Carl Blackwell WOULD be a good suggestion. You and Eli could catch a few quality fish and a lot of dinks. Pick up some minnows at the store on Seward Road, about a quarter mile west of I35. And Carl Blackwell is only 9 miles east of I35. The fee is $5 per vehicle (not per person). The people who fish there are really nice, and they like to encourage younger kids. Yesterday, the fish were mostly at 9'-12'.
My friend Dewayne fished the banks back in the cove. He only found one spot holding fish, but he hooked 5 fish in the 12"-14" range, fishing 3' deep. They're pretty close to the spawn.
You and Eli have fun.

