Thread: Stone Mountain Report

I've been fishing this lake steady since 1980 and this is the worst spawn I have ever seen. Those weird fronts that kept coming through this April really threw the crappies a curve ball. I did okay (maybe a hundred) but thats nothing like last year...and that is over a period of 4-5 trips. Big deal....yuck!
Went Friday 4/24 and got only one crappie. I think the spawn is over and they've returned to deep water. Fished from 9AM til dark.
But..the bluegills and shellcrackers saved the day. They're getting into the very shallow water and I ended up with 48 keepers, the stringer weighed out at 14.5 pounds. All taken in 1-2 feet of water on old reliable (for me) 1/32 ounce panther martin spinner with that gold blade. Probably caught 15-20 others that didnt qualify for the eating.
I know thats not a stringer to rave over for you guys down in the southern part of the state but here in a lake (more like a pond) that is pounded to death, it's pretty good.
Took a while to get a pattern on them. They're in little pockets off other coves in areas where you'd think the bank fishermen had caught everything there was. The pockets on the main lake body didnt produce.
Productive areas: The pockets back where the campground is as you go up the lake (on the right hand side). The banks are worn down from people sitting on them but the fish are there, maybe 10-12 feet away from where people and kids splash in the water. In 2 feet of water too.
The island in the middle produced ZERO...dont waste your time.
Dont waste time along the rip rap at the dam either.
There is a bed of bluegills to the right of the boat ramp...in a big brush pile. (you cant see it but you can smell it). Nobody was throwing at it either. Its about maybe 10 yards from the ramp itself.
Of course the rocks along the putting practice green at the "Commons Restaurant" at the golf house where you rent carts always will produce a few.
Water temps ranged from 72 on the lower end to 68 in the very back of the big creek off to the left as you go up the lake. Go under the left bridge. Go all the way back to where the police have their boats parked and fish that 2-3 foot water. You'll get action.
When you go past that restaurant at the putting green you will see an old wharf, dont pass it up. I am including a picture I made of that wharf when the water was way down. You'll know what to do after seeing this picture, now that the lake is full.
Ignore the banter of so-called "fish geniuses" over there who will dwell on the "hottest new lures". Instead, simply depend on what we know will catch fish: Location, depth, and speed of lures or bait. (throw in color as an aid)
That's it for this time.
Douglas

This is how it looked 3 feet low. Use imagination about how it looks now.
Regards,
Douglas

You will know what to do now, when you see the exposed top parts of these rocks and stuff. (this is in that upper left hand creek going to the wharf where the police keep their prowl boats).
Most of what you see here will be underwater now. Check the water level stains on the rocks.
Enjoy
Douglas

Hey Doug, its great to see ya posting. Great to hear from you.

Originally Posted by Ragfly Jig Man

Hey Doug, its great to see ya posting. Great to hear from you.

Thanks my friend.
Things are looking up for me. Got a new website and I signed with a new label and will have another CD out in the fall. Still haggling for that european tour.
New site is JoeLeeBushShow

Regards,
Doug ("Joe Lee")

Nice catch.

I can imagine a campfire at a future Slabfest, sittin there full of good tastin crappie filet, stokin the campfire and hearing our own DB echoing blues across the lake.

this has been a crazy year. The crappie have been ridin an elevator since the first week of march. In march females were already in 4fow, sometimes less. A week later and they are in 20fow. 3 weeks ago they were still in deep water here. they moved up to 5fow or so two weeks ago. Following week they were shallow, then a small cool front, they were in 40fow 30' deep for the biggest. Now if they don't finish spawning this week after 10 days of 80 degree sunshine they are finished. The thing is on my little pond the "crappie season" crappie fishermen have not been catching in the spawning pockets that have produced year after year. They dropped the water 6' twice and back to full pool also this month with all the rain.

Hey Doug, it sure is good to see you post again. been wondering if you were doing ok. sounds like you are better than ok. will check out your new web site. good luck and thanks for the good report. I thought the water was back up but guess not. good to hear from you again. Jimmy S.

Originally Posted by JimmyS

Hey Doug, it sure is good to see you post again. been wondering if you were doing ok. sounds like you are better than ok. will check out your new web site. good luck and thanks for the good report. I thought the water was back up but guess not. good to hear from you again. Jimmy S.

Thank you and thank you and thank you
These pictures were made last September when the water had been pulled down.
The water stain lines on rocks and stuff show where the level is when it's full. It is at full pool now.
I'm going over there in a few minutes and "chunk and crank" til dark. We will see what we will see, etc etc
Regards,
Douglas