Feathers and Fins

A very Happy Plate This turned in to THIS Fresh crappie with Key Limes Cilantro Italian Parsley Paprika... Green Onions Chives Red Pepper Salt n Pepper Cover with Aluminum foil and Bake for 20 minutes at 350... some fresh mashed taters and country gravy to top it off.

I did not suggest Greg because of the FLW coming on the 23rd I might be mistaken but I don't think they can be out there fishing before it. Please correct me if im wrong.

Your a braver man than I fighting thee river in those winds and probably barge traffic. I have talked to some friends in Russellville and they are thinking 2 to 3 weeks and then its trashcans full time as they say.

Thanks Hog, J-doc just has crappie envy and now has the title of Ultimate Spot Jumper. lmao

I had lots of reports of Whites on the white from Blue Springs to Twin.

White

With how great the Movie thread is I thought maybe a SERIES thread would be nice. 1. Band of Brothers ( Easy Company ) 2. Game of Thrones 3. Black Sails 4. MASH 5. Star Trek (Original series)

This thread was started to let people know there was a search and recovery in process and reminder of how dangerous this lake can be. Though I had no idea it would go the route it has, I am glad it has sparked some good conversation. If it has got people in ALL types of watercraft thinking safety perhaps the tragedy that started it will save lives in the future, as many have viewed this thread. I went back this morning and looked over the information that is available about the incident and there is NO BOAT involved in creating it. It appears there was a “Paddleboat” that broke down and a “Canoe” tried to rescue them. I think if any of us saw someone in distress we would attempt to help at least I hope we would. What I do see is the problem is Going out on the lake without a PFD. Going out when the Lake Temperature is dangerously Cold (I was out and the temp at the time was 48 at Prairie Creek Ramp). Knowing the lake it was probably colder near Coppermine. Hypothermia would set in less than 30 minutes at that temp. Going out in Bad Weather (Sustained winds 20 to 25) Gust to 37. The media is reporting no Drugs or Alcohol involved, As stated before I would not have been on the main lake in the bad weather conditions but combine it with the water temp and inadequate PFD’s it was a recipe for disaster. However we all know the media doesn’t report it all so I am wondering more if they had the PFD’s but in the accident if they were able to get to them? I always hated Helmet laws for bikes and still do so I wouldn’t be one to support a law forcing people to wear PFD’s but I believe they should have them onboard for the number of people in the watercraft even a “paddleboat”. And I certainly would support a FLAG law on them. I know I keep saying the Flag but maybe someone will get one because of it. The other thing that might be very doable is there is MANY members on this site that use all types of craft and those fishing from Kayaks and Canoes could use it to let other members with power boats know the area they will be for the day. It would be a great safety blanket much like the Divers rule of (Buddy up). If you are in a non-powered boat, simply post where you will be general area and if other members are in the area we can look out for each other. With the season kicking in having another set of eyes on you for safety is not a bad thing especially with Wake-boats out, who from my experience spend more time watching behind them at the “Waker” than in front of them. Just a thought!

Call Hook Line and Sinker in Rogers or go in and ask for James Whittle or John Newland, Both will be able to help you. 479-631-8118.

Blitz960; I see both Beaver and Stumpys point of views I also know “Dan the Fisherman” is close to this subject in real life and may be more sensitive to this thread than he might be to others and everyone needs to remember that when posting one of our own members and friends is involved to a degree. You brought up the analogy of “Hunting” Most states during the Modern Gun season REQUIRE hunter orange to be worn at all times in the field, but in Archery they do not, it’s reasoning is to protect people from being shot. Should Small non-power boats be allowed on the lakes? Certainly its public water! However they should be required to have PFD’s on at all times and have Bow and Stern Lights and FLAGS flown ( Orange or Red ) these are bare safety requirements. There are also certain areas Firearms are not allowed to be used and Bows are, The same could apply to non-powered boats as well ( there are lakes even that do not allow for power boats ) The non-power boats should not be in the main channel of a lake or creek arm it is dangerous period, during the Heavy Boating season typically April 1st to October 1st. Beaver lake is 28,000 acres which is more than enough water to be shared. However certain areas should be off limits to the non-power boats. I also believe certain areas should be NO WAKE zones for the bigger power boats. Its really not about post count as it is the POST itself.

Way to many people will catch a couple then they stop for a bit and they think they cleaned them out. Typically when that happens I just pull the boat away from the area ( not far ) have a smoke and Dr Pepper to let it settle down then go right back in on it and catch a few more till it slows then repeat the process again. Do it a few hours and you can really fill a limit and even some culling.

HUH? It is very much a bite that can be duplicated right now I'm doing it each time I go out, people will need to look for spots like those granted it would have been easier to find with the lake down but I am sure if people think about what they have seen they can remember a ledge or two.

