Where to go around the Fort Smith area

Going to take the wife out today around 2 and do some crappie fishing. I am lost as where to go because my luck catching them hasn't been too good. A few little ones at Charleston city lake and haven't even caught one yet at Greenwood city lake. Bass have been on about everywhere I've gone but can't hardly buy a crappie bite. I'm a newbie crappie fisherman and need some help lol. Going to fight the wind today and only have a trolling motor (no gas) so keep that in mind if anyone wants to suggest a place where go and catch some. Want to get the wife unit wanting to fish as much as I do. I just drool over the pic's that everybody has been posting. About a 40 mile radius of Ft.Smith for todays trip is what I need a suggestion for if anyone has one. Thanks

If your willing to travel there is vine prairie in Mulberry with pleanty of places to get out of the wind, then there is White oak creek on up the road on 64 towards Ozark, you turn on White oak Dr to the right and it's 2 miles to park entrance. Crappie are still deep right now but moving up in late afternoon to around 6 ft to 4 ft, White oak is a tricky creek if you don't know it well you might be better off at vine prairie. You must stop at city complex by post office to get a permit to fish vine prairie and I think it's $3.00. Fish brush in 6ft or more and be patient.

Jack Nolen in greenwood can produce some also if you have your fort chaffee permit there are tons of ponds and little lakes out there that I have caught some crappie in. Lee Creek Reservoir in van buren can also be a good lake to produce some crappie but it is closed right now for repairs after the flood and it may be too much for just a trolling motor. Sorry I didn't see this post earlier.

Well I went to Greenwood lake and bombed! That's where she wanted to go. Wife did get a few bites and her bobber pulled under but no crappie. Drifted jigs with depths set from 2 to 4 ft in water from 5-15 ft deep. Casted roadrunners towards the bank while we drifted. Even bobbed a few shallow stumps with my long pole. Got a few hours of fishing in so all is good!
I do have my Chaffee permit and did go to Engineers lake 2 weeks ago, caught a few really small ones. Jack Nolan maybe today before storms move in. Maybe I just cant catch crappie!! But I'm still trying...

Keep on it u will get em, I went to black point in Johnson county yesterday and got 14 all males at 4ft, was jigging with bobby garland shad lime and white then changed to a dreamcikel orange and white. Water temp was 60.

Ok, when you say 4 foot, you mean it was 4 foot deep or fish were 4 foot deep in deeper water? Stupid question I know lol

They were in 4ft around stumps and brush, where I went is back water from the river so it was a Lil warmer than some places, this weather will set them back so it may be next week before they get back with it.

Thanks Preacher, Leaving now for Jack Nolan to give it a shot.

give clear creek a try, caught a bunch of crappie their last year. work up the creek part from the ramp, towards the river also isnt bad.

Do you have pink jig heads ? 1/8 oz 1/16. 1/16 will flutter down and 1/8 will drop fast. Good luck and remember no Q is a dumb one on here

Clear creek is a good spot but I've never caught a limit but have caught big crappie.

Well I went to Jack Nolan and time I got to the cove I wanted to fish, about as far away from the boat ramp as you can get, lightning started in. Was already pouring down rain but that doesn't bother me...but aluminum boat and the lightning rod I was holding wasn't a good feeling. Fished about 5 stumps and then hightailed it back to the ramp. Wasn't meant to be today I don't guess. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks for all the suggestions.

If be careful hightailing it across jack Nolan. Just as many stumps under the water as the ones you can see sticking out. Freaking everywhere

Go to Wister in Oklahoma.

Wister and Kerr in Oklahoma can produce

I've been to Wister and Kerr and you're right, lot's of crappie in both places. Had some good days just drifting jigs at Wister and also flipping jigs up under flooded willow trees...only place we could we could catch em was up tight on the tree trunk. Man that was a hard way to catch 'em, wore us out. Don't have my bass boat anymore and just have a flatbottom with no gas motor so big places are kinda tough on batteries.

I saw that...tested the unbreakable Minn Kota shaft a time or two lol.

I live fairly close to jack Nolan so if I get on any crappie out there I'll let you know

Went out on the river Sunday. Decided to hit up Vache Grass. Pulled up to the boat ramp and the creek was probably 4 feet low. Decided to give it a shot anyways and fished all morning and didn't get a single bite (except for one gar). Guess the falling water had something to do with it. I'm not an experienced river fisherman and have just started trying to learn that beast. If anyone has had any success they are willing to share from around the Fort Smith area I'd be interested in hearing as well. Thanks to everyone!

Caught some in the grass today at Jack Nolan lake. Bass are way back in the grass and the crappie on the edge to about a foot or two back in it. Used my long pole and I just dropped the jig in and pulled it up once it went down a few feet to the stop on the slip cork. Were hitting it pretty quick. Fished the 4-5 ft water almost all morning and only caught one. The last hour I decided to flip real shallow and caught 6. The crappie was tough fishing. Bass was easy.

The ones you caught very big?

Not really. One was real nice. Barely keepers although I didn't keep any.

Anyone been out on the river lately? Thinking about hitting up Vache Grass this weekend. Was wanting to know if the water level in the creeks has raised. Last time I went a couple weeks ago there wasn't very much water back in Vache Grass. Thanks!

Water looks good on the Ft Smith side. Thinking about Massard creek tomorrow. Never heard a thing about it tho, might not be any crappie in there.

Black and chartreuse jigs, try a pink head.