By Bill Hodges
FWFF Director
It’s time for another of the club’s all-time favorite outings – the Oct. 13-15 overnighter to Bill Ward’s Ranch near Mexia (pronounced muh-HAY-uh). The clear, water-filled quarry at the campsite is easily traversed and it leads to many other lakes on his property. Bill wants to remove some of the population of bass and sunfish — and we are just the group to do it, but any bass over 4 pounds must remain in the water. Additionally, Bill’s friend, Kent Yelverton, allows us to fish his lake just across the ranch road to Bill’s place.
Camping in an RV or a tent is the easiest, but some may seek accommodation in Mexia’s very nice motels about six miles east on US 84. The Comfort Inn is the nearest. There are a plenty of hook-ups for electricity at the quarry, so you may want to bring an extension cord for CPAPs, filet knives or small appliances. Bring your camp chair as well, for sitting around to drink, tell jokes, smoke and/or tell lies about fish sizes you have caught.
There will be a fish fry on Saturday as always provided by chef Dan Tatum and his son, Nolan. If you have an electric filet knife, please bring it, along with other food as you would any camping trip. Many will show up Friday and cook their own dinner, or head into Mexia for some nice places to eat.
A float tube, kick boat, kayak or canoe is highly recommended, but not required. There are limited bank fishing opportunities, though the quarry at Kent’s place is best for that. Don’t forget a stringer for the fish fry. A 4- or 5-weight rod should handle anything. Either a floating or sinking line will do, but a sinking or sink tip line works best in the deeper water. We recommend nymphs, streamers like wholly buggers, poppers, bass bugs and terrestrials to entice the fish. Spincasters will not be frowned on, and the famous Wacky Worm plastic lure always works great.See the illustration for a look at this.
If there are any questions, see Bill Hodges, host for this outing, at the next club meeting or email him at bcolhodges@aol.com.
How to Get There
NOTE: This is not always a GPS-friendly address. Follow these directions from Fort Worth:
1.Take Interstate 35W south to Hillsboro.
2.Go east on Texas 171
3.Go through the towns of Bynum, Malone and Hubbard to Coolidge.
4.In Coolidge, go right on Bell Street/Texas 73 , just past the convenience store.
5.Go left (south) on FM 2310 just west of Coolidge
6. FM 2310 dead-ends nearly 6 miles south at US 84, then turn left (east) and travel less than 2 miles to a group of buildings. (A convenience store is just past them.)
7. Go left at the first building, travel about 100 yards then take a sharp left. Then the road soon goes right heading north.
8. Travel about 3/4 mile until you see a gate on the right. Our club banner should be there on a fence by the road. Another banner should be on the left just before Bill’s gate. That marks the gate to Kent’s quarry. Through the gate, turn right just after the rock formation on the left and follow the grassy road to the water. Park wherever you can.
9. Bill Ward usually keeps the gate open during daylight hours so a code to get in should not be necessary. However, he and Kent are sensitive about sharing their gate codes should these directions get to the public/non FWFF members. Text Bill Hodges at 817-528-1157 (TEXT ONLY please) if arriving when gates are closed. Travel east a bit on the road from Bill’s gate to his house. You will see the quarry to the south of the house and the grass road leading down to the campsites.
By Bill Hodges
FWFF Director
It’s time for another of the club’s all-time favorite outings – the Oct. 13-15 overnighter to Bill Ward’s Ranch near Mexia (pronounced muh-HAY-uh). The clear, water-filled quarry at the campsite is easily traversed and it leads to many other lakes on his property. Bill wants to remove some of the population of bass and sunfish — and we are just the group to do it, but any bass over 4 pounds must remain in the water. Additionally, Bill’s friend, Kent Yelverton, allows us to fish his lake just across the ranch road to Bill’s place.
Camping in an RV or a tent is the easiest, but some may seek accommodation in Mexia’s very nice motels about six miles east on US 84. The Comfort Inn is the nearest. There are a plenty of hook-ups for electricity at the quarry, so you may want to bring an extension cord for CPAPs, filet knives or small appliances. Bring your camp chair as well, for sitting around to drink, tell jokes, smoke and/or tell lies about fish sizes you have caught.
There will be a fish fry on Saturday as always provided by chef Dan Tatum and his son, Nolan. If you have an electric filet knife, please bring it, along with other food as you would any camping trip. Many will show up Friday and cook their own dinner, or head into Mexia for some nice places to eat.
