Parksville 4-23-06

[flip1up]

What a beautiful lake. This was my first time on this lake. The end near the dam is incredibly clear, I saw lots of fish on the beds, some in the 5-6 pound range. I left them alone to do there thing since I was just fun fishing. The end near the ramp had some stain and thats where I mostly fished. I flipped some small creature baits to the trillions of lay downs and caught a bunch of fish. I had 6 between 15 and 17 inches and maybe 7 or 8 more between 12 and 15 inches, and a few real short spots. All the bigger fish were largemouths and a few were spots. I saw 2 Eagles hovering around, watched them for a while. If you havent been on this lake you should go, its really a sight, reminds me of lakes you see on t.v. from way up in canada or somewhere like that.

 

[CouchTater]

Thanks for the Report Flip!!!! I have heard RangerRob talk about it so much that I may have to make a trip one day after work!!!

 

[Bprice]

I bet fishing Parksville is alot like fishing Smith Lake down here. Tater maybe we can team up and try it one day.

 

[RangerRob]

Sweet! I'm glad you made it up there, flip. Thanks for the call ... I wish I could've gone, but I needed to recharge the batteries after a full day on the Nick. I told you you'd like it. FYI ... legal LMs on P'ville are 14 inches.

 

[jason]

Hey flip, what kind of creature bait were you using? I've been experimenting with the new Ozmo and so far it appears to be a fisherman catcher rather than a fish catcher.

 

[fisherpal2k]

Flip1up, glad you got to see the better side of this lake. It is really nice up there. The eagles have been up there about a month now and seem to be nesting close by. I tried to get some pics of them but it was raining the day I was up there and didn't get any good pics. Hope the fishing holds up till June...

 

[flip1up]

Jason, I use several of the Yum baits. The Sooie, Whooly Hawg Tail, and the other is the one that looks like the Sweet Beaver ( cant remember the name). I layed out of work yesterday and went back there with my wife. I'm hooked on that lake and will fish there more than anywhere else from now on. I was catching fish on 3 different consistant patterns yesterday. Flippin the creatures in the stained water for lg. mouths in the wood. Throwing a Fluke in the backs of pockets where log jams are for lg. mouths and small worms off of points in from 7 to 20 foot of water for Spots. The lg. mouths were up to 2.5 pounds and some of the Spots were about 2 pounds. We probably caught 30-40 fish. Great afternoon and fish bit the whole time we were there, amazing place.

 

[flip1up]

Brandon, there is a motel on the water if you would need lodging, Lake Ocoee Motel I think is the name. I promise you would enjoy the place. I'm just guessing, but I imagine there are over 100 points on the lake, probably a couple hundred points. RR, does the fishing remain good in the summer months? Is there good crappie fishing?

 

[ranman]

Hey flip,I know what you mean,that lake is addictive!Just like any other lake the warmer weather brings out more people and more pressure on the fish.

 

[RangerRob]

Ocoee Inn is the name of the hotel.
http://www.ocoeeinn.com/

I couldn't tell you about the crappie fishing, flip, b/c if I ever catch one it's purely by mistake ... and I haven't made that mistake yet on P'ville. The summer bite is better than on most local lakes purely b/c the water temp remains a bit cooler up there than some. The early TW bite can be awesome on some of the flats and in the creeks. I've never fished it at nite either, but Freebird loves nite fishing up there.

Quit being so vocal about how great it is up there ... I may lose my honey hole! Just kidding. Like you, I'm drawn to that lake and learn a little more about it every time I go. I spend a lot of evenings up there in the summer camping out, and if it weren't for the hwy passing right by it, it would be one of the most tranquil places on earth. I'll load my backpacking gear into my sea kayak and paddle out to the islands or back in the creeks and just veg. There's good primitive camping all around the lake, but some of the locals have trashed a few really good spots and the forest svc won't crack down on the ones who abuse it.

Give me a shout the next time you go and I'll try to join you. BTW ... Tater called me yesterday and wanted to know more about it too. The CFF contingent is about to make that place veeeery popular.

 

[flip1up]

ranman, have you fished for Crappie there? What areas are good for smallmouth? I didnt catch any of them.

 

[flip1up]

Thanks RR. I was wondering about night fishing in the summer. I' will try that for sure.

 

[jason]

Thanks for the info, flip. I hope it is not blatantly obvious that I'm pumping you for tips on the upcoming CFF P'Ville tourney.

 

[flip1up]

Dont mind sharing Jason. I'm pretty sure that the stain in the water wont be there in June when we have the T. We caught some nice spots too and that may be the best bite in June. But like I said I have only been there 2 times and thats just a guess. If we get a good rain I think we may be able to get some good lg mouth. We have been rained out today ( road building) and I am thinking of going there in a few minutes.

 

[jason]

I doubt I'll have a chance to pre-fish prior to the tourney, so keep the reports coming!

 

[flip1up]

Well I did sneak off yesterday and went back to Parksville. I was wanting to try and find some Smallmouths. I went down around the dam, fished points mostly, both main and secondary. I caught alot of Spots up to about 2 pounds, still have not caught a Smallmouth. The Spots just quit biting or moved into the laydowns so I went back up lake to the stained water. Stayed there the rest of the evening and caught several nice Largemouth in the colored up water. I weighed some of them, biggest was 3 lbs. 3 oz. and best 5 around 12 pounds. Small straight tailed 5" worms watermelon colored for the spots and Flukes for the Largemouth, got to watch just about every fish come up and take the Fluke, lots of fun. Jason maybe we can get down there one day soon.

 

[RangerRob]

I knew you'd gone back up there you sorry dog. I was jonesin' all day...

 

[flip1up]

Rob, have you caught many Smallmouth there? Is there a good population of them? How big of Spots have you caught? It looks like a place where the Spots should get big.

 

[RangerRob]

Truthfully, no. I've mostly caught LMs and small Spots ... but like you ... I know there's some bigger ones in there. Last spring I had a 5+ lb SM take a swipe at a floating worm and miss ... he bit it in half but almost completely cleared the water when he hit, giving me a good look. They're in there ... we just need to put our heads together to better figure that place out. Historically, everyone has remained extremely tight-lipped about that lake and info has been almost impossible to obtain ... it doesn't help that there aren't maps available either. ranman, Freebird, and I have almost turned our quest to figure that lake out into some sort of 'holy grail.' We're gaining on it, but we're still a long way off. Fisherpal2k seems to know a bit more than any of us ... maybe we all need to hog-tie him and drag him up there! emoLaugh

 

[flip1up]

I think there is a map. Wal Mart sells the lake map books, I bought the one for Middle Tn. because it has Nick. , Chick. etc. in it. The East Tn. book has Parksville listed in it. If you google Parksville Tn. lake map you will see what I mean. Do you think the Cleveland wal mart may have the east tn. book?