Lake Darling questions

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Hey, all. We're heading to Lake Darling for the annual week o'fun July 23, and I can't wait. This year, in addition to the usual spots for walleyes on Carlos, I want to try Darling to see what we can do. We've had spotty luck in the past, and always seemed to ignore Darling in favor of Carlos.

Questions:

Anyone ever have any luck on the East side of Darling (across from Arrowwood)?

How about Little Darling?

Any other 'spots' for walleye action on the lake?

EDIT: we've also tried the channel between Darling/Cowdry, but all we ever seem to pull are bass and pike. We've used Lindys w/'crawlers or leeches - any tips on fishing this area?

I'll be checking in at the Outfitters when we get there, to see what the hot bite is on.

Thanks in advance!

[FishingwithJake]

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I'm heading up to Carlos for the first time during the first weekend of August. I have never fished Carlos before and will be renting a boat. Do you have any suggestions on areas to fish or techniques/presentations. I like fishing for Pike, panfish, and maybe walleyes.

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I've always fished Carlos primarily for walleyes. That said, it always seems like I find the pike, instead (go figure!). We've always caught pike trolling the W side, from the public access point (SW of the first church camp) up the shore to the last point before the State Park.

The E side of Carlos near the waterway to Le Homme Dieu has always given up pike, too. This year, I want to try trolling the flats in front of the channel to Le Homme Dieu and North (up past the 2nd bay area, just N of the channel) with larger cranks and see what we can see.

The chain has always given up pike for me: trolling with cranks (especially shad or silver colored plugs) has always been productive.

I've only really fished panfish on Darling: the sunken island in front of Arrowwood has always been the 'sure spot' for us. And that island has more than a few pike haunting it, as well.

[so haaad]

I grew up on Darling. In general, Carlos is the better lake for walleyes. Darling is better for northerns, bass and pannies. But Darling does have a few eyes if you can find them. The shore across from Arrowwood (south, not east) can produce walleyes. Try near the weedline. I've caught fish in the 5-8lb range in 12-14 feet of water. One spot to check out is near the "glass" house with all of the water toys in front of it. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it. There's also a couple of places along that shoreline where the weedline/dropoff curves and changes direction. Like most tourist lakes, try fishing Darling in early morning or right before dark when the skiers and jet skis aren't out.

[metrojoe]

I stayed at a resort on Darling a few years ago. I hammered the crappies out on those mid lake humps. Timing might have been key though, I was there the 3rd week of June. I motored over to Carlos and caught a few eyes also.

GL

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The shore across from Arrowwood (south, not east) can produce walleyes. Try near the weedline. I've caught fish in the 5-8lb range in 12-14 feet of water. One spot to check out is near the "glass" house with all of the water toys in front of it.

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so haaad, do you mean 'south' as in south along the shore, or on the other side of the lake? I know that - if you're sitting on the sunken islands in front of Arrowwood (directly S, via the map), and you point your boat towards the old resort on the point (no longer there) and then follow the shore S, you pass Lakewood Cottages (where we stay), then Viking Trail, then the channel to Cowdry. Is that the area you mean?

In all the years I've fished Darling (going on 20, now) that shore south of Arrowwood has only ever given up pike, and annoying small ones, at that. Great for panfish and bass, but no 'eyes.

We found a spot last year - just up from Arrowwood, towards Carlos/Little Darling - that was productive, when we could find them. I might try that spot again.

I'm interested in trying the shore/weedline from the channel to Cowdry N, along the E side of the lake (right in front of Val Halla Villa, I think). Anyone ever have luck there?

[deeky]

Can you get through the channel from Cowdry to Darling right now? I am actually wanting to fish the small lake on the north side of Arrowwood, but Darling has no public access. Suggestions?

Thanks

[hoggs222]

You can launch out of Arrowood. There might be a small fee, but it's close! Are you talking about lake alvin? right behind Arrowood?

[deeky]

That's the one. You ever fished it?

[hoggs222]

I've fished it before. I pretty much grew up on Little Darling. You can only get in there with a pontoon or a small fishing boat. It's a pretty decent lake for panfish, I think that's about it.

[so haaad]

Yep, like Hoggs said, the channel and area in front of the channel are very shallow. I've seen the channel completely dry before. Back in the 70's and 80's, the reeds on the sw shore was a great spring crappie spot. It was also a great spot to bowfish for carp, although they were never very big. Alvin also had some decent northern fishing, particularly on the east side. But the lake freezes out some winters, which prevents a lot of growth. It is also fairly shallow (I think the deepest spot I ever found was about 12-13 feet), so it's best fished in the spring or early summer before the weeds come up.

[deeky]

Checked it out this morning. First of all, the channel is really shallow, and watch out for the 55 gallon drum someone dropped in there. The fish were kind of tough to track down because there are just weeds everywhere. But managed bass, crappie, and sunnies. Lost one sunny to a northern. This is the third time now this year, but still gets me going. It was a nice quiet little lake, but I think there are others I would rather fish.

[hoggs222]

My favorite lake on the chain has always been Carlos. I just troll cranks between 14-18' around the whole lake. I can usually end up with about 10 northern in an afternoon & sometimes a few bonus walleyes. I usually use the #9 shads there.