breeves2245

Ok, ya'll got me thinking now. I'm know I'm on the wrong forum for this question, but here goes anyway. If my goal is to have a two day get away and camp/fish maybe I should consider something closer to Eagle Rock as rps mentioned. I have to have a second boat in storage near by. My bass boat will stay home for these trips. Not going to buy a second bass boat and keep it in storage, so thinking an inexpensive 14' Jon rigged up will do me fine. Question - I choose the White because I know it's calm enough for a 14' Jon. How far up toward Table Rock should I consider if I don't want to get into "big water"?. I don't want anything to do with 1-2 foot waves and more in a Jon boat. Early morning topwater bass fishing is by far my preferred fishing. Thanks for the feedback.

I posted this on the FB Beaver Lake page but I really don't like using it, so I'll try here too. I know this ain't Beaver Lake but figured there would be some good advice anyway. I like to fish the White below Beaver a few times a year. Don't care for the 50 min drive from Bella Vista and I'd like to stay a couple of days in my camper. Before I have taken my camper to Prairie Creek and then back home to get my boat. Not too bad as it's a 40 min drive each way. So I started getting it in my head I could buy a 14' Jon boat with a 9.9 and keep it in storage close to either Housman or Holiday Island and go fetch that for the trip after I drop my camper. I'd probably go more often if this idea pans out like I got it in my head. Plus, the Jon would be better on the river than my Lund 1775 Renegade with a 90 hp. Checked Google Maps and will check again for boat storage at either location. Fishing for SM, LM bass, Walleye or whatever. Would Holiday Island be a better choice for camping/launching? I ain't real keen on that Housman launch site.

Thought ya'll may have some interest in this article. https://talkbusiness.net/2024/10/dallas-asset-management-firm-buys-prairie-creek-marina-for-30-million/

Thanks for the report. I was just thinking, do I want to drag out of bed early and hit Beaver for the outside chance of some striper/LM topwater. We are past the summer solstice as of Jun 20. So the 4:30 wake up call will start to push back. If I can't hit the water at first light, I just don't go. I'll keep hitting Loch LoMond in BV (five minute drive) for the early LM topwater bite. Yeah I get some dinks, but lately been getting the one off 3 lb +.

I itching to go. Bringing my camper/boat to Hickory Creek for four days next week. Hope I can report success similar to yours! May have to substitute LM for SM on the lower end.

Same here. Something just doesn't feel right targeting bass on beds. Kinda the same back in the day squirrel hunting, if the squirrel makes it back to the nest for safety, good on him.

Sounds like this trip will make it into the top ten trips for the year. Very nice outing, numbers and size sure makes for a great day. I need to toughen up or get better winter gear. Maybe I need to do both to get on the lake with a north wind and cold temps.

I tried out this boat trailer dolly but it didn't quite work as well as I hoped for my situation. Just want to give it away to someone that could use it. It's brand new, so let me know if any one wants it or knows someone that could use it. Don't want to post on Facebook and go through all the knucklehead responses I'd have to deal with. I live in Bella Vista. I can meet someone at a spot, or they can come pick it up. https://www.vevor.com/trailer-dolly-c_11310/vevor-adjustable-trailer-dolly-1000lbs-tongue-weight-capacity-carbon-steel-trailer-mover-with-19-26-adjustable-height-2-ball-16-pneumatic-tires-universal-wheel-for-moving-rv-trailer-p_010928358953

Really appreciate the detailed response. I'm a swim bait fan for sure, the detail you posted really helps. I guess I have to force myself to hit Indian Creek more often. The gin clear water just puts my confidence factor at about zero. Maybe that is why I feel more comfortable at the upper end with less clarity. I have one spinning outfit rigged with the braid/flouro, I need to setup a couple more and give it the ole college try. My camping dates at Hickory Creek are just to hit the upper end, like you mentioned motoring to the lower end would be too much of a haul. I would just drive from the house to the upper end. I've never tried to target stripers on top water, just beat the bank for large mouth. It does sound like fun. Thanks for the feedback.

Every year I tell myself I'm going to take full advantage of the spring fishing out of War Eagle and the White. I've dabbed some but still have not hit it with a real effort. Got a campsite at Hickory Creek first week of May and another first week of June. So I'll have my camper and boat there for an easy setup to hit it each morning/afternoon. Add to that, I can drive anywhere to a Beaver launch from Bella Vista. I want to target the most active species. Walleye, largemouth/smallmouth bass or white bass. Not too interested in crappie. I need advice on timing and species. Like Feb - Walleye, Mar - white bass or whatever. Back in the rivers or where they merge into the lake, etc. When the higher temps hit in July forward, I'll go back to my bank beating with the topwaters for bass.

Thanks for the report. This coming week the temps are tolerable for me, so I need to get after it while I can.

I sure understand the trek Champ188. In my early teens my fishing buddies and I would go to extreme measures to fish a back section of the local reservoir (Sheldon Reservoir) outside the Houston area. Whole reservoir was muddy except the back portion. It was like a different lake. But it was off limits since the state biologist were doing studies of some sort of the other. Anyway, we'd ride our bikes to a close by location, drop them in the weeds, wade neck deep before sunrise across a small channel to get to the promised land of clearer water. Never mind those pesky cotton mouths and alligators. And there were plentiful! We were always on the alert for the biologist to run us off. As soon as we heard the outboard crank up, we hid in the shore weeds. I cringe just thinking about it today. No amount of money would get me to do that again.

Curiosity got the best of me. Took a drive from Bella Vista to Rocky Branch boat launch this morning. Wanted to motor around Van Hollow and Rambo Creek arm to check them out. Was a bit disappointed with the two boat ramps. Kinda steep and parking not the best. I think I'm spoiled with Prairie Creek. Anyway, Van Hollow was interesting. Lots of trees and some areas it went from 4' to 100' in a short distance. Rambo Creek Arm didn't quite have as many trees and not quite as extreme in changes in depth. It was a fun trip to just check out the drive and overall situation. No fishing, I was just boating around. I want to like Indian Creek but don't care for the drive with the curvy road after you leave Hwy 62 and the intimidating clear water. Conclusion - I'll stick to Prairie Creek and be thankful I have such a nice facility as the closest option.

Most were right on the money. Some were 10-20 ft off. The brush piles were fairly large.

To say I'm not a technical angler is an understatement by a large margin. Based on advice from this forum I did go to the AGFC website and get the fish attractor download for Beaver Lake. Took the SD card to the Humminbird and loaded it up. Only caught a few small ones this morning, but it was a hoot to locate a few of the waypoints where I was fishing around the islands at Prairie Creek. Maybe next time they will hold some fish. The process worked very well and I wasn't having to constantly stare at the fish finder, just glance from time to time to see the distance from boat to waypoint. Something new for the ol bank beater!