info about ouachita

[tjones]

I fished Ouachita for the first time last spring, caught some nice slabs but not very many. I was fishing the Crystal Springs area, someone told me I should have been on the north side of the lake. Any suggestions this spring?

[AgriHawg]

This would be Arkie John's area. He's been reporting that currently they're very scattered. I'm sure he'll see this and give you some spring time pointers.

[ballgamedrink]

try cedar creek up in north fork, key to catching crappie on ouachita is moss, moss, moss unless you know where brushpiles are. i have been successful further up the north fork as well. lake is typically really clear so a quiet presentation and light line helps. I have a boat stall at mountain harbor, not saying what dock, but crappie can be caught around docks all year round.

[ballgamedrink]

tjones, i noticed that we were born on the same day, just 10 years apart, i wont tell anyone who is older.

[SloMoJo]

I fished around Cedar Creek last weekend. Bass fishing was fair. No crappie. I have some tops, and could see fish...but they would not bite...and yes, the water is very clear. Plenty of moss there too...Good luck!

[tjones]

Thanks for the wisdom, I'm planning on coming down the week of april 5-10.

[DRPEPPER]

Thanks for the wisdom, I'm planning on coming down the week of april 5-10.

That should be a fun time to fish. Try casting Roostertails with ultra lite in the coves. In clear water, my favorite color is black. I haven't fished there yet this year; normally the water is up to about full pool this time of year. Which means that you can see a distinct moss line about 15 to 20 feet from the banks. You are liable to catch anything by staying back away from the moss line and casting over it into the clear (non-vegitated) water. When your lure gets even with the moss, watch out. I have found crappie with this method. After I caught a few in one area, I switched to a Jig that resembled a shad color. The jig works a little slower presentation.
Good Luck
DP

[Arkie John]

Right now the lake is 6' low...it's been at 572 for the past ten days or so and that's a good thang.

I fish mainly the West end of the lake. It has a bit of a stain where all other waters are gin clear. Currently the water temperature at Twin Creeks is a chilly 44 degrees and the crappie are frozen, I guess. I haven't caught one in that area in a few weeks.

Around Mountain Harbour, the water is a bit warmer by a degree or two and the benefit of moss is a definite plus. Moss can be found all over the Mountain Harbour area, especially north of the main point and and west of the bridge across the channel on the west bank. I hear the crappie were doing good a week ago in the stick-ups on the west side of the point and across the channel on the west bank. I have not fished the marina in quite a while. Sounds like I need to. Hmmmmm.

Last week, when I went over, it was windy and I could not have felt a strike if Jaws himself had hit my tandum drop-shot minnow rig.

In the Spring, there is MUCH good fishing on this 40,000 acre impoundment. If you put in at Crystal, go out the main chute and head toward Pollard creek when the water gets in the low 50's. It is a major magnet on the South bank in the Spring for crappie.

Also, Muddy Creek, near the Highway 27 bridge is a good producer over in the West end. But beware. I suspect that the locals will be fishing closer to home with the recession and all.

Many years ago, Dad and I had mega-success fishing the Blakeys, both Big and Little, Cedar Fourche and Irons Fork area. I have not found occasion to fish those areas because I live near the South bank and see no reason to motor up there and fish when crappie are everywhere in the creeks that sport gravel bottoms. But I must admit, I have been toying with the idea just to fish some new water and take in some more beautiful scenery.

There are dozens and dozens of tree tops in Twin Creeks area and in the Spring the boats are thick with crappie fishermen. Those old timers are there for a reason--and it's because the fishing is top notch...in the Spring.

Right now, the only thing happening is that (1) the black bass are fair, hitting on (for myself) 300 bandits in Tennessee Shad, cranked along the sheer cliffs West of Shangri-la. Last week I was blessed with a 4.5, a 3.5 and several 2.5s and 3's. (2) The stripers are doing pretty well but although they are thick as fleas in the channel at Twin Creeks and at Shangri-la, it is hard to get them to bite unless you are using large gizzard shad. They must be part crappie because they be finikie with a capital "F." lol

I have found crappie lately, in the belly of the river channel two coves West of Denby Point (along the South Bank). They are there consistently--not jam-packed --, but nevertheless, right now, I cannot buy a strike. Maybe I need Darryl or Jerry to show me how it's done. I also located crappie in the little breaks in and around (within a couple hundred yards South and West of) Striper Point. That's the main point just North of Denby Point. Can't miss it.

SO....I hope this helps you. I will be out there Sunday afternoon in "Gigi's Fancy" my pontoon rig. If you happen to come out and see me, pull alongside and let's swap a few stories. It will be too windy for me and the pontoon on Saturday fer sur. <><

aj

[tjones]

Thanks Arkie John, I'll use these tips this spring.