I have had a lot of people asking me how I found the crappie I have been catching all week and to truthful it goes back several years when I finding them in very specific spots but wasn’t sure why. When the lake went down this year I made it a point to go to those spots and see what attracted them. Each and every one of those areas was a ledge, some had cover some did not, some were under docks and some were just in barren area but each area was a ledge of some sort. By a ledge I am describing an area where it is flat to slopping above a straight drop-off and then back to flat or sloping. The ledge drop itself all had the same feature of dropping from 18’’ to 3ft before flattening back out or gently sloping and all were within 5 to 10 ft of shore with water depth of 1 to 4ft. Though I could catch the crappie as far as 30ft from the actual ledge that was the structure they were relating to. And it is just not 1 or two crappie on it but numerous fish. Based off the egg development I would guess these to be staging areas as the eggs are still a mushy yellow not well formed yet and 95% of the fish are female which leads me to believe these areas are warming up faster and the gals are in there using that warm area to help develop the eggs. What I also have found is when you get away from the ledge there are no crappie, by getting away from it I mean as soon as you are right or left of the ledge even by a few feet they are not there. As to finding the ledges, the only way I can think of as they are shallow water is to wait till the lake is down then go out and locate these seemingly nothing areas and mark them with a hand held GPS and when the lakes up go to them with your boat and mark them on the Boats waypoints. I tried throwing at them from the sides and even from shore and the interesting thing I have found is they will not take bait with either of those presentations. They wanted it to come from shore and swam over the ledge. So it appears to be a Not only specific structure but specific presentation. I threw bobbers earlier and they would hit it sitting still but it had to have been pulled from the shore out. So there you have it, they are fish and do weird things.

Not sure on the line but I caught one last year that had a nice Redfin in its mouth still and shad in its gut.

Yup I stopped by to give Kenny some if he wanted, he didn't so I ended up having to clean them all and now I will just have to find a way to eat them all I'm not sure how to manage it. And worse Kenny put me to work teach me to be kind lol.

Oh I agree with that, But let me ask you would you have gone out on that day IN that area with gust ( reported by NWS ) of 37mph and average of 25mph?

Show; They really have turned on this week, seems when the water hits 52 after the nights cool down they go on a major bite. Most my fish have come from about a 200 to 300 ft piece of shore all week. But the same jig all week (crystal shad). Hoping for some open water staging of others in creek mouths and then following the bite down lake.

No cornbread, had a choice of it or vanilla cake, I took the cake.

Beaverbeater, Stumpy is right to a degree, I have had more than a few canoe's and Kayaks that I have dam near hit. I don't mind sharing the water one bit with them but when they are out in Bad Weather, Low light or their vessel is near the color of the lake or backdrop they are endangering themselves and others. FLY A FLAG for god sake and have lights on the darn things! I Ocean Kayaked for years and had Both Lights and Flag for safety. There is also more (rafts) showing up on the lake and they two need to take the same precautions. I've bit my tongue so far but I was on the lake the day it happened and even in my boat NO WAY was I going out on the main lake in those conditions it was to dangerous. A 190 TRACKER is far safer than a canoe or kayak and when its unsafe for a big boat its definitely unsafe for them and not wearing a vest in those conditions and everything else combines was a recipe for disaster and one happened. As tragic as this event is I hope it is also a lesson to people to learn to Respect the Lake and conditions and practice safety and use common since.

I promised them a HOT OIL BATH

BAIT---------------------------1/16th oz heads, Bobby Garland swimmers METHOD-------------------- Tight Lining TIME ------------------------- 11am to 2:30pm WATER TEMP------------- 52 to 54 WATER CLARITY-------- 1.5 to 3 ft LOCATION ---------------- Docks, laydowns, ledges GENERAL AREA--------- Midlake TOTAL ---------------------- 47 Crappie, 3 Bluegill, 4 Kentuckies,

Lance, get the new Arkie Spider -Rig terminal gear. I got some and love it and Mitch has them priced surprisingly low

The rule is the lines should have 15 DEGREE angle to them when moving. You need to adjust your weight to match conditions, I was talking to a guy the other day who will go to 2oz weights to cover more water which is to much IMO. When I find they want the jigs but a faster speed I have a second rod (s) holder in the back of the boat and put them out from there, Its more trolling than spidering at that point.

Thanks A _ _ _ _ OF A LOT NESS.... Just got done watching Red Fern and now I need to go find the Onion someone left in this house... great thread but man that show gets me every single time.

1. Gender: M 2. Age: 45 3. Baseball Movies: Lou Gehrig Story 4. Football Movies: Rudy 5. Sailing Ship Movies: Captain Blood ( Because my Great Grandfather was in it ) 6. Horse Racing Movies: Seabiscuit 7. Crusade Movies . Kingdom of Heaven 8. James Bond: Sean Connery ( really is there any other Bond ) 9. John Ford Movies: For the record ALL OF THEM 10. Indian Movies: A Man Called Horse 11. Western Movies: See John Ford Movies 12. Viet Nam War Movies: Hamburger Hill 13. Less Serious War Movies: Mister Roberts 14. Buddy Movies: Lethal Weapon 15. Heist Movies: Ocean’s Eleven 16. Quentin Tarantino Movies: NONE AT ALL 17. Epic Movies: The Longest Day 18. Spaghetti Westerns: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 19. Dead Hero Movies: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 20. James Stewart Movies: It’s a Wonderful Life ( Must have to have Christmas ) 21. Humphrey Bogart Movies: African Queen 22. Movie Songs: Speak Softly Love (The Godfather Theme) 23. Boxing Movies: Raging Bull 24. Bet Movies: None 25. Robin Hood Movies: Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) 26. Robert Redford Movies: Jeremiah Johnson 27. Your Significant Other Holds a Gun to Your Head Movies: DUNE 28. Police/Detective Movies: Dirty Harry 29. Prison Camp Movies: The Great Escape ( Great Uncle was actually part of the escape ) 30. Series Movies: Lord of the Rings ( But not the first three Hobbit series they screwed the pooch with them )