Crooked Creek Gauge Height

[kkparks_3]

I've been planning to take a trip to Crooked Creek in early March, but it doesn't look like its going to come down anytime soon.

It looks as though, by what the gauge height has been, it's getting a good flushing out. Any thoughts on how this might effect the fishing this year?

In your opinion will this have a positive or negative impact on this year's spawn?

Thanks,

Kevin

[taxidermist]

I dont know about the hieght gauge.

Here is what I can tell you, since last fall Crooked Creek has been up several times, what we call a gully washer. Enough so that even the normally underground portions has been flowing heavy above ground, you could float it, if it was not for the brush.

What happens is the gravel will move in and out of holes, some holes will fill up others will wash out, thats just the way Crooked is.

Other smaller streams in the area do this also.

So the best you can do is comedwon to float it and if its up head over to White River or Buffalo River. There is always somewhere to fish.

John

[RiverRunner]

John,

When would you start fishing Crooked Creek? I've always wanted to fish it and I'm going to try and make it a reality this year. I crossed it at Pyatt yesterday and it is up pretty good. Looked like good spinnerbait water!

[Terry Beeson]

RR,

Get with Fred Wiseman (NEAFF) on fishing Crooked Creek and other smallie streams between Jonesboro and Harrison... He might even talk you into a trip to the upper Mississippi to take on some brownies up there... Fred knows CC pretty well. And he's a great fishing partner!

[Gavin]

Smallmouth bass usually spawn in late April-the end of May so I'd go early April in hopes of pre-spawn fish or after the end of May to avoid most of the spawning activity. Cheers.

[taxidermist]

I hit the upper portion of Crooked Creek today, darn cold but darn good.

I lost my last white stump jumper or road runner, they are about the same. anyway I caught 6 nice smallies in the 2 lb range. The water is milky with the perfect turquoise color.

I fished the deep holes where water runs in and cast up stream bouncing the lure into deep water slowly. I caught another 2 under 1 lb.

I just had to go, was heading past it to get hay for the turd herd 15 horses. So on the way back!!

I also like latter in the spring when the water is warm enough to wade, to use silver rapalas as the water is dropping and colored the same.

The upper section is down HWY 7 toward the former Dogpatch.

It is more privatly owned and you do need permission.

[kkparks_3]

The USGS site says the water level has been over the slab for well over a month.

I was wondering if it is even fishable at that depth. I've never seen it that high. The highest it's ever been when I was there was five feet. So being three times that height made me think it might be kinda wild for a float tube fisherman.

Kevin

[kkparks_3]

FYI (for those that are interested)

I emailed the USGS about the unusually high water level on their website. They responded very quickly saying that they were in the process of moving the gauge at the Kelly's slab location. (I don't really understand why after recording over twenty years of data)

Anyway, just thought that some might find this interesting.

Kevin