I haven't Bass/crappie fished for about 15 years. Now that my son is 7 and loves to fish, we have bought a boat and am new to the lake. Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi, i fish out there alot...More when its warm though..I have a boat too an live less than a mile from the lake..When im out there on the boat i do good on crappie in the sticks and the coves..the cove on Lynn creek side just had a huge 40ft pecan tree that fell in last year..I used to jig under that tree off the bank when it was standing in that cove, it was always a deadly spot on crappie..I'm sure its gonna get better there now..I've fished the bridges and did ok..second bridge is better..I do better in the sticks though off minnows..I usually just walk a sein net before i get out there.. So i have tons of minnows..Right now we just had this huge rain storm come through so they have to let water out the spillway...You can do great there on sandies, when the water is coming out heavy on shad an do good with rooster tails..Crappie on shad/ minnows/jigs off the ledge at the spillway...between march and i guess about july you can catch limit loads of sandies off lynn creeks bank near the swim beach...Again i always walk a net i never buy them...so i have loads of minnows with me to throw out an bring in more when it slows up..I do the same in the sticks with the minnows i have. I just throw them out...Also i hear the creek is good near loyd park for crappie too..I really dont have much luck using my depth sounder cause its so old/93 hummingbird and i have a hard time finding brush piles..but.good luck

Welcome to TFF! I have fished it off and on since it opened and usually find crappie in the standing timbers and under the bridges,I can usually manage a few bass but only scattered with 6lbs the largest. I know some guys do much better but I only fish it 3 or 4 times a year.Good fishing to you and son.

Thanks Guys!!

I really need to get out and look at the lake so I know where you all are talking about. The sandies hang out where the water goes through the spillway on the lake side or are sucked through to that pond on the other side? I live right on the north east shore near that spillway if it is the one I am thinking. I know the creek at Camp Wisdom came up a few feet just when I was going to try for some crappie there.

South of the bridge near Britton Park are beds of stumps and trees on either side of the lake.Good fishing but be careful navigating.

through the spillway where you park up top an walk down there..not the pond spillway thats dead for what i know....i met a guy up at the spillway today..today i got off work early, so i met t his guy out there said he been catching lots of crappie at the spillway..but today was totally dead out there...told me he was nailing them off jigs....

Well if you need company to haul them out just give me a shout. It's about a mile from the house for me.

still no sign of sandies in south creek near briton! park opens march 1st, by then, the spawn should be in full swing!

Thanks to everyone for all of the input. I am sure I will have many more questions as time goes on. I'm gonna take the advice you have given and hit Bass Pro later. Cant wait to spend some time on the lake with my boy....hopefully catch some fish too!

I use to fish Joe Pool alot back when if first opened. I never got skunked but didn't catch any big fish either. Now I have a little 10ft boat and can't wait to hit Britton park this spring.

Went out to the spillway today/sat....it was crowded...didnt catch a thing..saw lots of guys on the ledge ready to catch crappie right before the sun went down..looks like they didnt do good either.some folks were doing some on sandies ..weather really sucks though...no shad running either.

I will be right behind you Grainraiser.
I stopped by to check out the area and it was crowded. I drive right by it everyday but for some reason I thought it was linked to the TPWD. They have that small place at the end of Robinson Road and I thought it was a back entrance to it. Goes to show you that you should check it out before you assume. I will have to give it a try now that I know it is there. Didn't know you could catch some sandies in the spill way either. I just figured it was panfish city there.

its whatever that lake has city...this guy down there the other day caught a 17lbs cat..

Fished below the damn this morning from about 7 to 9:30. Didn't catch a thing but a few other guys were bringing a little in. Guy across the creek from me was doing good but most were small. Couple guys closer to the spill were catching some larger ones (large meaning keeper size). Overall I'd say it's still too cold but if you're willing to be patient and get a little chilly then go set up down there when they're letting water out which is pretty much every day now with some small jigs w/small spoons on em and you'll get lucky eventually. White seemed to be the colour of choice.

For me. I'll give it a week or two to warm up before I go back out there.

Good luck!!!