Check out High Rock Lake in NC.

really good lake in the Fall 

9 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Ask @Zcoker if you can night fish the Everglades with him.

 

 

 

Come on down! A night trip out in the glades would be welcome. I know a few places that are pretty convenient and not so radical, easy launching and so forth. Plus big bass. This gal just the other night on my second cast. They out there waiting! 

 

Gray Wood Outfitters

Blackbirch Lake

1 hour ago, PaulVE64 said:

Gray Wood Outfitters

Blackbirch Lake

I prefer the warmer climates this time of year. But I do have family throughout Ontario.

 

Years ago I did some pike fishing up at Lake Nipigon.

If you do decide to come this way Koz, There are some very fine lesser known then the trophy lakes in east Texas that have some serious sized bass. Lake Naconiche, Bob Sandlin and Lake Murval are a few that come to mind. They are not far from either Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend.

FM

2 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

If you do decide to come this way Koz, There are some very fine lesser known then the trophy lakes in east Texas that have some serious sized bass. Lake Naconiche, Bob Sandlin and Lake Murval are a few that come to mind. They are not far from either Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend.

FM

Thanks. I'm going to make a note of those in my phone. So far I'm leaning towards Texas as I begin pricing out places to stay. I was thinking of staying in Tyler or thereabouts in an AirBnB so I'm fairly central to the lakes where I want to fish.

If I were headed to Texas, I’d have O.H. Ivie on my sites. Probably the best chance for a teener on that lake. Haven’t heard much about kayaking it but I’m sure that it’s done. I can only imagine a night excursion! Geez 

39 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

If I were headed to Texas, I’d have O.H. Ivie on my sites. Probably the best chance for a teener on that lake. Haven’t heard much about kayaking it but I’m sure that it’s done. I can only imagine a night excursion! Geez 

Ivie would essentially add another day of traveling and I’d lose a day of fishing.

 

Going from GA to TX is already a long trip. But it would probably be epic to go there.

11 hours ago, Zcoker said:

If I were headed to Texas, I’d have O.H. Ivie on my sites. Probably the best chance for a teener on that lake. Haven’t heard much about kayaking it but I’m sure that it’s done. I can only imagine a night excursion! Geez 

Hi Zcoker,

     I fished a tournament there Sept. 14th. The lake had gotten a serious flood like a week or so before.  The lake level rose like 6-7'. It fished very tough. I caught three small fish. First place was 83.75". It was ugly.  Here is a link to the results from the TX Bass nation side:

https://tourneyx.com/leaderboard/standings/west-texas-kayak-fishing-lake-ivie-2024

 

I think the majority of the teeners that have been caught from there were pre-spawn fish in January, February and March. So Koz, I think you're right to avoid going to OH Ivie. The lake has arces of salt cedar brush that is impossible to navigate through. To be honest I went into that tournament blind with no pre-fishing.  I thought I had a pattern going and then the bite died.

Best,

Fishingmickey

Ivie is a funky place. The majority of the teeners and such that come out of there are FFS catches, if you have that you'd stand a solid chance. Not saying people don't pull giants there sans scope, but it's much less common. Also the most crowded place I've ever seen at times.

I would second staying in east Texas somewhere for sure. Lots of great fisheries in that half of the state whether you go north or south you can't really go wrong. 

If you end up going to Ivey, JB Thomas is just down the road. Some quality fish coming out of there.  That's maybe a better "fly and guide" trip than adding on to east texas though.

 

But yeah, east texas is likely your best bet. So many quality waters. Even had a Sharelunker (over 13) out of Lake Athens this year. 

 

11 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hi Zcoker,

     I fished a tournament there Sept. 14th. The lake had gotten a serious flood like a week or so before.  The lake level rose like 6-7'. It fished very tough. I caught three small fish. First place was 83.75". It was ugly.  Here is a link to the results from the TX Bass nation side:

https://tourneyx.com/leaderboard/standings/west-texas-kayak-fishing-lake-ivie-2024

 

I think the majority of the teeners that have been caught from there were pre-spawn fish in January, February and March. So Koz, I think you're right to avoid going to OH Ivie. The lake has arces of salt cedar brush that is impossible to navigate through. To be honest I went into that tournament blind with no pre-fishing.  I thought I had a pattern going and then the bite died.

Best,

Fishingmickey

 

Good info, thanks! Can only learn about these places by information shared by those who have actually fished them. Sorry about your disappointment. I’d still like to cruise around it on a nice calm night. Often, places that don’t appear to produce much during the daytime come alive at night. One big hit on that lake would probably be worth it. Always a big hit at  night, one way or another. 

20 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Ivie is a funky place. The majority of the teeners and such that come out of there are FFS catches, if you have that you'd stand a solid chance. Not saying people don't pull giants there sans scope, but it's much less common. Also the most crowded place I've ever seen at times.

I would second staying in east Texas somewhere for sure. Lots of great fisheries in that half of the state whether you go north or south you can't really go wrong. 

I had that, it didn't help. I did catch about a 6-7# catfish using FFS during the tourney. It had me going for a minute or two.

FM

10 hours ago, Zcoker said:

 

Good info, thanks! Can only learn about these places by information shared by those who have actually fished them. Sorry about your disappointment. I’d still like to cruise around it on a nice calm night. Often, places that don’t appear to produce much during the daytime come alive at night. One big hit on that lake would probably be worth it. Always a big hit at  night, one way or another. 

I believe it, I'm sure they are there. but that time anything I casted to on the "scope" just turned and swam away or ignored my offering.

FM

Shoot me a dm if you head to Florida, I’ve kayak fished Panasofkee, Istokpoga, and Toho.

 

Don’t mind giving you areas and techniques.

1 hour ago, bigbassin' said:

Shoot me a dm if you head to Florida, I’ve kayak fished Panasofkee, Istokpoga, and Toho.

 

Don’t mind giving you areas and techniques.

Thank you.

 

So far my plans are still up in the air, but I’m leaning slightly towards Texas. the last minute weather forecast will play a role.

Everyone is different but a vacation would be the absolute worst time for me to clear my head and think 

OK - there’s now a 95% chance that I’ll be going to Texas and staying in the Lake Fork area. I don’t think I’ll make it to Rayburn or Toledo Bend, but I will fish Caddo and maybe Bistineau.

 

And since I’ll be fishing a tournament at Lake Fork, I will fish with a guide before that. The tournament rules don’t have pre-fishing or guide restrictions. Hopefully he can find some fish for me and I can mark the locations in my One Boat Humminbird app.