Lake Talquin Tales 02/12/2009

What A Week!!

With record low temperatures over most areas, there weren’t many anglers who braved the elements, but those who did were rewarded with good catches. Travis Wood from Quincy limited (25 Crappie) three days in a row, Wednesday thru Friday. Travis was using live minnows in 20-25 feet of water. Crappie fishing is still best in deep water long line trolling with Hal-Fly or Curly Tail type jigs. Live minnows are also effective. The Bass Pro Shops Crappie Master Tournament was held Saturday, February 7th. There were 43 boats entered with 7 states represented. The weigh-in at Whippoorwill Marina began at 3:30pm with 27 out of the 43 weighing in a 7 crappie limit. A guaranteed $10,000.00 payback with a $4000.00 First Place was rewarded.

Here are the results:
First Place $4,000 Prize:
12.93lbs Larry Dawson and Berry Green

Second Place $2000 Prize:
12.11lbs Ray Green and Jason Little

Third Place $1000 Prize:
11.79lbs George Parker & Daryl Cole

Big Fish: 2.41 lbs George Parker

Cash prizes were paid to First through Tenth Places ranging from $4000-$300. All the fish were released after weigh-in, back into the lake. Good Fishing Guys!!

Dallas Johnson at Ingram’s Marina reported catfishing is still great with good numbers being brought in. Hunter Moore, a local 12 year old, took a 5lb channel cat dock fishing at Ingram’s. Bream. and Shellcracker fishing is still completely -------------!

As reported last week, Bass are beginning to move into pre spawn areas. With warmer temperatures coming, Bass should really begin to move in to spawn. Wesley Scott weighed in an 8lb Bass he took in four inches of water. The lake is in great shape, level normal, clearing, surface temperature 49°.

Hey Guys, Don’t forget Valentines Day! Show her your love, take her fishing! Until next week... “Tight Lines - Good Fishing”. Captian “D” (850) 508-4308

Lake Talquin Tales 02/05/2009

Remembering… Over the years, I have had the pleasure of fishing with a number of folks from Jackson County. Most of the trips, we were blessed to catch a “good mess”, but there were days when we couldn’t “buy a bite.” The best of all are the memories that we have and the fellowship we had on the lake. There seems to be a way that fishing can create friends and memories of the big one that got away! Some readers that know me have asked how the name “Captain D” came about. Well, I can assure you it is not from a well known seafood place. Several years ago, a father from Michigan (his name I can’t recall), along with his 2 young sons, asked me to guide them for Crappie. After we met the next morning, the dad instructed his 2 sons to listen to what I said because I was Captain of the Boat. With the 2 sons having trouble with “Dudley”, I told them to use “D” and so from that day hearing, “Captain D, can we do this? Captain D, can we do that? Captain D, can you take my picture? Captain D” on and on and on, the name stuck. Now let’s talk fishing!

The lake is in great shape! Good numbers of Crappie are still being reported at both, Whippoorwill and Ingram’s Marinas. Crappie are still holding in 20-30 feet of water- drift fish, live minnows and jigs for best results.

Bass are beginning to move some. Fair catches of legal size (18 inches). Bass are being reported with more of the release (14-16 inches) size really being caught.

Bream and Shellcracker are not active at all now.

Catfishing remains good right now for those who want a “good mess” to filet and deep fry. MMMMMM sounds good to me!

Arrie Battle, a local angler, weighed in a 10 pound Blue Cat she caught in 22 feet of water while crappie fishing. What a pull that must have been!

Put on some extra clothes and come on over. Until next week, “Tight Lines, Good Fishing!”
-Wayne “Captain D” Dudley (850) 508-4308

Lake Talquin Tales 01/29/2009

After only 3 weeks of writing “Lake Talquin Tales”, I would like to thank you for reading my column. I have received several calls telling me how much readers have enjoyed “Lake Talquin Tales.” One reader said she was not too much into fishing, but had enjoyed the history of Lake Talquin. My reply to her was “Once you have visited Lake Talquin and witnessed the beautiful sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, then you can appreciate and realize what great architect created such beauty!” Once again, thank you.

Pat Thomas Park, at Hopkins Landing, is one of the most popular campgrounds on the lake. The park is state operated, with a park ranger living on site. Offering sites for your RV or just “pitching a tent”, Pat Thomas Park offers all the accommodations you need to enjoy your stay. Park Ranger Robert Rosenberger at 850-875-4544.

Scott Haire and son Nolan along with friends Johnny and Susie Siets “pitched a tent” Friday, January 23, 2009. Scott set some Bush Hooks baited with Mullet and Took 9 Channel and Blue Cats ranging 3 to 8 pounds.

Catfish are still being taken using worms and catfish bait. Winter temperatures have completely stopped Bream and Shell-cracker. Crappie are still holding in deep water. However, good numbers are being reported at Whippoorwill and Ingram’s Marina. Your best bet is to Tight Line Curly Tail Jigs or Live Minnows. Saturday, February 7, 2009, Whippoorwill Lodge and Marina will host the Bass Pro-Shops “Crappie Masters Tournament.” Make plans to come over and see the Pros do their thing. For more information, call Jeff Dubree at (850) 627-2605.

Bass Fishing has been slowed some, but Dallas Johnson at Ingram’s Marina reports the Bass he has seen are really quality fish. Bass are still deep along the river and creek channels.

On Saturday, April 11, 2009, the Bass ‘n’ Gal Talquin Hookers will host the 31st Annual Lake Talquin Open Bass Tournament. I will be bringing more information about this event at a later date.

