Getting on Purtis Creek Lake Monday about 30 minutes before 1st light. Should give me time to paddle to the island and start chunking plastic. Probably take a break, look at some campsites when the morning bite turns off, then switch to crappie or catfish. Brown pumpkin brush hogs have done me ok in the past, but any advice would be appreciated.

... and if you want to show up with your yak, just let me know.

Remember if you're not already camping at the park the gate doesn't open until 7am. Last weekend the best bite for me was in the timber next to the small point across from the ramp. Worked it with a drop shot all the way around to the first cove. The fish were held really tight to the timber. I only caught 1 over by the island. It's really shallow up there right now but I'm sure it's come up a little with all the rain. Good luck! Hope you catch em.

Strange. Last time I was there (Nov 2012), they had a drop box to put an envelope with your money, name and license plate# if you got there before they opened. But now there's a gate?

I did not know that.

Mystery solved. If you prepay over the phone + an extra $2 for overnight activity, they give you the gate code.

Didn't know about the pre pay. Yes there's a gate but if they give you a gate code them problem solved. Only issue I can think of is sometimes there's a line of vehicles waiting to get in. You'll have to find a way around them to get to the gate. On a Monday though it shouldn't be an issue. Good luck, let us know how you do.

Good info.

I was at Purtis Creek 2 weeks ago and caught a 6.25 pound LMB! Best I've gotten this year... I had the most success with a Texas Rigged Hyper Worm (lake fork lures). The Watermelon colored one.

If you didnt bring any there is an awesome little bait shop if you take a right on 31 back towards Eustace. Cant remember the name of it but its right there on 31 and the guy has a pretty impressive selection of plastics for such a small place. I'd bet he could give you some excellent advice too!

The bite on the big boys was extremely slow, but as usual, I could catch as many 1 pounders as I wanted dragging a rattle-trap around ... just about any where ... timber ... open water. It was REALLY hot on Monday.

I did get a beautiful picture of a Blue Heron, and if I figure out how to post images I will.