Hey guys, we're going to be going to Caddo for a few days this week. We'll be staying at Johnson Marina. Are there any good crappie spots around in that area? I've never been there so I don't know what to look for. Thanks!

ya better take a GPS when ya leave camp so ya can get back its that confususing sometime, the water IS low becareful, I could take you to some spots butt I cant tell ya how to get there you will understand my statements when you see the lake and river

Have you been on Caddo before ?

It would be a real plus for you to have a good map as well...local (Longview, Marshall, Shreveport) WalMarts and Academies have a good one with the boat roads marked and GPS gridlines.

By the way - Gig'Em.

I'm sorry - I just re-read your post and saw that you have never been there. In that case, I would strongly recommend that you have a good map, and a GPS would be a real plus. Even so, the water is very low and some of the boat roads are difficult to get through in a boat of any size. A first timer should probably stick primarily to the main channel (which is right in front of Johnson's).

Your first time out at Caddo, you might consider a guide, and Johnson's has the very best crappie guides (Henry is #1, Peanut a close 2nd). They could definitely put you on some fish and you'd learn a little about the lay of the lake.

When exactly are you going ? I plan to go up on Thursday evening and stay till Sunday, I will be staying about 200 yards away from Johnson's.

we're going to be leaving on Wed. and staying through Sunday afternoon. Thanks for all of the information. I tried finding a map at basspro in Katy, but they didn't have one so I guess we're going to have to wait until we get to the area to get a decent one.

Are there any places/towns around the area that we should make sure to go to if we're there when we aren't fishing? Thanks again

There is town about 12 miles North called Jefferson they have a couple good eat/drink joints very informal and a good catfish eatin place where ya staying and anothe called Big Pines a few mile from Johnsons camp you can get there by boat just go UP stream but pay attention the way you go, some times people show up on Sat afternoon to pick and play at Johnsons that can turn out to be fun. you will see tall poles marking the boat runs along creek channel, if ya got good locater you will find brush piles around some of them should be crappie there good luck

Marshall's Wal Mart is on Hwy 59 just north of where 43 turns off to go to the lake, so that would be a fairly convenient place to get the map.

Jefferson is the closest "nightlife", Auntie Skinner's Saloon almost always has a band on the weekends, and the town is full of B&B's, antique shops, etc..

There's lots of good eats close to where you'll be. Big Pines is good, little bit of a cruise from Johnsons to there...Bayou Landing restaurant is also good, and you can basically see it from Johnson's, can also go there by water (in about 3 minutes). If you want something simple, Dad's Pizza Pad is about 200 yards from Johnson's and has very good pizza. Johnson's doesn't have a cafe but a couple of nearby marinas (Shady Glade, Crip's) do, and their breakfasts are especially good. Caddo Pie Company in Karnack (any local can point you there) has great breakfast, burgers and pies.

I'm going to Caddo Saturday & sunday. I have to cut grass at my dad's house in Uncetrain but will definitely be on the lake some.

Look for a 14ft MirroCraft Jonboat & a 25 HP Mariner outboard. say howdy if you see me. I'll be at the wheel.

Bayou Landing is a good place to eat. Good Breakfast at Shady Glade, both of these are right in the heart of Uncertain.

Don't get lost

How was your trip, AgGal ?

It was great!! We were hoping to catch bigger bream the whole time we were there but we couldn't find any that were more than about 2-3 inches long.

On Thursday, we went on a guided trip with Henry and caught 17 fish, but they weren't all crappie. I think we ended up with 2 bass, 2 catfish, 3 huge rockbass, and 10 crappie in the end. Throughout the rest of the trip we caught a few more crappie and on Sunday I caught a white bass. They were splashing around on the top of the water in the main channel and we kept chasing them around but only caught that one and another that was too small to keep.

The only thing I didn't like about the trip is that it seemed like we picked the hottest week to go up there, but at least it didn't rain on us the whole time we were there.

We never made it around to trying that restaraunt in Karnak, but we did drive over to Jefferson and ate at a hamburger place. (we remembered someone on here said something about a hamburger place that sells good pies and we thought it was in Jefferson..Doh!) I don't remember what it was called but It was across the street from the historic museum and was really good. Thanks for all of the information!

is the Dixie Chicken still in business there?

Yeah it is, the guy that owned it passed away but his daughters still have all of his stuff open except for Satchels BBQ.

Hey - AgGal - You weren't fishing off the dock at Johnsons on Saturday in maroon shorts, were you ?

Our weekend went pretty well right up till the end, as you can see here:

http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=51;t=000956

What do you mean by "at least it didn't rain"? During a light summer rain, you would have torn the fish up until your arms were tired. I was out there during a light August rain once and was catching a LMB every cast on a weightless lizard.

Go fishing at Caddo and pray for the summer rain without lighting. Oh heck, you only live once, go out in the lightning and go out with a flash.