Crappie

[Woody55555]

Outside of driving down well into Arkansas, is there any areas between the dam and 86 bridge that are holding crappie? Does anyone have any reports they can share? I tried fishing this weekend with no prevail, around 3 hours per day.....not good.

[abkeenan]

Outside of driving down well into Arkansas, is there any areas between the dam and 86 bridge that are holding crappie? Does anyone have any reports they can share? I tried fishing this weekend with no prevail, around 3 hours per day.....not good.

Can't give you a current report but I would try Brushy Creek for crappie around the area you are looking to fish. I fish the dam area 95% of the time and I've had the best luck with crappie in Brushy. As you can imagine Brushy Creek is loaded with brush. Find some laydowns going from the bank into the water, preferably in the 10-20 foot range and you might get bit. If that doesnt work then try a bobber and live minnow in the same locations and get in on the 15-20ft cedar trees and do your best to keep in on the outer edge without snagging on the limbs. If there is one there is plenty more where that came from in my experience. Like throwing 1/32 and 1/16oz jigs with a swimmin minnow and reel it as slow as I can bare just enough to make that tail swim. You are going to lose plenty of jigs and if you get snagged just break off and cast in there again. Don't go get it and spookem. Might try some docks also if the first 2 approaches don't work but I am not a crappie dock type guy so I can't help ya there. My 2 cents.

[denjac]

Look at Bill's post from Dec. 6th or 7th.

[Bill Babler]

Crappie dock bite for me has been fantastic. Wife said I was not to bring home any more Crappie Period.

Unlike Fish from a week or so ago, with him swimming his jig in pole timber, I am not swimming mine. I am fishing verticle in the docks and not deep. Usually about a rod and a half, about 10 to 12 feet at the most. I'm using a 1/16th. oz. chrome dome and white jig, and holding it very still. I have seen many crappie take the jig.

The crappie may only be in one small location on any dock you fish. I have not found crappie in multiple locations on the same dock. Usually a spot about as big as a barrel, and that is it. I fished 10 docks last weekend and found crappie on 7 of them. Most all are big multiple slip docks in deep water. Minium at the front is about 50 ft. for me.

Most of the crappie are at the extreme back of the wells. Have not caught any on the ends or middle. Got to get clear to the backs of the open slips, and be still.

Mark at Table Rock Tackle and Marine is saying the Kimberling area is on fire. He is selling crappie minnows like mad and has several clients giving him filets. Had a guy tell him last week, it was just silly. All dock fish.

Might also try Bull Shoales, as I have been down a couple of days last week, and limited both trips. Just fishing the banks in the Forysth area. Deep side channel banks.. Take lots of jigs.

Buster Loving is guiding for crappie and catching limits most days. He would be a great one for Bull Shoals.

When the Walleye and Whites start I guide down there some. Really fun to catch a mixed bag and Bull is very good for that. Walleye, Whites and Crappie. Now thats a fun day.

Good Luck