Thread: 101 at Pickett

Was there ever good size crappie in Pickett? I am not at all familier with that lake. Just curious....All I can think is Burnt Mills when I read this report.

Are you still using your relocation technique at Pickett???

Blake

Originally Posted by Percidae_Papermouth

Was there ever good size crappie in Pickett?

Fort Pickett Reservoir is a 384-acre impoundment of the upper reaches of the Nottoway River, just south of the town of Blackstone. Given the Reservoir's relatively small size and the River's flow, any significant amount of rain quickly floods the lake with muddy runoff. Very likely, the worst rain event in the Reservoir's history was Hurricane Isabel in 2003. NOAA records show that Isabel dumped 7" of rain on Blackstone. Locals report that the water was so high that the river was roaring over top of the Reservoir's spillway.

Locals also speculate that this huge flood washed many of the Reservoir's fish down the river, and say that the crappie fishery has never been the same since Isabel. Apparently, a few of the pre-Isabel fish remained and continued to grow. In 2009 and 2010, Redy2Fish and I hooked into a handful of very large fish, but never landed one. In May 2010, a local angler landed this 3 lb. 11 oz. monster:



Fish in this size range always get my full attention and I did a total of 27 trips to Pickett in 2009 and 2010. I caught MANY dinks and a few keepers, but (unless Jack's been holding out on us) the one shown above was one of the last of the "old fish" reported. By now, pre-Isabel spawning classes are at least 9 years old. Those that haven't been caught have probably died of old age.

Post-Isabel fish appear to be hopelessly stunted. Since 1/1/10, my total catch at Pickett Reservoir has been 448, including only 26 keeper-size fish. Overall, that's a 16:1 dink/keeper ratio, but my 2012 experience is a dismal ratio of 150:1.

unless Jack's been holding out on us

Nope, not the case,Richard. I've been having a problem with my back and hips, haven't fished in a couple of weeks. I need to take my boat over there and see if the money I spent on the engine was worth it, but, haven't been up to it just yet. Hoping for a good day or two this week! The "holes" up river have consistently produced the most "keepers" for me, but the few bigguns I have caught and released there have been around the brush piles and in the corner before the narrows going up the Cedar Creek arm, same side of lake?

Do any of the other lakes on Pickett hold any better crappie? How about Lee Lake? Does it have any better size crappie or are they all full of dinks?


Thanks, Steve

Jack knows how to find nice fish at Lee Lake, but it's full of standing timber & that isn't very hospitable to my style of fishing. The smaller Pickett ponds & lakes offer a variety of conditions, but I've only tried Twin Lakes (shallow), Floyd Pond (lots of standing timber), and Lewis Pond (loaded with SAV the time I was there.) You'll hear stories about all of them being good at times, but I caught next to nothing. I've never tried the two lakes in the restricted area near the firing range--they are seldom open. Since you live near Pickett, it would be worth getting a fishing permit for a year or two and explore as many of the lakes as possible. Out of a dozen fishing holes, you're bound to find something you like.

Originally Posted by Percidae_Papermouth

All I can think is Burnt Mills when I read this report.

But the average Burnt Mills crappie is a slab if compared to the one in his pic.

You're right, George. There seems to be a bulge in the B-M population, but past experience has shown that the lake can produce big fish. Next year, those B-M fish that are now 9" will be keepers and will be harvested more aggressively. That will help push the size distribution back towards normal. The Pickett fish, on the other hand, are not growing and may never reach a harvestable size.