[Whitewater]

Convinced my wife that our fishing plans needed a "Crossfit Challenge" so we headed to the White Community and newer public launch for Walter's Lake (as the sign reads). I've heard this lake referred to as Blackwater Lake, Walter's Lake, and on Google maps as Waterville Lake off Highway I-40W. The launch is interesting because it's a 1/4 -1/2 mile trek up and down a mountain on an old logging road. We were carrying our new inflatable 12ft. craft (loaded with gear). Once we got on the water, we immediately picked up a nice half lb. slab of a crappie, and then proceeded to catch 5 more and one dink bass. The water was a little stained in some areas and the crappies were not as tight as I had wished. We were catching all over the place (random places and spread out); you would only catch one and maybe get a second nibble then have to move. We were getting very soft bites mostly and missed a few fish for sure. Tried for bigger bass with a few experimental baits with no luck, the one we managed was caught on an in-line spinner in the very back of a cove. After eating lunch in a sweet mtn. cove, I adjusted lures slightly and made one cast from the bank with a spinner I had just tied on and got bit half way back. The in-line spinner caught one crappie also and all the rest fell for jigs in a multitude of colors, sizes, and shapes. Couldn’t really pin down what they wanted best.

Really enjoyed the paddling and waterfalls and not so much the hike back out afterwards.
[video=youtube;BEvYd0Y5ubg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEvYd0Y5ubg[/video]

 

[gambusia]

Where is this public launch?

There used to be a private launch but no public one.

Thank you

 

[Abert43]

That's awesome!! Great scenery, water, and fish!!

 

[Whitewater]

Where is this public launch?

There used to be a private launch but no public one.

Thank you

The public launch for Waterville is off of I-40 Exit 15 (Fine Creek Exit) Make a left and head towards the White Oak Community. The Fines Creek Rd. (rt 1338) will turn into White Oak Rd. about a half mile up on a hairpin turn. Stay on White Oak Rd. for another 2 miles until you reach the White Oak Baptist Church and Cemetery on the left. The turn off will be directly across from the church on a big turn in the rd. There will be a little white sign that reads (Walters lake public launch) Turn right and follow the gravel rd. a few hundred yrd. downhill will you see the parking lot and large Info sign. They have placed cement barricades to block the logging rd/ path down from there to the water. It's about 1/4 mile walk from there to the lake, with a nice dock to launch/fish from. You can see the dock in the GoPro clip after it pans away from the waterfall. Good crappie fishing in the cove, even from the bank.

 

[gambusia]

Thanks. Sounds much better than the old ramp.