A Local Angler Shares His Best Tips for Fishing at Florida’s Lake Crescent

While the St. Johns River is a well-known fishing spot, a lifelong resident shared with us that his favorite spot is actually the crescent moon-shaped lake that connects to it.

Kurstan Noles has fished these waters since he was a child and has been doing guided fishing trips on Lake Crescent for more than 30 years. His fishing legacy goes back even further to his father and grandfather, who were both commercial fishermen in the area. He still resides on the shores of Lake Crescent and fishes there frequently. As a local expert who knows his way around every nook and cranny of the lake, he’s graciously shared his tips for those in search of one of Florida’s best freshwater fishing spots.

Q: What makes this lake so special? 

A: People hear more about the St. Johns River, but Lake Crescent has been a quiet gem for a long time. The main thing about it is that it's just very laid back and it’s not a busy lake. It's very quiet for the most part, and there aren’t a whole lot of people. Some of the shores are very pristine and very Old Florida-looking. It’s also a great fishery.

Q: Besides bass, what else can you catch on Lake Crescent? 

A: It gets fished a lot for crappie, or speckled perch… whatever you want to call them. In the winter months, it’s known for its bigger crappie. They are actually averaging bigger here in this lake than pretty much anywhere else in Florida. You can catch saltwater fish there sometimes, too. I’ve caught redfish and flounder at times.

Q: What is the best bait for fishing on Lake Crescent? 

A:  I'm a live bait fisherman, and this is my recommendation to remember about bait – every season has a bait. From late November until mid-March, I fish wild shiners. That's my bait of choice for bass fishing. 

Once we get into April, the threadfin shad come in for their spawn, and they'll go into the banks real early in the morning in droves. There are acres of these things spawning on the banks, and the fish forage on them. So, from April through June, I’m usually fishing with threadfin shad for bass.

Now, once we get over into July, the bait changes once again into live shrimp – and you catch them in the St. Johns River or on the north end of Lake Crescent. You can use those for largemouth or stripers. There's even redfish that come here to feed on these shrimp through the summer. We fish them all the way until late November, and we're back in the shiners again. So those three baits are your best bets.

Q: What should people know before fishing there?

A: It's a different fishery than the way people fish the St. Johns. It's got its own personality separate from the river, even though it’s connected to it. We don’t have the same tide here, and it’s a very minimal rise. We might have 3 inches – not much at all. The river will have a foot either direction or more. So that's one of the good things you don't have to deal with when you’re fishing on Lake Crescent. You don’t have to worry about what tide they're biting on. It's more time- and season-based fishing than it is anything else.

Q: What is the best fishing spot on Lake Crescent? 

A: The main structures that I fish are docks, drop-offs, sandbars, and shorelines with downed trees and structures of that nature. You’ll concentrate on different ones depending on time of day, water temperature, and wind direction.

There's good fishing in Dunn's Creek as well. It’s a creek that runs between Lake Crescent and the river. There's good fishing in there with deeper water, and there's lily pads, docks, and the same kind of structure up there.

Q: What’s the biggest bass you’ve seen in Lake Crescent?

A: I had a group of guys that fished with me, and they couldn’t maneuver their days. They only had certain days to fish, and the weather got really nasty, but we went out anyway. The bite was terrible. I mean, it was super slow all day. We were down to the last bait and it was tiny. It wasn't what I would consider a good bait. And then one guy threw it in, and he wound up with a 16-pound, 4-ounce largemouth. It was the biggest bass I have ever personally seen. It only takes one fish to make a great fishing trip.

Q: Are there any must-see spots there? 

A: You've got creeks and so much wildlife – birds, alligators, and even otters in the wintertime. And the cypress trees are beautiful on the southern end of the lake. It's just as pristine as it's been for hundreds and hundreds of years, and there's not much traffic out here. 

It’s also really beautiful on the east shore down towards Haw Creek. It is Old Florida and will be preserved that way from now on. There used to be a bunch of mayhaws there. When I was a kid, you could pick mayhaws and then make jelly. There are still a few trees, but you've got to look for them. 

And Bear Island… The whole island was given away on The Price is Right back in the early 60s. These people from New York won it on the Showcase Showdown. They stayed one night on it, maybe two at the most, and never came back. They sold it as soon as they possibly could. There was no power, and with the alligators and mosquitoes, they said, “No, thank you.” The original cabin that was built in the 60s is still on it. If you go towards the water from downtown Crescent City, you can see it. It's the only island in the middle of the lake.

There are also several sandbars where you can get off the boat, walk around, and sit down in the water, cool off, and hang out.

Q: What do people need to know before taking a boat out on Lake Crescent?

A: The main thing I was always told from when I was a kid is that just because there's water there does not mean it is deep – and I live and die by that anywhere I go. The south end is a little tricky, because there are a lot of floating logs and submerged structures just under the surface that you don't know about, especially old docks and pylons that you can't see if the water's high. You just have to be aware of where you're traveling just for your own safety. You don't want to run across a sandbar or old docks.

Q: What is the best boat ramp for someone to use if they’re bringing their boat to Lake Crescent? 

A: I would use the Sunrise boat ramp that’s there in the middle of Crescent City. Crescent Fish Camp has a good boat ramp, too. Those are the two that I would recommend.

Q: What kind of fish do you target on your guided trips? 

A: I’m usually bass fishing, but I also fish for crappie and bluegill. If someone books a guided fishing trip on Lake Crescent, they can pick and choose what they want to fish for. That might be bass or crappie, but then some will say, “Hey, I heard the bluegills are on the bed” when they’re getting ready to spawn. I’ve had plenty of trips for that already this year. It’s really just whatever they’re in the mood for.

Q: What else should someone expect if they book a guided fishing trip on Lake Crescent? 

A: When people go out with me, they like to hear about the history of the lake and all that's been passed down from generations to us. I know where things are, and when we fish old pylons or whatnot, they’ll ask what those were from. I’ll explain that they’re from old steamships from the 1800s. There’s a lot of history there that is very interesting. So they get to hear a little bit of history, and they get to see a lot of wildlife. It’s kind of educational, and they’ll get to catch some fish and enjoy themselves.

They can bring whatever they want to drink or snack on. Sometimes though, they’ll want to go to one of the restaurants on the lake. They say, “Hey, we’ve caught fish, we’re happy, now let’s go have some lunch, cool off, and get a beer.” I’m pretty flexible and will do whatever makes them happy. I do my best to make them have a good, memorable experience.

What to Know About Booking a Guided Fishing Trip on Lake Crescent 

• Reservations can be made with Kurstan Noles by calling 386-937-2958. 
• Trips can be customized based on the species you want to target.
• Guided excursions are limited to three adults, but four total people can be accommodated if you’re bringing children under 13. 
• You’ll need to book at least two weeks in advance.
• There is no deposit required.
• All tackle and bait are supplied, but make sure you have a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for places to stay and eat during your time in Crescent City, download the Visit Putnam FL app for Apple or Android.