I would like to see if we can bring together FL Panhandle bream chasers so we can share information about our fishing areas, techniques, and maybe have an annual gathering to interconnect and know one another better. There are a number of panhandle folks on BigBlueGill.com. Maybe they will find this group and participate. I hope so.
Will let you know if I do any good tomorrow out of Commanders. Getting a late start so not sure how it will be. Will try to find the shade and try there.
Went to Commanders Landing off hwy81 near Red Bay. Worst time of day, fished 11AM to 2PM. Caught 2 bream, one was a nice redbreast, the other was a 3 incher.
There were a lot of fish in the deep holes with structure, a lot, but I did not have the right tackle. They were is good current. I needed a stiff pole with weight to tight-line. It would probably take a 3/4 or 1 oz. lead to hold the line in current.
The river had numerous stumps, snags, and downed trees that are above water. Good time to mark them for high water time.
There was only one rig in the parking lot when I got there and he was still there when I came in. If they were biting there would have been many more.
Going down to Cowford tomorrow, early, but don't expect to do much. A bass buddy just wants to get on the water. He has been ill so I will go with him.
Got email from a friend in Freeport about the lower end of the river. It's way off and all messed up. No one is doing much of anything except mullet fishermen. They are mopping up in the mullet holes near the mouth of river. Specks are being caught at the 331 bay bridge as well.
It's not looking good this year so far. We really need rain and high water for a while.
I agree the fish are just not biting for some reason. I haven't done any bass fishing this year yet, if I do it will be in holmes creek early in the morning, that seems to be the best time.water is real clear there, haven't seen the shellcrackers like I did last year yet. Going to try to go Thursday, not sure where yet,may try a pond out.
Have never fished Holmes Creek except when I was a teen ager. Have been wanting to get over there for some time and with conditions what they are this would be a good diversion to my regular haunts. Will put this one on my agenda for next week. Rather they try to run Boyntons Cutoff with the low water it may be better to drive around to launce at Shell Landing or one of the other ramp.
You are right shell landing might be your best bet.for the lower end of the creek. Couple of landings in vernon if you want to fish the upper end, spat fishin with crickets seem to work good.I hope with the warmer weather maybe the fish will start to bite better
To make a long story short, today we ran into a Game Warden at a landing just south of Vernon off hwy77. I don't even know the name of the place but it was a creek and the water was so low it would have been difficult. Game Warden was there at the landing and no one else. He told us he was in the Cowford area all day Sunday and people were catching some nice bream but it was spotty.
We went on down to Cowford and fished from 8 to 1. Caught 4 bream hardly keeper size and maybe a dozen 3 finger size and two 8 to 9 inch cats. Just could not find them. Saw maybe 8 or 9 boats and talked to two. They were having a hard time. They had not found them and neither did we.
Talked to a neighbor just a few minutes ago and he told me about a guy I know who was at Cowford this morning, same time as us, and he claims to have caught 38 fly fishing. We didn't see anyone flyfishing but no telling where he was.
People are apparently catching pretty good when they find a bed, but it's difficult . I'm sure not doing anything.
It's frustrating after such a good trip to Texas last month where every trip produced extremely well.
If your going bass fishin, I have always had good luck on thew upper part early in the morning start at daylight if the fog allows,as far as the bream not much luck this year. I haven't caught a handful on flies this year, river or creek. Waiting on the full moon hopefully mayflies will hatch if so I'm goin to wewa to the dead lakes. Got to find some fish somewhere.But take some crickets along with you do some spat fishin also. Good luck
Thanks for the tip on the upper end of Holmes. May take my bass buddy over there next week and let him do his thing while I just fish for fish.
Would like to go down to Wewa myself and stay a couple of days but I don't think there is a motel there. It's a ways to drive from here and I just as soon stay down there overnight. Haven't fishere there so it would exploratory and probably hit and miss, but it would be something different to enjoy.
There was a small may fly hatch Tuesday at Cowford but I didn't see a single fish hit one. Amazing.
Where do you launch at the Dead Lakes and which direction from there. I'm told you can get lost down there if you don't pay attention. I think my buddy Joe has a hand held GSP if I can drag him down there.
I put in at Cox landing,just down river from the old dam thats gone,just a bridge now.There is other landings around, but as far as getting lost i dont think you would you can hear cars on the bridge, there is always people fishing there. alot of bad stumps just under the water be careful with that.Havent heard of a good fishin report from there in a few weeks, i will let you know. Went to Gap pond in sunny hills thursday,still no bream hitting the surface,trolled with crickets that afternoon caught a few small fish but that was it.Still havent found any good fish yet
Thanks for the Wewa tips. Cox would be a good start. Will do a little google earth on that area. Almost went to Gin Pond earlier int he week but ended up at Cowford. Got a rally neat map put out by Washtington County Tourist Development Council. They promote their boat landings and the sand hill lakes a great deal. Many of the ponds are named but there are so many not all have names on the map. Gap looks like to really good size pod, much larger than Gin.
I had to go to Dothan yesterday so went through Bonifay. Stopped at Caryville. There were 5 rigs parked there at noon. big sandbar is under the bridge on east side and several bars out in the river below the bridge.
