| Author | Message | ||
| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1458 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Well, we have returned safely from our Thanksgiving adventure to Caddo Lake. I must admit that I had my doubts when my wife made the reservations at the request of her mother for us to all stay somewhere centrally located for all of her family. Connie found a spot on Caddo Lake and asked me if we could spend Thanksgiving there and my only response was – “If I can bring my boat!”. She said sure and I said fine. This was to be a place large enough to house all of Connie’s family. We ended up with 11 people and plenty of room for everyone. This was a former art gallery and was duly named as such – “The Gallery”. Above the gallery was a quaint little nest called “The Rookery” and we had both of these at our disposal.  We arrived on Thursday (Thanksgiving day) and were greeted by our hosts who live in the home across the street from the gallery – Billy and Dottie Carter. Billy stays more than busy with the abundant wildlife on Caddo Lake by guiding duck hunts, fishing trips, and go-devil lake tours. If I am not mistaken, Billy’s first words to me were, “You need to get that boat in the water, we just caught 100 yellow bass.”  We discussed the fishing and where I should launch my boat since the lake was 3’ low and most ramps were not usable – including his ramp. I checked out the doc, looked over the water and the only thing on my mind was fishing at this point. The Doc  Once we were settled in I got the go ahead to take my nephew and brother in law out to try and catch some of them yeller bass that Billy talked about. He told me precisely where to go and said he was leaving to pick up some more clients to fish so just meet him out there. We launched, motored over, and proceeded to catch several yellow bass. Unfortunately my camera was in the truck and I had no desire to clean fish on the first night so they were all released without any pictures. We returned to the cabin and enjoyed some delicious home made enchiladas and great conversation. Friday morning, the alarm went off at 6:30am and again the boys were headed to launch the boat and try to catch some fish worthy of the fillet knife. I was tasked with getting enough fish for a Saturday evening fish fry so we got busy. The evening before we were told of a place at the mouth of the river that had some “hybrids” so there we went. We looked around for schooling activity and found nothing so we headed back upstream a little to fish the edges of the grass in search of crappie, bass, anything… I was very fortunate to have the first fish on and it was a small chain pickerel – my first ever. Not too long after that I landed a much better pickerel.  We were fishing with finess minnows under a small cork and caught a few bass, 6 very nice crappie, and a couple more pickerel. We made an effort to find the yellow bass out in the river but it was very crowded and getting late into the day so we headed back to the house to clean what we had and catch up with the family. Here are a few of the crappie we caught   After cleaning the fish, my daughters wanted to go out fishing so I grabbed a quick bite and hit the water again with a different crew. We passed Billy out on the water again and I asked him about the “hybrids”. He told me they already caught all the hybrids in the lake and the spot I was talking about was going to be sandbass. We left him and made the run down the river to the mouth and immediately started catching some large sandbass. We fished for about an hour or so and managed to bring back 16 fish – mixed bag of sandies and large yellow bass.   Saturday morning we all decided to sleep in and relax – I really wish I would have gotten up and fished but it sure was nice to sleep in… About mid day most of the adults went to Jefferson for shopping and sight seeing and I stayed behind with my nieces, nephew, and my youngest daughter Corey. All the girls wanted to go for a boat ride so we headed out. What an incredible place to spend a weekend. We motored all over the back canals and took several pictures. Here is a sampling of the pictures we took of the area.        After we completed our sight seeing adventure the girls told me they wanted to go fishing. We met Billy on the water again and he again reminded me about the yellow bass so we headed that way. Once at the spot I pulled out the spinning rods and gave a quick lesson to my nieces on casting and working the jig. I caught the first little one and shortly there after Jennifer caught one as well.  Corey caught a few as well and even my oldest niece landed one…  It had started raining and these girls wanted to catch more fish so we kept on. We decided to make the run to the mouth and see if we could get into the big sandies like my daughters did the evening before. That was a decision we celebrated once the first sandbass was landed. We caught a few small ones but for the most part they were really nice fish. These girls were horsing in some 14 – 16 inch, stout sandbass and at times all three of them were hooked up. I finally just put my rod down and took their fish off the hook. We were tossing back 10 & 11 inch sandies because of the sizes of the others we were catching. We did keep a couple a large yellow bass also but if I had to come up with a number caught I would say we caught 30+ fish in an hour and a quarter of fishing. They were all laughing and having a great time and I am glad I was there to make it happen for them. We set a time and said we would head back at 4:30pm because I had to cook fish and that we did. As I got the boat on plane they giggled, laughed, and squealed. I almost had tears in my eyes laughing at them so hard. When we arrived at the ramp the rain had stopped and the setting sun gave us the perfect finale to a great afternoon of fishing – a double rainbow over the lake and a brilliant orange skyline to the west.    