Beaver Lake Crappie Camp

Would anyone be interested in doing a camp on Beaver the third week in May? I'm thinking Tuesday May 15th through Sunday May 20th.
There is a nice campground on the lake in the middle of all the best crappie action! Maybe even some night stalking for crappie and whites. I am unable to attend the one in April because that is my peak season here on Beaver, but I sure could host one here in May!
I don't know if I could get many speakers, maybe a speaker for the Stripers on Beaver and myself for crappie, perhaps a speaker on bass and I could probably get the local news paper involved.
Just a thought!

That would be great! You know I would be in!

J.T.

How about an old Illinois boy ??

Z21 :)

Sounds good guys! I would like to see many make it!

Sounds like a great time as it would anywhere as long as there is crappie fishing. May is usually busy for me and I certainly wouldn't know for sure until the time came.

Jerry tells me you're coming south to do a little fishing and get some boo. I look forward to meeting you.

Same here Darryl! It's a long time over due! I've been meaning to get down there for some time!

Here is the camp site:
http://www.recreation.gov/campground...&parkCode=hor1

Ok, Ok, Ok, quit twisting my arm I will come.

Sounds like a great time to me. Count me in!

Hey Jason, this sounds like a good idea to me. Hope I'm able to get up there this May.

I would love to come up. Depends on my schedule though. I will know a little closer to time for sure.

I posted on the main board but I would like to say I would love to come. A couple of questions. Where is the lake? What kind of structure does the lake have? How many acres?

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Originally Posted by CrappieHound

I posted on the main board but I would like to say I would love to come. A couple of questions. Where is the lake? What kind of structure does the lake have? How many acres?

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Beaver Lake is in The NW corner of Arkansas between Rogers and Eureka Springs. The lake is a canyon type lake with primaraly standing timber, laydowns and man made cover. Beaver is 28,000 surface acres. I hope this helps and I'd love to see you there!

WOOOWEEE!!!Now that is a lake. Do you know how far it is from Memphis? I live an hour East in Jackson, TN. Are there going to be any GPS points to get us going in the right direction? Glad I got the new 18ft. Express...looks like I'm going to be able to stretch her legs a little on that big lake. I'm planning on coming...is the camp ground nice? The pics from the website above weren't very good. In my experience, most of the campgrounds are really nice in Arkansas. How is the crappie population? My mouth is starting to water just thinking about a road trip for crappies!

I saw Darryl's note about you going to south Arkansas to get some cane. I remember a good bit of cane around Fayetteville, but I'm not sure where it was. I graduated from the U of A in the spring of '75. I think I remember some on White River around Goshen and upriver above that at a farm I used to catch white bass and crappie when they were running. Anyway I know you have a bunch of cane up in your area and for sure around the Ark. River on your way to Hot Springs.

Also my oldest son is a sr. at the U of A this year and might want to go to crappie camp if he is out of school and hasn't gone to work yet for the summer. He doesn't have a boat up there (or anywhere else). Do you think he could hop in a boat with you or some one if he can go?

I will point people in the right direction for crappie as well as some gps points. I'm sure there will be people at camp that would'nt mind sharing a boat either!
Beaver Lake is about 4.5 to 5 hours from memphis. West on 40 and north on 540. The campground is very nice and spacious with a nice boat launch with dock. It is my favorite campground on the lake. It is also closest to all my honey holes!

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Originally Posted by CrappieHound

WOOOWEEE!!!Now that is a lake. Do you know how far it is from Memphis? I live an hour East in Jackson, TN. Are there going to be any GPS points to get us going in the right direction? Glad I got the new 18ft. Express...looks like I'm going to be able to stretch her legs a little on that big lake. I'm planning on coming...is the camp ground nice? The pics from the website above weren't very good. In my experience, most of the campgrounds are really nice in Arkansas. How is the crappie population? My mouth is starting to water just thinking about a road trip for crappies!

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Jason has took me and my family on an outing the last two years, Here is what we caught last year....But it's nothing like the year before! There is a bunch of crappie in that lake...If I can ever get me a boat, I'll fish it more....

