Thread: Hey Crab Orchard fishermen

Is the Visitor pond, the A-41 pond and the bluegil pond open to the public to fish or just campers??

Originally Posted by Dirthead

Is the Visitor pond, the A-41 pond and the bluegil pond open to the public to fish or just campers??

Wow! I hadn't heard anyone mention A-41 for years! I found it in 1978 when I went to SIU-C and had it almost to myself that summer but that all changed in 1979 after I took a few fellow students there...

Boy-oh-boy, did I catch the Bass there!!! I used a purple Tube worm and some days just wore them out. I remember taking my Irish Setter Demon there one day and he had a ball until we almost made it back to the parking lot (there was a gate there and you had a LONG walk back there - and just before we crossed through he found the stinkiest pile of cow crap....

I had to take him to that close pond and make him retrieve for an hour to get the stench off!!

Anyway, sorry to intrude but I have a lot of fond memories from that piece of water....

He digresses as usual


Both ponds are generally open to the public, however I think the visitor pond is dry. It looks like they are working on the dam? I haven't been back there but they have had heavy equipment there for a couple of months.

Remember to get a refuge pass too.

All are open to public. Visitor pond was drained this winter. Walked the whole lake, found 100's of bass baits, many crank baits still good. They put in more structure, pallet sets, while dry.

The dam on the visitor's pond has been finished for nearly two months. It ought to fill quickly after today. I'm so sick of ----in rain. It was the main cause of all the lost trees in May and now I may loose my dam on my pond at home if it doesn't stop soon. I don't have a guage out but I'm guessing we're over 5" for this morning.

Originally Posted by Duckmann

The dam on the visitor's pond has been finished for nearly two months. It ought to fill quickly after today. I'm so sick of ----in rain. It was the main cause of all the lost trees in May and now I may loose my dam on my pond at home if it doesn't stop soon. I don't have a guage out but I'm guessing we're over 5" for this morning.

Sorry to read that. I am looking at the Radar for your way and its pouring still.

I will have to take a walk down there to A-41 and see how it looks after 28 years....

Thanks guys,so the ponds if filled are good fishing? also where are the best bank fishing area on the big lake

I'd have to say Wolf Creek causeway area is probably the best for bank fishing. Lots of fish attractors and the riprap provides a natural funnel area to the bridge. Some nice fishing piers also although the two on the west side of the causeway by the bridge are no more due to the winds in May. I've also caught a mess of crappie off of the dam face and it can be real good if'n you don't mind snakes. A41 is always pretty good but it's a hike so be prepared to travel light. The visitor pond won't be much for maybe 3-4 years now that it has been rebuilt. I've also seen some guys with nice messes of bluegill out of the pond at Honker Corner. Stop at Cooksey's bait shop for guidance, ridicule, and attitude. Ronnie's a good guy but you've got to know him before that starts to show through!!!

I havent been back to A-41 in years...but it was a heavenly place back in the 80s when i found it. I have no clue what its like now but its a gem if its anywhere close to what it used to be. I was so distressed to learn they drained the visitors pond. It had a 21 inch limit on bass for many years. When they opened it back around 86 it was loaded with bass....and it coughed out some hawgs over the years. Ron at Cookseys told me it didnt have any big fish left in it.