Lone Star Lakes (Suffolk)

This place is just a bit down the road from me and I couldn't find much information on the place online so I decided to drive down there and have a look around. Its tucked away in Chuckatuck and I don't think you would have even noticed the place driving by if you weren't looking for it. The place was fairly nice with 11 lakes/ponds some of them interconnecting, an archery field, a field for rc planes, a playground for the kids, and horseback riding. In fact a few ppl riding horses were the only ppl I saw there. The lakes were fairly nice, lots of sunken tree branches and small islands. There was a boat ramp on just about every lake/pond with the two largest lakes having decent ramps while the others were gravel/dirt. Also lots of places for bank fishing. The DGIF says the lakes have crappie, bluegill, catfish, bass, and perch. When it warms up I'm gonna take my jon boat out there and give it a try. It looks like lots of privacy for those that like seclusion when they fish.

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Welcome aboard & thanks for all the excellent pix and reconnaissance report. We've had a few reports from members who have fished the LS lakes during the past few years. "Fair" is about the best description I remember.

JR the head Park Ranger for City of Suffolk is a friend of mine. He has always told me the best crappie lake in there is the following lake. Come in on the entrance road which comes past the Robert House Water Treatment Plant. This is the main entrance into the park where there is a guard shack at the gate. Once at the guard shack turn right and the lake immediatly on the right. This is the lake which the water intake for the water treatment plant is in. JR has told me he has caught some real nice crappie in there. Once the water and temps warm up a bit try it and let us know how you do. Your last picture is the ramp where there is a breach in the wall which has for years allowed the upper Chuckatuck creek at high tide to rush into that lake. This has made this lake salty.

AC

I believe the lake you are talking about is the one labeled Lake Annette. Does your friend know when the ranger shack is manned? There was no one there when I stopped by and I'd like to go in and get my boat permit when someone is there.

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Originally Posted by Andy Clayton

JR the head Park Ranger for City of Suffolk is a friend of mine. He has always told me the best crappie lake in there is the following lake. Come in on the entrance road which comes past the Robert House Water Treatment Plant. This is the main entrance into the park where there is a guard shack at the gate. Once at the guard shack turn right and the lake immediatly on the right. This is the lake which the water intake for the water treatment plant is in. JR has told me he has caught some real nice crappie in there. Once the water and temps warm up a bit try it and let us know how you do. Your last picture is the ramp where there is a breach in the wall which has for years allowed the upper Chuckatuck creek at high tide to rush into that lake. This has made this lake salty.

AC

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jsharlan, Im sure there is crappie in those lakes, but theres alot of places id rather fish (Burnt Mills, Buggs, Western Branch)

I grew up in chuckatuck, right there on Mulberry Lane (the rd to the left at the water treatment plant) I use to hike and fish back there nearly every day, of course in those days I fished for bass and bream, and use to catch nearly 60 bream a day by the age of 8 or 9. I fished Crystal lake in Nov had minnows fished all depths with eight rods and took a skunkin..

Andy I believe the lake you are refering to is Crane lake, the chuckatuck creek flows right in and out during tide changes. I fished it last year, boy let me tell you when the tide is flowing out you dont want to be trying to trailer a boat... the breech is right at the ramp...

I heard a couple months ago lake Butler has had a breech too.... sad to hear that...

I think my Lone star days are over... Best of luck Jsharlan!

I think it is maned in the warmer months. Durring the week if you can get into the park before 3 or 4 take the right at the guard shack and stay on that road all the way to the back. You will go past the archery area. There is a equipment shed with office there. JR has an office there and that is where the park rangers usually are if not out on patrol. Anyone back there can give you info on fishing permits; ect. I'll give him a call tomorrow and post about permits if I remember.

AC

I will def. be giving Burnt Mills and Western Branch a try this year as well, but I don't mind the closeness and quietness of lone star for my crappie and bluegill fishing as long as I don't come up dry too much.

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Originally Posted by Percidae_Papermouth

jsharlan, Im sure there is crappie in those lakes, but theres alot of places id rather fish (Burnt Mills, Buggs, Western Branch)

I grew up in chuckatuck, right there on Mulberry Lane (the rd to the left at the water treatment plant) I use to hike and fish back there nearly every day, of course in those days I fished for bass and bream, and use to catch nearly 60 bream a day by the age of 8 or 9. I fished Crystal lake in Nov had minnows fished all depths with eight rods and took a skunkin..

