Oxbow thoughts

I wander this. Lets say a river gets into an oxbow once it reaches a certain level. I have heard people say that crappie get replenished into the oxbow and thus the fishing is good. Obviously fish would come into the oxbow but I would think that the majority of fish swimming out in the main channel of the mississippi would be carp, catfish, gar, buffalo, and drum. I would think the game fish in the river would live more up in creeks. But im not a biologist. Does anyone who fishes oxbow lakes notice more crappie after the river gets into it for ahwile? Or is the fishing about the same only with higher water levels?

Not sure if the flooding brings in more crappie that makes the fishing better or the fact that the majority of the flooding occurs in the spring,ie. spawn time which inundates the buckbrush along shore and provides alot of cover for fry to hide in thus increasing numbers.I figure you are right about the rough fish and catfish coming from the river. Anouther thing about alot of these oxbows is that unless the river is at flood stage alot of them can't be accessed.just my 2cts.
3GD

Flooding, especially on the Miss River, occurs most often and to a greater degree in spring. This make for perfect conditions to bring new crappie into an oxbow. At this time of the year, the crappie are looking for backwater slough areas to feed and spawn. This pattern draws crappie into an oxbow, whether it is still connected to the river or being flooded. In oxbows with an abundance of buckbrush or willows, such as Midway and Tunica cutoff, flooding will drive the crappie very shallow into the newly flooded vegitation. CEB -

Oxbows flooded by the river usually produce excellent conditions for spawning, lots of shallow water and cover. So, the flooding not only brings in some new fish, but it helps increase the chances of a good spawn with the fish already in the lake. To me, this helps keep a sustained crappie population that lacks year-to-year changes in class size structure. Oxbows do run through cycles as any other lake, but the cycle of good years lasts longer. Just a thought. CEB -

Car -- years ago an uncle took me to the White River after it flooded a large hardwood bottom area. I can't even tell you where this was. I was a teenager at the time, but the crappie fishing was incredible. I've been told this is what happens.

Not sure how that relates to oxbows, but it seems related somehow.

Speaking of the Tunica Cutoff....what do you think of it? I know we have mentioned Midway. How would you compare them? I drove down to the cutoff when i was in town rolling the dice (and losing my money) last year just to get a look at it. I found myself in what i guess was a fish camp of some sorts. It had a boat ramp, mobile homes on stilts..cabins on stilts...an old bait shop...and 32 dogs and 17 cats wandering around. Looked cozy....but kinda not sure what to make of it LOL. Everything was on stilts!

The river might make it up into Midway. By Sunday in Memphis, The Mississippi river is expected to be 22.9 feet. I think it gets into Midway around 24 foot.I don't know if one can launch a boat at Mr. Fowler's boat ramp anymore, he died a few years back. He sure was a good man. It might be tough to launch at Ed's Camp being the water is so low, do to the lack of rain. I might just ride down there this weekend to see what it looks like. Only about a 40 minute ride for me.

Fishinpox -

I'd like to know what it looks like. I can't wait 'til some water gets put back in there. I was down there at Thanksgiving. I saw some good cover that should be below water line at normal pool. Should be some good fishin when it gets filled back up.

Carp -

I don't know too much about Tunica. Here is a good article about it. Once you click on the link, it is continued on several pages. You can click on the pictures. They give you a good idea of what kind of cover that you'd be dealing with in these lakes. http://www.nighthawkpublications.com...tories32-1.htm

BTW. If I had not known better, I would have thought that you just decribed the boat camp at Ed's on Midway. That is the way all of those boat camps at the small oxbows are. For the most part, they are some of the easiest people to get along with.

fishinpox -

I'm originally from WM. My dad is Johnny Brown. Know him?

Im sure your right Chris....it wasnt the people that threw me off...it was the stilts that everything was elevated on. I realize its for high water. I just dont see that kinda thing in my normal fishing life. And Im a dog and cat lover...so i found it a pleasant visit.

No, I don't recall the name. I do know some Brown's though. Billy Brown, I forget his wife's name. I'm 47, lived here all my life. But most of my adult life I have worked night shift, so, that puts one out of circuit somewhat.

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Originally Posted by ceb

fishinpox -

I'm originally from WM. My dad is Johnny Brown. Know him?

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Carp -

It is amazing how high some of those lakes can get. I've seen Midway about half way up the levee before, and I'd guess that would put the lake about 15 ft high. Hopefully, you won't run into any of that will you are down here. It will definitely kill the bite.

Fishinpox -

Well have to get together sometime and go pull a few in. I definitely admire you for being able to work on the night shift for that long. I guess you don't think anything about it anymore. Have you ever gotten off work and gone fishing?

