Deepwater Crappie/Lake Dardanelle/12-23-11

Met up with RTARK and XRING on the IL Bayou today we all three caught our limits with some nice fish mixed in. RTARKS hand tied bait really puts the hammer to em for us (See Pic)...Problem is getting him to allow me and XRING to have more than Two a trip. If we were not fishing deeper than 20 feet deep were were not getting a bite and we caught em as deep as 35 feet. XRING was on fire today catching a real nice limit in about three hours. I kept telling RTARK... Don sure is setting in that spot along time...LOL but being the sportsman we are we let him have it. RAY n Don thanks for another great outing on Dardanelle. See you guys soon. Don I hope you enjoy the 9 foot Ozark Casting rod. Its a great rod and landed my biggest on this trip. Tight lines...
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Me with My biggest of the day.
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XRING coming in to Load the boat with a really quick good limit of nice fish.
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Our very own RTARK's hand Tied bait. Let me tell ya he has allot of colors that work on Dardanelle, but the Grim Reaper is my favorite.
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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Met up with RTARK and XRING on the IL Bayou today we all three caught our limits with some nice fish mixed in. RTARKS hand tied bait really puts the hammer to em for us (See Pic)...Problem is getting him to allow me and XRING to have more than Two a trip. If we were not fishing deeper than 20 feet deep were were not getting a bite and we caught em as deep as 35 feet. XRING was on fire today catching a real nice limit in about three hours. I kept telling RTARK... Don sure is setting in that spot along time...LOL but being the sportsman we are we let him have it. RAY n Don thanks for another great outing on Dardanelle. See you guys soon. Don I hope you enjoy the 9 foot Ozark Casting rod. Its a great rod and landed my biggest on this trip. Tight lines...

Me with My biggest of the day.

XRING coming in to Load the boat with a really quick good limit of nice fish.

Our very own RTARK's hand Tied bait. Let me tell ya he has allot of colors that work on Dardanelle, but the Grim Reaper is my favorite.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/attac...1-img_1881.jpg

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NOW, I WANT TO KNOW. HOW DID YOU GET OFF WITH ONE ONE OF MY REAPERS? Looks like I am gonna be raiding your tackle box again. LOL

Like the looks of that there jig, think I will tie some just like those, I have been looking for a jig like that. That jig looks like it works really well. Congrats on the box of fish. I like fishing the Illinois bayou, it has some good fish in it, usually I fish it in January with great success. The strip pits and ouitta are really good also, you should give them a try some time. There are so many brush tops and so much structure In that lake you have a hard time deciding what to fish. Some real good fishing in that lake comes when you can find the crappie suspended with bait fish. Also with Dardenelle you never know what you may catch, caught some really good bass and catfish while crappie fishing that lake.

Some real pretty fish you got there. Sounds like a great trip. Thanks for sharing the pictures too. Congrats.

Great looking jig, looks like a 1/8?

crappie cowboy

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Originally Posted by Lkconwayguru

Like the looks of that there jig, think I will tie some just like those, I have been looking for a jig like that. That jig looks like it works really well. Congrats on the box of fish. I like fishing the Illinois bayou, it has some good fish in it, usually I fish it in January with great success. The strip pits and ouitta are really good also, you should give them a try some time. There are so many brush tops and so much structure In that lake you have a hard time deciding what to fish. Some real good fishing in that lake comes when you can find the crappie suspended with bait fish. Also with Dardenelle you never know what you may catch, caught some really good bass and catfish while crappie fishing that lake.

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Its amazing how many places there are on the Illinois, especially out in the open lake south of the railroad.there are Places that never get fished. The really big ones are there to be caught.

Yep Gary a 1/8th and a 3/16 th are the way to go on Dardanelle in the winter time. Find the brush and the breaklines look for fish on you DF in 15-35 feet and I promise you. Keep moving and drop this size on thier heads and sooner or later your gonna get bit. Water Temp was 49 degrees

Dang CP you guys tear them up everywhere you go!!! I love lake Dardanelle went to college in Russellville and have fished for bass and catfish. Didnt really know the crappie fishing was that good there. I have been working my tail off trying to learn how to crappie fish, and have been getting better. Thanks for all the info you have given on this board, you have taught me how to crappie fish and dont even know it.

