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As many readers will recall, we and other groups were surprised to learn of the sudden closure of Lake Okhissa last Fall. Okhissa had been added as a second fishing lake for our Sweetwater Classic. The National Forest Service is taking hard measures to combat salvania and other invasive weeds on Okhissa. The lake is scheduled to be reopened next March.
Since then, it was brought to our attention that there are two other small lakes within 45 minutes of Percy Quin (same distance as Okhissa). At their January meeting, the GCC board voted unanimously to add one of these – Lake Mary Crawford – to our Saturday tournament waters, to replace Okhissa.
Lake Mary Crawford is a recently renovated 128-acre state fishing lake located 5 miles west of Monticello on Highway 28. During the renovation period, it was stocked with Northern and Florida-strain largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and catfish. The lake has a history of producing big bass and crappie.
Another aspect of LMC is that it’s “fly friendly”. The lotus flats on the upper part of the lake are excellent for bass on poppers and shallow divers. There are numerous artificial structures along dropoffs that hold crappie up to 3 pounds.
On Friday evening, following the Captains Meeting at 6:00pm, MDWFP fisheries biologist and avid fly angler Samantha Bergeron will give a presentation on both Lake Tangipahoa (inside Percy Quin) and Mary Crawford. She will address best places to fish each lake, best flies for each lake, and what other fishing opportunities these lakes hold.
