Spring reds

BRAUNIG LAKE

Address: 17500 Donop Road in the San Antonio River watershed on Calaveras and Chupaderas creeks, about 17 miles south of downtown off Interstate 37

Phone: 210-632-4128

Surface area: 1,350 acres

Maximum depth: 50 feet

Impounded: 1964

CALAVERAS LAKE

Address: 12991 Bernhardt Road in the San Antonio River watershed on Calaveras and Chupaderas creeks, about 20 miles southeast of downtown off Stuart Road and Loop 1604

Phone: 210-635-8359 Surface area: 3,624 acres

Maximum depth: 45 feet

1969

Impounded: BOTH LAKES

Owned by CPS Energy and operated by Thousand Trails Management Services, 210-635-8289 Hours : Open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

Entrance fees: Adults ages 16-64, $9; ages 6-15 years, $7; ages 5 and younger, no charge; ages 65 and older: $7; boat launch: $8

Covid restrictions: Face coverings required; social distancing; no more than four per boat; no camping; reservations discontinued; playgrounds and stores closed

On the web: Click on cpsenergy.com and search for cooling lakes

REDFISH STRATEGIES

From the bank: Use live shad or tilapia, which can be caught with a cast net, on the bottom. Dead shrimp also are good. For lures, use gold and silver spoons, Ratl-traps and plastics in a variety of colors.

From the boat: Use the same lures and bait as bank anglers for casting while drifting or anchored. For downrigging, use the same bank fishing lures plus Tony Accettas and Johnson Sprite weedless spoons.

Topwater: Gold and silver spoons, Rat-l-traps and topwaters

Tactics: Use a depth finder or look for slicks, shiny oily patches on the surface of the water from feeding reds regurgitating. It smells like watermelon.

Limits: Redfish, minimum 20 inches with no maximum length; three-per-day

Fishing guide: Manny Martinez: 210-386-6695 or fishingwithmanny.com