On way home I stopped at the Baker Landing on 179A north of Westville. One rig was there. River very shallow and sandbars could be seen.
Then went on down to the Cerrogordo Landing. Met a young local there doing the same as me, checking the river. He really knows the river and gave me several pointers on how to navigate out of the landing without running aground. We talked about the situation for about half an hour when a guy arrived with his boat. He had been to bay mullet fishing with cast net. Had 50 in a huge ice check. Said a friend was with him in another boat and got 48. Also said folks were cleaning up with snatch hooks at "The stump", down below Smokehouse. They use sinking dog food for chum. Mullet folks know where that is, I don't. BTW, he came to the landing to run his motor to flush it in the river.
He also said about 5 years ago when the river was even lower than now (I remember that) there was an algae bloom at the Baker Landing area and people caught hundreds of mullet snatching from the bank and wading out in the river. That's a long way up the river but the conditions were unusual which may have brought them that far north.
We had a good three-way conversation and they talked about how bad shocking is going on now in the upper river. The poachers are taking loads of flatheads and other fish by shocking the deep holes. They said if there are 2 or 3 boats close together they are probably shocking. They are doing it at night as well as in broad daylight. They talked about one case where two guys loaded the back of their pickup and the boat was half full of flatheads. They got checked by the Game Warden but he could not make a case. Could not find the shocker. It had been hidden in the woods. No telling what all goes on in the woods and waters up there. They did say flatheads had got so bad up there it was impacting the bream fishing.
Nothing but a small light weight 12 or 14 ft flat boat with small motor can handle the river up there. Huge sandbars on the bends as well as out in the river. stumps and rocks showing. Really low. One rig was parked at Cerrogordo.
Made a scouting trip to Washington County, Holmes Creek, this afternoon. Never realized the creek was so clear up stream from Vernon. Shell Landing looked like the best place to launch for fishing. Upstream ramps had a lot of swimmers
At the Brunson Ramp the was was slightly stained compared to very clear water but it was still clear. There were several people there picniking at the Choctaw Ramp and a lot of trash. Unsavory looking crowd so not sure about what to expect there during the week. But, it looked like good fishing. This is not far below Vernon.
Went on up to the Billy Lee Ram near Douglas Ferry. This is on the river and about 4 miles upstream of Morrison Springs. Three boats were coming in and had a good catch of blue cat and shellcrackers, they said these were actually caught below Cowford yesterday and they just kept them on ice until today. They had about 20 nice shellcrackers.
Neighbor called me this after noon about trip this morning to Cowford. His boat caught their limit of 100 and second boat had 78. They got on a bed of stumpknockers and loaded up. Said most of the catch was just medium had size. I believe the report for Ithe people well. Both are in my church but played hookey and went fishing this morning.They kept to the limit because both are government officials in De Funiak
Appears the catch may be improving. Maybe he cooler weather and full moon has something to do with it.
Had time after work this afternoon to fish in grassy pond in greenhead this afternoon. Caught a few small fish, I think the cold night sat. Had a negative effect on the fish activity. I'm affraid with the next few nights being cold its going to slow down the fish again this year. Gap pond has a good landing ,gin pond concrete out of the water may need 4 whl. Drv by now. I don't mind the poachers as long as they keep taking flatheads out of the river, I don't think the game wardens mind a lot either.I haven't fished up past cerrogoro in years how is the landing there now? I know where the mullet hole is below smokehouse, you can't miss it there is people fishin there most of the time for mullet,boats lined up back to back.I like my mullet to come out of the salt water ,I. Like the flavor better.still haven't had a good word from wewa at dead lakes.at brothers river th fishing was pickin up
Ramp at Cerrogordo is in good shape even with low water.
I'm headed out Tuesday but not sure where, but probably Holmes Creek just for something different.
The guy who reported 100 fish today said about 30 were caught on flyrod, but mostly small. I get the impression they caught a lot of fish but most were small.
After seeing Holmes Creek I can see why people like it. It's a draw for swimmers, canoe and yakers, and fishermen. At the landing right near the bridge in Vernon there were a good many people in the river. About 6 or 7 rigs in parking lot.
Where every I saw trailer rigs at the various landings you could tell there were not big boat launched. The trailers were for 12 to 16 ft max.
Just back from Holmes Creek, Shell landing. Man, what a day. The important part first - we did poorly, one 1 1/2 bass, one small butter cat, one nice shellcrack, and one decent bream. Several throw backs. However, the shellcrackers were biting big time at a one spot where 2 guys were bank fishing. Will send PM.
We left DFS at 5:30. Got about a mile east of the Ponce DeLeon exit and had a flat on the boat trailer. Was on my friends Joe's truck and boat. We had no lug wrench that would fit the spare tire lugs so Joe took off to fine one. His hydrolic jack woudl not work but he has a half-assed one that we adapted. It was a screw type jack and there was no T bar to turn the dark thing. Luckly we had a vice-grips that we adapted and eventualy got the trailer jacked up high enough to change the tire.
