Ouchita trip

Taking the kids fishing to Lake Ouchita to spend some time with family. Never been there and a quick glance at the Navionics map on my phone is quite overwhelming. I see flooded timber. Numerous contour lines and humps. We are going to be on south central shoreline with Checkerboard Island just north of us.

I'm really hoping to get my son on a morning topwater bite. Being a clear lake, i'm guessing it can be tough?

Any tips or techniques are much appreciated from you guys that have some experience up there.

Thank you!

You will love it regardless if you catch a Fish or not my favorite place to be at especially driving a boat. Only time to fish would be very early with topwater and the White Buzzbait is the bait of choice along with a 8 to 10 inch plum colored worm with a red tungsten weight. Lake is super clear and has various types of grass and structure, but it would probably be best to stay shallow imo. If you like Striper Fishing you found one of the places that may hold a freshwater record Fish. Hire a guide I use Capt. John T. Hall he uses supercharged bait(shad)and there may be some topwater early as well. Lake is located in a National Forest so infrastructure is limited to a few Marinas. You can rent tubes and ropes and the kids will love being pulled around this lake like no other. Stop by the Shagri'la for a awesome Burger and a piece of pie. Lay down a trail when boating to back track easy or if going out after the sun goes down..bottom line you will love it and you will go back again and again.

Thank you Paul!
Kids are super excited. My son has watched about every youtube video on topwater fishing imaginable. I could care less if I touch a pole.
I just want him to get bit. I've heard about the stripers busting shad, that would be fun to see and catch a couple.

I can't wait. Love fishing new lakes just for the experience alone. Hope there is some intermittent catching! lol

Well the trip to Ouchita was amazing. What a gorgeous lake. Kids had a blast. Fish didn't exactly cooperate. Had wind most of the time. Caught some on jerkbaits and top water walking the dog. My humminbird 1198 decided it was going to stop working so that made chasing stripers very difficult.

Anyone know of someone to take a look at a Humminbird? Shut up and Fish on here maybe?

Definitely going to go the guide route next time because I think the kids would get a kick out hauling those horses in.

Thank you for the help!

I used to spend a week there every year. One of the best water skiing lakes I've ever been on. There are these deep fingers you ski down, drop the skier and just ski back. Glass all the time regardless of the wind. I skied on the DFW ski team back then and got some of the best slalom practice that I'd get all year long. If I remember right, there was some pretty good cliff jumping as well.

Are there homes to rent on Lake a Ouachita? Everything I see is on Lake Hamilton. We are wanting to rent a place on the lake this week and trying to decide on where to go. We were originally headed to Tennessee, we usually go every summer to visit family and fish, but thinking maybe something closer. We’ve stayed in Hot Springs a couple of times but we were in an RV.

Lake Ouachita is in a National Forest, so there are a very few homes period. One of them was owned by a former President in the 20's maybe 30's not sure which one though. Nicest place to stay possibly would be Mountain Harbor Resort, it has Cabins small to large w/Marina centrally located on Lake. How about a houseboat? w/hot tub on top, 4/5/6 bedrooms,grill,fly deck(drive from Top Deck),Directv,and more. With 200+ islands you can anchor on one of them(they are numbered) and your Fishing Guide can pick you up @ your boat. You can also tether your boat or personal watercraft to houseboat. When you recieve your boat I believe you get about a hour tutorial. Houseboats are located at the Mountain Harbor Resorts Marina..Enjoy.

One of our best vacations: rented an 80’ five bedroom houseboat w/hottub & slide off top for my entire family for a week. Towed my Ranger behind the houseboat all week. Fished every morning early and evening. Pretty much only fished a buzzbait around any hydrilla patches we could find. Played family man the rest of the time. Cruised around, towed kids on tubes & wake boards, kayaked, swam...all day. Tied up to our own different private island every night. Bucket list trip for sure!

Sweet how much was that Boat & where

I attended a McDonald's event there many years ago. Seems like it was mid-May. We caught post spawn bass on a Zara Spook in 40' of water off long tapering points. Lots of deep hydrilla there back then. Beautiful lake.

Not cheap because it was all on me but I know some couples that go regularly and they go for 3-4days and split the cost. Real affordable that way. http://www.bigboats.net/index.html