Grapevine Lake TX

[walleyecrazy]

My wife just found out that she has a work conference in Grapevine TX in early June. After looking into it, it turns out that it is at a convention center right on Grapevine Lake, so naturally I am going to take advantage of the free accommodations and go with her so I can fish the whole time she is in her conferences. Does anyone here have any experience with Grapevine Lake? I will be limited to bank fishing, and will only be able to bring very limited tackle with me due to the fact that we are flying there. Being that my tackle will be limited I want to make sure I am bringing the right stuff so I give myself the best chance for some success while I'm there. Any help or advice anyone may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated. The only thing that I currently know I will be bringing are my two Temple Fork Outfitters travel rods. One is a MH casting rod, and the other is a ML spinning rod. These should allow me to cover the vast majority of possible techniques. 

[thediscochef]

On 4/12/2022 at 11:13 AM, walleyecrazy said:

My wife just found out that she has a work conference in Grapevine TX in early June. After looking into it, it turns out that it is at a convention center right on Grapevine Lake, so naturally I am going to take advantage of the free accommodations and go with her so I can fish the whole time she is in her conferences. Does anyone here have any experience with Grapevine Lake? I will be limited to bank fishing, and will only be able to bring very limited tackle with me due to the fact that we are flying there. Being that my tackle will be limited I want to make sure I am bringing the right stuff so I give myself the best chance for some success while I'm there. Any help or advice anyone may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated. The only thing that I currently know I will be bringing are my two Temple Fork Outfitters travel rods. One is a MH casting rod, and the other is a ML spinning rod. These should allow me to cover the vast majority of possible techniques. 

I personally have not fished that lake, though I will likely visit it this week as I have been meaning to.
There are a number of access points, most of which should have some bass somewhere. 

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/grapevine/access.phtml
https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@10&key=_klhElavoQ

These links should help; the first is the known public access points, the other is a topographic map.

Most of the DFW lakes without power plants are like this; bass everywhere. Grapevine holds spotted, smallmouth, and largies but the LMB are the big species there. 

Other lakes in this area are starting to see success with moving baits; chatterbaits in particular do well as many of the lakes are muddy and have a max visibility of 4-6 feet. Grapevine aligns with this set of conditions, so I would probably slow straight retreive a chatterbait in pearl or chartreuse along grass, rock, and dropoff lines for my own best results. Black/blue/junebug will probably also do well. Jerkbaits or rattling cranks should also do well but cranks will be higher loss risk from the bank, and jerkbaits have been thrown all over DFW this winter. You should be able to catch just fine from the bank, there's a number of decent parks and access points and some trails that will lead you to places. This lake is urban, it is surrounded by municipalities. Some access points may be closed due to flood damage.

You will also be within 20 minutes of the Grapevine Bass Pro shop so if you forget something it's not the end of the world. There is also at least one Academy nearby.

If you would like a shore fishing buddy with some tackle and wheels I may be in town for some of those days, just shoot me a DM. I have something the first weekend of June but otherwise clear.

You'll also be less than two hours from a variety of great shore locations if you feel up to a day trip. Fork is in that range...

[walleyecrazy]

Awesome, thank you! I really appreciate the info, and will likely be in touch to see if you are around while I'm down there. 

[thediscochef]

8 hours ago, walleyecrazy said:

Awesome, thank you! I really appreciate the info, and will likely be in touch to see if you are around while I'm down there. 

You're welcome, I'll be there probably tomorrow, will let you know what happens 

[jbsoonerfan]

I have never fished there, but if you are looking for a good meal you should try Big Daddy's at the marina. It is GREAT!!!! More food than you can possibly eat and it's BYOB. They had live music when we were there. 

[thediscochef]

Didn't make it by today...had to stay closer to home for some surprise family stuff. We will have a cold front tonight which will affect things tomorrow, but that's now the plan

[RDB]

On 4/12/2022 at 11:13 AM, walleyecrazy said:

My wife just found out that she has a work conference in Grapevine TX in early June. After looking into it, it turns out that it is at a convention center right on Grapevine Lake, so naturally I am going to take advantage of the free accommodations and go with her so I can fish the whole time she is in her conferences. Does anyone here have any experience with Grapevine Lake? I will be limited to bank fishing, and will only be able to bring very limited tackle with me due to the fact that we are flying there. Being that my tackle will be limited I want to make sure I am bringing the right stuff so I give myself the best chance for some success while I'm there. Any help or advice anyone may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated. The only thing that I currently know I will be bringing are my two Temple Fork Outfitters travel rods. One is a MH casting rod, and the other is a ML spinning rod. These should allow me to cover the vast majority of possible techniques. 

You might make a post on Texas Fishing Forum.  There will be a lot of posters on that site with experience on Grapevine.  Might even find someone who will let you take the back of the boat.  It’s amazing how friendly people are when they don’t worry about you stealing their spots.

[walleyecrazy]

15 hours ago, RDB said:

You might make a post on Texas Fishing Forum.  There will be a lot of posters on that site with experience on Grapevine.  Might even find someone who will let you take the back of the boat.  It’s amazing how friendly people are when they don’t worry about you stealing their spots.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the forum. I'll have to check it out. 

[thediscochef]

Above suggestion is good, the southern access points at Lake Grapevine are not particularly fishing-friendly. I went to Lakeside Park and Meadowmere Park, this morning did not go to plan so I didn't take time to check out the topography and access points like I wanted to. Let's just say that I'm sure there's probably fish around there...but the gradient is so slow in both of those parks that you're sure to snap off some lures as I did today. I would not recommend either place. The only half decent spot I found to retrieve a lure was the Meadowmere Park Pavilion boat ramp. The one adjacent to it doesn't allow fishing within 100 feet of the ramp or pier. First time I've seen one of those signs.

