I've been out twice in the last week. Last Wednesday, the 17th was a gorgeous day to be on the lake with 55 degree temps and the lake looked smooth as glass (minus the debris and mud). I went out that afternoon to to try out the new electronics and trolling rods and reels mainly. We started off pulling jigs over the flats 9' - 12' deep water temp was in the low to mid 40's with warmer water in the shallows up around 48 degrees. Did not locate any fish in the flats or mouths of the creeks that we had time to try out. Right before sunset found a school in the drop off into the gravel pit. And went and pulled our lines thru a major brush pile nonono That was the end of the day with only 15 minutes of daylight left.
Went out this past Saturday and it was windy as heck to say the least. Started out in the southeast end of the lake to get out of the wind mainly. Water was 52 degrees in the shallows 5' - 6' deep no sign of any crappie moving shallow. Worked our way to the gravel pit to try to locate the fish again in that 45' deep hole, found some life there holding anywhere from 9' to 39' deep can't say what they we're cause we could not get them to take a hook. Went northeast to check out some of the creek mouths and didn't locate any live action back there either. The water on Arkabutla is cold, muddy and the wind makes it a bit difficult to fish. After about 5 hours on the lake we decided to go to the spillway and launch and float some bobbers with minnows. We caught one short crappie, I believe you guys call the "dinks". So not much luck right now, but this will not deter me one bit from getting out on the water and doing the scouting. I like to start early so when the action starts I'm there and I have put in the work and deserve the reward. :fish
