Anyone heard anything new about Monticello. Other than it is a Kayak lake. I sure do miss that place

Thanks
Chuck

We all miss Monticello.

Drove over it recently going to Sandlin. Lake looks like it’s in good shape! Lots of new growth that I never saw before. Wish I could get on there by boat.

Probably still good. I bet those football genetics are diluted by Sandlin fish. And the lake is over run with kentucks and sandies now. Before they opened the gates I’d never caught or heard of a sandy or spot out of Monty. Before the park closed I probably caught 200 sandies one afternoon at the spillway.

I drive over the bridge pretty often. It's odd never seeing any boats out there and only the occasionally kayaker - lake is basically empty all the time. The fish that have stayed there or migrated from Sandlin are getting almost no pressure from anglers.

I drove across the bridge back in March and there were some kayak fishermen there, looked like they were loading up to go home. I bet it would be a blast to fish with no more traffic than it is getting.

Reading this thread made me get excited about making the long drive to Monticello yesterday… Had planned to fish my way to dam but the lake having come up at least a foot since the last time I was here made me change my mind and fish the railroad bridge.. where I usually end up every time. Caught over a dozen.. nothing much over 3 lbs but beautiful day on the water and only saw one other kayaker all day. Caught fish on 7’ swimbait, 6xd, 5xd, square bill and brush hog.









What is this stuff... had never seen so many flowers in all my life. As far as you could go behind railroad bridge.

That's water hyacinth. It will eventually choke the place out.

It's pretty, but it is an invasive. They used to treat up there when the plant was running because the current would bring it down and spread it. It can be bad, but not as bad as Giant Salvinia.

Miss throwing a frog in the pads!

Louie, what kayak do you fish? Like it?

That would be a fun place to throw a frog.

I'm using a couple of Manta Ray 14s made by Native Watercraft most of the time.. 14 feet, 28 inch width, about 70 lbs. Well made (thick plastic in hull) and I don't worry about dragging it up and down the bridge embankment or scraping hull over the guard rail. Most of the better known brands have something in that length, weight class that would work... but none more comfortable to me. It will carry 30 lbs of gear and a paddler to about 220 lbs no problem.. CTTX maxed it out when he went with me once.. I think he and his gear would have gone over 300 lbs. a lesser man would not have stayed upright in that wind.

When I have a good launch area or fishing the ocean, I'm in a 16', 24.5 inch beam Kaskazi Dorado II that weighs only 55 lbs made from carbon fiber and glass. Not as comfy but can cover a lot of water in tough conditions. Hand made in South Africa.

You bass boat guys should really consider getting something that will get you back on Monticello... I know you miss it!






Monticello last year or the year before.

That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Screw this not fishing Monti stuff, it may be kayak time.

Thanks... never paid that much attention to it.. just paddled over it.. I took notice this time.