Duchess Creek or Brooken Cove?

[OkieDon]

I'm thinking about getting up early in the Morning (provided the weather isn't too bad) and trying someplace new...someplace that has some fairly clear water for a change (provided these two places don't get too much rain tonight).

My question is, can someone point me in the right direction to find some Crappie at either Duchess Creek or Brooken Cove? I've never fished either place.

Where would you choose, and why, if you were heading out to one of these areas in the morning?

Thanks.

[Winger]

Don, I don't know much about crappie fishing either place. I hear a lot of good reports from the Bixby Creek arm of the Duchess area. I also hear reports from the Brooken area.

I have been thinking about running over the Brooken myself and snooping around. Therefore, I would recommend Brooken:D

[OkieDon]

Okay Winger, just for you I went to Brooken Cove today. See what I'll do for a CDC member? :D Well, actually I read your post after I got home, but I'll pretend I did it for you.

Chose to go to Brooken this morning. Weatherman said it was going to be Sunny, 83 with light South winds 5-10 mph. Got there at 8 a.m. and was wondering where the sun and light winds were. It was overcast with a brisk South wind on the North side of 10 mph!

I ended up going back toward the East because the wind was too bad to go to the big cove on the West side.

The creek I fished in has the ramp at the Dam site South. Wish I'd known that, would have saved me motoring over from Brooken!

I first went down the Creek and was just looking under the docks with my SI to see if there were any good brush piles beneath them. Didn't really see anything to get excited about so I kept on going to the back of the cove.

That is where I met these two. Obviously someone trained these two to keep their Crappie spot safe. I thought the Brown one was going to swim out to the boat!



Once I left, these two quieted down.

I started catching dinks on every bank. Plus, every rocky point was loaded with Kentucky bass in the 6 to 9 inch range!

The water was slightly stained, I guess it was due to the rains last night. The hot color of the day...wait for it...wait for it...Black and Pink!! Go figure!

Due to the cool water temps (62 to 64) I started at the deep drop offs near the banks and gradually moved into shallow water. Finally I managed a decent sized Black Crappie and he had a black nose. My 5th black nose of the year, but only the 1st keeper.



I kept on working this area. It was a small cover that had a channel break that went from 6 to 12 feet. After a few more hours, all I could come up with is 3 more keepers and a ton of dinks and small Bass.



On the way back to the ramp, I hit the main lake point that has all those trees in the water. Actually, I spider rigged that tiny cover and then came up on the point and worked it with a jig and float. Caught one 2.5 lb black bass and had another hit but didn't get it. Could not believe out of all that timber in the water, the only thing I could manage was one stinkin' Bass

Finally about 3 p.m. I gave it up. It was a nice day trip to a place I'd never fished before. I didn't know there was even a Marina in that creek cove! There were some huge houseboats there and they were moving out. Not sure why, maybe to a safer place out of the wind.

Next time I might hit Duchess Creek. I noticed a lot of standing timber back to the North of the one lane bridge when I went over it. But of course, there is all that rip rap along the dam too...hmm...decisions...decisions! Oh well, I have time. I'm not planning a return trip anytime soon!

[crappie_jiggin]

OkieDon, let me get a bite to eat and figure out how to get the dand memory card out of the wifes high price camera and you will be crying. I post some pics of what i caught at Bixby Creek today.

Well maybe not to bad.

[OkieDon]

Be careful Jiggin', would hate for you to choke on Dinner!!

Seriously though. I hear a lot of people talk about Bixby creek, but dang if I can find it on a map!

Where is it and how do I get there!

[crappie_jiggin]

Pull up a map of eufaula and I am assuming you know where dutchess creek is. Head south away from the bridge at dutchess creek like you are heading back to the main lake. You have to make a left handed turn heading to the main part and there is a creek straight in front that keeps going to the east that is bixby creek.

Go to yahoo maps and put in porum, ok. Zoom out till you see the lake then left click on the far left side of the map and hold the button down and drag the map to your right. That will get a better view of the lake. then click on the satellite in the upper right corner. You will see where I am talking about.

[OkieDon]

Jiggin, I think that is the same creek that crosses the road that goes to the Dam (from the Porum Landing road).

I've saw it there for years but never knew how to get to it. Thanks. I'll keep it in mind the next time I head down that way.

[crappie_jiggin]

You are correct okie.