"As for Ouachita, DeGray or Hamilton, there's not one that just jumps out at you for crappie fishing (in 2007). People who know them do real well. Just go around to the campgrounds and talk to the people who come there to fish year after year. They know where to fish."

DISTRICT 9: UPPER WEST
The upper reaches of the Arkansas River and many of its tributaries influence District 9, which covers Newton, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Pope, Sebastian, Logan, Scott and Yell counties.

"There are lots of crappie in Lake Dardanelle," said biologist Bob Limbird. "We had a mild winter, and the shad didn't die off like they sometimes do, so there's a tremendous amount of forage there. You might catch the bigger crappie (in this district) there."

You'll find plenty of public accesses to Dardanelle, a pool on the Arkansas River, in Johnson, Logan and Pope counties.

Blue Mountain Lake covers 2,900 acres in southeastern Logan County and northwestern Yell County along state Highway 10. "It's had low water for the last seven years, so the year-classes of crappie are going to be down somewhat, but it's still a good lake," Limbird said.

Those who like Sugarloaf Lake in southern Sebastian County shouldn't expect much this year. "We drew it down last year, and it hasn't refilled," Limbird said.

DISTRICT 10: UPPER CENTRAL
This six-county district includes Van Buren, Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, White and Perry counties -- and a mix of fine crappie lakes. Biologist Tom Bly unhesitatingly recommended Harris Brake Lake, Overcup Lake and Lake Conway.

For several years, the AGFC has worked with a citizens' committee to improve 1,300-acre Harris Brake Lake near Perryville in Perry County. "Something's working at Harris Brake," Bly said. "The shad are good, the crappie are good and bass are numerous."

The lake's 9-inch minimum length limit for crappie seems to be working, too. Bly expects anglers to catch plenty of crappie, including some slabs, this year.