So last week I went on a fishing trip to a private lake here in Texas (Camelot bell). I know there are a lot of opinions out there about private lakes, so I figured I would give mine and a little report. The trip was planned months ago and the date chosen was March 20,2020. We arrived the evening of the 19th and were able to hit the water for a few hours. Fishing was pretty decent, not a lot of fish but a few solid 3s,4s and a 6. The next morning around 5am a cold front came in and brought lots of rain and wind with it. I don't mind fishing in the rain so we headed out around 6:30. Honestly fishing was a bit slower than expected but we still managed to catch fish and a few decent ones on the Bell. After lunch we switched lakes and fished the wolf pack bc that lake was open also. It was still one here and there on the Pack but did land a 6.11 which was the biggest for the day. For those that think fishing a private lake is like shooting fish in a barrel its not. There was a group out there for 3 days prior to our arrival that hadn't been on many fish. I think 8.5 was there best. Now I'm not the best fisherman in the would but there was a guide from Fork with the group before us, so I would think he has an idea on how to fish... but you never know. The reason we went to the lake was the opportunity to have a small lake all to ourself for a whole day. With that the opportunity to maybe increases our odds of catching a DD. The way the lake is managed I can see why it has some monsters in it but can also see why they aren't easy to come by. The lake is full of bait and they are still fish that have to be fooled into eating a lure. Looking back I could have probably gone to one of our great public lake and faired the same but its been something I have wanted to try and I have no regrets. Will I go back?? Absolutely every year after I hit the lotto hahaha. All in all it fun experience and wouldn't change a thing (well maybe some different lures). If you like watching fishing videos click on the link for a little bass action.

https://youtu.be/NQ_QOwWJz-c

A lot of those private lakes have almost exclusively Florida strain genes and we know what happens to them during a cold front!! Still sounds like you had a good trip and enjoyed it! Nothing is ever easy while fishing that's for sure...

I've been to a private lake(s) here in Marshall 5xs now and while I've never even broken 8lbs I've had some 30 bass days and my sister caught a 11lb12oz bass!! But each time I set the hook there I knew it could by my "first" DD and that hope had better odds there than the hundreds of other lakes I've fished in my lifetime.

The only people who have something to say about fishing private lakes are the ones who aren’t allowed to fish them. Fish on brother

Well I am going to go chase some of those Bells at my private lake in Mills County this weekend. I am a snob like that

My wife and I fished Camelote Belle after a cold front years ago before the Wolf Pack was in existence. The owner Mike, Myself, and the wife all fished hard for 8 hours. Zero bites for me, zero bites for Mike, and the wife caught a 9 and 10. It’s a long way from shooting fish in a barrel. I’ve also had a trip on the Belle where my best 5 were north of 40 lbs and I caught fish all day long. The giants are there... you’ve also gotta keep in mind it’s a small lake that gets a bunch of pressure.

Only fished the bell once. Got to fish Wolfpack for a few hours one evening then the bell the next day. Caught an 11.6 on the pack before the front came in and some other chunks. Really like the way that pond is laid out, it fits my style of fishing a little better. Next day the front rolled thru and the wind was Howling. We basically made one lap around before it got so bad you could only fish the dam but we caught a ton of fish even with the front. Mainly all little ones that went in the pen but we caught some up around 7 and lost a couple big ones. Saw a real giant but couldn't catch it. I will be going back for sure

Did a little high fence fishing . 10lbs 14 oz .... I’m guiltily and loved it

That’s a nice one 👍

I have a friend that has a large stoked and managed pond 35 acres on the family ranch. We have been fishing there for about 15 yrs. that has great fishing. An average day is 30 fish each 1.5 to 5 lbs., on a good day 100 easy, on a great day 150 each. I don't know how often they restocked but when they did then would bring in 1600 lbs of bass none less then 16" plus several hundred lbs. of bait fish. It was heaven.

Nice report and video Quack!.Good to hear honest evaluations on whatever lake you're fishing. Only thing I might add to the equation is if you're gonna swing em in, try not to let em hit the mat. Interesting concept you have for the "club". My brother manages some very high end private clubs and it's funny how some of the members think they're gonna (or at least should) catch a DD EVERY time they go. LOL. They will gripe about the management program and how much they're spending and not catching "giants" like they "should be" for the money they're paying. But then the shocking boat gets out there and shocks up 12 to 14 pound bass regularly they have nothing to say. They don't get that big without being wary.

good video, great music

I think Thomas Tusser had a quote for this situation.

Pressure has a lot to do with it for sure!

I'm lucky enough to be able to fish a nice little private lake/pond once in a while. it only gets pressure from serious bass fisherman when we are there. We being my buddy who has access and myself as I'm his guest.

It usually is lights out! Numbers of 3-6lb fish and we've caught a few very close to 8lbs.

I think part of the key is that we only fish it 5-6 times a year and we take out as many sub 15inch as possible every time.

High fence or not it can absolutely be tough if the lake gets a fair amount of pressure regularly...add to that 100% Florida jeans? That can make for some tough fishing. I don't discount anyone's accomplishment who catches a big fish and a high fence place. It's not shooting fish in a barrel usually.

Great video Doug. Sorry you guys had tough conditions. The LF guide did fish three days prior to you and their biggest was 9-2 and they caught it at 6 pm the third day. He was less than impressed with the lake. They stayed on CB all three days. Their first day they had 8 fish & the biggest was 5 pounds. Second day about the same. Third day they found a bedding fish late in the day that he said was the biggest fish he'd ever witnessed. He estimated her at 15-16 but they never got her to bite. He actually sent me a video of her tailing around in a foot of water. The video alone weighed 6 pounds.

CB & WP can be EXTREMELY tough after a front. Those fish are the purest form of Florida bass and they do not like cold fronts. The first time I fished CB the lake was just 11 years old and was coming into its prime. A small cool front had come in the eve before. The temps had been in the low 90's all week than of course the day I am going fishing this front comes in. It wasn't much of a front. It got up to probably 82 for a high our fishing day. Blue skies and a light north breeze. Our fishing day was one of those days when you walk outside & think I should be fishing, it's such a pleasant, low humidity, sunny nice day.

Back then Mike (the owner) ran the TM & guided you all day so he would tell you were to throw and all about he structure so it was a real advantage when he was in the boat. The three of us fished ELEVEN HOURS FOR FIVE BITES. Biggest was about 6 pounds. I thought my friend that had told me about all the giants in the lake was smoking crack. I didn't fish the lake again until Jan 2012. About 10:30 am, I had a chatterbait taken away from me on 50# braid. (I know-I know, learn how to tie a knot Ken) I can hear the eyes rolling as you read this. We went to lunch at noon and I was still in shock about losing the fish on the chatterbait. My redemption came about 2 pm in the form of a 15.0 new lake record.

That fish stood as the lake record for a whole TWO months until my friend Dr JL caught a 15.50 in March. I am still mad about that (just kidding Doc). Could not have happened to a nicer more deserving guy than Doc. He is not only a great guy but really good at his craft.

80% and likely a bit higher of private lakes that we survey have way too many bass in them. Rarely is there a need to bring in addtional bass. Adding an additional 1600 pounds of bass in a established 35 acre lake is unusual to say the least. However, removing 1600 lbs of bass in a bass crowded lake is much more common. Adding hundreds of pounds of bait fish is almost always a good idea.

Would love to know why they re-stock bass in such a large qty. Unique circumstance for sure.