Let's just say I wasn't too happy about my experience at Mud Lake. The DFW did their best both legally and financially to make this a great fishery, and the locals did their best to get some great "eatin's" on the table. The rules clearly read on a big sign in front of the lake: "Selective gear only, limit 1 fish per day." What I saw was empty powerbait and Styrofoam worm containers in the mud, 30 lb. test monofilament wrapped in the trees along with giant lead sinker weights, the remnants of this summer's bonfires (stupid considering the fire hazard of this summer), and 8 different colors of glass from drunken beer bottle smashing. Give me a break.

The lake itself is truly made of silty mud which can be difficult to approach, though the eastern portion of the lake has a rocky area you can take off from. The deepest part of the lake is on its southeastern end where it reaches a depth of maybe 6-8'. The rest of the lake is shallow. Several fish were rising near the shore in this area in the 8-10" range. I guess that we'll consider this a "Spring Fishery."

Oh, they will take ant patterns.

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