Reelfoot trip coming up - need advice

I know this is the Ohio board. But I also know a lot of buckeyes go to Reelfoot.

I'm going to Reelfoot for a couple days the 1st week of March, before the main season starts. I expect the water to be cold and fish to be sluggish still. I'm using one of their boats so I won't have electronics. I've never been there and I'm concerned I'll be unable to get on the fish without a guide, especially that time of year. For those who have been there:

1.)Should I break down and hire a guide, or are the people at the resort helpful enough to give you the tips to find the fish? Also - are there usually enough fisherman there that I can kind of just learn from others? This is a trip on a budget but I don't want to be skunked either.

2.)We're staying on the south end of the lake. However, most of what I've heard says the fishing is better in the upper basin in late winter because its shallower and warms up a bit faster and there is less wind. I'm wondering how long it takes to motor from lower lake to upper basin with an 8hp jon boat and stumps everywhere if that's where we need to go. Anyway - just looking for any tips I can get before I go.

Thanks.

With no knowledge of the lake, no electronics, and a rental boat with hardly a motor on it, it would be best to hire a guide for the first day to be sure you get all the info you'll need to find the fish on your second day. I went there with a group of 9 guys a few years ago and got humbled. First we were late for the peak crappie bite and no one wanted to help spring for a guide. 3 days, 2 crappies caught between all of us. We caught bluegills and catfish by accident tho. Get the guide so you can have an enjoyable first trip there. I'll always regret going that far to fish and not getting one.

Thanks. I will definitely give hiring a guide some thought.

MBK,
I have been going to Reelfoot lake for over 25 years. A guide will be a big help. If you are staying in the South End, my guess you will be by Blue Bank Resort. That is where the deepest water in the lake is. The North end has the best fishing in early March. Areas such as Starve Pond and Burnt Woods are popular. This area is also known as the Upper Blue Basin. The area from the Reelfoot Airpark down to Brewer's Ditch is a good area to fish. The water at it's deepest is about 9'. Many of the locals spider rig this deeper channel at that time. You can just put a minnow over the side and drift, if the wind allows. I like fishing the Burnt Woods area best in early March. Have caught many good crappie from that area in 2-4 feet of water casting jigs below bobbers and bobber and minnow rig. The yellow bass are also feeding up before their spawn and that area is great for them also. Be careful with this lake. Very shallow, tons of stumps. Being new to the lake will be a disadvantage. If you are going to hire a guide, Jackie VanCleave out of Blue Bank is the best known guide on the lake. If he is available, you may want to book with him.

Thanks for the great info. I knew there were some people who have been going down there a while. I've heard of that guide as well. We are staying at Cypress Point, which I believe is very close to Blue Bank and close to the deepest water. I am thinking we will start there since its close. I don't how long it would take to work our way all the way up lake with their 8hp motor. Maybe its doable, if we find they aren't biting. My biggest concern besides finding fish is controlling that boat in the wind. I hear Reelfoot gets very breezy, especially on the lower part of the lake. If that's the case, then slow trolling will be tough. I am thinking of investing in a Lindy windsock before I go in case we need it. I can use it on my boat when we return.

If ya get a wind sock be sure bring a 4"-6" c-clamp so you can use it as an adjustable tie for the wind sock. If you try to drift side ways use the clamp on the side of the boat and move it forward or back as needed to get the boat to drift perfectly sideways.

Good idea about the c-clamp. Thanks.