Weekly Arkansas fishing report for April 26, 2014. Enjoy your time on the water and catch a bunch.
But before we get started, we wanted to pass along this information from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: The commission stocked more than 245,000 fish during the month of March
LITTLE ROCK – Fisheries crews from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocked more than 245,000 fish in Arkansas lakes and rivers during March. The total stocking of fish weighed more than 111,000 pounds. Sportfish stocked included trout, catfish, bass and bream.
March stockings:
Amon’s Lake, Baxter County, 500 catchable rainbow trout
Lake Bennett, Faulkner County, 1,260 adult bluegill bream
Blue Mountain Lake, Logan County, 6,678 yearling channel catfish
Boyle Park Pond, Pulaski County, 605 catchable channel catfish
Cabot Community Pond, Lonoke County, 1,013 catchable channel catfish
Calion Lake, Union County, 2,000 yearling grass carp
Cane Creek St Park Pond, Lincoln County, 300 catchable channel catfish
Lake Catherine, Garland County, 3,674 catchable rainbow trout
Cherrywood Lake, Pulaski County, 600 catchable channel catfish
Lake Conway, Faulkner County, 340 adult Florida bass
Lake Greenlee, Monroe County, 590 yearling Florida bass
Lake Hamilton, Garland County, 7,014 catchable rainbow trout
Horsehead Lake, Johnson County, 40,000 adult flathead minnows
Kiwanis Park, Pulaski County, 538 catchable channel catfish
Lake Village Community Lake, Chicot County, 500 catchable channel catfish
Little Missouri River, Montgomery County, 1980 catchable rainbow trout
Little Red River, Cleburne and White County, 8,095 catchable rainbow trout
MacArthur Park Lake, Pulaski County, 500 catchable rainbow trout
MacArthur Park Lake, Pulaski County, 475 catchable channel catfish
Martin Luther King Park, Jefferson County, 800 catchable channel catfish
Mike Freeze England Community Pond, Lonoke County, 1,000 catchable channel catfish
Mirror Lake, Stone County, 1,000 catchable rainbow trout
Monticello High School Pond, Drew County, 500 catchable channel catfish
Narrows Dam Tailwater, Pike County, 15,957 catchable rainbow trout
Lake Nimrod, Yell County, 6,000 yearling channel catfish
Lake Ouachita, Montgomery County, 11,000 yearling channel catfish
Ouachita River, Hot Spring County, 2,000 catchable rainbow trout
Paradise Lake, Pulaski County, 400 catchable channel catfish
Pinnacle Mountain Pond, Pulaski County, 200 catchable channel catfish
Regional Park Pond, Jefferson County, 400 catchable channel catfish
Searcy City Lake, White County, 500 catchable channel catfish
Sherwood City Pond, Pulaski County, 500 catchable channel catfish
Spring River, Fulton County, 13,230 catchable rainbow trout
Sunset Lake, Saline County, 1,000 catchable channel catfish
Tri County Lake, Calhoun County, 2,225 yearling grass carp
Lake Valencia, Pulaski County, 1,330 catchable channel catfish
War Memorial Park, Pulaski County, 575 catchable channel catfish
West Memphis City Park Lake, Crittenden County, 1,000 catchable channel catfish
White River, Baxter, Marion, Izard and Stone counties, 68,304 catchable rainbow trout
Willow Beach Park Lake, Pulaski County, 800 catchable channel catfish
Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery
Little Red River, Cleburne County, 12,030 catchable rainbow trout
Norfork National Fish Hatchery
Beaver Tailwater, Carroll County, 9,694 catchable rainbow trout
Norfork River, Baxter County, 1,139 catchable rainbow trout
White River, Baxter, Izard and Marion counties, 19,368 catchable rainbow trout
| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
(Updated 4-16-2014) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water level is high, but bream are still biting well along the shoreline on worms and crickets. Crappie are responding best to minnows and jigs around cypress trees near Adams Lake and Greens Lake. Bass fishing is good on soft-plastic lizards and worms. Catfishing is very good on trotlines and yo-yos baited with live goldfish and minnows.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are biting well in 2 to 9 feet of water early in the morning and late in the afternoon on chartreuse jigs and pink minnows. Bass are fair. No report on bream or catfish.
