Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake level is normal and water temperature is 52 degrees. Bream reports are excellent, especially with worms, crickets along the shoreline. Crappie are excellent; try minnows and jigs at Gold Creek, Adams Lake Landing and Greens Lake. Bass have been good on spinners, top-water baits and plastic worms. Catfish are good with chicken liver, minnows and shad on trotlines.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing had no report.
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is clear with one generator running. Trout fishing has been excellent. Try marshmallows, PowerBait and corn..
Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said the Corps of Engineers has shut down the one unit that was running and has opened six floodgates, releasing water at what would be equivalent to one plus power generation. Expect current river conditions until Greers Ferry Lake gets to top pool of 462.02. With current river conditions, wade fishing is not recommended. Boat/drift fishing has been good. Continue to work streamers along banks and structure for larger trout. If drift fishing, use longer than normal leaders with “drag free” drifts 7-10 feet deep using weighted flies. The Purple Haze Trout Magnet fished deep under a float is producing good catches. With sunshine and warmer weather, we are starting to see some hatches occur early in the afternoon.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.98 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 461 msl). .
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 45 to 52 degrees. Crappie fishing is getting better by the day with a lot of good fish being caught. Try fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water around pole timber or over brush piles with jigs and jigs with minnows; there are also some fish already shallow. The white bass and hybrid bass fishing is good in certain areas of the lake, creek mouths, the mouths of rivers and river bends, with spoons, in-line spinners and grubs. If it is sunny try 25 to 27 feet of water, and on cloudy days they will be a little deeper at 28 to 30 feet. No report on bream. Catfishing is good one day and no so good the next, but the blues will be making a move shallow soon. Walleye fishing has been off and on as well; try crankbaits, drop shot rigs and grubs up the river arms for best results. Bass are on the move like a lot of fish. Try football head jigs, drop shots, and Alabama rigs out deep, and spinnerbaits, jigs and small crankbaits up shallow.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said water levels are holding above normal pool. With a little rain in the forecast we may just have another year of water in the bushes for the spawn. Right now water surface temperatures are ranging from the upper 40s to almost 60 degrees in some areas. As the water warms and stabilizes in the mid-50s over the next couple of weeks, the bite will almost certainly improve. Big gizzard shad and threadfin shad are starting to move up and will start spawning in the shallow water with the coming full moon. All types of game fish will be on the feed in preparation for the spawn and recovery after they have dropped their eggs. White bass will be running, crappie will be biting and the walleye bite will drastically improve. Concentrate your efforts in 15 feet of water or less. The Cindy K Spinner, Fish Dinner Lures Shad Spoon, swim baits, grubs, tubes, crankbaits, jerkbaits and other shad-imitating lures will produce.
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the lake is high, visibility is about 2 feet and the water temperature is about 52 degrees. Bream are excellent on crickets. Crappie are good with minnows and jigs near brush piles, stumps and docks (some 2.5- to 3-pounders have been caught). Bass reports are good; try spinners and Rat-L-Traps. Catfish are good on trotlines; two buffalo were taken on a trotline.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on minnows, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white and Cajun cricket/pink cotton candy with a Power Bait Crappie Nibble. Catfish are in deep water and are biting well on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken livers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise colored worms, spinnerbaits, flukes and Rooster Tails. Bream are biting well on meal worms and redworms fished in deep water. Some nice redear are being taken near the bottom on redworms.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is at normal level and clear. The surface temperature is around 50 degrees. Crappie are hitting yo-yos and noodles baited with no. 6 minnows; jigging and pole fishing are still slow. Bass are biting fairly well on soft-plastics. Readear are starting to bite well on redworms fished near the bottom. Catfish are biting well on minnows and cut shad hung from trotlines and noodles.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are fair in deep water on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads, Stroll’rs and Slab Slay’rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse and bone white with green or yellow Crappie Nibbles. Bream are in deep water and are biting on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are biting well on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and flukes.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) aid the water is still a little low and clear. Bass are beginning to hit lizards, frogs and some spinners. Crappie are slow but some are being picked up using white Crappie Stingers and white/chartreuse jigs. Catfish are starting to hit trotlines and noodles. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms fished around the bank.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the lake is back to normal level and water is steadily flowing over the spillway. The surface water temperature is 50 degrees in the main lake, and 54 in the coves. Largemouth bass are moving up during the day and can be caught in 5 to 10 feet of water on jigs, jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps fished around rocky points and shorelines. Spotted bass are still a little deeper, and are holding at about 10 to 15 feet of water. They are biting well on small swim baits and jigs. White bass are excellent, especially on warm, sunny days. The White bass will be making their way up the creeks to spawn in the next few weeks, so they are getting very active and can be caught on Rattling Rogues, Rooster Tails, grubs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are fair on dull colored jigs with neon jig heads and minnows fished around cover near the channel in 10 to 20 feet of water. Bream are biting well on worms fished at the edge of the channel, and can be caught like wildfire on warm days. Catfishing is slow.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream reports have been good. They’re taking crickets and red worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows, and white and chartreuse jigs. No reports this week for bass or catfish.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) filed no report this week.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish reports are excellent. They’re going for chicken livers, night crawlers and chicken hearts. No reports on other species.
