Thread: Lake monticello

Yeah a lot of times trying to fix one problem creates more problems than you started with. Saw earlier this year where they released a lot of grass carp in tricounty lake which had some crappie fishing similar to cane creek. Will probably mess that lake up too.

I agree with not stocking grass carp. That is why I suggest you all contact your local biologist with your concerns. In your case it would be Diana. When I was there we regularly heard from the CC State Park and some other anglers about removing the vegetation. At that time, we were not stocking grass carp. So you all need to voice your opinion in support of the vegetation.

When we did the creel study on Lake Monticello in 2007, the majority of the anglers at Lake Monticello wanted vegetation. Yes, there were actually some anglers that did not want any vegetation. Due to majority wanting the vegetation back, we started the re-vegetation project.

Vegetation (coon tail and hydrilla) is definitley needed in all lakes in my opinion. I haven't fished Lake Monticello in probably 12 years and I live 15 minutes from it. It seems like every good lake or river really goes down hill when the vegetation is gone. The Pendleton area used to be awesome back in it's day when the moss was in the backwater areas off the river. Now all you see is the floating hyacinth which dies off in the winter and goes to the bottom clogging everything in its path. Lake Chicot could be unreal if it had vegetation, but I know the dock owners would never let this happen. I used to fish a large reservoir in Desha Co. that was really thick with coon tail and the fishing was always great. It was tough getting around in the boat because of it, but the fishing was well worth it. The owners stocked grass carp and the vegetation was gone in no time along with the fish! That place is the dead sea now.

It's funny you used the term (dead sea) lucky sometimes. That is what my fishin buddies and I call lake Chicot the dead sea. It kills me to drive by Chicot headed to Mississippi or Louisiana. What a shame. Do you guys think the Ark game and fish would consider our opinions on vegetation and carp? I wonder if a public meeting would be possible to discuss our opinions and hear what their plans are. They do it with dear hunters. I personally would help in anyway I could to see monticello, cane creek, and Chicot produce the Crappie they ought to be. Just a thought, I'm tired of driving so far to fish.

We used to have yearly public meetings in Monticello but no one would show up. The four years I was there, we might of had 10 people show up. One year, we had one person and that was the year we changed the bass regulations on the lake. For Monticello, we did a creel survey in 2007 and collected a lot of comments about the vegetation but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still voice your concerns. For Lake Chicot, there is a Lake Chicot Citizen Advisory committee that help makes decision about the management of Lake Chicot. Again, contact Diana for more information about being a part of the committee.

As I mentioned before, we want to hear from you. Call or send Diana an email. Heck send an email or IM to me, D10, or BigBen and we will get your concerns and opinions to her.

Funny you mentioned Chicot...I think the same thing everytime I pass it so I decided to give it my yearly try today...pulled cranks from ditch all the way to the town ramp through what should be ideal water without a single crappie....loaded up and went down the road and caught a good mess before my batteries died...told a buddy of mine who bass fishes it a lot to knock me in the head if I ever mention trying it for crappie again lol

I remember that over 20 years ago a large group of hardcore crappie fishermen from Ashley County had multiple meetings with AGFC as well as with the COE regarding the steady decrease of the Crappie population and it's relationship and correlation with certain actions by the aforementioned groups....to no avail. Which is probably why there is NO ONE at the meetings any longer.....I have been told it was like talking to the wall. The biologists have their theory's and go by their books for solutions with NO regard to the opinions of guys fishing out there every single day and watching firsthand what is and has been happening in their lake. You have to remember that some of these guys spend as much or more time on the water as they do in their own home and have an intimate knowledge of their favorite lake. I think if whoever was responsible for putting the FIRST grass carp in either Lake Monticello or Cane Creek were dropped down a couple of notches in their ranking it might cause some second thoughts from the next one who wants to try something that dumb, JMHO! ! ! ! ! The results of which means that Crappie fishing in SE Arkansas means heading to the nearest bodies of water in either Louisiana or Mississippi. I have stated my feelings on this subject before on this board and I won't rehash but know that everytime I drive by Lake Monticello or Lake Chicot I am steadily shaking my head because it is like pouring salt into an open wound and the sad part is knowing that we can't do anything about it.

Originally Posted by gasper_goul

Funny you mentioned Chicot...I think the same thing everytime I pass it so I decided to give it my yearly try today...pulled cranks from ditch all the way to the town ramp through what should be ideal water without a single crappie....loaded up and went down the road and caught a good mess before my batteries died...told a buddy of mine who bass fishes it a lot to knock me in the head if I ever mention trying it for crappie again lol

I agree that we should listen and take your opinions into account when making management decisions. That is why D10, BigBen and I get on here is to get opinions and also answer questions. Some of us biologist are big time fisherman was well and spend a lot of time on the water but we still want to hear from you all. Here is my fishing website:http://fishwithmojo.com/.

The biologist that stock grass carp in Monticello has since retired.