Little Red River (Greers Ferry Tailwater)
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said generators are running sporadically with two units running at times. The water is at normal flows for this time of year and the trout are biting well. Wax worms with a marshmallow floater have been the ticket for bait fishermen, and fly-fishing has been good with egg patterns and zebra midges.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ’em All Guide Service said the spillway gates are closed and generators are back online. Generation of one or two units each day can be expected. Current generation is starting early mornings and continuing through late evening providing some opportunities to wade on the middle and lower part of the river and excellent conditions for drift fishing. We are seeing March browns, caddis and blue wing hatches daily. Current flies working well are March brown imitations, caddis pupa, tan sowbugs, soft hackles and streamers. Trout Magnets have been producing good catches with hot pink and chartreuse bodies on chartreuse and gold jig heads. The weather has been cooperating recently and we are seeing flowers and dogwoods blooming making it a great time to fish the Little Red River. With lower water conditions and bright sunshine remember to use fluorocarbon tippet to increase your catches.
Greers Ferry
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.53 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.50 msl).
(Updated 4-23-2014) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is 0.13 feet above normal pool and falling. Surface water temperature ranges from the mid-60s to 70 degrees. Bass fishing is good with fish in all stages of the spawn. Topwater and wake baits are working well for post-spawn fish. Bedding fish and prespawn fish will hit wacky rigs, flukes and floating worms. The bite will be great the next few weeks. Bream are biting nightcrawlers, crickets and crankbaits, most have not gone shallow yet but will be in the next couple days and the bite will be good. Catfish are biting well on live bait fished on rod-and-reel, jugs and trotlines. The catfish bite has just started picking up, and will get better as the year goes on. Crappie are in all stages of their spawn; try jigs or minnows fished in the brush up the rivers. Walleye are on the feed, some are lingering up the rivers and eating a variety of baits. The lake walleye are going great with next two weeks promising to be some of the best walleye fishing of the year. Hybrid and white bass are eating well all over the lake; some are still spawning up the rivers and for the most part the hybrids have dumped their eggs. The main lake bite is starting to get good and will be better in the next 10 or so days.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Cody Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said visibility in the lower section of the reservoir is as great as 15 feet with 6 to 8 feet of visibility over much of the reservoir. Wind has been key to finding and staying on an active bite. Most all species are in full blown spawn. Walleyes, crappie, smallmouth, spotted bass and largemouth are being taken on a variety of baits fished from the bank to 14 feet of water. Most walleyes are still milting and some are still dropping eggs. Whites and hybrids are still up the creeks, rivers and on some main lake flats finishing up their spawn as well. Stay shallow and chase the wind for a good bite.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) said the lake is near normal pool and rising with recent rain. The water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s and rising quickly. This week should see the temps reach the 60-degree mark in the upper part of the lake. Fish are responding well and moving into the 5- to 7-foot range. Black bass have been very active, while crappie seem to move in and out with the cold nights. Fluctuating conditions on the upper lake make for inconsistent action, with one day producing well and the next day not so well. The crappie spawn should peak soon with action in the buckbrush. Lots of fish are still holding in the pole timber.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said bream fishing is fair in the coves on worms, crickets and meal worms. Before the rain crappie fishing was excellent on minnows and jigs around the shore. Bass are fairly good on white grubs fished along the main channel in 16 feet of water. Bass also were moving shallow before the front and were being caught on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic lizards. Catfishing is good in deeper water on chicken livers.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said the water is clear to slightly dingy. Bream fishing is excellent on redworms and crickets. Redear are biting on redworms fished near the bottom. Crappie fishing is very good in 3 to 8 feet of water on minnows and Slab Slay’Rs or Baby Shads in bone white, Cajun cricket barbecue chicken and monkey milk colors. Bass were biting well on soft-plastic worms and spinnerbaits.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about 6 inches high and clear. The surface water temperature is about 66 degrees. Crappie are spawning and some are being caught in the grass and buckbrush in 5 to 8 feet of water. The best lures for crappie have been pink/chartreuse, black/chartreuse and pink/white/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bream are starting to be caught in shallow water and around docks on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting well on lizards and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and on noodles baited with cut shad and liver.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs with Bobby Garland baits in bone white, barbecue chicken and blue/white. Bream are slow on nightcrawlers, redworms and crickets. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits, soft-plastic worms and flukes.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Jan Johnson at Brewer Lake Bait Shop (501-354-4108) said Fourche Valley Bass Club is holding a tournament Saturday, April 26, so expect high traffic at the South Launching Area. The cold snap last week caused the crappie to go back into deep water, but the recent warmer weather has helped and they are moving back into the shallows. Red/chartreuse and black/chartreuse jigs and minnows are best. White bass are hitting at the surface on minnows and artificial baits. Bass are fair on top water lures and plastic worms. Catfish are still in deep water but doing fair on jugs and trotlines baited with goldfish and on poles with liver, stinkbaits and nightcrawlers. Bream are moderately active in brushy areas and hitting crickets.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is still low and clear. Crappie are being caught on white/chartreuse and pumpkinseed/chartreuse jigs and minnows around brush. Bass are biting fairly well on soft-plastic worms and jig-and-pig combos. Bream are beginning to pick up on crickets and redworms. Catfishing is good on trotlines and noodles baited with liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Cargile
(Updated 4-23-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is a little high and clear. Crappie are spawning and can be caught in shallow water on jigs and minnows. Bream are beginning to bed up and are fair on redworms and crickets. Bass are biting well on spinners and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and on trotlines baited with shad or liver.