Thanks

Quote:Met up with RTARK and XRING on the IL Bayou today we all three caught our limits with some nice fish mixed in. RTARKS hand tied bait really puts the hammer to em for us (See Pic)...Problem is getting him to allow me and XRING to have more than Two a trip. If we were not fishing deeper than 20 feet deep were were not getting a bite and we caught em as deep as 35 feet. XRING was on fire today catching a real nice limit in about three hours. I kept telling RTARK... Don sure is setting in that spot along time...LOL but being the sportsman we are we let him have it. RAY n Don thanks for another great outing on Dardanelle. See you guys soon. Don I hope you enjoy the 9 foot Ozark Casting rod. Its a great rod and landed my biggest on this trip. Tight lines...Quote

I really enjoyed yesterday, although I was plenty ready to leave when we did..I got COLD...
rtark sure is tight with them grim reapers and you must be a favorite fishing compainion if he gave you two of them..I only had two of them in TWO MONTHS....and me showing him all I know...lol...that may be the reason...lol
I know I'm gonna love the 9 foot spinning rod although I didn't use it much yesterday, for the type fishing I was doing,,the other rods were more suitable.
As always, I enjoyed the visit and the continual kidding between the two boats...dayum,,that red boat sure is a purdy thingy and that fisherman is a source of much knowledge, not to mention how handsome he is...lol
Always looking forward to your next visit CrappiePro.

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Originally Posted by joeken

Dang CP you guys tear them up everywhere you go!!! I love lake Dardanelle went to college in Russellville and have fished for bass and catfish. Didnt really know the crappie fishing was that good there. I have been working my tail off trying to learn how to crappie fish, and have been getting better. Thanks for all the info you have given on this board, you have taught me how to crappie fish and dont even know it.

Thanks

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CrappiePro is a blessing to alot of fishermen,,both beginners and uh,,seasoned fishermen!

Where are the strip pits and Ouitta? Where is a good place to find info or Dardanelle? I found on Google where Illinoise creek comes into the lake. It's a 2 hour drive from Fayetteville so I could come down and camp and fish. I drive past it going to Mississippi all the time and it's a beautiful lake. All I do is crappie fish from a kayak and it looks like a perfect lake for it. I have an old motor home and can primitive camp also if I don't bring the wife. What are some good camsites close to good fishing?

Were ya'll spider rigging or jigging?

When you cross the bridge on I-40, at about mile marker 84 you are crossing The illnois bayou, the strip pits are north of I-40 both to the west and east of the ililnois channel. There is a RV park just north of I-40 on hwy 7 north. it will be on the left side of hwy 7 only minutes from the bayou. Ouita bay is south of the interstate bridges, the upper part of the bay is what you are looking at to the south when you cross the bridges.

Some long line the area with suscess, but we normally either cast to the suppended fish or tight line them, vertical drops..very effective in the deeper water.

Thanks xring for the info. I'm going to plan me a trip real soon.

Great catch and pictures. Thanks for sharing all that you do CP. Now, if I can just get out there.....:fish

Great catch thanks for the info. and pics.

Don , my boat is finally welded, just need to go get it. I bought some new seats and looking for everything else to redo it. If Lake Nimrod stays high expect company when my boat's finished.

Come on over, maybe by then they will be bunched tight and not so many spooky suppended fish...today was one of those days,,you earn what you come home with...

Thanks Guys I appriciate the comments, Dardanelle is a lake I have ignored for years and it was because of RTARK who was helping me prepare for a Crappiemaster's Tourney last year (cancelled due to flooding) that I even started fishing it. SO I owe allot of thanks to him for helping me on Dardanelle. His knowledge of Lake Dardanelle has given me huge boost in my confidence to fish Crappiemaster's this year. I just hope I can make my coach proud come the end of April 2012. It's going to be an exciting one to be apart of. Tight lines...

