Kayak Trip Report, Swan Creek WMA

I fished the main Swan Creek area today. Kept half a limit of Crappie and 5 nice gills. The Gills aren't on beds, but a few Crappie were. I return 15 or 20 larger Crappie (12 to 15 inches) and gave away another 10 to a guy fishing at the railroad tracks from the bank. All fish came of laydowns or isolated old, dead buckbrush in 24 to 36 inches of water. Swan Creek is summertime low, only about another 6 to 8 inches to pull before it's at its low water mark. Visibility of about 12 inches and 72 degrees.

Pictures tomorrow after work.

Sounds enjoyable

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I didn't bring my counter since I was checking on the gills. Only a dozen Crappie in the cooler.

Nice! Some healthy fish in there. That one gill is a monster.

A 10-inch Gill isn't unusual, but I seldom catch one that thick.

Very nice sir! Thanks for sharing

For anyone interested you can launch a kayak or flat bottom (including off a trailer) at the unimproved ramp. The water is about 18 to 24 inches with some deeper water (about 3 foot) near the train tracks on the east side. I specialize in skinny water so I'm at home there, but it takes some time to learn the area and adjust how to fish that skinny. I dropped a jig next to a buckbrush limb in about 15 inches of water with a 10-foot ultralight jig rod when I hooked the big gill. He took off and I thought I had a good Bass since he ran about 30 feet against a light drag before he turned the first time. I had several Black Crappie that were 14 or 15 inches that came from the same type of area and depth. It takes a lot of time to learn where the few hard bottom areas are with some cover. I enjoy the challenge and like having the place to myself most of the summer. This is one of the areas where I've caught a limit of Crappie with the water temperatures in the 90's in two feet of water. The Crappie would love to move to deep water, but there's none available. Surprisingly the Crappie, Gills, Bass and Catfish are always fat and aggressive when you can find them (if you can manage not to spook them). Lots of very long cast on light line or jig and bobber.

Neat. I have fished that area several times in a kayak and a few times in the flat bottom. I like the kayak better, I feel more quiet and I feel like I can control it better. Also my kayak is a lot more comfortable than my flat bottom. But, I lose being able to stand and sight fish as easily. Also cannot bring as much gear.

I have caught several panfish in there. Also some very nice bass on frogs and yum dingers.

In mid summer that place feels like the water is boiling and the sun is baking hahahah.

Is that the put in on Sandy Road?


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Here you go, red star.

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