CEB -

We sure can hook up some day if you like. Sorry for being miss leading; I work days now. But, I'm thinking about taking a job that puts me on 11pm to 7 am. When i worked 3:30pm to 12am, yeah, I'd go home and catch a few hours of sleep and hit the lake. I'd have those boys arguing over fish. There are several more oxbows on south of Midway; some are pretty to good to hit as soon as the river falls out of them.

Most of my Uncles and Aunts live in North Little Rock, over in the Gravel Ridge area.

Looks like its leveled out at a little over 22 at Memphis so it must not quite be enough to get in and fill midway back up. How exciting is my world? I come home and check the river level in Memphis...and im 200 miles north of there!

don't feel bad carppoop, i have it saved in my favorites :D

The river should definitely make it into Midway soon, and hopefully back out before April.

I've fished Whitehall quite a bit. You can fish a lot of Whitehall in one day.

I'm a recent transplant to LR. I originally grew up & graduated from WM. Then went to Jonesboro, and on to LR now.

Fishinpox -

Have you ever fished in Lost Lake, immediately south of Midway? I've heard some outstanding stories about that lake. Only access is from the river, and I just haven't had the nuts to get out there in the river in my lil 14' jon.

how far south is it? and where is the nearest river ramp to it? I guess to fish it the water would have to be higher than it is now...or doen the river get into it at a lower level?

No CEB, I have never heard of lost lake. There are several hunting leases in that area. The boy who thinks he loves my daughter... he and his dad belong to ones of those clubs, but I think theirs is closer to Huxtable Pumping Plant. I thought you might have been talking about the one you have to access from Whitehall. I hear that is a killer place to catch fish. I don't get on the Mississippi River either, I can't swim :eek:

CarpPoop, there is a boat ramp off the levee. It is between Whitehall and the pumping plant. You have to take another levee road to get to it. The last time I was there the ramp seemed to be in excellent shape.

CEB, I remember a Ron Brown..I think that is his name...he was a painter or carpenter, something to do with construction I believe.

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Originally Posted by ceb

Fishinpox -

Have you ever fished in Lost Lake, immediately south of Midway? I've heard some outstanding stories about that lake. Only access is from the river, and I just haven't had the nuts to get out there in the river in my lil 14' jon.

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I don't think Ron is in our family, or at least I've never met him.

It's been a while since I've fished Tunica but if I remember correctly when the river stage a Memphis is 8ft, water can flow into the cutoff. When the stage is steady at 14ft there is ample water in the willows to crappie fish. My experience with Tunica has been an all or nothing deal. Either they're going to be hot and you'll get your 50 easy or you won't get a bite. As for the stilts, you did notice all those trailers were inside the levy, lol. You were probably at Kingstons. Watch out for that ramp, very steep. If you buy minnows at Kingstons the magic number is 3 dozen and you'll probably get 5, lol. They have a great t-bone at the restaurant/bar too.

Tunica cutoff has had a wier put in at the runout. This wier prevents the cutoff from flushing like a big toilet. The lowest notch is at 4 feet the highest is 16'.

14' you can fish all the major structure. At 16 you can go really deep into the standing timber...

Oh the minnow count aint what it used to be ...now all the baitshops sell you exactly what you pay for...no more 5 dz for the price of 3.

The reason for the stilts is HIGH water the 73 flood went about half way up the levee. last years flood the water got over the top of the ramp by 50 yards.

Charlies Camp has the widest and best ramp to put in regardless of weather.

CarpPoop- Go to this site and oder the fishing information. I did and there is a map in the back that shows and tells about all of the OxBow lakes or a lot of them in Arkansas. Goods site to look over to. Ron



http://www.arkansas.com/helpful-info/free-vacation-kit/

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Originally Posted by CarpPoop

I wander this. Lets say a river gets into an oxbow once it reaches a certain level. I have heard people say that crappie get replenished into the oxbow and thus the fishing is good. Obviously fish would come into the oxbow but I would think that the majority of fish swimming out in the main channel of the mississippi would be carp, catfish, gar, buffalo, and drum. I would think the game fish in the river would live more up in creeks. But im not a biologist. Does anyone who fishes oxbow lakes notice more crappie after the river gets into it for ahwile? Or is the fishing about the same only with higher water levels?

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HELLO im not an expert but i fish a few ox bows near memphis and from my experience any the river comes in i wait for slow fall usually they bite like crazy for about a month. I think a lot of river crappie come in to get out of current. I have fished on the river behind dikes and caught some hawgs,they have shoulders from fighting current.But thats risky.jim