I got there early and launched before dawn. I really didn't think I'd go back after my first visit about a month ago. I was unnerved by floating sideways into stumps just under water in my Propel 10. So, this time I took out my Jackson Big Rig. It has a super shallow draft and when I did bump "things" it was no big deal.

This would not be a pedal friendly kayak lake so better to plan on paddling.

Well, some say that since they killed the lake vegetation that Purtis is "just a big mud hole." While it is true that there is very little vegetation in the lake, it has lots of standing timber. So, I knew from my last trip out that I could catch them with a drop shot rig throwing the drop shot around the timber. I ended up with 5 bass, none big with the largest around 2 or 2.5 lbs. I likely missed another 3 if I recall correctly that fell off/shook me off.

If anyone does go out to Purtis Creek, it is $5 for entry, nice camping areas so not a bad overnight camping lake, near Eustace so access to gas/fast food, etc. It's about 50 miles southeast of I-20 in Dallas. It'd be a good lake to fish one afternoon and evening, camp out that evening, then hit it again early the next day.

Recommendation: bring a brush clip and you can clip onto timber and float back off of it, this, or my anchor chain worked well to hold me pretty tight.

Brad

Good report

There is some vegetation trying its darndest to take hold in the north east section; but your heart will sink when you then see the swirling floppy dorsal fins of some grass carp chomping away

For sure . . . on the grass carp!

I saw a few today and the last time I was out there, too, carp and some gar.

This is a lake I'd go to for very specific fishing presentations. Two other kayakers were out there today on the far side of the dam side fishing in the timber and one of them told me he had luck catching some nice sized ones on previous trips tossing a worm. I could see how that'd work, maybe jigs.

The other kayaker caught a 5 pounder on his first cast using a topwater. He had no luck today, at least until I had left for another part of the lake, using a topwater.

We have so very much vegetation on Lake Athens; it is hard to believe these two lakes are only 23 miles apart yet totally different. Drop shots on Lake Athens? It'd be like dunking a chip into a spinach dip. I know there are some hard bottoms on Lake Athens, but not many in shallow water that I have found.

I need to develop a "deep" game!

Brad

Great report. Any pictures?

Between a flip phone and a dunked camera, I haven't been able to get pics unless off my dock by my wife.

I need to take care of this soon!

Brad

Why would they put grass carp in non pleasure boat lake?

The explanation was that people were complaining they couldn't fish from the campsite banks (hydrilla used to grow to the surface for 20 yards from the bank)

This is my understanding, too. The same vegetation eradication was done on Lake Raven down near Houston though I can't recall if it was using fish or herbicides. It was once covered with vegetation but no longer.

Brad