First trip to Reelfoot this weekend...any advice?

Hey everyone,

I have always wanted to fish at Reelfoot and haven't been able to go but next weekend will be our first trip up there. We will be staying at a hotel in Dyersburg. Their literature says it is within 20 minutes of the lake. I was wondering if anyone knew about where to launch the boat in the area. Also any advice on fishing methods would be appreciated. I will have my 9 y/o boy with me so we will likely be fishing with minnows for crappie and maybe some wax worms for bream. Basically I'm hoping we are able to catch a few keepers to put in the skillet when we get home and that we both have a good time. I will be carrying my war eagle 754 up there and have been told to pretty much run at idle due to the amount of stumps up there. I may even just use the trolling motor from the launch site if possible. Any advice would be appreciated.

"literature" says 20 minutes......Well it will take you aobut 30-35 actualy. I am asuming you will not be trolling. The lake is very challenging and difficult to fish. The best advice I can give is for you to maybe put in at Kirby Pocket. it will be crowded on the weekend with good weather. Either get there before daylight to get a good parking spot. Or get there later int he morning because it will be a madhouse. This is a good central location to start from when jig fishing and you can run your boat at WOT right from the ramp. You can run your outboard there in the boat channel and ditches. Just go up the boat channel until the markers are gone and you enter into the ditches. Fish anywhere from there north. Get yourself some small hair jigs or grizzly jigs, tip them with a wax worm and dip in the pads and trees. They may or may not be in there, and to be honest you probably wont set the world on fire. But then again, most people dont. Those jigs will catch crappie and bluegill. Afternoons are the best for bluegill. Slowfall the jigs around trees in the afternoon and if the gills are biting you will catch them. They are fun to catch. Invest in a map if you plan on coming back again. Familiarize yourself with the areas you fish according ot the map and mark them. Take note of the conditions from water temp to air temp, cloud cover, wind direction etc. Depending on whether or not you do any good this will help you remember and eliminate spots for future trips. The map will also help you with the wind. If you know which direction its blowing from you can look at the map and pinpoint where to go and get out of the wind. And it will blow! Be prepared for wind and rain. Fish slow, but dont stick around one spot too long. Just mark it off the map and head to another location. Ask others what they are doing. Most people gladly tell you when they are "not catching" any fish. Remember, bluegills bite better in the afternoon. I hope this helps and hope you and your son have a great time.