Hickory Mounds?

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 18th, 2003, 4:54 pm

I need some help learning about this place. Iâ€™d like to fish it in my kayak this winter.
Iâ€™ve driven all the way out the impoundments to the gulf, or as close as I think you can get. It looks like a great place to fish.
Any help would be appreciated.

Post by **CSMarine** » November 18th, 2003, 5:04 pm

Littoral, I've fished it many times from the bank and a few times launching a jon boat and fishing the creeks for Reds. Lots of launch sites for a small rig. It's great fishing in the winter sometimes. It can go slap dry in the winter time though. Can't tell you much about it outside the marsh line. Chalk would be the one who knows the outside grass line the best I'd say.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 18th, 2003, 5:14 pm

Slap dry? What are the depths? If there's no deep water it won't hold fish. Is there any freshwater input to speak of?
Hey Chalk, got the 120 yet?

Post by **CSMarine** » November 18th, 2003, 5:22 pm

There are a number of culverts that drain the freshwater backwater on the right side of the road. As the tide drops, the water runs very fast through these pipes. The Reds and sometimes trout stage in the washouts created by the running water and wait for the shrimp and finger mullet that are washed through. The depth ranges from 7-8 foot in places at high tide to ankle deep at low tide in places. It always seems to be better fishing on the outgoing tide. You are required to have a freshwater license if you fish on the right side of the road, and saltwater if you fish on the left side.

Post by **Chalk** » November 18th, 2003, 5:28 pm

Ohh now you want me to jump in, I'm just convenient......If you turn off 98 and take it all the way to the first launch looking place and go left I think that is Smith McCullah creek.....going on around there is several million places to put in, but most are small creeks....keep going around and there is another little launch....Looking at the satellite pictures it appears this would be cabbage creek..Cabbage creek is nice and thats all I'm gonna say about that

in public

Never fished Smith McCullah..That road will carry you back around to the Econfina landing road supposingly

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Post by **CSMarine** » November 18th, 2003, 5:45 pm

The road does indeed take you back to Icky if you follow it on around.

Worst place in the world for biting flying things too, bring lots of bug spray.

Post by **tin can** » November 18th, 2003, 11:31 pm

The water depth inside the impoundment will range from 6" to 5'. Most of the water you see from the observation tower is 2' deep or less. However, there are old creek channels running throughout the impoundment. A kayak would be very good for fishing inside the impoundment.

Many years ago, Hickory Mound Impoundment was a class II wildlife management area, managed, by Proctor and Gamble, for waterfowl. When Proctor and Gamble managed it, it was very well kept. If the dike got damaged, or blew out, they had equipment in the area, and repaired it within days. Proctor and Gamble installed the culverts through the dike, as control structures. They had flap gates on the gulf side, to keep the saltwater out. There is quite a large area that drains into the impoundment, and when the control structures worked properly, the impoundment was almost pure fresh water. There was an abundance of natural food for waterfowl.

When the State took over management it became maintained in typical State fashion. If the dike gets damaged, or blows out, FWC has to request money in the next year's budget for repairs. Vandals have damaged or removed the flap gates in places. This makes the impoundment brackish, and is sometimes affected by tides.

All this said, it isn't much of a waterfowl area any more. But it's full of redfish, and , if you know where the two or three real deep holes are, there are usually a lot of sheeps heads in there during the cold months.

Be aware that this is still a waterfowl management area. Waterfowl hunting is permitted from 30 minues before sunrise untill 12:00 noon on Monday, Wednsday, and Saturday, during waterfowl season. Waterfowl season opens this Saturday. If you value your life, be careful during hunting hours. My son will be hunting there Saturday moring. I take no responsibility if he shoots at a low flying duck and hits a fisherman.

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » November 19th, 2003, 7:39 am

CSMarine wrote:You are required to have a freshwater license if you fish on the right side of the road, and saltwater if you fish on the left side.

You sure. Why would it be any different than like the rivers in the winter. If you keep freshwater fish then you need that license. But if you have SW license and targeting / keeping those then thats the license you need.

Post by **Chalk** » November 19th, 2003, 7:43 am

The way I undestand it is the officer will observe the tackle you are using and make a judgement to what type of fishing you are doing....If you have crickets you probably better have freshwater license....

Post by **CSMarine** » November 19th, 2003, 8:27 am

Unless it's changed ds, the right side of the levy is considered freshwater by the DNR. I've caught Bass, Bream, and other freshwater species in the ditches along the road, from way before you get to the salt water creeks all the way to the turn where it turns back to Icky. Best to check with the DNR for the straight scoop, on if and why they still require a fresh water license. In the rivers the salt and fresh water species live in the same body of water.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 19th, 2003, 9:21 am

Most appreciated everyone. It does sound like a good spot â€“especially with a small boat. Deciding where to put in â€“as Chalk cryptically notes, several million places to put in, but most are small creeks....keep going around and there is another little launch....
Separating the little launch from the several millionâ€¦? The map does help. Iâ€™ll wait until January and time a reasonable low coming up so I can see as much relief as possible. Then Iâ€™ll fish the flood & falling tide. Iâ€™ll also fish live shrimp â€“which is something I rarely do.
That brings me to an interesting question Iâ€™ll raise in a new threadâ€¦

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » March 18th, 2004, 1:12 pm

I'm bringing this post back around for Sir Reel.

Post by **Sir reel** » March 18th, 2004, 2:54 pm

Thanks Lit.

I believe I've got a handle on it now. Saw a reference to "hickory mound creek" on another site and was trying to find out if there were a specific spot with that address

I was aware of "Hickory Mound Impoundment" but that doesn't mean that somebody doesn't have a hickory mound creek somewhere. Some folks assume an an awful lot ya know:D