Found this in some old stuff I was looking through. What a night!! We did this In about 2005; maybe 2006? Before it was known as "Lake X"
DP
The NightstalkBy Dave Adkins
What do you do when you have been cooped up for a long winter? When the dreary cold of winter begins to give way to warmer south winds, you know the annual renewal has begun. Visions of spring and the great fishing that follows dance in your head and haunt your dreams. Enter the “Nightstalk”. Exactly what is a Nightstalk? I’ll try to explain, but it is better experienced.
One cold day, surfing the web while locked in winters grip, I came across a website dedicated solely to crappie fishing, “crappie.com”. One of the features of this website is a forum for crappie anglers across the United States. A place where tried and true old hands, adventurers, newbie’s and wannabe’s come together to chat and to exchange ideas on the sport they love. Crappie fishing; ignites a passion that compels them to brave the heat of summer and cold of winter, in the quest for the renowned black crappie. Guys with screen names like, Gooch, CEB, Slipcork and Bobberwatcher.
With Gooch taking the lead, these fellows were putting together a fishing trip at the end of a very cold winter. A loosely fashioned plan, ingenuous in its execution emerged as an outing in 32 degree weather, bracing 20 mph NW winds, at night on Lake Conway in central Arkansas, a Nightstalk.
The adventure would bring together several guys who had only spoken by internet, some from as far away as West Memphis and Yellville. Traveling 100 or more miles to Lake Conway, an Arkansas Game and Fish Lake, located in Faulkner County North of Little Rock and just South of Conway.
Lake Conway is a shallow stumpy lake, recovering from a serious draw down last year, reclaiming its status a first class freshwater fishery, boasting not only black crappie, but large mouth bass (known to crappie anglers as “green carp”), bluegill and catfish.
I got on the forum using an internet handle of Flyflinger. Since I am a somewhat accomplished fly fisher and fly tier, I thought the name to be apropos. Shortly after my first post on the forum, I was invited to the Nightstalk. I accepted the invite and headed down to Lake Conway some 120 miles south of my home.
I arrived about 3:30 o’clock in the afternoon with nary a soul at the launch site; I thought I was the first one there. However, another stalker showed up shortly after me and informed me most of the guys were on the lake “scouting”. Shortly after 4:00 o’clock the parade of boats came into view, seven in all. One by one, each glided into the launch site, tied up with bows resting on the mud shore. I got to meet everyone. I think there were 14 guys. Dave, the guy I met when I arrived had decided not to fish and was there for the cookout and the “get to know you” event.
Gooch fired up the portable grill, and chips and crappie dip appeared from trucks and boats. I’ve got to tell you if you have never tasted crappie dip you have missed a real treat. While the burgers sizzled on the grill, everyone stood around swapping stories, talking about crappie, and those who did know each other took the opportunity for some good natured ribbing. After all had eaten his fill, it was time to clean up and head back out on the lake.
Bobberwatcher was solo in his War Eagle boat and he kindly asked me (a non-boater) to join him. Just before dark, we headed out in the direction the guys had scouted earlier in the day.
Unfortunately, Grubby’s outboard was uncooperative and would not start. So, not wanting him to miss the fun, Dr. Pepper threw him a line and towed him to the fishing grounds.
We located the spot on a secluded pond that had a large brush pile in the center. One of the boats circled to determine the extent of the brush and threw out markers on the edges. The rest of the boats circled the brush like the wagon trains in old movies, everyone anchored up, fired up their night lights, both overhead and underwater. With jigs and minnows in the water, we settled down for an evening of conversation and pseudo fishing. Actually catching fish was secondary to the fellowship and the forging of new friendships.
Although we caught only14 crappie and one white bass, the Nightstalk was deemed by all to be a great success, and proves once and for all that crappie will bite when its only 32 degrees. Plans are in the works for another Nightstalk/Condo drop for next month. Perhaps we will even fish a little, but that’s another story. Tight lines, and remember, if you’re too busy to go fishing, you’re too busy.
