Old Town Lake Report

[Outlaws14]

Can anyone give me an update on Old Town Lake? I'm interested in fishing there on March 20 for Crappie.

[Budro]

River is in it, I'd try somewhere else this week

[rockmike]

River is in it, I'd try somewhere else this week

I don't think the river gets in Old Town. It's outside the levee.

[Gut Shot]

That is correct. The river does not affect Old Town. One of the very few over there that is not tied to the river. It is probably the only one fishable right now due to the high water. I fished there last Friday and Saturday. 16 fish Friday and 18 on Saturday. All of them were good fish. Fished about 7 hours each day. I had a few get off. They are getting ready to spawn there and are in the cypress trees. I caught them all on black and chartreuse jigs about 2 feet deep in 3 feet of water. I was not too dissapointed because those strong storms which included hail came in overnight on both Thursday and Friday nights. My brother fished there yesterday and caught 25 or so. I will be there this wekend as well. If you see a boat with Alabama registration stop and say hello. Good luck.

[Outlaws14]

Thanks for the info. I usually put my boat in the water South of Lakeview grocery on the county road. There is a farm shop with a tower behind it just South of that point. I fish directly across from the tower in the cypress.

[Gut Shot]

I will look for you. I usually fish just across and a little south of the gravel ramp.

[bigfish1]

Are you able to buy bait down there. Does that guy at the old fish camp carry minnows. I know he normally runs low but I wasn't sure if we was keeping good supplies or if you knew of anywhere else to get bait.

[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.

[bigfish1]

Can you still camp in the lot next to a house just south of the game and fish ramp. I deputy used to live in the house a couple of years ago but didn't live there last year. You would mail your camping fee to and address in mountain view or something like that.

[Gut Shot]

There are only 2 places that I know of: Lakeview Grocery and at the bait shop. I would like to warn you though, my brother and I camped behind the grocery store last year and the crackhead that I spoke of earlier begged me for money at every opportunity. I finally gave him 5 bucks to help me put up a screen gazebo. I thought that would be the end of it but when we woke up the first morning someone had left a half empty beer can outside of our tent. We were only asleep from about 2:00 to 5:00. The can positively did not belong to either of us. I suspect that crackhead had sat or stood there while we were sleeping. I am confident that I can take care of myself while I am awake but when asleep, I am as helpless as a baby. My advice for what it is worth is to stay at Mauldins where the bait shop is. Folks don't wander around there unless they have business there because the guy that runs the bait shop is one crazy dude (he even looks the part) and he keeps a pretty good eye out on your stuff. Just my opinion.