I'll visit the lake again on the north shore soon. I'm just pumped to see some local discussions, we don't get that a ton on this forum lol

 

 

[walleyecrazy]

The place I will be staying is right next to Katie's Woods park, and I have had a few people recommend that spot to me so I'm hoping to have some success there.

[RDB]

7 hours ago, walleyecrazy said:

The place I will be staying is right next to Katie's Woods park, and I have had a few people recommend that spot to me so I'm hoping to have some success there.

If you type in Katie’s Woods Park on Google Earth and it will recognize it (you may have already done that).  It does look like there is decent shoreline access but the lake looks pretty low so who knows at full pool.

[thediscochef]

Sorry I hadn't followed up on this lately - been out fishing some other spots along with some back pain. We just got a heavy rain at the start of the week, most of the northside lakes are up a solid two feet from where they were last week. Hoping that stays up a bit, I like my water at 100% capacity 

[thediscochef]

OK followup time

I went to Katie's Woods today. I didn't really spend a ton of time actually fishing. But I did look around the park a bit. If you're staying where I think you're staying you're in for a very nice time. Katie's woods is by far the best shore spot I've seen at grapevine of the four parks I've been to. There's a trail on the west side of the boat ramp area that leads to a main lake point and a nice rock ledge going up into the cove across from Sandbass Point Ramp that looked really good. The only issue you may have there is landing something of size from the ledge. Then point looked a little more friendly, but more importantly unoccupied. The areas around the boat ramp and near the hotel has a good creekbed cove near some little covered brick picnic pavilions, and some flat/shallow spots on either side of the ramp itself. The areas nearest to parking were more occupied. 1 kayaker and one empty boat trailer. Water 2-4ft vis. The lake is completely full right now, technically in flood stage. You should have plenty of access to keep you occupied. It's a good place to have a south wind, too, which has been common lately.

[walleyecrazy]

That’s awesome information, thank you! I will be staying at the Gaylord Texan Resort which is pretty much right next to the park so I’m sure that’s where I will spend the majority of my time fishing. 

[thediscochef]

On 5/9/2022 at 4:47 PM, walleyecrazy said:

That’s awesome information, thank you! I will be staying at the Gaylord Texan Resort which is pretty much right next to the park so I’m sure that’s where I will spend the majority of my time fishing. 

My guitar player works at the Texan, you will have a very nice stay and you will be about 2 miles from Bass Pro.

 

That park is about the only place at grapevine I've visited that I thought the drive was worth it. Tight lines, maybe I'll see you there!

[FishTax]

Reviving this as I'll be at the grapevine Gaylord hotel the last week of June this year. Trying to determine how often I can sneak down to the lake, conference is basically 9-4 W-fr. Not sure I'll be able to pack any fishing stuff but willing to pay for some or a guide when I get there. Anyone know if any guides cover this lake? I can Google but references are always appreciated if personal knowledge by someone here. 

 

Sounds like if I go up to bass pro I can buy a cheap combo and basic tackle to bank fish at night nearby? If I do that, is there someone local who would want the gear when I fly out or either somewhere I could donate it? I'm trying to figure out of I can pack a multi piece ugly stick in my bag and pray the airline doesn't snap it. I may just buy one and try to give to a kid if any are around. 

 

I'd love to catch some of these big Texas bass I keep hearing about... ?

[roadwarrior]

Keep it simple: Hire a guide who provides tackle for his clients.

[thediscochef]

On 5/7/2023 at 5:17 PM, FishTax said:

Reviving this as I'll be at the grapevine Gaylord hotel the last week of June this year. Trying to determine how often I can sneak down to the lake, conference is basically 9-4 W-fr. Not sure I'll be able to pack any fishing stuff but willing to pay for some or a guide when I get there. Anyone know if any guides cover this lake? I can Google but references are always appreciated if personal knowledge by someone here. 

 

Sounds like if I go up to bass pro I can buy a cheap combo and basic tackle to bank fish at night nearby? If I do that, is there someone local who would want the gear when I fly out or either somewhere I could donate it? I'm trying to figure out of I can pack a multi piece ugly stick in my bag and pray the airline doesn't snap it. I may just buy one and try to give to a kid if any are around. 

 

I'd love to catch some of these big Texas bass I keep hearing about... ?

Love me some zombieposting. 

 

Your best days will be Wednesday and Thursday as it is a pleasure lake as much as a fishing lake and the jetskis are real Friday thru Sunday.

 

You have some options, quite a few really. There's guides that will take you on Grapevine but I don't know how many of them actually focus that lake. The Texas Fishing Forums site may have some leads on a guide.

 

Grapevine is also one of the few places in DFW that is regularly stocked with smallmouth.

 

If you can't find a guide, I would go to bass pro like you said and fish up at the dam at night if you can - right where the dam meets the bank on the south side, there's some decent rip rap there. Without wheels that will be a hike. There are also places on Grapevine with kayak rentals, but they're not the fishing kind. An Uber may be a good solution. If I'm in town I might be able to show you a spot or two. Do note that DFW lakes face much pressure and downsizing is often a successful strategy for numbers but not necessarily size.

 

You may be able to find a TPWD gear donation thing but I would check with the local high schools. May also be a question for the TFF folks. I'm not a huge fan of that site but it is great for local info. I would volunteer to buy leftover gear at a cut rate but I honestly really don't need more gear, a donation somewhere else is far preferable.

 

DM me if there's anything you think I might be useful for, I don't know Grapevine super great but I have hooked into a few decent bass there.

[Cbump]

I have a small club tournament (~25 anglers) at grapevine on 9/30. Never even been on the lake.