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) had no report.
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) had no report.
Charley’s Hidden Harbor said crappie are starting to work the island upstream on float minnows, set 3 to 6 feet deep, and up Petit Jean River and Point Remove Creek. Catfish are very good late in the afternoon on jetties. Use whole shad 5-15 feet deep. Kentucky bass are good on top of jetties. Use Jig n Pigs in blue or black. Whites have been very good, making runs up creeks. Use 3-inch Sassy Shad. Nice stripers have been caught below dams 9 and 10, and creek mouths; use Wobble Spoons.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said excellent crappie reports are coming in. Use white and chartreuse jigs with pink heads. Bass are good on white Twister Tails, and chartreuse split-tail jigs. Catfish have been good with shad and by snagging. No report on bream.
Palarm Creek: No report this week.
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the river is murky, at normal level and 50 degrees. Crappie reports are good; try minnows and jigs near brush piles and stumps. Bass are good with Rat-L-Traps and jigs near stumps. No reports on bream or catfish.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are excellent on jetty points. Try red and chartreuse jigs, white and chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass are excellent, too. Use shad-colored spinners, and black and chartreuse square-billed crank baits. Catfish are good on slicks, shad, chicken livers and chicken hearts. No report on bream.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished tightly to trees and brush. Bass are biting well on swim baits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, redworms and cut bait.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished near brush. Bass are biting well on Strike King King Kong Shad. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the lake is dingy and high. Crappie are excellent on minnows. Bass reports are poor. Catfish have been good on yo-yos. No report for bream.
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 crappie are good in brush with jigs and minnows. Bass reports are good, especially late in the day around grass mats. Catfish are good along the shore with chicken hearts, chicken livers and minnows.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said crappie are good in brush with jigs and minnows. Bass reports are good, especially late in the day around grass mats. Catfish are good along the shore with chicken hearts, chicken livers and minnows.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) no report.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 650.93 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service filed no report.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.72 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the lake has risen 5 feet from the recent rain. Stripers and walleye have moved to the creeks and upper river. The water is very stained and warming. Set your baits at 15 feet deep and just keep moving slowly with your shad. The bite is lasting all day long. The best bite occurs from last light to 9:30 p.m. Stick baits are the best bait; throw parallel to the banks and retrieve slowly back to the boat.
Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort filed no report.
Guide Steve Olomon of Steve’s Guide Service said the lake has been on the rise and the water temperature is in the mid-40s to low 50s. The water back in the creeks is stained and warmer. The main lake is clear. Look for stripers in the warmer water suspended 15-20 feet deep. At night throw stick baits up on the bank and reel your bait slowly. Bass are in the same areas and hitting swimbaits and crankbaits. Look for them where the water starts to get some color. The bite will get a better with some stable weather. .
Tim Partin of 101 Grocery and Bait, www.101groceryandbait.com, had no new report.