Lake Maumelle
(Updated 4-23-2014) Jolly Roger’s Marina said the surface water temperature at the docks is 75 degrees and fishing is steadily improving. Largemouth bass excellent on black/red spinnerbaits and floating worms fished around grass in 5 to 10 feet of water. Spotted bass are biting excellently on the outside edge of grass on jigs. White bass are still excellent up the creek past Sleepy Hollow. Try Roostertails, crappie jigs and minnows. Crappie are fair, but are moving back out to 10 to 15 feet of water. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms around brush in 10 to 15 feet of water. There’s no report on catfish now, but trotlining should pick up very soon.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are excellent on white/chartreuse and red/chartreuse jigs and on minnows fished around structure in 18 to 20 feet of water. Bass are excellent on Senkos, square-billed crankbaits, spinnerbaits and drop-shot rigs fished around wood and rock cover. Catfishing is fair on brood minnows, green sunfish, worms and liver. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms fished around rocks and wood in 10 to 12 feet of water.
Benton City Lake
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing has been fair with crickets and redworms. Crappie have been small and few but some have been biting pink minnows.
Sunset Lake
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie fishing has been fair with no. 6 and pink minnows and some have been caught on jigs as well. Catfish have been biting chicken liver and bait shrimp. Bream are biting crickets and redworms. Bass fishing has been good with live minnows, spinnerbaits, floating worms and Texas-rigged lizards.
Saline River Access in Benton
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said the river has been on and off with the rain. Fishing has been slow to fair when it’s been possible to fish at all. Bass will bite large minnows or small Texas-rigged lizards. Crappie can be caught in some back waters on no. 6 crappie minnows. Catfish have been the best fishing on the river lately on trotlines baited with black salties and crawfish. Bream can be caught on crickets and redworms almost anytime you can safely get to the water.
Lake Norrell
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie are few and far between but still biting no. 6 and pink minnows. Bass are biting fair on floating or Texas-rigged worms. Topwater baits have been working early in the mornings for some customers. Catfish have been slow but will bite minnows, nightcrawlers and live crawfish fished on bottom. Bream are starting to bite fairly well and should be hot soon. The big ones are usually deep and like crickets and redworms.
Bishop Park Lakes in Bryant
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie fishing has been good on pink minnows. Some good stringers with a few big ones have come from the back lake. Some bass and catfish have been mixed in with the crappie. Bream fishing has been good with crickets.
Lake Winona
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie are biting no. 12 bass minnows and Bobby Garland baby shad in electric chicken colors. Catfish are biting live minnows and nightcrawlers. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits and floating worms. Bream fishing is starting to improve and some nice ones have been caught on crickets in 5-6 feet of water.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
(Updated 4-23-2014) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said people are starting to come to the river finally, now that all the bad weather has passed. Black bass are biting well on green pumpkin lizards fished in 4 to 8 feet of water. White bass and stripers are moving up Point Remove Creek, Petit Jean River, Coppers Gap and Flagg Lake Cutoff and are biting well on chartreuse or pearl chatterbaits. Crappie are biting well on chartreuse jigs tipped with ah minnow in Coppers Gap, Petit Jean River and behind the islands in Willow Bend. Catfishing is good on jetty tips; worms have been the best bait for the catfish lately.
(Updated 4-23-2014) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the river is clear and warm. There are a few bream being caught on crickets, but no large bream have shown up yet. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and a few jigs in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass fishing is excellent on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs around stumps and laydowns. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits, square-billed crankbaits and Senkos. Catfishing is excellent on green sunfish, brood minnows, livers, chicken hearts, worms and hot dogs.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(Updated 4-23-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting well on Roadrunners and red/chartreuse or black/yellow jigs fished around wood and rock in slack water. Bass are excellent around jetty points on square-billed crankbaits, Senkos, lizards and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines baited with sunfish, skipjack, livers or worms in the main channel. No report on bream
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(Updated 4-23-2014) Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said crappie can be caught in the shallow water around rocks and wood on black/chartreuse and blue/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well around woody cover in the backwaters on tubes, crankbaits, creature baits and Senkos.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting well on white/chartreuse, red/chartreuse and black/yellow jigs near the lock and dam. White bass are excellent on twin-tailed grubs, bass minnows and spoons. Catfishing is fair on skipjack, shad and minnows below the dam, but excellent in the main channel downstream near Burns Park.
