Let John Bryan's Guide Service provide you with an enjoyable fishing trip soon. Fishing trips available year round.

Shakespear and Penn Rod and Reels Bait & Tackle Furnished X75 Lowrance Fish Finder '99 Evinrude 200 HP Motor Laser Motor Guide Trolling Motor 4 Cannon Downriggers

FEATURED SPECIES: - Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish.

OTHER SPECIES: - Sand Bass (White Bass), Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Bream.

COMMENT: - Possum Kingdom offers a great variety of fish habitat, ranging from steep, rocky bluffs to shallow flats. Although old, this structure-rich water continues to produce excellent fishing and is particularly well-known for yielding large black bass and trophy stripers.

Of the three black bass species present in the lake, largemouth are by far the most abundant. Stocking of Florida strain largemouth in the 1970's improved the lake's potential for growing big bass. Typical largemouth caught by anglers weigh about 2 to 3 pounds, although 10-pounders are not uncommon. Larger sized fish caught and released during tournaments run 6 to 8 pounds. The lake record largemouth is an unusually big 16.02 pounds.

Spotted bass rank second in abundance to largemouth, followed by smallmouth. Both smallies and spots are more prevalent in the rocky lower lake. The lake record smallmouth is 6.4 pounds. The average size spotted bass measures a respectable 12 to 14 inches.

The cool, well-oxygenated water of Possum Kingdom supports a quality striped bass population. Although there is evidence of sporadic natural reproduction, it has little influence on abundance and the fishery is sustained almost entirely by annual fingerling stocking. An ample supply of gizzard and threadfin shad allows stripers to reach trophy proportions. Catches of 15- to 20-pounders are common, and a fish 25 pounds or better is considered a trophy. The lake record striper weighed 31.6 pounds.

Sand bass are fairly abundant and provide exciting action, especially during their spring migration. Catches of 1-pound fish are common, and anglers report creeling sandies up to 31/2 pounds.

Some of the best tailrace striper fishing in Texas is found in the Brazos River below the Morris Sheppard Dam. During winter, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks catchable-size rainbow trout below the dam.

FORAGE - Gizzard shad, threadfin shad, sunfish and inland silverside (ghost minnows).

POSSUM KINGDOM PROFILE
SIZE & DEPTH - 17,700 surface acres at a lake elevation of 995 feet above mean seal level (MSL). The maximum depth is 140 feet, the average is 37 feet.

WATER SOURCE - An impoundment of the Brazos River constructed in 1941 by the Brazos River Authority. Tributaries include Bee, Brawner, Cedar, Deer, Maloney, Fox Hollow, Ainsworth, Elm and Ramsey creeks. Possum Kingdom Lake was designed to provide flood control, hydroelectric power generation and recreation.

WATER - Moderately fertile, with clarity ranging from quite clear in the lower end to fairly murky in the upper reaches.

SHORELINE - About 310 miles of scenic shoreline surround this long, winding reservoir. Picturesque rock cliffs border the lower end, while the upper end tends to have sandy, gradually tapering banks.

COVER - There is a considerable amount of brush, stumps and timber - particularly upstream from Costello Island. Docks and piers also provide excellent cover for panfish and bass. Rocks, boulders and ledges in the lower end of the lake offer excellent fish habitat, especially for smallmouth and spotted bass.