Kayak Trip Report, Limestone Bay, Lake Wheeler

I fished Limestone Bay today, the wind was brutal! I couldn’t spider rig because of the wind and spent several hours work the creek that connects Limestone Bay to the lake with limited success. Only managed 10 or 12 short Crappie. I kept trying to get on a pattern, started jigging stumps next, managed 4 or 5 keepers with another dozen or so shorts. Finally found some fish on the West side near where I put in. Strangely, the Crappie were only in 18 to 24 inches of water. I didn’t find any Crappie deeper than maybe three feet. I ended up keeping 20 for lunch tomorrow and tossed back another 40 or so that were over 10 inches. I headed home around 3:30PM, caught around 85 or 90 Crappie for the day.

All fish were caught jigging a single pole on stumps and lay downs. I started with a 1/16 oz White Marabou jig and changed to a Chartreuse later in the day. Photo’s tomorrow after I clean them. I kept one Crappie that is close to 15 inches and returned two more that were about 15 inches for another day.

All and all a good day even with the wind!

:biggrin

I haven't fished out in the middle where the stumps are yet, I catch all mine over on the laydowns on the west side of the channel. I like fishing the stumps, but sometimes there are too many guys out there trolling back in forth, so I don't bother trying to troll any jigs myself

congrats on another nice day.:highfive

photo's!

Attachment 112589

and a close up of the big one

Attachment 112590 :biggrin

mikeymercboy,

The strange thing is I missed them the first time because I didn't jig shallow enough. I'm not sure why they were in 24 inches of water or less? I think I caught or missed one on every laydown, stump or tree branch that was shallow enough. The fish were on the west side, but back north of the islands. I think there may have been to much current in the creek. There was 5 or 6 boats working the stump fields further north but I stay away from them. There were also 3 boats where the creek meets the main lake. I worked the area between them prefurring my solitude. :ThumbsUp

I don't blame you, call me grumpy but I like to have my space when fishing. I tied up to one of the laydowns that was a bit larger and did some vertical jigging one day out there. This guy and his chick came up in there in a 20ft white center console boat (the kind you see in big water) and he actually started casting around me fishing the same laydown I was tied to! After I cut him a couple dirty looks he grumbles to her "let's move, there are too many boats out here". See ya, rudy poo!

Anyways back to fishing. I caught a few on those newly fallen trees on the west side, I'm sure you know which ones I speak of, since they still have lots of branches on them. I've caught fish in 13 feet of water, all the way up to about 2-3 feet, on one single laydown. I flat out wore out the crappie in the stumps before when you could see the stumps just beneath the surface or actually poking just above. I'm no good at patterning crappie, I just fish the structure and hope they are there. Can you catch them out there in the summer?

I only fish big water in the winter when most fisherman are chasing deer. As lake Wheeler goes back up in the spring from winter drawdown I move to the backwaters, sloughs and creeks. I move back to the main lake around NOV. I can usually catch them anywhere I fish, but it does take some time to locate them. I spend most of my time in under 6 feet of water in the summer. Catch most in two to three feet. I usually look for the baitfish, the Crappie are never far away.

Hey how was the water clarity in the Limestone bay area you fished. I was going to go but figured it was too muddy. What time did you start fishing those lay downs on the west side? I usually do best on the laydowns at mid day.

it's been stained when I've went

You could see your jig 6 to 8 inches down so cloudy but not to bad. I started around 8:00AM and fished till around 3:30PM. I started by working the West side of the creek near the islands and jigged laydown till the mouth of the creek meeting the lake. I then worked the shallow water in the sloughs to the east, then fished the stumps on the way back out. I had about decided to give up, but returned to the end of the point near where the pump drains white springs dike and started fishing the west side of the bay working north. I found some fish along that bank. No reason for it, they were just there.

Good Job DB! We need to coordinate a time to meet on the water. Still want to pull you over to Cotaco. I think you will like a trip over there.

Spaceman,

We'll give it a try one Saturday. It'll be two weeks before tha water gets back to normal now though!

9o crappie in 7 1/2 hours that is a crappie every 5 minutes that is awesome you really should think about a guide service I have not heard of anyone putting up those kind of numbers:HandsClapping

I was in limestone bay aka arrowhead landing nearly all day and I sure never found any water clear enough to see my jig just below the surface. I sure will be glad when the weather moderates. I thought the pump that drains white springs dike was quite a bit west of Interstate 65

That's very few fish for 6 1/2 hours and a fish as fast as I could unhook them for one hour, LOL.

My wife ask why I fish till dark in the summer and paddle back to the truck with a headlamp in the dark. I tell her I've caught a limit in 30 minutes on one tree (sometimes, not everytime). I just wished I could figure out why they were there?

The whole system is connected. The main pump is just west of the Hudson Memorial Bridge it also drains Swan Creek. There's a smaller pump and levee that drains into Limestone Bay.

Attachment 112852

Ditch, you ever fished the creek on the other side of the pump? Is there enough water there?

I have fished the area starting at I-65 all the way back to the Hudson Bridge during the summer when it's pumped low. I've never tried during the winter. The area west of I-65 is closed to boats until 14 FEB.

Attachment 112912

Map of Wheeler areas

I got this from the Wheeler Game Wardens, it has when gates open and close.

Attachment 112913

Ditch, I was actually referring to the creek directly off Limestone Bay that is in your picture. I plan on trying out the are near 65 in the spring with my dad and wife.