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January Trip Nacogdoches Area #12993526 12/12/18 08:46 PM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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Good afternoon all,
Myself and a few other Iowa kayak anglers are planning on heading down to the Nacogdoches area, we will be there January 4, 5 & 6.
Just curious if any of you have some suggestions for lakes to hit within an hour or 2 from Nac?
We had thought about Toledo Bend and Rayburn but with only having a couple days we decided to try and focus on some smaller lakes. So far we have considered Naconiche, Welsh and Nacogdoches but we would love to get some feedback from you folks that fish this area.
Thank you for any help you can provide

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12993948 12/13/18 03:57 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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Nothing better than a foggy power plant lake in the winter time. Martin Creek is at full pool, the plant is generating, and plenty of grass, reeds, pads, and warm water. The map below shows the area of Martin Creek which is most influenced by warm water discharge. Temps will usually range from low 60's to near 80 degrees during the coldest days of winter when the plant is running all three stacks depending on how close you get to discharge.


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]




https://goo.gl/maps/JUcwyHMF6Zp
The map above covers area of about 2.5 miles

Below: where you would launch from on left side of 2658 bridge.

https://goo.gl/maps/gXdButpJAxv

Totally different looking lake from Naconiche but absolutely beautiful in its own way.


The best advice I could give is sign up and watch the Welsh and Martin Creek episodes of HoneyHole Outdoors on VOD... its like paying 20 bucks to have a guide show you where and how to fish those lakes this time of year.

https://www.facebook.com/alloutdoorsmedia


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12994456 12/13/18 07:48 PM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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That is excellent information, I appreciate it! I actually did just sign up for honeyhole at your recommendation and will check out the videos

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12994947 12/14/18 06:41 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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thumb

Here are a couple more pics of what Martin Creek can look like in the month of January. roflmao

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12995048 12/14/18 01:31 PM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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I would assume that going to Martin on Friday Jan 4 would be the better option? Sounds like weekends get a bit crazy on these power plant lakes.

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12995234 12/14/18 04:31 PM
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lconn4 Offline
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Its the holidays and the power plant lakes will be crowded on weekends but don't let that bother you. I've found most fishermen to be a lot more patient and courteous this time of year. I may try to make it out to Martin Creek, Naconiche, or Murvaul this Sunday.


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: lconn4] #12995487 12/14/18 08:30 PM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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If you do happen to make it out please post up how it went if you could. This is very helpful information for us in helping to decide what lakes to hit in the short window we have. We all very much appreciate the information you have provided so far!
Maybe we could all meet up when we arrive in Texas and take you out for a beer or something

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12995858 12/15/18 03:44 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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Lets do it.. I'm busy the 4th and 5th but could meet you guys on the water on the 6th, wherever you choose to fish. cheers You're not bringing Tyler Cole, the 2017 Tournament of Champions on Lake Fork winner and the first guy to take our beautiful trophy out of the state are you? roflmao I know some of those Iowa kayak fishermen.. in particular that old dude and his son Daegan Essary. Iowa had a great group of guys down here again this past year too.


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: lconn4] #12995874 12/15/18 04:12 AM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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We have been trying to get Tyler to come down with us. He just started a new job so he can't make the trip.

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12997288 12/17/18 05:20 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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Slow day today. Stayed up late as I have never been able to sleep the night before going fishing. Looked up from computer around 2:00 a.m. and set alarm for 5:00 a.m. and tried to get some sleep. Set alarm but forgot to turn it on. Slept late. bang Wanted to be at warm water discharge at sun up but didn't get on water until 10 a.m. bang

[Linked Image]

Water temp was 60 degrees at the bridge which is unusually cold. Normally around 70 so I'm guessing they haven't been running the plant full time, especially with warming spell the last two days. Fished the bridge and missed one on flutter spoon, not much bait on graph and continued paddling toward discharge.

[Linked Image]
Thought I'd hung a good one when this one hit.

Met Paul, a TFF'er on the water, as he was headed the opposite direction paddling his Santa Cruz.. He told me this past Wednesday was great on Martin Creek and had caught a bunch. Was slow for him today as well up to that point.

Caught a small bass on swimbait in 8 feet of water where I was seeing a lot of bait. Finally made it to discharge as several boats had left and a few more were arriving. Wasn't nearly as many folks fishing today as I would have thought. Saw several bass being caught but all dinks, most were fishing drop shots. Spent an hour or two at discharge before moving away from it and following the channel out towards deeper water. Started seeing more bait, a few fish busting on top and then started catching small white bass and and an occasional largemouth.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Things slow down even more and I'm on the move again. Paddle to the cut between warm and cold side.. see more bait catch a couple more bass. One deadsticking spoon, one on 8xd.