Can you beach your boat at or near a camp site or do you have to pull it out every day

You can beach it. The beach there is not as rocky as other camp grounds. There are several lake front sites available also!

First, the lake is beautiful, the campground is kept in tip-top shape...it is called horseshoe bend b/c from an airplane it looks EXACTLY like a horseshoe (i've seen it from the air in a little plane). It would be a great experience for everyone involved.

Second, I've got access to a 26' beachcomber with PLENTY room for at least 8 comfortably...with a grill on board, PERFECT for those who'd like to join me and JT in a nightstalk...I'm sure I would not even have to ask Jason...

As Jason mentioned above, there are SEVERAL lakefront sites where you can (depending on the water level) motor your boat up onto the grass if the water is high enough. I have camped out here several times and the atmosphere is GREAT, you basically roll out of your tent right into the front of your boat, haha.

I am thrilled to hear we are finally going to have a Crappie Camp up here in NWA....for those that have never been or would like to come back, COME ON!

This "Crappie Camp" is probably the best idea I've heard in a long while. I was -- and am -- sorely tempted by the one near Hot Springs, but I'm afraid that it's just too far from home (Iowa). This one at Beaver Lake is definitely within striking distance and sounds like a lot of fun (I was just in Eureka Springs recently, in fact -- beautiful area!).

I'm a novice crappie fisherman and would love to learn a thing or two from all you guys down there. A couple questions:

1) Is it possible to attend without a boat?

2) What is the cost? Is there an attendance fee or anything like that?

3) What should a guy bring with him?

J.T. Is this going on Monday thru Sunday or what are the dates. I'll be by myself so I can take a non boater if need be. I have a 1994 alumacraft 185 competitor.

MINNOWMAN I would like to do a night stalk I never did one and would like to learn. What campsites do you recommend or is there a area the group wiil be in.

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Originally Posted by Fortunato

This "Crappie Camp" is probably the best idea I've heard in a long while. I was -- and am -- sorely tempted by the one near Hot Springs, but I'm afraid that it's just too far from home (Iowa). This one at Beaver Lake is definitely within striking distance and sounds like a lot of fun (I was just in Eureka Springs recently, in fact -- beautiful area!).

I'm a novice crappie fisherman and would love to learn a thing or two from all you guys down there. A couple questions:

1) Is it possible to attend without a boat?

2) What is the cost? Is there an attendance fee or anything like that?

3) What should a guy bring with him?

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Fortunato, I would strongly urge you to make this Crappie Camp. Where in Iowa do you live?

1) MOST CERTAINLY come without a boat, there will be plenty room for anyone and everyone that wants to show up. I have access to about 3 or 4 boats on Beaver Lake (plus I will have my crappie boat by then...) I will also be getting an 8-10 man party barge to beach as well for the nightstalk!

2) The cost at the campground per night varies throughout the year, I would assume each site will be about 10-15 per night, but you can put up to 4 tents in each campground....so we will be splitting the cost I am sure. I have never heard of any crappie camps having a fee...you'll have to get with JT on that since he's putting it together.

3) I would say bring an ultra-light poll, some 4 or 6 lb test line, and whatever else you would need for camping/fishing/sitting around with others having fun, fellowship, food, and fishing. When the time is closer I'm sure we'll have a gameplan on what the menu is going to be...hopefully some good crappie recipes after our first outting would be GREAT!

MM

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Originally Posted by barn dog

MINNOWMAN I would like to do a night stalk I never did one and would like to learn. What campsites do you recommend or is there a area the group wiil be in.

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Then come on and have a blast with us! I believe Jason (JT Guide) will more than likely decide to host it at Horshoe Bend. That is right in the heat of all the crappie action that time of the year. I would recomend it anyways, it's BEAUTIFUL!

There will be no cost to anyone other than the nightly rental fee wich is between $12 and $15 a night for tents, I'm not sure about RVs but I'm sure it's not much more.
I was thinking starting it on Monday May 21 and y'all can just stay as long as you want! I will try and get a few other local guides to come and speak as well as myself to help everyone catch fish.
If non boaters show up I'm sure we can get them out on the water with someone, I don't see that being a problem!

