GT Tompkins

Well i havent been there yet but ive seen them from satellite view. There are many of them and each one looks different, atleast from aerial view. When i go there i will definitely take pictures! If you want i can look up a few and send you the coordinates No kidding? If it was shallow then, it is probably just a sludge hole now. I will let you know though! Do you remember seeing wooden docks/platforms around the lake?

Thanks bud. Will do.

Hey fellow micropterus salmoides anglers! Hopefully everyone had a decent New Years. I live in Fort Smith, Arkansas which happens to have the Arkansas river flowing adjacent to the city. What i just found out recently from viewing Google maps satellite view is that the Arkansas river system has an extremely complex network of backwaters, sloughs, huge ponds/small lakes, and oxbows. Ive been going to one particular backwater area near my house for a few years now and it has really made me appreciate these type of fisheries. One example of why I like the spot is in 2017 i spent atleast 100 hours on my kayak and on shore at the backwater area down the road from me. Ive maybe seen a dozen people. Second, the fishing is awesome. It can be challenging to find them but they are always quality fish. This year i really want to venture out further and explore some new locations so i have been searching on google maps. Some of the spots that have really caught my eye are two medium sized Oxbow lakes in my area. The oxbows ive been looking at are cut off from the river. The bigger of the two, Hollis Lake, is completely separated from the open channel by a dike so it never gets flushed (I am prepared to find it silted over, but i am being optimistic at the same time). The other, Cherokee Chute, recieves water from the river during flood season when the water is high enough. There are many, many more unnamed oxbows as, well. Some completely separated, some recieve water in flood season, and some are connected to the open channel. When the weather gets more comfortable, i plan on waging an all out war with these river bass starting with these oxbows. I plan on getting a fishfinder/SSS for my kayak so i can fish (and map) these 'new' spots as efficiently as i can. If i can help it, i will be going to several dozen new spots on the river system in 2018. Im just curious if any of yall have spent much time fishin oxbows and if so what type of attack plan would u recommend? -GT The pics ive included are of Hollis Lake, Cherokee Chute, and an unnamed oxbow. Btw there are approx 20 platforms/docks on Hollis lake that i have seen on satellite view. Im extremely curious as to what these are...

@Jar11591 lol well i would bet my life that these are LMB. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a 10 lb hog in there. Who knows. Some of the ones i saw were questionable. I doubt you would want to come to Arkansas just to fish an acre of water though.

So when you say "Keep it up" are you constantly lifting your line? Do you keep semi tight line or do you give the bait fish slack to swim? I am in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It has been fairly warm here lately. It was 72 degrees yesterday. Thats not normal here though. Typically between 30-50 degrees.

I see what you are saying. I just dont think yall believe me when i say its not your typical pond. And the only carp that is common around here is the big brown carp, white carp, and buffalo (idk if they are actually carp) and then grass carp in ponds. Im familiar with the colors and shapes of those fish. These are difinitely bass. I havent seen largemouth jump this much anywhere else.

Do the gills stay alive for a while when used like that? **** bud i will draw u a map lol

Yeah i ran around the pond a few times lol. Lipless cranks? I will buy some. I already got a shad colored spook imwanting to try. Thanks bud. I will try to get video of the jumpers

Yeah man thats kinda how it is here. Back in the summer there wasnt any activity like there is now. Crazy fish Yeah im thinking thats what is happening. I just started trying topwaters last year i dont quite have the hang it it yet. I was actually using a small popper earlier today when a fat one jumped right in front of me. Lol i nearly crapped myself. If i unlock the secret to this pond, i will be a happy camper with a new personal record or two. Thanks bud

I will get a video of them jumping and post it on here

I will get a video of them jumping and post it on here

You are pretty sure? You are incorrect. I am not pretty sure. I am certain. I am getting tired of defending myself. I havent seen many bass jump either until i visited this pond. Dont ask me why. They just do. Big ones. Atleast once an hour. Alot more frequently today.

But its filled with branches and small trees! Have u done that around alot of wood structure? I've never free lined live bait......

I know what y'all are saying. But dont be so quick to assume. Not even two hours ago i had one jump right in front of me maybe 5 foot off the bank. It was bass bro. Its a weird pond. I guess all u can do is take my word for it.

Thanks! Ive seen enough white carp, brown, and koi. I can tell the difference. These are violent jumps. And I've gotten good enough looks to see that they have green backs and white bellies. It is the most diverse pond ive been too. I would imagine there are carp in the pond. Maybe thats why its so muddy. But the fish ive seen are bass 100%. Btw they are definitely feeding. Very well fed. Its loaded with shad.

Im assuming you didn't read much of what i wrote. I mentioned that i CLEARLY saw BASS jump out of the water. Hell i went down there again today and had one jump not even 10 feet in front of me. Scared me half to death. Try not being so cynical, bud. These arent asain carp. They are largemouth bass.

Yes. They sound like cinder blocks being dropped in the water. Ive seen two clearly.

I live in Arkansas where it doesn't get too cold but 30 degrees is common night temperature for winter. I live in a city where most ponds are heavily fished so most dont have big fish. I found a super muddy pond (maybe an acre or two) on the side of the road that i tried out with minnows and caught a fat crappie. I've also caught one largemouth (1 1/2 lbs) and a small gar. I've been back to the pond several times with no luck, but while i was there i saw schools of shad and 4 or 5 times i have seen huge largemouth jumping while feeding on shad. The bass i saw jump looked bigger (longer&fatter) than my personal record bass which was 6lbs. I have went back with bluegill on bobber, big crank baits, and minnows without even a bite. Also i think it is very old as there are decent sized clam shells on the bank. When i saw this pond is muddy i mean muddy as ****. 6 inches visibility at best. There is a medium to heavy amount of downed trees and limbs. But ive only seen bass jump in the open water so they are still cruising around feeding even though it is cold. This week the temperature is going to be 20 degrees warmer than usually so i want to capitalize. Any suggestions? The crappie in the 1st picture is the one i mentioned that i caught out of the pond I'm talking about. The bass in the 2nd picture is my personal best, caught elsewhere. The bass I've seen in the muddy pond are fatter for sure. I'm dying to catch one (and a new personal best).