Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center

(Athens, TX)  Hi 102 Lo 79 – Dee felt a little better today. Her cold has almost run its course. She’s now at the coughing stage, so hopefully the worst is over. She felt good enough to get out today so we went out and had our first lunch at Whattaburger, a Texas-based hamburger chain. Their food is good, almost as good as Culver’s (notice I said almost).
After lunch we drove a few miles outside Athens to visit the The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC). (We went by there with our friends John and Natalie this past Monday but we found out they’re closed on Mondays.) The TFFC is a production fish hatchery that also provides outdoor education about freshwater fish and wildlife in Texas. Its mission is “to provide an educational, entertaining visitor experience that promotes freshwater sport fishing and the enhancement, conservation and stewardship of aquatic resources in Texas.”

On its 107-acre property the facility includes 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums displaying dozens of species of native fish, waterfowl, and amphibians in recreated habitat. On the self-guided tour you pass by recreations of Texas ponds and streams.


But along the walkway you drop down below the surface level of the water to glass windows that let you peer under water. We were amazed at the size of the channel catfish! (Click on photos to enlarge them.)


There were some huge alligator gars.

And this crazy looking monster. Looks like half shark and half swordfish. I can’t remember what it’s called.

They had a small alligator exhibit.

Outside was the Anglers Pavilion where you can borrow a rod, reel and some stink bait and do some catch-and-release fishing.

It was the middle of the day and over 100 degrees, so we didn’t have very many bites. But each of us did catch a little catfish.


Hers was bigger than mine, but I don’t think either one of us is ready for the pro bass tour. :)
Back inside we walked around he small Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. There were exhibits of the favorite lures, reels, and other equipment of some of the hall of fame members.

And the wall of plaques representing all of the members.

It was a fun visit and well worth the $4.50 admission price (Sr. Citizen rate, normal rate is $5.50). It would have been more enjoyable if it weren’t so hot though!
We stopped at Walmart for some groceries, then returned home to cool down before dinner. As of now we don’t have anything planned for the weekend.