Charles Bunting, Missouri, Crappie Masters Classic champ, says, “My dream lake for a week would be Arklabutla. We won the Mississippi State Tournament on it a few years back. It is a best-kept secret fishing lake probably because it isn’t consistent and the numbers aren’t great. But the size you catch is fantastic. I would go the third week of March.”
Russ Bailey, Ohio, host of Brush Pile Fishing TV says, “My dream lake is Grenada, like I’m sure most others will choose, too. But I want to be there in mid-July. I was shooting TV shows so went fishing one afternoon with John Harrison and caught fantastic fish while jig fishing. The next morning Kent Driscoll took us out and in two hours had a crankbait video shot. It’s awesome.”
Bert Bennett, Missouri, picks D’arbonne, Louisianna. “The limits are liberal and you have a real possibility of catching a 3 or even 4 pounder. It has timber and you can fish from up on the flats to out on deep ledges. Early November when there is not a lot of pressure on it is an ideal time.”
Mike Parrott, South Carolina, says, “The first week of March at Grenada Lake. It’s the only place you can catch numbers of monster fish in the springtime.
Bruno Perroti, Missouri, “My pick is Washington, Mississippi, trolling for big prespawn monsters. It’s easy to fish because there is little cover.”
Dan Dannenmueller, Alabama, says, “It would be Grenada the first week of March. There is just no other place I’ve been where you can catch big number of quality fish.”
Q: Best fishing within easy driving distance?
Bunting: “Close to home it would have to be Truman in mid-July dipping the trees.”
Bailey: “It would have to be Grand Lakes St. Mary’s.”
Bennett: “Kentucky Lake is the best lake near home. If you can learn how to catch fish there you can catch fish anywhere.”
Parrott: “Lake Wateree, SC, during the second week of March.”
Perroti: “The third week of July at Truman Lake can be excellent single pole fishing the treelines and feeling the thump.”
Dannenmueller: “The Alabama River. It has more quality fish than most people know because they can be difficult to find, but good ones are in there.”
