Barren

[dsonthelake84]

Tournament went great. Caught some nice fish. 12 boats winning weight was 9.5lbs. MY partner and I weighed 8.7lbs to take 2nd. Big fish for saturday was 4.6lbs and sunday was 3.5lbs. Water level was rising so it changed as to what would take fish. Friday it was jigs and brush hogs, saturday it was deep diving crankbaits,sunday it was shallow diving crankbaits. Thank god for the gps it was very dangerous water! Stay in the channel or you will have alot of trouble!!! See you at Rough river in June...

What was you meaning by stay in the channel. Me and my buddy are going Fri and have never been. We are putting in the state park. My father in law is going all weekend and also has never been. What do we need to watch out for if you don't mind me asking? Don't want to get out there and get in trouble.

[bigrod]

Lake is down about 14 feet so what he is saying is when you are running, if you don't know where you are going stay in the channel! The creeks and large flats will ruin your boat this time of year if you don't know where your going. Be safe

[smashdn]

Keep it in the channel. Beware that there are many long points that reach well out into the lake and creek mouths as well. Plus a roadbed or four out there that is just barely under the water.

Get a map and subtract 15 feet from it.

[Olgrey]

There is a road bed just upstream of the state park (before the 31E bridge) that is just barely under water at this time. It you are unfortunate to hit it with the motor it will get your attention. Be careful and wear your PFD while moving.

[alycat]

Absolutly guys there were pleanty of dangers to watch for just under the surface. Most anything on a map that reads 20ft or less is probly on dry land. If your going out of the state dock where we did be careful of the drainage ditch to one side its concrete and extends out from the ramp about 40ft. and is bearly under water. Had a boater get stuck on it. And also to the south of the ramp before you get to the bridge there is an old road bed that extends almost 200 yards out and was only about 6in out of the water sunday. Not to mention all the debris floating in the water. A good gps unit will help out tremendously as it gives you the river channel to follow. Take your time and watch your depthfinder the fishing will probly get better this week since the water is rising and so is the water temp. Your gonna have to work at it though keep trowing different baits till you find what they want. It changed every day for us. What worked one day didn't the next.

[dsonthelake84]

Guys thanks for the tips. We will be careful. Is it shallow like that the whole lake or just around the state park? That is where we are going to be putting in. What is the best way to go from there.

[Olgrey]

It is a flood control lake and there is approx. 24 ft difference between winter and summer pool. It is on the way up and is about 14 ft below summer pool. As you can imagine when it is at winter pool there is a lot of dry land showing. The main lake near the dam stays reasonably deep, but still there will be shallow bars and points when the water level is changing that much. The creek and river arms have many stumps that will be vary from several feet under to barely showing. At this time of the year, you need to be careful--much more careful if you do not know the lake. Wear your PFD.