Lake D'arbonne Bass Fishing Reports

Trey · July 17, 2004, 06:03:15 PM

Well I came back from leave to fish a tournament on D'Arbonne today. My partner and I had never even seen the lake before, so I was just aiming to not come in last! We were fishing against 72 other teams, all from the Monroe/ Farmerville area. We started the day by going to Stowe Creek. We went to the back, past the bridge and fished the banks. The water temp was 89 degrees and clear to stained. Shawn caught one early on a Pop 'n Image, and he proceeded to catch two more in the same spot. I then hooked a fish on a black buzzbait. When I tried to swing the fish in the boat, I flipped it over the whole boat and out the other side; bye, bye fish. $:-\$ Then the storms came. There was lightning everywhere and it was raining so hard that I could only see about 100 yards or so. The radio later said that the storm dropped 3-4 inches of rain in less than one hour! We headed for a bridge and beached the boat there for thirty minutes or so. I learned the hard way that I really need to get a better rain suit!

After the storm passed the cloud cover stayed with us until about 1:30 PM and the water temp dropped to 84 degrees. We then went right back to the same spot we caught our fish at earlier, but no takers. Shawn missed a NICE fish on that Pop 'n Image today; I also missed a good 4 #'er, too. After an hour or so, we made our way to the very back of Stowe Creek and fished the grass. We stumbled upon an area that was 4-5 ft deep, with a 7-11 ft deep channel running through it; there was grass and trees all around as well. We literally put the anchor down and fished that area the rest of the day. On my second cast to that flat I boated two 1.5 # fish on the same Rat L Trap!!!

I literally caught 4 fish on three consecutive casts!

We caught in all about 20 fish!

Most of our fish were caught on chrome Rat L Traps and a few were taken on a white Bandit crankbait. We weighed in our biggest five and took 4th place out of 72 with a 9.87 stringer. 18.00 won it, but the guy was a B.A.S.S. pro who lives on D'Arbonne, so he doesn't count! Still you got to give him credit for getting 18 #'s out of only four fish! Needless to say we had an awesome time catching all those fish and the prize money was just icing on the cake!

Trey

Mike Cork · July 17, 2004, 07:35:46 PM

Awesome trip for a first time shot. Good job on finding fish and a pattern to catch them.

Red Ranger · July 17, 2004, 09:50:14 PM

Outstanding Trey and Shawn!

Sears · September 01, 2004, 02:23:06 PM

Does anyone have any advice/tips for D'Arbonne? I am thinking about heading out there Saturday morning to get out of the northwest lakes for once. I've been on the lake before skiing but never fished it.

Mike Cork · September 01, 2004, 03:18:14 PM

I have never fished it either but I know some of the guys have and it sounds like a fun lake with regular timber points flats grass and best of all Cypress trees. Hopefully someone will post, if not p.m. the guys that have been there.....

dave the dope man · September 01, 2004, 07:48:57 PM

It's been a ong time but try this...Fish the rip rap by the hwy 2 bridge, then or before then run up to the mouth of corney creek and fish the flats with the stumps on the right side...WATCH OUT FOR STUMPS!!!!!!!!, be careful and have a safe yet productive trip....Dave

Trey · September 10, 2004, 02:18:45 PM

Sears,

Did you ever fish D'Arbonne? You should have told you were heading that way before I left town, I could have shown you where I caught all those fish!

Trey

Sears · September 11, 2004, 08:32:11 AM

Wasn't able to go. I'll make it over there sometime, though.

Hairdaddy · February 17, 2005, 03:57:26 PM

Hey,
I'm a new member and looking for some info on Darbonne for a 2 day tournament at the end of February. I know some Federation members are on here, and don't expect to get much information, but would just like to find out a couple of productive areas. Thanks in advance-

Mike Cork · February 17, 2005, 07:22:04 PM

Welcome to the site Hairdaddy

We do have a few federation members but Dave the Dope Man will be on later and he knows a little bit about the lake but hasn't fished it in several years. He is also fishing that tournament but is very open to sharing information. I am sure he will get you at least some info.

dave the dope man · February 18, 2005, 08:44:02 PM

HairDaddy, I haven't pre-fished and I am unable to fish the tournament. I have no problem telling you what I have over there. #1. (Got a Map?) try the area called "the Mixing Hole". Trees leading up to the bank or next to the creek channel. I am not sure but I believe that the gates at Claiborne are closed and the lake itself (Claiborne) is still below pool, so don't look for much current back there, It may turn out to be "the Place" though. #2. Corney creek Hog pen area. I like this side for the one reason that is is outflow of Corney Lake. It has a fairly well defined creek, shallow and deep, Stumps, ditches, trees, and PLENTY of pockets with spawing areas.....Good luck Brother, and be sure to post back after the tournament and let us know what you find and how you do. Look a guy named Barry Falon from Slidell, If he is there, good guy and great to fish with. ........Dave

gunter1309 · February 21, 2005, 10:44:48 AM

fished the district 45 ABA on Sunday, tough day. Put in at the Hwy 2 ramp, only 9 people showed, i think the weather had a lot to do with it, rained off and on all day with some really hard downpours at times and along with the rain, wind, at least it wasnt 30 degrees.

Ran to the hogpen area, my old bass club used to fish it when I lived in AR so at least some of it looked familiar, kind a hairy run past boatwright the channel really winds around, and the water was falling so if you ran out of it you could run aground very easily( did it once). Picked up one at 8am on a jig off a stump in 16ft on the channel edge ( 3.96). fished hard for another 2 hrs then decided to move back toward the main lake. caught a 1.75 on a SB in 3 ft at 10 am and did not get another bite. fished shallow, deep, mid range, channel, channel edge, jig, SB, crank, rogue, trap, worm, brush hog, lizard, june bug, black, amber, brown, pork, plastic, double willow, colorado, nothing, not a bump.

good news, my 2 fish was enough to win 5.65lb and take big bass, my RMTT partner JR Burt took second place with one fish 1.55 lb. only 3 other fish were weighed. I really think the falling water affected the bite.

water temps were mid 50's and heavy stain to muddy , the water cleared further down the lake -- the water is in the buck brush so a couple of warm days between now and the federation tourney and their should be some good sacks weighed

cmegee · February 21, 2005, 10:54:39 AM

see you there Hairdaddy, I'm going to head there on Thursday and see if I can find a few.

BIG PAPA · February 21, 2005, 02:00:55 PM

Quote from: gunter1309 on February 21, 2005, 10:44:48 AM
fished the district 45 ABA on Sunday, tough day. Put in at the Hwy 2 ramp, only 9 people showed, i think the weather had a lot to do with it, rained off and on all day with some really hard downpours at times and along with the rain, wind, at least it wasnt 30 degrees.

Ran to the hogpen area, my old bass club used to fish it when I lived in AR so at least some of it looked familiar, kind a hairy run past boatwright the channel really winds around, and the water was falling so if you ran out of it you could run aground very easily( did it once). Picked up one at 8am on a jig off a stump in 16ft on the channel edge ( 3.96). fished hard for another 2 hrs then decided to move back toward the main lake. caught a 1.75 on a SB in 3 ft at 10 am and did not get another bite. fished shallow, deep, mid range, channel, channel edge, jig, SB, crank, rogue, trap, worm, brush hog, lizard, june bug, black, amber, brown, pork, plastic, double willow, colorado, nothing, not a bump.

good news, my 2 fish was enough to win 5.65lb and take big bass, my RMTT partner JR Burt took second place with one fish 1.55 lb. only 3 other fish were weighed. I really think the falling water affected the bite.

water temps were mid 50's and heavy stain to muddy , the water cleared further down the lake -- the water is in the buck brush so a couple of warm days between now and the federation tourney and their should be some good sacks weighed

Congratulations Steve and J.R. always good to see homeboys do well

papa

Hairdaddy · February 21, 2005, 02:25:46 PM

Thanks everyone- Am going up Thursday morning to prefish for 2 days- Hopefully jigs and plastics will be a favorite food this weekend, cause thats prob what I'll be serving. I'll put up a post report on Monday. This is a pretty neat site!

Mike Cork · February 21, 2005, 06:16:44 PM

Congrats Steve, see even when it is hard for you it is for everyone else. Great Job to you and Jr.

Good Luck Hairdaddy and Cmegee. Let us know how it goes.

cmegee · February 21, 2005, 06:45:53 PM

Welllllllll, I'm planning on handing out some serious

,
or getting one handed to me

Mike Cork · February 21, 2005, 06:47:01 PM

From what Steve said it looks like it could be timed right and big stringers for all

cmegee · February 21, 2005, 06:53:24 PM

I've been saying my little fisherman's prayer...

dave the dope man · February 21, 2005, 08:47:55 PM

well it looks like at least one of my little areas paid off for someone

..Good job Steve and J.R. I would love to be there this week but it looks like I will be out for sometime....Good luck everyone and bring it home for N. La..........Dave

Fern27 · February 24, 2005, 07:59:03 AM

Hello,

I will be fishing the BFL on Lake D'arbonne on March 19th. I have never been to the lake and would like to find out as much information as possible. Does anyone have any advise about fishing this lake in March?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Fern27

BIG PAPA · February 24, 2005, 11:45:26 AM

There is a thread below this one a little ways for D'arbonne, that has quite a bit of info and I am sure you can get more as more guys read your post
Check it out below

papa

Tr 20 · February 26, 2005, 08:42:29 PM

Quote from: Mike on February 17, 2005, 07:22:04 PM
Welcome to the site Hairdaddy We do have a few federation members but Dave the Dope Man will be on later and he knows a little bit about the lake but hasn't fished it in several years. He is also fishing that tournament but is very open to sharing information. I am sure he will get you at least some info.

Looking for information about D'Arbonne for a BFL in march. Can anyone help $:-\$

dave the dope man · February 27, 2005, 05:40:31 PM

Hang in there Tr 20. I am expecting reports in the next few days from our guys that fished the State Bass Federation Tournament..........Dave

Tr 20 · February 27, 2005, 07:43:33 PM

Quote from: dave the dope man on February 27, 2005, 05:40:31 PM
Hang in there Tr 20. I am expecting reports in the next few days from our guys that fished the State Bass Federation Tournament..........Dave

Dave
Any help you can provide would be a great help

Thanks