Report Date: 9/2/10 9:24 AM CST
I guess I'd rather have the big walleyes and northerns. Plenty of crappie fisheries in the area.....

Report Date: 9/2/10 9:04 AM CST
I'll add this in response to the earlier post also. About three weeks ago I was at a friend's cottage on this lake, and we were catching lots of crappies right off the dock, most in the 8 inch range, but some up to 10 and 11 inches (they have since moved out of there). My sense is that this will become a very good crappie lake in the next couple of years with all of the larger predators gone. I am looking forward to it.

Report Date: 8/31/10 11:42 AM CST
Was out on the BEP last Tuesday. The reason im posting is in response to last post. We fished all afternoon. We put in off highway O and moved around a lot until we located some crappies. We ended up catching 7 crappies and lost a handful more at the boat. We were missing a lot more fish though they were hard to hook because they would bite and just let go. We were drifting with propeller jigs with minnows. They are all about 8 inches though so I think in a couple years this will be a good crappie lake if people dont start keeping them before then. We lost one other bigger fish that we thought was probably one of the elusive walleyes in the lake, haha.

Report Date: 8/31/10 11:13 AM CST
I went out in the boat last Wednesday and every 10 feet there was a carp rolling in the water. I didn't even get a bite. Fished up and down and nothing!!! If carp tasted any good it would be the best lake ever. With that many carp will the game fish grow? The fishing will only get worse because the carp do eat fish spawn and with an abundant amount It will be impossible for any game fish growth.

I think the lake will soon be a dead sea of carp only. maybe they could make a national bow hunting for carp contest. Now that would be fun.

Report Date: 8/21/10 8:39 AM CST
Hello walleye guy and others, BEPCO, Big Eau Pleine Citizens Org. is the local lake assoc. out here working on the issues confronting the reservoir. Visit our website www.bigeaupleine.org We have details on the 2008-09 fish kill that devastated the fishery. Unfortunately the carp were the first and fastest to get reestablished. Our goal is to return the Big Eau Pleine to the great walleye fishery that it has been in the past. We encourage all to join us, as there is real strength in numbers.

Report Date: 8/18/10 12:57 PM CST
so im confused. I've been looking at this lake and there are some very positive lake reviews on it and other very positive things said. But now looking back at the fishing reports it looks like its just a big carp-infested pond. What's the deal? It looks like a big, fairly undeveloped lake. Perfect really. But if theres no fish left in it but carp, thats kinda disappointing. If anyone has any information about what this lake is like recently or if its changed recently i'd love to hear it.

Report Date: 7/23/10 3:25 PM CST
Yes, sorry if my post was confusing. You cannot shoot from the road, but I have seen people shooting from the rocks or in waders along the shoreline in these areas often.

Report Date: 7/20/10 8:39 PM CST
Wait i thought you had to be 50 feet away from the road? so then u couldnt be able to shoot from the rocks along the fill?

Report Date: 7/19/10 1:27 PM CST
Just wanted to mention that shooting and/or fishing from the bridges is not legal. You need to stay off the roadway and walk down on the rip-rap rocks.

Report Date: 7/9/10 4:35 PM CST
BigWalleye69, you can pretty much go anywhere and shoot carp as nobody owns the water frontage. Really most of the resivoir is public land withing 100 feet of the water as its owned by the WVIC if I recall correctly. Some on the south bank are restricted I suppose. I know I have seen people fishing/shooting from the Hwy O bridge, even down farther in the next little bay by Winter Haven Bar. Park a any boat landing and walk around. Could go to the Park as well.

Report Date: 7/9/10 3:04 PM CST
Ok so when i caught the carp i was at a friends cottage and i kinda wanna go back out so where can i go thats public land to catch a ton of carp they sure are fun to catch!

Report Date: 7/8/10 3:05 PM CST
got about 15 carp and about 75-100 pounds of them some huge fish!! missed a bunch of otheres used corn..

Report Date: 7/8/10 9:48 AM CST
was out on the 3rd and 4th. The 4th we were trying to shoot some carp but just could not connect, 2 people shot probably 12 time and missed everyone. with the higher water levels and low algae amount the carp are in the thick weeds feeding or on the bottom. Was hard to find the large groups like in previous years. They are jumping all over the place but most are the small ones. On the 3rd we spent more time tubing and swimming but did do a little fishing and got 3 small crappies.

Report Date: 7/8/10 9:20 AM CST
Neither, go out in your boat into Koski's bay and shoot them with bow & arrow. You will have a ball.

Report Date: 7/8/10 8:58 AM CST
going out to put a dent in the carp population how do you catch them? crawlers and sinker?