Mississippi has the Big 4,,,,,does Arkansas have its top 3 or 4 crappie lakes?
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Mississippi has the Big 4,,,,,does Arkansas have its top 3 or 4 crappie lakes?
I haven't found one yet. I did fish Nimrod Lake with a great guide, so that would be my vote.
I’ve watched videos on lakes like Greesen, and Quatchata,,,but not on the smaller lakes like Conway, Marmelle , Beaver, Ludwig
and such
Most people have a favorite lake but really depends if your looking for big fish or large numbers :twocents
Trying to locate my next home based on which lake to live nearest to Nim,,,,priorities,,,lol
If you’re making decision on where to live based on crappie waters there are bordering states to consider. Examples like Milwood and east Texas, Blue Mountain and Wister, Ok.
I live in Hot Springs with plenty of clear lakes but often hit the road in search of dirty water.
Greeson would be my personal top choice.
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Hoping I am wrong but afraid Blue Mtn has been hammered and on the decline . Many of our smaller lakes have been hammered with so many fishing durning the pandemic. Livescope has really pressured the big fish too . Most of us caught more big fish since livescope came out but it is taking a toll .Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzledjig
Wow,,,never thought I’d hear that from a guy who fishes with the live scope,,,,,sorry to hear they are on such a decline,,,,maybe it’s just something that’s caused from cycles of flooding or perhaps temperature fluxuation,….I guess time will only tell,,,,
Anual spring floods is why we have such great reproduction on these flood control lakes . I told our local biologists to watch out just after a few trips with livescope . It is a great tool but taking out too many of the larger fish on some lakes . I will continue to use mine . I have fished behind my friends using multiple poles with jigs and live bait . They noticed right away I was able to catch way more right behind them with one jig and one pole .Quote:
Originally Posted by Takeum
I can see the change happening in Mississippi now! Grenada has been beat to a pulpQuote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
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If it’s that bad on population, perhaps one day soon fishfinders altogether will be outlawed,,,now that would be great to see,,,a crappie tournament without the use of any tools like finders,,,,
Millwood, Conway and Dardanelle would be my 3 picks for top lakes.
Sure would change up the ones on the leader boards in those tournaments :twocentsQuote:
Originally Posted by Takeum
Dardanelle has wild swings in population . More cyclic than any lake I know in this area .Quote:
Originally Posted by arkcrappie
Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
They just packed up and moved below Toad Suck.
Attachment 410006
Millwood, Dardanelle, and Nimrod. That would be my picks for top 3.
My favorite spots close to me:
AR river (mostly Dard)
Nimrod
Overcup
Harris Brake
Lake Atkins
Greers Ferry
Over an hour from Central AR:
Blue Mtn
Peckerwood
Earling
Millwood
Nice catch there young man,,,,,
Crappie out of Millwood ain’t near as good table fare as from clear water lakes tad further North
That happens with many lakes. Even now with on a down cycle, there is still some nice fish coming out of there.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
Numbers way down but on the rise . Freeze last winter hurt Threadfin Shad population real bad which not good in long term for fishQuote:
Originally Posted by arkcrappie
[QUOTE=Hammmerhead;4180416]They just packed up and moved below Toad Suck.
How far below toadsuck 😆 Do you live in Conway?
[QUOTE=mitch_ward;4181940]My photo was kind of a joke with Nimrod as Im a big fan of Lake Dard. too. Those fish were caught right outside the lock, down river in around 25-30 feet of water. Stick to fishing near all the rock jetties on the backside of the coves in the deeper water. Those fish there dont really know what structure is there because there is so very little. Take minnows, fish 1-2 feet of bottom and be prepared to see muddy bellies. These rock and sand flats, spider rigging is more productive than my scope, they're all dug in on the bottom.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammmerhead
[QUOTE=Hammmerhead;4182837]Appreciate the tips, may give it a try. I've always wanted to learn how to Crappie fish the river but was too impatient to invest the time to learn how :)Quote:
Originally Posted by mitch_ward
[QUOTE=Hammmerhead;4182837]Your not the only ones saying muddy bellies. I ever see is digested Shad squirting out their rectum when pulled up .Quote:
Originally Posted by mitch_ward
Arkansas best 3-4 lakes are the Mississippi big 4.