I sat on I10 with the boat when Joe went looking for a lug wrench in PDL. . He returned and we got the spare off the trailer . It had no air. Luckly Joe has one of those emergency battery power packs with air pump. Pumped up the spare and mounted. Got to Shell Landing about 8 AM. Fished until about 3PM.
On the way home the mounted spare went flat. So I sat on I10 with the boat again and Joe went for another tire. We were between DFS and PDL. Found one at Walmart in DFS. finally got home about 7PM. Man O Man, what a day to remember.
The up side is I love Holmes Creek. The water needs to come up a couple of feet but now you can see all the cover when it does. It's amaging how those cypress roots can provice so much cover for fish to spawn and hide.
The was was in good shape. There were a number of boats out but none were setting world on fire but they had a few. We did run into a guy abou 1PM who had just launced and he told us he could do nothing wrong yesterday afternoon on the bass. He hit them about a mile up stream from the Holmes Creek Bridge on hwy 284. He was going back for another try.
Anyway, the creek no doubt is an outstanding fishery when the water is a little bit higher. There are so many little creek runs connecting, little slews off the main creek, excellent habitat is everywhere. I was amazed how deep the water was even at the current low level. In mid stream it was about 4 to 5, and up to 15+ in places.
I may go back Friday for another shot since I learned a little about deep water fishing for shell cracker.
What a day! Suprised you would try it again so soon after that. I hope yall will be going on your boat this time, you can get there a little bit earlier. think im headed to wewa fri afternoon. hope you have better luck on your next trip. I did get a good laugh!
Howdy! @ JB: Good work on the trailer! Hope I have someone so patient along when I finally get a boat on the road... I'll make sure to have a lug wrench, and the air pump... Murpheys law: whatever can go wrong, WILL go wrong...
@Clint Johnson: I want those flatheads! I'll eat 'em UP! What's the scoop on "poachers"? Is it a fish trap thing? Netters? I hate both... but I have to respect a licensed fish trap operator who puts a tag on their line, because I fish for my dinner too... but an unlicensed trap might be a different story...
The word on a mullet run makes me think of flatheads! They'll eat 'em up, and get FAT. Good news for me, cuz I can't eat mullet... the one and only fish I'm allergic to. I can put them on a hook, but I can't even get near a cut fish. The smell will make me swell up like a poisoned pup...
And I'm happy to hear tips on the red ears! That's my quest... a BIG shellcracker!
Welcome Mike, hope to hear more from you. I enjoy swapping info and taling fishing. Hope you do good ont he flatheads. I'm not a cat guy but would like to get into the game.
I found the two landings in question. One is Stricklands Landing which is public, and the other is private in a very nice river home resort area. You would not know the homes were there looking from the river. Both are just down river from the bridge on hwy 284 (millers ferry rd). Going to give it a shot Friday, early.
Went to wewa fri afternoon had a great trip we had 30 bream , mayflies are thick if you can get there you need to go. Dead lakes is where the action is!
Sweet... spent the last couple days fixing the FREE BOAT... I'm posting pics now... It's a water rocket! A shallow draft, FAST boat. Major bream fishing platform... needs pole holders and plenty of tie downs... AND registration! But I have the motor pretty much ready to go, and everything else seems sound. I'd love to make the maiden voyage into a mayfly hatch!
Clint, you hit it nice at Wewa. That's some giant bream. Would love to nail a few on my new 4 wt flyrod.
Friend Herman from South Port and I went to Holmes Creek Friday morning. Got there at 5:30 and fished until 11:30. I am jinxed. Brought home two small shellcrackers that Herman caught. No one was doing anything except the bass guys we spoke with had one or two small ones. I did see 2 mayflys on the water and nary a bream hit them. I haven't caught enough fish in last 3 trips to have a fish fry.
I have business in Panama City on Thursday and going on to Tallahassee to fish Lake Jackson on Friday. I plan to by by Wewa and hit Cox Landing just for 2 or 3 hours and see what it all looks like. Will not have a lot of time as have to get up eary Friday to be at the lake by daylight. There is no shade on Jackson so it will get hot. Bream are on the bite over there in Jackson to the Friday Talh paper.
Clint.................Wewa - Sportsmans Lodge. Found this place listed on hwy 22 which is the highway that goes across the bridge on lower end of Dead Lakes. They apparently don't have a website. Do you know anything about the place, especially costs factor?
I don't know much about it except what you just said but its close to where I put in at . Road before you go over the bridge to the right is cox landing
Well, finally get to eat fish. Not a highly productive day but still the best I've had all month. Went out of Commanders Landing (Choctawhatchee River) on hwy 81 this morning. Fished from 5:30 to 11:30. Water extremely low. Have to be careful. Hit a few snags that are normally deeper under water, but no damage done. Only two other boats launched here this morning.
Managed to take 9 nice bream and shellcrackers, 3 small channels, and 1 keeper bass. None were bragging size but will fill the skillet. Crickets were best but did manage a few on fly rod with yellow popper #8 size. 8 or 10 dinks were released.
Sounds like a good trip to me. You right about the water level its low, if I go to the river this weekend it will have to be below rooks bluff maybe there's water that far down. Taking my boat to hartford this morn. Hope it will be fixed by fri.
