Thread: Beaver Lake Crappie Camp

MINNOWMAN I would like to do a night stalk I never did one and would like to learn. What campsites do you recommend or is there a area the group wiil be in.

Originally Posted by Fortunato

This "Crappie Camp" is probably the best idea I've heard in a long while. I was -- and am -- sorely tempted by the one near Hot Springs, but I'm afraid that it's just too far from home (Iowa). This one at Beaver Lake is definitely within striking distance and sounds like a lot of fun (I was just in Eureka Springs recently, in fact -- beautiful area!).

I'm a novice crappie fisherman and would love to learn a thing or two from all you guys down there. A couple questions:

1) Is it possible to attend without a boat?

2) What is the cost? Is there an attendance fee or anything like that?

3) What should a guy bring with him?

Fortunato, I would strongly urge you to make this Crappie Camp. Where in Iowa do you live?

1) MOST CERTAINLY come without a boat, there will be plenty room for anyone and everyone that wants to show up. I have access to about 3 or 4 boats on Beaver Lake (plus I will have my crappie boat by then...) I will also be getting an 8-10 man party barge to beach as well for the nightstalk!

2) The cost at the campground per night varies throughout the year, I would assume each site will be about 10-15 per night, but you can put up to 4 tents in each campground....so we will be splitting the cost I am sure. I have never heard of any crappie camps having a fee...you'll have to get with JT on that since he's putting it together.

3) I would say bring an ultra-light poll, some 4 or 6 lb test line, and whatever else you would need for camping/fishing/sitting around with others having fun, fellowship, food, and fishing. When the time is closer I'm sure we'll have a gameplan on what the menu is going to be...hopefully some good crappie recipes after our first outting would be GREAT!

MM

Originally Posted by barn dog

MINNOWMAN I would like to do a night stalk I never did one and would like to learn. What campsites do you recommend or is there a area the group wiil be in.

Then come on and have a blast with us! I believe Jason (JT Guide) will more than likely decide to host it at Horshoe Bend. That is right in the heat of all the crappie action that time of the year. I would recomend it anyways, it's BEAUTIFUL!

There will be no cost to anyone other than the nightly rental fee wich is between $12 and $15 a night for tents, I'm not sure about RVs but I'm sure it's not much more.
I was thinking starting it on Monday May 21 and y'all can just stay as long as you want! I will try and get a few other local guides to come and speak as well as myself to help everyone catch fish.
If non boaters show up I'm sure we can get them out on the water with someone, I don't see that being a problem!

Originally Posted by minnowman

Fortunato, I would strongly urge you to make this Crappie Camp. Where in Iowa do you live?

MM

Thanks, MM! I'm in Iowa City, probably a good 8-hr drive to Beaver Lake. I would love to come to the Crappie Camp and if everything shakes out as I hope it will I'll be there for sure!

Thanks again, JT and MM, for answering my Qs.

No problem! I'm glad the site is back up!

Minnowman do you plan on camping and do you know what site you will be staying at yet. Im looking forward to try the night stalk and use it up here on Table Rock. Do you fish beaver alot, I tried it once with a few neighbors and a guide for stripers but no luck they wouldn't bite.

When I night stalk on Beaver I like to anchor near the main channel drop in channel bends. Bridges over a channel are normaly going to be the hot spot! I will recomend the hwy 12 bridge during camp. You will catch tons of whites some crappie and a few walleye and maybe a striper.