Salt Lake
September, 12 2009

This is a short day trip to Salt Lake in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. It is close to Houston and is a great spot for beginners and experienced paddlers. The lake is small, shallow, and the entire shoreline is undeveloped; mostly lined with salt grasses. A beautiful area to enjoy a day of paddling and it can be quite productive for reds, flounder, and trout. Look for pods of redfish tight to the shorelines, birds working bait, and the usual ambush points for flounder. The early bite seems to be the best, but as the sun comes up, there are areas of scattered shell, a very interesting bayou that leads into the marsh, and the more hardy paddlers can venture out into Nick’s Lake, or Bastrop Bay. From the launch area your first decision will be between fishing Salt Bayou or heading out into Salt Lake. For the first mile Salt Bayou is about 30' wide and 3' deep but it opens up after that. It is known for holding reds at times. During a falling tide fish often are feeding right in front of the launch area where the bayou empties into the lake. In the lake itself any of the shorelines offer good possibilities. Points of particular interest are at the southeast end of the lake where a cut connects to Nicks Lake. During incoming tides trout and flounder feed where this cut empties into Salt Lake. Further around to the northeast corner of Salt Lake you will find a small spillway connecting back into a marsh -- a great redfish habitat. Nicks Lake offers some good options as well. And for the adventurous, paddling through Nicks Lake and across the Intracoastal Waterway puts you into the North end of Drum Bay which often provides good fishing as well. 

 Ron Romeis, click here to email, but it is best to call him to coordinate the trip at 281-687-1480.

Saturday, September 12, 2009 / 6:30 a.m. You need to wait for the park rangers to open the gate, he usually opens up around sunrise - sometimes before. I am always there before sunrise, sometimes the ranger has gone in early and will open the gate on his way in. If the gate is closed when you get there, the ranger has not yet arrived to open up. Just park at the gate entrance and wait.

I will be driving a tan Ford Taurus, with my kayak trailer. A signup sheet will be on the windshield, if you arrive late please sign in so we can keep track of who is on the water and please sign out when you leave. 

If you want to go, contact the trip leader (or sign up at a monthly meeting) and provide: name, email address and phone number (preferably cell phone). or Register for a PACK login account and then use the Auto Enroll link above to automatically have your name added to the list below.

Access via Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Phone: 979-239-3915
Gate Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

1. FM 521 South to FM 523.
2. Left onto FM 523 South past Hwy 2004.
3. Continue on FM 523 for 5.5 miles to County Road 227 (sign points to Refuge).
4. Left on CR 227 for 1.7 miles to refuge entrance on right.
5. Right into park and follow road about 2 miles until small sign for Salt Lake on right (if you miss sign don't worry; the road loops back).
6. Right onto road to Salt Lake for about 0.2 miles.
   

See Standard PACK List for items to consider for any PACK outing

Important items:

• VHF Radio for communication and emergency contact
• First Aid Kit 
• Lunch, Water, snacks
• Kayak Drift Sock 

Recommended guidelines for participates:

• Make sure trip leader or an officer has your emergency contact
• Notify the trip leader if you have any potential concerns
• If inexperienced, then buddy up. Make sure the trip leader knows your experience level
• Communicate with the trip leader, if you are unsure of your skill level required
• Member dues are current
• Guests are invited to particpate
• Have performed deep water entries
• Cary a first aid kit
• Have a life jacket
• Have a VHF radio
• Inform the trip leader of your float plan if planning to fish alone or longer then the designated times.
• Sign in and sign out at the launch site. Inform the trip leader if you will be launching in a different place.

Recommended for Trip Leaders:

• Insures proper authorizations
• Secure sites
• Prepare emergency preparedness plan
• Keep abreast of weather conditions that might effect the trip
• Point out any potential area hazards
• Maintain a head count
• Have available a first aid kit
• Have a VHF radio

Expenses/Fees:

None 

Launch area: N29° 02.27', W95° 16.03'
Salt Lake Marshes: N29° 02.68', W95° 14.80'
Salt Lake at Cut to Nicks Lake: N29° 02.07', W95° 14.77'
Nicks Lake at Cut from Salt Lake: N29° 01.91', W95° 14.70'
Nicks Lake at ICW: N29° 01.66', W95° 13.96'  

(We prefer for you to create a login account on this website so that you can have your name added to the auto register list below. If you don't have a registered login account on this website we can list your name here; please contact the trip leader to request your name to manually added. If you have a login account then use the enroll feature at the top of this page to become part of the auto enroll list below)

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