Blackwell Swamp Fishing Report

Gave Blackwell Swamp a try this morning. It's covered bank to bank with moss to the surface and lillypads. I tried in the creek that connects the swamp with Lake Wheeler looking for open water and found both open water and a few fish. Tossed back 25 or 30 Black Crappie, all were about 7 to 8 inches long. I couldn't buy a keeper. I caught several 10 and 11 inch bluegills and several 1 to 2 pound bass. I saw several bass swimming around that were in the 4 and 5 pound range.

For someone lookings for a few large bluegills this is the place. You can launch a flat bottom boat off the road that runs from Blackwell Swamp towards Lake Wheeler, large areas of the creek are in the shade. I didn't catch any catfish but found water as deep as 8 feet and lots of logs on the bottom so this should be a good area to get a few channel catfish as well.

All and all not a bad day. This is normally the time of year I get out and explore new areas. My logic is if it has not gone dry and has catchable fish in July and Aug then it should be a good year round fishing spot.

Ditch, how many alligators did you see?lol That's my only fear of putting my kayak in that place. Been wanting to bass fish it for a while though. My brother in law and I used to catch a lot of bluegill in Blackwell but haven't been back in a while now. I saw your post about the dewatering area at Swan Creek, I tried there a few weeks ago and couldn't buy a fish. You really think those fish were in the 5 pound range???

I didn't see any Gators, but a know there are some large ones in Blackwell. I fished the creek that connects the Swamp with Lake Wheeler. The water was clear and yes, several bass were in the 4 and 5 pound range. I haven't bassed fished in years, but I was almost ready to break out a spinnerbait!

Sounds good, thanks for the report. I've seen one big alligator there myself and my brother in law saw one another time. Other than gators just have to watch for snakes! That's the price you pay to get on good fish I guess lol.

There's a turn off of Jolly B road back to the east that will allow putting a kayak or canoe in the creek (mark with Red X). I took out here, there's a large tree across the creek between this point and the main swamp. You can easly fish the creek from here back to the screwgate and road right before Lake Wheeler. There some good water through here including one area that was 8 or 9 feet deep.

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Thanks for you help, I really appreciate it.

I'm hoping you get a few, good luck!

Just explored small part of Blackwell swamp yesterday for the first time. Where do I need to put in with my canoe and how to locate bedding bluegill or shellcracker there? What time of year? Now or later in May? It's a huge area and I don't know if I need to fish in the windy creek area or in the main open area with the Lilly pads? Any help is appreciated. Baits either natural or small lures? Redworms, crickets? Or small spinners?

Great report thanks DB. Sounds like the swamp vegetation is already thick.

Just noticed this is a thread from 2012.


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I haven't been in that area in years, they started keeping the water lower in the creek and it all went to crap!