Crooked Creek Fishing Report

[gotmuddy]

I just might do that muddy. The gauge at Kelly is at 13 right now. For some reason, I have it in my head that 12 ft is a real good level for CC, especially in the summer. I don't mind dragging here and there, it's to be expected in the Ozarks, in the summer, but I shore don't like dragging all day long. It gets wearisome after awhile. Anyway, good pics. (Though, when I look at FT57's hat, I get an urge to eat rice. Wonder why?)

I dont know why, I am the one wearing the rice hat

[joeD]

D'OH! Sorry. On a more topical note, is there a decent river map of Crooked Creek? I have one from the Arkansas Floaters guide, I guess put out by Arkansas Tourism (which I also saw on the Southwest Paddler website). It's OK at best, I'd like to see river miles on it. Last time I did CC, I printed out a bunch of topo maps to take with us (we did a 3 day float). Ok, but cumbersome, and you still kind of had to guess. Just wond'ring aloud.

[Danoinark]

Ok, I bid 5 bucks for the hat!

Dano

[hoglaw]

you guys had better luck than I did this weekend. I put in at Snow on Saturday morning and took out at the Slab on Sunday a little after lunch. The water was high and my typical patterns were tough to fish. I should have been throwing a crankbait. I only caught a dozen or so, but they were all big. All bites came in the middle of the channel in fast moving water except for two or three largemouth that came off of laydowns out of the current. All smallmouth hit agressively presented topwater lures. I missed twice as many as I hooked and had a few monster blowups. I spent as much time swimming as fishing because it was HOT.

[gotmuddy]

I only lost one fish all day. One guy who was wading in the river said when I showed him my lure "man that is big". I thought that was weird...I was bass fishing with a bass lure.

My hat aint for sale.

[Flysmallie]

I thought that was weird...I was bass fishing with a bass lure.

My hat aint for sale.

I think it's funny that a lot of guys think you need to downsize your baits to catch river smallies. And then they complain that they never catch any larger fish. You might lose some numbers but you will really increase the size by using standard bass lures. I use them on the lakes and don't have a problem catching small fish.

You at least have to let Dano know where you got that hat. He would look sweet in that!!!

[gotmuddy]

I bought it at Shaver's plumbing in salem. I have two, they are only like $7 each.

I dont know why people think they need small lures on rivers either. I would not say I sacrificed numbers for larger fish. I was very happy with the amount of fish I caught.

[Danoinark]

You at least have to let Dano know where you got that hat. He would look sweet in that!!!

Thanks friend Ronnie....

[Guest]

I agree with the small bait vs standard baits idea.

Most people think about rooster tails when creek fishing.

I like to fish finesse jigs on heavier tackle (for creeks)

3/8oz with a prok trialer, 15lb line, and logjams or boulders.

Sometimes I strike out, but usually catch the biggest bass instead.

I've been tinkering with hair jigs lately. They seem to have more action than silicone skirts and smallies like em.

The weight of a jig has more impact than its size. I prefer a heavier jighead and smaller skirt in heavy current rushing thru logs.

Although, a weightless bait if better suited for slack water with big wary bass.

My personal best creek bass came off a 5/8oz buzzbait.

[gotmuddy]

so far my PB came off a black/silver yo-zuri sinking crystal minnow.