Anyone know if the ramp at CML is open. I've never been there and with it being a 2 + hour drive, I'd like to know it's open before I go. Also do I need to take minnows or jigs or both?

Should be open, I've had reports from there recently, using minnows and jigs, I don't know if minnows are available in Honey Grove

What about a permit to launch? TPW site says "access permit required".

Could be referring to the permit you fill out at entrance, probably worth a phone call.

Boat ramp is fine. Yes you have to fill out the permit at the entrance. Crappie are on brush piles. Minnows are the best bait now.

I think the boat ramp fee is $3. The forms are located at a stand to the right about half way between the gate and the ramp.

Why would you drive that far for Coffee Mill? Just curious.

Ramp is steep. You will have to wait for the local redneck swimmers to clear the boat ramp before you can launch or use the only area there is to beach your boat. They use that same area for swimming. And they always act like you are inconveniencing their beer drinking and swimming when they have to move. I wish they would pony up and build a dock with a light on it on both Coffee Mill and Crocket. BTW, Crocket is just 1 mile away. That is also a great little lake.

Years ago before GPS was in every boat you could idle along the dam in 15' of water and locate several brush piles. And some of them were marked on the concrete dam with paint. I doubt the paint is still there but the dam has always been popular for brush piles. Good luck.

I just like crappie fishing. Read where it is one of the 10 best crappie lakes so thought I'd give it a try. Maybe being on a Monday AM the swimmers won'the be so bad.

Coffee mill lake is a excellent crappie lake.
I'm a local and fish this lake for crappie only.
Jigs work great. We went the other day and caught 18 in 30 mins on a evening bite around 7pm.brush along the damn and Brush at the mouth of the 2nd cove.theres only 2 coves. One big oneand the other is small.at the second Cove near the mouth you have 15ft water. Scan tour the southwest and your find good brush. Very little standing timber. Boat ramp not that steep. I've seen worse at the bigger lakes. 90% of the crappies you catch will be keepers. Idk bout the morning bite this year cuz only fished it in the evening. Is a nice little lake with little pressure on the crappie. The water is very dirty right now. Black and chart has been the key.

No permit just a day fee. $2

If you want minnows. On FM 273 there is a gas station that sells minnows. Fm 273 is on lake bonham. Goggle it and your find it.

Good luck. You will have the lake to yourself on a Monday morning. Let us know how it goes

Pretty slow bite today. Didn'the get there early so was pretty hot. The place where I thought I was going to get minnows dud not have them so I had to use jigs only. Saw lots of brush and fish but couldn't get them to bite. Guess minnows is the ticket. Ended up spider rigging and caught 2 keepers. One weighed 2 lbs so that was nice. Fished till 3:30 and had the lake to myself. We're 2 boats launching as I was coming in so I guess that says something about when I should have been there. Normally fish Fork which is 45 min drive. This one was 2 1/2 hours so don't know if I want to do this too often. But it is a nice little lake.

I'm sure the murky water had a little to do with it too. that lake gets pretty muddy when the creeks are rolling.

Hope you had a safe trip home.