Lake Charles

[yankee doodler]

The wife and I are gonna fish w/ Jerry (actually Carlos) the first week in April, but we will be stopping for a couple of days outside Walnut Ridge at Lake Charles. Any of you have any advice/opinions on the lake? Thanks.

[olduckhunter]

they, the game and fish draw the lake down to flood the duck woods down below. i haven't been by the lake in a while. i'm not sure you can put a boat in now. go to ark state parks on the net and see if you can find the phone no for the headquarters there at the lake. they can give you lake info if no one comes on here that's been by the lake.

i re-read your post and see you are coming in april. the lake will be up to normal level by then with any rain at all. as far as the fishing i don't know.

[creekslick]

There is 25+ feet of water close to the dam. After you leave that area it is very stumpy except in the old creek channels. They should be getting ready to spawn by the time you get there.

[Billy E]

Hey yankee - X2 on what creek said. There are a lot of small crappie in Charles but it is a beautiful lake and will have more water in it when you plan your trip. If you have some time when your there you might want to plan a day trip to Hardy to catch some trout. Enjoy your visit to Arkansas! Go Hogs.

[olduckhunter]

i fished charles when the timber was still green. it was one hot bass lake. i have pictures of stringer after stringer of bass up to 9 lbs from there when it was new.

[Billy E]

Was it covered with snakes back then olduckhunter?

[olduckhunter]

my ole uncle and i were there one spring day when they were evidently breeding. never saw as many snakes in one day. sometimes there would be three in one bush. another time the man that worked for me on the farm and i were fishing it and the carp were spawning in the upper end where flat creek comes in. the next day we were back with out bow fishing rigs and came upon a snake on a log. he told me not to shoot it but i did and hit it. then had to kill it to get it off my arrow. i have a real big hornets nest here in the house that that man got for me one day over there. we were fishing and started up big creek and up the creek a ways was a beautiful hornets nest hanging over the creek. i said, "i'd give 20.00 for that nest." he told me he would get it for me. next day we were back with heavy coveralls, rain jacket with hood. welding helmet, welding gloves and a black trash bag. i got out of the boat a 100 yards from the nest and he eased up to it with the trolling motor and slipped the bag over it and cut the vine it was attached to. tied it off and we fished the rest of the day with hornets hitting the bag trying to get out. i took it home and put it in the freezer for a couple of weeks and hung it in the house. that has to have been 30 years ago or longer.