Day Trips
Grab your pole and some worms and head on down to the fishing house at Easy Street Marina on Lake Travis
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., Jan. 22, 2010
The fishing house at Easy Street Marina on Lake Travis takes a little of the pain off of drowning a few worms. The roof and walls of the floating tin building provide protection from the elements without taking all of the sport out of fishing.
It's still cold in the winter and hot in the summer at the lake, but at least there is shade and a wind break in the fishing dock. This fishing hole is better than a muddy bank, but you still have to get lucky to keep from going home empty-handed.
In the Sandy Creek cove on the north end of the lake, the harbor and fishing dock never went completely dry during last summer's drought. With the rising lake levels, the fishing is improving and the boats are beginning to move around.
"The fishing this winter has been great," says Matt Anders, the dockmaster for the marina. "We had a guy take an ice chest full of fish out of here the other day."
The secret to the fishing house's success was discovered last summer when the lake level dropped to record lows. Seeping out of the bluff next to the marina is a spring that supplies the fish with fresh, oxygenated water. "The spring never stopped running last summer," Anders says. The lake began rising last October and has come up 20 feet, but it still has 25 feet to go to reach the pool level of 681 feet above mean sea level.
The marina is at a scenic bend in the arm of the lake just south of Jonestown. Inside the fishing hut, anglers lean their poles against the railing around two large holes in the floor. Some lounge on the benches while others bring their own lawn chairs and refreshments. At $5 a person, the admission fee will likely be cheaper than the day's bait. You will also need a state fishing license.
"Most people come out in the mornings," Anders says. The lights on the water attract fish, making the evenings popular, too. The fishing reports from the marina in early January included good quantities of bass, striper, and crappie. "Somebody caught a 10-pound catfish the other evening," he says.
Formerly called the Dutchman's Landing, the site has been a marina for more than 50 years. Besides being a full-service boat-docking facility, the marina also rents ski boats, pontoon boats, and a party barge. This is the home of the Flagship Texas charter ship. In addition to offering chartered cruises, the multideck party boat hosts three-hour dinner cruises during the summer. The marina also has a four-bedroom rental house with a pool table, full kitchen, and great view.
Easy Street Marina is off of FM 1431, just south of Jonestown. The fishing house is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, call 512/267-4289 or point your browser to www.easystreetmarina.com.
968th in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips" 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.