(Updated 4-23-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie fishing is good in backwater areas on minnows and jigs. Crankbaits and worms seem to be the best baits for bass below Terry Lock and Dam. Skipjack fished below the dam is working well for catfish, but nothing else is bringing in the cats.
Clear Lake
(Updated 4-23-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting fairly well, and most anglers catching largemouths are using spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms.
Peckerwood Lake
(Updated 4-16-2014) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water level is high and the water is dingy and cold from the rain and cold front. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
Lake Pickthorne
(Updated 4-16-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is excellent in the stumps on minnows, small, 1/4-oz. spoons and red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are excellent on Senkos, finesse worms and square-billed crankbaits.
Lake Valencia in Maumelle
(Updated 4-16-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said trout are only fair, and the last of the trout stockings are complete. Catfishing is excellent on worms, minnows, livers and stink bait.
Lake Willastein in Maumelle
(Updated 4-16-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair out in the middle of the lake on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting excellently along the grass mats and around the piers on Senkos, jigs and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on minnows, worms, livers and hot dogs.
| North Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 660.38 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl)
(Updated 4-23-2014) Ken Minsky of Ken Minksy’s Loch Leven Guide Service said a lot can happen in a week this time of year. The main lake near Point 24 is up 9 degrees from last week, to 63. Walleyes are on the feed in the creek arms and are taking baits presented in the 12- to 20-foot range near secondary points. White bass are done spawning in some creek arms but going strong in others. Bear Creek still has nice numbers that are still in the spawning mode, while Shoal Creek whites have pretty much completed spawning. Kentucky bass are in the creek arms on secondary points and can be found in about 12 feet of water. They are eagerly taking baits while they ready for their spawning rituals. Suckers have begun their run up the creeks and are being seen in large numbers in 3 to 5 feet of water. Bow fisherman should be happy as there are also large numbers of carp on the move in flooded flats and great shooting to be had on calm sunny afternoons. Gar have also started to move into their spawning locations with a few showing up along main lake bluffs. The key to finding them is locating bluffs that have some sloping structure in 5 to 10 feet of water for spawning. Catfish of all types are also on the move and trotliners should do well along main lake bluffs and creek arms.
(Updated on 4-23-2014) Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report.
White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater)
(Updated 4-23-2014) Newland’s Resort below Bull Shoals said water conditions are remaining at nice floating levels, with 3 to 5 generators running all day long. Trout have been biting well on Rapalas, Little Cleos, sculpins and pink artificial worms. Be sure to visit the Projected Water flow page and live web cam at Newland’s web site. (Updated 4-23-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is a bit mossy and is flowing at normal levels. Trout fishing was excellent over the weekend on wax worms and Power Bait. Many brown trout were caught on Rogues and other stick baits as well as jigs. No big fish came in last weekend, but good numbers were caught by many anglers.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the hot spot last week was Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby midges, pink and cerise San Juan worms, and sowbugs. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (try a cerise or pink San Juan worm with a ruby midge pattern suspended below it). The Corps of Engineers has been running much more water and that has been an advantage to streamer fishermen. Bang the bank and strip the fly back to the boat. This is heavy work and requires advanced casting skills. Some effective patterns are sex dungeons and circus peanuts. We have had numerous reports of caddis hatches. Though sparse, the trout did not key in on them mostly due to the high volume of water. It is a harbinger of spring and a promise of what is to come. Before the hatch, fish green caddis pupa (size 14). You will often get more strikes at the end of the drift as the fly rises. When the move to the surface and begin keying in on emergers switch over to a green butt soft hackle (size 15). When they start taking adult insects off the water’s surface, you should switch to a green elk hair caddis pattern (size 14).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.60 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
(Updated 4-16-2014) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake is at normal pool. The water temperature is in the high-50s and rising. The water visibility is stained. The night bite is good. The lake is warming up fast and the stripers are moving into the banks. The big fish have moved up the creek and are starting to feed. Shad have started moving to the banks and the stripers are following. The lake should be in the 60-degree range by week’s end. The best bite iss mid-day with clouds or overcast skies. Sunny days the bite is off with very little activity. The stripers were caught on 5 to 7 inch gizzard shad. The night bite is strong, the best times are from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.; fish the banks that had wind on them during the day with Rattling Rogues. Crappie are biting on minnows, small spoons and jigs on brush piles in 20 feet of water in the mornings. Later, as the day warms up, the crappie are moving shallow. Limits are being caught in all the major creek arms. The walleyes will be spawning now with the water warming. The rains this week will see a big push up the river to spawn. The best spots are at the state line, Liner Creek, Udall Marina, and from Bridges Creek to the 160 bridge.
