How Long?

[joeD]

Let's assume no rain (unlikely). How long before CC is in good shape to float and fish (in a reasonable manner)?

Also, does the relative absence of Kelly Slab affect the height gauge? We went last year during the heat wave, and I believe the gauge was over 12, but not 13. The water was quite quick in many spots.

I'd call Jimmy W., God bless 'im, but I need to use my phone for other calls occasionally.

[gotmuddy]

If we get no rain the creek should be fine by the weekend. He is a hard man to get away from.

[Zack Hoyt]

Guage is busted due to the flood, so please dont rely on it.

[flytyer57]

Having crossed CC at Harrison today, I seriously doubt that the creek will be fishable nor floatable this weekend.

[joeD]

Yikes. The hits just keep comin'. So, here's another question fellas. Again, assuming no rain, when the creek settles, where do you think the fish will be, mood-wise, pertaining to spawning? I'm under the impression it's around 65 degrees when they develop the urge (in general). I don't know the temp of CC. Just asking. I've always fished it in the summer, but I'd like to try it earlier this year.

Yes, you are correct. I am a sarcastic a**hole, and you have every right to tell me to f*** off, and figure things out myself. I get it. Still...

[flytyer57]

Not sure if the fish will have spawned yet or not. I haven't taken a temp reading down there. The gage at the Buffalo says the water is about 60° now, but it was higher, and CC normally follows that as in past experiences. If the fish did already spawn before this flood, or were in the process, you can bet there's a years worth of effort washed away.

[gotmuddy]

after the rain we are getting now you can forget fishing this weekend.

[KrookedKreekKing]

I had fished CC two weekends before the floods, and there was no sign of spawning, meaning beds, etc. Hopefully none of the bass tried to bed up right before the floods, and if not, which I doubt they did, they will wait for the water to clear up before they do. So I would guess the spawn should take place mid-May. Please be careful with spawning bass in CC. Try not to over stress them and release them as soon as possible so they can go back and protect their eggs.

I don't understand why everyone's talking about smallmouths spawning in April. At the lake this is true, but they spawn later in the creeks. I've caught smallmouths full of eggs at the end of June numerous times. Not saying that they absolutely cannot spawn in April but it's not as common as mid may or early june. As for the flood ruining the eggs, it has been proven that bass won't lay all of their eggs at once. Bass can sense dramatic weather changes so for the early bedders there could have been a chance for a partly successful spawn. In any case, the flood in my opinion could have been a good thing by weeding out a lot of smaller, weaker fish. I read that bass growing to large sizes has a lot to do with genetics; not just the forage. By weeding out a lot of smaller, weaker fish, it gives the larger fish, with the genetics and survival instincts to grow that large, the chance to grow even larger and lay their eggs with their same genetics. In my opinion, keeping the 14's and 15's every now and again and letting the 17's and 18's go would prove a real increase in the quality of bass caught on the creek. I guess what I'm really trying to say is a slot limit of 12 to 16 inches should be the keeping limit and everything else should be let go for a good while.

[Al Agnew]

I agree with you that smallies don't always drop all their eggs at once, and so can spawn again sometimes after a big flood wipes out the nests. Since in most years there's a flood of some kind some time during the spawning period on Ozark streams, if they couldn't deal with flooding in some manner they would be non-existent.

But, though I don't have enough experience on Crooked Creek to dispute you, I will say that on all the Ozark streams I fish, most spawning is done in April and early May.

[hoglaw]

I always banked on April and May too. This year the fish were ON beds in mid June on a lot of the creeks I fish, crooked included.