Horseshoe 4-8 (w/pics)

Since I was already in the wonderful town of WM, I decided that I would get up Sunday morning and run out to Horseshoe Lake (the one in Crittenden Co). I decided not to haul my boat all the way over there, so I used my old 14' flatbottom that I left at home. It was cold...but I was sweatin'. The boat ramp is even worse than it was before. Not enough water to hardly get the boat off and on the trailer. I had to walk the boat up the trailer bunks...yep, I was sweatin' at 6:30am.:eek: Got the boat in the water and the TM wouldn't work. Finally I got started fishing at about 7:30. Was on the road back by 12pm to get some food and visit with the family. It was tough fishing, since I've become so accustomed to my new boat. I had to go back to my old system...and it was a circus...:D

But anyways, I found a few crappie but not much size. I ended up keeping 21 that were between 1/2 and 3/4 pound fish with a few gill hooked smaller ones. I released probably 30 small crappie. Just couldn't find concentrations of bigger fish. From looking at the df, they were much more scattered. I may have done better if I had been fishing out of my newer boat...

I landed several big fish. They tried to break my rig...but I finally got my hands on a couple of them at least. I had a couple of big cats, gar, and one big ol' bucketmouth.

I caught fish at all depths between 17-22' of water. I found the most keepers about 10' deep over 20' of water. Caught quite a few on jigs tipped with small rosies. Now to some pics of the lake and fish...

The spot that I usually fish out there is lined with some of the nicest docks around...most of 'em nicer than my house...:eek:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0194.jpg

They would be even nicer if they had some water around them...:D
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0198.jpg

It's still a beautiful lake...well at least 'till summertime...
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0196.jpg

Big ol' bucketmouth that tried to rip my entire spider-rig setup off the bow...He hit the middle pole about 20' deep...3.5lb
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0192.jpg

And this thug tried taking a few rods with him as well...
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0195.jpg

The patented, modern livewell areation system on my old boat...:D
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0199.jpg

And these crappie will meet the grease tomorrow night...
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1...c/DCFC0200.jpg

Ceb, I am disappointed in you....lol..... I just knew with all this bad weather you would have went fishing sooner... I know it was your kind or weather. Just picking with you, You don't realize how much better you are in a newer boat til you have to use the old one again. Looks like you managed to catch enough to feed a few people. Congrats on the catch, and that is a beautiful lake.

Good job. Sure is a pretty lake.

Nice catch Chris, and that is a pretty lake. To bad they can't get the level up, are they still planning on pumping into it. Hope you can make it to Crappie camp next weekend.

Sharp pics CEB! Nice bunch of fish!:)

Nice fish. I use to fish that lake. I would usually jig around the docks, but it looks like most of them are almost out of the water. It got low like that about five or six years ago, I thought they were going to something about that.

Hey Johnny, it's only because I had stuff to do. I would have rather been fishing in the wind and nasty weather...:D

And supposedly they are trying to get the pumps in working condition. We will see how that goes...

There were several folks fishing the piers located in the pics. They were catching a few. Some of those docks hang close to the channel and others hang over the edge somewhat. Out towards the end of some of the docks you can find 10-12' of water.