A float tube, kick boat, kayak or canoe is highly recommended, but not required. There are limited bank fishing opportunities, though the quarry at Kent’s place is best for that. Don’t forget a stringer for the fish fry. A 4- or 5-weight rod should handle anything. Either a floating or sinking line will do, but a sinking or sink tip line works best in the deeper water. We recommend nymphs, streamers like wholly buggers, poppers, bass bugs and terrestrials to entice the fish. Spincasters will not be frowned on, and the famous Wacky Worm plastic lure always works great.See the illustration for a look at this.
If there are any questions, see Bill Hodges, host for this outing, at the next club meeting or email him at bcolhodges@aol.com.
How to Get There
NOTE: This is not always a GPS-friendly address. Follow these directions from Fort Worth:
1.Take Interstate 35W south to Hillsboro.
2.Go east on Texas 171
3.Go through the towns of Bynum, Malone and Hubbard to Coolidge.
4.In Coolidge, go right on Bell Street/Texas 73 , just past the convenience store.
5.Go left (south) on FM 2310 just west of Coolidge
6. FM 2310 dead-ends nearly 6 miles south at US 84, then turn left (east) and travel less than 2 miles to a group of buildings. (A convenience store is just past them.)
7. Go left at the first building, travel about 100 yards then take a sharp left. Then the road soon goes right heading north.
8. Travel about 3/4 mile until you see a gate on the right. Our club banner should be there on a fence by the road. Another banner should be on the left just before Bill’s gate. That marks the gate to Kent’s quarry. Through the gate, turn right just after the rock formation on the left and follow the grassy road to the water. Park wherever you can.
9. Bill Ward usually keeps the gate open during daylight hours so a code to get in should not be necessary. However, he and Kent are sensitive about sharing their gate codes should these directions get to the public/non FWFF members. Text Bill Hodges at 817-528-1157 (TEXT ONLY please) if arriving when gates are closed. Travel east a bit on the road from Bill’s gate to his house. You will see the quarry to the south of the house and the grass road leading down to the campsites.
By Bill Hodges
FWFF Director
It’s time for another of the club’s all-time favorite outings – the Oct. 13-15 overnighter to Bill Ward’s Ranch near Mexia (pronounced muh-HAY-uh). The clear, water-filled quarry at the campsite is easily traversed and it leads to many other lakes on his property. Bill wants to remove some of the population of bass and sunfish — and we are just the group to do it, but any bass over 4 pounds must remain in the water. Additionally, Bill’s friend, Kent Yelverton, allows us to fish his lake just across the ranch road to Bill’s place.
Camping in an RV or a tent is the easiest, but some may seek accommodation in Mexia’s very nice motels about six miles east on US 84. The Comfort Inn is the nearest. There are a plenty of hook-ups for electricity at the quarry, so you may want to bring an extension cord for CPAPs, filet knives or small appliances. Bring your camp chair as well, for sitting around to drink, tell jokes, smoke and/or tell lies about fish sizes you have caught.
There will be a fish fry on Saturday as always provided by chef Dan Tatum and his son, Nolan. If you have an electric filet knife, please bring it, along with other food as you would any camping trip. Many will show up Friday and cook their own dinner, or head into Mexia for some nice places to eat.
A float tube, kick boat, kayak or canoe is highly recommended, but not required. There are limited bank fishing opportunities, though the quarry at Kent’s place is best for that. Don’t forget a stringer for the fish fry. A 4- or 5-weight rod should handle anything. Either a floating or sinking line will do, but a sinking or sink tip line works best in the deeper water. We recommend nymphs, streamers like wholly buggers, poppers, bass bugs and terrestrials to entice the fish. Spincasters will not be frowned on, and the famous Wacky Worm plastic lure always works great.See the illustration for a look at this.
If there are any questions, see Bill Hodges, host for this outing, at the next club meeting or email him at bcolhodges@aol.com.
How to Get There
NOTE: This is not always a GPS-friendly address. Follow these directions from Fort Worth:
1.Take Interstate 35W south to Hillsboro.
2.Go east on Texas 171
3.Go through the towns of Bynum, Malone and Hubbard to Coolidge.
