Kayak Trip Report, Limestone Bay/Creek

I fished the creek and pits today, great day on the water! Kept half a limit and returned probably 30 more that would measure including 11 slabs that were 14 inches or larger. I had to kept one slab because he swallowed my jig. Got him unhooked and back in the water, but he kept coming to the surface. Most were caught spider rigging 5 poles with 1/16oz White Marabou jigs about 18 inches deep in three to four feet of water. The water was clear for the pits with visibility of about 12 inches and 59 degrees at 10:00AM. The water had warmed to 61 degrees by 4:00PM.

FYI, saw a small Gator in one of the pits, from the width of his head he was about five or six feet. I'm glad to see one occasionally.

No sign of fanning nest, they were just cruising around following the bait fish.

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Nice mess! Congrats on a good day !

Nice! What kayak do you use? I’m kicking around the idea of another pedal kayak, I’ve had two that didn’t work out.

I've got two kayaks a Native Ultimate 12 foot and an Old Town Loon 126. My favorite is the Loon. It's a sit inside with room for my gear, but paddles easy.

Great catch. I have a question about the launch location. Can you put a kayak in at this location in photo 1 ? If not, do you put in at the 2nd photo ? Thanks. Have to get over and try that area before the water comes up.

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WTG DB!!! You always seem to find and stay on those skinny water fish.

I launch on the east side by the old bridge when the gates are not locked over the winter. The rest of the year I also launch on the east side, but somewhere off Pryor Road in the farmers fields. There is a gravel boundary that runs close to the water.

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Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

I've got two kayaks a Native Ultimate 12 foot and an Old Town Loon 126. My favorite is the Loon. It's a sit inside with room for my gear, but paddles easy.

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I got spoiled by my Jackson Tripper 12, it’s a stripped version of the Kilroy. It was a sit inside and had a huge amount of storage. I’m going to take a hard look at the new Kilroy HD.

The owner of the local kayak shop has an Ultimate 12 as his personal boat. That says a lot about that boat to me.

I love the Ultimate 12, but it's slower in the water to paddle.

A sit-inside kayak (Loon 126) is dryer, especially on a rainy day or in the winter. I've never found a kayak as seat as comfortable as the Native though.

I'm sure the only reason I get away with catching Crappie in 36 inches of water spider rigging is how quite and low impact a kayak is.

You the man DB!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

I love the Ultimate 12, but it's slower in the water to paddle.

A sit-inside kayak (Loon 126) is dryer, especially on a rainy day or in the winter. I've never found a kayak as seat as comfortable as the Native though.

I'm sure the only reason I get away with catching Crappie in 36 inches of water spider rigging is how quite and low impact a kayak is.

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Ive been taking your advice about stealth in those gravel pits and it pays off....I paddle into the center of the pit and drop anchor and start casting as far as I can (which is considerable with 4lb test and a weighted float)in all directions till I find the pile of fish and sometimes takes a few mins to get a hit but Ive been finding much success with that approach...I don't do the long pole thing or haven't yet cause its a bit hard to keep a flatbottom where I want it with the wind blowing it around and I mostly end up bumping the trees and spooking fish.....

River boss and db I have a question about the Pitts. I normally fish them from the bank on quick trips after work. I caught 12 last Monday but my question is are the fish constantly moving??ill catch one or two in an area then have to start casting different areas. I didn’t know if they are just scattered or moving. Trying to learn all I can about them.


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They stay close to their beds once they fan one for spawning, but right now they're just swimming around following the bait fish and eating.

Typically I'm always looking for the bait fish to find the Crappie.

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Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

They stay close to their beds once they fan one for spawning, but right now they're just swimming around following the bait fish and eating.

Typically I'm always looking for the bait fish to find the Crappie.

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Ditto that...if I see bait being chased I throw in that direction...sometimes you don't see them but theyre still following them...if you lose the bite cast to either side of where you had it and watch the surface for minnow wakes...

Fished today. Kinda muddy. Caught a dink and a gill and that was it.


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With the shallow water in the pits right now a cool cloudy day will shut them down. This time of year, wait till an afternoon that's sunny and you'll catch more in a couple hours than all day.

Think it would be worth going out there for a couple hours this afternoon?

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Originally Posted by StinkyTRD

Think it would be worth going out there for a couple hours this afternoon?

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Did you go??If I don’t get the virus thinking about trying it tomorrow after work. Just wondered if you did any good.


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Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

Did you go??If I don’t get the virus thinking about trying it tomorrow after work. Just wondered if you did any good.


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I did load all of my gear up and go out there, but since I had never been out there before and didn’t know anywhere to put in, I spent an hour just riding around and stopping to talk to the people fishing from the bank. I can’t wait to get out there and try it now that I know what it looks like and spots I can put my kayak in!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by StinkyTRD

I did load all of my gear up and go out there, but since I had never been out there before and didn’t know anywhere to put in, I spent an hour just riding around and stopping to talk to the people fishing from the bank. I can’t wait to get out there and try it now that I know what it looks like and spots I can put my kayak in!

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I fished it from 2-530 and finally found a few in eddies along the creek...they are moving upstream...most were 9-11 inches and all released....couldnt buy a bite in the pits and the wind made it hard to fish ....

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Originally Posted by riverboss

I fished it from 2-530 and finally found a few in eddies along the creek...they are moving upstream...most were 9-11 inches and all released....couldnt buy a bite in the pits and the wind made it hard to fish ....

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Thanks. That helped me decide. Gonna try a creek that comes in off the main river. Did pretty good there last year but it was later.


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There’s rumors my work is shutting down for 2 weeks. If so I will break the kayak out.


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