Lake Arbuckle Debacle

[Bass7858]

Started off on time having got bait @ hurricanes on hwy 60 and Drove down to Frostproof. Once turned on to Arbuckle road met a pick up truck pulling a boat. Said to my missus "they must have been night fishing". Drove on to camp ground and when turned in there was a pickup/boat sitting in the middle of the road. I moved to the right so as to ease around him and he flagged me over and told me a floating "island" of weeds had the waterway out into the lake blocked, could not get past the dock. Sure enough went and looked myself and no way to get by the dock.

Soooo...done bought bait....went to exit and saw the lake reedy boat ramp....plenty of people fishing it so we put in. Fished for 2 hrs and never got a bite of anykind fishing a couple shiners out the back of the boat and chunking minnows and worms at shoreline structures.

Happened to make convo with a bass fisherman passing on the lake. Told him we had not got a bite to anything and he said Reedy was way down on his list of fun lakes to fish. Nearly all he boats on the lake that morning was bass fisherman practicing for an upcoming tourney as he was. Told him about Arbuckle And he directed me to another boat ramp at south end of Arbuckle. Since we had fished 1.5 hrs no bites we pulled out and made another long drive to Avon Park and went east on hwy 64. Found the boat ramp and put in. $5 honor system launch fee. Very limited parking and not sure once the seasonals return if u can use it or not.
Gentleman at the park suggested fishing the creek instead of the lake. already raining when we launched we left the ramp and ran into the worst monsoon i ever ran thru!! Eventually it quit raining and blowing and we made our way to the north east side where we once again chunked minnows and worms.
Worms produced about 20 gils in an hour of fishing. 8 were nice sized and they accompanied us home for dinner.
Gonna try it again this coming sunday morn and be there at daylight.
will get pics this time!!

[Yelim]

Now that was a busy trip. Glad you got some.

[fishin813]

When putting in a Arbuckle - you can get into lake - i watched 3 boats move
down channel - turn left into lilly pads and go around floating island.
Water is up about 3 ft presently.

We will be fishing this lake Sept. Florida Crappie Club.
Excellant lake for spec's - bluegills - shellcrackers - bass.

[Bass7858]

Many thanks again for your information 813. Plan to try again this Sunday morn. Will be more determined this time.

[fishin813]

Let me know how your day goes.
I will be pre-fishing this lake on Tuesday - Thurs - Fri with tournament on Sat.

Set up some of your equipment to be shallow - less than 3 ft................
Work hour glass area - east end of lake has couple minni shallow holes

[Marvin]

You might want to try Lake Walk in Water.
Some good reports coming out of there. I may go Saturday.

[Bass7858]

Sorry to take so long gettin back to every one.
813- You my friend are the walking encyclopedia of Florida Lakes. I appreciate your knowledge and willingness to share. If i have any luck at all Sunday you will be the first to know.

Marvin- Been keepin my eye on the Walk in Water reports. It'll prolly be next on my list. I can fish Sundays and mondays and plan on hittin the lakes that are further from from home on Sundays and hittin Aurburndale lakes (julianna, Mattie, Tennessee and Agnes) on Monday morns. I remember well 40 yrs ago going to walk in Water, tiger, Rosalie with my Dad. He was a Wait to the last minute kind kind of guy.
Hook the boat up after dark friday night. Check the lights. One not working. Replug pigtail, still not working. CUSS!!! Kick the offending light...still not working Cuss!!!!! break out test light and check. Cuss some more!! Re-wire trlr till midnite. Still not working. You should have heard this cussing fit. Replace light bulb. JOILA!!!!!
Up @ 4 am. Stop @ Greasy Spoon @5:30 for the necessary BIG breakfast. At lake @ crack of dawn to launch boat. Boat launched just as you can start to see. Then ensues the battle with 18 horse Johnson that makes the battle with the trlr lights pale in comparison. Cussing time and volume doubled. Dont know if you guys ever witnessed such lunacy.....but for me they are SWEET memories.

Pescador, Sorry i have not replied to your pm yet. work has been hectic. It would be my pleasure to fish the local lakes with you. In an earlier pm think you said you attend church on Sundays. I respect that sir. and that leaves Monday morns for me. Lets get together soon!!! And dont worry.....I dont know any of these new techniques either!!!! When i was last fishing regular (again, a long time ago) You fished with your nose. When fish are bedding (spawning) there is a distinctive smell in the air. Literally.
Again...lets hook up soon.

[fishin813]

Loved your comments about the "good ole days" with dad - boat - mtr & trailer
Brings back many good memories of how some of my fishing trips went with Dad.

I still wonder at times of how i manage to get on lake correctly with everything
needed - including proper equipment - bait - tackle -etc.

There's nothing like fishing -

Thanks for Dad memories.....

[fishin813]

One of the FCC guys went to Arbuckle today to pre-fish and check out ramp.
Also stopped at New Bait Shop in Frostprof on Senic Hwy 17.
Bait was well priced / lively
Arbuckle ramp is returning to normal - maybe only 1 -1.5 higher than normal,
the floating island has moved again - therefore channel is clear going into lake.

Pre-fished on long-ling basis to start - he tagged 4 quality spec's in the pound
an-quarter range - took 5 spec's on small size 6 - 9 inchers - caught three (3)
cats - one in 7 -8 lb range - in - 4.5 - 6 lbs & last l in 3 lb grouping. Lost one
on a breakoff - ukn as to how big...............

Bait rish glaore on surface along with some old mayfly carcuses ....
This time of year Spec's will be starting to gorge themselves on baitfish -shad
availability................

The big ones are there - just going to have to work at it..............

[pescador]

Pescador, Sorry i have not replied to your pm yet. work has been hectic. It would be my pleasure to fish the local lakes with you. In an earlier pm think you said you attend church on Sundays. I respect that sir. and that leaves Monday morns for me. Lets get together soon!!! And dont worry.....I dont know any of these new techniques either!!!! When i was last fishing regular (again, a long time ago) You fished with your nose. When fish are bedding (spawning) there is a distinctive smell in the air. Literally.
Again...lets hook up soon.

WORK!! Been awhile for this old timer, except around the house of course!! LOL Send me a pm and we will go. I just met another young fella,( well, he's younger than me) maybe we can get him to come along with us.

Regards,
pescador