Lake Jackson, Leon County, FL

[fishwalton]

Fished Lake Jackson near Tallahassee 3 times this week. Cold snap had the mornings not fit for shorts but it warmed up later in the day. Did not catch any crappie, but caught a number of shellcrackers. All were small hand size. Only two small bream in the bunch.
This was my first experience on Jackson. I wondered about all the shellcrackers and few bream. Found out the lake is full of snails. Next time I will dip net some of the grass and see what's in there. There are plenty of bream there but they were not biting very well.

Pads and Hydrilla are very bad over a majority of the lake, but there are some large open areas. However hydrilla is thick just below the surface in many areas. You have to look for holes. Did not see any airboarts but did see 3 "Go Devils". Man, those things are really cool for a place like this. They can run through just wet grass and pads like there is no tomorrow.

The weather is warming up today and next few days so will give it another try over there in a few days. BTW, bass fishing was not doing much either.

[skeetbum]

Take a foam noodle and make a circle of it, then put screen over it and sew it on with nylon thread, heavy stuff. Then grab some of the weeds near the bank and drop them in the screen and shake and the grass shrimp will be in the screen. We did this over in the St Johns with the Hyacinth and the gill are nonstop. Like steak to them, I guess. Crappie like em too, if the gills will leave em alone long enough..

[Fatman]

I've heard of that before, and all say it works

[fishwalton]

Haven't heard of the noodle and mesh trick to catch grass shrimp, but it sure sounds like a winner. Years ago I used a long handle dip net with fine mesh and would just go up under floating grass and bring in a net full. If the shrimp are there it will be evident. Sort of messy though keeping the grass and mess out of the boat.

I fished the lower Choctawhatchee River 2 days ago and today. Launched out of Black Creek. First day, 14 crappie, all 10 inches up to 14 1/2. Today 26, about 8 inches up to 14 inches. All caught on minnows. The first day we released at least a dozen or more that were between 8 and 10 inches. I forgot FL and TX regs are different. Texas the min size is 10 inches. I spent November in Texas fishing. Caught a ton of shellcrackers but no crappie.

[JSC]

"I fished the lower Choctawhatchee River 2 days ago and today. Launched out of Black Creek. First day, 14 crappie, all 10 inches up to 14 1/2. Today 26, about 8 inches up to 14 inches. All caught on minnows. The first day we released at least a dozen or more that were between 8 and 10 inches. I forgot FL and TX regs are different. Texas the min size is 10 inches. I spent November in Texas fishing. Caught a ton of shellcrackers but no crappie"
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Fishin in my Back Yard ..... Did you fish the creek or the lakes ?

Been to busy catchin Spec Trout & Redfish for the past month.

Glad to hear the Crappie are bitin.

JSC

PS Thanx for the update on Jackson, been several years since I wet a line up there ... I just feel like I am down town fishin there.