Like I said in my above post, this information is essential in recommending a spot for you.

Thanks StubsislandKing  AKA Ghettoboy

Most of the guys that are serious derby goers already have boats.  No need for another one.  The ones fishing the bank who dont own boats, typically shy away from spending the 40 dollar entry fee.  In this economy, 40 bucs is a lot especially if your chances of winning are minimized.  I think the new payout structure is good. 

[Me and iditarodgrizzly]

It was a beautiful weekend on Stubs Island in Clear Lake Oaks.  I had hoped to fair better than I did but not having a boat makes things a bit rough.  I fooled around and caught a few smaller ones but definetly not leader board material.  The last post was correct.  Top fish was 23.8 this year, won by a woman named carla.  Subsequently, i believe her son won the childrens division this year.  Talk about coincidence.

The weather was nice, although it got cold in the evenings and early mornings.  When I pulled up to my campsite on Friday morning and started unpacking, a guy comes up to my space and introduces himself, he said I'm iditarodgrizzly from catfished.com!!!  Man it was great meeting you and spending the weekend with you at my campground.

It was also great to see that despite your desperate need for a boat, you were able to purchase one and get it fixed up in time for the derby.  It was good to see that!!!  Man this is what forums are all about, meeting people and hooking up in person.

Here are a few pics below to summ up a portion of my weekend...

Me and iditarodgrizzly




Me and My girl and my pet cats...

Hey Greg, thanks for the feedback man.  I will try that next time. 

B0at would be safe.  Actually your boat would stay in the water right next to your camp spot.  Well actually it all depends on what space you have.  I will be in space #8.  I grab this spot each year because I usually have my boat with me.  The boat sits about 25 feet away from my tent.  You can see it right from your tent. I just keep all my gear in the boat, hop in and take off.  Since I wont be needing the dock, you can use it if youd like.

Maceo

Ok here goes, this ones kinda scary.  I was cruising along in the wide open water as I was doing some fishing  at Anderson Island.  As I kicked my boat in reverse the sonar read normal, 5 feet, 6 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet... it got deeper as I moved into the deeper water pushing off the bank of the Island.  This is normal.  I kicked my boat into forward gear and cruised away at about 20 MPH.. As I got into the deep water my sonar read 35 to 45 feet deep.. norma.  As I cruised further in the direction of M&M and Rattlesnake I came to an area called Sulphur Point, but I was still out in wide open water... All of a sudden my Sonar starts reading  100 feet...150...feet  200 feet 300 feet!!!  I was like what the HE!@#.  It stayed this ways for about 2 minutes then started dropping back to the normal 45 feet of water as I cruised past that area of the lake.

This was VERY wierd and a bit scary... Ive never had a reading like that.  Is there some sort of a deep drop off in the lake???  I mean a drop off that goes 2 or 3 hundred feet???  Because this is what my sonar read.  I kid you not!

Once again my position was half a mile off Anderson Island close to Sulphur Bank Pt in deep water in route to rattlesnake.

Maceo

ABSOLUTELY!!  If you are going to be around the Keys, then you will be in Clear Lake Oaks and that means you want to come up to M&M Campground on Stubs Island.  There is excellent catfishing along the banks of the island all the way up and down Island Drive.  Your best bet is to fish mackeral at night right along the bank  across the street from the first boat ramp before you get to the entrance of M&M.  The cats come in close at night when the water warms up.  they feed anywhere between 10PM and 1AM ferociously.  Thuis seems to be the sweet spot time frame...

I fish this area every year during Catfish derby time and boy oh boy I never go home dissappointed.  Im not talking 4 or 5 lb cats, Im talking 10, 15 and up... These things are huge and you had better have the right gear to land them. (or you wont! Plain and simple.

They come in so shallow here at night that you can see their dorsal fins sticking up out of the water as the slither and thrash around.

I will definetly be there my friend.

Good luck,

Maceo

This is one of the most exciting times of the year for my girlfriend and myself as we look forward to the Catfish Derby each year.  I am new to the forums here and want to say hello to everyone.  Let me first introduce myself.  My name is Maceo and I have been coming to M&M Campground in Clear Lake Oaks since I was about 6 years old.  I am now 46.  My mom and dad used to take me and my sister to M&M and I have been coming back yearly ever since.  I have known all the campground managers they have had since Opal used to manage in the 70's.  For those of you who are familiar with this campground, you will be able to relate.

I have fished all over the lake from Shagrock Island to Red Bud Park, to Rattlesnake Island, Kono Tae, you name it!!  I miss the 70's when the Crappie used to hit the red and white mini jigs just about anywhere in the lake.  We would literally catch 100 of these babies in a day.  Im talkin 1.5 to 2 lb slabs.  Those were the days...

In any event, I will be at my signature spot Derby weekend.  M&M has an automatic lifetime booking for me at space 8 on the campground each year for the derby and for the 4th of july.  Space 8 is the space I have been staing for over 25 years.  Thats why im called StubsislandKing. 

Fishing is my life and Clearlake (M&M campground is my home).  Come visit me if you happen to be in the area on Catfish derby weekend.  Maybe we can have a beer, chat and get to know eacj=h other.  My girlfriend and I will be there.  I have a 18 foot MerCruiser 175.  I bring it out most of the time with me.  This year I will bank fish.  I do pretty good on the slough side of the island in mid May when the water warms up.  The channels come in shallow at night..  Glow tips work well for sight.

Its good to be part of a family here on the forums and I wish you all GREAT FISHING!!!

Maceo