Cropwell, AL

The Black Crappie is a large sunfish. They can grow to 16” long and weigh up to 5 pounds but are usually much smaller. They live in warm water ponds, lakes, streams and reservoirs. They are schooling fish, so when you find one, others are sure to be close by. They are a very popular pan fish because they don’t have a “fishy taste".

Whenever traveling across I-20 in central Alabama we will stop here at the Lakeside Landing RV Park & Marina for a few days of fishing. And, that Black Crappie is the fish I covet. Easy to clean and cook and has a great taste void of the fishy taste many other similar pan fish have.

I always carried an electric trolling motor and extra marine battery when full timing so I could rent Jon boats. A few years ago I found and purchased a small dingy. Not very heavy but it will carry me and a reasonable amount of fishing equipment. (See what happens when we stay in these SC foothills too long. Snow on my truck before we got headed south - LOL!).

You will soon see that a lot of our regular stops have some sort of fishing available.

I cant find a web page for the RV Park. They used to have one that was very informative and had an activities listing that is very important to know about when heading their way because they are often full whenever the NASCAR folks are racing at Talladega. There are at least four major fishing activities on this chain of water every year and the park will be loaded for each of them. Here are a couple of web sites for your travel logs.

http://www.woodalls.com/campground/campgrounddetails.aspx?campgroundid=41404700&index=0&type=PlacesToCamp&subtype=RVCamping

http://www.rvparking.com/al/cropwell/lakeside-landing-rv-park-marina


We also stay at another RV Park in this area right on I-20 when we are just staying overnight. It’s in Pell, AL but will be another post some time soon.

Here are some pictures of the park and the beautiful water areas. The Park store is well equipped and has everything needed for a fishing outing including all sorts of bait including crickets, worms and minnows. I think shiners are seasonal.

The last picture has been cropped so you can view the hitch. I noticed it because it was another Everest and then I saw the Goose-neck adapter. I never found the owner at home so didn’t have a chance to ask about it’s differences.

The links work if you click on them.
As always, you can click on any of the pictures to make it larger and run he slide show.

The FastEagles
  Cal & Linda

Marianna, FL - Arrowhead RV Park

Shellcracker>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>






Snuggled up on the GA & AL borders you will find Marianna, FL. The Arrowhead RV Park is situated on one of the best pan fish lakes in FL. World class shell crackers and crappie abound. We like to arrive in FL early for a couple of weeks of great fishing. The RV Park has nice sized FHU sites. They have jon boats for rent so all you need is a trolling motor which I always have with me. Actually boats are not needed when parked at this campground. There are three piers jutting out into the lake edge that provide great access for tossing some bait out into the lake. Pan fish are plentiful and the kids love the chance to get the “big” one.

http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/campgroundsandrvparks/GeneralInfo.aspx?city=Marianna&state=FL&country=USA&cgid=720004285&cgcity=Marianna&cgstate=FL&type=&g=&ad=&or=False&vt=&adExp=False&pdfExp=False

http://www.rvinginflorida.com/arrowhead.htm
 
http://www.bassonline.com/en/florida-lakes/merritts-mill-pond/

There is a super Walmart less than two miles from the park.

A beautiful public golf course (9 holes) is close by. Fox squirrels can often be seen roaming around the fairways.

http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1284056
 
http://faunalforce.typepad.com/faunalforce/2009/03/new-sherman-fox-squirrel-image.html

The last time there we had a nice pull thru site up on the hill. Its just a short walk to the pool, recreation room and camp office/store.

Here are a few pictures. Click on any one to get a larger view and start the slide show.

The FastEagles
   Cal & Linda