Looks like they cancelled practice today because of the weather. They will be fishing D'Arbonne, Caney, and Bussey Brake. I grew up near those lakes and spent a lot of time on D'arbonne and Caney; I've never been on Bussey except to go bluegill fishing with my dad.

Darbonne: what I know about this lake it fishes really good and is probably one of the best lakes visually for bass fishing you'll ever see as far as cover goes, but here's the kicker. Every so often the Army Corps of Engineers runs this lake through a draw down in the name of flood control and nearly empties it. When they do that either the fish are going out the flood gates or since they are in such crowded waters the predatory birds and larger fish have a feast and when it comes back up its pretty much empty and it fishes that way; some of the toughest fishing you'll ever do. If they've drawn it down in the past 2 or 3 years this could be the toughest round these guys have ever seen.

Caney Creek Lake: they'll love this one it was impounded it the late 80's and was stocked exclusively with Florida strain bass. It holds most of the Louisiana state records for LMB and for a 7500-acre impoundment WAS as hot as Lake Fork if not hotter at one point. The bad? in the mid 90's the lake had a hydrilla problem, so the LDWF got the bright idea they'd release grass carp in the lake to control it. They put way too many in it and they ate all the vegetation down to the dirt literally destroying the lake and it quit producing altogether. More good: the grass carp were supposed to be sterile, and they have lived out their life span and died off, so the lake began to recover a few years ago and is now producing DD fish again.

My parents had a house on that lake, and I spent a ton of time on it, never caught a DD out of it but some really nice bass. Before they built all the houses and boat docks around it this lakes beauty was breath taking. It's in rolling pine hills and if you didn't know where you were you'd think you were somewhere in central Arkansas near the edge of the Ozark mountains.

Bussy Brake: it was the water supply lake for the International Paper Mill in Bastrop, Louisiana. The papermill has been long gone and they emptied this lake not long after the mill shut down back in the 90's. It literally sat empty for well over a decade I believe. The state was given control over it if I remember right and they did a complete makeover which included boat docks, new boat ramps, etc. and it was refilled and restocked the best I can remember about 3 to 5 years ago so it ought to be full of young hungry fish. This one should be a lot of fun. The bad: It's VERY small lake.

Thanks for the history lesson on the area. Sounds like it should be a good event.

Here's the story on day one practice cancellation, going to be intriguing event with the cold weather and only one day of practice.

Bussey Brake is where they are doing the Championship round so it will only be ten boats on the water, Should be good. Love to see new water. Can't wait to see them on Palestine for Heavy Hitters this year

Thanks

Man, I hope this "Bussey Lake" isn't the same body of water I am seeing on Google Maps. It's a small dried-up pond.

Ogles, where did you grow up. My mom was born and raised in Bernice. I still have family in Farmersville and Ruston

I grew up in West Monroe area. My dad was from Rayville and my mom was raised in Spearsville. My daughter is currently attending college @ La Tech.

That was it. It’s so new the satellite maps haven’t caught up with it yet. It ought to have tons of willow trees to fish. I saw photos of it before it filled up and it had grown pretty thick in willows.

Google earth usually has more recent aerials, those of that lake on google maps are old

Caney is gonna show put. Some of those boys got some help before cutoff if I had my guess. 33-36 been winning single and team deals

Bussey Creek is gonna be ruined after this if it produces like it does. It’s a hidden gem that has a bunch of 10 plus

Florida bass can be very fickle with weather like this and I think all thats stocked in there, conditions might save it from showing what it really has.

I fished Caney when it was first impounded and Bussey should fish just
like it. The state representative for the particular district Caney is in made the Governor; I believe it was John McKeithen, mad about something and he pulled the funding on it and it sat for about 20 years half finished. They had cleared most of the land in it because it was originally supposed to be a boater/water ski type of deal. It grew up with willows, pines, sweet gum, and a few hardwoods. They just left it that way and let it fill. It kicked butt right out of the gate. A friend of mine caught the very first DD fish out of Caney fishing a tournament he and I had both entered. It was a 10.09 if I remember right. That fish came out of Caney and most of the willows were still green.