Crappie Man

Crappie Man

All fisherman want to catch fish, but only 25% of the fishermen catch 75% of the fish. Are 25% just lucky or do they know fishing techniques most of us just dream about? On rare occasions we meet that one person that exceeds all expectations of catching fish and is willing to help other fishermen. Fortunately I just met that man. I had been told there was a fishing guide on Horseshoe Lake, but we had never crossed fishing lines.

Ronnie Tice is the “Crappie Man” that guides out of his home at 210 Bass Road at Horseshoe Lake. It had been raining pretty hard the morning I visited with Ronnie and he had just come in with a cooler full of nice crappie, several in the slab class, a nice morning fishing for most folks. He is a retired industrial electrician from Hayti, Missouri and has lived and guided part time at Horseshoe for about eight years, it became full time about three years ago.

Ronnie offers a good guide trip for a very reasonable price. He furnishes the boat, gas, drinks and top quality fishing equipment for $100 for five hours for one person.

Two people can fish for $150. Kids under 16 are free. The limit is 50 fish and with his knowledge of the lake, full limits are common. If you catch under 10 fish, the trip is free! This is a bargain. For out of town folks, he has accommodations for overnight trips at reasonable rates.

When you book a trip (and there are only 5 dates available in April) you must first show your fishing license. Tice is a licensed fishing guide and must abide by all state regulations and insists the client does the same. You may bring and use your own fishing gear or he furnishes top grade rods and reels. Ronnie is on the Pro Staff for ACC Crappiestix, Outlaw Rods & Reels, and Crappie Candy. After the trip is over, a lot of clients just buy the equipment they used fishing. He is a dealer for the tackle and sells it at a very reasonable price. It’s better than most tackle sold and is already rigged and ready to fish. It even costs less than the discount stores.

He sells to the public out of his house. Low overhead means better prices.

He makes a living using his fishing tackle.

Speaking of rods and reels, Ronnie repairs them and also restrings reels.

They are ready to fish.

Horseshoe Lake is seven miles long with a channel that averages 21 feet deep and there are some large catfish holes up to 35 feet deep. There are lots of places for fish to be on a lake this big and that’s where a knowledgeable guide earns his pay. Tice uses a single rod and jigs using different techniques for different conditions.

He is fishing in the boat with you showing how to catch fish. The fisherman always gets the best spots and he wants you to fell the thrill of a slab on a flexie rod. Ronnie really enjoys teaching the ladies and kids how to fish and goes out of his way to ensure they have a good time.

Ever wonder how old that fish is you just caught?

Crappie have “rocks” or calcium deposits in their heads. These rocks have rings, just like trees, showing their age. One ring equals one year. A very old crappie may be six years old. I know that should equal six pounds, but sorry, they don’t get that big. Right now, the black male crappie are averaging about a pound.

White females will be heavier.

Horseshoe is a wonderful fishing lake but the Arkansas Game & Fish biologist say that 45% of the fish in the lake are buffalo, carp and gar. This is way too many rough fish and there are future plans to allow commercial fishing to reduce the rough fish. Years ago commercial netting was allowed on the lake. There may even be a crappie slot size in the near future.

As we sat on his patio listening to rain, the discussion moved to hunting and dogs. Ronnie raises a few squirrel dogs to sell in the fall. These are mountain curs and are excellent hunting dogs. A crisp clear autumn afternoon squirrel hunting over a good dog is great fun. The dog does the work and you get to walk through the woods and enjoy Mother Nature.

This is a wonderful way to get a kid started hunting.

When we first sat down, Ronnie Tice said he was a Christian man and tried to treat people like he wanted to be treated. He is easy to talk with and is an honest guide. His love for family and friends is evident. I look forward to sharing a boat with him and recommend his services to anyone. He knows where the fish are. Would you not like to make your living fishing and being with other sportsmen?

Tice also guides for bream and catfish, no bass, and the prices are the same as the crappie trips.

You can tell he loves guiding. He says it’s not a job, but a way of life. He can be reached at 901-6876800.

Speaking of fishermen, if I remember correctly, Jesus had a special love for fishermen. That ought to tell us something.

Keep the pictures and stories coming. They mean a lot to me. Take that kid to the lake and put a fishing pole in his hand. Lakeside Taxidermy mounts a beautiful fish!

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-732-0455 or 901482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

By John Criner Outdoors Columnist