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Originally Posted by minnowman

Fortunato, I would strongly urge you to make this Crappie Camp. Where in Iowa do you live?

MM

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Thanks, MM! I'm in Iowa City, probably a good 8-hr drive to Beaver Lake. I would love to come to the Crappie Camp and if everything shakes out as I hope it will I'll be there for sure!

Thanks again, JT and MM, for answering my Qs.:)

No problem! I'm glad the site is back up!

Minnowman do you plan on camping and do you know what site you will be staying at yet. Im looking forward to try the night stalk and use it up here on Table Rock. Do you fish beaver alot, I tried it once with a few neighbors and a guide for stripers but no luck they wouldn't bite.

When I night stalk on Beaver I like to anchor near the main channel drop in channel bends. Bridges over a channel are normaly going to be the hot spot! I will recomend the hwy 12 bridge during camp. You will catch tons of whites some crappie and a few walleye and maybe a striper.

I sure hope that I can make it, Jason. Sounds like a good time.

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Originally Posted by barn dog

Minnowman do you plan on camping and do you know what site you will be staying at yet. Im looking forward to try the night stalk and use it up here on Table Rock. Do you fish beaver alot, I tried it once with a few neighbors and a guide for stripers but no luck they wouldn't bite.

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Yes, I will be camping...I have no clue what site yet, I'm going to get with Jason and figure out what dates exactly....but I tell you this....no matter what site I stay at or where I camp, I'll have a spot for you, I would imagine we'll have quite a few folks all at the same camping ground....I live about 10 minutes (15 min's max) from this campground....in Rogers, AR....so if need be you can meet me up in town and I could let you ride along with me or follow me whatever you choose, don't miss this....it will be a good time no matter what kind and how many fish we catch....I can give you some really good tips for Tablerock as long as you invite me along. My g/f is from that area (Lampe, MO)--I REALLY need a fishing buddy up there, her dad doesn't go enough for me, haha! I fish Beaver a ton, springtime through mid december normally...I was out there yesterday as a matter of fact, caught 5 crappie all about 11.5 inches and 3 walleye right at 18" each....not a bad day at all for Beaver in February...Stripers are real on/off, they either bite or they don't, haha.

MM

I hope to make it too. I should have my boat by then, and Beaver is not far from me just a couple of hours, road is kinda crooked though.

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Originally Posted by flyflinger

I hope to make it too. I should have my boat by then, and Beaver is not far from me just a couple of hours, road is kinda crooked though.

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Come on flyfinger, we would LOVE to have you...the road is crooked, so winding up and down Beaver lake should not be too bad on you, haha. I cannot wait...where you from? MM

I can make it if a weekend is involved...Other than that I'm out...I only have so many days of vacation left...:D

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Originally Posted by TJ Adams

I can make it if a weekend is involved...Other than that I'm out...I only have so many days of vacation left...:D

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I'm sure we will run it through at least Saturday May 26th. I hope you can make it up T.J.!

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Originally Posted by J.T. Crappie Guide

I'm sure we will run it through at least Saturday May 26th. I hope you can make it up T.J.!

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In that case, I could probly get off early on Friday and come up!

Sounds great!

I live in a small community called Snow. It is between Yellville and Harrison on US 62. I used to fish the White River for trout, but since I had some heart problems in 1998 I have not been able to wade in the river with any confidence. Not a real good place to float your hat, you can fall in in Cotter and surface in Mt. View. But I do love crappie fishing and want to learn as much as I can. The nightstalk was a real trip, I enjoyed it and the company very much.

I want to say after looking at the poll results I hate to be a loner. I would love to come to a crappie camp, but that is the last week and a half of school. I have to have everything done and loaded before the 1st of June. If it were June 1st I would be all Whooo Hooo!

Jason,

We are in I just got off the phone w/ uncle bunny and we will be there for the weekend. I will be in touch via land line to find out some of the particulars.

Stink

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Originally Posted by stinkies daddy

Jason,

We are in I just got off the phone w/ uncle bunny and we will be there for the weekend. I will be in touch via land line to find out some of the particulars.

Stink

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Sounds good stink!