Andy I believe the lake you are refering to is Crane lake, the chuckatuck creek flows right in and out during tide changes. I fished it last year, boy let me tell you when the tide is flowing out you dont want to be trying to trailer a boat... the breech is right at the ramp...

I heard a couple months ago lake Butler has had a breech too.... sad to hear that...

I think my Lone star days are over... Best of luck Jsharlan!

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Here is a phone number you can give a call tomorrow.

Daily and annual permits are available at the Park Ranger Office. Boat rentals are not available, and gas-powered motors are not permitted. Electric motors are permitted. For more information, please call 757-255-4308

PP, I haven't heard about lake Butler but I do know I have price closing the breach on "Crane" lake twice over the last 4 years. I'm not sure about the name of that lake and I think your right. I was told Crane Lake got it's name because when Lone Star closed the mining operation they just left the crane there. It is suppose to be still there under water.

AC

all i know is that the lakes at lone star are NOT noted for decent crappie. not to say their are not some decent fish just far and few between. stick to the suffolk lakes. b/m and cahoon are noted for big slabs

We have had a few board members fish there but the results were never great. But heck, you never know until you try. Let us know how you do.

I use to fish there years ago,never did much good. All my fishing was from the bank, didn't have a boat back then.

Went by there today to look around. A lonely place this time of year. The fee to fish is $4 per visit or $30 annually. Other than a few ducks splashing around, the waters were calm. One exception was the break just below the ramp on Crane lake. Water was really flowing into the creek at low tide. A couple of signs in the creek says no boats allowed in Crane lake. That wasn't going to happen then against that flow.

The lower end of the concrete ramp was covered about 6-8 inches deep with dead reeds and other tidal creek plant debris. Would not be safe to launch but I guess high tide would float it away. The deeply grooved concrete made it catch and allow the buildup.

One of the other lakes on the right side has a tidal flow as well.

I will be back with my kayak in March when the waters warm up.

I wil be out there in March with my jon boat, perhaps I will see you there Jerry. Only problem I see is there never seems to be anyone in the booth at the entrance that I could give the fee money to, I suppose I will have to track them down around the park.

I just talked to the Chief Ranger of the City Parks, which includes Lone Star. He said if you don't find anyone at the shack at the gate you can do one of two things. Sign in on the daily log there at the gate and go ahead and go fishing. You can pay the first ranger you see and if you don't see one just pay the next time you go or there is usually always someone at the equipment shed/office at the back of the park where I explained earlier in the thread. Just call the number I posted earlier and someone will meet you at the gate.

AC

All I saw was a P&R truck making rounds at 430 when I left. Give me heads up in March and I will do the same, maybe we can meet there and find some fish.

Lonestar lakes have their own secrets and are a bit hard to figure out . water pH AND clarity are just a few but there are large fish in those lakes

I use to fish Lonestar all the time untill I got a bigger boat but I still fish it by canoe a few times a year. I have caught a few crappie in Lake Wahoo but nothing to write home about. We catch more bass than anything including 1 citation a few years ago back out of Wahoo. I have even caught the rare Pickerel in Lake Annette. For me I catch the most Crappie out of Prince in the spring and Yellow Perch by the bucket full all year long. Still searching for that first citation Crappie trying to finish out my Master Angler level 2. I come close every year but no cigar.

Welcome aboard PGH,

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Originally Posted by PGH chief

I use to fish Lonestar all the time untill I got a bigger boat but I still fish it by canoe a few times a year. I have caught a few crappie in Lake Wahoo but nothing to write home about. We catch more bass than anything including 1 citation a few years ago back out of Wahoo. I have even caught the rare Pickerel in Lake Annette. For me I catch the most Crappie out of Prince in the spring and Yellow Perch by the bucket full all year long. Still searching for that first citation Crappie trying to finish out my Master Angler level 2. I come close every year but no cigar.

