Shirey Bay/ Portia Bay

Been thinkin of headin up that way but have never been there. Anyone got any tips to where to head for a first timer as well as boat ramp information.

Thanks
Tom

I fished Shirey Bay only one time when I lived up in Jonesboro. It's your typical oxbow with fairly deep water on the outside bend. I was there during the spring and caught about a dozen small crappie between the ramp and the very northern end. Good luck and be sure to let us know how you do.

Like most oxbows they can be a hit or miss,both have good crappie,bass and bream.S.bay has a ramp when you see the lake if coming in on the north side.Porta bay has two,one on the north end and one one the south end,$2.00 to unload,leave your money the box with tag number(truck).
Have fished both several times this year catching good fish,bass 8lb. has been the biggest,2 1/2lb. being the biggest crappie,plenty of hand size bream.But like I said it could be a hit or miss,like all lakes they have their lockjaw days.
Fished Hill slough tuesday did fairly will on crappie,couldn't keep the big bream beat off the hook,didn't keep any bream.Went back to Hill slough today and could not buy a crappie bite and only catched a small hand full of brean.
It doesn't matter to me whether they are biteing or not as long as I'm floating around out here trying.

thanks turtlebait, would it be better to start in one particular area, or is it small enough to make it around most of the bay. I have looked at it on google earth, doesnt appear to be too large.
tom

also,did you have better luck on worms,crickets, minnows or jigs

I'm not a live bait type guy,light tackle 4/6 lb.,pitch,cast jigs and crank wittle bitty crank baits.They both are fairly long oxbows and Depending on your speed of fishing they can be fished around in a days time.I slow troll pitching and casting as I go,I start at no particular spot.Yes they are better spots here and there on both oxbows.They both have alot of stakes that other fisherman have placed around the lakes to fish around.I go fishing for the whole day as the reasoning for no particular spots,If I caught a limit at the start in a hour or two I'd surely get fined at the end of the day.I like useing different colored jigs though out the day even tho one color may out do all the others I use.If they are feeding any color jig will do if not depending on water color,black/blue,black/green or motor oil and sometimes orange/white will catch.If you know how to handle a buzzbait in tight spots they both are good for bass fishing.Like I said they are like most oxbows they can be either a hit or miss on catching a limit.On weekends Porta has more pressure then S. bay.You'll see more wildlife on S. bay,last time I was there seen deer,coons,pickup load of squirrels and a eagle trying to catch a squirrel.Good luck on catching and just enjoy the day if not.O and yes they are both good live bait lakes if thats what you like to use.

Thanks for the information. I may try to head up there during the week when not so much pressure.
thanks again
tom