Quillback

Don't have Panoptix myself, but may someday unless AGFD bans it here in Arkansas - I say this based on this email I got from them today: Over the last several months, anglers have approached fisheries biologists around the state with their concerns about the potential impacts of LiveScope sonar technology on crappie populations. But rest assured, anglers are not the only ones who have recognized the potential increases in angler efficiency that this technology could provide. Fisheries biologists across the nation have been discussing this topic for a while. Additionally, members of the AGFC Statewide Crappie Management Team have also been discussing and investigating this technology for the last few years. Garmin LiveScope Image of a school of crappie hanging out under a dock. Photo courtesy of www.crappie.com. As with any new technology comes warranted and/or unwarranted concern about its potential effects on fish populations. For example, products such as umbrella rigs, sidescan sonar, and many others break into the fishing industry, each one bringing a wave of concern about its impacts. Before any decision about potential regulations can be made, fisheries biologists must first conduct rigorous scientific research to allow us to make a well-informed decision. Some of the first data collected regarding LiveScope usage in Arkansas were collected during the 2019 spring season angler creel survey on Lake Overcup. AGFC staff are also working with university fisheries researchers to analyze the usage of LiveScope (and other technologies, such as sidescan and downscan sonars) at multiple locations across the state to help determine if anglers using LiveScope are more successful. Researchers are also investigating the potential long-term effects of specifically harvesting larger crappies from a population at a faster rate.  The good news here is that crappie populations have a very high "turnover" rate. In Arkansas, the average crappie population has an annual mortality rate (amount of fish that do not survive to the next year) around 65%. The average crappie only lives about 3-4 years, in Arkansas, and they are very prolific spawners. Therefore, even if it is determined that LiveScope is having a negative effect under current regulations, it will take crappie populations very little time to recover after AGFC passes any potential new regulations deemed necessary. The bottom line is that AGFC fisheries biologists are evaluating LiveScope, along with anything else that may potentially affect the fisheries of Arkansas, and with due diligence will propose appropriate, scientifically defensible regulations if they are determined to be necessary to conserve the fisheries of Arkansas for future generations.

Speaking of Keitechs, I rigged up one of these Shad Impacts on a chatterbait, made a couple of casts, really like the action, but haven't fished it yet.

Good deal, have a source that told me one of his buddies was on the Kings either yesterday or the day before and was targeting crappie and didn't do too well either.

Yes I believe this is the place to post as most folks consider that Twin Bridges area and on up to be part of Beaver.

it is open and the courtesy dock is useable.

I kept one white bass yesterday, it still had eggs.

Didn't throw a fluke but thought about it, I can catch other species but I'm not getting bass either except for little ones. There's a pocket near Indian where the smallmouth spawn, spent a little time looking for beds to see if there were any spawners, saw one bed off the end of a log in about 8 FOW that had a smallie sitting on it.

From the fish's perspective I don't know if they care if the leader is 6 or 8. I like 6 lb. for finesse fishing because it just works well for me, I can't really rationalize it well, just one of those go with what works for me kind of things. Same with leader length, usually I'll run a leader about as long as my rod. So about 7-8 feet long.

That driver needs another hobby, golf for example. Just don't let him, or maybe it's a her, drive the golf cart.

I launched at Indian Creek today (I like that ramp), but fished part of the morning quite a ways from the launch in one of the big arms, well started there and worked my way back. Went into the very back of that big arm and dropped the TM about 400 yards from the very back, I have fished this area a few times over the years and was thinking I might find some black bass pulled up in there in pre-spawn mode. As I started, I kept seeing some top water activity in the shallow water in the back, it wasn't a feeding frenzy but it was enough for me to stand on the troller and get back there. Started tossing a 3.3 keitech and slow rolling it, and quickly caught a 19" walleye. Caught a couple of white bass too. Then the something happened that was the best part of the morning, I had swam the Keitech close to the boat, looked down at it and could see a big fish swimming after it - usually when that happens, I get excited and yank the bait away from the fish, but today my brain was working and I killed that bait. Bang!, that fish made that Keitech disappear, and I could see that it was about a 10 lb. striper. Now I was throwing it on a spinning rod with 6 lb. leader, so wasn't much I could do but hang on and follow that fish around. Had it on for about 30 seconds and the hook just pulled out, and I wasn't that disappointed it got off as I had no plans to keep it, and was happy enough seeing that fish come to the boat and grab that swim bait. That was the end of any sizeable fish catching for me in that location, caught a few small bass, and several hand sized whites. Started working my way back to the launch fishing points, picked up a few more small bass and 2 more keeper walleye, one of the walleye on a Ned rig, and another on a Keitech. I was about done for the day, but a south wind had started to blow a little and I have a point halfway back in Indian that can sometimes fish well with that wind blowing into it. 2nd cast with a Ned and I hooked a 4 lb. or so striper. Again on 6 lb. test so that fish gave me a run for my money, but in the end I was able to boat it. Made a few more casts and headed for the barn. Lots of boats on the lake when I left at noon, mix of fisherman and recreational types. WT 59-60. Some fish pics: (Walleye are skinny spawned out fish)

If you go and, if the dock is normalized, please let us know.

Hey buddy, hope it isn't the Covid, best wishes to you and your family.

I agree with Bferg, you can find them about anywhere that has a creek running into it, but it is hit or miss. I caught several in the back of a big cove today, but it was not something I'd make a special trip for, I ran across them and some other species while bass fishing. I'll post a report and some pics later today.

I drove by there yesterday to check things out. Dock was still sideways off the bank and as you noted, at the end of the ramp. There were rigs in the lot, I think some of them are launching off the blacktop, it's PROBABLY high enough you can back out with the main motor, but I'd at least trim it up some, or just use the TM. Having two people to launch makes it a lot easier.

Your local Wally should have it.

Panko is good stuff, I've had it in restaurants, but never have tried frying fish in it myself. Have to put it on my to do list.

Just got back from my weekly trip to WalMart World. There was not a line to get in, I got there about 0830 and there were not enough people to exceed the capacity numbers. And for the BIG news they had both hand sanitizer AND TP. Very limited supply and no choice, the hand sanitizer comes in a 34 OZ bottle and the TP in a 1 pack. So I got a bottle of HS and a pack of TP. I now have plenty and can offer some to friends and relatives should they need some, but I am hoping we are over the hump as far as hoarding. They also had plenty of eggs and pretty much everything was relatively well stocked except for canned soup, there was soup available but not much variety. Angel Soft TP and it says on the package that it both Soft AND Strong. I guess I'll find out.

Congrats on some good catching! I have been thinking of a chatterbait myself, seems like the pros are throwing them on just about every tourney show I watch. And they are catching fish. I watch how they work them and it seems most of the time they just roll them like you would a crankbait.

Yep they have marshals, and unless things have changed, the marshals get to pay to sit there.

Louisiana Seasoned Crispy Fish Fry is my favorite. Adds some zing to bland fish like crappie and walleye. Easy too, coat the fillet, drop it in the oil.

Antiquated way of doing things (weigh-in) at least at that level. However they sometimes get big crowds for the weigh in and I think that is what drives the keep five mentality.

Good luck buddy, I'll be interested to hear how you do.

What I want to know is who stuck the swab up the Tiger's nose and lived to tell about it? As to the medial opinions on the persistence of this virus, there are some scary scenarios. There's so much noise out there about this stuff that it is hard for this layman to figure out what to believe.

Water temp got up over 58 in spots last week before it got cold and when that happens some of those males will get shallow and get the house ready for mama.

Yeah it is just not the same without the big names and big personalities that used to be in BASS.