Looking Back

May 12, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Flashback Thursday:

In April of 2008, a beaver family built a large den underneath theconcrete spillway below Bream Lake (#2). Without that support, the spillway caved in and the water began to eat away at the dam itself. Over the next two months, L&L Construction brought in  tons of riprap and rebuilt the spillway. I snapped this photo of Ken Terrell, CPCA president at the time, surveying the project, which wound up costing more than $20,000. They’re amazing animals, but beaver can cause some very expensive damage.

Filed Under: CPCA, Outdoors, Your Dues At Work

Long Lake (#3): New Footbridge

May 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The footbridge across the dam on our Long Lake (#3) had rotted out to the point that it was becoming unsafe, so your board put it out for bid and Roman Landscaping was awarded the job. Andrew and his crew have constructed a very solid footbridge which should last another ten years.

Filed Under: Our Walking Trails, Your Dues At Work

Fish Stocking for 2018

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

March is fish-stocking time for the lakes. We have historically used $1500 to $2500 annually for stocking.  About eight years ago we tried tilapia and had good luck both from catching and reproduction; although they are vegetarians,  they can be caught on worms.  Their growth was unbelievable and everyone enjoyed fishing for them. We stopped stocking tilapia when we noted there was little if any reproduction being  observed.  We learned that unlike most fish the male is larger than the female.  It was felt that our producer was  selling mainly males to us so we quit stocking tilapia.

We are now getting our stock from Overton Fisheries in Buffalo, TX.  He is raising his own now so it is time to give them another try.  Tilapia are warm water fish and require temperature above 52 degrees to survive, thus the reason for April stocking.  The other fish need to be stocked around mid-March.

You will note that  fathead minnows are being stocked in all lakes, since they are the recommended  forage for all fish. Even the coppernose beam will eat those minnows because they are small.

Bream Lake (#2) should produce some trophy size coppernose this year since they were stocked in March 2015 and it is reported that they will grow to 2 lbs in 3 ½ years on feed.

We plan to add some breeding platforms for the flatheads.  Maybe something like the plastic shopping carts with small holes that will keep larger fish out.  If anyone has an idea for this, please let me know.

Looking forward to another good fishing season, since the lakes are full now and will be well-stocked.

~ Jerry Jones

Filed Under: Our Walking Trails, Your Dues At Work

Lake Report from Jerry Jones

September 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Greetings Fishermen,

As you are aware, Bream Lake (Lake Two) was drained in 2015 due to a leak in the drain system.  It offered a good opportunity to remove the predatory fish and restock it with coppernose bream. Coppernose can grow to over 2 lbs on feed in less than 4 years.  The lake was stocked with coppernose and red-ear bream in March 2015.  The fish that are left in the lake are doing nicely, but otters found the lake and removed several fish before we were able to get a trapper in to trap them.  Mother nature and her heavy rains has also allowed some bass and catfish to move down from lake 1into Lake 2.  That poses a problem if we are to maintain an excellent bream lake since the bass and catfish feed on bream.  The Lakes and Parks committee felt it best not to allow fishing in Lake 2 since it contains quality fish that we want to use to restock other lakes after they are established there.  But the large number of bass and catfish now in the lake requires rethinking the original plan.

Therefore we are asking for your help in removing bass and catfish from Lake 2.  Please release any bream that you might catch back into the lake but do not release any bass or catfish back into Lake 2.   We know it is easier to release than to remove but if we are to have the quality fishery that you have been wanting and deserve we must use selectivity and good common sense while fishing all  Country Place Lakes.  Lake 3 needs both large bass and catfish but all  our lakes are overstocked with small bass.  Lots of 10 and 12 inch bass are regularly caught. Some of these smaller bass may be 4 or 5 years old and still that small due to overpopulation of that species.  Bass tend to spawn well in our lakes and that is happening now in Lake 2.

The smaller bass also make excellent table fare.  If you catch some and do not want to keep them, call me 903 839-6077 or 903 520-7447 and I will take them.

Also we are sure that some of the bream have moved into the lower Lake 3 via the  Lake 2 spillway, because some are showing up at the feeder.

Please remember that if you invite guest to fish our lakes, you or a member of your family must be with them while fishing.

Thanking you in advance,

Jerry Jones

Filed Under: Your Dues At Work