Kayak Trip Report, Buckeye Pond

[Ditch Basser]

I fished Buckeye Pond North of Rockhouse Dewatering area this morning for a few hours. Mixed bag keeping 8 Crappie and 7 large Gills. I probably tossed back a hundred short Crappie that were 4 to 6 inches. The big surprise is the Bass were feeding heavy. I tossed back over three dozen with most about a pound and a half to two pounds. The largest was around four pounds. Fish were 50/50 off jig and bobber or tossing a a/32oz jig head with a 1-inch slider body.

I talk all the time about how kayak have little effect on the fish, even in shallow water. I paddle the channel back up to the North where there's a couple more spring holes in Buckeye. Numerous Bass were caught and retuned from each. This one hole had several small Bass in it, but one large 5-pound range Bass keep eyeballing my kayak from about 10 feet away. The light was right, so I snapped a quick pic for everyone.

[SuperDave336]

Awesome. I have only been on water that clear to fish once. Very nice and good job.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Nice parity on the water! Thanks for taking us along.

[Ditch Basser]

This is a small spring hole only a couple hundred feet across and about three foot deep. The gradual seep of water coming in keeps it clear (and cool in the heat of summer).

[greatburlheron]

I wasn't aware of this spot. I went to Stick Marsh for bass yesterday without much luck. Hope to check out Buckeye soon. Thanks for sharing!

[Bob D]

Pretty looking water, thanks for sharing DB!!

[greatburlheron]

Do you access Buckeye at the end of John Gordon Rd? I got off work early yesterday and went out there. It looked pretty flooded compared to the google maps images. I never found the bass but the carp were spawning everywhere.

[Ditch Basser]

Follow John Gordon Rd to the east and you'll drive through a gate (it's currently open). This is Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge land and one of their dewatering areas for winter waterfowl. When I was there last week the water was still up about a foot more than "summer pool". Yes, there's huge Buffalo and Carp in there. I wish someone would take out a couple hundred! Some are four feet long and 60 pounds plus. You could easily break the state record. Once the water gets down a little more in the summer it would be fun to take a kid with a Zebco 808 and some Carp bait just to watch the fight!

[Ditch Basser]

Returned to Buckeye this afternoon, trip was a bust. A dozen Gills, two shirt Crappie and one little Bass. The water was up about a foot maybe 18 inches from my last trip. I think all the fish were buried up under the weed edges and wouldn't come out to play. Still a beautiful afternoon to get a line wet before the storms come through early Saturday morning!

[Ditch Basser]

I didn't have much time but ran back to Buckeye yesterday catching endless little Crappie and Gills. I only found a few that went in the cooler, but it was a fun few hours! All fish came off jig and bobber on the weed edges.

The water is still too high by about a foot or 18 inches. That doesn't sound like much but is the difference between the fish being in the spring hole or the shallow drainage ditch instead of scattered across dozens of acres of shallow vegetation that's 24' to 36' deep currently.