New water new start

[emmitt]

Going out this weekend and it will be my first time on the lake in about a year. With family commitments and getting a new place in a cove just below the State Park that required some work it has been difficult. Used to be on Gills Creek and was starting to figure it out along with the upper Blackwater but this time I am going to Craddock Creek and around the dam. I haven’t fished this part of the lake before and there is a lot of big water so it will take some time to figure it out. I should be able to get ales off the dock but not sure where to locate gizzards down here. Will post results one way or the other. Tight lines to all…

[coheasion]

Good luck to you! I mostly fish the upper BW but have been venturing more downriver lately and am looking forward to hearing how it goes.

[Gator]

I was wondering where you went. Good to see you back and good luck...you'll do well over there. Plus you're not too far from your old stomping grounds.

[mwardncsu]

Getting to be a good time of year to figure that area out

[emmitt]

I have a very late report from 4/2/16 mainly because I don't have much to report. Started out by the islands and planned on running along the shoal on the right side but the wind coming across the open water made it very difficult to stay on course. Had one pull down that was gone as quick as it came.

Moved to calmer water near the dam just to have the connector on my trolling motor go out and the day was done. The connector was 15+ years old and not a surprise that it went bad. Spent the rest of the day replacing it and now I am ready to give it another try in two weeks.

Plan on trying Craddock Creek again and maybe up the BW if time permits. I do want to try and figure this area out before going someplace else.

[gaterdog]

I'm near C 3 and trying to learn that area also, not having much luck with it myself but they gotta be there. Is the islands considered Craddock creek?

[emmitt]

I am not the one to ask but IMHO since the channel is just on the outside of the islands I consider inside the islands Craddock Creek. Plan on giving it another try this weekend.

[keninva]

I would say that the islands are at the mouth of Craddock Creek . Be careful in that area there is plenty of shallow water around the islands. 

[stripesniper73]

found fish around the those islands last year first week in June when I was on Vacation I will be learning more on that end of lake as well this year as we are staying at that end of lake this year I have always found fish at Christmas tree island

[striperjohn]

Right now there are massive schools running around in the lower lake. As big as I've seen in over 10 years. But many of the schools are running just under the surface of the water and unless you just happen to view your depthfinder, and they just happen to go under the boat-then you won't mark them much.

  We hit many fish (see report from 6-13-20) just simply dragging bait in open water in spots where I've caught them in the past and caught fish. Most times we marked nothing on the depthfinder.
  Bait, bait is everywhere as well. ALewives and bluebacks (which are coming on strong). Now gizzards that's another story. I've found them in one place below R8 in many many years of looking downlake. Just not there in large numbers. Although I've been trying for over 30 years to build them up by catching them up lake and releasing them downlake. But I'm just one guy. I personally think they prefer the uplake current and water draw much better then downlake.