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Full Version: Intro and Deer Creek Report
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I have been browsing the forum for a few weeks getting info. Long time fisherman but haven't had the time for the last 4-5 years to get out. With a young boy and a now interested wife, I am making time to get the family out and find some time for myself every once in awhile to get out as well.

Deer Creek is closeby and with a kayak and no fishfinder I like to go there because the inlet by Charleston is an easy spot to target fish. They always school up near the inlet. The area is not accessible to most larger boats and the mud deters most bank fisherman so it is a good spot to fish.

Took the family up there on Saturday and then I ran up last night for a few hours.

Great fishing both times for rainbows. We caught 6 healthy rainbows around 16" on saturday all just drift fishing with nightcrawlers. We were on the water by 6:00 AM and the fishing was pretty steady till about 10 till we left. We had multiple other bites and fish that got off purely due to the fun that comes with fishing with a 2 year old but it was a good time.

Last night I got on the water at about 5:30PM and paddled over to the same spot right by the inlet. The wind was blowing so I just let the current of the river and the wind fight which kept me mostly stationary despite not using an anchor. Caught a couple smaller rainbows in the 14-15 inch range right in the river on night crawlers.

Switched to lures for something different and didn't have much luck. Tried a ton of different spinners and some soft plastics to no avail. About 6:30 I moved out into the lake further, still right above the channel and tossed out one rod with a night crawler and started throwing a mairbou jig with an lightweight rod. First cast with the jig I hooked into a nice fish that fought so hard I thought at first I had snagged a carp or something. At the same time the drag started buzzing on the bait pole. Pulled both in and both were nice rainbows. The one on the jig was the biggest I have caught at Deer Creek yet at about 18-20" and very healthy.

Put the bait pole away and just threw the jig for the next hour getting fish almost every cast in the 14-16" range, all healthy and all good fighters. Fishing slowed down after about 7:30 and I left the water aroudn 8:15 or so. Good time overall.
Thanks for the report, I have heard from a friend the parking area up near the river inlet is blocked off is this true? [fishin]
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Welcome aboard and thanks for the report. way to start the little guy out [fishon]
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[quote fishinfool]Thanks for the report, I have heard from a friend the parking area up near the river inlet is blocked off is this true? [fishin][/quote]

Yeah unfortunately there are some concrete barriers preventing people from driving down to the water. Granted the water level is dropping and it would be hard to access anyway but still.
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Welcome and thanks for the report.
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The Wallsburg state park area was closed with a locked gate on Saturday when we drove past. I believe the OP is referring to the free parking area.
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[quote Jedidiah]The Wallsburg state park area was closed with a locked gate on Saturday when we drove past. I believe the OP is referring to the free parking area.[/quote]

The place I was parked is at the North end of the lake just before you get to the charleston bridge. Its is still within the state park so it is a fee area still with envelopes and a drop box. Officials rarely monitor it though and I imagine most of the people there don't pay the fee.

I have never tried the Wallsburg area but I know there was a triathalon going on saturday near that area so it may explain why the gate was locked.
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