In General....got questions

I hope everyone is doing well out there in this Great State of Arkansas !!

We got fantastic fishing here and Its been a good 4 weekends of hunting down the deep holes for Crappie. One thing about Winter fishing I have been seeing during this run is they are right off the bottom and relating to thick cover this time of year in the big lakes. The warmer days they move up shallower. The bite has been very delicate and hard to detect. Therefore a lot more slower movement and action with the Jig on 4lb test. Patience is the key along with good electronics I'm finding. As everyone knows... If you can handle the cold, rain and wind along with the hit miss weather.... Finding one of these Holes usually means you can load the boat. As its also a good time of year to stock the freezer. On the other hand Spring time can be volatile, with Big Storms and water changes due to heavy rains. Plus the fish scattered all over the place.

Asking folks about fishing tips is always a tricky road. So we are Not trying to move in on someones Honey holes or nothin you know.... Any Information is a good thing. But I always seem to figure it out and find fish one way or another somehow, or go home relieved that "I don't have to clean any fish!!" I keep Fishing logs and record what, where and how. This always helps in planning.

Since information is hard to come by with most hardened anglers, I find that if I ask "in General" questions, I get more response.



So with all that said, I was hoping to hear some information on the Great waterway, the Mighty Arkansas River and its tributaries.

Questions: What are some general tips for fishing the Arkansas River for Crappie?

and more specific....

What kind of cover or what do the Crappie relate to best in the river?

What time of the year and water temp situations are good?

Which Pool is the most popular?

Where are the safe best places to Launch a boat?

How about when the river is up and muddy?

What are some dangers about this River as I know there are many?


Anyway, I hope to read some input. Thank you !!!

I sure enjoy the Board and Tight Lines !!

CrappieDave

I am no help for the river. I have caught some below the locks from the banks and from jetties this time of year, but I have never been able to get enough for more than a meal. I have also never fished the river from a boat for crappie. I hope someone who knows will chime in.

Chris

Thanks Chris.. I appreciate your experience there.
Boy...I thought I would get more replies by now after 108 views. I guess no body fishes the river. Or doesn't want to help out a brotha.

Disappointing....

Only fishing I've ever done on the river has been on the back sides of jetties in the calm of the current. We launch at Cadron Settlement and Palarm during the summers and hangout on the sandbar, the biggest hazards I have come across are the jetties inches below the surface you can't see, but you'll find with your lower unit. If you're out of the main channel it's best to ease around til you learn whichever pool you're in


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I am no pro at crappie fishing yet (just really got into it last year) been a bass fisher my whole life (28 yrs). I fish the ozark pool mainly and here is what I have found to work the best. Find the bigger feeder creeks and start fishing all the brush you can find and see. Eventually you will find the ones that hold crappie and can usually return to those and catch a few. I have never really just wore them out on the river other than a few times but it's a good place to catch dinner. Best time of the year is anytime you can go in my opinion. You will always learn something every time you go if you have an open mind.


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Don't take the 108 views and not many replies as a bad thing, Crappie Dave !!Bear in mind, even though I live in Okla. I read all the posts on CDC. I have no advice because I don't fish the Arkansas. So lot's of people, from lot's of places, are viewing these posts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappieDave

Thanks Chris.. I appreciate your experience there.
Boy...I thought I would get more replies by now after 108 views. I guess no body fishes the river. Or doesn't want to help out a brotha.

Disappointing....

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LOL, if you would have been saying something along the lines of, " we caught a double limit today by this jetty in the little pool with this color jig and fished this deep, there is one stick up sticking out of the water and that is where they are located at" he you may have gotten a better response an wouldn't be disappointed. And the view count would have sky rocketed also. Lurkers looking for information to peoples Hot spots is why the number of views go so high with little to no responses. Just my opinion.

There a lot lurkers on here. I spin 4 months on the road each year so at that time of the year I lurk. What would I tell you about fish. Now i can tell you I left my home on Sep 2 and got to come home 4 day in Nov and back on the road to Jan 3. I love my job so you can watch NFL on TV. I do post at times and other times I don't, but can post with the best of them. As to the river I fish it sometimes but mostly for cats. For crappie fish I hit the lakes and ponds here in Ar as we do have some of the best.

Ok... well thats some good "General" info. THANK YOU for more responses guys.

I might be sandbaggin it a little bit, as I do pretty well up the "feeder Creeks" of Big and Small Maumelle. I get it...that they can be found on any wood up the creeks as in most waters.

The main River has been my challenge. I have not found them around the jetties as much as I would like. I have had weak old electronics til lately. I was told by some expert to follow the jetties back to the bank in the corners, and there would be springtime spawners there. With my new electronics on the new rig.... I plan on searching for the schools of fish in the calm backside of jetties more. I know they are around there. With the new bigger boat and Helix 5's maybe I will have more confidence in these scary waters.

A dear friend of mine was Killed a few years ago up above the Toad Suck Dam at Conway on the River. He was ejected out of his flatbottom somewhere around those jetties. I know he liked putting in there at Cadron and fishing with his partner, a beautiful black Lab. His name was Mark Russell. i was in a 16 war Eagle and felt a little uncomfortable in the currents. But now with a bigger boat again, a 17'-6" Ranger MPV, I feeling ready to get out there. There are tons of dangers on the river as I have learned. Not only do the jetties shoot straight out from banks, but at the end they sometimes turn 90 degrees sightly under the surface and pose a hidden lower end killer.

Thanks Again folks.... AND Tight Lines !!!

I'm not the best fishermen nor claim to be, but on the AR river I usually fish toad suck and go behind jetties this time of year. I start with the deepest part on the bottom cause that seems to be where the crappie are, with a few being found else where, but on the bottom most of the time this year. Also any logs sitting on the bottom in the deeps part behind the jetties. Another important factor is shad. If there are no shad behind them, move to the next jetty.