Jul 22 2015
Toad
Member Since :
2014
Number of Posts :
516
Steve, I dearly love the Cody Ranch lakes I've visited, and have fished them as often as I could. The two-person minimum is what has kept me off some of the east Texas lakes.
Jul 22 2015
Admin
Member Since :
2002
Number of Posts :
1130
Please try the Partner Finder System
Sep 14 2015
Fingerling
Member Since :
2012
Number of Posts :
85
Steve:
I'd love to go to Athens but it has three things against it. There isn't a boat, it's a two person minimum and no half day rate. There's too many restrictions.
Out of curiosity, who sets the rules for a property? I assume the property owner but not positive.
Sep 15 2015
Slot Fish
Member Since :
2013
Number of Posts :
148
Sep 16 2015
Admin
Member Since :
2002
Number of Posts :
1130
Jason,
Great question!!
As you might expect gaining access to some lakes is not easy; especially premier lakes and or lakes with high net worth owners. However, we have an outstanding value proposition and a fantastic membership base that respect these properties.
The "rules" or requirements are set by PWF with lots of input from our landowners. Every landowner has his or her reasons for leasing the lake to us.
The reason we do not offer a boat at Neil Ranch is simple, the owner does not want to mess with it!. Now, we could add a simple $500 jon boat, but folks paying $150 do not want to fish from a jon boat, so they bring their own boat or kayak.. 2) We do not offer 1/2 day or single person trips to justify the landowner having people on the property. The owners home over looks the lake. 3) PWF has spent thousands of dollars in computer programming time and lots of hours trying to figure out how to get our "single" members to fish together. 3 months ago we released Partner Finder 3.0 and we are seeing some progress. We envision a membership that reaches out to one another, makes friends with other members, shares fishing wisdom, creates memories and loves being part of a group that are like minded.
Please reach out to fish with someone, by checking the box on your reservation, that you are open to bring a guest. Jason, you are in the Dallas area and Tom Dillon, Joel Conner. Mark Levock, Jay Reese and dozens of others are looking for others to fish with. About 50% of our reservations are single person reservations. Reach out and ask someone to fish with you.
On a final note...There was over $8000 worth of shad added to Neil Ranch in May.
Sep 19 2015
Fingerling
Member Since :
2012
Number of Posts :
85
Hey Jason I've been wanting to go to Neill ranch. I went out there couple years ago. Saw bunch of baitfish were added recently. Its a nice place. Looks like some giants would live in the lake. Pwf is running a sale on that lake for month of September. One thing I will say I do believe it was the hardest place to find since joining club part of the experience I guess. I have 10 ft buster if interested in going. I can go this coming Sunday if interested. Contact me at jreese226@gmail.com or 2147630808
Thanks Jay, sorry for just now replying. I haven't been online. I can't go tomorrow. Ole Miss plays Bama tonight and I doubt I will be in any condition to get up early tomorrow to do anything. I'll hold onto your info. though. Maybe next Sunday?
Thanks for reaching out,
Jason
Sep 19 2015
Slot Fish
Member Since :
2013
Number of Posts :
148
Jul 16 2015
Steve Alexander
Admin
Member Since :
2002
Number of Posts :
1130
I have found it interesting how quickly our members figure out which lakes are the best value. For the most part you guys are pretty good about fishing the good lakes more often and the lesser lakes less often. Of course we see the reservations on a daily basis and members fish the better valued properties more often. We feel we have our lakes priced accurately, but ultimately, our members dictate the prices based on supply and demand, just lake any other product or service. However, there are a few lakes in which surprise us.
Athens Neil Ranch- In the 1990's and 2000's this lake was considered a premier fishery in the Mecca of private lake world, Athens Texas. Neil Ranch was well known with those "in the know". The lake would have surpassed just about any lake that we currently have or have ever had. The stories of the giant bass caught out of this lake are well known with those in Athens. Those big bass are not all gone. Today, the lake is not what it use to be, but still a very good fishery. We only had two reports from 2015 and both were good to great. https://www.privatewaterfishing.com/forums/view_report/2585 and https://www.privatewaterfishing.com/forums/view_report/2595 In early June there were 50,000 ($8,750) threadfin shad added to the lake. Threadfin shad, add a different dynamic to a lake. Threadfin sell out their bass cousins. Bass will chase shad making their presence known.Throw a rattletrap or slab into schooling threadfin and hang on.
Gilmer Hat and Star- This lake has probably produced more fish over 9 lbs than any lake in the club. We have received over 10 pictures of 9 lb fish or bigger caught from here in the past 2 years. Here is the last report https://www.privatewaterfishing.com/forums/view_report/2477 Here is a post from 18 months ago that will blow you away. Two double digit (close, one fish was 1 oz away from 10 lb's) fish 30 minutes apart. https://www.privatewaterfishing.com/forums/view_report/1911 If you are looking to catch a double digit fish and have not done so, you owe it to yourself to spend a few days a year on this lake.
Coalgate Twin Lakes- We know why this place does not see the traffic; it's in Oklahoma! But, what doesn't make sense is that it is the same distance as 10 of our most popular east Texas lakes. Coalgate Cody Ranch is two hours from the northern suburbs of Dallas. North Fort Worth area, HEB, Southlake, Keller, Flowermound, Plano, Allen, Mckinney) and 2.5 hours from downtown Dallas. This lake is beautiful, consistently produces 15 to 30 2.5 to 4 lb fish with a 5 to 7 kicker on most full day trips. There are great accommodations and other good lakes (Lower Hart- also underrated) on the ranch to explore.
We have many guys who share their reports with us verbally and simple don't want to post a fishing report. We hear lots of things and thought we would shed the light on some of the more under utilized lakes in the club.