Dead Lakes

Question
Greetings Mr. Gaither,

My first trip to Dead Lakes was when I was 3 years old.  That was 50 years ago! However, I was blessed to have grandparents that owned a cabin at the fish camp off Our Town Rd.  Andrew (Dizzy) and Vassie Dismuke were their names.  Perhaps you have heard of them?  I imagine they had a reputation, as it always seemed they were catching fish when nobody else could.  This is all tongue-in-cheek praise, I assure you.  I loved them dearly and am grateful beyound expression for the experiences they gave me on beautiful Dead Lakes.

Which brings me to my question....just how IS the fishing on Dead Lakes these days?  To my knowledge, from the time they drained the lake several years ago, fishing has gone downhill....almost non-existent?  I hope I'm wrong.  

You see, I'd like to arrange a fishing trip for me, my dad and my brother.  A short 2-3 night stay with at least 2 full days of fishing.  

We want to experience the fishing like we use to have at Dead Lakes.  What I call "lazy" fishin.  Tie up to a stump, near the shade of a cypress tree, cane pole in hand, drownin some worms.  We'd always catch plenty of bream, catfish and my favorite, shellcracker.  I'm real partial to those red-breasted bluegills you can catch every spring.  Especially when the mayflys pop out!

We would need a boat, motor and accessories.  We can bring our own fishing equipment.  Are there any reputable, clean and respectable fish camps/lodges you might recommend that could provide us with our Dead Lakes reunion?

Thanks and good fishin to ya....

Dan Dismuke
Hoover, AL

Answer
Dan, I am sorry that I cannot give you very much information on Dead Lakes since it has been nearly 20 years since I last fished there.  The last time I fished there was just shortly after they removed the dam and let the lakes rise and fall with the rivers.  I was very disappointed at that time and did not catch anything.  In years before that I had caught a lot of bass and some shellcrackers.  I moved away from Panama City in 1993 and haven't been back to dead lakes since then.  I am certain that there are still some good fish in the lakes but I haven't any idea where to say to find them.  I have doubts that any of the fish camps are still in business since most of them are now high and dry most of the time.  It seems a shame that such a beautiful lake should have been destroyed.  I now live about 50 miles north in Georgia on Lake Seminole which is a great fishing lake but it too is not as good as when I first came here.

You might try doing a search for more information on line.  Sorry I can't be of more help.

Jack L. Gaither          (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia