Crappiefisher I would have to say yes. I have noticed a LOT more structure around the lake edge. A lot of trees down.Giggle McGee always catches big fish.
 

I totally agree with My War. I was out on Arthur this past Sunday and could not believe the amount of boat traffic. We had both pontoon boats and FISHERMAN blow by at full throttle. I spent the majority of the day fighting the wakes put out from the these inconsiderate boaters. We had one yahoo piloting an army green john boat wearing an orange life jacket fly into the weeded cove that we were fishing at full power, only to turn right around and fly back out.  I have experienced this almost every time I have been on the lake the last few years. Throw in the armada of multi colored plastic tubes that will paddle between the shore line we are fishing and the boat and you have a recipe a perfect reason to stay off the lake.  I fished lake Arthur 25 years ago when there was a 9.9 hp limit. I don't ever remember fighting theses  wakes. It was rare to even experience wakes back then. It has gotten almost as bad as fishing the three rivers on a weekend. At least on the river you can sneak into one of the back channels or snuggle up to the dam to reduce the effect of the power boaters. I think when the state raised the horse power to 20hp, it in turn has had a detrimental affect on the quality of the fishing experience on Arthur. It was a running joke back in the day when guys would tweak their old 2 stroke 9.9s to 13 hp. Its my understanding that you can flash the new 4 stroke 20s and raise the horse power to 25. This kind of explains as to why you now see aluminum bass boats, fully on plane hauling the mail with a rooster tail. The whole time I have fished Arthur this summer I only saw (in the distance) the Fish Police 1 day. This was July 4th and they were out on the main body of the lake floating, just making their presence known. Back in the day (9.9hp days) it was rare that they didn't pull up on us almost every time we were out. I never would mind having them come over, didn't have anything to hide, and I think it helped keep most boaters focused on obeying the laws of the water. The sad comment is that if you take the time to learn the lake, Athur is still a wonderful fishery. However, due to the lack of common courtesy, it has turned into a body of water that on almost any given weekend that the sun is shinning, it has turned into the "Wild West".      

Dudes were running 15-18-20 outboards stickered as 9.9s for years. Now that is 20, I'm sure some guys are running 30s stickered as 20s. But I have zero issue with Arthur & Wilhem being 20 HP (I think they should be 25). Pymy should be more than 20 HP, based on its size alone....that lake being 9.9 for so long (thanks to OH) was criminal. I would rather have boats run on plane, then slog along with woefully underpowered with 9.9s
 
Arthur gets a ton of tournament pressure from the bass clubs all over western PA...just cause it is close to 79. Every time I have been on Arthur, it has been a weekend, and yea there is some boats, but its not like its a Bassmasters Elite event. I don't tourney fish, so they don't bother me, but I wont yield for them as well.

HEAR.... HEAR.

I genuinely agree, but remove HP limits on all lakes AND impose "no wake" laws. Which by the way do exist so pop out them cell phones (or go pros) and do some recording.

Or just sit and do nothing. 😁


BTW.... Pymy (a/k/a; Pymie) and Wilhelm , given time of year, have their fair share of "DOORKNOBS" too.

door·knob
/ˈdôrnäb/

noun: one who is slightly less brighter; as compared, to a burned out lightbulb.

Source: BTDT; Unbiased dictionary.

bubbaman
a rooster tail with a 25hp ? I don't think that's going to happen unless it's an 8 footer

I have seen before too.  From what I have read, this is not the same as the power boat rooster tails.  Again, from what I have read online...  They can be caused if the propeller is too close to the surface.  I would imagine using a short shaft motor on a transom that should have a long shaft would cause it or mounted too high or possibly even tilt related.  

He could have one of these.
 
http://roosterboost.com/

ERASE THIS

 Should be out next week after getting back from Pymy. Son brought home another boat this week & want to test it out before taking it to camp. 
 
crappy

KJN
anyone have a recent water temp out on main lake?

For future reference . . . I don't have a boat, so no electronics to actually take water temps, so if you're in the same situation, this has been helpful for me to look at this site and see what some other lakes in the region are at before I head out: https://v2.wqdatalive.com/public/15
 
 

I've fished Lake Arthur since it was first filled in. Not being the greatest fisherman, there were times when there were few or no fish caught; but usually there were hits and other signs of life. This past year has been among the worst ever experienced. From the boat or the shore, I have been skunked multiple times. I really don't know if it is my not changing and adapting to what seems to be a changing lake, or there really are a lot less fish. I primarily fish for bass and have been totally skunked in some of my best spots using old faithful lures. 
 
Just curious, has anyone else experienced a radical drop off in fish caught?  Arthur has always been, and probably will always remain my favorite lake, but gee, would really like to catch a fish or two. 

A friend of mine had a 1/2 acre pond on his property years ago . It held mostly Bass and Crappie with very few other fish other than minnows. We fished it often with our kids and most days lots of fish could be caught without much effort.....but there were days you could not get so much as a bite ! One has to wonder if you can't get a fish to bite on a small 1/2 acre pond no deeper than 10 ft. what can happen on a 100 acre lake !  Sometimes there's more to catching than just weather , light , temps, barometric pressure, and fancy depth finders.....lol

rippinlip
For instance if you were to go looking for crappies in 10 foot of water like last month.....you would get skunked. They are moving towards their winter haunts.
 

A very wise angler once told me "where ya find em in the summer is where ya find em in the winter."

Not sure, but I think it may work, just the opposite way too.🤔

There is a **** ton of bait at Arthur. Wilhelm too.

 The few times made it out the Panfish were better in size on avg. & the Byrds were 'bout the same in sz. & numbers for me. Didn't target other species but did get 2 eyes after ice out during day fishing for Hybrids. Bite was purdy good tonight. Did ok on some pike early season also.
 
crappy