(Updated 4-9-2014) Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing is heating up. Stripers, bass and crappie are all starting to bite. The fish are moving to the banks to feed both in the day as well as in the dark. The lake surface water temperature has consistently been in the low to upper 50s. The best bite for striped bass is still back in the creeks. A few fish are starting to move out into the main lake, but the water temperature needs to rise more for a consistent main lake bite. Live bait is working very well; shiners, threadfin shad and gizzard shad are all working. If you are live bait fishing, make sure you have several lines out with no weights. It will not be long before fluke and spook fishing will start to take off. Over the last several days bass fishing has become much better. Largemouth, spots and smallmouth bass are moving into the shallows feeding on baitfish. Stick baits, swimming minnows, crankbaits and plastics are all starting to work. Crappie have started to move into shallow water over brush. The water is pretty clear so when you are fishing brush piles you will need to stay away and cast into them. The fish will not be very deep, so you don’t want to spook them. Live bait with a slip cork or small paddle tail baits tipped with a minnow work great. Walleye, white bass and catfish fishing should start to heat up very soon. Look for these species on shallow flats and main lake points. Currently the walleye and white bass are back in the creeks and will be moving out. Catfish will be starting their spawn soon if not already so look shallow.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the upper 50s to the low 60s. The water is warmer back in the creeks in the stained water. The main lake is clear. There is a little top water action in the morning for bass and a few whites are coming up. The best action has come on white Zara Spooks and 4-inch swim baits. Throw a Rogue at night for hybrids and stripers. Throw it to the bank and remember you have to reel it very slowly. Don’t be surprised if you pick up walleye also.
North Fork River (Norfork Tailwater)
(Updated 4-16-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the Norfork has not fished well of late. This is possibly due to cold water temperatures on the lake. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles like the green butt. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). There have been reliable hatches of small midges and very small caddis (try a size 24 Adams parachute).The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. Some anglers have been fishing heavy articulated streamers on sink tip lines on the higher flows.
Buffalo River
(Updated 4-16-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River is navigable and clear. With the cool temperatures, smallmouth are inactive. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
Crooked Creek
(Updated 4-16-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek is navigable and clear. With the cool temperatures, the smallmouth are inactive. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
| Northwest Arkansas |
Beaver Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.21 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
(Updated 4-23-2014) Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have begun moving shallow. Look for bass to be along gravel banks with timber and visible cover. A Texas-rigged craw flipped around the cover or a spinnerbait fished parallel to the bank should entice some strikes. For fish staged a bit deeper, look in the middle of small pockets and the adjacent points. A Carolina-rigged lizard or tube should catch those fish. Monte-Ne, Blackburn, Prairie Creek, Both Clifty’s and Van Winkle have all been good. Crappie have begun to spawn on the south end of the lake and should be north of the Highway 12 bridge by the weekend. Look for fish to be under logjams in the backs of pockets, under laydown trees along sloped banks and along pole timber close to the bank. A 1/32- or 1/16-oz. jig under a bobber will do the trick in these areas. For deeper fish, look along a channel close to brush piles or timber in 15 to 30 feet of water. A curly tail jig on a 1/16-oz. jig head will work in those areas. The White River upstream from Point 12, Piney Creek, Monte-Ne, Joes Creek and Blackburn have all been good for crappie. White bass continue to bite well in the backs of windblown coves and far up each river arm. Anything that resembles an injured shad will do the trick. Indian Creek, Coose Hollow, Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and both War Eagle and the White River have been good. Catfishing has been good late in the day into the evening using liver and worms in Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and the Highway 412 bridge area.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said walleye are done spawning and the white bass are right behind them. Stripers are feeding throughout the day with peaks at dusk and dawn. Fishing is good on live shad fished from the surface to 25 feet deep. Trolling small umbrella rigs with white grub, Rapalas, Bomber 15-16As or spoons on flat lines with planer boards near the channel are also producing. Watch for schooling fish and have a spoon or Redfin plug ready! Check the following hot spots: At Lost Bridge North, walleye and white bass are being caught on medium-diving crankbaits; Highway 12 Bridge, walleye are being caught on medium-diving crankbaits, spinner rigs with nightcrawlers and minnows and jigs, and white bass are being caught in numbers; at Prairie creek, medium-diving plugs, jigs and spinner rigs with nightcrawlers are catching good walleye. War Eagle and the junction of War Eagle and the White River are producing walleye and white bass, as well as plenty of stripers. Blue Springs is producing stripers, walleye and white bass on medium-diving crankbaits, jigs and spinner rigs with minnows.
