My dad and I are making a trip up to Caddo leaving next Friday staying 5 days. Planning to fish Lake O the Pines at least one of the days we’re there. Mostly going to be going out of Johnson’s Ranch on Caddo. Staying at Uncertain Inn right next door. On LOP, either out of the south end by the dam or the bridge up north, not sure yet. First time on either lake for both of us

Mainly just wondering about running both lakes. I’m aware of the boat lanes on Caddo and see them on my Garmin’s, but that’s about it. For LOP I don’t know the first thing about getting around out there. Looks like the north end above the bridge on LOP is pretty shallow.

I’m open to any info y’all are willing to provide. Hoping the weather might cooperate a little better over the coming week but knowing my luck that ain’t about to happen. Going to make the best of it regardless.

Thanks

Find the drains and ditches in vegetation leading to spawning areas…..throw a fluke with a swivel a foot above the fluke. Fish slowly if not much wind.

Pines is a forest, especially up north. Lots of idling to be done. Need to run the boat lane down south as well. Dangerous lake to run without the boat lanes chip

22f in Glen Rose right now! Big warming trend next week. Hopefully both lakes will turn on for y’all. Caddo is TOUGH when cold(for me). You are going to the right area(Uncertain) for the best “Caddo Experiance”. Everyone says to get a map but honestly ALL boat lanes/trails are clearly and accurately marked on my older Navionics Hotmaps Platinum South chip. Also the boat lanes are clearly marked with channel markers. Out of the boat lanes? Trim up & idle as they are cypress knees & stumps everywhere. Hopefully y’all will slay em but regardless the scenery is worth the trip. Very Good breakfast and burgers at Shady Glade(the ramp I use and close to Johnson’s). Run up Government Ditch to Big Cypress Bayou and take Big Cypress up past the State Park. Great scenery everywhere. Tie up @ Big Pines Lodge on Big Cypress Bayou for a cold beer & some catfish. If you go “down stream” towards the “main lake” flip and run a spinner bait at the by themselves lone cypress trees. Good luck & enjoy!

This is awesome, thanks for this! We were originally going to stay at the state park but that seems like a long run down the bayou to get to the actual lake. I didn’t even see a route on google maps that leads to the main lake from the state park. And yeah I figured Caddo would be a tough lake to fish when it’s cold since it’s so shallow. Hopefully it warms up a bit throughout next week.

For the boat lanes, Is there a certain side of the markers you’re supposed to stay on? I’ve ran the lanes on Toledo Bend, not sure if it’s a similar deal up there

Stay close and on the starboard side of the buoy…depending on direction of travel.

We rented the First Cast Cabin for about a week a couple of years ago. Great place. The wife and I have stayed at the Moon Glow Cabins a few times as well and they are good. Both places are right there by Shady Glade which has a good ramp and restaurant. Usually catch fish right there in that same general area too. I'd have a bladed jig, T rig and a weightless Senko ready to go. They seem to eat a single Colorado blade spinnerbait this time of year as well. Usually 1/2oz.

Lance Vick has Lake o' the Pines Boatlanes:
www.boatlanes.com

Tom Mayne has trails for the Caddo boat rows and this info on TFF:
https://texasfishingforum.com/forum...1/caddo-boat-rows-available#Post14892891

And there's an interesting Youtube video link of a local running "some of the rows". NOTE: "Some of the rows" you can run if you are safe, but many rows cannot be run. Trails ONLY mark the rows to help navigate and help you visually locate the next row marker.

Also note Caddo has many kayaks and canoes to yield to. Be careful where rows cross for crossing traffic.

Thank all y’all info! Greatly appreciaed. Does LOP have well marked lanes like Caddo does?

NO! LOP does not have “well marked lanes”. One of the gps chips listed above is your only choice to navigate upper LOP. The “channel markers” on all the trails throughout Caddo are well marked. Simply stay on the side of the pole the marker is showing you to stay on.

The small lake Lone Star is a few minutes drive North of Pines. This could be a option also.

Yes, I saw that and was gonna ask if anyone had any info on it. I, especially my dad, love those smaller 1000ish> acre lakes. Would love to try it if it's worth going to

I would say it is worth a try for sure.

I've fished it a few times but usually later in the year. It always had lots of vegetation etc. Good frog lake. I've caught them up to 6-7lbs out there but seems it has smaller fish and is a numbers lake.

I've been on LOP three times and will be going back in about three weeks for an HS tournament. It can be scary, especially on the upper end. I ran it the first time with a guy that has some knowledge about the upper end and we did a lot bobbing and weaving in what appeared to be perfectly open water from a distance. we were running through stumps as about as big as they get; the kind that collect lower units and whole outboards. Be careful.

Lone Star is a fun little lake to fish. It's open except for there is a point on the southwest side of the lake which comes pretty far out in the lake. The last time I was there, there was a marker buoy on the end of the point.

Also, there is a steel plant (which I think is now closed) which dumps hot water in the lake on the very southeast end of the lake. I was there (only one time) when they were dumping hot water into the lake in the spring and the bass fishing there was excellent!

Lots of docks to fish. There are lots of lily pads on the north end of the lake. I'm sure they are not there yet but there will be stems still there. There is a small island on the north part of the lake. The back side of this island there is some deeper water which at times I have done well there.

Forgot to mention, Caddo is just plain an awesome lake to fish because of the scenery if for no other reason. I caught my personal best bass there in 2006 (10.68) on a B.P.S. 5" Watermelon Red "Senko". Of course, it was the day before a club tournament which we did not do well at.

"Channel Markers," that's a good explanation of the lane on the upper end of Pines (above the 155 bridge) The boat lane follows the river channel, so it wimds througghVERY SHALLOW flats. The lane is marked with posts/arrows, BUT some of them are gone, or cut off at water level. Then, it just ends for about 2 or three miles before starting up again. I wouldn't "run" the lane, because it makes lots of tight turns. I'm not that experienced with it, so I stick to about moderate planing speed. There is another lane that starts on the upper end of the lake below the bridge. However, there is timber in the main lake on the way to that lane; if you don't know, idle.

Mid lake from alley creek to oak Valley is the tricky part . No need to run above 155.Just fish. I have run from the rock dam above 259 to Island view. Pre GPS. But that was in my younger days.