Need a speculative report on Old Town Lake please

[Gut Shot]

Hi guys (and gals) I am a new member and I am very impressed with the wealth of knowledge on this site. I grew up in the Delta (West Helena) and I was hoping to fish Old Town Lake this weekend. Can anyone speculate how productive it be or should I wait a week or two. Any recommendations of fishing techniques? I grew up fishing on that lake as well as the White River and its oxbows but I have forgotten quite a bit about them. Thanks in advance.

[ceb]

Welcome aboard, Gun Shot. You will be able to find quite a bit of information here on old oxbow lakes. With this time of year, look for the crappie to head to the shallows with a warm front approaching, such as right now. When the cold front moves through behind the warm front, look for the fish to back off the banks into a little bit deeper water. The best days are the nastiest, with wind, clouds, and thunderstorms.

Be sure to give us a good report on Old Town if you decide to fish it. Best of luck to you. CEB -

[Gut Shot]

Thanks CEB. Any good tips about holding in the wind? I fished there last year a few times and every time I would find the fish, the wind would allow me to hold there. It kept blowing me into the banks.

[L.A. stumpjumper]

Welcome aboard Gut Shot, from lower Arkansas.

[Gut Shot]

Hi LA Stumpjumber. I have a cousin that lives there. Maybe you have heard of him. His name is Donnie Mathis. He used to sell cars there for years. Now I beleive he sells homes. He is also a musician around there. He is about 47 years old I guess.

[fishingpox]

I was there this last weekend. The water was up..which is good...but was very muddy. It probably will be a bit more clear by this weekend. I'd start fishing outside the tree line first and make my way in. Be prepared to fish slow. Take some minnows, and if you are fish hungry, take yoyo's, no more than 30 per person. The water temp. was 50 degrees last weekend, so it won't be long till they get fired up.

I'll be there this weekend, both days,if nothing happens. I'm on call at work, I might have to accidently drop the cell phone in the water. :D

[Gut Shot]

I guess it's settled then. I will fish it this weekend. It is a 5 1/2 hour drive for me but well worth it. Something about being in that area that keeps calling me back. That something is the fishing and hunting. I think my brother from Jonesboro will meet me there. Thanks for the information so far everyone. Keep it coming.

[LRM58]

Where is Old Town Lake? I live in Eastern Arkansas and I have never heard of this lake.

thanks

[ceb]

Old Town is an old, landlocked oxbow. There's loads of standing cypress. It's mostly shallow. The crappie usually spawn at Old Town a few weeks before the other lakes get started. The lake is located about 15mi SW of Helena.

[LRM58]

Thanks ceb. Does the lake have a concrete boat ramp. My boat is too heavy to put in with out a concrete ramp. You say the lake is mostly shallow. How deep is the deepest area and what depth do you mean when you say mostly shallow?

Thanks