I have a business trip planned for the last week of march in the Athens area. I have never fished either of these lakes. Planning on making it a fishing trip too. Usually fish Fork and LOP. Havent been down in 8 or so years. Live in Missouri. Bringing the wife and grandson with me and looking to do some crappie fishing. Is either lake better then the other ? Is late march more pre spawn or spawning time? Appreciate any and all info you might have.
Thanks
Vic

Cedar Creek : Try Mouths of creeks ,deep Brush piles or shoot docks in deeper water. Not necessarily in that order

March winds on Richland Chambers can make that lake dangerous. If the weather cooperates, that is usually pre spawn time. First week of April has usually been the spawn on RC for crappie in my experience.

My choice is C C mostly cause havent fished RC much. Have shot a PILE of ducks there.. HEY Vic Where in M. O. you at.?? iam from near Joplin.. Spent a lot time on Table Rock. Miss it. Remember when Branson was nuthin. LOL

If your used to Fork and LOP I think your gonna be disappointed in either of those lakes!! My 2 cents!!

That’s gonna be mostly prespawn fishing, but it’ll depend largely on the weather. I’d go cedar creek, it’s a heck of a lot safer to run around on given it’s lack of standing timber, but make no mistake that lake can get really rough too, especially if the wind is out of the northwest. It’s a fantastic crappie fishery and I find it fairly easy to pattern given the fact that it doesn’t have the drastic water level fluctuations some other lakes in that area can have.

RC all the way !!! We start catching them spawning crappie as early as the end of feb first March but like the others said depending on the weather and those last minute cold fronts. Start on the north side. Good luck.

Not always.