Kramr

So putting them directly on ice doesn't harm them? Resilient little bastards. Thanks for the ideas.

Learned from Mike Worley, guide on Bull Shoals, that you can keep worms in water. They are cleaner, are nice and plump, and very feisty. He was using a glass jar and was keeping them on ice as I remember. I went out, got a Frabill Leech bag which floats and has a velcro closure. I take the worms out of the soil knock off the dirt, put them in the leech bag and drop them in the livewell. This worked well for a couple of years but then the velcro lost some of it's strength and the worms started escaping into the live well. They don't get away, they end up in the bottom of the livewell, but boy do they not want to get caught either. Wondering if anyone else keeps their worms in water and how they do it.

Congrats on the fishing. I agree, don't mind getting checked if it helps keep everyone legal.

I hear ya. Have the same problem. Would be nice if everyone would use the same language aka Hotspots maybe. Course having a cryptic name for your favorite spot may be the whole(hole) point.

Wow! Lots to work with, thanks. I do use a line counter reel but only when I am using a 3 way. I have a nice collection of flicker shad to work with. I run them on 6 lb fluoro with a spinning reel setup which helps them get to their maximum depth.

Lowe, What kind of lure(s) do you use to troll for crappie?

Hope you are correct Lowe.

Awesome! Would love to have that kind of experience. BTW, sounds like your keeping some to eat. We kept some the last time that didn't turn out very well, meat was a little chewy. Even removed the red meat. Maybe we kept them too big. Any recommendations?

So if I read correctly, spawning starts in the upper arms and then works it's way down to the main lake. Think there will be any crappie still spawning by the second week in May?

Saw 1 estimate of 50 degrees today. From what I have read, the spawn starts around 55 degrees. What are people actually seeing?

I use a 3 way with a 3 oz pencil weight, 4 - 5 ft fluorocarbon leader with a slow death hook, usually a worm with a spinner and some beads. Also substitute a stick bait for the worm but otherwise same set up.

That's when they get so big you're still not sure if it's a bass or a crappie even right at the boat. Epic!

"The bigger bait will produce some real slabs plus a bonus eye on occasion. " We were there last year in early May and found this to be true. We even called them "bonus walleye". When we fished for walleye we couldn't find them but managed to boat 6 - 8 while we we're there fishing for crappie.

Good to hear, gonna be there in May hope that holds.

Good for you. Were there many shorts? Read the 2013 spawn was a little low so you will catch more of the 2014 group. Wondering if that seems to be true?

Really, carp? Can't quite tell from the video.

Try Turkey Creek too!

Love to wacky worm.

Seems like the evening bite is typical in the spring around the dam. Why is that, why not a morning bite?

We caught 8 this AM with only 1 throw back. Fished a flat at the drop off's in 12 - 16 fow. Could see them laying on the bottom using the sonar. Regular sonar seems to have an advantage in seeing them over downscan in this situation. Used a 3 way rigged with a crawler. I've been using the slow death hooks with great success. Just thread the crawler on and pinch off about an inch behind the hook. Make sure you have a good swivel though as it will twist your line if you don't. Ok, I can keep fishing and catch and release since we have hit our limit 16 between the 2 of us or we can try for crappie. Several have posted fishing bluffs for crappie so we will try that. We are staying at the Stockton State park so I am wondering where a good place to try in this area. Would rather not have to go a long way up the big sac if we can avoid it. Any help would be great.

Me too.

Can't call it a walleye report cause we spent most of the day looking for crappie up past the bridge in the turkey creek area near high point. Only caught a couple. Anyone know where the crappie are in the little sac arm would be very helpful. Spent an hour fishing for walleye and caught 3 keepers. Points with a flat on one side and wind blowing in seems to be the key.

Caught 10 with 5 keepers between the 2 of us. Seemed like most were caught on windy points. Plenty of wind btw..

Funny, all I could think was that it just ate my walleye bait. Think I will keep a few to eat.

Caught 5 with 1 keeper. Fished in the dam area on the various points and flats in 15 - 20 fow. Also caught a bunch of bluegill. Probably could have caught more walleye if the bluegill would leave it alone.