Ouachita 1 April Update

I was on the water and in the fog at 0715 idling to the north bank staring at my seeing eye (gps). I came to one of my haunts and using a blue/white maribou jig, immediately jigged up seven decent crappie from 12' in 28 fow, but no more. That's the way it is every time at this one spot.

I then moved to a cove that had been a heavy producer for the past week with nary a hit after 45 minutes. I took the hint and with the fog being burned off, I headed to the south bank to avoid the wind and to hit another of my favorite little places. Nuttin'.

I looked at the water in the south bank cove thinking it was too muddy for crappie but on a whim, I rigged up a minnow under a bobber with 18" of line. Then i slipped to a tree top that produced for me last year and I pulled out four slabs in succession while missing three more! 15.5, 15, 14 and 13.5. All females in 2 fow under brush.

I visited several other places without another hit. Water temps were 55 early and 58-59 late. I did find one place with 61.5 degree water.

I ended the day with a little trolling of the willow-leaf road runners with no takers. I loaded up the boat and was off the water at 9:15pm. A long day for eleven crappie but I have fourteen more good lookin' fillets in the freezer right now.

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/u...john/25Mar.jpg

Nice fish John, also nice to see the face behind all the posts. I have had many of long days on the water and wished I had those fish. Great Job CP

Nice slabs ya caught there. Way to go.:)

WTG - good catch.

That's putting in a day of it....good job and thanks for the pic.

Your wife is a little more understanding than mine if she let you fillet those in the kitchen.:eek: Good looking catch.

Nice ones. Look like most are white Crappie ,awful dark for females ?

Good fishing John . . . They taste better when you have to work for'em....

Hi John One of these days You will be showing us a pic of a bucket full.Up and down weather must keep those Crappies all mixed up,but mother nature should send them spawning soon.I'm heading back down in a week,keep me posted.Good Luck TOM

It may have been long day, but it looks like it was a good one. Nice fish. I haven't had a chance yet to wet a hook since we got back from Hot Springs. Mrs had foot surgery so I've been a little busy with her. I did get our cabin opened today so maybe next week I can find a day or two to try my luck. Hopefully, she will be back on her feet and can join me. Again....nice crappie.

...I just figure the ones with the eggs in 'em are females. lol Actually, my camera flash is just not the best.

The fish, with the weather being on and off, are also...on and off. But that's all part of the game. It sure would be nice to get a good limit of lunkers for a change!

aj

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Nice ones. Look like most are white Crappie ,awful dark for females ?

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They're just too full and the eggs are 'ripe' to be delivered.

DeGray is in full spawn, so I read on the fishin' report, so it won't be long at all before they do their thang. I'll be going again Saturday morning. I'm just givin' the lake a couple of days to settle down fromt he rains. Ouachita is within a foot of full pool and with the rain we got today, it just might be there by now. I need to check the hydrology site. I went to the dam today and they were releasing water big time...so who knows?

aj

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Originally Posted by littlefirslabs

Hi John One of these days You will be showing us a pic of a bucket full.Up and down weather must keep those Crappies all mixed up,but mother nature should send them spawning soon.I'm heading back down in a week,keep me posted.Good Luck TOM

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...that gal likes crappie as much as I do (and that's sayin' sompin'!)

aj

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Originally Posted by creekslick

Your wife is a little more understanding than mine if she let you fillet those in the kitchen.:eek: Good looking catch.

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...I'm for anything that covers up 'ugly.' :D

When I go to the water, it is for the DAY, weather permitting. I like fishing the low-light times of the day and if the wind gets up, well, I can just troll and kick back. Life's too short to stay home and mow grass. ;)

aj

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Nice fish John, also nice to see the face behind all the posts. I have had many of long days on the water and wished I had those fish. Great Job CP

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...I just wish we could have caught some fish like this on our trip together!

Keep in touch. <><

aj

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Originally Posted by RTFish

It may have been long day, but it looks like it was a good one. Nice fish. I haven't had a chance yet to wet a hook since we got back from Hot Springs. Mrs had foot surgery so I've been a little busy with her. I did get our cabin opened today so maybe next week I can find a day or two to try my luck. Hopefully, she will be back on her feet and can join me. Again....nice crappie.

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...we'll try to get us a few more. :)

aj

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Originally Posted by crappie12

Nice slabs ya caught there. Way to go.:)

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By the looks of your photo, it looks like you have LOTS of fishin' buddy help there. :) That's what makes the world go 'round. <><

aj

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Originally Posted by mark lo

WTG - good catch.

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Nice going John! We picked up some keepers (12) last weekend...gonna give it a try again this weekend. I figure we will be around Tompkins Bend and Mt. Harbor. Heard they were on their beds at North Fork. My neighbor bass fishes...said it looked like hundreds of them in 2 FOW. Told me to make sure and carry some polarized glasses...it was a sight to see. I'll keep an eye out for the "sweetwater" Saturday! Good luck! SMJ<><

cool ty for the update on Ouchita and gratz on a nice mess of fish

Fetmo