Headwaters Lake update for kayakers

[Zcoker]

Only thing that I can say: “ ain’t like it used to be!” The whole lake is practically choked out. The whole northwest side looks like land. The kayak access is totally blocked with only a few creek-like fingers to actually fish in.  Looks like they nuked the heck out of it. Lotta dead plants and piled up vegetation. The enhanced area is unrecognizable. I have never seen the parking lot totally empty as if the place was closed. Literally a ghost town! And yet it’s not closed, it’s quite open! Only access for a kayak to the main fishing areas is the main canal, which is a tough run when busy but I really can’t say what’s going on now from what I’ve experienced. I had the whole run to myself. The hardest thing was to see the once beautiful enhanced area now dead and crumbling. 

Totally empty lot all day! 

 

 

Long canal journey 

 

 

Choked out all over

 

 

 

 

Boat ramp still empty after a days fishing! 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

Such a shame. Have they started the access road purposed work yet? 

[Zcoker]

40 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Such a shame. Have they started the access road purposed work yet? 

 

No, at least not upfront, still dirt. Ironically, that little strip of paved road back by stick marsh looked like it got some attention. Looks like they re-paved it. 

[TOXIC]

Uggggg……we are going in February.  Hopefully it will be better by then.  Please keep us posted if you venture back out.  We will be running big motors, not that it makes much difference.  

[SC53]

@Zcoker thanks for the update.
HW is fishing smaller and smaller every year due to this. For a 10,000 acre lake, I’d be surprised if it has even 4000 acres that’s fishable. And when it’s sprayed, all that dying vegetation sinks to the bottom creating more problems.  You’d think they would have learned as many lakes they have done this too but unfortunately they haven’t.

But how was the fishing?

@TOXIC you should be ok by February as a lot of the hydrilla will die back during our winters. But that parking lot won’t look anything like it does now.

[TOXIC]

3 hours ago, SC53 said:

you should be ok by February as a lot of the hydrilla will die back during our winters. But that parking lot won’t look anything like it does now.

This will be our 3rd trip up and it’s been a zoo every time but we caught fish.  Wind blew hydrilla islands into the launch and the canals, which made it a little dicey at times. 

[Mike L]

Any of you guys go down to the Stick lately? More interested in access. 
 

Tournaments are about to start and one trail is thinking about bypassing HW entirely. 
 

Thanks

 

 

 

Mike

[Zcoker]

15 hours ago, SC53 said:

@Zcoker thanks for the update.
HW is fishing smaller and smaller every year due to this. For a 10,000 acre lake, I’d be surprised if it has even 4000 acres that’s fishable. And when it’s sprayed, all that dying vegetation sinks to the bottom creating more problems.  You’d think they would have learned as many lakes they have done this too but unfortunately they haven’t.

But how was the fishing?

 

Fish? What fish? lol Sometimes I think all those fish in there are conditioned for shiners only! Or maybe I’m just spoiled from the everglades. Sometimes when you go somewhere, you have these fond memories that you just want to force back into existence! Just can’t do it there. I only wish it was like I used to be. Wishful thinking on that trip. 

[TOXIC]

@Zcoker we are always up for a new place.  Can you recommend any place in the glades that would be a good option? 

[SC53]

5 hours ago, Zcoker said:

 

Fish? What fish? lol Sometimes I think all those fish in there are conditioned for shiners only! Or maybe I’m just spoiled from the everglades. Sometimes when you go somewhere, you have these fond memories that you just want to force back into existence! Just can’t do it there. I only wish it was like I used to be. Wishful thinking on that trip. 

lol, I agree on being conditioned to shiners.  Last couple of times I went there you couldn’t hardly buy a bite on an artificial. It’s such a long trip for you ( 2 hours away myself) and to experience the poor bite leaves a bad taste in your mouth for sure.

[Zcoker]

4 hours ago, TOXIC said:

@Zcoker we are always up for a new place.  Can you recommend any place in the glades that would be a good option? 

 

I’ve stated to explore Lake Garcia. It’s not sprayed. The water is very clean. It has large deep flats with islands. The launch area is exceptional. The vegetation is nice and green and consistent and predictable. It's producing some quality fish. And it’s 24/7. Just takes time to learn the layout and what those fish want. 

 

I’d also have my eye on Lake Placid. The west side of that lake has a nice public boat launch. Deep. Spring fed. BIG bass!

 

As far as Everglades go, you’d be limited to the canals only, which can run for miles and be very boring. Sawgrass or Holiday Park have some nice launch/marina areas for boats with some nice fishing flats. Most of the other large open flat areas down that way are not accessible by boat, just too shallow with primitive launch areas. 

 

Of course there’s Lake Okeechobee, but you have to know where to go in that place to get the fish and I really can’t help you with that one. I’m mainly limited to the rim areas, which are so so. Maybe someone else can chime in about big O.

[crypt]

Garcia is high right now. Fishing is awesome though. you have to spend some time covering water right now, but when you find em sit still and work the area really good.

[Mike L]

Placid has been great the last month or so. I was last there in August and did very well.

And then there’s Okeechobee. 
Let me know if and when you plan to go as things change fast this time of the year and I’ll help you out as much as I can. 
 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

[Zcoker]

On 10/3/2024 at 5:39 AM, Mike L said:

Any of you guys go down to the Stick lately? More interested in access.

 

 

Looked very accessible to me. The water level was a little low but not that low. The boat ramp looked ok. There were about 3-4 trailers in the lot.