Hope you like inconsistent weather …

M arch always has crazy weather and this year the temps have gone to below freezing to upper 70s. Two weeks ago we had 5 inches of ice on the lakes and now it’s time to start swatting mosquitoes and cutting grass. Even though the temps have been good, the water temperature is 40-50 degrees, depending on the depth of the lake and winds. We always get ready to catch fish before they decide to get hungry.

Crappie and bass are becoming active and for the next month and a half, the fishing will get better. Horseshoe draws more fishermen than any other lake in the area and fishermen from all over eastern Arkansas enjoy it. Seems like half of Jonesboro and Paragould put in their boats in on Saturday mornings along with weekly bass tournament fishermen. Raining mornings do not slow down these fishermen. Spider rigs are catching the most crappie but the pier fishermen are starting to do better. The canals have been good for small to medium fish, but they tend to be muddy and have a tremendous amount of fishermen in them.

Wapanocca is producing very nice fish but not many to the boat. The edges are still muddy but the middle is clear with plenty of spider rigs trying to catch supper. There have not been any reports of bream or bass. The Mississippi River is at the base of the levee so Midway is too high to launch but, the river is due for rapid fall in about 7 to 10 days. This is a good time to drive the levee and see all the deer and turkeys. As soon as the river falls, the fishing at Midway will be outstanding. Big Lake on the Missouri border is a shallow cypress lake and there have been some good reports of crappie fishing. Papa Duck has never fished there, so reports are sketchy.

Tilden Rodgers and Marion Rec fishermen are catching trout on the pretty days. Remember, if you keep trout, a trout permit is required. Several of the small ponds and bar pits warm up quickly so keep an eye on them. Permission is required for many of these small lakes and ponds, but the early fishing can be outstanding.

It’s getting fishing time, so take the family and enjoy Mother Nature. Take plenty of pictures and send them along with a few details to Papa Duck. Lakeside Taxidermy appreciates getting to mount your trophies. We are fast, reasonably priced, and you will enjoy a beautiful mount.

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 901-482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

Dr. Bryan Rhodes poses with a couple of nice bass.

John Criner

Outdoors Columnist

Fishing buddies Clyde Day and Jessie Gallagher had some luck out Wapanocca catching crappie.

Photos by John Criner

The “Baby Duck” Anna with a nice catfish she landed over the weekend.