Runoff?

[Guest]

I was wanting to know if theres any runoff or mudlines at Bella Vista before paying all my dues and tags for the year.

Windsor, avalon, and especially Lake Ann...

Bought a mad river synergy 12 kayak last weekend.

I plan to use it for fishing flats and boat ramp/dam areas.

If anybody has any knowledge of the lake conditions, let me know.

thanks

[Quillback]

I might get out today if the rain holds off and I'll let you know what I see, but we only got a little over 2 inches here so I don't expect any problems. Windsor and Avalon are a little murky because of algae bloom, but definitely fishable. Jerkbaits worked for me on Windsor last Friday, but it seems it's a different bait every day this time of year. They were also chasing bait on top Friday.

Lake Ann is still drawn down for repairs, they are supposed to start filling it starting 3/31. But if you have a kayak and don't mind carrying it across the mud flats by the launch, or I guess you could drop it in by the dam, you might have the lake to yourself and some fine fishing. Might be worth bringing the crappie stuff if you like crappie, I doubt they've seen much pressure in Ann this spring.

Bluegills and Redears are biting also, saw some guys catch a bucketfull fishing in about 20 ft of water on Windsor.

[Quillback]

Drove over to Ann this afternoon, it has come up about a foot or so, with some brown water coming in from the feeder stream, but the rest of the lake looks good. Windsor and Avalon have come up a bit, but water is still the same color it was before the rain and the streams feeding the lakes are high but running clear.

[Guest]

Lake Ann is where I want to fish, due to lack of pressure.

Plus, I want to see how the lake is looking at low level.

Thanks for your help

[Guest]

I really like to crankbait this time of year,

that slime on the bottom really sucks for crankin.

I forget the name, but Windsor might be the only lake with the least amount of that slime.

I'm for sure going to Lake Ann within the next 2 weeks.

Hopefully it fills up slow and I can catch a biggun...

You say crappie are prevalent at that lake?

[Quillback]

There are crappie in that lake, I was thnking that without the normal spring pressure it could be good crappie fishing this spring. But I got an email from the POA stating that they are letting Ann fill up with the latest rain and it is now almost full, so it will get fished.

Never had much luck with cranks myself, I usually drag plastics or jigs.

I caught a 17" crappie (released it) on Avalon this winter on a jerkbait. I think that if a good crappie fisherman worked the brushpiles hard he could catch a few, not saying a lot, but might get a few nice ones.

As far as slime, yeah Windsor is not too bad, Avalon is not bad either.

I fished Avalon yesterday morning for a few hours until the rain hit, caught about a dozen bass, but all small 10-14" fish. Using a Zoom lizard.

[Quillback]

I stopped by Lake Ann yesterday and yes it is almost full, couple of rigs in the parking lot, so it will get fished. I'm going to wait a few days to let the fish adjust to the change in water level and give it a shot.

Fished Windsor yesterday morning, found a decent jig bite, but luck was not with me as I lost 2 big fish, one that looked to be in the 5-6 lb. range that jumped and tossed the jig (I hate it when that happens) and another that I never saw that I could not get out from under the boat, it found some structure, hung me up and broke off. Very frustrating, slapped the water with my rod a few times after that one.

[Guest]

What size jig?

The Biffle Bug really shines in those lakes, especially fishing in pressured area.

Theres some monster Gills in there, but I can only pattern them shallow. Crickets and balsa wood bobbers

Need somebody to explain the deep water split shot technique.

I've never caught a Gill deeper than 6ft. LOL

Have you tried a Redfin?

I know the bigguns will eat it, but I dont know when or where.

[Quillback]

I was out yesterday on Windsor, there was an early topwater bite, I caught some twitching an SR5 Shad Rap on top. That ended quickly, so I tried the jig (3/8 oz) black, that worked for me last week and could not get a bite on it. I did catch a few around beds fishing a whacky rigged Senko, and a few on a c-rig lizard. Nothing over 15". Lots of small males on beds, didn't see any big gals, but with this warm weather they should be up soon also. Water temp iwas 64 yesterday.

Haven't tried the fin, but might be worth a shot early if this topwater bite continues.

I'm not a dedicated bream fisherman, but I have caught them doing the split shot thing, what works for me is to use an Eagle Claw long shank, thin wire hook, and hook the redworm one time through the collar. Don't wad the worm up on the hook, throw it out and slowly hop it back to the boat once it hits bottom. The bream have moved shallow BTW, saw a couple of guys working a cove bank with crickets and they were hauling in the redears.

[Quillback]

Forgot to mention, that there is a lot of pressure on the BV lakes right now, weekend will probably be crazy. Bring your own brushpile!