Can anyone give me an update on Old Town Lake? I'm interested in fishing there on March 20 for Crappie.
Printable View
Can anyone give me an update on Old Town Lake? I'm interested in fishing there on March 20 for Crappie.
River is in it, I'd try somewhere else this week:(
I don't think the river gets in Old Town. It's outside the levee.Quote:
Originally Posted by Budro
That is correct. The river does not affect Old Town. One of the very few over there that is not tied to the river. It is probably the only one fishable right now due to the high water. I fished there last Friday and Saturday. 16 fish Friday and 18 on Saturday. All of them were good fish. Fished about 7 hours each day. I had a few get off. They are getting ready to spawn there and are in the cypress trees. I caught them all on black and chartreuse jigs about 2 feet deep in 3 feet of water. I was not too dissapointed because those strong storms which included hail came in overnight on both Thursday and Friday nights. My brother fished there yesterday and caught 25 or so. I will be there this wekend as well. If you see a boat with Alabama registration stop and say hello. Good luck.
Thanks for the info. I usually put my boat in the water South of Lakeview grocery on the county road. There is a farm shop with a tower behind it just South of that point. I fish directly across from the tower in the cypress.
I will look for you. I usually fish just across and a little south of the gravel ramp.
Are you able to buy bait down there. Does that guy at the old fish camp carry minnows. I know he normally runs low but I wasn't sure if we was keeping good supplies or if you knew of anywhere else to get bait.
If you are talking about that old shack just as you get to the lake.......yes. At least thaey had some Saturday. A guy named Rudy Mauldin owns it and the scary crossed eyed guy that runs it is named David Hires. The bait shop in West Helena is closed and as far as I know the one in Elaine is also. If you guys go be sure and keep an eye out for a skinny crackhead black guy. He is one begging and stealing son of a gun. Just bark at him and he will leave you alone.
Can you still camp in the lot next to a house just south of the game and fish ramp. I deputy used to live in the house a couple of years ago but didn't live there last year. You would mail your camping fee to and address in mountain view or something like that.
There are only 2 places that I know of: Lakeview Grocery and at the bait shop. I would like to warn you though, my brother and I camped behind the grocery store last year and the crackhead that I spoke of earlier begged me for money at every opportunity. I finally gave him 5 bucks to help me put up a screen gazebo. I thought that would be the end of it but when we woke up the first morning someone had left a half empty beer can outside of our tent. We were only asleep from about 2:00 to 5:00. The can positively did not belong to either of us. I suspect that crackhead had sat or stood there while we were sleeping. I am confident that I can take care of myself while I am awake but when asleep, I am as helpless as a baby. My advice for what it is worth is to stay at Mauldins where the bait shop is. Folks don't wander around there unless they have business there because the guy that runs the bait shop is one crazy dude (he even looks the part) and he keeps a pretty good eye out on your stuff. Just my opinion.
There is a bait shop at WyCamp. I'm not sure it is open yet. For those not familiar with the area, Wycamp is located between West Helena and Barton on Hwy 49. There is a Conoco Truckstop across the road from the bait shop. The bait shop itself is located in the front half of a shop with a sign next to the road. In years past, they have had good bait.
The bait shop at Wycamp is now closed unfortunately. I tried to get some bait from there last Saturday morning.:mad:
I guess the closest one is in Marianna? Forrest City for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gut Shot
I know what you're talking about with David. He could star in a pirate movie!! Nice guy--but I wouldn't want to get crossways with him. And the crackhead----I know exactly what you're talking about. Last year he tried to get me to give him some money to watch my truck. He was "in charge" ramp security that day. :rolleyes: I'll be down there next week---SPRING BREAK!!! Hopefully it didn't rain too much to mess up the lake. I glad we didn't get near as much rain on this side of the state as some did. Mena had over 10 inches the last I heard:eek: Horseshoe and Old Town may be the only options for me next week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gut Shot
How's it going Polebender. I believe that I met you at Burnt Cane a few weeks back when I was fishing with my father or brother. David lived behind us when I was growing up in the 70's in West Helena. I don't remember him being cock-eyed back then but I do remember that he loved the weed. His nickname was "Hash" Hires. He is friendly enough but has had a few brushes with the law over his smoking habits if you know what I mean. I was fishing last year at Old Town and he was mowing the property and saw some of the "locals" snooping over a boat pulled up to his dock. He calmly walked in the store and retrieved his shotgun and fired 3 rounds right over their head. You should of heard the screaming as they got out of there like track stars. I have known him most of my life and even with his shortcomings, I trust him to keep an eye out for my stuff if you stay there. The thing is you just have to get over his looks and get used to not really knowing who or what he is looking at because of that eye.:p
This is a good thread, it is not only informative, but its quite comical too!
I am getting long in the tooth now (almost 48) and I have learned that real life is the most comical of all. :p
Well, what was the fishing report from Old Town this weekend. Did anybody do any good. It sounded like there were going to be plenty of people trying it last weekend but have not heard any reports from anybody.
I can say that I had fish to eat. I caught 7 crappie and 13 catfish from there this weekend. But that was nearly 18 hours of fishing. Friday the wind was strong. Saturday was a little better. The water is never clear, but it was really muddy in my opinion.
I only ended up with 8 fishing about 5 hours on Saturday. I noticed that the water was muddier south of the spillway. Directly across from that is a creek that feeds into the lake. I suspect that it as well as the creek just south of that was cousing this.
we fished from about 745 sat. until about 530 and it was slow for us. me and my buddy wound up with 16 and our friend in his boat caught 3. i too thought it was muddy. i guess you could say we found a pattern to them because we caught every fish on a cypress knee. not one on a tree, log, or buck brush.
bout half males and half females. the next two weeks it should blow wide open down there.