Week before last Sunday two friends did well below Rooks Bluff. They limited out and a good number were with a fly rod. They had only a few braggers, most were just hand size. I hear the launch at Bozeman's is very steep. Simplers is better but a little further up the river.
I use a guy on hwy 2a, about 6 miles west of Geneva, for my kicker repair. He had a very well stocked shop in barn. Retired outboard mechanice, got bored, and opened his own shop. He does a good bit of work on FWC boats.
Stopped at Cox Landing today. There is enough water to get a flat boat launched and around the sandbar to the river. Got there about 11AM. It was hot as all getout, so decided not to launch my boat. Then went over the bridge to visit the Lodge. There was no sign so I ran by it and had to turn around. They have a few cabins on river side and store across the highway. Have some tackle, worms and crickets (open at 6am) and other small stuff. Boat launch here is no good, river too low.
Did not look inside the cabins but they have a/c, refer, stove top (no oven), no pots and pans. Fish cleaning station over by the store with water. $75 per night. At bit steep for me but they are booked for weekends for several weeks ahead. Lady said the fish are still biting and have been for about a month. I can see how it would be easy to get lost in the lake if you got far from the bridge or have no GPS. I have a nice hand held gps given to me that I need to learn how to operate.
Between Wewa and Blountstown stopped at the Chipola River. Store there and cabins for $55 per night. Not as large as those at Wewc. Open 6am, worms and crickets. This is really a nicer place with good grounds and launch. There is a weekend gathering spot for yaks and canoes. The river is beautiful. Downstream is Dead Lake. It's about 12 to 15 miles from Wewa on hwy 71.
I went to wewa fri afternoon, same thing couldn't put my boat in T cox. Went up hwy 71 to dead lakes park landing was good, they also have camp sites not sure of the price. Fish were biting slow caught 23, all about hand size. No big bream like the week before, water is falling out fast, the big bream has moved or they are full of mayflies. Didn't get back to the landing till about 9 . Cost me to much to just catch small fish, I will have to wait for a fishin report before I go back, or the price of gas goes down! I'm not sure where to find any fish with the water so low everywhere. Most of the landngs at the local ponds are out of the water. Good luck on your trip
Came home a day early. Went to east side of Lake Jackon yesterday morning and fished 5:45 to 10 CST. Caught one nice 8 to 9 inch blue gill on first cast with flyrod right by dock at the landing. About 8 o'clock hung another on a cricket. the way it bit it looked like a shellcracker, but he pulled off in the lily pads. That was it - not a single bite more.........
The water has dropped so low in this part of the lake the grass is in top in places and no more than 1 to 2 feet deep in most of the other areas. I found one area about 3 feet before you hung grass. According to Talh paper the bite is still good but turns out it's on the west side of the lake where there is more water. I was not aware at the time plus it's a good drive around to get there. Where I go it's about 1 1/2 minutes from the house.
Anyway, Two locals were out early, one was on his spot when I got there and another with a yak launched beside me. The yak came in about 9 o'clock but didn't get a chance to talk to him. The other guy came in same time as me so got to chat. I saw him on his hole late the day before so he must have found a bed. Claimed he's did'n t do much that morning. Said the water has dropped a lot in past week, but for 2 or 3 weeks before it was very good. Water was higher.
On way home I decided to stop at the landing north of Sneads up the road from Three Rivers Park. This was at the bridge where there is a ramp. When I got there the parking lot was almost full. Bunch of guys in the shade talking. Must be a weekend tournement going on so I didn't stop. Decided would come on home and hit Lake Juniper for 2 or 3 hours before dark and fly rod the many docks. Darn car a/c went out on me at Chipley. So disgusted I just came home, parked the boat, and came in the house to cool off.
Water at Cox must have dropped a little more from Thursday. I thought I could have launched but it would have been close on getting around the sand bar into the river. There is a landing about 2 miles across the bridge from the "sportsmans lodge" that is public, but you would have a long run in river back to the lake. I didn't check it out but it's the place they have those catish tournaments. Might be too shallow in places to make the run back to the river.
Like you I have been spending a lot on gas for trips and will have to reaccess where and when a little closer. I have Lake Juniper, about 600 acres, only about 4 miles from the house so thing I will start hitting it at daylight for a couple of hours and maybe a couple of hours before darn. At least there are some very good fish out there so enough incentive to start learning the lake and reduce gas expenses.
Report from WZEP radio yesterday about new water trail on The Choctawhatchee.
Paddle Trail
Row, Row, Row your boat… and camp… and fish… and hike along a biodiverse section of our area. Walton Commissioner Scott Brannon said Bill Cleckley with the Northwest Florida Water Management District and Cliff Knauer with Preble-Rish Engineering have all been working on a Choctawhatchee River Paddle Trail that would start at Morrison Springs and end near the bay at Black Creek.
At the recent Walton Commissioner meeting, Knauer noted Walton has a tremendous wealth of natural resources. The three are putting together a paddle trail for canoes, kayaks and other craft. The trail would connect with the Holmes Creek trail and the Florida Hiking Trail crosses the area.
