Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary writes about Lake Columbia.
Anybody who knows me well will likely be quick to agree that Lake Ouachita is my all-time favorite reservoir, and for good reason. First and foremost, I know the body of water fairly well. It certainly matters that I can travel for in the neighborhood of 30 minutes and be on the water. And let's not ignore the fact that Lake Ouachita is a reputable fishery.
I am also a creature of habit and don't necessarily like to step beyond my comfort zone. Don't get me wrong. I always anticipate annual springtime excursions to Lake Broken Bow, at Broken Bow, Okla., and welcome occasional journeys to Lake Greeson. But generally speaking, I am more than satisfied with returning to Lake Ouachita time and time again.
I recently grew a little intrigued, however, when my friend, Blaine Hoar, suggested that we drag the boat all the way to Magnolia. Lake Columbia was situated only a few miles from this southern Arkansas college town. And judging from tales that had been shared with my friend, this little reservoir had been known to cough up some pretty impressive largemouth bass throughout the years.
I chose to do a little research prior to our journey. And it didn't take long to figure out why this particular body of water was capable of producing trophy-class largemouth bass.
According to information available on the state's website, Lake Columbia was constructed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1986. At the project's completion, a 3,000-acre reservoir was situated in Columbia County, only about 6 miles from Magnolia.
Columbia would obviously differ from the lakes we are accustomed to here in our neck of the woods. Southern Arkansas lacks the steep and jagged mountainous terrain that we traverse on a regular basis. In turn, its substrate is void of rock formations and steep drop-offs. And the average depth is far less than that found on Lake Ouachita.
The substrate also has an extreme effect on the water clarity. In fact, I would describe the water during our most recent visit as coffee colored. In fact, this was a lake where I suspected lures that notoriously produced various noises or vibrations would prove most effective.
So this particular reservoir is far more shallow, and its waters far less clear than I am accustomed to. However, these characteristics are some of the very reasons largemouth bass grow so large in its waters.
Its all about water temperature. It only makes sense that the winters are more mild in extreme south Arkansas than they are in our neck of the woods. And even though this section of the state does see some frigid temperatures from time to time, the lake's shallow and murky water is naturally warmed by the sun, far quicker than lakes which are clear and deep.
In turn, Lake Columbia produces a reputable habitat for a strain of largemouth referred to as Florida Bass to thrive. This strain of bass is known to grow noticeably larger than those native to Arkansas. That in mind, the Arkansas Game And Fish Commission has been stocking Lake Columbia with this particular strain for many years. And the agency chose to post specific regulations on this lake that would ensure that Florida Bass remained and thrived in its waters.
OK, we've already come to the conclusion that the substrate below the water's surface is far different from that in west central Arkansas, as is the water color. But how about what we see above the surface? Well, I'll be the first to suggest that the surface, too, is unlike what we fish locally.
Sure, we occasionally happen upon small sections of water, on our area lakes, where aquatic vegetation abounds. In fact, it is not uncommon to see water willow thriving on shallow points and along the shoreline during the warmer months of the year.
However, the upper end of Lake Columbia sports literally acre upon acre of aquatic vegetation, including huge lily pad colonies. Although these plants can prove somewhat of a chore to fish thoroughly, one can simply change their approach and experience success.
First and foremost, one must choose lures that are designed in a manner that they are weedless. Such lures can be dragged across the top of the huge lily pad leaves and through other vegetation with ease. In turn, one's odds of coaxing a trophy from beneath the shade of the heavy cover will increase exponentially.
A word of caution, however. One must be rigged with a fairly heavy test line while fishing in and around this vegetation, as large bass will notoriously make a beeline to the heavy cover immediately upon being hooked.
Although one can find occasional colonies of lily pads throughout the entire lake, the bulk of these plants are located on the upper end, nearby the mouth of Beech Creek. And trails are marked to ensure boaters that they can travel safely.
But don't think that all of the obstacles are behind you as you enter the lake's main bay. In fact, the aforementioned trails will continue through this section as well, as huge colonies of standing timber protrude above the surface and fallen trees lurk just below the surface.
This, too, is a great location where one might happen upon and tie into a trophy-class largemouth bass. However, this is yet another spot where one must take steps to avoid hanging their lure in the heavy cover. A majority of the lures used to fish the lily pads would prove equally as effective along this section of the lake. But there are also a few that can be used in the standing timber that would have proven ineffective on the upper end of the lake.
Now let's mosey down to the lower end of the reservoir, where the standing timber and aquatic vegetation are far less prominent. Although one must still show caution while motoring from location to location, their opportunity to fish a with a greater choice of lures is far greater in the open water.
In fact, the angler is apt to notice a drastic change in the water depth, as well. Much of the waters along the upper and middle sections of the lake average 6 to 8 feet in depth. And those who find where the main channel cuts through the lowers section of the lake are apt to find depths as much as 20 to 30 feet. And the real lucky angler will happen upon an old sunken bridge lurking in the main channel.
Even though I have focused solely on largemouth bass, up to this point, that is no indication that those who enjoy catching other species should avoid Lake Columbia. In fact, the lake hosts crappie anglers on a regular basis, and as one might suspect, bream thrive in its waters as well. And I would not be the least bit surprised if the reservoir is bountiful with channel cats, too.
Yep, Lake Columbia produces a habitat far different from what we are accustomed to here in the Ouachitas. But this little lake is also capable of supporting some bass that would thrill the most accomplished of anglers. And although success was practically nonexistent during our recent excursion to southern Arkansas, I suspect I'll eventually return with an inkling of hope that I'll tie into the largemouth of a lifetime.
To get to Lake Columbia from Hot Springs, take Highway 7 south to Caddo Valley and turn right onto the I-30 west ramp to Texarkana. Remain on I-30 until reaching and turning onto Exit 46 for Highway 19 toward Prescott. Go three tenths of a mile and turn left onto Arkansas 19 south. Travel 2 miles and continue onto West Main. Go four tenths of a mile and take a right onto West First Street. Travel four-tenths more miles and turn right onto U.S. 371 south. Remain on 371 south for 72 miles and take a right onto Arkansas 299 north/53 south. Go 26 miles and continue straight on South Main. Travel seven-tenths of a mile and continue on County Road 37. Go 1.7 miles and continue on County Road 54. Travel a few hundred feet and turn right onto County Road 52. Go 2.5 miles and take a right onto County Road 29, then travel a half-mile to the lake.
Local on 06/19/2019