The Crafty Fisherman LbNA #73890
Contact
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Austin Gal
  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 19, 2019 |
| Location: | Lake Bastrop South Shore Park |
| City: | Bastrop |
| County: | Bastrop |
| State: | Texas |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | number2pencil |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Nov 28, 2025 |
| Status: | FFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jul 6, 2019 |
The Crafty Fisherman
Austin Gal (AG) and her bud BJ decided to go camping in Bastrop Texas. They picked Lake Bastrop South Shore Park. AG had been to the park before and was very impressed. It is an LCRA park and has wonderful campsites, cabins, trails, and fun stuff to do like Miniature Golf, a beach for swimming, and of course, great fishing….think Bass. For more information about this great park and directions on how to get there visit: www.lcra.org/parks/Pages/lake-bastrop-south-shore-park.aspx
AG has visited this park many times, but it was BJ’s first experience. The first day out they decided to head down one of the great trails found in the park…Heron Trail. “Because of the wonderful fish that are stocked in this lake” AG told BJ, “Heron and Egrets can often be seen fishing along the shores. In fact my best buddy Greg recently got a great photograph of an Egret in flight over the lake.”
AG and BJ started out from campsite 28 and headed toward the lake. They soon saw the bathroom on the left and a visitor parking area directly ahead of them (across from site 19) They headed North, staying to their right as they went along, past site 33 and 34. When they past site 36, they saw the Heron Trail trailhead.
AG started telling BJ that the wonderful treasures they had been finding along trails they had hiked were “Letterboxes.” She was quite excited about it, explaining the history behind this great international treasure hunt. “Maybe” she said, we will get lucky again today. Just then she heard a bird call. One that was familiar to her. “That was a Great Blue Heron, BJ.” she said. “They are indeed crafty fisherman.” she continued as they walked along. “They may stand stalk still and wait for a fish to pass and then spear them with their spear-like bills. Or they may wade slowly and quietly until they spot their prey and quickly spear them. BJ was listening to every word not quite sure he wanted to meet a bird with a spear-like bill.
They had walked about 2/10 of a mile along the trail when BJ stopped and stared at the unusual tree on the left side of the trail. It was a Cedar tree, yes, but it had grown in a kind of conical shape…shell-like. It seemed to invite visitors to have a seat or have their photo taken next to it. Many must have taken it up on it’s offer as the Cedar had a waxy worn sheen to it.
Again the Heron was heard, this time closer. “Maybe he is leading us to a Letterbox!” AG exclaimed. Unconsciously, she started counting her steps from the Cedar tree, anxiously awaiting another call from the Heron, or even a glimpse of him. “60, 61, 62” and then she heard him again. She looked around. On her left she saw another wonderfully different tree than all of those around them. It was a large Post Oak tree with one huge branch growing off its left side and for just a second she could have sworn she saw a Great Blue Heron looking at her from behind it. And then it was gone. “That was strange BJ.” she said. “We need to go check it out.” The tree was about 15 steps off the trail. They walked to it but found no Heron behind it. AG looked up, thinking it may have flown up to a limb, but nothing. Then she looked down. There was a hollow in the base of the tree, where rocks and debris were piled, just inside the hollow. She carefully started removing the debris and rocks and discovered yet another “Letterbox.” She excitedly opened it, finding yet another treasure for she and BJ to enjoy.
As usual, once they uncovered the wonderful treasure, the returned it exactly as they had found it…or pretty close anyway, and went back along the trail, both with great smiles upon their face.
Summary of this Letterbox find starting in Lake Bastrop South Shore Park:
Enter the park and pay the very reasonable day fee.
Drive to the lakeside campsite area which includes site 28 and park in the visitor parking lot across from site 19. (or better yet…camp here like AG and BJ did.)
Head North from the parking lot past site 33 and 34. When you pass site 36, you will see the trailhead to Heron Trail.
From the Trail-head walk approximately 2/10 of a mile give or take.
Look for a Cedar Tree on the left side of the trail that has an unusual shape…kind of like a shell shape. It is hard to miss!
Count about 60+ steps from the Cedar Tree forward. (If you reach a clearing you have gone to far)
On your left you will see a large Post Oak tree with one large branch growing on its left. It stands out among all the small scrub like trees and is about 15 steps off the path. (It is a pretty clear walk to the tree off the path thru small brush)
There is a hollow at the base of the tree on the backside. You will find a pile of rocks and debris under which is the Crafty Fisherman. Enjoy!
Please cover the box at least as good as you found it but not too far back in the hollow of the tree as it is quite large and appears quite deep. I am so looking forward to retrieving this box in the future to find the wonderful stamps left behind and to hearing from all who may find it.