They are working on getting a $200,000 grant with $50,000 matching from the Water Management District. Cleckley said the district owns land along the river and creeks. He also noted there are oxbow lakes, springs and archeological sites. The trail is being based on one at the Suwannee River.
The trip would be 57 miles total. The sections would provide segments where people could pick different legs of the trail based on experience and time. There would also be stops where people could stay overnight. Knauer said the trail could include the river north in Holmes County as an additional extension in the future. The trail would connect with the Holmes Creek trail. There would be kayak and canoe racks at each site and the trail crosses the Florida Scenic Hiking Trail. There will also be bank fishing sites and ADA enhancements where possible. There could also be small cabins for sleeping bags, basically elevated screened rooms that could be reserved. The Cowford site might have restrooms and showers.
Hit Juniper Lake (De Funiak Springs) yesterday 5P to dark. Water 84.8. Caught 3 bluegills, about 7 inches or so, but they were skinny, skinny, skinny. Nothing but skin and bones. Haven't see a bream like this in many years. All released. Also a 7 inch bass decided to his the fly popper.
This lake had a draw down about 3 or 4 years ago and a lot of stumps removed or cut off to make navigation safer. One would think the fish would be healthy now but the bream looked anemic
I did find two spots that held good fish according to the sonar but no luck. Will visit these spot again maybe tomorrow and see if I can catch one to see what they are. They were holding at about 6 ft in 7 and 8 ft water. Times are hard, but at least it's water and close to home.
There were 11 folks on the bank fishing in the dam area.
your right fishin is gettin hard in this area. want be able to do any fishin this week , back to work till next monday. Would like to try some of the creeks around white city. when the water gets low the salt water from the tide use to push fish into the mouths of the small creeks in that area. Again its another ride to get down there, havent heard of any good fishin reports from anywhere yet. maybe the next full moon will help it out some.
J. B. Hillard
May 7, 2011
clint johnson
May 8, 2011
J. B. Hillard
What areas have you been hitting?
I planned on going down to Commanders Landing on our side tomorrow but it will be a late start.
Had planned on Cowford on Tuesday but may have to do something else if tomorrow does not pan out.
May 8, 2011
clint johnson
May 8, 2011
J. B. Hillard
May 8, 2011
clint johnson
May 8, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Went to Commanders Landing off hwy81 near Red Bay. Worst time of day, fished 11AM to 2PM. Caught 2 bream, one was a nice redbreast, the other was a 3 incher.
There were a lot of fish in the deep holes with structure, a lot, but I did not have the right tackle. They were is good current. I needed a stiff pole with weight to tight-line. It would probably take a 3/4 or 1 oz. lead to hold the line in current.
The river had numerous stumps, snags, and downed trees that are above water. Good time to mark them for high water time.
There was only one rig in the parking lot when I got there and he was still there when I came in. If they were biting there would have been many more.
Going down to Cowford tomorrow, early, but don't expect to do much. A bass buddy just wants to get on the water. He has been ill so I will go with him.
Got email from a friend in Freeport about the lower end of the river. It's way off and all messed up. No one is doing much of anything except mullet fishermen. They are mopping up in the mullet holes near the mouth of river. Specks are being caught at the 331 bay bridge as well.
It's not looking good this year so far. We really need rain and high water for a while.
May 9, 2011
clint johnson
May 9, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Have never fished Holmes Creek except when I was a teen ager. Have been wanting to get over there for some time and with conditions what they are this would be a good diversion to my regular haunts. Will put this one on my agenda for next week. Rather they try to run Boyntons Cutoff with the low water it may be better to drive around to launce at Shell Landing or one of the other ramp.
May 9, 2011
clint johnson
May 10, 2011
J. B. Hillard
To make a long story short, today we ran into a Game Warden at a landing just south of Vernon off hwy77. I don't even know the name of the place but it was a creek and the water was so low it would have been difficult. Game Warden was there at the landing and no one else. He told us he was in the Cowford area all day Sunday and people were catching some nice bream but it was spotty.
We went on down to Cowford and fished from 8 to 1. Caught 4 bream hardly keeper size and maybe a dozen 3 finger size and two 8 to 9 inch cats. Just could not find them. Saw maybe 8 or 9 boats and talked to two. They were having a hard time. They had not found them and neither did we.
Talked to a neighbor just a few minutes ago and he told me about a guy I know who was at Cowford this morning, same time as us, and he claims to have caught 38 fly fishing. We didn't see anyone flyfishing but no telling where he was.
People are apparently catching pretty good when they find a bed, but it's difficult . I'm sure not doing anything.
It's frustrating after such a good trip to Texas last month where every trip produced extremely well.
May 10, 2011
J. B. Hillard
May 10, 2011
clint johnson
May 11, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Thanks for the tip on the upper end of Holmes. May take my bass buddy over there next week and let him do his thing while I just fish for fish.
Would like to go down to Wewa myself and stay a couple of days but I don't think there is a motel there. It's a ways to drive from here and I just as soon stay down there overnight. Haven't fishere there so it would exploratory and probably hit and miss, but it would be something different to enjoy.