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hey big chief if you want a citation crappie try burnt mills this spring. the lake opened last summer and it produced a lot of big fish. if you need some help will be more than willing to help. tite lines JIM.B:)

Jim.b

Thanks for the offer I might take you up on that I'm not looking for anyones secret spots just a little guidance. I have fished B.M in the past but I really hate those stumps I have never mastered a way up through that lake. I'm always afraid of tearing up my motor and having to change a shearpin in the middle of the lake. I have caught some decent bass, and pickerel in the front half by the ramp. I do fish Cohoon and when it was low 2 years ago I GPSed a track line all the way to the back without hitting stumps. I wish I could have did that to B.M. when they had it drained.
My favorite lake is Prince by far. In the spring I have the crappie and yellow perch zoned in on where they hang out. Still trying to master W.B.
I just love to fish, ANYTHING that tugs my line I'm having fun doesnt matter what the size is or species.

PGH chief

Welcome to the board, Chief.

Welcome Chief, I used fish Prince hard from about 78 to 91, been telling these guys there's some good fishing there. Gonna get back out soon maybe I'll see you there.

Thanks for the warm welcome gentlemen. See ya on the lakes.

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Originally Posted by jsharlan

This place is just a bit down the road from me and I couldn't find much information on the place online so I decided to drive down there and have a look around. Its tucked away in Chuckatuck and I don't think you would have even noticed the place driving by if you weren't looking for it. The place was fairly nice with 11 lakes/ponds some of them interconnecting, an archery field, a field for rc planes, a playground for the kids, and horseback riding. In fact a few ppl riding horses were the only ppl I saw there. The lakes were fairly nice, lots of sunken tree branches and small islands. There was a boat ramp on just about every lake/pond with the two largest lakes having decent ramps while the others were gravel/dirt. Also lots of places for bank fishing. The DGIF says the lakes have crappie, bluegill, catfish, bass, and perch. When it warms up I'm gonna take my jon boat out there and give it a try. It looks like lots of privacy for those that like seclusion when they fish.

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Looks like a nice lake. Good luck fishing there and you never know what will be on the hook!:)

I used to fish Lone Star almost every weekend I wasn't working and the weather was nice. there are Crappie in there... a lot of dinks, but there are a few nice ones there... I took a few just shy of a citation out of there.

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13 1/2" inch Crappie out of Lone Star

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12" White Perch out of Lone Star.

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13" Crappie out of Lone Star.

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Usualy took home a mess to filet.

Don't count out Small water for decent fishing.

I Stopped going there when they had a levy burst and they close my favorite lake there... at least the one I can ramp the Tracker into. I just read it's back open again and I'll be heading back there soon. My Favorite of all I have to Canoe, and I sold it a few years ago... might be time to get a Yak.

nice fish, butler tract? there was one crappie citation pulled from there last year, i used to live on mulberry, the lane to the left of the water treatment plant

Those are out of Butler, but I've caught Crappie in all but Crane Lake... Never tried that one.

I have had some good luck in lonestar especially in march and april of last year. then it heats back up again in the summer with some rockfish and bass on top busting bait. we have pulled a few citation crappie out of lonestar last march/april up to 16 inches as well as some big white perch. The crappie at least, completely disappear after a week or two of catching them.

Here is a link from last year, I go by Kitt but my first name is Willard. There are some decent fish in lonestar although they may be few and far in between compared to other lakes.Fish Citations

I've taken Crappie out of Lone Star pretty much all year round except when they close it down for hunting.

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Originally Posted by Chasing Ghosts

I've taken Crappie out of Lone Star pretty much all year round except when they close it down for hunting.

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hey doug long time. glad your back. i was wondering where you went. i even went by your street but not sure which house is yours. lets get together and do some fishing. JIM.B

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Originally Posted by Kitt

Here is a link from last year, I go by Kitt but my first name is Willard. There are some decent fish in lonestar although they may be few and far in between compared to other lakes.Fish Citations

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15" white perch!!!! DAYUUM!!!! NICE.

I'm planning on driving the roads this afternoon to check the lakes and ramps out. Then heading up to Lions Club Cruz-In near Smithfield.

Gridded map of Butler Tract. I am having a 24"x24" printed and laminated.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/membe...-available.jpg

Do you still have a link to this gridded map?

If anyone is interested, the Crappie are hitting pretty well at Lone Star. I'm seeing limits caught every day. I've been getting all mine on 1/16 oz hand tied jigs.