BURNT CANE LAKE
“This past spring was hot for crappie on Burnt Cane,” said the AGFC’s Jeff Farwick. Word of the crappie bite spread quickly, and anglers started to get in on the action at this nine-mile-long venue on the St. Francis River. The fisheries biologist, who encountered four separate fishing parties that boasted at least a dozen crappie each, has seen black, red and green jigs in use, all in combination with chartreuse.

Burnt Cane is relatively clear, though water can back up after heavy rains, muddying the lake and making it difficult for anglers to locate the crappie. The lake covers only 240 acres and is about 100 yards wide at its widest point.

The lake’s crappie population has been on the upswing, though the population tends to fluctuate. According to Farwick, one year-class can be strong, only to be followed by a poor spawn. This boom-and-bust population is more the norm than the exception, even on exceptional crappie waters that maintain fairly consistent populations.

Farwick reported that local anglers confirm the upward swing at Burnt Cane. A couple of years ago, the hotspot in the area was Horseshoe Lake, but the attention has definitely switched to Burnt Cane. For more information, contact the AGFC’s East-Central office at 1-877-734-4581.

UPPER AND LOWER
WHITE OAK LAKES
“Both Upper and Lower White Oak (Lakes) are good crappie bites,” said Jason Olive, a fisheries biologist with the AGFC. “These lakes haven’t been known in the past as good crappie lakes, but they’ve really come on now. I’ve been expecting them to fade out, but they’re still going strong.”

According to Olive, these lakes, which are separated by a dam, are producing first-quality fishing. Two-pound fish are common in the upper lake, while the lower lake has higher quantities of fish. Historically, spawning success has varied on both lakes. Three good year-classes are now in the system, and anglers are having a great time on the water.

Biologists score crappie populations in a given lake on the basis of several factors including size, growth rates and numbers. In the fall of 2006, a fisheries survey was conducted on the upper lake with surprising results. Upper White Oak Lake’s crappie scored higher than any other population in the state.

“We’re seeing fish that are 2 years old that are 10 inches, and the 3-year-old fish are even bigger,” said Olive.

Hit the brush around the boat docks on both lakes this spring.

Upper and Lower White Oak lakes cover a combined 2,600 acres in Ouachita County off state Route 387 in White Oak Lake State Park. For additional information, contact the AGFC’s South-Central Region office at 1-877-836-4612.

LAKE GREESON
“One of my top crappie picks would be Lake Greeson, based on the amount of artificially placed tree tops and crappie condos that are in the lake,” said AGFC fisheries biologist Les Claybrook. “The lake has a decent crappie population and a history of good crappie fishing.”