There was a small may fly hatch Tuesday at Cowford but I didn't see a single fish hit one. Amazing.
Where do you launch at the Dead Lakes and which direction from there. I'm told you can get lost down there if you don't pay attention. I think my buddy Joe has a hand held GSP if I can drag him down there.
May 12, 2011
clint johnson
May 13, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Thanks for the Wewa tips. Cox would be a good start. Will do a little google earth on that area. Almost went to Gin Pond earlier int he week but ended up at Cowford. Got a rally neat map put out by Washtington County Tourist Development Council. They promote their boat landings and the sand hill lakes a great deal. Many of the ponds are named but there are so many not all have names on the map. Gap looks like to really good size pod, much larger than Gin.
May 13, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Made a scouting trip to Washington County, Holmes Creek, this afternoon. Never realized the creek was so clear up stream from Vernon. Shell Landing looked like the best place to launch for fishing. Upstream ramps had a lot of swimmers
At the Brunson Ramp the was was slightly stained compared to very clear water but it was still clear. There were several people there picniking at the Choctaw Ramp and a lot of trash. Unsavory looking crowd so not sure about what to expect there during the week. But, it looked like good fishing. This is not far below Vernon.
Went on up to the Billy Lee Ram near Douglas Ferry. This is on the river and about 4 miles upstream of Morrison Springs. Three boats were coming in and had a good catch of blue cat and shellcrackers, they said these were actually caught below Cowford yesterday and they just kept them on ice until today. They had about 20 nice shellcrackers.
Neighbor called me this after noon about trip this morning to Cowford. His boat caught their limit of 100 and second boat had 78. They got on a bed of stumpknockers and loaded up. Said most of the catch was just medium had size. I believe the report for Ithe people well. Both are in my church but played hookey and went fishing this morning.They kept to the limit because both are government officials in De Funiak
Appears the catch may be improving. Maybe he cooler weather and full moon has something to do with it.
May 15, 2011
clint johnson
May 15, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Ramp at Cerrogordo is in good shape even with low water.
I'm headed out Tuesday but not sure where, but probably Holmes Creek just for something different.
The guy who reported 100 fish today said about 30 were caught on flyrod, but mostly small. I get the impression they caught a lot of fish but most were small.
After seeing Holmes Creek I can see why people like it. It's a draw for swimmers, canoe and yakers, and fishermen. At the landing right near the bridge in Vernon there were a good many people in the river. About 6 or 7 rigs in parking lot.
Where every I saw trailer rigs at the various landings you could tell there were not big boat launched. The trailers were for 12 to 16 ft max.
I
May 15, 2011
clint johnson
May 17, 2011
clint johnson
May 17, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Just back from Holmes Creek, Shell landing. Man, what a day. The important part first - we did poorly, one 1 1/2 bass, one small butter cat, one nice shellcrack, and one decent bream. Several throw backs. However, the shellcrackers were biting big time at a one spot where 2 guys were bank fishing. Will send PM.
We left DFS at 5:30. Got about a mile east of the Ponce DeLeon exit and had a flat on the boat trailer. Was on my friends Joe's truck and boat. We had no lug wrench that would fit the spare tire lugs so Joe took off to fine one. His hydrolic jack woudl not work but he has a half-assed one that we adapted. It was a screw type jack and there was no T bar to turn the dark thing. Luckly we had a vice-grips that we adapted and eventualy got the trailer jacked up high enough to change the tire.
I sat on I10 with the boat when Joe went looking for a lug wrench in PDL. . He returned and we got the spare off the trailer . It had no air. Luckly Joe has one of those emergency battery power packs with air pump. Pumped up the spare and mounted. Got to Shell Landing about 8 AM. Fished until about 3PM.
On the way home the mounted spare went flat. So I sat on I10 with the boat again and Joe went for another tire. We were between DFS and PDL. Found one at Walmart in DFS. finally got home about 7PM. Man O Man, what a day to remember.
The up side is I love Holmes Creek. The water needs to come up a couple of feet but now you can see all the cover when it does. It's amaging how those cypress roots can provice so much cover for fish to spawn and hide.
The was was in good shape. There were a number of boats out but none were setting world on fire but they had a few. We did run into a guy abou 1PM who had just launced and he told us he could do nothing wrong yesterday afternoon on the bass. He hit them about a mile up stream from the Holmes Creek Bridge on hwy 284. He was going back for another try.
Anyway, the creek no doubt is an outstanding fishery when the water is a little bit higher. There are so many little creek runs connecting, little slews off the main creek, excellent habitat is everywhere. I was amazed how deep the water was even at the current low level. In mid stream it was about 4 to 5, and up to 15+ in places.
I may go back Friday for another shot since I learned a little about deep water fishing for shell cracker.
May 17, 2011
J. B. Hillard
May 17, 2011
clint johnson
May 17, 2011
Mike Stacy
Howdy! @ JB: Good work on the trailer! Hope I have someone so patient along when I finally get a boat on the road... I'll make sure to have a lug wrench, and the air pump... Murpheys law: whatever can go wrong, WILL go wrong...