Hey Russ, is the Crappie Masters tournament on Dardanelle this year? :confused: I must have missed that! Are they going to also have one on Conway?

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Don , my boat is finally welded, just need to go get it. I bought some new seats and looking for everything else to redo it. If Lake Nimrod stays high expect company when my boat's finished.

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I Know your glad to be getting your boat home, you going to put a paint job onb it too while your renovating it?

hello crappie pro. ive never fished lake dardanelle but have wanted to, and these pics really set the hook for me. just curious for a first timer to lake dardanelle,where should i start out? ive looked for directions to the IL BAYOU but i just cant seem to find where it is. if im coming from conway what is the quickest way to the IL BAYOU. thanks.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Thanks Guys I appriciate the comments, Dardanelle is a lake I have ignored for years and it was because of RTARK who was helping me prepare for a Crappiemaster's Tourney last year (cancelled due to flooding) that I even started fishing it. SO I owe allot of thanks to him for helping me on Dardanelle. His knowledge of Lake Dardanelle has given me huge boost in my confidence to fish Crappiemaster's this year. I just hope I can make my coach proud come the end of April 2012. It's going to be an exciting one to be apart of. Tight lines...

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If you win, I will be proud. I will be more proud for 50% of the take. Thats before you split with your partner.

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Originally Posted by bwomack_29

hello crappie pro. ive never fished lake dardanelle but have wanted to, and these pics really set the hook for me. just curious for a first timer to lake dardanelle,where should i start out? ive looked for directions to the IL BAYOU but i just cant seem to find where it is. if im coming from conway what is the quickest way to the IL BAYOU. thanks.

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Exit 81 . Cross over i_40 to signal light, turn right, go untill you come to the first loading ramp or keep going till you cross the causeway and there is a new loading area on the right. All that water you will be seeing is the Il bayou.

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Originally Posted by rtark

If you win, I will be proud. I will be more proud for 50% of the take. Thats before you split with your partner.

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HAHA!!! Check's in the Mail Ray.

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Originally Posted by ski trip

Hey Russ, is the Crappie Masters tournament on Dardanelle this year? :confused: I must have missed that! Are they going to also have one on Conway?

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Jerry the Arkansas State Championship is the last week end in April this year on Dardanelle. For what ever reason they will not be coming to Lake Conway this year. If weather permits this touney is going to be a slug fest and the winner better be able to bring in 14 fish around 2lbs to the scales cos that's what it will take to win. It will be Prime Time for those Big Ole Sows and Dardanelle is loaded with em.

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Originally Posted by xring

I Know your glad to be getting your boat home, you going to put a paint job onb it too while your renovating it?

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No cause I'd have to take off the motor and take up time. My boat gets treated too rough and at 25 years old , I'll just buy a new one if I want a pretty boat. The Petit Jean and Nimrod waters are too nasty and don't want to worry about scratching fishing in the brush fishing everyday to worry about paint. Maybe we can limb line Petit Jean or Trotline on Dardanelle some this summer.

Maybe catch another 40 pound flathead out of ole muddy...lol

That was a sure nuff hoss..

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Originally Posted by xring

Maybe catch another 40 pound flathead out of ole muddy...lol

That was a sure nuff hoss..

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It would be fun to catch one bigger than that 42 lb Flathead on a limbline. I just want a few fresh Flatheads under 10lbs and Blues under 5 lbs for the freezer. We may have to fry a few at Nimrod when the gang shows up.

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

It would be fun to catch one bigger than that 42 lb Flathead on a limbline. I just want a few fresh Flatheads under 10lbs and Blues under 5 lbs for the freezer. We may have to fry a few at Nimrod when the gang shows up.

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I think you can catch all the whites and blues you want to mess with on the bayou, and you just might catch a whooper, I had ahold of another biggun the other day..I think with some big cut shad, you could catch all you wanted in short order..

Xring, do you ever sleep? Up at 3 am!

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Originally Posted by creekslick

Xring, do you ever sleep? Up at 3 am!

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Unfortunately,,not much....but I try hard...that was the second time I got up...lol

I though you were trying to catch Santa.