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Originally Posted by Arkie John
I am with you on the "not catchin' much" in hot weather. Ouachita has really treated me bad--even at NIGHT! I think I will take the remainder of August to place a few structures and hoping for the best once the night time temps get to 65 degrees F.
I would hope the specks take that as a hint that they should be gathering at the mouths of the creeks gettin' ready for the fall feed.
Yup, I can FIND 'em....I just can't catch many right now. Been catchin' a few with a drop-shot rig with a jig/minnow combo suspending just above the thermocline. I am so ready for the fall feed.
If you get into them on Dierks, Gillham or DeQueen, be sure and let us know the specifics. Things should break loose here in a few more weeks. 
aj |
I drove to Dequeen and Dierks Lake the other day to check them out and talk to the park rangers. They swear by Dierks lake as a Crappie Lake, I heard from a co worker that Dierks has the biggest bream around.
Millwood is where I caught good Crappie this spring--the lake flooded and the Crappie were inside the tree line in about 12-18 inches of water. Had to have a pole to move around those trees.
Question---I know when the water gets down to about 65 degrees, than the Crappie will start feeding. Do you fish at the mouth of the creeks or up in the creek its-self. I know where there is a creek thats probably 1-2 miles long with holes 8-10 and 20 ft. deep, but mostly 5-6 ft. deep by boat .I talked to a guy from Pine Bluff that is a Bass fisherman and how he found these holes by accident. He never knew how to find the spot again, the lake was flooded but gave me a pretty good description as to the surrounding area---I found it I think.
Will the Crappie go that far up in the creeks to feed in the fall and spawn in the spring, if so I have a plan to build a condo or two.
I expect nothing will remain permanent, because it floods big time and is very swift, but the habitit is already in place with trees and downed ones along with brush in the creek at the banks.
Just have to watch for the Gators, but the creek is full of bream and bait fish---I never got a bite in there on a line.
I am trying to get a feel for the guidelines in the spring and fall seasons.---I have been exploring the back waters and creeks that many can not access or scared too.
This spring I saw 4-5 guys blocking the entrance to a couple of creeks or appeared to be blocking them, that fed into the lake with their boats, but they were not up in the creeks. Do you just start at the mouth and follow them into the creek and how far will they go, to feed or spawn.
In the hot summer heat it would appear the Crappie would be in those creeks close to the deep water holes, but many Crappie guys say to fish the shallows in the summer and stay out of the deep water--lack of oxgen in the deep water. This may work in the mornings and evenings at daylight and dark--but that shallow water gets hot also.
Trying to form a pattern in my mind so I can check out the spots I know about. These fishing reports and guides on Millwood are catch and release guys and the reports is based on their information--they do not fish for Crappie, just bass.---Any Information would be greatly appreciated from you or any other Crappie fisherman---Thanks---Jim