Black Lake Campti 13-15 April 2023

[Mike Cork]

Prefished two days and then a tournament on Saturday.

Water temps 63-68 depending on time of day. Lots of current flowing through the bridge, and lake 2 feet high and falling hard, like 4 inches a day....

On Thursday I started about 8:30 south of the bridge at Bryants Pocket. I usually can find a quick pattern there and move around from there but fishing from 8 feet to the bank I wasn't bit. In reality with these water temps there should still be some spawning going on but the falling water is making that hard. I fished until 3 PM hitting all my favorite spots and only caught one short fish on a spinnerbait and one keeper on a jig. Talked to a buddy that said there was a shad spawn at Pecan Island at first light but I didn't get on the lake in time.

Friday I went above the bridge. Went to one of my favorite pockets and nothing... I mean not a bite... Not looking good. I moved out deeper, water is falling so move deeper... Well this is a cypress tree lake, so thick you can't see another boat 50 feet from you... I moved from 2 foot trees to 4 foot trees to 6 foot trees and finally got bit in 8 foot trees on a frog pitching up in the shady spots... Typical post spawn/summer pattern in these parts.

Tournament morning I start where I was getting bites. Nothing until about 10 AM then I put three in the boat in 15 casts. Then I go until 1 PM without a bite... finally got another bite on a leaning tree. Which was different than the shade pattern, leaning trees usually mean spawning bass (our bottom is to silted and the trees are the hard material they use to spawn). With four in the box and running short on time I fish hard and fast, then it hit me that the fish on the leaner might have had a partner.... I got back and sure enough a 4.79 chokes my frog. Now I've got five 

I did manage one other keeper but she didn't help me. My five when 17.43 for the win. 2nd had 15 and change, third was the same, big bass was a nice 6.41.

[fishin couillon]

Nice.....its been a  few years since i been on Black Lake.....I'm not the best what so ever but never could figure that place out......

How is the giant salvinia?? Still taking over the lake???

[Mike Cork]

Right now there is no salvinia  The salvinia used to be part of my game, find it, throw a frog in it, and catch bass. But I couldn't find the first piece. With the current being so strong for so long, it could be putting a whooping on it. However as I mentioned in the post, there are places that the trees are so thick you can't see through them and there is probably enough for seed stuck and can't wash out... But for now it's in great shape.

[J.W.]

 

Nice job! I have never fished that lake. I need to go try it some time.

[Donald Garner]

Congrats on the win and tks for sharing the trip with us. 

[Mike Cork]

Nice job! I have never fished that lake. I need to go try it some time.

It can be a fun lake but it can be a nightmare as well. I only had a few bites all day, just the right ones. Only 4 limits weighed...

Once the water levels stabilize it will be wide open for a while.