All of you speak so highly of the crappie fishing on Lake Lavon, that I have decided to drive 200 miles this weekend to fish it. I need some help from you though. Where can I get minnows early early saturday morning (6am). If you know of some place, can you please also provide directions. Also, I'm not asking for any of you to give me directions to your honey hole, but could you give me some suggestions on particularly good areas that I could start at?

Claden,

Right now, the flood gates are open on Lavon, so the crappie bite is very hard to come by. Might want to postpone that trip a week.
There is a place to buy minnows on 78 on the north side of Wylie called CT's that will be open at 6:00am.

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Gig 'Em, Aggie class of '94.

Duck Jerky

Thanks for your reply. This is the only weekend that I will be able to fish this lake. I would rather fish it under bad conditions than to wait four more months. Do you have any suggestions on what part of the lake (coves, creeks, trees, etc.) or specific depths to try. I bought a fishing map for the lake; it doesn't provide the kind of information that I think I really need.

I am no crappie expert, but there have been fish caught in 2' of water and less. There is a lot of that water next to the Mallard Park ramp. Put in at the ramp, and go to the right under the bridge, and you will find shallow water.
Also, you can put in on the far North end at the Twin Groves ramp and go to the left a ways and find shallow water.

I am assuming that you have a boat.

If you don't have a boat, you can still fish the Mallard Park area, and the Twin Groves area along the rocks.

Good luck!

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Gig 'Em, Aggie class of '94.

you may want to put in @ ticky creek and take a right, go up into the creek this will be a ways.
Also if you do not have a map of lavon stop and get one @ walmart, or any other place that carries that kind of supply. There is a new walmart on 190 just before you get to hwy.78

Mike Cason

[This message has been edited by Mike Cason (edited 03-24-2003).]

can see that the gates at Lavon are open from this web site http://155.84.70.101/reports/fish.htm , but was wandering how open is open. Do the crappie stop biting when they open and very little water is flowing, or do they only stop biting when a lot of water is flowing. I don't know how much 776 ft^3 realative to the total gate capacity. By the way, I fished at the last crappie get together last spring (with Crappiekiller), but won't be able to make it this year due to a soccer schedule conflict. I sure hope it turns out better this year. I was planning on fishing 3/25, but if you say the fish won't be biting, maybe I'll just save my vacation days.

Thanks,

Michael

I don't know why,but trust me,when the flood gates are open at all on Lavon it's the kiss of death.Fished there Fri evening caught 10 only 2 keepers.Went back yesterday caught one.I hope they close the gates soon,my freezer is empty.

Right now, the 2nd and last gates are slightly open.

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Gig 'Em, Aggie class of '94.

I don't think I will give any secerts away with this and bite will depend on weather and gates open/closed. The usual key on Lavon is the standing timber. If you look on your map and find East Fork Marina, due north is a large bay with lots of standing timber and to the west is the west arm of the lake, either shore with cover. The north side of the power plant bay has a supply of submerged stumps. Mallard park area has timber. The west side of the east arm of the lake has timber starting just north of the Lakeland boat ramp all the way to and north of the Hwy 380. Caution: North of Lakeland looks like open water but but there are some large submerged trees.
Lavon is a murky lake not like clear Travis. Corp lake report phone # is 972-442-5711 for lake level, flood gates open/closed, ramps open, and camping available.
I have not fished Lavon this year (no boat)but how I have fished in the past is vertical jig right in and around the tree. No bite in 10 min. move to next tree. Keep moving.
Boat ramps: East Fork has two ramps, one is a $2. self pay the other is in the camp ground, use the $2. Mallard Park and Lakeland are $2 self pay, Power plant (Little Ridge) and Brockdale is no fee.Twin Groves Park is no fee and is the ramp to use to fish area north of Hwy 380.
Hope this helps and catch some of those Lavon keepers.

The boat ramp fee has gone up this year,it's now $3.00

Has anyone fished around the Britonia Park ramp? I was over there Sunday morning walking through the woods and just looking around before going to work. Looks great and I thought I would give it a try Wednesday.
Sharon

The key to Lavon is fishing the grass and cuckle burs. There is also a green lilly looking plant in some areas that holds fish. The northern halfs of the lake are the best bets now. Find a cove or a slew and look for the weeds. I fished an hour this afternoon and only caught 6 males. Minnows are a waste of money until June. You can catch more fish on jigs.

Sharon, I fished "The Salad bowl" Thats secret for Bratonia yesterday and didn't do any good. Just some small fish.

Jerry www.AdvantageMarineUSA.com

only caught one today, but it was 17", tried jigs and minnows, was out there 2 hours aprox.
the gates are open!!!

Mike Cason

I fished Lavon on sunday with my son. We kept 7 fish in the 11" to 14" range.There were at least 4 other people wading in the same creek channel and all were catching a few fish.If the rain will hold off some they will close the gates and bite will be great.

Thank you all for your replies. It won't matter if I only catch one fish, the experience so far has been great. This is the best Fishing Forum by far, and you have all been extremely polite. I will let you know how things go.