This report is a few days late. Last Wednesday we went over to Shoecraft for the first time. To say the launch is a challenge is an understatement! It's situated in a stream about 25 yards from the lake proper and is quite shallow. We had just enough water to get my 16' Starcraft off the trailer and then we poled it out to the lake since some of the water was too shallow for even the trolling motor. The lake has plenty of water and ski-boats, etc. once you get out of the creek, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't launch here in the summer. Pretty much a small boat operation at the launch.

The lake is very nice with lots of interesting water but we weren't able to find any fish. Most of the shoreline has homes and docks, but there are several areas with timber down to the water. We worked around concentrating on the docks and shoreline without any success. We also cruised around checking the steeper shoreline banks and deeper water looking for bait or fish, but didn't see much.

The day started cloudy, then became partly sunny with a strong breeze from the south. It turned pretty chilly and we wrapped it up about 3PM since nothing was happening.

Geno the Viking

11/20/2017 9:42:15 PM

I used to use my car top 12 foot boat there all the time way back. Did you check out the channel connecting to Lake Goodwin?

dutchman2858

11/21/2017 7:04:01 PM

Nope, Geno. I didn't know there was a channel between the two. Looking on Google Maps just now it looks like the channel has pretty much been filled in, only a treeline where it used to be.

fisherman92

11/21/2017 11:59:36 AM

There has to be bass in there. I've tried a few times with little success. But it is a good trout lake most are plants

dutchman2858

11/21/2017 7:09:13 PM

'92: We didn't see any trout moving, but I did mark a few fish at about 15' in 30' of water. Could have been bass, but without any structure of any kind in the area I assumed they were trout.

bob johansen

11/21/2017 6:32:08 PM

I think the last time I fished Shoecraft was on July 28, 1984. I was fishing from a canoe with my oldest son. I caught 7 bass on a Rapala 11 S but hooked my best bass on a white spinnerbait. That fish was18 1/2 inches and weighed 3 pounds and 7 ounces. She was released where she was caught. Son Don's best Shoecraft fish that day was 12 1/2 inches. We also fished Lake Ki and Thomas Lake on that same day.

dutchman2858

11/21/2017 7:07:35 PM

I imagine there's still some of them in there, Bob. I just couldn't find them. BTW, just ordered your book from Amazon!

fisherman92

11/21/2017 7:07:13 PM

There is a channel linking the two. When the water is up I can walk my 14ft lund through it

Jamesb

11/21/2017 7:53:59 PM

I have been there twice its very shallow at the launch...Did hit 13" bass on very long cast about 30ft to dock on crawdad colored rat l trap he hit it as soon as it hit the water...I did go in summer one time and saw three big one's hanging out under dock close to boat launch side...but water was very clear they saw me and went nope tried everything not even a nip...Haven't been there in probably 10 years. Heard rumors of big bass there but haven't really tested it. I had good luck at Cranapple Lake and Lake Howard nearby for bass before and easier to launch there...expect Howard on opening week of trout season it gets packed...

Jamesb

11/21/2017 7:55:38 PM

Should be Crabapple lake close to other side of Lake Goodwin on east.

8theB8

11/23/2017 5:53:34 PM

If the fish you marked were suspended bass and not trout than a long paused jerkbait may have enticed them but at that depth you would need to play with belly weights until you got it right. Shoecraft has toads!! My PB there is 7.3 pounds and I have boated several over 5 through the years. I have seen bigger cruising during the prespawn. Photoed a guy near the launch with an 8.5 once and saw a picture first hand from a very reputable source of one over 10 (released after pic, cool guy). Water is definitely clear and the tactics are a little different but it can sure be a good place. There was about a 10 year stretch where the local teens were smashing windows at the launch but it seems to have improved. Lots of trout, schools of perch and GIANT crawdads will give you a good idea of how to 'match the hatch'. Good job getting out!

dutchman2858

11/23/2017 8:01:53 PM

Thanks, B8–definitely sounds like we need to spend some time trying to work it out!

Only have the one boat, but might be able to launch into May or so.

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