Reply With QuoteI'm thinking the years 2012 and 2013 were not good. I think that because of all the fish between the sizes of 10 to 13 inches are almost all but gone. I have any been catching 1 1/2 pound crappie or bigger or 6 inches from last year's spawn.
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Crappie.com 3K Star General
I don't know how often they sample the crappie population on Reelfoot, but I bet if they do it yearly then you could look back in the not so distant past and find 2 years worth of poor spawns. I used to think the carp had an effect on the fish, but according to the fish we are catching in the Mississippi River oxbows, the crappie aren't hurt there.
Slabmaster II
I'm thinking the years 2012 and 2013 were not good. I think that because of all the fish between the sizes of 10 to 13 inches are almost all but gone. I have any been catching 1 1/2 pound crappie or bigger or 6 inches from last year's spawn.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
I'm having the same results as you nwtcf. I'm surely not the best fisherman on the lake, but I've fished there enough in the past 35 years that I know we are in one of those cyclical times. It will bounce back as Reelfoot is one of the most naturally fertile lakes any where.
I'll still fish it, good or bad. If I just need to feel that thump, I'll bait up my jig pole with a little night crawler and catch some catfish!
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Slabmaster II
Well there are plenty of them little guys in there. If worst comes to worst....
Guppy
Excellent discussion thanks i really appreciate the comments and thoughts
Crappie.com 1K Star General
What oxbows? The one I fish in West Tn has been poooooor for several years now.Originally Posted by arkcrappie
Crappie.com 1K Star General
I didn't think Reelfoot ever got that bad. Or at least no comparison to Sardis.
Trophy King
Sardis is the only lake that has ever come close to getting me killed. I just don't go there anymore. Was in a bass tournament there several years back. Never again
Crappie.com 1K Star General
Lol so Reelfoot ain't as bad. Sardis can have 3' waves on top of 3' swells
Trophy King II
It doesn't compare to Sardis but for no longer than the lower blue is it can get to rolling pretty good, and worst part is if you ride a wave and come down on a stump just right well just hope you got your life jacket on because it can be brutal and on occasion fatal. A few have met their maker in the last few years from being caught out on the lake when the wind gets up. Been caught out more times than I care to remember over the last 40 years so I've grown to respect the lake.
