crappie fishing at Reelfoot?

thinking of giving it a shot this spring, would be my first time there.

Any advice on when to go or where to stay?

Been there several times and fished north and south basin. Most places Are ok to stay at. Blue bank comes to mind.

Watch the weather as the wind can be brutal. Very shallow lake and most spider rig a lot. Stumps and trees everywhere that hold some pretty cool cottonmouths.

Might think about a guide for half/full day to get you on target for the area and fish. We enjoyed our fishing there and it has been a while.

You taking your own boat? I've been a few times and we took our boat and stayed at Boyettes. We fished the south basin which is the deepest, but had our best luck in the buck basin launching at a place called Kirby pocket. There is a stake line that the duck hunters have put out that you can run a reasonable speed on.

We went a few miles to around blizzard slough and fished the water and trees back in there. Once you get off of the stake line. IDLE! Depending on temps the big gills move under the trees as well as crappies. Just use a long rod and jig around the trees the fish are below them. We also caught fish in the deeper lilly pad stems. We were not set up to spider rig so we just used a slip and minnows for crappies while anchored.

The rental boats are very small and you would be stuck fishing near where you are staying if you don't have your own boat. We usually went around the end of March, but the gills probably won't be in the trees as cold as it's been this winter at that time this year

I stayed at blue bank resort... drifted across the middle of I believe it was called the big blue basin?
Anyway,the guides were asking ME where I caught the fish. Been 10 years since Iv'e been there but no doubt I could nail them again in the same place. Thinkin about going back myself here in a few weeks

We are trying to book a trip in May I want to get there when the gills are on. I think we are going to do Bluebank.

Been there many times, favorite place to stay is Sportsman's Resort on north side of lake.

May is a good time to be there, assuming you get decent weather. If it's cool the crappie may be biting good, if warm the bluegill fishing can be great.

If you are truly targeting crappie, I'd get down there earlier, maybe early April. You chance of hitting some rainy or cold weather this early, but I think your odds for good crappie fishing will be better. They get tougher to catch after spawn.

We go to Kentucky lake which isn't far from Reelfoot during spring break and do very well when we hit the weather right.

Are you or did you go 76?

going to fish Kentucky lake this year during turkey season. Checked out lots of places to stay at reelfoot and hope to make it there this summer or next year.

I go to KY Lake First wk may every year always done well BG,RE,Catfish