Low Waters And Tough Fishing

Sunrise on a very low Reelfoot Lake

By Josh Gowan
Well, it was a rough weekend on the water for this outdoorsman. Too much to report on for attempts at wit or stabs at the weatherfolks (although they severely missed the mark on Saturday!) so let’s get to it!
There are many milestones I, like most people with a career, have reached as a writer/columnist. Today was an exciting day, after three years as an outdoor writer I reached a new milestone, my first retraction! My local game warden Brian Sheldon called me up today at Grizzly, and it turns out, that since doves are migratory birds like ducks and geese, they are federally regulated, and it is ILLEGAL to kill two limits in one day, regardless of what state you’re in! (I caught a few of the newspapers before they went to print, so everyone may not have seen it.) So please don’t go on a multi-state dove melee and blame the poor outdoor columnist! Join me next week for tips on road hunting trophy bucks, how much spotlight is really enough? Just kidding! Our game wardens and wildlife officers in Missouri and Tennessee are the best in the country and perform a tough job day in and day out with one main goal, preserving the great outdoors, so do your part and play by the rules, and I’ll try not to misinform you anymore!
On to my pitiful personal report! I took the wife and headed to Reelfoot Lake Friday for a few days with one task, to catch at least one big crappie so I could take some pictures for some of the magazines I write for. I fished for three hours Friday evening, and from dark to 11am Saturday morning, and caught exactly one crappie, a stunning nine incher that was pushing a half pound… perfect! Although the fishing was deplorable, the scenery with the lake just five inches from the record low was breathtaking, and we really enjoyed ourselves and only “eased” up on one stump the size of a plastic, kid’s swimming pool. With a gentle push from all 115 of my Johnson’s horses, we managed to escape mostly unscathed.
The highlight of our trip, along with the scenery, was our lodging at Reelfoot Outdoors. Brad Treece and Macky Wilson are a couple of fellow outdoorsmen who’ve grown up fishing and hunting on Reelfoot, and recently turned their passion into a full time business. The rooms were clean, cool, and comfortable, complete with a kitchenette and a boatload of channels to surf while we unwound from a rough day of fishing. At $60 – $65 per night, their prices are tough to beat, and they house a hunting and fishing store, as well as a guide service for any type of fishing, and duck hunting at one of the best spots on the lake. They are conveniently located on the south end of the lake right by a couple boat ramps and all the fine dining Reelfoot has to offer. If you’re looking for somewhere affordable and nice to stay, give these guys a call at731-253-3203, or check them at on the web at www.Reelfoot-Outdoors.com.
I talked to my buddy, and 2010 CrappieMasters National Champion along with his partner Roy Logan, Wade Hendren about the fishing at Kentucky Lake. He said they have had probably the best year they’ve had in his 25 years at the lake and are still catching quality fish. He’s fishing in 10 to 14 ft of water over stake beds in the Big Sandy area.
Saturday, September 8th is the 2nd Annual Ben Kruse Crappie Tournament on Wappapello Lake. The “18 Fore Life” team has hosted a ton of events, and has donated over $20,000 to the V-foundation, over $30,000 to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, and over $600,000 to local families battling cancer. These folks work their tale off for a great cause, so come out and support! For more information on the tournament you can call Dain Bess at 573-421-1491 or Bruce Christian at 573-820-6111.