A Full Moon helps fill the fish cooler

L ast Monday, May 16, was the full moon. Full moon is a monthly event, except for a blue moon, that seems to affect both animals and fish. Outdoorsmen either embrace it or hate the few days surrounding the full moon. Some say the game eat all night and hide in the day.

Papa Duck is on the good luck side of the full moon. Some of the best duck hunts have been during full moon when they feed in the fields all night and eagerly come to the decoys after sun rise.

On the negative side, deer will feed all night and hide in the deep woods durning hunting hours. Some fishermen claim the fish are active feeding in the bright moon light and tend to have their tummies full and are harder to catch.

Papa Duck has had good luck because the week leading into to full moon cause the fish to spawn and become easier to catch. This period of time triggers the spawning of bream and they become easier to catch, and we all know this is the time to really catch an ice box full.

The full moons of April, May, and June can be spectacular fishing for bream and shell crackers. 4 or 5 days after full moon the fishing slows down. Crappie are also affected by the moon triggering their spawn. Bass don’t seem to be affected as much. Catfish like to bite all year and the cats are hot right now.

Around the Horn

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Fishing has been good at Horseshoe when the wind and weather has not made it unpleasant to fish. 15-20 mph winds on Horseshoe can be very dangerous and hard to fish. Crappie are around the trees and getting better under the piers. Kamp FareFee is now open on the weekends and it is a good place to get a Monster Big hamburger and fries. They also have nice clean rest rooms. This is important for the ladies.

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The river came back into Midway, but it is on the fall and the fishing will quickly get good. The big river bream should start any time.

This lake has the biggest bream in the area. Ed’s Boat Dock has a $5 launch and also live bait and drinks.

Miss Karmine will even make you an old fashioned “loney sandwich”.

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Wampanocca has mixed reports with crappie and bass on the top of the list. The bream are getting into the cypress and lake crickets but the moss is starting to get serious.

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Marion Recreational Complex is host to a fishing rodeo this Saturday starting about 8 a.m. It has been stocked with catfish and the Arkansas Game and Fish will have various exhibits including archery and BB gun shooting. There will be game wardens present to answer any of your questions.

This is the time of year to get the kids out and catching a fish supper. Take plenty of pictures and send them to Papa Duck. Lakeside Taxidermy has taken in several very nice crappie and a few good bass. We get them done quickly and at a fair price.

They look beautiful on the wall.

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

Jonathan Futrell had some luck catching crappie out at Horseshoe Lake.

Marvin Allen holds up a mess of Midway crappie.

Photos courtesy of John Criner

Harold Thomas shows of a nice brown trout caught at Lake Norfork.

The Bradford family enjoyed their weekend out at Midway Lake.

Matt Doss, Chilling Dog, and Zack Dickey took home three limits of crappie at Horseshoe.

John Criner

Outdoors Columnist