Arkabutla

[england]

Found seven fat ones in a creek off of the coldwater river in the upper end of the lake this afternoon .If anyone else is doing any good in the lake please reply.

[crappiestinger]

I'm new to the board. I fish Arkabutla a couple a time a week during the winter and caught 3 today...only one slab.

[england]

crappiestinger, do you fish below the dam.

[crappieman101]

I fish below the dam at Arkabutla as often as I can during the winter.

[crappieken]

I need some help from you Mississippi fellas that fish Arkabutla. My wife and I get down to the casinos at Tunica every now and then but only for 3 or 4 days at a time. With the limited time, I don't especially want to pull my boat down from central Illinois for such a short period of time as we would probably only fish a few hours each day for two or three days. What information can you give me regarding the fishing below the dam. I drove over there once when we were visiting Tunica. What is the best time of the year for fishing below the dam and how do you go about it. Would casting jigs below a cork be the best approach? Also, are any certain type of jigs and color of the tubes most productive. Would appreciate any info or advice you might have.

crappieken

[crappieman101]

This time of the year until Febuary is the best time. Using a cork is better when the water is low because you don't get hung on the rocks as often. red or black and chartreuse are the best colors. You can watch the others people and see what they are doing, most do the same thing.

[crappieken]

This time of the year until Febuary is the best time. Using a cork is better when the water is low because you don't get hung on the rocks as often. red or black and chartreuse are the best colors. You can watch the others people and see what they are doing, most do the same thing.

crappieman101- Thanks for your response and I appreciate your information. Black and chartreuse is the most productive color day in and day out on my home lake - Lake Shelbyville.

[england]

My fishin buddy went out on the lake today and caught 14 good ones around the Kelly's crossing area in eight feet of water.The lake is at 221. Thats up four feet since this last rain.They are going to be turning the spillway up to get the lake at winter pool ( 209 ).So the fishing below the dam will be good for a week or two.

[dloschin]

I just moved from Knoxville. I fished east TN hard for crappie for last decade. I understand that Arkabutla and Sardis are two very good crappie lakes close to memphis.

Any tips or pointers or recommendations on which lake to start wettin a line on? Deer season is over and its time to find the crappie!

Thanks,
Dave

[waxworm]

Hey Dave - I lived in Knoxville myself from 98 to 2000 and pulled a lot of crappie out of Ft. Loudon lake once my neighbor was kind enough to show me when and where to do it.

Arkabutla is tough. I have lived in north MS for a long time and it is still tough, but the biggest crappie I have ever caught have been from that lake. Sardis is easier but fishing pressure hurts - lots of boats on the weekends. Don't forget the lower lake pre-spawn. Enid is actually not that much farther from Memphis than Sardis because it lies right off I55. I think Enid is the easiest to pattern of all the reservoirs and I find the water quality to be a little better. Watch this site and you should get plenty of tactics and spots to try. My advice would be don't forget the river oxbows. Once you learn them, you will never be hurting for crappie.