If Weatherman is right, how would you approach Friday???

Here is National Weather Service forcast...
Thursday Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10am. Temperature rising to near 74 by 10am, then falling to around 60 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 37. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 57. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

If this is correct, what difference do you think this will make in the fishing or will it just affect us? Do you think it will cause the bite to turn off or just puch them deeper? In this lake will 2 inches of rain cause it to be muddy or in just parts of it? How quickly does it clear up?

I just wanted to get some thoughts from some of you experienced fishermen on Dardanelle. Best thing would be if the weatherman is just completly wrong. Thanks in advance and I look forward to seeing everyone at camp.

I guess I forgot one option. That it doesn't change anything. Muddies the water some and is colder but the fishing stays hot.

I dont think it will change much. It MAY slow the bite a little, but the fish will continue to stage in the brush. I would approach it the same.

Cold fronts have the ability to really screw with the fish, you can hope the weather man is wrong and that it rains everyday, crappie love to eat when it's raining. The nastier the weather is, generally the better the bite is.

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Originally Posted by Lkconwayguru

Cold fronts have the ability to really screw with the fish, you can hope the weather man is wrong and that it rains everyday, crappie love to eat when it's raining. The nastier the weather is, generally the better the bite is.

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Lol, way to stay positive, Guru! :Rofl

Guru, since we know for sure we will have a cold front and most are still going to be fishing Friday would you make any adjustments. If it does mess things up what is your experience on how long it will last? I know there are different opinions I am just wanting to hear what the different ones are and then make a game plan. Thanks!

CMJ, thanks for you thoughts. Hope you are right. I have always heard and experienced cold fronts to slow things down for a few days but relative to the urge to spawn didn't know if it would.

You are right, a cold front will normally send them to the bottom in the thickest brush they can find. It is no different during the spawn. But the good news is, the females are staging in those areas anyway, so they will be in the same places they were before the front. As I said, it MAY be a little tougher to get them to bite if the water temp changes a lot due to a cold rain, but the main factor will be water clarity, muddy water will have the worst affect on the bite. JMO. If the water is clear, it will be fine.

Don't think it will change much at all. I think the muddy water will hurt a lot more than the little cool spell.

Sorry but I realized I didn't phrase my question very well. I'm thinking we are all going to be fishing not matter what good or bad. My question is more about what changes you will make on this lake if there is 2 inches of rain on Thur. Does it get very muddy and if so what adjustments to that do you make? Since it is a river lake does it all get muddy or are there some better areas that usually are clearer.

U should be able to find some spot that won't be too muddy. Most of the time it takes the muddy water a little bit to get to the main lake area. So we may be ok Friday and sat.

Bigtex, there is a few things I will throw out there as food for thought, Dardanelle is a river lake, if there was to be a great deal of rain to fall in that area the rate to which it falls will be a contributing factor. A fast rain will create run off and the creeks will rise and get muddy, if the Coe are not drawing a lot of water through the river the rate to which the muddy water infiltrates the entire lake will be slower, however if the Coe is drawing/ releasing a lot of water at the dam it will pull the mud through the lake a lot quicker. Creeks have a tendency to run themselves clear with big rains especially if there is plenty of room for the muddy water to go, so the backs of pockets/coves with creeks could possibly start clearing out quicker than the main lake body. As far as what approach to take, the crappie are almost past the point of no return,they are wanting to spawn. They will not move far from their current location if they move at all, fish know that what ever changes they experience is just temporary at this stage in the game. They may get a touch of lockjaw. The fish in brush will remain in the brush. I ain't been to Dardanelle in a few weeks, but if the water temp has broken the 60 degree mark it is only at the surface unless you are in 3' of water or less. The crappie are probably staged in the 8 to 15 foot range, some may be shallower than that but they are fully committed to spawning already, in 8 to 15 foot water depth the water temperature is still in the 50's. I ain't for sure the crappie in those staging depths will experience much of a cool down in water temp from a cold rain. Muddy water will be your worst enemy over water temp. If muddy water is all there is to fish I would use bright color jigs and possibly tip with minnows to increase the profile size of your bait. This is just my 2 cents.

If it gets muddy, look for the clearest water you can find. Usually away from the major creeks and river inflow in the backs of coves, bays, and smaller creeks. I agree that the fish are committed, and won't move far. Different type of lake there than where I fish tho. I think the local guys have given you the best answers.

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I guess the main thing will be how much rain there is.

If it muddy's up i will be looking for coves with clearer water. Two inches is enuff to muddy the lake up and hurt the bite. Not worried about the cool weather but I may change my fishing plans to Piney bay or Shoal bays.

I'm gona just follow CP around the lake!!!

I think there may be a long line behind CP!!! lol.

Crappie Pro, the Pied Piper of Arkansas! :highfive