@Clint Johnson: I want those flatheads! I'll eat 'em UP! What's the scoop on "poachers"? Is it a fish trap thing? Netters? I hate both... but I have to respect a licensed fish trap operator who puts a tag on their line, because I fish for my dinner too... but an unlicensed trap might be a different story...
The word on a mullet run makes me think of flatheads! They'll eat 'em up, and get FAT. Good news for me, cuz I can't eat mullet... the one and only fish I'm allergic to. I can put them on a hook, but I can't even get near a cut fish. The smell will make me swell up like a poisoned pup...
And I'm happy to hear tips on the red ears! That's my quest... a BIG shellcracker!
Any tips on hot shellcracker water near P'cola?
May 17, 2011
J. B. Hillard
I will probably go along in my boat. I can get into spots that a big basa boat can't. Also, will be at the landing by 5:30.
Today I caught the bass on a Round Dinny, yellow.
Let me know how Wewa works out. I sure would like to give that a shot even though it's a two hour drive for me.
May 17, 2011
Mike Stacy
Heading out the door to fill a cooler with bullheads, because the bream drive them out of the shallows when they bed, and I EAT FISH!
Not the best fish to be had... but I soak them in lemon lime soda, and it takes the FUNK out. They fry up nice after the soda soak.
Gotta go work now. This is my food for the week... I'll be back online once I've got 30lb on the stringer. About 4 hrs...
May 17, 2011
J. B. Hillard
May 17, 2011
J. B. Hillard
May 18, 2011
clint johnson
May 20, 2011
Mike Stacy
May 20, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Mike, I have never seen a boat like that. What is it's brand name?
Looks like a really fine fishing platform in protected waters and should be east and inexpensive to operation. I assume it's power by electirc.
May 21, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Clint, you hit it nice at Wewa. That's some giant bream. Would love to nail a few on my new 4 wt flyrod.
Friend Herman from South Port and I went to Holmes Creek Friday morning. Got there at 5:30 and fished until 11:30. I am jinxed. Brought home two small shellcrackers that Herman caught. No one was doing anything except the bass guys we spoke with had one or two small ones. I did see 2 mayflys on the water and nary a bream hit them. I haven't caught enough fish in last 3 trips to have a fish fry.
May 21, 2011
clint johnson
May 21, 2011
clint johnson
May 22, 2011
J. B. Hillard
UGH.... that's a bummer.
I have business in Panama City on Thursday and going on to Tallahassee to fish Lake Jackson on Friday. I plan to by by Wewa and hit Cox Landing just for 2 or 3 hours and see what it all looks like. Will not have a lot of time as have to get up eary Friday to be at the lake by daylight. There is no shade on Jackson so it will get hot. Bream are on the bite over there in Jackson to the Friday Talh paper.
May 22, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Clint.................Wewa - Sportsmans Lodge. Found this place listed on hwy 22 which is the highway that goes across the bridge on lower end of Dead Lakes. They apparently don't have a website. Do you know anything about the place, especially costs factor?
May 22, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Found Sportsmans Lodge in Wewa. Here is a link.
http://tinyurl.com/3evd7yh
Will check it out Thursday and report back. Hope it will do just fine for what I'm looking for.
May 23, 2011
clint johnson
May 23, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Well, finally get to eat fish. Not a highly productive day but still the best I've had all month. Went out of Commanders Landing (Choctawhatchee River) on hwy 81 this morning. Fished from 5:30 to 11:30. Water extremely low. Have to be careful. Hit a few snags that are normally deeper under water, but no damage done. Only two other boats launched here this morning.
Managed to take 9 nice bream and shellcrackers, 3 small channels, and 1 keeper bass. None were bragging size but will fill the skillet. Crickets were best but did manage a few on fly rod with yellow popper #8 size. 8 or 10 dinks were released.
May 24, 2011
clint johnson
May 25, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Week before last Sunday two friends did well below Rooks Bluff. They limited out and a good number were with a fly rod. They had only a few braggers, most were just hand size. I hear the launch at Bozeman's is very steep. Simplers is better but a little further up the river.
I use a guy on hwy 2a, about 6 miles west of Geneva, for my kicker repair. He had a very well stocked shop in barn. Retired outboard mechanice, got bored, and opened his own shop. He does a good bit of work on FWC boats.
May 25, 2011
clint johnson
May 26, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Stopped at Cox Landing today. There is enough water to get a flat boat launched and around the sandbar to the river. Got there about 11AM. It was hot as all getout, so decided not to launch my boat. Then went over the bridge to visit the Lodge. There was no sign so I ran by it and had to turn around. They have a few cabins on river side and store across the highway. Have some tackle, worms and crickets (open at 6am) and other small stuff. Boat launch here is no good, river too low.
Did not look inside the cabins but they have a/c, refer, stove top (no oven), no pots and pans. Fish cleaning station over by the store with water. $75 per night. At bit steep for me but they are booked for weekends for several weeks ahead. Lady said the fish are still biting and have been for about a month. I can see how it would be easy to get lost in the lake if you got far from the bridge or have no GPS. I have a nice hand held gps given to me that I need to learn how to operate.
