football size largemouths!!

Looks like nice wakeboarding water...

It is nice to know that you caught all of those fish in my honney hole.

Hogs Point - best fishing spot on the lake.

I would be hesitant to reveal the name of the cove, but funny story here ... The boat behind us in that last picture was one of 3 other boats in the cove. During a 1 hour span that afternoon, we landed over 45 hefty bass. Over that same time period, the 3 other boats around us landed 1 fish. I can only imagine the frustration.

Location means nothing when your fishing the wrong bait. So, do not go to the back of Hogs Point and throw Carolina Rigged T-Worms in the heavy grass beds. If you really dont want to catch big fish, don't do that same thing in deep creek channel that cuts thru the trees and grass in the back of the cove. No big ones there at all!

It is in fact very nice wakeboarding water.

But then again most water is.

I have caught some nice bass at Fayette county lake, but i still prefer fishing sommerville or gibbons creek because i still don't know how to fish fayette county lake effectively. (The big bass I have caught were few and far between.)

So which one in the pic is John Sparks?

Fayette is a cool little lake to fish. The first time I went i threw water dogs all weekend. i had a weedless hook on and fished them like a texas rig worm. I absolutely slaughtered the bass. i also lost quite a few on the hook set. I think we boated around 75 fish for the weekend. I've been back and fished artificial too and caught quite a few.

John is the big guy with the 'Hawgs' hat on. If I get the chance, I'm thinking of booking with him agian for a fall trip. I learned so much about warm water post-spawn fishing when I fished with him in April. I would love to get the same depth of knowledge for fall/winter fishing at Fayette.

I've never fished water dogs and I won't be the one to start the 'Don't fish waterdogs' argument. However, waterdogs can produce some nice bass.

Fayette is a great bass fishing lake once you learn its tendencies. IMO - you will forever turn your back on Sommerville and Gibbons once you learn to fish Fayette. Try booking a guided trip. John is one of many Fayette guides that can help you get started.