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Well y'all what on earth is wrong with reelfoot this spring??? By this time of year it's usually hot fishing and not hard to catch a limit. I have not had a "good" day yet nor have I heard of many good reports.
Been hearing reports of 8-15 fish but that's slow for this time of year. Anyone have an idea of what's going on? Think the real bitter winter we had affected the crappie? Carp? Aliens? Lol.
I'm really hoping this week of warm temps will turn things around for this weekend!
Yes, I agree. I'm hoping that the bitter winter and extended cold snaps have just pushed the spawn back. I really think that this warm weather may jump start the fishing. We had several inches of snow on the ground the 1st week of march and several really cold nights down in the 30's all the way up to last week. Just my 2 cents...I keep hearing about a fish kill at reelfoot? Is this true or just rumor? Let's hear from some of the locals.
Just had a group of guys there April 16 thru the 20th. We been going for the last 6 years. This was the toughest year of all. Caught a few here and there but not like other years.
Hope it gets better next week. We will be down next Thursday.
I nave jigged and trolled the past 3 days and it has been tough. Tuesday was my best day jigging but is a fish here and one there. I'm not sure what is going on but it is driving me nuts!!! Maybe it will turn on soon!!
Really late winter makes for a late spawn, couple buddies came in today and showed me pics of their fish from yesterday, limit a piece jigging big white males, they picked up a few females staged that were fat, lake is always changing, "go-to" spots can get cold, old ones can come back, and new ones can develop! But I'll let y'all know first hand how it is Saturday!!!
Buddy of mine trolled out from rat island in 6 foot of water wednesday morning and ended with 15 good crappie and several kitty cats..
25 years in a row and just got back yesterday. Worst ever for this time of year. Agree with everyone above, hard/harsh winter that lasted way too long = pushed back spawn...and agree with Josh, and FIRM believer, once they come in, they are in there for a while...(4-8 weeks). I just can't believe they are not in yet, but that's why it's fishing and not catching. Coming back down Thursday and of course it's suppose to cool down, but again, if the next few days they decide to make a move, they will stay there for a while....we shall see.
We will be down Thursday. Staying at Cypress point. Hope the fishing gets better.
Got my butt whipped Saturday, jigged 1,000 trees for 8 crappie...
I really thought the weather last week and weekend would make things get better but I was wrong. Not many fish being caught (not like it should .
Every other body of water around is on fire and reelfoot is shallower than most so usually it warms faster and is ahead of other places. I don't think it's happening this year
I agree with Josh , I think it's weather related .We cleaned over 100 fish both Thur. and Fri. . My good friend Pete Armstrong went out for a couple hrs. Fri. , had 8 that weighed over 16 #. I met Josh at Gray's Camp. He's a class act .
1001 trees, 3 crappie.
Same here Bails! Fished tue,wed,thur and sat. With little luck. Tuesday was my best day with 14 & it was a mixed bag of crappie, bluegill and 1 stipe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bails
I fished all over the place, everywhere but open water cause of the wind...but geesh, I mean GOOD spots...and maybe ONE...then not another bite, not even Bluegill.
maybe this rising water will get them to move around a little.
4.5 Inches since Sunday
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tn/nwis/uv?site_no=07027000
I've talked to a lot of guides the last two days, no one has seen or heard of any spawned out females, black or white, that is crazy, but it means there's still hope! Maybe it'll kick in full force right before the crapoiemasters and I can take em to school with a jig pole!!! :)
I hope your right josh.
Heard they hammered em when the sun came out today! !
Shallow in trees /grass/pads or out in open water?. Will be down Thursday around 4pm.
I fished yesterday after the front passed for a couple of hours before sunset. First tree produced 2 nice males. I thought it was game on but those where the only crappie I caught the rest of the evening.
Best report I heard from yesterday was 6 fish
I fished wed. afternoon for about four hrs. and only caught 2 cats and lost count on how many drum. I trolled minnows from 4.5 to 8.5 and never caught a crappie, the wind was tough so I tried to stay close to the shoreline between sportsmans and chappys pocket. Seen several other boats in the area some jiggin the trees and some trollin but didnt see much catchin, hopefully after today the weather is suppose to start a warming trend and the crappie will pick it up a bit....
Fished 8 hours today caught 6. The drum are biting good on minnows in 4-12fow
Man I wished they would turn on. Were you trolling neaslabber?
Yep
I think all the snakes in the trees have eaten all the crappie. :Rofl
It has been as tough of a spring over there that I can ever remember.
A friend of mine went today and only caught three jigging the trees, got to get better sometime...
Overfished I've heard. too much traffic!!!
I think there is more to it than just a slow spring and tough fishing. We may be seeing the results of possibly a few years of unsuccessful spawns, thus the reason people are catching quality fish but no quantity. Possibly something to do with Asian carp ruining beds or a die off?
I was planning on making a trip down. Saw a add for blue bank. Sounds great. This thread changed my mind. Hate to hear it. I fish sardis I live 5 miles from lake. Our spawn was late. Matter of fact there still dumping. Grenada has been a tough spring also from what I hear. So how is blue bank? Never fished reel foot either. Might wait till next year. I jig so 1000 stumps sounds right up my alley.
I have left Reelfoot and my license will expire tomorrow. Expect a huge upswing in the bite. Even though we caught few fish, it appears the females are still holding out in 6-8fow and the males are in the trees. Thanks to all Reelfoot people for allowing me to borrow your lake for a day. It is an awesome place with wildlife every where and the people were so friendly. Hopefully we will get to make it back that direction sometime in the future.
Here is one of the beauties that came from there today.
Attachment 161839
That was a good one RCC. I know you cleaned out my favorite drum hole, but I'll find another and give you a call!
Congrats on the 2nd big fish of the tournament!
I'm always up for a good drum beat down. Sure was nice seeing a familiar face there. I sure can see how people get the Reelfoot addiction. What an awesome place.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkcrappie
Thats a hawg for sure! Glad you enjoyed ur trip:)
Has the bite for crappie got any better for anyone lately??
I trolled for a few hrs sat. evening only caught five and lost three good ones. My cousin was jiggin the trees and caught a limit sat. A buddy of mine was jiggin the trees on the east side of the lake sun. and caught 25 crappie and several big gills...