(Updated 4-9-2014) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting very good on minnows and jigs fished around cover just off the bank. White bass are upriver, but you have to find clear water and fish deep-diving crankbaits for them . Walleye are biting well on black grubs and minnows as they move upstream to spawn.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Scott Branyan at Ozark Fly Flinger said there is a bit of a fishing slump on the tailwaters with the increased releases, cold water temperatures and high feeder streams the past week. Some warmer weather, sunshine and stable water conditions will improve the fishing. Fishing on Beaver tailwater was slow the end of last week. Water temperature was 41 degrees with the prolonged generation. Some afternoon shutdown returned beginning Sunday, but weather has been cold. There were no signs of shad coming through last week with the peak in generation. Shad patterns did not produce well either. Darker streamers work better although catch rates were way down. Generation early in the morning and again late in the day continues this week.
(Updated 4-2-2014) Beaver Dam Store said walleye fishing is picking up downstream from Houseman Access to Holiday Island. Drifting crappie-size minnows along the bottom or trolling a firetiger Flicker Shad crankbait at 2-3 mph looks like the ticket. A customer brought a picture of a 28″ Brown caught with a a streamer last Sunday. Midges, pheasant tails, peacock herl soft hackles and woolly buggers will get some attention. Nickle and gold Colorado spoons are hard to beat. We have some GULP maggots that will work when nothing else will on a micro jig.
Lake Elmdale
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said Lake Elmdale is about 2 feet feet lower than normal, and the water is clear. The crappie are spawning in some parts of the lake. With a surface temperature of 64 degrees, areas around Rock Island have been hot with feeding crappie. Also from Goose Island into Brush Creek has been good for crappie. Fish over any fallen limbs or brush with minnows set 3-4 feet deep. Tube jigs and rock hoppers are also good. Try tipping your jiig with a crappie nibble or live redworm. Bass have been hitting suspending jerkbaits and spinners. Bluegill are excellent on crickets set about 16 inches under a bobber on a no. 6 or 8 cricket hook. Redworms are best for redear sunfish; tightline the worm near the bottom in 7 to 8 feet of water.
Lake Fayetteville
(Updated on 3-26-2014) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said some small crappie are being caught, but no big keepers lately. A few largemoutt bass are showing up. Catfishing is very good on nightcrawlers. Slip rental fees are due for everyone keeping a boat at the dock.
Lake Sequoyah
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal water levels. The surface water temperature is 68 degrees. Bream fishign is good on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and topwater lures. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
Prairie Grove Lake
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lake Manager Dennis Kruse said there was finally a nice weekend to fish, but the fishing was not very good at all. Fishing was slow for all species.
| Northeast Arkansas |
Lake Poinsett
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lake Poinsett State Park said crappie fishermen say they are steadily catching more crappie (up to their limit). One a little over 3 pounds come in last weekend. Bream fishermen using crickets have caught a variety of fish lately. The bait shop is selling a lot of goldfish, crickets and minnows lately. Lake Poinsett State Park will hold a kids fishing derby May 20.
Crown Lake
(Updated 4-16-2014) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is dingy and at normal level, but the water temperature is still cold due to the weather. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
Lake Frierson
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lake Frierson State Park said water temperatures have climbed into the 60s. Bream have been poor to fair on crickets about 1-3 feet deep under a bobber. Bass have been slow to fair, with a few fish being caught on dark soft plastics or black/blue jigs. Bass should be moving into pre-spawn mode soon. Some saugeye have been caught near the levee on crankbaits and minnows at various depths. Catfish have been fair to good. Some nice blue catfish and flathead catfish were caught on jugs baited with minnows. Be sure to have jugs and trotlines clearly marked and follow the regulations for when they must be attended. Bank anglers have also been having luck on channel catfish and blues using dip baits, minnows, nightcrawlers and chicken liver under a large bobber. Vary your depth; try around 3-5 feet to start. Some reports of crappie are coming in from the northern end of the lake in the flooded bushes on minnows and crickets. Many areas are accessible by small boat right now that are normally out of the water, and the crappie seem to have moved into that brush and grass in teh flooded area.
The renovation of Dam No. 3 on the Spring River is underway. The contractor is accepting delivery of a large crane Thursday-Saturday (April 17-19) with assembly scheduled on Saturday morning. Delays are expected to occur during the time of assembly and transport. Accesses at Lassiters, Cold Spring and Bayou are also available for the Spring River, and anglers may have better success launching at these places during heavy traffic periods.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said the river is running at 400 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. The catching has been great on the river and it is looking great also. Guppies have been the hot fly this week. Hot pink and purple haze Trout Magnets are excellent choices as well.
| Southeast Arkansas |
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
(Updated 4-16-2014) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s in backwater areas and around 60 degrees in the main channel of the river. Water visibility is around 1 foot within Lake Langhofer, and backwater areas. The main channel is muddy from the recent rains with visibility less than half a foot. There is flow in the river, but it is still at a mild rate. Bass are moving into post-spawn locations in backwaters and transitioning from sandy flats back to their typical rocky shorelines. Good stringers of fish have been weighed in recent tournaments, being caught with small, medium-diving crankbaits and jigs.
