Johnson entices papermouths with minnows and curlytail jigs with white tails. For more information, including the waterproof maps Johnson recommends, call Lacey's Narrows Marina at 1-800-401-0440.

MORE CENTRAL ARKANSAS CRAPPIE HOLES
West of Little Rock along state Highway 10, Lake Maumelle surrenders a few barn-door crappies every spring. Lake Harris Brake in Perry County is even better. The eastern edge of this middle region features Crittenden County's Horseshoe Lake, where locals sweeten black and chartreuse and red and white jigs with minnows. At this time of year, crappie congregate among the cypress trees. Two privately owned ramps provide access off state Highway 147 near Hughes. As you read this, Lake Conway, a perennial crappie favorite, should still be drawn down four feet for maintenance; it will begin to refill from rainfall after Dec. 1.

SOUTHERN REGION FEATURES FELSENTHAL
The 65,000-acre Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in Ashley, Bradley and Union counties in deep south-central Arkansas includes 15,000-acre Lake Jack Lee (better known as "Grand Marais"). When it's flooded for duck hunting, it more than doubles to 36,000 acres and becomes the largest green-timber duck hunting reservoir on earth.

The original beds of creeks, sloughs, rivers, swamps and lakes now crisscross Lake Jack Lee, which sports timber and cypress that typify rich, swampy, bottomland hardwoods. Annual flooding refreshes fish populations, so when the AGFC lowers the reservoir in March and April, fish the brushy edges where crappie predictably seek cover.

For the tangled and tight quarters on some oxbows, where there's no room for casting and plenty of room for errors, pack a jigging pole for precision presentations. Expect to see schooling crappie gorging on baitfish near dropoffs in February and March, according to the AGFC. In open water, cast inline spinners, spoons and crankbaits or simply troll shad imitations as you work toward edges. Crappie cooperate most when the water is stable or slowly falling.

Accessible ramps are on the east side of the lake at the state Highway 82 bridge, within the Marais Saline campground to the west and at the Grand Marais campground near the dam, off state Highway 129. Minnows and jigs are standard baits here, as they are throughout Arkansas. For maps and fishing reports from NWR staff, call (870) 364-3167.

MORE PAPERMOUTHS IN THE SOUTHERN TIER
One of southwest Arkansas's jewels is 30,000-acre Millwood Lake in Little River County. DeQueen Lake serves Sevier County, and in the middle of this third tier, you'll find lots of crappie in Lake Columbia's flooded timber. White Oak Lake northwest of Camden covers 2,667 acres and produces crappie year after year. Lake Chicot, one of the finest fishing lakes anywhere, is 5,500 acres, 20 miles long and 8 miles northeast of Lake Village in its namesake county.