With the water temperature already down to 74 degrees, it won’t be long before the crappie are biting again on Reelfoot Lake.

But if you’re planning a trip to Reelfoot, you should be extra careful.

The lake is still very low, and your chances of hitting one of those infamous Reelfoot stumps are even higher than usual. The boat ramps are very shallow, and a lot of people have been getting their boats hung on stumps.

According to longtime Reelfoot guide Jackie Van Cleave, who works out of Blue Bank Resort, the lake is still plenty fishable. You just have to take it slow and keep an eye out for stumps hiding just below the surface.