Thread: Arkabutla

How do you fish Arkbutla if it is so windy? When is the best time to fish the main lake?

Hey guys this week a Bill Dance fishing show aired on the outdoor channel. Long story short he said that Arkbutla was one of his favorite lakes and that 3lb+ crappie are caught there every spring, is there any fact to this?

That's a fact. I caught a 17"+ fish that weighed three pounds last March out of the coldwater river. HOWEVER, this was the ONLY keeper fish I caught that day. You can't expect to catch crappie everytime you go, but when it is good, it is really good. There is just so much of that cold, muddy backwater for them to hide, the fishing is very difficult. I can send you the most popular locations, but don't hold it against me if you get skunked. The other lakes in the area are much more consistent and easy to pattern.

Thanks waxworm, I'll give you a shout if we decide to fish Arkbutla. What lake would you recomend to catch a big fish in? We catch alot of eater size fish here and I would like to catch a bigger crappie for a change. Really doesnt need to be very many of 'em and I dont think I would keep it, just want to see one!!!!

Originally Posted by waxworm

That's a fact. I caught a 17"+ fish that weighed three pounds last March out of the coldwater river. HOWEVER, this was the ONLY keeper fish I caught that day. You can't expect to catch crappie everytime you go, but when it is good, it is really good. There is just so much of that cold, muddy backwater for them to hide, the fishing is very difficult. I can send you the most popular locations, but don't hold it against me if you get skunked. The other lakes in the area are much more consistent and easy to pattern.

Arkabutla is fine to take a shot at a big fish if you don't mind getting skunked. Otherwise try Enid anytime in March or Sardis on a weekday so you don't have to fight the crowd.

Jim - you doing anything down your way? I know you are out until April 15, but I will be ready then. My wife went to New Orleans last week with the girlfriends so she owes me big.

KH

Hi guys, I was watching Bill Dance this weekend and he mentioned that this lake produces 4lb crappie regularly during the spring. Have any of you caught any? I may plan a trip to try and catch one to mount. Don't worry I only need one.

Regularly produces 4 lb. bass - yes, regularly produces 4 lb. crappie - absolutely not. I would argue that there is not a lake anywhere producing 4 lb. crappie regularly, unless there is some nuclear discharge facility somewhere I don't know about

I have fished the north MS reservoirs my entire life and have seen them regularly produce 2 lb. crappie and occasionally a 3 lb. crappie (which is a freaky big looking crappie if you have never actually held one). You hear of a 4 lb. fish every now and then, but I honestly have never seen one.