I plan on hitting one of these Saturday morning. I'm right smack dab in the middle of both of them. I really have been wanting to check out Wheeler Branch but that post about Purtis Creek really has me leaning to head East. I fished Purtis creek a few years ago when the grass carp had decimated it and it wasn't that much fun. Looks like its back (I hope). SO what do you guys think? Has anyone been to Wheeler Branch lately?

Thanks ahead of time,

I was at Wheeler Branch on Sunday, I didn't fish really hard but I did see quite a few fish in the 2-3# range cruising in the grass in about 8-10 feet. They are 2 completely different lake, Wheeler is really rocky with crystal clear water, Purtis stained and a softer bottom.

Kevin, I was out there Saturday, fished from 7 to 1, then got off the water. Second time out in my new kayak. I left my canoe at home.

I had one of the best days in months out there with a total of 12, 5 were nice sized, some dinky ones by the dam side of the rock island, and 3 or so misses. I lost one right next to the kayak trying to get my grip on its mouth. Another tossed the hook back at me on a jump.

J.J. mentioned that he has always had luck drop shoting sort of concentric circles around the rock island and I followed his advice with the drop shot using a roboworm. I stayed on the deeper side of the island and worked back and forth.

They were letting water in at the inlet, by the way, and I cruised back and forth there between the floating swim deck and the point over in the direction of the swim dock. The water flow seemed to have some fish stacked up there. I caught two there. I ended up the day catching two more floating back from the office area/low retaining wall down to the ramp . . . they were just outside the vegetation line.

Fish seemed hungry!

FreshSalt09, if you do go to Purtis and decide it isn't setting up well for you, head down the road just a few miles and drop your kayak in at Lake Athens. It has a nice boat ramp and ample parking for a trailer. The two lakes are only minutes apart.

Brad

Purtis Creek still has grass carp and no vegetation that I know of. There are some good fish there but don't go expecting to find any grass.

I vote for Purtis Creek, lol

Just curious what the grass carp eat once the vegetation is all gone?

Can they make a living off algae? Maybe they are omnivorous.

Brad

I hunted south of Purtis Creek a few years back, never got a chance to fish there. Real interested in how you do if you go there.

I spent the morning at Wheeler yesterday. Was there 7-10:30. Caught 2 fish both about 3 pounds. One was slow fishing a texas rigged craw pattern on the rock piles out near the island. The other was fishing a topwater frog in the grass. Wind was whipping so it was tough trying set up drifts where I wanted to fish. I'm still amazed seeing water that clear in this part of texas. That alone makes it worth the trip for me.

AledoDiablo,

Have you rigged up an anchor trolley on your kayak?

When I am fishing in my Sportspal canoe, I like anchoring on the right side of the rock island as you paddle out from the ramp, that'd be the north more or less. Pull up as tight as you can, right where the little cottonwood trees are, and drop your anchor there, then let out enough line to drift out into deeper water. On the leeward side of the island there, the current will largely be split by the island and the water much smoother less current. I like to fan cast worm presentations over the 180 degrees.

Anyway, a tip for windy days on small craft.

Oh! And, do you have a brush clip? If not, just run by Harbor Freight and they have some big black plastic spring grips that could be modified by making a hole, then attach a line and clip on to all sorts of things on most lakes.

Finally, in that Diablo, try to actually pull yourself on top of the vegetation masses out there. There is a big one down by the emergency boat near the dam. If you sit on top of those masses, they arrest the wave action, then fish over the edges or cast out and away.

I'll likely be down there Saturday in my Propel 10. Hot, yes, but I'll come off the water an hour earlier than usual, maybe noon.

Brad

I think I'm going to hit Wheeler Branch. The fiancee and myself have fished Purtis Creek and Athens before and it would be nice to check out a new spot and see some clear water for a change. As hot as it will be, we should be off the water pretty early ourselves. I'll be in a Native Ultimate FX 12 with a Ocean Kayak P13 following me around.

Brad,
Thanks for the tips. Only had a kayak for about 3 months and have only made it out a few times. Definitely been soaking up all the info I can get. May try to talk the wife into letting me head down Saturday morning too. Learned the vegetation trip on Wednesday and it worked great. Maybe I'll see you out there.

I look forward to seeing some new kayaks out there!

It'll get hot pretty fast tomorrow so what I will likely do is cut my trip short by about an hour . . . getting off the water at noon if the heat is too oppressive. I may take a swimsuit just in case I need to paddle over to the swim platform and cool off in the water.

I'll be in my Native Slayer Propel 10 on the dam side of the island, most likely, so stop on by and drop a line!

There are many "regulars" out there. We'll see who braves the heat waves and gets their boat or kayak wet!

In another 6 weeks or so, we'll all wake up one day, go out to get the paper, it'll feel cool. I can't wait!

Brad

Quick question, what time does the gate open? Flyer says "typically" 8:00 am. Are they pretty reliable on getting to the pay booth at that time?

Opens at 7 AM, sometimes a few minutes earlier. Very reliable!

Brad

Electronic gate.