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.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,113.90 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said the surface water temperature is in the 40s. Striper activity for the week is fair. Stripers are scattered and can be caught from Point 12 to the Indian Creek area. Fish are looking for warmer water so they are headed upriver, into the creek arms and are going deep on the main lake. Stripers have been hitting live shad fished on free lines and down lines from the surface to 40 feet deep. Rapala No. 9 Husky Jerks and Smithwick Rogues in black or purple-backed colors trolled on a three-way rig are working well in areas holding bait near the main channel. Hot spots for stripers include the mouth of Indian Creek, Lost Bridge North, Point 3 and Fish Trap Hollow, Highway 12 Bridge (Check the cove at serenity point and work your way toward Prairie creek with free lines 150ft behind the boat and 150ft behind planer boards.), Prairie Creek in the channel between PC and the islands, and both arms of Coose Hollow. Most walleye are about 25 to 60 feet deep in the channel near large gravel bars near Point 12, Monte-Ne, Horseshoe Bend, and Prairie Creek. Flat line troll with Hot N Tots, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners, or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos or chartreuse/orange and clown colors. Also Try Cordell Super Spots and Rat-L-Traps in similar colors. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the lake is clear, low and the temperature is in the mid-40s. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Bass are fair; try jerk baits, Alabama rigs and jigs. Walleye are hitting crank baits and grubs. White bass are fair with Rooster Tails and Lit’L Fishies. No word on bream or catfish.
Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been suspending over points with timber in main lake coves. A suspending jerkbait, slow-rolled ½-oz. spinnerbait or a jig-and-craw combo has been working best. Look for the fish to not be really active yet, especially with the upcoming cooler weather. Good Places to fish have been Little Clifty, Monte-Ne and Ventris. Crappie will likely not be as active with the cooler weather this week. Look for them to suspend 10 to 15 feet down and stay very tight to pole timber and brush piles along creeks or run off channels in 20 to 35 feet of water. A Shineee Hineee or a 2-inch Sexxxy Shad should work if fished very slowly in these areas. Minnows may work as well, especially in stained water upstream. Piney Creek, White River upstream from Point 12, Eden Bluff and Horseshoe Bend have all been good places to find crappie. White Bass are beginning to move further into the river arms and main coves. On cooler days, fish have been suspending in channel bends and over points. Once found, a ¼-oz. jigging spoon or a Road Runner has been working well. Catfishing has been slow, but a few can be caught in the evening using liver or cut bait. Hickory Creek, Ark. Highway 12 Bridge and the Ark. Highway 412 Bridge access have all been good places to fish.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said Lake Elmdale is up about a foot and a half since the recent rains. Now, with just a little sunshine, things should start popping! Suspending jerk baits and Wiggle Warts have been good for bass, but the shallow spinnerbait bite should crank up any day. Crappie should be moving towards the shallows soon. I recommend minnows, but small jigs will work too. Bream fishing will improve greatly with this sunny weekend, and the bait of choice this time of year is redworms.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water clarity is good and the level is normal. Water is about 50 degrees. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair with minnows and artificial baits. No reports for bream or catfish.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake level is normal and the water is clear. The surface temperature is 52-58 degrees. Crappie reports are good, especially on drop-offs and on brush piles. They’re hitting minnows and jigs. Black bass are good with spinners and crank baits. Catfish are good; try chicken livers. Walleye are fair; they’ve been caught below the dam. No reports for bream.
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Just Fishing Guides filed no report this week.
Lake Poinsett State Park had no report this week.
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the lake level is normal, the water is clear and 47 degrees. Crappie reports have been fair. Beetle spins and minnows are working in about 10 feet of water. Bass are fair; try jigs in about 10 feet of water and jerk baits. No reports for bream and catfish.
Lake Frierson State Park said the lake temperature is in the upper 40s, with a few areas reaching 50 degrees. Cooler weather has slowed the action but warmer days will help. Channel catfish continue to bite night crawlers and minnows. Some bass are being caught early in the day on minnows and soft plastics. Small crappie have taken minnows around brush piles near the levee. No reports on saugeye or bream.
