Ouachita Report

[Arkie John]

From the West end: Water temp on the South shore was a whoppin' 53.4 degrees but very muddy from the previous rains. I fished that area all morning on Thursday, pushin' 1/32d oz jigs. No luck.

The North bank is chear but the temperature of the water is 49-50.2 degrees. I fished THIS area all afternoon with (again) no luck on the crappie. However the lm bass were aggressive, hitting Tennessee Shad-colored Bandit 300's on the points and around breaks on the points, about 6' deep. I also picked up some nice ones on an old "go-to" bait--the devil's horse. They just hated it, late Friday.

The lake was like glass all day. I never found the mud line or might have done better. As it was, I got more than enough for a good fish fry Saturday evening. Biggest lm was 3.8 lb w/ the smallest at 2.5.

I reckon it'll be three weeks before the specks gather up and really start biting. We'll see. Going again Tuesday morning. :D <><

aj

[CastandBlast]

Glad you were able to get out and wet a line....I had about the same luck last week on Brewer and Greer's Ferry.....from the reports it seems like the shallow water lakes are doing the best right now....we'll get them soon

[Arkie John]

Yup, Tuesday and Wednesday I'll be busy puttin' out condos and spyin' on the specks and LM pre-spawn activities. I'll be there from dawn til dark thirty both days.

I have the reels re-spooled and the boat is charged and at the "ready." So am I. I really need to get down to DeGray but I really enjoy Ouachita so much.

We WILL get 'em. It'll be a few more weeks but it should start to pick up a bit in two weeks if the water on the South bank holds and/or continues to warm.

Can't wait. <><

aj

[CrappiePro]

Thanks for the reports John, Hunt em down and give em heck. CrappiePro

[ballgamedrink]

went up in to cedar creek this weekend and caught 15 nice slabs. water temp was about 50 to 53 degrees, most of fish where 12 to 15 feet deep.

[Arkie John]

That's WAY better than I've been doin'. I got into some lm and a BUNCH if pickerel, but not very many crappie.

I was on the lake both Tuesday and Wednesday from dawn to dusk and it is slow (for me) Of course the wind was relentless Wednesday and hampered me to the extreme. I stayed in the Crystal Springs area because of the wind and it STILL made things a bit miserable. BUT it was better than stayin' home watchin' one of the fishin' millionaires catchin' fish every cast. lol

aj

[DRPEPPER]

John
Have you ever tried eating those pickeral? My grand father used to skin them then cut across the back into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices. You still had to watch for bones. But, the meat was prime. I kept one last year and fried it up with some crappie. All of the men hung around while I was cooking and ate it as the "tasters". I wished I had kept more. I hear there is a video on utube that shows how to filet pike. That would be great to know.
DP

[branthill]

went up in to cedar creek this weekend and caught 15 nice slabs. water temp was about 50 to 53 degrees, most of fish where 12 to 15 feet deep.

I'm new to lake ouachita terminology. Is cedar creek and cedar fouche the same creek?

[Arkie John]

I'm new to lake ouachita terminology. Is cedar creek and cedar fouche the same creek?

Whereever, it's a nice mess of crappie for Ouachita this time of year!

aj

[Arkie John]

DRPEPPER:

Strange you would bring that up~ When I was growing up we fished a creek that was good for lm bass...and pickeral. Daddy got to listening to some of his ole' buddies and the first I knew he came dragging a stringer FULL of those things to the house.

They have a BUNCH of bones and he was told to pressure cook them and the bones would melt away. He did that on several occasions and made the most delicious fish patties out of them!!!

I just never have been in the right frame of mind to eat 'em. I suppose that if I was hungry enough, I'd eat about anything--including pickeral. lol

aj