AG and BJ say “Happy Letterboxing!”
Hike length: 0.5 miles
Austin Gal (AG) and her bud BJ decided to go camping in Bastrop Texas. They picked Lake Bastrop South Shore Park. AG had been to the park before and was very impressed. It is an LCRA park and has wonderful campsites, cabins, trails, and fun stuff to do like Miniature Golf, a beach for swimming, and of course, great fishing….think Bass. For more information about this great park and directions on how to get there visit: www.lcra.org/parks/Pages/lake-bastrop-south-shore-park.aspx
AG has visited this park many times, but it was BJ’s first experience. The first day out they decided to head down one of the great trails found in the park…Heron Trail. “Because of the wonderful fish that are stocked in this lake” AG told BJ, “Heron and Egrets can often be seen fishing along the shores. In fact my best buddy Greg recently got a great photograph of an Egret in flight over the lake.”
AG and BJ started out from campsite 28 and headed toward the lake. They soon saw the bathroom on the left and a visitor parking area directly ahead of them (across from site 19) They headed North, staying to their right as they went along, past site 33 and 34. When they past site 36, they saw the Heron Trail trailhead.
AG started telling BJ that the wonderful treasures they had been finding along trails they had hiked were “Letterboxes.” She was quite excited about it, explaining the history behind this great international treasure hunt. “Maybe” she said, we will get lucky again today. Just then she heard a bird call. One that was familiar to her. “That was a Great Blue Heron, BJ.” she said. “They are indeed crafty fisherman.” she continued as they walked along. “They may stand stalk still and wait for a fish to pass and then spear them with their spear-like bills. Or they may wade slowly and quietly until they spot their prey and quickly spear them. BJ was listening to every word not quite sure he wanted to meet a bird with a spear-like bill.
They had walked about 2/10 of a mile along the trail when BJ stopped and stared at the unusual tree on the left side of the trail. It was a Cedar tree, yes, but it had grown in a kind of conical shape…shell-like. It seemed to invite visitors to have a seat or have their photo taken next to it. Many must have taken it up on it’s offer as the Cedar had a waxy worn sheen to it.
Again the Heron was heard, this time closer. “Maybe he is leading us to a Letterbox!” AG exclaimed. Unconsciously, she started counting her steps from the Cedar tree, anxiously awaiting another call from the Heron, or even a glimpse of him. “60, 61, 62” and then she heard him again. She looked around. On her left she saw another wonderfully different tree than all of those around them. It was a large Post Oak tree with one huge branch growing off its left side and for just a second she could have sworn she saw a Great Blue Heron looking at her from behind it. And then it was gone. “That was strange BJ.” she said. “We need to go check it out.” The tree was about 15 steps off the trail. They walked to it but found no Heron behind it. AG looked up, thinking it may have flown up to a limb, but nothing. Then she looked down. There was a hollow in the base of the tree, where rocks and debris were piled, just inside the hollow. She carefully started removing the debris and rocks and discovered yet another “Letterbox.” She excitedly opened it, finding yet another treasure for she and BJ to enjoy.
As usual, once they uncovered the wonderful treasure, the returned it exactly as they had found it…or pretty close anyway, and went back along the trail, both with great smiles upon their face.
Summary of this Letterbox find starting in Lake Bastrop South Shore Park:
Enter the park and pay the very reasonable day fee.
Drive to the lakeside campsite area which includes site 28 and park in the visitor parking lot across from site 19. (or better yet…camp here like AG and BJ did.)
Head North from the parking lot past site 33 and 34. When you pass site 36, you will see the trailhead to Heron Trail.
From the Trail-head walk approximately 2/10 of a mile give or take.
Look for a Cedar Tree on the left side of the trail that has an unusual shape…kind of like a shell shape. It is hard to miss!
Count about 60+ steps from the Cedar Tree forward. (If you reach a clearing you have gone to far)
On your left you will see a large Post Oak tree with one large branch growing on its left. It stands out among all the small scrub like trees and is about 15 steps off the path. (It is a pretty clear walk to the tree off the path thru small brush)
There is a hollow at the base of the tree on the backside. You will find a pile of rocks and debris under which is the Crafty Fisherman. Enjoy!
Please cover the box at least as good as you found it but not too far back in the hollow of the tree as it is quite large and appears quite deep. I am so looking forward to retrieving this box in the future to find the wonderful stamps left behind and to hearing from all who may find it.
AG and BJ say “Happy Letterboxing!”
Hike length: 0.5 miles