Crappie Report 3-8-2013

[johndarin]

I got out yesterday and did a little crappie fishing. I fished a couple places between the long creek ramp and where long creek and yocum creek meet. The best place was where the two creeks met. Most of the fish hit a pink swimming minnow and a few on purple. The fish were not schooled up real tight they were spread out. They were in 10-12 foot of water on the bottom. I was slow rolling the minnow along the bottom and they would not hit it hard they would just pick it up and it would feel heavy. They were not around much cover just out in open water.

[huntest]

Thanks for the report. Hope to try it out down there next week

[Bill Babler]

How many did you capture?

[Woody55555]

Went out on Saturday down to long creek area. It was very tough and crappies were spread out and when they bit, they were on tight to timber. 1 inch either way you werent getting bit. Only had 4 keeps, lost 3 more keeps and missed many more bites. Was floating a bobber, swimming a jig. Quite a few boats in cricket area and it didn't appear many were successful. I'll take a 4 against a 0...

[Cblaine]

Thanks for the info johndarin and Woody55555. I've never fished the Long Creek area, but will be down there Wed-Fri of this week with my family. Will be staying at Big Cedar. Any other pointers for crappie fishing in this area? I'll have my sons with me (10, 7 and 4) and would love to get them on some fish. They are really excited and want me to take them to the store to buy "their own" swimming minnows with some money they saved up. I don't really care what they catch, just want to get them hooked on this sport we all know and love. We will have our boat so can be pretty flexible in where we go.

I've looked at past posts as well as the maps on the forum to get as much information as possible. Sounds like it can be pretty hit and miss this time of year and that you may need to cover quite a bit of water and if you catch a couple in a spot you probably need to keep moving.

With all this rain this weekend I'm sure the water is going to be pretty murky. The warmer weather in the forecast should start warming the water up a bit. Should I go up to the main lake for clearer water or fish the timber in long creek, brushy creek, etc? Any tips or pointers are appreciated.

[Woody55555]

If it were me, and I will be out, I would go down the long creek arm around cricket or even further south. Start shallow on pea gravel flats, then work your way out to the deeper stuff. If you see wood in the water, get your boys lures right up next to it. It maybe different that last week, but that is where I would start. It maybe a good time if you grabbed a couple doz of minnows from cricket marina and drifted. That may keep all the boys stuff from getting to terribly tangled. The water down south was a good color, probably better for bass than anything but still doable.

[Bill Babler]

Rain on this end did not seem to do a whole lot to the water color. Again, and I have posted this before. Table Rock in March is probably not the kind of place you want to bring a 7 and a 4 yr. old. Even if its great, there is still not enough action. Great being you catch 8 or 10 fish.

We have one of the top fisheries in the entire country here and it is good. Take those kids down to Taneycomo. You can have your boat launched and have a fish on in just about 30 minutes from Big Cedar. I live 4 miles on west of Big Cedear and can launch and be picking up clients at Lilleys' dock in under 40 minutes.

Fishing is pretty fair. The guides are bringing 30 to 50 fish to the boats in 4 hr. trips and if you all pack a lunch and spend a day on that beautiful river you will have a blast. I will tell you, the young ones will get a dose of Long Creek pretty fast.

In Long Creek this time of the year, you in the boat alone with 3 boys under 10 is not going to be fishing, it is going to be flat out work entertaining.

Good Luck

[Phil Lilley]

Remember, the MO/AR state line is BEFORE you get to Cricket Creek Marina and you'll need a ARK license to go south of the line. If you're a MO resident, you can buy a border permit and fish either side. Of course your boys won't need anything.

Ask Mark at the marina about crappies... tell him you heard he was a great bowler... it might get you a little more info

[Cblaine]

Thanks for the feedback guys. We're from Springfield. Just going down for a few days over spring break - my wife found a really good last minute deal on lodging. I've got the border permit so should be fine there. I hadn't even thought of trout fishing on Taneycomo. My only experience fishing there is with a flyrod on the trophy section. That being said, where would you suggest launching the boat? I have absolutely no experience trout fishing from a boat. We'll have spinning set-ups with 4 and 6 lb mono. What else would I need and could you at least point me in the right direction from the boat launch? Thanks for your suggestions.

I can't tell you guys how much I value this forum, having moved to the area just over 2 years ago. I don't post a lot as I'm still trying to figure out where to go (there are so many options, especially compared to Nebraska) and what techniques to use. But I frequent the site almost daily and soak in all the information so many of you generously post.

[Bill Babler]

You can either launch down town and go into Scotty's trout dock. Lamar will give you the current poop, or you can launch at Cooper Creek Public Use Area and motor up a couple of city blks to Lilleys' The folks in the tackle shop will know the who, what, when, where, and how.

I will tell you, it will beat the heck out of Long Creek, first part of March,for the youngsters. Probably either night crawlers or Gulp powerbait on a drift rig. Your line and gear will be perfect.

Good Luck