Arkansas Fishing Report
Here is your weekly Arkansas fishing report for Aug. 3, 2013. Good luck and have fun reeling in the big ones.
| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake is stained and at normal level. Bream fishing is good with redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well in deep water in the channels around the cypress trees on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good early and late in the day around cover and at night on black spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent with nightcrawlers and cut bait.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair at the base of cypress trees closer to the main lake. Bass are doing fair on white buzz baits, Rat-L-Traps and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good nightcrawlers and livers.
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is good and generators have only been running late in the afternoons. Fishing has been excellent, and the go-to baits have been wax worms with marshmallows, Power Bait, sow bugs, midges and nymphs.
Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said fishing has been better in the early mornings and late afternoons. With small amounts of water being released each day, you will find great wadable water and drift fishing along the river. The go-to flies this week have been the “hothead” sow bug, zebra midges, size 20 emergers and RS2’s. Hot pink Trout Magnets used on gold and chartreuse Trout Magnet jig heads are producing good catches for spin fishermen. Remember to use fluorocarbon tippet to increase your catch numbers. Always check the U.S. Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power Administration websites for current and future water releases before planning your fishing trip.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.85 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl). ;
Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) had no report this week.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 460.60 and falling. The water is 1.94 feet below normal pool of 462.54 and the temp fell to the low 80s with the cool rain. The crappie are biting well in brush tops in 15-25 feet of water on crankbaits and jigs tipped with minnows. Catfishing is good all over the lake on a variety of baits. Bream are biting well shallow out to 20 feet deep on crickets and crawlers. Bass are schooling some now and the deeper bite is better with the cooling water. Try big worms on drops out to 40 feet of water. Walleye are biting around shad on spoons and crawlers fished in 25-35 feet of water. The white bass and hybrid fishing is fair without generation. Stay with the shad, and when they starting pulling, the bite will be on. Try spoons and in-line spinners in 25-40 feet of water.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said Greers Ferry is currently a foot and a half below summer pool of 462.4 and holding steady. Fishing over the last week has been spotty and slow compared to the last couple of weeks. The bite on main lake schoolers has been tough with limited amounts of surfacing and tons of shad finally reaching their summer locations. A limited number of creeks are still holding bait. Deep brush is ruling the night bite for largemouth on a Lake Fork Trophy Lures 10-inch worms in redbug, black neon and blue bruiser. The live bait approach with crawlers in 16 to 33 feet of water has and will produce the best bite on the reservoir for the next few weeks.
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water level is normal and there is 2 feet of visibility. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms fished around brushy areas of the bank. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water on jigs and minnows early in the morning. Bass are good on dark plastic worms and spinnerbaits early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Catfishing is fair on cut bait, hot dogs and stinkbait suspended from trotlines.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) filed no new report.
Local angler Nicholas Karras had no report this week.
Jolly Roger’s Marina said black bass fishing is good, fish are deep during the day and closer to weeds and structure in the evening and early hours. Floating worms, swim baits, topwater lures, jigs and other deep-water baits have been effective throughout the day. The Tuesday night tournaments are still producing weights in the 7- to 9- pound range, not bad for 3.5 hours. Spotted bass fishing is excellent as fish are deep during the day and in grassy areas in the evenings. Small crankbaits, jigs and finesse worms have been the best baits. White bass are biting well all over the lake on CC spoons, Rooster Tails and Spooks. Crappie fishing is good in 15-20 feet of water around creek channel bends and any structure. Dull color jigs with bright neon jig heads and minnows have been the go-to baits. Bream fishing is excellent on worms and crickets in 10-15 feet of water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken liver.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting fairly well in 20-30 feet of water around brush piles on minnows, shad and various colored jigs. Bass fishing is good with spinnerbaits and Zara Spooks off main lake points. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with green sunfish, cut shad, chicken hearts and chicken livers.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Hatchet jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is excellent using chicken liver, hot dogs and nightcrawlers.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing has been fair using crickets or worms. Catfish have been biting nightcrawlers and chicken livers, but have been relatively slow.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish have been biting nightcrawlers, bait shrimp, stink bait and no. 12 bass minnows. Bream fishing has been fair with crickets and redworms. A few nice crappie have been caught recently on pink minnows and no. 6 crappie minnows. Bass have been hitting small buzzbaits early in the mornings and Texas-rigged lizards and worms later in the day.