Lake Ouachita Limit

Me and my buddy had a good day on Ouachita today. We both boated right at our limits (actually think we were one fish short). We were catching them really deep again. So deep that we noticed a few of them had their eyes bugged out when we got ready to filet them. You can see it in the photo of the one below. We had to keep every fish we caught because of their swim bladders. I tried throwing a small one back but it couldn't right itself and just floated on the surface. After that they all went into the livewell. It was a little windy out there but we had a great day anyway.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D550/ry%3D400/

Hey,,thats get'r'done...I have been dieing to get on ouachita, I know it will be different now,,with the loss of the moss, but I'd hunt the brush piles along creek channels...the water is warming pretty quick here, was 51 degrees yesterday..won't be long till they move up on the flats..I think...lol

You putting in at Crystal?

Xring, I launch out of Crystal about 95% of the time but have been known to fish all over the lake. I live close to the Crystal ramp so that's usually my first choice. You need to come over here and fish with me in a few weeks when it really gets good. Right now it's kinda tough. You can catch them but you gotta work hard at it and I've only got a couple of spots that seem to be holding fish right now. That will all change in the near future though. Once the water warms up a little more my other spots should turn on and it will get real fun real fast.

Slab,,for years I fished out of hwy 27, then migrated to big fir, or housley point, then to little fir and shan'gr'la...and fished some from crystal, quite alot from Mt. Harbor. I also fished some from Iron forks and Navy landing,,but that was in the old days..lol Late 50s...

I'd certainly like to come fish with you, I dearly love that lake, I know it can be extreme, both ways, fantastic or dismal..but I never fished one day on Oauchita that I didn't enjoy!

Crystal is also my favorite campground..I have spent many weeks camped there...I used to date a gal that lived out on Ragweed road..\

If you ever want to fish Dardanelle, give me a shout...

Good deal. I got a bass tourney coming up soon and we launch out of crystal for that tourney. I haven't master the crappie out there yet.

I heard you could take a small syringe and deflate there bladders. Anyone know any truth to that? Great catch. I fish out of crystal but for bream. Never really went after crappie on the lake.

Ronnie Capps developed a measure board that does just that. It has a preplaced hole to insert an 18 gauge needle to deflate the swim bladder. Just match the length with the appropriate hole and insert the needle for about 8 seconds.

Nice mess, You know I got a diving buddy who has been diving in every highland RES in our great state, One day I asked him where he saw the most and biggest crappie. His reply was Lake Ouachita with out a doubt he said that lake has some big Mamber Jambers in it.

I have spent many years fishing that lake when I lived in Story and Mount Ida. Even when I lived in Hollis I would make over there more than Nimrod which was a lot closer. Not sure why now that I think about it, just worked out that way. Yea I usually put in at Hwy 27 bridge and go up river, or to the first set of flats across from the ramp, dog show grounds is what we use to call it. There are some good brush piles around Mountain Harbor though, and with a little deeper water, the fish tend to be a little bigger down that way.

Fished alot up Cedar creek, and big branch as well. Right now should be stripper running time up around the Ouachita river and Manley shoals.

Nice catch. Congrats.


BRM