Places I Fish: Lassiter Mill Dam

When I think of fishing, I think of driving to a remote location and hiking through the woods to get to that perfect spot. That's a great dream, but the truth is that most of us live in cities and we just don't have time to spend getting to that serene spot. This year I started fishing a spot on Crabtree Creek in the heart of Raleigh.

Orvis Fly Fishing Gear Sale

This is one of those spots you might see several times but never really take much notice. It's a tiny city park in the middle of a neighborhood. To my knowledge, the old dam is the last between Raleigh and New Bern, where the Neuse River meets the sea.

I've caught bass, catfish, bluegill and gar below the dam. The gar was an accident, and really wasn't a sporting catch, as he was hooked in the side...but it was a surprise. The spot is fairly quiet, as parking is very limited. Crabtree Creek itself is an adventure through the city. It runs from the marshes of Morrisville through Umstead park, and then winds it's way into Raleigh. It passes behind shopping centers, car dealerships, charming old houses, industrial areas, and some places you really don't want to be before it joins the Neuse. I understand the creek provides a great canoe and kayak adventure, although the water level is critical to a safe trip.

So, why fish this little spot that's no secret? Other than fishing it because it's there, I go because it's close to home, and I can steal an hour to go there. In this tiny speck in a big city, I've been able to wade up to my chest near the dam to cast into the spill, and I've used a long fly rod to cast tiny lures to the shallow water along the banks. Most of the creek is shallow enough to walk for miles while casting at brushpiles or drifting a worm.

It's nice when we revisit those kind of places that we thought were long forgotten.