Thread: Old Town Lake Report

There is a bait shop at WyCamp. I'm not sure it is open yet. For those not familiar with the area, Wycamp is located between West Helena and Barton on Hwy 49. There is a Conoco Truckstop across the road from the bait shop. The bait shop itself is located in the front half of a shop with a sign next to the road. In years past, they have had good bait.

The bait shop at Wycamp is now closed unfortunately. I tried to get some bait from there last Saturday morning.

I guess the closest one is in Marianna? Forrest City for sure.

Originally Posted by Gut Shot

The bait shop at Wycamp is now closed unfortunately. I tried to get some bait from there last Saturday morning.

Originally Posted by Gut Shot

If you are talking about that old shack just as you get to the lake.......yes. At least thaey had some Saturday. A guy named Rudy Mauldin owns it and the scary crossed eyed guy that runs it is named David Hires. The bait shop in West Helena is closed and as far as I know the one in Elaine is also. If you guys go be sure and keep an eye out for a skinny crackhead black guy. He is one begging and stealing son of a gun. Just bark at him and he will leave you alone.

I know what you're talking about with David. He could star in a pirate movie!! Nice guy--but I wouldn't want to get crossways with him. And the crackhead----I know exactly what you're talking about. Last year he tried to get me to give him some money to watch my truck. He was "in charge" ramp security that day. :rolleyes: I'll be down there next week---SPRING BREAK!!! Hopefully it didn't rain too much to mess up the lake. I glad we didn't get near as much rain on this side of the state as some did. Mena had over 10 inches the last I heard Horseshoe and Old Town may be the only options for me next week.

How's it going Polebender. I believe that I met you at Burnt Cane a few weeks back when I was fishing with my father or brother. David lived behind us when I was growing up in the 70's in West Helena. I don't remember him being cock-eyed back then but I do remember that he loved the weed. His nickname was "Hash" Hires. He is friendly enough but has had a few brushes with the law over his smoking habits if you know what I mean. I was fishing last year at Old Town and he was mowing the property and saw some of the "locals" snooping over a boat pulled up to his dock. He calmly walked in the store and retrieved his shotgun and fired 3 rounds right over their head. You should of heard the screaming as they got out of there like track stars. I have known him most of my life and even with his shortcomings, I trust him to keep an eye out for my stuff if you stay there. The thing is you just have to get over his looks and get used to not really knowing who or what he is looking at because of that eye.:p

I can say that I had fish to eat. I caught 7 crappie and 13 catfish from there this weekend. But that was nearly 18 hours of fishing. Friday the wind was strong. Saturday was a little better. The water is never clear, but it was really muddy in my opinion.

I only ended up with 8 fishing about 5 hours on Saturday. I noticed that the water was muddier south of the spillway. Directly across from that is a creek that feeds into the lake. I suspect that it as well as the creek just south of that was cousing this.

we fished from about 745 sat. until about 530 and it was slow for us. me and my buddy wound up with 16 and our friend in his boat caught 3. i too thought it was muddy. i guess you could say we found a pattern to them because we caught every fish on a cypress knee. not one on a tree, log, or buck brush.

bout half males and half females. the next two weeks it should blow wide open down there.

The story seems to be the same everywhere lately----they bit good until the front came through last Wednesday. I talked to some folks who wore 'em out Monday and Tuesday last week at Old Town, but it went downhill from there. We only found 6 crappie Friday, and I went back to bass fish Saturday afternoon, only catching 1 drum. Went to Horseshoe today and caught 2. A few were being caught trolling in 25 ft, but I'm just not set up to troll like that. Man, it's gotta get better soon. I'm on spring break this week and sure hope I'm there when they do start biting. Another little tidbit----- some are being caught at Burnt Cane in spite of the high muddy water. If necessary, I might just have to try it, but I prefer the clearer water. I'm going back to Old Town in the morning. Hopefully I'll find something tomorrow.

Did anybody happen to drive by the camping area down by Mauldin's. Just wondering if it was full. Thinking about going down this weekend and hope to have a place to camp.