Between Wewa and Blountstown stopped at the Chipola River. Store there and cabins for $55 per night. Not as large as those at Wewc. Open 6am, worms and crickets. This is really a nicer place with good grounds and launch. There is a weekend gathering spot for yaks and canoes. The river is beautiful. Downstream is Dead Lake. It's about 12 to 15 miles from Wewa on hwy 71.
Will be on Lake Jackson at day break tomorrow.
Good lunch Friday.
May 26, 2011
clint johnson
May 28, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Came home a day early. Went to east side of Lake Jackon yesterday morning and fished 5:45 to 10 CST. Caught one nice 8 to 9 inch blue gill on first cast with flyrod right by dock at the landing. About 8 o'clock hung another on a cricket. the way it bit it looked like a shellcracker, but he pulled off in the lily pads. That was it - not a single bite more.........
The water has dropped so low in this part of the lake the grass is in top in places and no more than 1 to 2 feet deep in most of the other areas. I found one area about 3 feet before you hung grass. According to Talh paper the bite is still good but turns out it's on the west side of the lake where there is more water. I was not aware at the time plus it's a good drive around to get there. Where I go it's about 1 1/2 minutes from the house.
Anyway, Two locals were out early, one was on his spot when I got there and another with a yak launched beside me. The yak came in about 9 o'clock but didn't get a chance to talk to him. The other guy came in same time as me so got to chat. I saw him on his hole late the day before so he must have found a bed. Claimed he's did'n t do much that morning. Said the water has dropped a lot in past week, but for 2 or 3 weeks before it was very good. Water was higher.
On way home I decided to stop at the landing north of Sneads up the road from Three Rivers Park. This was at the bridge where there is a ramp. When I got there the parking lot was almost full. Bunch of guys in the shade talking. Must be a weekend tournement going on so I didn't stop. Decided would come on home and hit Lake Juniper for 2 or 3 hours before dark and fly rod the many docks. Darn car a/c went out on me at Chipley. So disgusted I just came home, parked the boat, and came in the house to cool off.
Water at Cox must have dropped a little more from Thursday. I thought I could have launched but it would have been close on getting around the sand bar into the river. There is a landing about 2 miles across the bridge from the "sportsmans lodge" that is public, but you would have a long run in river back to the lake. I didn't check it out but it's the place they have those catish tournaments. Might be too shallow in places to make the run back to the river.
Like you I have been spending a lot on gas for trips and will have to reaccess where and when a little closer. I have Lake Juniper, about 600 acres, only about 4 miles from the house so thing I will start hitting it at daylight for a couple of hours and maybe a couple of hours before darn. At least there are some very good fish out there so enough incentive to start learning the lake and reduce gas expenses.
May 28, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Report from WZEP radio yesterday about new water trail on The Choctawhatchee.
Paddle Trail
Row, Row, Row your boat… and camp… and fish… and hike along a biodiverse section of our area. Walton Commissioner Scott Brannon said Bill Cleckley with the Northwest Florida Water Management District and Cliff Knauer with Preble-Rish Engineering have all been working on a Choctawhatchee River Paddle Trail that would start at Morrison Springs and end near the bay at Black Creek.
At the recent Walton Commissioner meeting, Knauer noted Walton has a tremendous wealth of natural resources. The three are putting together a paddle trail for canoes, kayaks and other craft. The trail would connect with the Holmes Creek trail and the Florida Hiking Trail crosses the area.
They are working on getting a $200,000 grant with $50,000 matching from the Water Management District. Cleckley said the district owns land along the river and creeks. He also noted there are oxbow lakes, springs and archeological sites. The trail is being based on one at the Suwannee River.
The trip would be 57 miles total. The sections would provide segments where people could pick different legs of the trail based on experience and time. There would also be stops where people could stay overnight. Knauer said the trail could include the river north in Holmes County as an additional extension in the future. The trail would connect with the Holmes Creek trail. There would be kayak and canoe racks at each site and the trail crosses the Florida Scenic Hiking Trail. There will also be bank fishing sites and ADA enhancements where possible. There could also be small cabins for sleeping bags, basically elevated screened rooms that could be reserved. The Cowford site might have restrooms and showers.
May 28, 2011
J. B. Hillard
Hit Juniper Lake (De Funiak Springs) yesterday 5P to dark. Water 84.8. Caught 3 bluegills, about 7 inches or so, but they were skinny, skinny, skinny. Nothing but skin and bones. Haven't see a bream like this in many years. All released. Also a 7 inch bass decided to his the fly popper.
This lake had a draw down about 3 or 4 years ago and a lot of stumps removed or cut off to make navigation safer. One would think the fish would be healthy now but the bream looked anemic
I did find two spots that held good fish according to the sonar but no luck. Will visit these spot again maybe tomorrow and see if I can catch one to see what they are. They were holding at about 6 ft in 7 and 8 ft water. Times are hard, but at least it's water and close to home.
There were 11 folks on the bank fishing in the dam area.
May 31, 2011
clint johnson
May 31, 2011