New here, and new to crappie fishing

Hello all,

My name is Mike, and I have been fishing my whole life, but mostly from the bank. I'm a meat fisherman mostly, but crappie have always seemed a little out of reach without a boat. However I've caught plenty by accident and they are my one of my favorite eating fish.

I recently purchased an aluminum boat big enough for me to take my son's out on the nearby lakes. I live off Lower Ridge in Conway so Beaverfork and Conway are my first choices.

Like many my first question is about finding fish. I know Conway is full of cover, trees, stumps etc, and have heard Beaverfork has some productive brush piles, but I don't know where or how to find the right spots. Are electronics absolutely necessary for finding these? I'm planning on running trolling motor only on Conway, and have a small motor that I may run on Beaverfork.

I'm not looking for anyone's spots, just some help getting started. I guess my question is what do wish someone would've told you when you first started?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

Welcome from West Memphis. Home of Big River Marine.

Sorry I can’t help with Conway but I’m sure some of those guys over that way will chime in.


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Welcome from Greenwood. There’s plenty of guys on here that fish Conway. They’ll hook you up [emoji1360]


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I fish Conway mostly now and have off and on 40 years. Growing up we mostly bream fished it, and I didn’t start actively going after the crappie here till last year. My step grandparents lived on the lake and if the fish weren’t biting for me he could usually steer me in the right direction. Now I rely on dan at gold creek landing or the folks at Bates in mayflower to point me in the right direction. A lot of times just talking to other folks fishing can lead to how deep or what they’re biting on, just be friendly and respectful most other folks out there are. On Conway you don’t need electronics, if you want to know how deep it is, stick your rod tip down in the water. What has worked for me best crappie fishing there is fishing the bases of cypress trees w a jig pole. Minnows, jigs, and jigs tipped w minnows. Best piece of advice is watch the wind. The main part of the lake can get rough real easy. Good luck

Welcome from Dover. You will enjoy this site!

Welcome! Never fished conway. Electronics aren't a must but helpful. GPS is a plus. There is a thread below about Arkansas lake fish attractors. If you have Google Earth on your computer or tablet you can view them there.

Go to the AGFC site (https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/wher...sh-attractors/) and download the file Conway GPX.

Open Google Earth

Click File, then click Import

In the bottom right hand corner change the file type to import to "all files"

Find CNW and double click it

GPS data import box will come up, click ok.

This will download the fish attractors and overlay them on your map. There aren't many it looks like but you can right click on them and select Properties and see the GPS Coordinates for each one. Plug them into your GPS and that is a good place to start.

Welcome to the site from Fayetteville. We don't fish Conway that much but it does sound like Farmermike is giving you some pretty sound advice. Hope you enjoy fishing in that new boat with your sons.

Thanks Farmermike! That's what I was looking for. My initial plan was to launch in Dix Creek, and hit those cypress trees and stumps with minnows.

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Originally Posted by farmermike

I fish Conway mostly now and have off and on 40 years. Growing up we mostly bream fished it, and I didn’t start actively going after the crappie here till last year. My step grandparents lived on the lake and if the fish weren’t biting for me he could usually steer me in the right direction. Now I rely on dan at gold creek landing or the folks at Bates in mayflower to point me in the right direction. A lot of times just talking to other folks fishing can lead to how deep or what they’re biting on, just be friendly and respectful most other folks out there are. On Conway you don’t need electronics, if you want to know how deep it is, stick your rod tip down in the water. What has worked for me best crappie fishing there is fishing the bases of cypress trees w a jig pole. Minnows, jigs, and jigs tipped w minnows. Best piece of advice is watch the wind. The main part of the lake can get rough real easy. Good luck

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BG12

Welcome! Never fished conway. Electronics aren't a must but helpful. GPS is a plus. There is a thread below about Arkansas lake fish attractors. If you have Google Earth on your computer or tablet you can view them there.

Go to the AGFC site (https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/wher...sh-attractors/) and download the file Conway GPX.

Open Google Earth

Click File, then click Import

In the bottom right hand corner change the file type to import to "all files"

Find CNW and double click it

GPS data import box will come up, click ok.

This will download the fish attractors and overlay them on your map. There aren't many it looks like but you can right click on them and select Properties and see the GPS Coordinates for each one. Plug them into your GPS and that is a good place to start.

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Awesome! I had no idea you could look at them with google earth.


Thanks all for the welcome!

It took a minute to figure it out but I felt accomplished afterwards lol....

Welcome from North Little Rock. Conway is a great lake to fish about anytime of the year. Look for deeper spots winter time of year. With the warmer weather the fish should be getting ready to move toward the trees and to prespond places. Good fishing and maybe see you out there.


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Right on, thanks!

Welcome from Pine Bluff. These guys will sure steer you in the right direction!

Welcome from west central Arkansas .. Several guys on here fish Conway maybe one will help .

Welcome form Mabelvale, I avoid Conway unless I'm in someone elses boat stumps are "H E double hockey sticks" to avoid for me on that lake

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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

Welcome form Mabelvale, I avoid Conway unless I'm in someone elses boat stumps are "H E double hockey sticks" to avoid for me on that lake

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That's what I hear, but the allure of those delicious white meat filets is more than I can handle.

Now I'm just waiting on a Saturday without 6" or rain, or gale force winds. :biggrin