Maumelle Quick Trip 11-5-12

I needed to get out to get a few extra pounds of filets to feed the crew at deer camp. I was able to sneak out for two hours Monday afternoon on Maumelle before getting out just in time for the strong rain to set in. My partner had been there an for an hour when I got there, and had two nice fish in the box, and a nice spotted bass. In the end we caught seven crappie (by we I mean mostly HE), which wasn't bad considering the wind and waves we were fighting.

The fish have moved into their winter pattern, and were relating to structure near the main river channel in the mid lake area. The tendency is to catch nice large fish during the winter. Where these guys are concentrated during the summer has alluded me to this point, but we try to make up for it in the winter. The largest fish was 14" and change and weighed 1.75#.

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http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/p...211-5-2012.jpg

Fish were caught on 1/8 and 1/4 oz jigs and grubs, and were in 20-30 row at various depths related to habitat.

Also, I don't normally keep fish that are as small as the two little ones, but I want to get some ages on smaller fish (they are edible as well it turns out).

Thanks for the report ben. I hope to see you out there soon.
DP

Good report Ben.

People have talked badly about Maumelle for a number of years, and I just want to show folks that there are good fish to be caught there. Do you have to work for them? Yes. If you do take the time to learn how to catch them on tougher lakes will it make you a better fisherman elsewhere? Absolutely.

I enjoy the lake immensely, and I'd argue that there's not a better tasting crappie on the market than a 12" black crappie from Maumelle!

Good report and excellent catch in a short period of time. I keep my boat on Lake Maumelle and have made a hobby out of learning the lake and can sometimes do quite well there. A word of warning to those who are not familiar with the lake. The water level is way, way down. There are new islands just a few inches out of the water that may not be visible if running into the sun or in dim light and a lot of shallow spots only inches below the water. I was out there yesterday and watched a guy running full speed through the shallows north of old Jolly Rogers Marina. Yeah, where the shallow water markers are. I held my breath and expected to have to rescue him, but he either knew about a deep spot that I'm unaware of or he was very lucky. The same thing with big logs we don't normally know about. Be careful folks!

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Originally Posted by Bigben7

People have talked badly about Maumelle for a number of years, and I just want to show folks that there are good fish to be caught there. Do you have to work for them? Yes. If you do take the time to learn how to catch them on tougher lakes will it make you a better fisherman elsewhere? Absolutely.

I enjoy the lake immensely, and I'd argue that there's not a better tasting crappie on the market than a 12" black crappie from Maumelle!

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Well Ben don't take this wrong but 6 or 7 crappie isn't exactly ripping them?? Maumelle is a big piece of water. I've never been up that way but I'm open to new water where 6 or 7 would be an off day, way off at that. Glad you got some camp meat and yes edges of river around structure down deep seems spot on for this time of the year and the whole Winter home for them. Once again those who live near a reservoir where 20+ a trip per person is standard really have a good thing going. If a guy has to travel to catch em it sucks but sure is fun when you do get the time to make a trip to a good lake. Still can't understand why these big ol lakes seem to be so tough to find and catch crappie? I've just learned to go where I know there's fish.

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Originally Posted by constructskeeter

Well Ben don't take this wrong but 6 or 7 crappie isn't exactly ripping them?? Maumelle is a big piece of water. I've never been up that way but I'm open to new water where 6 or 7 would be an off day, way off at that. Glad you got some camp meat and yes edges of river around structure down deep seems spot on for this time of the year and the whole Winter home for them. Once again those who live near a reservoir where 20+ a trip per person is standard really have a good thing going. If a guy has to travel to catch em it sucks but sure is fun when you do get the time to make a trip to a good lake. Still can't understand why these big ol lakes seem to be so tough to find and catch crappie? I've just learned to go where I know there's fish.

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Not too bad for 2 hours on what most call the dead sea.:twocents I remember a guy doing much worse according to all his reports last year.

Yeah still I think we can all agree 6 to 7 or none isn't a sign that a lake is a good crappie lake at all! Kinda makes us all wish the G&F would do some more stocking and sinking out there! I've been there on the struggle to get 5 crappie lakes and then i've been on water that's really worth it and had better than 100 a trip.

Most lakes with proper food and cover need no additional stocking unless they have several poor spawns .

Lake Maumelle is not and never will be a "crappie Lake." It is a city water reservoir that a majority of people in central Arkansas can fish without spending $60 on gasoline just to get there and back. In my case it is less that 15 minutes from my house, 10 minutes if I catch the traffic lights right. I can fish it 7 days a week. Never think that anyone posting their catch from Maumelle thinks the lake is competitive with the major crappie holes around Arkansas and points south. I fish Maumelle several times a week and the "crappie lakes" several times a year and I love them all. Maumelle is a challenge but it is a beautiful lake and I enjoy every trip, fish or no fish. However, I do feed a deer camp and visitors with what I catch at Maumelle.

Dude, you're a hater.


(C.J.)

Nice catch Ben

I feel the same way about Brewer....I love bein out on it...will usually catch a few....

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Originally Posted by Crappieawlogist

I feel the same way about Brewer....I love bein out on it...will usually catch a few....

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I wish i lived closer to Brewer. I have only fished it a few times, but always do well.


(C.J.)

Thanks for the support. I never tried to say that Maumelle was Conway, or that 6 or 7 fish is an amazing day. I'm just trying to show that the "dead sea" has some really solid fish in it. Will you come out catching 150 fish ever? Not likely other than spawn. Can you catch a highly respectable limit during the winter time with some beautiful thick shouldered blacks? Yes, if you're willing to work for it.

And I never said I was hating on you, matter of fact I said don't take this personal If I remember correctly. The point I wanted to make is that while some get on this site and seem to brag about catches while telling others it can be done anywhere is not accurate at all. I'm glad you got to feed deer camp with the 6 or 7 or however many you had there. I know how you feel going and only managing a few at best which even further points to more stocking of some lakes.

Constructseeker. Stocking is actually not the answer on that lake. Would a small amount help? Sure. The fact that the lake was clear cut before impoundment plus the fact that sinking brush is not allowed is probably the largest factor slowing down crappie production followed closely by a limited forage base due to the unproductive nature of the drainage and Central Arkansas Water's diligent work to keep it that way.

Stocking of lakes is not a silver bullet for fisheries management despite what most people think. Given the fact that a breeding pair of crappie can produce 10,000 eggs or more it doesn't take all that many successful spawners to keep up with annual harvest by fisherman. Stocking is great in certain situations, but a lot of times stocked fish either die or outcompete natural fish that would have made it otherwise, and can lead to overpopulation and stunting.