Thanks and Great! I know the northern end was nearly dry several years ago when I was last there. Fishing was really slow then. We are hoping it is much better now that it is back at full pool.

so did anyone go to Purtis Creek ?
results ????

I'm headed there for the June 6th weekend. I'll post results when I get back.

The water level is great. The lake is full and there's lots of water over the vegetation that had grown while it was low. Its weird but they've had plenty of rain this spring.

Boisarc.....where is most of the vegetation? Are the carp mowing it down? I am headed there Friday morning for the weekend.

Most of the vegetation is along the shore line up the lake. Check around Buzzard Island. There has been a lot of rain in that area lately and the lake is up as high as I've seen it in years so I'm thinking that might have snuffed out the deep grass???. The grass is pretty sparse but run down the south side of the lake 5 coves toward the tailwaters and you'll find a small tank dam that empty's into the lake. Follow the creek out toward the levee and cast back toward the dam. Also some sparse grass in the mouth of several coves at about 6-8 foot deep. I'm really disgusted with what TP&W did to the lake....carp and poison....so the snowbirds can pleasure boat.....REALLY??

There is no pleasure boating on Purtis Creek to speak of. Just paddle boats and kayaks if you call that pleasure boating. The lake is a no wake lake period, all over, plus the stumps are flooded everywhere. Not even a good idea to idle your big motor. Just use your trolling motor. Start fishing in the cove where you unload or troll over to the other side of the lake and start in the main creek channel. Not much fishing pressure anymore on Purtis. The TP&W just screwed up when they killed the grass. There was some pretty good fishing there Spring of 13, haven't been this year at all.

I've been fishing Purtis since the first week it opened. The fishing was great for many years. At one time the TPW folks weighed big bass and issued Catch & Release pins and diploma's for anything over 7 lbs. My personal best big bass was caught on Purtis and I have several pins for big bass too. The lake was so good I fished it almost exclusively for years. Then came the efforts to control the moss with chemicals and grass carp.....and a huge watershed that nearly broke the dam and removed all the vegetation of any consequence. I was told by the park staff the moss eradication was done so visitors could swim and pleasure boat...so technically a kayak or a pedal boat isn't a pleasure boat.....we agree. Anyway the lake is up high enough that idling with the big motor trimmed up a bit is no problem. Lately I've seen a few brave or stupid souls run down the lake at speed....and yes its an idle only lake...so not only is it against park rules its pretty risky. The bass fishing this last year was good ...I caught several over 7 and one 10+ and some double digit blue cat. This year hasn't been so good....I've managed to catch lots of small to 3 lb. bass. Largest this year was a little over 6. Shoreline vegetation is really beginning to look good but the deeper stuff is still poor at best. Thinking good thoughts and hoping for hydrilla! Good luck fishing.

@ nutman.....I've heard Lake Athen's is recovering nicely from the low water conditions of the last few years. Any thoughts on that?

Sounds like me. I fished it heavily for 16 years after it opened.
Caught my best, 12.3 out there one day in November in the "S" bend creek channel near the island. Took it in, had Bill Smart weigh it then went back out and caught an 8 on the next cast.

When the vegetation started dying off a few years later, I bailed. Never have been back too many times since.

God, it was greatness back then.