Until Next week, “Tight Line-Good Fishing,”
“Captain D” (850) 508-4308

Lake Talquin Tales 01/22/2009

By Wayne (Captain D) Dudley
Because much of the shoreline is state owned, many areas of Lake Talquin remain in their natural state and are accessible to hiking and bicycling trails and public hunting. Lake Talquin offers spectacular scenery with many species of plants and wildlife, including wading birds, birds of prey, deer, hogs, turkey and of course alligators. Lake Talquin’s water level remains stable year round at 68.5 feet above sea level.

Now let’s talk fishing:
Brrrrrr!!!!! With winter temperatures this week, only those “die hard, dedicated” fishers brave enough to face the elements, the hardiest of anglers (and believe me, there have been few) have been seen at local marinas. However, good catches of Crappie rewarded those determined Anglers.

Crappie are deep and are still being taken with live Minnows and Curly Tail Jigs. Just put on enough clothes and go for it.

Bass fishing remains fair with Bass still holding along the River and Creek ledges. All we need is some milder weather, a warming trend, for Bass and Crappie to start moving in to spawn.

Bream and Shell-cracker have completely shutdown. Good numbers of Catfish have been reported with most being caught off docks.

Now is the perfect time for you to get all your tackle ready for Springtime, ‘cause soon things are going to pick up!

Until next week, “Tight line, Good fishing.”

Lake Talquin Tales 01/15/2009

By Wayne (Captain D) Dudley

Lake Talquin, bordering Leon and Gadsden Counties, was named by using the first three letters of Tallahassee, “TAL” and the first four letters of Quincy, “QUIN”, forming TALQUIN. The lake was manmade in the late 1920’s, when a power generating dam (still in operation) was built.

Lake Talquin holds the state record for a Black Crappie weighing 3.81 lbs. With mild weather this past week, limits of Crappie were taken using live minnows and through tight line fishing using curly tail jigs. Crappies are holding at 12-14 feet deep, with fish ranging 1-2 lbs.

A few real good “SCABS” are reported. Saturday, January 10th, 50 team boats fished the “CRAPPIE USA Tournament, hosted by Whippoorwill Marina. Almost all teams weighed in with the 7 fish limit, with 11.79 lbs winning the tournament. The next tournament at Talquin is the Bass Proshop “CRAPIE MASTERS” on February 7th, 2009, hosted by Whippoorwill Marina. For more information call Jeff Dubree at (850) 627-2605.

Bream fishing is still slow. Some shellcrackers are being taken using wigglers and big reds. However, bass fishing picked-up this past week. Bass are holding on the river ledges and are being taken using Carolina Rigs and Crankbaits according to Dallas Johnson at Ingram’s Marina.
Dallas reported on a 14 boat tournament out of Williams Landing this past Sunday, January 11th. Doug Walker from Tallahassee, won the tournament with 5 bass, weighing in at 15 lbs.

Catfish are hot and heavy right now with good numbers being taken almost anywhere in the lake using worms and catfish bait. Dallas reported a local youth caught a 5 lb channel cat off the dock at Ingram’s Marina. For more information call Dallas or Sarah at (850) 627-2241.

If you are not familiar with Lake Talquin, maps are available showing the river and creek channels, the depths, and other info about the lake. This information will help you with locations and safer boating.

Until next week. “Tight Line, Good Fishing!” Captian D (850) 508-4308

Lake Talquin Tales 01/08/2009

By Wayne (Captain D) Dudley

Lake Talquin, located 12 miles South of Quincy, Fl., a man made 8,900 acre freshwater reservoir, was created in the late 1920s when a power generating dam was built there to supply electricity to the area. The lake is 13.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. The Ochlocknee River is the main water feeder to the lake, with several creeks also flowing into the lake. The river channel, along with the natural environment, provides cover for the lake’s healthy population of Large-mouth and Striped Bass, Crappie, Bluegill Bream, Shell-crackers and channel Catfish. So much for the lake’s history, now let’s talk fishing.

Every week we will be letting you know what’s going at on Talquin with fishing in “Lake Talquin Tales”. I will be soliciting the help of two local marinas, Whippoorwill Sportsman Lodge, owned and operated by Jeff Dubree, and Ingram’s Marina, operated by Dallas and Sarah Johnson (Jackson County folks). We hope to bring you good reports for Lake Talquin. Though, with the current strain of cool weather, Bream fishing has been slow, some folks are still trying.

Fairly good catches of Shell-crackers are being taken by fishing out Sandy points with Black-wigglers and Big Reds. Crappie fishing has been hot with good numbers being caught with Gold Minnows and Hal-Fly half Jigs. They are hiding in the river and creek channels. Crappies are running deep, but if you can find the schools of Baitfish, be assured the Crappie are near by. Remember, Crappie 10 inches or less must be released. Daily bag is limited to 25.

Catfish can be caught near deep water using worms or prepared baits. Stripped Bass have also been active, schooling in the main body of the lake. Look for diving birds for a clue as to where the Baitfish are.

Large-mouth Bass have not been active for everyone, but local angler, Mike Mercuri, hit the jackpot with 5 Bass, 4 weighing in at 3.5 pounds up to 10¼ pounds, with the “Big Momma” tipping the scales at a whopping 14.06 pounds- Wow!

Striped and Large-mouth Bass must be 18 inches or released.

Until next week, “Tight Line, Good Fishing!”
For more information call “Captain D” at 850-508-4308.