Lake Dardanelle Crappie Fishing

[slabbandit]

Does anyone here have any experience fishing Lake Dardanelle for crappie? I have never fished it yet but plan to this year.
I have went over and watched some of the Crappie USA weigh-ins though. I've seen 10 fish stringers weighing in at 17+ lbs.!! Several 2-1/2 to almost 3 lbers!

[NIMROD]

I've heard that some bays like Shoal and Delaware are full of Crappie. Last spring some locals say they killed those slabs.:D

[ceb]

Don't know much about the crappie fishing, but I do know that it is a beautiful area. I hope to make it over there someday.

[TJ Adams]

At shoal bay, there are some "The narrows" that fisherman have put a bunch of structure in, and you can go there and catch crappie in about 20 to 25 foot af water all day...It's real rocky, and they seem to always be there...

[NIMROD]

TJ , There is a park along the bank at Shoal Bay with a trail. This is where some bank fish. I went over bank fishing a couple years ago with a friend. We were fishing with liver for cats.While waiting for a bite we threw a jig too. We caught a couple nice Blacknose Crappie . It was in the dead of winter and had to build a fire to stay warm. I saw a couple of boats catching Crappie ,looked like they were fishing tops.:D

[TJ Adams]

TJ , There is a park along the bank at Shoal Bay with a trail. This is where some bank fish. I went over bank fishing a couple years ago with a friend. We were fishing with liver for cats.While waiting for a bite we threw a jig too. We caught a couple nice Blacknose Crappie . It was in the dead of winter and had to build a fire to stay warm. I saw a couple of boats catching Crappie ,looked like they were fishing tops.:D

Thats the place! My mom lives at shoal bay, and since I dont have a boat thta's where I usually go...Seem to always be there...Go through several jig heads , but well worth it....

[Kit Papermouth]

In the spring pre-spawn in Shoals Bay (Early March - April), troll tiny traps 100 ft behind the boat and troll back and forth across the channels (primary and secondary channels) in the entire bay. Pick and area and give it 1 hour and see if you pick up anything.
If not, then find some brush and vertical jig, cast or drop minnows along channel breaks working the shallows to the deep of the channel. Some areas in the Narrows will produce also that time of year. After the Spawn, the Crappie move out to the Narrows and can be taken there.

During the spawn, check out the creek the fills the bay and vertical jig stumps and brush. Be sure to have a long pole to keep from spooking them.

Always keep a minnow out when moving slow. You'll pick up fiddler catfish as well. The local anglers use a lot of rosie reds and goldfish for bait as well.

There are lots of 1.5 - 2.0 lb. fish in that lake. I wish I live closer than 3 hrs from it.

GLGL&GB

[slabbandit]

Thanks for the info KIT, Shoal Bay was probably where I was going to try first.