New Guy Checking In

[PMB]

Hey fellas, I just posted up on the main intro page but Beaver is the lake I am nearest too and the one I follow the most.

I wanted to say hello, before I did any posting or commenting on others post.

I am 51 and live in the Fort Smith area. I have been striper fishing hard for the last couple of years. That started when I got my first boat. A used 22 ft Blue Wave that I really enjoy. I fish Texoma quite a bit as my in-laws have a place down there and we all meet there for holidays. My other primary haunt is the lower Illinois below Tenkiller.

I read in one of the post that bait was pretty thick in the upper river. Hickory Creek up into War Eagle. Can a guy net some? I have a 8 ft tapped net that will get bait deep and was wondering if bait could be located.

I am hoping to come up and fish a couple of times this spring. I plan on doing day trips and bringing bait with me. But I was curious if it can be caught up there and if there were any regulations on it I needed to be aware of. ie net size restriction, daylight only bait catching? etc.

Thanks and any info or advice is appreciated.

[J-Doc]

Come on up. The bite was good before the front. Ow they are deep and on main lake. The bait netting can be sketchy so bringing bait or buying local at Hook Line & Sinker in Rogers is a good backup plan. Sometimes they only want the bait from the lake and not the store. The bait has been thick this year and last year. As for netting it, I'm told you need shallow water. Most of the time the bait has been deeper. Next time it warms up with a good warming trend would be a good time to come up after about 4 days of good warm weather like we had before this front. Up river is the best place too look. Start at Horseshoe Bend and go south from there.

[PMB]

Thanks J-Doc, I do want to check hook line and sinker out for sure.

I have been looking at the Beaver Map and Google Maps trying to select a ramp. I been looking at Horseshoe Bend and Hickory Creek. Both show courtesy docks which I prefer if I am by myself. I was wondering if those are both good ramps for a fairly large boat. I also noticed the little ramp a Monte Ne no dock but I was still wondering if it was in good shape and if a guy has to worry about under water foundations and such in that area?

I guess my next step is to start reviewing the depth contours in the south end with my Navionics App. That is the area closest to me and since my fishing will only be in winter and early spring it works out well.

I figure 2 maybe 3 day trips a year will be it for me. Probably all will be weekday and solo trips. I will wait for the weather to even out again and watch the reports. First chance I get I will be up there for a scouting trip. I am curious to see if some of the Texoma techniques will be productive up there. Deadsticking and slow rolling big leadhead jigs with big glow swimming shad softbaits both work real well down there. As does big bucktails with a pearl 6-7" twister tail on it. Oh and do not forget the live bait. Ha

Anyway I got to rambling. Have a good day gents.

[Feathers and Fins]

Hickory Creek if you launch at the private ramp is $3.00 per day, Prairie Creek if you have an ACE Pass is free and the best of all the ramps. Monte Ne is a decent ramp but watch out for Rocks on the ramp.

Getting deep bait with a net is not the most productive they really need to be in less than 3 feet and most of it in the main lake starts at 8 to 10ft and goes deeper. I just looked at the 7day forecast and I would bet the bait moves to the main lake and is in deep water so buying bait would be the smartest move to ensure you have some.

Lures when they are in the main lake is always an interesting head scratcher but if you’re going to pull lures pull #7 Flicker Shad in Pearl White or #9 Rapala SR9’s these stripers really want something that looks like a shad. Umbrella rigs work also as do Alabama Rigs.

Good Luck

[J-Doc]

The ramp at Monte Ne is low and yes, there are some low underwater rocks, foundations, and very shallow flats that are right at the water line since the lake is 7.3ft below normal. Unless you have a small vessel that's good for skinny water, I'd stick with HSB or Hickory. Between these two areas, striper fish has been pretty good.

[PMB]

Ok thank guys, I will keep notes of the info and use it.

I think I will avoid Monte Ne until the water level rises a bit. As for buying bait what is available? I would definitely pick some up just to make sure.

I will bring my nets just in case I stumble on bait. I agree I have seen baits from the lake work better than bringing it in from other areas.

I have a regular 7 ft net for shallow water and a tapped 8 ft one for deep water, the tape keeps the net open as it falls to the depths. I regularly get bait up to 40 ft with it. The only reason I see it may not work on beaver is the water may be so clear the bait reacts to the net and gets clear of it. Which is probable.

You guys are great for being so helpful. I sure appreciate it.

[J-Doc]

If you can get bait down to 40ft, your set. I would make atrip from Horseshoe or Hickory up river to about the 412 bridge area but not quite that far. Looking for large bait schools. If you can find a large bait school, getting bait will be a piece of cake. I found one over 200yrds long and it filled my side scan and sonar from top to bottom. They can get like that. Massive. You could catch your fill for the entire trip. Gizard and threadfin mix. Just keep your sonar on while I'm plane and watch it closely.

As for Monte Ne, don't avoid it entirely. Just launch at a different ramp. There can be schools in the creek arm. There is also some very interesting history to Monte Ne and you can Google it. You can see remnants of the old town and long list resort and amphitheater. Interesting stuff. Depending one weather, they could move back into the creek. But long term forecast I hear looks yucky.

Main river arm between Monte Ne and War Eagle would be a prime area to search. Once you find them, there is usually a good group of them. Some have recently been very large. Not that I catch them. I've just seen them.

[JohnF52]

Lots of snags for nets in Beaver also. Some lakes have regulations stating that bait used there has to be taken there or bought from a licensed in-state dealer. Not sure about Beaver.

[Robert Haynes]

I agree with J-Doc, I live close to Monte Ne launch and will not use it anymore. With my 21 ft center console, it is just too big to launch and stay dry. It is worth it to get the year Corp of Engineer pass and launch out of Horsehoe Bend or any other corp ramp. The Corp ramp at Hickory Creek is not good either, it is worth it to launch at the marina and pay $3.00. Plus you can get coffee etc. while there. Garland who helps run the marina was the first person I met when I moved here 29 years ago and never find a better person, although it is unlikely he will give up his crappie holes, he will give you all the striper advice you want.

[PMB]

Thanks for the info fellas, if the weather cooperates I am going to head up that way Saturday and just look around. No boat, no fishing just check out out the parks, ramps and marinas. Plan to hit Hook Line & Sinker, Cabela's and take the wife out someplace nice to eat.

Its too nasty to fish so I may as well just get out and look around. I been meaning to get to Cabela's anyway as I have not been up there yet.