Is ramp 11 open agian? It was closed last month due to low water levels. I live 8 miles from there. Great area little to no boat traffic. As far as I no there's nowhere to get live minnows In That area. U have to travel to canyon bait store at cranes mill. Or the bait shop on fm 306. If u find somewhere closes please let me no.
I've been out to canyon last two weekends. I put in at ramp8 nice ramp. Done well with crappie in the cranes mill marina a short padle away from the ramp. Searched up river for white bass trolled for 4 hours no fish. Located a lot of fish on the finder but couldn't buy a bite. Hoping to go back thus weekend to search agian. I've done better at night also.

How do u post pics ?

I buy minnows from Fishermans Corner by the Potters Creek entrance I checked his hours 8 am -4 pm daily he is usually there around 7 am. He is the only one on the north side. I've
heard rumors that the people that run Canyon Bait House are quitting next week.

I do know that the bait house is for sale. I went out there today and bought 3 dozen minnows that looked about 2 dozen max. Oh well..I put my kayak in at ramp 11 and fished the sticks right around the area. I didn't want to go too far, the wind was ridiculous. Caught 4crappie, 3keepers, and a nice lmb. I caught 3 of the crappie on a tube jib tipped with silver crappie nibbles. I think they were just hitting nibbles. I tried jigging it naked and nada. I was only out for about 2 hours. Does anybody know of an area that is kayak accessible besides upriver?

I got shorted on some minnows at that shop as well a month ago. I ended up going back and getting some more. It was awkward but I didnt want to run out and as it turned out I needed them that night. As the weather warms it should be easy to seine minnows in the coves or at the ramp. I cant help on the ramp info.

Do you mean the bait shop by cranes mill?

The folks that work there, especially the lady doesn't seem too happy to be there. I walked in to by some bait 2 weeks ago and was greeted with a "ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY!!?"

I was just looking for some minnows.

yah the lady was rather unpleasant the first time I went there also. There was no way I was given 36 minnows today. I didn't care to argue or deal with that guy. Maybe somebody will buy the place that cares. Im thinking about going after some smallys sometime soon on canyon. Any advice for smallmouths?

Dark colored soft plastics. Go early. Fish rocky coves up near the damn 8-20 ft of water.

I've been in that place maybe twice in the last several years. Both times I'd been in there I got the feeling they didn't really want me in the store, and they acted really strange.
Maybe they have reason at act that way knowing how things are now days since the folks on the other side of the lake seem to act the same way.

I've been hearing about allot of smallmouths coming from the lower end of the lake in the clearer water and some going upwards of 4 pounds.

+1
All of the SMBs I have caught fishing for LMBs. one of these days I'll target them specifically.

yeah that lady is very unpleasant. i live over by cranes mill and Ive had a few bad experiences with them. If they do close for good i wont shed any tears. Only bad thing is there will be no place to get minnows on this side of the lake.

Many of the bait shop employees around Canyon are abrasive. Don't know why. Possibly because they wish they could be fishing instead of working? That makes me cranky or more cranky than usual.

I have chased the smallies for years on Canyon. Biggest I have caught is just under 5 pounds. They are a different animal for sure. Fishing for them like you do large mouth may get you a few but your tactics must really change if you want to be successful.

I'm going out next Friday. I'll let ya know what happens.

I was in the bait and tackle business for a few years and the live bait doesnt bring in much income you can sell 2 doz minnows and make 1 dollar hardly worth the trouble. The reason shops have live bait is to get the customer in to buy other items that can provide income but that does not happen very often. If you want to continue having live bait available support your local bait and tackle by purchasing tackle from them you may buy your tackle from chain stores but the last I heard they dont sell live bait. Its a matter of how important access to live is to you.