Kramr

Wife and I are only fishing on weekdays to avoid crowds and still seeing a lot of people in the area we fished so I know others are out just like us. When you do go to MW, please post your trip results.

Have to check that out. Certainly never heard of it. Quite a bit closer! Thanks!

Wife and I are now retired and able to spend more time doing what we enjoy. Crappie fishing is one of those things and Mark Twain is the closest large lake that we can travel to for a one day outing. Hoping to get detailed crappie reports for MTL. Seems like this forum isn't well supported even though there a tons of people fishing Mark Twain. Not sure why this forum isn't busier. Anyway, please post your latest reports for what works and what didn't. The report doesn't have to be long, just specify the following. Where on the lake: What type of bank/area you found them: What total depth did you find them and what depth were they holding at: What technique did you use: You can copy paste the above into your response and just type after the colon if it makes it easier. I'm sure I left some detail(s) out so let me know what I should add.

Just wondering how you found them. Did they show up on side scan or did your past experience tell you they might be there? Reason I'm asking is I would likely pass on such a spot thinking they would be on deeper structure or even out in the open water by this time of year.

Great info!

Good report, good info.

Thanks Skeeter. Water temp is no where near 65, be lucky if it hits 55 degrees. Looks like it will mostly be a pre-spawn type fishing so your advice on moving around is certainly good advice. We will be staying at Bucksaw so I have been looking at all of the arms in the area that have constant water running into them figuring those should have the warmest water.

If I'm looking for spawning crappie (not pre-spawn) next week what should I be looking for? 1. Find an arm with water flowing into it or just any arm? Arms that come in from the north or south? 2. Gravel banks with a 45' angle or less? 3. Banks facing north or south?

Remember when my wife and I first started walleye fishing. We used a painted jig head and added a minnow. We would find a hump or the edge of a flat and start shallow then slowly work out into deeper water bouncing the jig off the bottom on the way. Same method would work with a spoon. I'm always leery using a spoon especially around timber. Be sure to bring a reliable plug knocker along.

Thanks oneshot! Your post is both scary and reassuring at the same time. Plan on using my gps and maps to find the channels and then use the trails created to keep me safely away from as many stumps as possible while on plane. Also need to order a spar prop just in case. Just got this boat last year and haven't bought one yet.

I hope you had your brown pants on.

We are booked at Bucksaw in mid April. I have a question. Is it safe for your prop as long as you stay in the lane? Guess what I'm asking, is it fairly easy to move around as long as you don't stray from the channel?

That puts you near the KK point which has a huge flat. It's a great place to start. Just be careful with shallow water but the areas are marked so you shouldn't have a problem. Try across points in 10 - 20 fow, especially if there is a river bend nearby with a flat on one side. Are you new to walleye fishing? What is your preferred method? Oh, and talk to Jason Reynolds, the guy that runs the marina, I'm sure he can put you on some walleye.

Almost forgot, which arm tends to be the clearest in April?

Thanks! April can be a crap shoot weather-wise but as I remember it was May last year that we had all of the rain.

Thanks for the quick replies, this is great info for me. As far as places, once I pick the area to fish, I'll start looking at places to stay. Thanks again guys!

Hi Everyone, Wife and I are planning a trip to Truman in mid-April. Wondering which arm will offer the best opportunity to catch spawning crappie and how far up that arm we should plan on going. Thanks for any and all replies.

That's awesome! Never give up, never surrender.

You can always use braid with a short fluorocarbon leader. Best of both worlds.

Awesome! And Delicious!

The lure designed to catch fishermen. Unless your serious then I totally agree!

Never used leadcore but went with a guide on Stockton that did. Remember losing a few flicker shad but not that many. Seems like he used a leader. With all of brush piles, don't you snag a lot?

Those are killer!

That reminds me, I need to rig up some more for our trip next week.

Thanks. Got a nice collection of #7's in various colors. Also have a nice collection of Bandits 300's.