Ouachita

[crappiekiller1]

Coming to ouachita in a couple of weeks.Not familar with the lake.Any one troll crankbaits(bandit 300's)? where do yall fish and what depth.What is the most productive way to catch fish?Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Big W]

I haven't been over there in a few years but last time I was there the millfoil or whatever type of plant that grows in that lake was everywhere and I mean everywhere. Spent most of the day pulling that crap off of the prop or swatting at those pesky biting flies. Kind of turned me off to that lake. Don't let me discourage you though, I'm sure somebody that knows that lake could put you on the fish!

[DeepThoughts]

Me and Gooch fish Ouachita quite often, although it is mostly at night especially in the summer months. It is a large clear water lake and there is a lot of vertical structure. This time of year finding crappie isn't easy unless you really know where your "spots" are, but they are there. I have never even been close to a limit on Ouachita, but it is not uncommon to catch 15", 16" and larger blacks. At night we tightline minnows and we caught some real nice ones this weekend off of one of the many points in about 16 feet where it dropped of to about 28 feet. There are many coves that we fish in on the north side of the lake around Navy/North Shore. I have heard that the crappie are more plentiful around other parts of the lake. We have tried trolling and don't catch many crappie that way. Good luck, Ouchita is one of the prettier lake I have ever been on.

[DRPEPPER]

This is my favorite time of the year to be on Ouachita. Last weekend, I found the lake to be still a little high from the spring rains. But, with the high temps forecasted in the next few days and weeks, it should be just right about the time you visit. You didn't mention what part you are going to? I think there are at least three different regions on this lake. The lower end is deep and clear, the middle is not much different except for more shallower points, and the upper end stays more stained. I like the middle part on the south side. This time of year for crappie, find brush piles just off the outside edge of the grass. But, don't expect to boat too many. If you want to keep busy with the fish, try the bull bream that are bedded up right now. The beds are easy to see in the shallow water. I have better luck fishing directly in the beds closer to dawn or dusk. During the bright sun lit hours, fish in the grass just off of the beds 5 to 10 feet deep. Use light spin cast rigs so you can stay away from the fishing hole. You will not do well fishing too close in shallow water as clear as it is.
DP

[crappiekiller1]

I believe we will be launching on the south side. I am from mississippi an we troll crankbaits in the hot summer months.Does any one know what the thermocline is on that lake.I also heard there are good stripers in that lake.Maybe not I know nothing about it.If so what method do yall use bait ETC? When I fish at pickwick we use Bluebacks Hering suspended over cover
in deep water 30 plus.If this method could work I might be ok. Thanks for any help.

[gooch]

My aunt and uncle went this week with a guide on Ouachita. They limited out on stipers fishing as close to the dam as you can get. In fact they tied up to one of the restricted area bouys. They were tightlining shad 20 to 30 feet deep as well as some version of a slip cork that were allowed to free swim. There big fish was 22 lbs.

Most crappie are caught on Ouachita swimming a jig over the grass. Most use a kalin tennesse shad or john deer colors though white and pearl work as well. I would have to agree that the best fishing is on the west or middle portions of the lake as I am stuck fishing the east end and never catch many.

Trolling is a pain with all the grass. Its easy enough to keep the boat and lures out of the grass but the mats of it and stragglers as I call them make it impossible to go far without them running down the line from the surface to the bait. Its a constant battle to keep the baits grass free.

Keep us posted on exactly when and where you will be and there may be some of us crappie.com guys up there nightstalking. Would be glad to have you join us or tie up to us if your there the same time we are.

[Woohdog]

I had some luck with breaking LM bass at sunrise and sunset off a couple main points this and last weekend. The crappie are still eluding me on that dang lake. My father-in-law caught one nice crappie yesterday morning tightlining a Tenn. shad grub over moss. But we fished for 4 hours. I'd recommend getting away from the marinas, because they're seeing lots of pressure lately. If you want to take a guided trip, look up Hugh Albright or Lloyd Tubbs at Mountain Harbor.

[KRAPPIE KG]

I believe we will be launching on the south side. I am from mississippi an we troll crankbaits in the hot summer months.Does any one know what the thermocline is on that lake.I also heard there are good stripers in that lake.Maybe not I know nothing about it.If so what method do yall use bait ETC? When I fish at pickwick we use Bluebacks Hering suspended over cover
in deep water 30 plus.If this method could work I might be ok. Thanks for any help.

I was wondering if you could give me some info on your technique for trolling crankbaits. I've heard of some fisherman having good luck doing this and I was thinking of getting some of those bandit crankbaits and giving it a try.

[winghunting]

Does any one know what the thermocline is on that lake.

Man, dont hold me to this, but I think its real close to 20' right now. My brother went diving over there on memorial day and I think thats what he said it was. I haven't been diving over there yet this year so I am not for positive. As far as fishing the lake, there are alot of BIG crappie in this lake. I have caught some monsters out of it. I have never trolled crankbaits at Ouachita. I am sure it could probably be productive though. Fish on top of the grass, over structure and around drop offs.

[crappiekiller1]

Krappie KG I fish in north Mississippi Sardis,Enid lake.I run six poles front two
12foot rods middle rods 10 foot and back rods 8 foot. Front rods I put 2 oz
egg weight about 12 inches from my crankbait. I use line counter reels so I know what amount of line is out.I run my front rods at 35 feet middle rods 95 feet and back rods at 140.I run my big motor at 1.8 to 2.0 miles an hour. The reason I asked about the thermocline is because on sardis it is about 12 foot in the hot summer months.