Arbuckle

[FatCatRacing]

Planning a pleasure fishing outing in the next 2-4 weeks from Kansas to Arbuckle. Hoping somebody can offer the do's and don'ts for a good trip.

Where to stay, Where to eat, or where not to stay or eat.

Any submerged hazards to be aware of.

Good ramps to use.

General areas of the lake that should produce this time of year.

Bait color suggestions for jerkbaits, A-rigs, Crankbaits, Jigs, Etc.

Please feel free to PM me if you would like. I know not everybody wants to be criticized for their suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

Eric

[mcbassin]

Planning a pleasure fishing outing in the next 2-4 weeks from Kansas to Arbuckle. Hoping somebody can offer the do's and don'ts for a good trip.

Where to stay, Where to eat, or where not to stay or eat. -> (There's a few cabins and a few motels near the lake. I have only stayed in the Super 8 a few times. It's a cheap motel, probably wouldn't be ideal if you're taking your wife. There's a decent Mexican place near the Walmart- Abolitos I think)

Any submerged hazards to be aware of. -> (there are some submerged (when flooded) rock islands near the dam. These are marked with bouys.)

Good ramps to use. -> (the two main ramps are great, (Potapa and Guy Sandy) very large and lots of parking.)

General areas of the lake that should produce this time of year. -> (this time of year bites are going to be few and far between. I've caught them on jerkbaits and A-rig main lake points)

Bait color suggestions for jerkbaits, A-rigs, Crankbaits, Jigs, Etc. -> ( I like clown and Tennessee shad for jerkbaits, standard shad for A-rig, Jigs green pumpkin)

Please feel free to PM me if you would like. I know not everybody wants to be criticized for their suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

Eric

See answers above. You can catch big ones there, have the net ready. There's some nice smallies too.

[itsahog]

As stated in the reply above, this time of year is tough on Arbuckle from what I understand. This is backed up from a friend of mine who fished it just yesterday, and he is a pretty decent tournament Fisherman, and told me it was a rough day, which makes me believe he did not catch any fish. I love that lake, The fish I caught there last summer were among some of the nicest I’ve caught. Beautiful lake.

[OkieLure]

Soonerfan fishes it a lot, he'll be along soon to give some insight.

[bigal74848]

Feast or famine this time of year. We normally fished this lake as our 1st tourney of year. Jerk baits rattletraps crankbaits and plastic work well. As you get into Feb more fishing pressure on weekends. North and south ends our stumpy. If you have couple days of warming trend in afternoon don't be afraid to go shallow. Two biggest fish I've caught there were on a jerkbait and C-rig by main lake rocky points. Close place to have decent motel and good eating establishments is ada. Fishing multiple days you should have good luck. Good winter lake. Good luck.

[Bearetta]

Scott Martin just had a show where he fished it. It was a spot he fished as a kid with his granddad. Maybe you can find it.

[Mitch711]

Eric-
Where to stay, Where to eat, or where not to stay or eat.-There is a casino in Sulphur but it is pretty expensive, best bet would be to rent a cabin on point rd they are reasonable and close to the boat ramp.
Any submerged hazards to be aware of- only hazards are back in the creeks, Buckhorn, Rock Creek & Sandy Creek. You can run the entire lake without worrying about hitting something.
Good ramps to use.-The Point & Guy Sandy. Arbuckle has some of the best facilities you will ever find.
General areas of the lake that should produce this time of year.-The bluffs in Buckhorn are good this time of year and will be for the next month or so. Main lake pts......ETC....
Bait color suggestions for jerkbaits, A-rigs, Crankbaits, Jigs, Etc.- A-rig (Green pumkin,White), Jerk bait (Clown)and Jig (Green Pumpkin, PB&J....)

PM me when you get closer and I will let you know what I know. I live on Arbuckle.

[FatCatRacing]

Thank you all for your input.
Watching the weather hoping for a good trend around superbowl weekend.

The cabins on point rd, is that the name? interested in the cabins.

[Mitch711]

Antler Ridge Cabins I believe is the name.

[Phongr82bf150]

I was just there during thanksgiving weekend. I pack up ready with food for two days and i stay at the camp site on the easy side of the lake. Ramp and camp site was really nice with shower room. Also there is a machine and the camp site and ramp where you can pay the fee with cards. I been all over the lake and i liked the east side better. A-rig, jerkbait, and underspin was good. Texas rig craw was decent too. Fish channel swing onto points. You'll find that the lake has some really steep ledge. You will drop a few feet by just moving a few feet left and right. We caught some really nice smallies. 4lbs plus. Good luck.

[timr]

I fished it today only caught one but it was about 7lbs on a clown colored jerkbait. I fish this lake most of the time it’s a really humbling lake. You can catch some giants but you can also blank alot of the time. There isn’t a lot of hazards running the lake just stay a little wide around the main lake points. I would throw a jerkabait Crankbait rattle trap and a jig. I don’t do it but some guys throw a jogging spoon and do pretty good. The better Mexican food is down across the street from Braums. Water temp today was 48. As the rocks warm throughout the day it seems the fish tend to move up closer to them the fish I caught today was in about 8’ of water

[Mike Z]

Can i call you too Mitch?

[Mitch711]

Can i call you too Mitch?

NNNOOOO........

[Spinnerb8]

Can i call you too Mitch?

Hey Mike, after you call Mitch, can I call you?!

[Mike Z]

Hey Mike, after you call Mitch, can I call you?!

Naw Ill just put on here for everyone

[ssmith1]

You must eat at Smokin Joe's if you like barbeque.

[FatCatRacing]

You must eat at Smokin Joe's if you like barbeque.

We did.....It was an unbelievable amount of food. I didn't get the ribeye, but wish I had.

Strawberries on a cloud was very unique but for a guy with a sweet tooth like mine it was AWESOME!

[SoonerFan]

Soonerfan fishes it a lot, he'll be along soon to give some insight.

Opps, sorry I missed this one...always happy to offer advice. I've been sort of out of pocket for the last couple of months. Last time on the water was in Oct.

So, Fat Cat how did you do? It is a beautiful lake, isn't it. Once you can explore some of the far backs of creeks, it's incredible. I've found three waterfalls. There used to be a lot of grass but levels have been so fluctuating the past ten or more years, it's mostly died back now. I've caught my two biggest fish there; both over 8lbs, plus many 4's 5's and 6's. I've always done better with jigs there...both football and finesse jigs with either a speed craw or twin tale grub.

As far as gastronomical delights in the Arbuckle Lake area, I would recommend either the Double Cheeseburger or the Chicken Fried Steak...both with hand cut fries and country gravy at Burgerland in Davis.

[FatCatRacing]

We went on Superbowl weekend. It was beautiful weather, but the fishing was tough. in 2 1/2 days caught 4 fish. a couple dinks, a 5, and my new PB 8 1/2. Worth the trip, but will probably wait til late Feb or March next time.

[SoonerFan]

We went on Superbowl weekend. It was beautiful weather, but the fishing was tough. in 2 1/2 days caught 4 fish. a couple dinks, a 5, and my new PB 8 1/2. Worth the trip, but will probably wait til late Feb or March next time.

Heck, that can be a great weekend on that lake even in good weather.