By Bridgett Howard
The natural cork float begins dancing and disappears; reeling against the resistance produces a hand-size bluegill. This scene would be repeated dozens of times; next we’re into slab crappies. The water is 78 degrees, it’s a full moon; the lake is teeming with fish. The entire scene has the feel and look of an angler’s dream. Cypress trees offer unique fishing cover; across the cove is a watery field of lily pads. Crossing a canal brings yet another breathtaking scene – giant cypresses standing as silent sentinels guarding this hidden cove. Overhead cover provided by the pads makes perfect ambush points for bass, casting an unweighted soft plastic tube to the middle of the pads, my retrieve skips over the top of the vegetation. Suddenly the lilies are parting with the v-wake of a fish exploding to punish the surface intruder. A solid three-pound bass crushes the bait and comes quickly to my hand. Fish after fish come to the boat this day on our most recent visit to historic Reelfoot Lake.
In 1811-1812, during the New Madrid Earthquake, the Mississippi River flowed backwards creating this 15,000 acre jewel, Reelfoot Lake, one of the South’s best kept secrets. The scenery and the fishing are equally spectacular. Located in Northwest Lake County in Tennessee and less than 500 miles from many metropolitan cities, Reelfoot contains largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish but is most widely renowned for the crappie and the year-round fishing action provided by the “supersize” crappies. The shallow waters also support huge populations of bluegill, averaging from ½ to ¾’s of a pound; the largemouth bass are growing in both popularity and size. The TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) creel survey shows the average bass weighing in at 3 – 3 ½ pounds! Food, clean water and ample cover for the fish creates a perfect scenario for spawning and sustaining large populations of fish. Reelfoot also contains many types of aquatic vegetation – primarily coontail moss, lily pads and Nymphea Advena, more popularly known to the locals as mule foot bonnets. This vegetation is critical to both the fish and fishermen. With an average depth of just over five feet and a maximum depth of 18 feet, the entire lake is alive with fish. Considering the average depth and amount of vegetation on the lake, a kayak or canoe is a terrific way to access some of the areas inaccessible to other craft.
Lifelong resident and veteran of 28 guiding seasons, Jackie Van Cleave ((731) 431-9700,) knows every inch of Reelfoot and enthusiastically states that the crappies bite all year long. “Quality fish are caught in the early spring; February and March are prime time. For numbers, April and May are great. Bluegills move shallow in mid-April and continue to bite well into September”.
The bass are abundant, stocky and hit lures with a vengeance. We’ve caught them on jigs, spinners and crankbaits. Because the lake is shallow and competition for food intense, topwater action is incredible. Reelfoot has another unusual scenario; the locals refer to prime schooling areas as “bunching holes” – deeper spots five to eight-feet deep surrounded by “thin” water drawing balls of shad and bass. Upper Blue Basin, Curleys Pocket and the whole Northeast part of the lake have been good to us.
The Reelfoot tackle box should include smaller black and blue 1/16 -ounce jigs tipped with wax worm or small tubes for both bluegill and crappies. Dark colored rubber-legged jigs, soft plastics worms and flipping tubes as well as 3/8-ounce willow leaf spinners and shallow-running (5 to 8 foot) shad patterns crankbaits are best for bass. Area resorts have rental boats and an ample supply of tackle, lures live bait and plenty of free advice. A non-resident three day license costs $16.50.
Lakeside amenities, resorts, hotels and restaurants with home-cooked meals and a large dose of southern hospitality cater to outdoor folk. The experience, ability to navigate the lake and knowledge of the best “fishin’ holes” make a guided visit a wise choice at least your first trip.
When you head to Reelfoot Lake bring a landing net and a camera, you’ll need both.
Bridgett Howard is a middle-Tennessee transplant and member of the Jackson Kayak fishing team who can be found year-round on the water paddling, chasing and catching fish. Joey Monteleone has been the author and subject of articles for over 30 years, also appearing on radio, TV and at outdoor shows. his ability to find and boat hundreds of trophy bass has been well documented.
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