At Fisherman’s Corner fishing ponds catching catfish is almost as easy as shooting the proverbial fish in a barrel. While you still have to go through the motions of fishing, at least you can be sure that there is something beneath these dark waters. No golden hook or other good luck charm is necessary at these ponds on the north side of Canyon Lake, just the right bait and a little patience.
“Kids with their grandparents are the majority of our business,” says Sylvan DeJardo, who owns the two catfish ponds and bait and tackle shop. “Of course, lots of people who just want to catch a mess of fresh catfish for supper stop by, too.”
DeJardo has made fishing easy for those who don’t have the time or inclination to spend hours perfecting the techniques, yet appreciate the therapeutic value of watching a bobber and the thrill of the catch.
Fisherman’s Corner encourages family fishing trips. “We decided not to charge an admission fee like some of the places do,” DeJardo says, “because it would just get too expensive for large families. Here, you control the whole cost of the outing.”
Fishermen pay only for what they catch. Whole fish cost $2.59 per pound. DeJardo will fillet your catch, and the price goes up to $3.09 per pound. The bait shop rents poles for $3, and along with the recommendation of what kind of bait to use, they will sell you just about any kind of bait you could want for fishing in the ponds, on the nearby Guadalupe River, or in Canyon Lake. “We have the largest selection of bait and tackle on this side of the lake,” DeJardo says.
Along with an assortment of night crawlers, shrimp, and stink bait, DeJardo has an assortment of tackle and lures specific for use in Hill Country waters. Fish tend to strike at artificial bait that mimics their natural prey, DeJardo explains. You increase your chances of success if you use the right size and color of lures. The Fisherman’s Corner can also provide fishing guide services to the nearby lake or river.
“We have the only natural trout fishery in Texas right up the road,” DeJardo says of the Guadalupe River. It is the only river in the state that is cold enough for trout to survive and spawn. He says trout fishing is available year-round, but that you want to avoid the tubers on the river as much as possible. The state stocks the area below Canyon Dam from November through February.
DeJardo got into the catfish-pond business because of his love of angling. After retiring from the Navy, he was looking for a way to make a living off the 20 acres he had purchased on FM 306 west of New Braunfels. He and his wife opened the business as a weekend endeavor in 1995, and it has grown steadily since. “I work 17 hours a day, though,” he says with a tired laugh.
All of the catfish in his ponds are farm-raised in Arkansas and shipped in weekly to replenish what was caught the week before. He maintains 6,000 pounds of fish in two ponds. Most average around two pounds, but some get up to seven or eight pounds.
Although DeJardo says that the fish are biting every day, during the summer the best time to come out is between 10am and noon, before the water gets too warm. During the winter the best time is in the late afternoon. The most popular time for families to visit Fisherman’s Corner is in late afternoon when the trees offer comforting shade and the breeze seems to pick up a notch or two.
Fisherman’s Corner catfish ponds and tackle shop is about an hour south of Austin at the junction of FM 306 and FM 484. The best route is to take FM 12 either from Dripping Springs or San Marcos and then FM 32 to FM 484. The stocked ponds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset, and the bait and tackle shop is open daily from 5:30am to 10pm. For information, call 210/213-2534 or visit their Web site at www.canyonlakefishing.com.
634th 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.
This article appears in August 1 • 2003.