The story seems to be the same everywhere lately----they bit good until the front came through last Wednesday. I talked to some folks who wore 'em out Monday and Tuesday last week at Old Town, but it went downhill from there. We only found 6 crappie Friday, and I went back to bass fish Saturday afternoon, only catching 1 drum.:mad: Went to Horseshoe today and caught 2. A few were being caught trolling in 25 ft, but I'm just not set up to troll like that. Man, it's gotta get better soon. I'm on spring break this week and sure hope I'm there when they do start biting. Another little tidbit----- some are being caught at Burnt Cane in spite of the high muddy water. If necessary, I might just have to try it, but I prefer the clearer water. I'm going back to Old Town in the morning. Hopefully I'll find something tomorrow.
Did anybody happen to drive by the camping area down by Mauldin's. Just wondering if it was full. Thinking about going down this weekend and hope to have a place to camp.
Mauldins did not look too full but the Lakeview Grocery Store camping was packed. If you need Rudy Mauldin's number I can PM it to you.
yeah if you don't mind send me his number through pm. I would like to give him a call.
Got skunked today at Old Town. They've got to get hungry sometime! There were empty parking spaces in the parking lot when I left. That should tell you something! I talked to one guy that caught one and missed one. Water temp was 55-58, which is down several degrees. I think what we need are a few nights of 50+ degree temps instead of the 30's and 40's. What a way to spend spring break----not a mess of fish yet!
I went to old town yesterday caught 1 crappie and got 2 bites, not very good, water stained but fishable, just couldn't buy a crappie. I quess cold front has shut them down for a couple of days?
Word of caution! watch speed limit as you go into town they are sure writing tickets there!
Last year a cold front, rain or both hit every weekend I was wanting to fish Old Town, and this year has been the same. I'm either going to have to try to take off during the week after the weather has been nice several days or do something to change my luck.
Has any one fished there the last day or 2? Also, any ideas about what it will do this weekend?
Still no good. Went this morning and it was 65 or so. The front came through and the wind switched immediately from the north, started raining, and the temp dropped to 50 degrees. North winds and soaked clothes don't make for a very good time, so with no fish again, we left. Talked to one guy at the ramp that had one crappie and a couple of guys with yo-yo's had 2 catfish and one crappie. One guy said he had some yo-yo's out last night and caught just a few, but the owls had eaten several of their fish off the yo-yo's!
One problem I've noticed down there this week. There sure are a lot of big dead crappie floating in the lake. Not just one place----I've seen them all over the lake. There were 12 or so around the G&F landing and parking lot this morning. Something's not right. I wonder if it's agricultural chemicals???
I'm not going back tomorrow, and that's one of my favorite places to fish. Maybe the dead fish died of starvation due to lock jaw!
Hey fellas I am new to this forum, from NEA and love to crappie fish. Me and my buddy were planning on going to old town next weekend. Any predictions on when the spawn will happen and a general layout of the lake would be appreciated (type of cover, coves, etc...) Any ideas on where to get a map? This will obviously be our first trip to old town!
No maps that I am aware of Riverside. The lake is shaped like a quarter moon with it's points pointing pretty much east. Lake is about 6 feet deep in the main lake and 3 to 5 feet in the cypress trees that line the banks. The lake is no more than a half mile wide and about 4 miles long. The most popular spots on this lake are on the east side of the lake: across from the concrete ramp, across from the water tower, and across from the gravel ramp behind Lakeview store (in the curve on highway 44). The most popular colors on this lake are black/chartreuse and blue/white although 2 weks ago red/white seemed to produce the best. Most of the fish being taken lately seem to be in the cypress trees around isolated structure about 1.5 feet deep in 3 to 4 feet of water. If I can assist you any further just let me know.
Thanks a lot, Gut Shot, that will be a tremendous help. I got on google earth last night and got a good layout of the place, but your post is way more helpful. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this weekend and the bite will be on! Thanks Again.
My pleasure. I may see you there. Look for a boat with Alabama registration and that should be me.
We'll Do
I fogot to mention a couple of things. If you use live bait you can get it at Mauldin's bait shop on the lake. Also the spawn historically takes place on the north end of the lake first because the water is usually slightly muddier/dingier there during the spring. Personally, for me, this year has been the exception and they have been better for me on the southern half of the lake. Areas where creeks run into the lake have produced this year. On the south end there is a creek on the other side of the lake from the Water Tower/Spillway and Across from the gravel ramp as well. Hope you catch a bunch.
The info keeps rolling in! I feel much better prepared now. Thanks for the knowledge. We will look for the AL tags.
Glen, don't be telling those guys how to catch our fish. Just teasing fellows. I hope all is going great....:D
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gut Shot
Hi Rusty. How have you been man? Don't worry I've seen you in action on that lake. They won't be getting into your fish. Heck, anybody that can take a 3 hour midday nap in his boat and still get a limit 3 hours before dark has no reason to worry. When you are you going to put those golf clubs down and let me swing by there and pick you on my way to Old Town? I could use some lessons;) I have fished Burnt Cane this year early and liked it but those cypress trees have been calling my name for the last month or so. I know that you can relate.
I have been doing good. Have you hit the 12 inch water yet. You might better. I'd try the duck weed some too. I played golf last week and I sure do suck at this game..:D The only lessons I could give you is teaching to how not to be skeerd if I drive down there and ambush you, then stowaway on your boat. I have been getting the itch some but being outdoors on a golf course is somewhat satisfying. I found a good place to turkey hunt, heck those suckers were running everywhere. I might have to take you up on a trip but I can't this weekend, then i'm going to the mississippi fishing weekend the 18th it is going to be at grenada, you ought to come. I hope all is well with your family, Rusty
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gut Shot