Cane Creek Lake
(Updated 4-23-2014) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said bass fishing has been very good on soft-plastic worms and real nightcrawlers. Crappie have been hit-or-miss with the weather. Catfishing is good.
Lake Chicot
(Updated 4-23-2014) Geoff Wright at Lake Chicot State Park said a lot of catfish are being caught at Chicot lately, especially on limb lines, yo-yos and trotlines. All sorts of bait is working for the catfish right now. Some crappie are being caught here and there, but the story really is the catfish right now.
| Southwest Arkansas |
Millwood Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.50 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.60 msl).
(Updated 4-23-2014) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water level is 4 inches above normal conservation pool. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 9,000 CFS as of Monday. Water temps are 67 to 77 degrees, degrees, depending on location and time of day. Water clarity improved, with 10 to 15 inches of visibility in the main lake away from current. Largemouth Bass up to 8 or 9 pounds have been on the beds for the past couple weeks. Plastic lizards, Rat-L-Traps, jigs, spinnerbaits, and Bass Assassin Shads have been taking staging bass on flats with stumps, ditches, and in creek channels. Find water temps 5 to 8 degrees warmer than surrounding areas and clear water for the bedding fish. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs in Texas Craw, Voodoo and Green Pumpkin Candy and Bass Assassin Shads were catching Largemouths in the 5-7 pound class over the past several weeks. Chatterbaits continue catching nice bass in Mud Lake oxbow over the past couple weeks in dead lily pad stems and new pad blooms. Best colors Rat-L-Traps working over the past few weeks that will get bit are Toledo Gold, Pumpkin Craw, or Creole Craw. White bass have finished their spawn and are scattering out. Prespawn crappie continue biting in 5-9 feet of water along creek channels and around cypress trees on Blakemore Roadrunners, Beetle spins, Little Cleos, and H & H spinners. Best colors with the stained water clarity seem to be white, chartreuse and black. Blue catfish and channel cats are loving the increase of current in Little River this week on trot lines running 10-15 feet of depth, or on yo-yos in Mud Lake and other oxbows up Little River, using chicken liver, blood bait and cut shad.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.70 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 4-23-2014) Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the mid-60s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is good with many nice catches reported. Most fish are coming from the upper end of the lake between Arlie Moore and Cox Creek. The fish are shallow in spawning coves. Lipped and lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swim baits, and Alabama rigged swimbaits are working well, especially around any schooling activity. Morning and evening are the best times, but a few fish have been caught during the day on Texas-rigged worms fished close to shoreline cover. Only a few crappie have been reported coming from the spawning coves and up shallow in the shoreline brush. Hybrid fishing is fair with the fish scattered between Point 15 and Cox Creek. The best method is trolling to cover a lot of water; try crankbaits such as a Rapala no. 7 Original Floating Minnow, 4-inch swim baits, Roostertails and small umbrella rigs with 3-inch curly tail grubs or swim baits. The feeding fish will be about 15 feet down so be sure to troll above the fish at about 10 to 12 feet. Morning and evening is now the best time. A few “breaking” fish reported and the surface action will only get better in the next few weeks. Catfishing is getting better on trotlines set across shallow points about 20 feet deep in the Shouse Ford area. Bait with cut shad, hot dogs, night crawlers or Catfish Charlie. Bream are moving shallow with the warmer water. Look for some bedding activity on the May full moon. Use crickets or redworms.
| South-Central Arkansas |
Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.
Ouachita River Oxbows
(Updated 4-2-2014) Local angler Jaret Rushing said the Ouachita River Oxbows are beginning to see an influx of new water from the rains we had last weekend. This should slow bass down from moving into spawning stages. Bass are still actively hitting slower moving “shad-like” baits and jigs. Again, color selection is key when targeting bass in these lakes and tributaries. Anglers should match their color choices based on water clarity. Crappie are still biting well on minnows and lighter colored jigs fished around outstretched trees in about 4 feet of water. Their bites are somewhat light, so pay attention and use fluorocarbon lines if possible to help detect the strike.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.