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If ya can't beat em,join em...to hell with the resource and the future ! SMHQuote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
Only thing that will do any good is to make changes in regs. One guy lets them go and most of the other 99 keep them . One lake I fish I let the big ones go for awhile and next spring saw no big ones . The biologists say those over 15'' here are old and most short lived . I see folks on many lakes daily and few practice C&R. If I released 100% of my fish it would make little difference with the pressure here .Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirogue
What ever man...you say you're concerned about Livescope hurting the fishing....yet you post picture after picture of limits of slabs you keep using Livescope. Nobody cares if you're giving them to a "needy" neighbor....they're still outa the lake.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
I could care less how many fish you kill....just quit preaching against the exact thing you're doing day in and day out !!
Just want to show the people the need to reduce limits on some lakes . It would apply to us all . I would be happy to see a slot and lower limit on some lakes . Nimrod has had overpopulation problem for many years . Till our laws change I will keep limits everyday I can . I been on one lake where 20 to 40 boats hammering a hole for weeks . Had some ask why not turn yours loose ? Not much good with crowds hammering them daily for weeks while bunched up following Shad . Here since livescope I see more Bass fishermen chasing Crappie . They release Bass but hammer the Crappie .Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirogue
I think it would be a two year to four year offset if certain lakes were in decline or fear of being decimated. The AGFC would take a drastic change, but it would likely be a year behind. Closely managed fisheries will see the change. The problem is, with the Crappie scope strategy and its fast evolving the past 2 heavy years, if its going to be a problem, its going to be all over the US once we learn the hit we're taking.
Oh, and I welcome a slot too in AR.
If something is not done very soon, a two pound crappie will become a rareity. I'd love to see a slot limit where anything over 14" would be illegal to keep. Take a picture and put them back. The smaller fish are way better to eat anyway. Livescope without a slot limit is ruining our lakes IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
The sky is falling!!! The sky is falling!!!
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Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like the sky is falling. I am concerned, but no panic here. To get back to topic on thread, my favorite Arkansas lake is Horseshoe (close to Hughes).
Maybe a slot but some lakes here most 15'' are at the end of their lifespan . But I agree it will take regulation because just a few releasing big fish won't help much .:twocentsQuote:
Originally Posted by CatchumDeep
I will quote you in 2 years when nothing is done far as new regs and you can't find fish . I will follow regs but for now follow old regs and crowds keeping fish.:popcorn It may need to get site specific like hunting has gone to :fishQuote:
Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd
m
Got news for you...i can't find am now. And I have livescope. I've been catching 11&3/4 inchers in Enid for years before ls.
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And you and folks like you ARE the problem!!Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
You're right about that. I was speaking in reference to the Big 4 in Mississippi where 15" fish are still common. So, a 14" max keeper size at Big 4 may relate to a 12-1/2" max at another lake, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
One also must realize the unjustified impact a slot limit would be on the vast amount of fishing license holders that cannot or choose not to own a livescope. These fisherman and fisherwomen should not be penalized by the impact, on a public fishery, by a smaller percentage of those fishing with equipment deemed harmful on fish populations by those implementing regulations. While popular sales of these units might lead one to think the majority of license holders own livescope, I have a hard time accepting that position. To be fair to the majority that do not own one, the proposed slot limit should only apply to boats equipped with livescope. It is a hard image to visualize a granddad having to tell a grandchild they cannot keep a big crappie they just caught fishing out of the best boat they can afford that costs less than a unit and livescope alone of those blessed with rigs valued in excess of tens of thousands of dollars. Apologies uploaded to anyone this viewpoint might offend. Blessings to all. :fish