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said recent rains have added some much needed water to the river and should improve the fishing. Catfish have been the main catch with the low water levels. Trotlines baited with goldfish, black salties and brood minnows produced some nice flatheads last week. Bass fishing has been fair to good on live minnows, small spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged 4-inch lizards. Bream and other sunfish will bite crickets and redworms almost any time of day. Light line and tackle along with a little stealth are keys to success on small, clear waters like the Saline.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing always leads in reports from Lake Norrell. The fish are still coming out of deep water, and are still scattered. Redears and bluegills are being caught on crickets, but they will bite a redwormc too. If you’re catching a bunch of small ones, move to deeper water and add some weight to get your bait down faster. Catfish have been biting fairly well on nightcrawlers and redworms around some docks early in the morning and at sunset. Bass fishing has been fair at night on black Texas-rigged worms and lizards as well as black buzzbaits.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said some nice bass have been coming out of both lakes lately. According to a couple of customers, a red shad-colored Texas-rigged worm has been catching them best. Catfish are still being caught on nightcrawlers and no. 12 bass minnows fished in the ditches and deep spots of the lakes. A few small crappie have been biting pink minnows and small pink jigs. Bream have been hitting crickets and redworms.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said some big crappie have been caught in the last few days on no. 6 crappie minnows. Bream and catfish have been biting nightcrawlers fished in shallow, shady areas in the afternoons. Bass fishing has been fair using Texas-rigged worms and brush hogs in green pumpkin and black colors.
Charley’s Hidden Harbor had no report this week.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bass fishing is excellent using Spooks, spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged creature baits. Catfishing is fair in the main channel using green sunfish, cut shad, skip jacks, chicken hearts and chicken livers. Crappie are biting fairly well around brush piles on minnows and jigs. Bream fishing is fair around cypress trees with redworms and crickets.
Palarm Creek: No Arkansas fishing report this week.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said bream fishing is excellent with worms and crickets in 8-12 feet of water. Crappie are biting fairly well near brush on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs in 10-12 feet of water. Bass fishing is good using football head jigs, crankbaits and shaky head worms around jetty points. Catfishing is good using liver and prepared bait, especially chicken breasts loaded with garlic in 10-15 feet of water where there is some current.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bass fishing is excellent at the jetty points and main river channel using crankbaits, soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent in the main channel using green sunfish, cut shad, skip jack and minnows.
Fourche Creek: No Arkansas fishing report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Bass fishing is good using crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on snagging poles and cut bait.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water clarity is good and fishing has been good. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cut shad and chicken livers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) had no report this week.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report on the lake this week.
Lake Willastein
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is good off fishing piers using redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good in the middle of the lake on brush tops with white/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on the north side of the lake in the grass flats using topwater frogs, jigs and buzzbaits. Catfishing is excellent in the evenings using hot dogs, livers, hearts and minnows.
| North Arkansas |
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said generators have been running heavy in the afternoon but are steady at one in the morning. Spin fishermen have had success with pink Power Worms. Fly fishermen have caught fish on zebra midges, copper Johns, grasshoppers, spoons, Rogues and Rapalas.
Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the hot spot has been the state park. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. The hot flies were prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hare’s ears and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small beadheaded nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). Hopper season has begun. These are tempting morsels for large trout. You need a stiff 6-weight rod and a stout 7½-foot 4X leader. My favorite hopper patterns are the western style foam hoppers with rubber legs and a bright sight patch on the back. Dave’s hoppers are also a good choice but be sure to dress them with plenty of floatant to ensure that they ride high. A small nymph dropper can increase your takes. It is not uncommon to take more trout on the dropper. My favorite dropper flies are beadhead pheasant tails or zebra midges.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable and both are receiving a lot of pressure. With summer here, the smallmouths are active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. 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.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable and both are receiving a lot of pressure. With summer here, the smallmouths are active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. 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.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 660.09 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the lake level is at 659.7 feet with water temperatures ranging 83-85 degrees. Walleye are biting crawler rigs in 25 to 35 feet of water and also trolling crankbaits on lead core line. Crawfish-type soft plastics like jigs and tube baits and live crayfish fished on points, drop offs and brush piles are catching spotted and smallmouth bass. Topwater lures are working well early in the mornings and evenings. Bass are biting at night on plastic worms and jigs in 10-30 feet of water.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.87 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters had no Arkansas fishing report this week.
Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Norfork Lake fishing is in its summer pattern. Fish are below the thermocline, on the bottom as well as suspended in deep water channels. The thermocline appears to be between 26 to 30 feet deep. Striped bass fishing has been very erratic. It is good one day and tough the next. Stripers are being caught from mid-lake (Robinson area) to the dam. You can find stripers halfway back in creeks and also out in the main lake. They are still very scattered and have not really schooled up as they typically do this time of year. You will find the stripers 30 to 60 feet down in 40 – 130 feet of water. Live bait is working as well as vertical jigging and trollers are finding fish in the same areas, keeping their baits 30-40 feet down. The best bite is for walleye. The last two days I have lost very nice walleye because I am fumbling around trying to get the net extended. I am finding them in 30-33 feet of water in and around brush. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fishing has also been good. Most days there has been a good topwater bite starting at sunrise and ends when the sun gets over the trees. The bass are chasing shad and can be in any depth of water. Once the bass go down in deeper water, throw a crankbait that dives 10 feet to extend the morning bite. At mid-day, look out in 30-45 feet of water and start vertically jigging a spoon. I have found most of the action half way back into creeks along a channel swing. The fish will be on the points and out in the middle of the channel. The catfish bite has been good on trotlines set along deep bluffs in 20-30 feet of water. Bait up the line with live bait, shiners or small gills.
Guide Steve Olomon said the lake level is 554.6 and the water temp is in the low to mid-80s.Bass are coming up early and just before dark. They will hit a Zara Spook, Pop-R, Bass Assassins and suspending jerk baits. After the sun comes up, throw a worm or jig in green pumpkin or peanut butter and jelly colors. Look for stripers within a few miles of the dam. They will be suspended 30-50 feet deep and can be in coves off the main lake and in the creeks with deep water. They will stay in their summer haunts until fall when the water starts cooling down.
Campground News: Jordan Campground on Norfork Lake is open April 1-Oct. 1 and managed by Jordan Marina. Formerly run by the Army Corps of Engineers, Jordan Campground is a favorite of families camping on the south end of Norfork Lake and is the gateway to Sand Island and Jordan area beaches. This area also is a favorite of scuba divers, with 30 dive sites within 2 miles of the campground. Jordan Campground has 41 RV and tent sites; sites with 50-amp service and 30-amp service are available for $20 per night. The campground, adjacent to Jordan Marina, also features a swimming beach, picnic pavilion, boat launch and two restrooms. For more information, call (870) 499-7223 or Jordan Marina at (870) 499-7348.
Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been wadable water on the Norfork. The most productive flies have been small (size 20 or smaller) midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and Dan’s turkey tail emerger or soft hackles like my green butt or the partridge and orange. There has also been a sparse hatch of very small mayflies; reliable hatches of midges (try a size 22 parachute Adams for both), some smaller caddis (size 18) and the crane flies are still coming off. Grasshoppers have started producing fish, particularly when used in conjunction with a small nymph dropper (try a size 20 black zebra midge). Olive woolly buggers have also accounted for a lot of trout. The fishing is much better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday.
| Northwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.32 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) Beaver lake striper are on scattered but on the feed. The night bite has been best. Beaver lake striper fishing is good with stripers taken on live shad fished on down lines 20-30 feet deep. Trolling small umbrella rigs with white grub, Rapalas, or spoons on your downriggers near timber, bluffs and rock piles is working well. Three-way rigged Rapalas or Rogues are also producing (try Rapala no. 14 Husky Jerks in black back or purple back colors and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in 5-6 inch models). Beaver lake stripers are in areas holding bait near the main channel. Be sure to check out the following hot spots: Indian Creek (past Lost Bridge and the mouth of the creek); Rocky Branch (check the channel between the front of the marina and the road bed that extends to the island.) Most walleye are about 15-30 deep and can be caught using a variety of methods. You can flat-line troll with Cotton Cordell Spots, Hot ‘N’ Tot’s, Wiggle Warts, Rapala Tail dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos in clear water or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in areas of stained water. Slow death rigs featuring orange and chartreuse beads are working very well on a bottom bouncer. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing. Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) had no report this week.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water clarity is good and the lake is at normal pool. Bream fishing is fair with worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in 20 feet of water using jigs, minnows and deep-diving crankbaits. Bass are fair at night on spinnerbaits. During the day, crankbaits and soft plastics have been effective in the brush.
Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said the best action for bass has been very early in the day or at night, but it has been slow. At night, fish steep rock banks slowly using a 6- to 8-inch lizard or worm on a shaky head or Texas-rig. Early in the day, try using topwater plugs or buzzbaits in and around the flooded brush along the bank or a Carolina-rigged tube, lizard or worm fished over points and flats. Rambo arm, Fords Creek, Monte-Ne and Point 12 have all been good. Crappie have been suspending just off the bottom around brush or timber in 20 to 35 feet of water. If in the shade, or on cloudy days, look for them to move up and suspend 12- to 18-feet down. Shaded docks, bluff lines and channel ledges have been holding good numbers of crappie. The best way to find them is to slow crank 2-inch curly tailed grubs on 1/16-oz. jig heads from the bottom up to the surface. Monte-Ne, Eden Bluff, Horseshoe bend and the Beaver Shores area have all been good. White bass have been biting well at night under lights on minnows or shad along bluff lines close to the channel in the Rocky Branch area. Early and late in the day they can be found schooling on main lake flats and can be caught using Kastmaster spoons. Catfishing has been good and fish can be caught from the bank using liver or worms at 12 bridge, Monte-NE, Hickory Creek and the 412 bridge access.
Beaver Dam Store had no report this week.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said fishing has been good. Red ear and bluegill are biting crickets and worms under a small bobber 1-2 feet deep. Guides report large beds of red ear on Preachers Point. Limits of crappie have been caught trolling crankbaits 10-12 feet deep and with tube jigs or minnows over brush piles. Bass fishing is good with topwater lures early and late in the day. By mid-morning, use a fluke or plastic worm. On cloudy days, a black spinnerbait is effective.
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) had no Arkansas fishing report this week.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake clarity is good with water temperatures at 89 degrees, making fishing very slow. Bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Bass fishing is good with spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, shad and stinkbait.
Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said fishing picked up last weekend for all species. Bass are good on topwater baits early with lures like Pop-R’s, Spooks and buzzbaits. Spinnerbaits and Rogues work well later in the day. Crappie are deep, but have been caught trolling minnows and jigs in 8-10 feet of water. Bream remain steady on a diet of crickets and worms. Catfishing is good with cut bait or live bait.
| Northeast Arkansas |
Lake Poinsett State Park had no report this week.
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water clarity is good and the lake is at a normal level. Bream fishing is good using redworms and crickets. Bass fishing is good on shallow-diving crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good with chicken livers and shrimp in the evening.
Lake Frierson State Park said recent rains have brought the lake to normal pool. Water temperatures have cooled some, with reports of upper 70s in the overnight hours. Catfishing is steadily improving after the spawn with blues biting better than channels or flathead catfish. A variety of baits have been working under jugs and some bank anglers are having some success with minnows, nightcrawlers and livers. Bass have been fair on soft plastics and topwater baits early. Bream are still biting pieces of worms at various depths. If you are not having luck for bream, change your depth and how far you are from shore.
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 290 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. The fishing has been great over the last week. The hot fly this week has been Brownies with Y2Ks and Guppies coming in second. The best days have been overcast, dreary days. For spin fishers, red and white Trout Magnets and yellow Rooster Tails are doing great, and shrimp tails have been the prepared bait of choice.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said the water level on the Spring River is fishable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is in full swing. Fish the upper river at the Lassiter Access to avoid them. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
| Southeast Arkansas |
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said the water temperature is in the upper 80s. Visibility in Lake Langhofer, backwaters and the main channel is around 1 foot or less. The river is flowing enough to position fish in textbook locations on the main channel. Largemouth and spotted bass are biting well on the main channel, keying on rock points of jetties with shad-colored crankbaits. Fishing pressure has noticeably slowed the bite within Lake Langhofer, but they can still be caught on rocks and brushpiles with slower-moving lures.
Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s said bream fishing is still very good. Bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with just about anything.
Lake Chicot State Park had no report this week.
Jesse James Charter Fishing (870-355-7800) said catfishing is good on cut bait all over the lake. Crappie fishing is fair and fish have been caught on black/yellow jigs and live minnows around brush piles. Bream fishing is good with worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on Alabama rigs with swimbaits in mystic shad and pearl shad colors around points and creek channels. White spinnerbaits fished around the sides of docks and around cypress trees are also working well.
| Southwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.40 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said topwater action from dawn to around 10am has been excellent in lily pads, grass, and pockets out of any direct sunlight. A recent mayfly hatch on Millwood has bream and bass both surface feeding. Plastic frogs in the lily pads were getting good reactions until all the muddy water and rapid rise of over a foot and a half in 2-3 days this past weekend. The best reaction baits at dawn for the past couple weeks for these schooling fish were Bass Assassin Shads, Buzz baits, Arborgast Jitterbugs, spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Dying Flutters and soft plastic frogs. War Eagle spinnerbaits in firetiger or Spot Remover were working along vegetation lines. Best color for Rat-L-Traps have been Wild Shiner, Millwood Magic, or gold/black back colors, around 2-3 foot flats with stumps/grass/pads nearby. 10″ Power Worms in Black Grape, plum, or blue fleck are still working near cypress trees and stumps. Jumbo Gizit tubes are still working around cypress trees in the oxbows from 5-9 feet deep. White bass were surface schooling upriver and being caught in the oxbows before the rise in water. They were hitting Bomber crankbaits in sexy shad or Tenneessee shad colors and Rat-L-Traps in Chrome/black or chrome/blue back and Millwood Magic. Crappie continue to be slow. Live shiners, Southern Pro Lit’l Hustler or umbrella tubes were working by vertical jigging in and around planted brush piles from 8-14 feet deep. Jigs in chartreuse, black/chartreuse, or Blakemore Roadrunners in black/chartreuse seemed to be best colors. Blue catfish and channel catfish improved with increased current on trotlines or yo-yos with cut shad, cut drum, carp, chicken hearts or livers along Little River and creek mouths dumping into the river, around 10-12 feet deep.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 545.70 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Cossatot River State Park had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 403.120 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the mid-80s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is fair with only a few decent reports of fish being caught. The best bet is early in the morning for surface feeding fish working the shad schools. Look for “breaking” fish off most any main lake point with some cover. The Spillway area has been one of the better areas because of the emerging hydrilla in 8 to 20 feet of water. Throw topwater lures such as Zara Spooks, Rop R’s, Sammy’s, Flukes and 3 inch swim baits. Lure color is not too important but you have to get the lure right on the fish as soon as they break. Some nice fish were reported being caught on 8 to 10 inch Texas-rigged worms worked through the hydrilla in the Iron Mountain area. Crappie fishing remains slow with very few fish reported. Try main lake attractors in 18 to 25 feet of water early in the morning and fish close to the cover with a 2-inch grub or tube in natural shad pattern on a 1/16-ounce jig head. Hybrid fishing is fair with the fish scattered in the deep water between the spillway and DeRoche Ridge. Use the sonar to locate fish which will be suspended in either singles or small schools at 30 to 50 feet down in water over 100 feet deep. When fish are located, drop a jigging spoon in chartreuse or green to above the fish. Early morning is the best and perhaps the only time for any action. Bream fishing is holding up well with lots of fish in the coves where there is some rock or wood cover with redworms or crickets. Fish near the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water off points with shell bottom for the bigger red ears. The best bait is redworms. Catfishing is good on both noodles and trotlines at night. Set the noodles over timber with the bait about 20 feet down. Run the trotlines across coves in 20 to 40 feet of water, baited with chicken livers, hot dogs and soap, Catfish Charlie, blood, nightcrawlers and cut shad. Use liver, bream or big minnows for the bigger fish. Good areas have been Brushy Creek and around Point 10.
