Illinois Bayou/Strip Pits

This is were I've been doing most my winter crappie fishing. Specifically, at the Russellville City Park's Disc Course. Some of you guys might put in there as well. I never really have considered this area Lake Dardanelle. Sure its a part of the lake, but has its own characteristics.

I have been having good luck with live bait in simular weather conditions until this morning. Took my daughter for her first time fishing, so I was just hoping to catch a few and let her get the hang of a slip float. She did awesome and landed 3 (I caught only 2). After 9, the fist didn't do anything for an hour.

The current changed, which is the first time I've witnessed that since I've been out there. Maybe they opened the dam? The water level did drop. Wind was a steady 1-3mph from the west, like always. The forcast was for sun, but clouds rolled in by 9. Eitherway, the fish were done and so was I :)

The water in the pits is clearing up! There were about 5 boats in the ski channel (runs along the disc course). Several boats meandered through jigg'n, but I didn't see any fish landed.

Good luck and Fish On!

Cate's first fish:

Look like you and your daughter had fun

WTG little lady!

Were u fishing from the bank? Just curious, looks like she had fun , Congrats !!!


You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take country out of the boy

Yes sir, from the bank. Maybe I'll get a boat after I graduate :) Then its just a 30 second float from the dock to this particular spot. Its a good mile walk to get to the other side; 16-20ft channel with brush to the left and stumps to the right.

A few of my friends and I have limited out in that hole several times Jigging the brush has proven to be fruitful to gentalmen who float the channel. Its hard to cast on top of the pile from the shore. So we've been using minnows and slip bobbers near the bottom. They were just terribly slow yesterday, including the minnows :(

What a beautiful young Angel holding a Crappie. That's the way to raise them. Good Job...Dont Forget Spring Crappie Camp is coming Apr 19-20 on Lake Dardanelle. You and your daughter should come join in. Just sign in up top in the sticky's.

Thanks CrappiePro!

I've been thinking about the camp, but I don't think we will have the time. My daughter is a Freshman in High School and I'm a Sophmore at ATU. April is a super busy time for both of us, but I might be able to work in one day of fishing. Pulling winter crappie is fun, but nothing like the spring!

Dont haft to fish..we have a meet and greet cook out Friday evening and a big ole Fish fry Sat evening. If you think you can make it just sign up. We use the list to know how many folks we need to prepare for...but I undersatnd if you cant make it.

Ah, ok. I thought it had something to do with a tournament. Guess I should read a little closer. Thanks again CP!

Guess you may already know but there is a good bank fishing spot right off #7 in Shiloh Park. Welcome Crappie Camp is more about meet and greet , Tournaments just an extra.

Sure do. My friend had a boat in the past; we spent a lot of time in that area.

Besides this front thats pushing through, the weather patterns seem to be holding. So I talked to my daughter and we're going to make the walk one more time this "winter" season. So if you see a grown man and little lady on the north side of the ski channel Sat morning, give us a holler!

I went and bought a minnow bubbler.. Hoping this will keep 'em a little more active.

Well it seems the crappie stayed in bed.

We caught a dozen from sunrise till an hour ago. Had 5 keepers, but let a passer by have them. Didnt get any pics besides my girl's first largemouth.

Most the crappie were at 16' till after noon. Then they move to about 7'. Minnows only again. The ski channel is much clearer than the rest of the area.

Probably would have stayed longer, but snaggle puss reared its ugly head. I haven't lost so much tackle in one day in a long time :(

Cate's first largmouth (we actually caught 3, but this was the biggest):