Who left the plug out of Butla?

Went fishing this morning first light, saw a few boats already launched directly across from Hernando point,,, Didn't think much of it,,,, well the water was lower then usual, so we fished around the first cove and across the lake,,, a few fish here and there with no keepers,,, So I decide to move,,, I jump on the throttle and cruise torwards hurricane creek, Going down the center of lake and all of a sudden, I feel the boat abruptly beginning to slow down,,, So I back the throttle down , while lifting the engine thing I hit bottom and Man oh man,,, was I surprised to know I was Sandbarred.... I coukdnt believe it,,, I had gone threw this area a thousand times , except this time was much different,,,, I think my seasons at an end folks,,,, My boats too dam heavy to be getting stuck at landings or center of lake,,, Not willing to ruin my boat to fish a few crappie that are seemingly tight lipped anyway,,, I may have to wait til after it rises a tad before my next trip,,, So beware of sandbars on Arkabutla,,, It's low!:bash

Need you a Humminbird with the latest Lakemaster chart. You can set the off set and highlited the shallow water in red. Makes it a lot easier to get around down there. My first time on that lake back in 76 I did same thing. Only boat on lake. Took a couple of hrs to get it off. This time of year I don't run wide open anywhere down there.

Yep, lectronics is worth every penny this time of the year, most of the time they try to hit winter pool by Dec 1, so that puts all the lakes down low. Warm temps make us want to go but you have to be very careful. They are pulling 4 inches a day off Grenada right now and will do so until it hits 193, at 199 now which fits with 17 days left in the month and they getting a foot every 3 days they are right on schedule. Learning the lakes at different levels becomes a valuable tool as well, time on the water during these low water times is the only way to do that.
Glad you weren't hurt and you did not tear anything up.

Thnx guys,,, will invest in a lake master,,, it's the one thing I had left to buy,,,lol

Lot of humps and low spots in Butla.. I got a fishing buddy that's dad looks at us crazy for fishing that lake. Story is, him and a buddy got caught in a tornado (bad storm) and busted butt to get out, only to get sand barred at full speed. Rollers pushed them back out only to have motor clogged up and dead. Paddled there way to nearst ramp after the storm. Says that was the closest he's ever been to imminent death that day. That's been 20 years ago, he won't go out there to this day. So glad you made it out, see a lot

Wow,, scared story Snubby,,,, that would had ended it for me as well,,,, I hate tornados or high winds...

So when is a good time to fish these lakes come fall or winter? When the water stabilizes and no long on the fall?

I like current verses no current, follow the shad.

Current / falling water concentrates the fish in certain lakes better. I would venture out a little furter south takeum. I love Butla when it's 220 are higher. She starts getting around 215 or so it's dicey. Had a blast out there this spring when she was bursting at the seems at 234. Like the others said get the lakemaster card. I learn the hard way it seems, but it's an asset that can make life a little easier if your FF is equipped for it.

Butla is just a heart breaker. You just have to go to find out. If you can launch, like said before this is best time to learn the lake. Just ease around so as not to get in trouble and learn where the real shallow spots are. Plus you will find little cuts and ditches you didn't know we're there. Good time to mark and name way points on these little intersections plus stumps and stake beds. Leave poles in boat or at home. Will be time well spent in the long run.

Been a long time since I've been on here. Lots of new people.
Just my 2 cents on this subject, but when butla gets low a good tactic is to do some serious leg work from the bank. Used to really bust em up from the bank in the winter time years ago.