White Oak Lake
(Updated 4-2-2014) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) said on the lower lake, the catfish daily limit is 5 and the bream daily limit is 50; and all other fish are catch-and-release only. Catfish are biting on trotlines. On the upper lake (where there are no special regulations) bream are biting well on crickets and worms early in the morning and evening. Catfish are biting well on worms in the evenings. Bass are a little slow but can be picked up in the mornings and evenings on artificial lures. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs, and bream on crickets and worms. For lake information or a camping reservation please call White Oak Lake State Park at 870-685-2748 or visit http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/whiteoaklake/
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 345.43 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
(Updated 4-23-2014) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Catfishing also is excellent; anglers are having the best luck with shad.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on minnows and Bobby Garland plastics in Cajun cricket, barbecue chicken, bone white and blue/white fished 3 to 10 feet deep. Bream are biting well on redworms and nightcrawlers. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms, spinnerbaits and Rooster Tails. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
(Updated 4-23-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets, and are on the beds. Catfishing is also good on chicken liver and minnows.
Fourche La Fave River
(Updated 4-23-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is stained and low. Crappie fishing is good on minnows an jigs. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and minnows.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
Lake Dardanelle
(Updated 4-23-2014) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said the water is muddy in the river and slightly clearer in the backwater areas. Some clear water is in the extreme back ends of pockets and creeks. Surface water temperature is 74 degrees. Bass have been biting very well on buzzbaits and frogs early and late and on brush hogs and jigs fished around cover during the middle of the day. On windy days, be sure to cast a spinnerbait, chatter bait or square-billed crankbaits around laydowns in the creeks. Crappie have been biting very well on minnows and jigs around dead grass in the river. The crappie in the creeks are holding off the tops of laydowns and around lily pad stems. Stripers and white bass can be found in the mouths of the creeks and at the mouth of the nuclear plant; small crankbaits, white jigs with grubs, jerk baits, tailspinners and inline spinners are working well. Bream have been good on worms and crickets on stumps and brush in creeks.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.88 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.80 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
(Updated 4-23-2014) Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the lake temp is in the 60s and the lake level is at full pool. Black bass are being caught on just about anything you want to throw. This is floating worm season, so that is always fun. Also try a jighead worm in the guts of pockets. A carolina rig is a great way to catch a good one and sight fishing is how most tournaments are being won. Crappie are in brush in 5 feet of water and less. White bass are still in most major creeks.
(Updated 4-23-2014) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said black bass are still very good on jig head worms and floating worms fished near shallow spawning areas. Carolina-rigged lizards and brush hogs are still producing quality sacks fished slightly deeper than the bedding bass you can see shallow. Walleye are biting well on Shad Raps and lipless crankbaits fished on main lake points. Stripers are biting well on C-10 Redfins. Try main lake points in all three river basins. Bream are fair but showing improvement and being caught around brush about 10 feet deep. Crappie are picking back up and being caught near brush with minnows or crappie jigs. These fish are being caught 6-14 feet deep and some are spawning. Catfish are good and being caught on trotlines fished near main lake and secondary points.
Lake Hamilton
(Updated 4-23-2014) Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the surface water temperature is in the 60’s and the lake level is at normal spring pool. The water is stained from the recent rain, but is clearing up slowly. Black bass are bedding all over the lake. Good fish are being caught on floating worms, jerkbaits and Carolina-rigged lizards and bush hogs. Most fish are being caught in 5 feet of water and less. Crappie also are shallow and are being caught around brush in 6 feet of water and less. White bass are finishing up their run in the major creeks.
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(Updated 4-16-2014) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 55 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Fishable conditions have now been re-established as heavy flows and stained waters have passed through the system. Rainbow trout fishing is excellent with quality limits caught daily by bank and boat fishermen alike. Target areas protected from direct flow with live bait presentations such as redworms, nightcrawlers, wax and meal worms. Artificial lures that imitate injured shad or crawfish are also working well in times of current. Crappie are spawning near the dam and being caught on minnows tightlined over deep water. Small jigs and spinnerbaits in white or yellow are also effective around structure. White and yellow bass are spawning also and can be taken on the same lures. Walleye are in the tailrace chasing shad and recuperating from the spawn. Very large drum are spawning and taking shad and crawfish over sand bars and rocks close to the dam. Topwater action for stripers has been seen below the bridge but few fish have been caught. As May approaches, large schools of shad will migrate toward the dam to spawn and will be followed by large stripers. C-10 redfins and Super Spooks in shad or trout colors are highly effective lures to cast into feeding fish.
Lake Atkins
(Updated 4-23-2014) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.
| East Arkansas |
Bear Creek Lake
(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no new report.
Storm Creek Lake
(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no report.
White River
(Updated 4-23-2014) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report this week.
Maddox Bay
(Updated 4-23-2014) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high and muddy. Fishing has been very slow for all species for the last week or so.
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