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 344.55 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said upriver bass are being caught on jigs, Rat-L-Traps and small swim baits, while upriver stripers are being caught on jointed swim baits. Mid-river bass are being caught with jigs, Spooks and worms, and lower river bass are being caught on worms, jigs, crankbaits and swim baits. Mid-river stripers, yellow bass and hybrids are being caught on tailspins, Rat-L-Traps and Spooks. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets, worms and grasshoppers from dam to dam. Catfishing is excellent from dam to dam on live bream, cut shad and catalpa worms.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.02 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
Blue Mountain Lake is now full and lake can be accessed at all concrete ramps. Things should start picking up with the warm weather. Many new fish attractors were placed during the drawdown, so it’s a great time to get out and motor around the lake marking new spots on the GPS.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 575.12 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl)..
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said water temperatures range from 82-86 degrees. Black bass are biting fairly well on Ol’ Monster worms, Brush Hogs and Texas-rigged U-tail worms. Drop-shot rigs are still producing some quality spotted bass in 20 to 30 feet of water. Walleye are biting well on bottom bouncers and drop shots fished with nightcrawlers or finesse worms over main lake points and humps. Stripers are still fair and are being caught on live bait and big hair jigs. These fish are near main lake humps and points. Try tight lining live bait near the dam for a chance to catch a big one. Bream fishing is good on crickets or worms in 20-25 feet of water over brush. Crappie are slow near and over brush in 25-40 feet of water with minnows or crappie grubs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines from 18-25 feet deep. Rod and reel fishermen are catching them near brush piles during the day with big night crawlers.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no report this week.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no report this week.
For a report on the crappie fishing at Lake Hamilton, visit Family Fishing Trips.
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said that water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 60 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. The lake is in very good shape for late July thanks to Entergy running long and consistent generation times. This process has kept the area cool and removed much of the heavy moss growth. Rainbow trout fishing is still productive which is highly unusual for this time of year. Normally, the trout are gone in late July, but good numbers of fish are still present and being caught. Live bait presentations are best as wary rainbows often ignore artificial lures. Wax and meal worms, nightcrawlers and redworms are all proven trout baits fished just off the bottom or under a bobber. Walleye are living at the bridge and near the dam chasing shad and seeking cold water. Nighcrawler rigs and live shad have been the most effective methods of catching these fish over deep water. White bass are being caught on jigs and minnows in the late evening while the turbines are running. Trolling small crankbaits has caught both white bass and walleye this week. No striper action has been observed near the dam. Freshwater drum are plentiful in the tailrace around flats and heavy rock structure. Crawfish and nightcrawlers are readily taken by these fish in either slack or running water.
Fish early or late in the day for bass. Try fishing edges of creek channels with jigs, plastics and Bandit black splatterback crankbaits. Bass can also be caught early in the morning along shoreline vegetation of frogs and swim baits. Try slowly fishing intact brush shelters with plastic worms. Bream can be caught on worms and crickets in 4-5 feet of water and along the dam where logs have washed up next to the bank. Crappie are deeper and can be caught on minnows and variety of Slab Slayer colors depending on water clarity.
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said bream fishing has been good along some of the banks, using worms and crickets. Some crappie are being caught in 2 to 4 feet of water using minnows. Catfish are being caught using cut shad and nightcrawlers. Bass are hitting on worms, frogs and swimbaits early in the morning or late in the evening.
| South-Central Arkansas |
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.
Robert Giles at White Oak Lake State Park said bream continue to bite well on crickets and worms fished 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. Lower White Oak Lake continues to fill up with every rainfall. Fishing on the lower lake continues to be catch-and-release only, but many people are using this time to scout out their “honey holes” and re-familiarize themselves with the lake.
| East Arkansas |
Mississippi River State Park said bass are biting great on worms and crankbaits. Bream are biting on crickets and worms with larger bream being caught in 15 to 20 feet of water. Catfishing is good on jugs towards the north end of the lake.
Mississippi River State Park said bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are slow but have been biting on dark-colored worms. Catfish are biting on stink bait and chicken liver.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report this week.
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is dingy and levels are normal. Catfishing is good on rod and reel with worms and stink bait.
No Arkansas fishing report this week.
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