May trip to Chicot

Just got back from from my monthly trip down south. Some crappie were still around the cypress. Fishing has been better for me this year on Chicot. On all species (bass, brim. etc.) Although it's not what it use to be, fish can be caught. One difference is the water level has been closer to normal. I hope the AGFC and the COE will realize that good management of a lake starts with having water in it.:biggrin Seriously, I think a Misssissippi oxbow will take care of itself if left alone. Enjoyed my trip, looking forward to next month.

Glad you had a good trip Kenneth, and I agree if they'd keep the level up in Chicot it would help a whole lot.

How many Asian carp did ya'll boat....:yikes

Glad you had a good trip Kenneth


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Now, you know better than to expect the controlling agencies to use good sense when managing the lakes. They're government. It's not in their job description. Glad you had a good trip.

AGFC doesn’t have control over the water level in Lake Chicot. The COE regulates that. The COE is also mandated to let out a small percentage of water out of Ditch to flow to Louisiana. This was mandated by Congress when getting the funding to build the pumping station.

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Originally Posted by Mojorig

AGFC doesn’t have control over the water level in Lake Chicot. The COE regulates that. The COE is also mandated to let out a small percentage of water out of Ditch to flow to Louisiana. This was mandated by Congress when getting the funding to build the pumping station.

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Didn't the AGFC request the drawdowns every 5 years to plant grass along the edge that didn't last but a few weeks. I know water has to flow to Louisiana for irrigation, but many times the level was just dropped a foot or so and held there during the spring spawn.

Also another question, may just be a rumor. Were yellow bass put in there by the AGFC? Anyone who crappie fishes there knows they have been out of control for years. They are eating machines that nobody wants. I know they are native species, but on Chicot there is more than anywhere else.

You’re correct, the AGFC request the COE to draw down the water level every five years. We did not apply any seed to the exposed shoreline last drawdown because past vegetation took off quickly. This vegetation is very important once the water level starts to come back up. The request is to start lowering the lake level on June 15 and to be lowered to 100 MSL by July 15. The request also asks for the MSL to be kept at that level until January 1st. At that time, the AGFC request the COE to allow the water to rise back up to the normal MSL. At that point, AGFC is no longer requesting the level to be changed and the COE is in full control. There is always a public meeting before drawdowns to help get more information out. Yellow Bass aren’t stocked in any Arkansas waters by the AGFC. They get into Chicot when water is pumped from the Mississippi River and then spawn in there.

Please feel free to contact Diana Andrews in the Monticello Office for answers to questions about Lake Chicot and future drawdowns.

Jeremy

Thanks for clearing things up Jeremy.