Kayak Trip Report, Swan Creek WMA

I fished Swan Creek this morning from 6:00AM till 12:30PM. The water was very low. Typically I can catch a few on the edges of the Button Brush but most of the brush and laydowns were only in 6 inches of water. I left me spider rigging poles at home so had few options except to jig what I could. Ended the day with around 20 Crappie, half were 10 inches or better. Seemed every laydown or stick up held a bass this morning, I caught a dozen or so the largest about 6 pounds. Best bait was a 1/32 oz jig in pink.

How many snakes did you see? J/K. Great job adapting to the conditions!

Ditch, were the bass in the button Bush? How much water was around the bushes that held bass? I like to flip the bushes.

Great report Ditch.

Nice job Ditch.

i bailed out after a couple hours. i got 4 or 5 good crappie and released them. the wind got up and i broke off the 2nd time on buffalo and catfish so i rolled everything up(i was spider rigging) and let the wind blow me to the truck. water was very low.

i hate how much water they pumped out of there this year..it sucks they will flood it for duck hunters but cant leave enough water in it to fish. i just wish they would add about 1 foot or so to what it is now...do you guys ever cross the tracks..thats some super snakey water but great fishing...was it still muddy today?
thinking of getting a canoe or a native watercraft ultimate 12 just for that area.. normally i put in at west dike and troll back to the tracks..but with the water so low my motors all the way up stayed in the mud..made it tough...

Almost all the Button Brush is sitting with mud around it. What still in the water is only inches deep. The big bass I caught came from a willow in 12 inches of water. If I was looking for green carp I'd fish early with a top water or spinner bait.

By the way, saw a few snakes, but not too bad. They don't like swimming open water much when the waves are up.

I crossed the tracks and found a few. I just needed "all" my poles for spider rigging. That single pole stuff doesn't work when you don't have anything to target.

all i take is a 12 foot pole and 2 tubes of crickets..catch gills and crappie just hitting the bushes and covering water..

Where do you put in at ? I know there is the place behind the old GM plant and also the place in the curve by the equipment shed where the duck hunters put in at when the water is up in the winter. thanks

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Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

I fished Swan Creek this morning from 6:00AM till 12:30PM. The water was very low. Typically I can catch a few on the edges of the Button Brush but most of the brush and laydowns were only in 6 inches of water. I left me spider rigging poles at home so had few options except to jig what I could. Ended the day with around 20 Crappie, half were 10 inches or better. Seemed every laydown or stick up held a bass this morning, I caught a dozen or so the largest about 6 pounds. Best bait was a 1/32 oz jig in pink.

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THANKS FOR THE CRAPPIE

I put in behind the equipment shed where the duck hunter do. Long paddle to good areas when water is low.

glencline,

Your welcome!

Must have been hard getting boat back out with the shallow water.

if your using a trailer you can put in off west dike road..

jhef,

FYI, That area is all less then 12 inches deep right now. Best water is over toward the train tracks on the east end. Even there the deepest water is only 24 to 30 inches except for the hole where the pipe goes under the dike.

yeah i know i was just there 2 days ago, i put in my 15 foot weldbilt and went from west dike to the tracks, muddied it up all the way...that used to be one of my favorite spots but now it gets fished alot more. only fish it now when i want some shellcrackers..still got a few spots that hasnt been posted all over the internet..

jhef,

You must have a very skinny water boat.

If I'm responsible for posting some of those spots, I apologize. I lurked in the background and watched this site for years. First in Georgia, then Missouri and finally Alabama once I move here. It seem few anglers were posting and when they did 200 people would view. I believe that 10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish. I get more than my fair share, so I though I'd start to let people know where I go. Maybe I could help that new generation of newbies coming up, especially the skinny water anglers.

yeah i have a 1548 weldbilt electric rig , two trolling motors etc. it would draft shallower but im a big fella and the weight of 5 batteries...dont mind you posting wear you fish etc.. i ve followed your post and i just always hoped you never fished anyspots i fish lol..i like the out of the way spots no jet skis no big boats etc.. and im sure id enjoy sharing a spot with you one day...i welcome anyone to come fish with me except when i post pics etc i always say they come from flint creek lol.. thats a great area to fish its snakey as any place ive ever fished but ive never had a problem with a snake but i do keep my distance.. good luck on all your trips and i wish you no ill will..sometimes post look harsh when they were never intended to be..

No offense taken by me. I just know what happens after I post.

I tried fishing Indian Creek in the early spring after posting/pics of a limit. One weekend no other boats. The next weekend there we 50 and half of them tried to run over me. I usually don't fish the same area again for a few weeks after I post about it. The very skinny water is the exception. I'll eventually get too old for this kayak thing, when I do I'll probably move to a stick steer G3 or Alweld with a small outboard jet. Hopefully I'll still be able to access some of my skinny water.

Best wishes, if you see my green kayak on the water say "hi", we'll discuss a few spots I haven't posted about, LOL!

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great report