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I almost hate to ask this question, but by reading some of the posts it sounds like we may have made a mistake by booking reelfoot in march. We are coming from chicago area. I've looked back threw thread and it sounds like the fishing is a lot of hype. Deposit is in so its to late to change. We also hired a guide the first day. Is the fishing as tough as some people are saying. ?
I wouldn’t say the fishing is hype but it is different than what a lot of people up north are used to. I think a lot of people just expect to show up go out pick a spot and start catching big crappie with a bobber and minnow, it’s not that way. Your guide will most likely show you spider rigging or single pole jigging, maybe even casting a float and jig for black crappie.
Booking a guide was a smart first step. Take in everything you can from them. It’s a very pretty lake with lots of big fish, once you learn how to catch them it’ll treat you right.
:hesaid Winds are the biggest problem during march.
Thanks for your in put. We are bringing our own boat. Is there options on trailering to calmer parts of lake or is it best to stay on resort end.
Several launching ramps on different parts of the lake. Hard to escape the wind when it is really up there. The lake can get really rough during strong winds.
10 hundred thousand stumps in a shallow lake....best to leave your boat at home and go in the guides boat or just rent a boat. I have fished there lots of times and done good but no way will I put my boat in there. But that's just me.
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On a side note, if you have cameras, bring them. You will see beautiful scenery, eagles, ospreys and other things to take pics of. The state park and the federal refuge office has great little museums. The Discovery Park is about a 30 minute drive in union city and is a large indoor and outdoor museum.
I live 30 minutes away and fish here a lot. Lake level should be high in march and you'll be fine in your boat. Go slow and you'll be fine. Hoping to head there in the am. Guide to show you the way was a good move.
Don't let people scare you about the stumps. Yes the lake is full of them, but just go slow and they won't be a problem. You can escape the winds by fishing the ditches on the north end of the lake. PM me for more details.
:hesaidQuote:
Originally Posted by RicksTJR
I haven't been since late November due to my son having some health issues. Reelfoot is an awesome lake but it does take a little to figure it out. You are welcome to PM also closer to your trip and I will give you what info I have.
I use a fiberglass boat on the Foot. No issues. Idle wherever you go and you will be fine. March is an excellent month to pick off some pre-spawn females in some mid depths. I can't get back over there and fish until the 10th of March but I'm ready!!!
That's when we will be there. Thx
Took a trip to Reelfoot and used what I was told was the best guide on the Lake. The resort was small but everyone was nice, and even cooked a great meal for the whole resort one night. Lake is beautiful....the fishing was atrocious. The guide was all mouth and zero results. I catch way bigger and a lot more fish at home in all the local water systems here in SC....I take at least one guided trip a year out of my home state and Reelfoot was by far the most overrated and worst trip I’ve ever taken.
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Sorry that you are hearing some bad things about Reelfoot. For years I lived in West Tennessee and fished Reelfoot regularly. I know live in Kentucky, but still manage a few trips there every year. Reelfoot is one of the best crappie lakes in the country, and I can say that having fished for crappie tournaments in nearly 200 hundred different lakes in the South and Midwest In the Spring (March thru April), the water is usually high enough that stumps are not a problem. That said, you still need to manuever your boat slowly. You will see some guys running wide open. Pay them no mind. They are guides or local folks who know the water where they are runninng. Just take your time and you will have no problem. In March and early April, most fishermen will spider-rig (slow troll) for crappie. However, I used to see a couple of guys who would simply throw out two or three rods apiece with slip floats and drift along and they caught as many crappie as anybody. Of course, occasionally they would get hung on a stump and have to break off, but they caught a lot of fish. One of the things you want to do in March and April is look for where the boats are congregating. My slip-float fishing friends used to get close to where all the boats are gathered, drop an anchor, and fish 360 degrees around the boat. Then haul anchor and move over a 100 yards or so and repeat the process. Wind can be a problem in the Spring, but that's true of just about any big body of water. Usually at Reelfoot, you can find a big stand of Cypress trees to put between you and the wind...or simply trailer your boat and find another ramp out of the wind on another part of the lake. What you don't want to do is get caught on the far side of the lake if a big wind comes up. Trying to traverse across the lake when it's white-capping may find you hanging on a stump and can really work on your nerves. (Believe me, I've done that.) Just pay attention to weather reports and you should be alright. Cypress trees and knees line the banks around much of Reelfoot lake. Late March and April (depending on weather and temp of the water) jig fishing the trees can reap big benefits for crappie and bluegill. If you want to PM me, I will be glad to point you in some directions to where you might find fish. A trip to Reelfoot is worth it, in my opinion, just about any time of year. THe lake is a beautiful gem of the lake, with a character all it's own. And be sure to eat at some of the great restaurants there. Boyettes is one of my favorite....so is Lakeview Restaurant.
Was it yesterday or this week?Quote:
Originally Posted by MasTigerrag
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I hate you had a bad trip. Seems these days there are alot more bad reviews on the lake and the main reason is for the so called "guides" that are now taking over. 80% of them are exactly how you decribed and the resorts are getting the same way. Rude, money hungry, and couldn't catch a crappie in a plastic bucket. Please don't take your bad experience and assume that's how the whole lake is. There are still some reputable guides on the lake.
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Like I said in my post above. The lake was beautiful. The resort was small and older but they were great. The room was clean, the young men helping at the resort were respectful and helpful. The restaurant and baitshop people were fantastic as well....the fishing was bad and the guide absolutely ruined the fishing experience. He claimed to be the greatest and couldn’t catch squat. As a fisherman myself, I realize that you don’t slay them every time....this guy made zero effort. Never changed a jig (after I requested several times) and never changed locations. He wanted our money with no effort and that’s exactly what he got....he never thought of his own small community though. Bad reputations hurt small towns that depend on tourists for town revenue...
This was only my experience and I truly hope anyone visiting Reelfoot has an amazing time with tremendous memories.
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