Horseshoe lake, Alexander county

[Big Rick]

Talked to a friend today who works for the DNR and she said this was a great Crappie lake. Can't seem to find anything about ramps or motor size or it the lake is any good. Clue me in guys

[Ranger375]

There is a 10 HP limit. Map I have shows several boat ramps. Appears to be a very shallow lake. They do have boat rental at the lake from wht I understand (probably row boat). Lake is 1,890 acres.

Can contact Melton's Fishing Camp 618 776-5504.

Good luck if you do go and let us know how you did.

[frank lawhead]

CHECK OUT A GUY NAMED [BAILS] ---POSTS LOTS REEL-FOOT
HE TRIED HORSESHOE AND DID,NT DO MUCH

[browndogmack]

I think the key word is (WAS) a good crappie lake.
Not much there since the flood..... The Dog

[Bails]

Went there at the end of April. It's an absolutely beautiful lake, "Little Reelfoot" I would call it. Every Cypress and Tuepelo tree looks like you would pick up a few on each tree...shallow, just like Reelfoot...I fished it HARD for 5-6 hours and was extremely dissapointed....EXTREMELY....just no fish. Couple people had said the bite was OFF...but what I was using and the technique I was using should have picked up fish...nuttin...zero...I could not believe it....Dad fished it back in the 50's, my firends dad's buddy grew up on that lake fishin it for Red Ear......said it was awesome....well, those days are over....Like everyone else has said....the Floods of 93 and another one after that have ruined that place...I didn't even catch a bluegill!....It's a shame because it's a nice little day trip for me, but, I need to see some "results" before I head back that way....it's a shame...met some nice folk at the tavern across the road from Melton's....(which by the way is a really nice guy)....I got a bad feeling when I drove into the small town...didn't see ONE boat....didn't see any boats at the boat ramps....pulled into Melton's....NO BOATS...no one staying there.......For and extra hour or so, I could have been fishing Reelfoot......* Sigh *

Here's a neat pic I took of Horseshoe....I bet I jigged around every one of those trees...NUTTING...not even a hit!!...

PS...Plenty of boat ramps....

[Illinoisgiller]

Bails, I was shocked to read that you got no fish at Horshoe. Most everyone that goes there with a motor has an Asian Carp jump in the boat.
Sadly, Horshoe Lake is a piece of past history. The sweeping of the gills and Red ear from the lake from the levee breech in 93 has left it with a sever infestion of silver carp . The larger ones are up in the 30 lb catigory now.
There are a very few locals that get decent stringers of large crappie there in the spring, but for the most part the lake is done till someone comes up with a market for the dreaded Asian Carp there.
I and my grandson gave it a last gasp try this spring while on a fishing trip in the Carbondale area. Much to my grandson's delight he had a 30 lb. +silver carp come in over his shoulder and land on his foot. It was a real trophy to an 11 yr. old of course, but to me, just another reminder that the bell has tolled for this once great fishery. Mike

[Big Rick]

Thanks for the info. I'll be in that area in late Sept so I will check it out. Just though it would be somewhere to stop on my way back from Ms in the spring.

[Crappie Xtreme]

Here is a thought. Why don't our Governor put some of that money he has towards restocking this lake to make it a good Illinois fishery again some day for our kids?
It's a shame this lake is going to waste. I love fishing Reelfoot because of the cypress trees, that is where I want to move to when I retire. That is how much I like that lake. Horseshoe lake would be a great lake to have in Illinois to go fish or live by.
We have good resourses here in southern Il. that could be put to use.
Just a thought.

Crappie X.

[frank lawhead]

Our Governor ? Has Almost Dismantled The D.N R.
From What I,ve Been Reading In The Outdoor Mags. He Has Laid Off A Bunch In Budget Cuts To Put Money In Chicago Schools.
I Bought A New Boat Last Year And I Was 7 Months Getting A Sticker ---the Dealer Said That Was About Average.

[Crappie Xtreme]

Hey Frank, Sorry I didn't mean to turn this into a political thing. I guess I was just venting I knew what he was doing with the money. I was just trying to be nice about the question. I guess if you or I had the choice to use the money for things we would do it the way we think it should be done. I'm sure it would not break the states budget to use some money for the restocking of such a beautiful southern IL. lake.
I didn't want to make any one mad that "LIKES" our Governor. I work for a worthless politician who thinks he has to spend the tax payers money for stuff he thinks he needs instead of equipment that we need to work the streets. I don't even want to begin to tell ya about this person so I will leave it alone.
Anyway I was just giving my thoughts on the lake.

Crappie X.