Pulling away from the ramp  Here are a few pics of the girl’s haul.   My Fishin Girls  My Cleaning Help & A Bag O Sandies  We fried the previous day’s catch, enjoyed some cold beer and had a great time. Unfortunately, this was the last night of our stay on Caddo Lake and I was already starting to miss it. We closed out our night with a walk out onto the doc to talk to the nutria. It was almost like they were carrying a conversation – the girls and the rats. They had a ball and did not want to go into the house. We had a great time on this trip and I am very eager to go back. Billy Carter was a stand-up guy and more help than I could have ever anticipated. Billy and Dottie are excellent hosts and the place was very clean, kept up, and nice. I have stayed at many B&Bs and lake houses and this one tops the list. You never know what to expect when you reserve a place but if you ever rent from these fine folks, worry not because it will be in great shape and welcoming. We will rent with them again and hopefully soon.  Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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| Texfisher
Crappie Username: Texfisher Post Number: 396 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Great writeup Mike. Really enjoyed the pictures. That looks like a neat lake. I've been there to eat one time but never been on the water. I've always heard that lake is like no other. If you're richer than me I think we're related. If you're poorer than me I know we're related. My bass club webpage http://texbass.8m.com/ 
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| Simek
Minnow Username: Simek Post Number: 72 Registered: 1-2005  Rating: N/A |
Congrats on a great time had by all Mike. My wife used to go there all the time, and really wants to go back! | ||
| Big_p
Moderator Username: Big_p Post Number: 519 Registered: 7-2004  Rating: N/A |
No need for a gravy boat on this Thanksgiving!  Bag 0' Fillets Curtousy of Picou and his girls | ||
| Bigun
Hybrid Username: Bigun Post Number: 663 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Awesome recap and pixels PQ. Looks like a fabulous time. Quit being a mad, little bald man! | ||
| Ozziefish
Bluegill Username: Ozziefish Post Number: 124 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
P, Caddo is a great place to visit, looks like a fun time was had by all. When my mother and sister came to visit this year we went to Caddo and stayed for the day. OzzieFish "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder" | ||
| Sturm1022
Crappie Username: Sturm1022 Post Number: 484 Registered: 1-2005  Rating: N/A |
great recap and happy thanksgiving my fat fingers cant spell I'll probably turn into a floating turd and Picou will break the knob off my post counter immediately. ATW 2/10/05 
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| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1463 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
We really had a great time. I wish the water had been at full pool but we managed just fine. I really am looking forward to going back. The cost was very reasonable and the drive was only 3 hours from the house. Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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| Charles
Moderator Username: Charles Post Number: 496 Registered: 7-2004 Rating: N/A |
Looks like fun. | ||
| Redneck88
Bluegill Username: Redneck88 Post Number: 191 Registered: 2-2005 Rating: N/A |
no catfish!!whats the matter with you that looks like prime whisker kitty waters.jk.looks like yall had a good time though. "If it aint got whiskers throw it back." "I'd rather be fishing than talk to you right now." | ||
| Dale_moser
Moderator Username: Dale_moser Post Number: 138 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
PQ continues to be my hero! Nice job carryin the old man girls..... Fishing is alot like sex: Even when it's bad it's still pretty good! | ||
| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1466 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hi Dale... Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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| Fishinaggie88
Crappie Username: Fishinaggie88 Post Number: 397 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Looks like a great time spent with the family on a beautiful lake. Well done!! Love to fish and hunt. | ||
| Atthewall
Crappie Username: Atthewall Post Number: 428 Registered: 11-2004  Rating: N/A |
Dang, PQ is sporting quality pixels! BZ! What a great time and some excellent action. Congrats on the hauls and good times! |
