Jon boat and trolling motor only..where to go in South AR?

[jdouthit]

I'm just starting out here with my own boat. As Johnny Cash did with his cadillac I'm going to get things "One Piece At A Time". Right now I have a 14ft jon boat and trolling motor. I live in the Pine Bluff area and I'm looking for some places to fish with my wife that is within roughly an hour or less. Since I only have the trolling motor right now the big lakes are out. Could anyone recommened some places to fish that we'll have some fun and bring home some keepers? I'm more of a bass guy, but she loves to crappie and bream fish so that is the one we'll be doing.

[rieve]

might give bayou Bartholomew behind wal mart a try there is a nice ramp. Lake noble can also be good which is out towards grady and you can see it from the highway. good luck.

[Gut Shot]

You could try the White River lakes on the White river Reserve near Clarendon and Dewitt.

[creekslick]

You could fish Cane Creek outside of Star City.

[jdouthit]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Everybody keeps telling me about the off shoots down there from the White River, but I have no idea how to find any of them. I've wanted to try Cane Creek, but fear it may be too much for a simple 24ft. lb. trolling motor.

[Arkie John]

Man, I lived in PB for 12 years. Cane Creek, and Bayou Barthomew are good places to take your rig! Just stay off the river. With your set up, I have tackled some big lakes, staying around the banks.

I'd suggest taking an extra battery and a battery charger if you go far. You can always find a place to charge a battery.

The thing about your set-up is, it forces you to become a better fisherman. You will fish the places you can get to a lot slower and better.

The backwaters of the ball park east of Lake Pine Bluff have good concentrations of bass lurking in the shadows of the lilly pads. One other place I'd recommend. You can fish Moore's Bayou on the north bank of the river near Gillette. There's good crappie and dandy bass fishin' there, just don't get into the river. The pads are thick and will give you some excellent fishing.

If you put in at the ramp at Moore's, you can head up stream and wind up at TruAx Lake. You will have to skid across the levy, but the waters behind the levee and the levee itself belong to the public! It has the potential for double-digit bass. Some of the landowners don't like people fishin' it but don't worry about them. It is public water! There was one a culvert that goes under the levee that is 6' across and I would float my boat right through to the lake. The old man that once gave me grief is now dead.

I worked for the Corps after that and found that he had no legal grounds to stand on as long as fishermen did not beach and trespass his dry ground.

Wishin' you the best!!

aj

[Gut Shot]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Everybody keeps telling me about the off shoots down there from the White River, but I have no idea how to find any of them. I've wanted to try Cane Creek, but fear it may be too much for a simple 24ft. lb. trolling motor.

There are many land locked lakes on the White River refuge that are fairly small and are perfect for your setup. They have gravel roads going to most. A map is here at this link: http://www.fws.gov/whiteriver/media/huntbrochuremap.pdf

[coondog550]

you can fish atkins lake, lake pine bluff ,plum bayou,when the water go's down saline river at sheridan coxs creek if you can get on the arsenal yellow lake i grew up at whitehall as kids thats thay would let us have was a jhon boat we did lots paddling

[quackmaster_ar]

I have spent many an hour on atkins lake with nothing but a trolling motor. Caught some nice redear just to the left of the ramp. White river refuge at ethel is an awesome place once you learn where to go. Coal pile is another good place with some big fish around dumas. Used to fish a place called Cox Cypress over around Humphrey but I don't know if you can still fish there. Spent 30 years in Pine Bluff and I sure miss the close proximity to such good fishing, that I knew how to fish. Glad your wife likes to fish, always like to take my wife, when she has time.

[brgolden]

try grampus, all you need there is atrolling motor