After going to Dogwood for the past 32 years it pains me to say I think there is something wrong with this lake. Saturday Capn' Randy and I made a day trip to Dogwood to get that first angling venture of the year. Morning weather was cool and high 50's the water temperature was at 55 degrees, a bit cloudy but a perfectly good day to be on the lake or we thought. I guess our first indication was that our fish finder wasn't locating any fish....none. Not big thing, we fished without locators for years. We headed out to the northwest part of the lake where the water level was roughly 10-11 feet. There were plenty of boats in that area because of the small Bass tournament was going on, we wanted to give that a try, nothing. Our mind set was on Crappie, but we also were ready for those Red Ears and Blue gills.......still nothing. After the first hour in half in that area we decided to hit some of our regular gill spots....nothing. Once again, nothing on the fish finder, except an occasional passer by. (probably a bass that had lost his way).
I thought the water wasn't as clear as in years past, maybe that was a sign. We slowly watch the water temperature rise to 62 degrees. Spot after spot after spot. 10 hours on the lake produced 3 Bass, 1 Blue gill, 1 Red Ear, no Crappie.

Days like this make you wonder if you really suck as a fisherman. But I don't think this is a fluke. We have been to this lake 4 times in a the past year and we have come in on the short stick each time. It didn't use to be like this. I know there was recent discussions regarding the decline of Dogwood over the past few years, I am inclined to believe this. It is always worse when you have been waiting to get out on the lake.

I have another trip planned for Dogwood in June with our buddy from Houston. If it sucks again, we are done.


Crock