[Linked Image]
Not much activity with the schools of bait but that's what I was looking for all day. Would catch a few even when nothing showing activity.

Stop back at bridge.. nothing, then on towards the grass and pads another mile on down. I see Paul in the distance and in my favorite spot.. I had a feeling he found em. roflmao

I caught a couple more small ones on fluke and one on swimbait.. missed my best fish that wrapped me in pad stems and pulled off before I got to it.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]
Even when the fishing is slow, its nice to be fishing grass in 65 degree water in the winter time. I'm sitting in 6 feet of water here.

[Linked Image]
About as tough as it gets on Martin Creek today, for this time of year. Which is a lot better than very few or no bites on a lot of cold water lakes.



Last edited by lconn4; 12/17/18 05:25 AM.

A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12997436 12/17/18 02:15 PM
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Nice!
Good fishing!


[Linked Image]
Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #12997531 12/17/18 03:57 PM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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We are definitely looking forward to being able to fish some grass while down there!

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #13004788 12/25/18 03:12 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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[Linked Image]
Back to Martin Creek this past Sunday. On the water earlier than I normally fish this time of year as I wanted to be first at the discharge. No one on the lake that I could see when I got to ramp and unloaded. Changed my mind as I was a lot nearer to the grass and also wanted to see how that was at first light too. Made a quick paddle to the grass and fished half an hour with only one small one on swimbait where kingfisher had just caught a bait, then paddled to discharge. Already a few folks there but no one in the spot I was interested in. Got in position and immediately caught a few small ones and missed a few more on swimbait. Tried everything I had including, flukes, deep crank bait, spinner bait, plastic craw, brush hog, carolina rig. No bites on anything else I tried. Things die down after an hour and that's when I noticed that one of the stacks is no longer running. Didn't spend much time fishing a spoon as most of the rest of the day I was real shallow... where I prefer to fish.

Leave the discharge and fish my way back to big bridge and back to where I started the day. Nothing in the grass. Start exploring areas further back that I haven't fished in 5 years when I first fished the lake. Water was very cold..58, vs 72 at discharge, 67 at bridge. I paddle all the way to the small bridge (water 12 feet under it) and fish back behind it (water temp 53) and then turn around and continue to fish back towards the ramp. Wind has picked up, find an area half an hour before sunset where I start seeing a few fish busting on top and start catching again on swimbait. Catch 4 more to about 2.5 lbs, biggest of the day. Water around 64 where I was catching... solid grass bank in 6 feet of water with wind blowing into it. Casting diagonally up wind and crawling it back up wall of grass. Was usually getting hit just before lip of grass. Still disappointed in what that lake is producing for me compared to previous years in numbers and size. Not sure where I would rather fish right now... power plant lake or cold water lake. [Linked Image]


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

May try to fish Naconiche tomorrow after Christmas dinner with family. Tired of struggling to catch dinks.

Last edited by lconn4; 12/25/18 03:15 AM.

A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: lconn4] #13005306 12/25/18 06:51 PM
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Monty97 Offline OP
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Excellent info. If you hit Naconiche let us know how it goes. We will be putting a plan together on the way down Thursday of next week.

Re: January Trip Nacogdoches Area [Re: Monty97] #13005670 12/26/18 05:35 AM
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lconn4 Offline
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Zeroed on Naconiche this afternoon ... one bite about dark. Only 6 boats on the lake when I got there around 3:30 p.m. Spoke to some of the locals and they were all shaking their heads. One said its been tough since the lake was sprayed for giant salvinia two months ago and then the lake turned over. He said his dad fishes the lake all the time and its the toughest he has ever seen it. Earlier in the afternoon I was sitting in my favorite spot on the lake and a boater pulls up near me and we start talking.. they hadn't caught anything in the hour they had been on the lake. I told him that this was my favorite place on lake and how I had caught more big ones in this area in boat lane. He pointed to a stump 20 yards from me and said he caught a 14.12 there. I asked him if he was the one that caught the lake record and he asked if I had seen the picture at the ranger station. I told him I look at it every time I stop to pay but never looked at the guy who caught it... only the fish.

I stopped on the way out and looked again and took the picture below.. sure enough it was him. roflmao

[Linked Image]


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

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