4.In Coolidge, go right on Bell Street/Texas 73 , just past the convenience store.
5.Go left (south) on FM 2310 just west of Coolidge
6. FM 2310 dead-ends nearly 6 miles south at US 84, then turn left (east) and travel less than 2 miles to a group of buildings. (A convenience store is just past them.)
7. Go left at the first building, travel about 100 yards then take a sharp left. Then the road soon goes right heading north.
8. Travel about 3/4 mile until you see a gate on the right. Our club banner should be there on a fence by the road. Another banner should be on the left just before Bill’s gate. That marks the gate to Kent’s quarry. Through the gate, turn right just after the rock formation on the left and follow the grassy road to the water. Park wherever you can.
9. Bill Ward usually keeps the gate open during daylight hours so a code to get in should not be necessary. However, he and Kent are sensitive about sharing their gate codes should these directions get to the public/non FWFF members. Text Bill Hodges at 817-528-1157 (TEXT ONLY please) if arriving when gates are closed. Travel east a bit on the road from Bill’s gate to his house. You will see the quarry to the south of the house and the grass road leading down to the campsites.
By Bill Hodges
FWFF Director
It’s time for another of the club’s all-time favorite outings – the Oct. 13-15 overnighter to Bill Ward’s Ranch near Mexia (pronounced muh-HAY-uh). The clear, water-filled quarry at the campsite is easily traversed and it leads to many other lakes on his property. Bill wants to remove some of the population of bass and sunfish — and we are just the group to do it, but any bass over 4 pounds must remain in the water. Additionally, Bill’s friend, Kent Yelverton, allows us to fish his lake just across the ranch road to Bill’s place.
Camping in an RV or a tent is the easiest, but some may seek accommodation in Mexia’s very nice motels about six miles east on US 84. The Comfort Inn is the nearest. There are a plenty of hook-ups for electricity at the quarry, so you may want to bring an extension cord for CPAPs, filet knives or small appliances. Bring your camp chair as well, for sitting around to drink, tell jokes, smoke and/or tell lies about fish sizes you have caught.
There will be a fish fry on Saturday as always provided by chef Dan Tatum and his son, Nolan. If you have an electric filet knife, please bring it, along with other food as you would any camping trip. Many will show up Friday and cook their own dinner, or head into Mexia for some nice places to eat.
A float tube, kick boat, kayak or canoe is highly recommended, but not required. There are limited bank fishing opportunities, though the quarry at Kent’s place is best for that. Don’t forget a stringer for the fish fry. A 4- or 5-weight rod should handle anything. Either a floating or sinking line will do, but a sinking or sink tip line works best in the deeper water. We recommend nymphs, streamers like wholly buggers, poppers, bass bugs and terrestrials to entice the fish. Spincasters will not be frowned on, and the famous Wacky Worm plastic lure always works great.See the illustration for a look at this.
If there are any questions, see Bill Hodges, host for this outing, at the next club meeting or email him at bcolhodges@aol.com.
How to Get There
NOTE: This is not always a GPS-friendly address. Follow these directions from Fort Worth:
1.Take Interstate 35W south to Hillsboro.
2.Go east on Texas 171
3.Go through the towns of Bynum, Malone and Hubbard to Coolidge.
4.In Coolidge, go right on Bell Street/Texas 73 , just past the convenience store.
5.Go left (south) on FM 2310 just west of Coolidge
6. FM 2310 dead-ends nearly 6 miles south at US 84, then turn left (east) and travel less than 2 miles to a group of buildings. (A convenience store is just past them.)
7. Go left at the first building, travel about 100 yards then take a sharp left. Then the road soon goes right heading north.
8. Travel about 3/4 mile until you see a gate on the right. Our club banner should be there on a fence by the road. Another banner should be on the left just before Bill’s gate. That marks the gate to Kent’s quarry. Through the gate, turn right just after the rock formation on the left and follow the grassy road to the water. Park wherever you can.
9. Bill Ward usually keeps the gate open during daylight hours so a code to get in should not be necessary. However, he and Kent are sensitive about sharing their gate codes should these directions get to the public/non FWFF members. Text Bill Hodges at 817-528-1157 (TEXT ONLY please) if arriving when gates are closed. Travel east a bit on the road from Bill’s gate to his house. You will see the quarry to the south of the house and the grass road leading down to the campsites.