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are 382 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. It has been a great week on the Spring River. The trout are biting on brownies, Y2Ks, guppies, mayfly emergers, and a couple of new flies that are coming out. Swinging the fly with high stick nymphing techniques and stripping the fly with short, fast strips are working the best. Hot pink and white Trout Magnets and white and black Rooster Tails are working excellent also.
Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s filed no report.
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.30 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl)..
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake is 4.7 inches above conservation pool and is falling. Surface water temperatures are 49 to 56 degrees. Discharge rate at the dam is 2,322 cfs. Clarity and visibility improved slightly since last week. Little River and main lake remain almost muddy with the current release at the dam. As of Tuesday on main lake structure away from current, clarity a visibility ranges 6-8 inches. Little River’s visibility ranges 3-5 inches depending on location and current. Largemouth bass are hit-and-miss with the best bite from noon to 4 p.m. Prespawn bass continue staging in depths of 8-12 feet waiting on males to complete bed building and water temperatures to return into the upper 50-degree range. Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, Salty Rat Tails, Lizards, Brush Hogs, and Yum Dingers have been the go-to lures over the past couple weeks, working during the warmest period of the day. Male largemouths have been hitting the Bomber and XCalibur square bill crankbaits in 7-8 foot depths of creek channels (outer turns of the creek and deeper wash outs) with 3-6 foot deep protected pockets and flats nearby. The most productive colors of Rat-L-Traps over the past few weeks have been Rootbeer, Lectric Red, Toledo Gold and Red Chrome. Several shallow roaming buck male bass have been caught on Smithwick Rogues and Cordell Redfins over the past 2 weeks just outside the deeper sections of creek channels. These bucks have been cruising the 5-6 foot flats adjacent to creek channel swings in Mud Lake and in McGuire Lake oxbows up Little River looking for bed sites. Slow moving magnum size tubes in black/blue tail, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, or smoke/black/red flake continue randomly working on Cypress trees, knees, and stumps in 8-12 feet depths in the oxbows. White bass are about to be full blown into their annual spawning runs between Highway 71 Bridge and Patterson Shoals, on points and cuts protruding into the river. Numerous fishermen have been catching good numbers of whites and spotted bass on Rooster Tails in red/white, Little Cleos, Rocket Shads (white/chartreuse), and Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and Millwood Magic. Crappie are still scattered with the increase of current and muddy water, but want to move back up again. Several weeks ago, nice slabs were being caught around base of cypress trees on Rocket Shads and Blakemore Roadrunners. Over the past week, some nice slabs have been taken on Southern Pro 1.5″ Scale Head Little Hustler tubes in blue/clear sparkle or silver/white sparkle colors. No report on catfish.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 545.99 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.
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Cossatot River State Park As of Wednesday, the Vandervoort gauge was at 2.26 and the gauge at De Queen was at 2.33.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 405.65 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl)..
Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the low 50s. The lake is clear up to Point 14 and has a light stain up to Cox Creek. Bass fishing is holding up well with some good catches reported. The best pattern has been throwing medium-running crankbaits and Alabama rigs with 4-inch swim baits in 5 to 15 feet of water. Look for bass along the north shore in the Shouse Ford/Point Cedar areas. Also try the rocky bank on the west side of Goat Island and the bank across from Point 15. Try chartreuse for the cranks and a natural shad on the swim baits. If the fish are holding deeper, try a jig with a craw type trailer in green pumpkin or black/blue in the same areas. A few crappie are starting to show on the deeper attractors between Alpine Ridge and Point Cedar. Look for brush cover in 18 to 25 feet of water. Use a 1/16-ounce jig head with a 2-inch grub or tube and fish vertically just above the cover. Move the jig very slowly because the water is still very cold. Bites will be very light, so pay close attention for any line movement. Best colors for the grubs are Tennessee shad and chartreuse. If the grub doesn’t produce, try a live minnow on the jig head. Hybrid fishing is good, however the fish are really scattered, so trolling is now the best method. Use the sonar to locate the schools which will be scattered between Point 15 and the west end of Goat Island. When a school is located, get a mark and work that area. The fish will be suspended between 15 and 20 feet down. Make sure your lure runs above the fish and not below. Best lures are deep-running crankbaits, swim baits and umbrella rigs armed with 4-inch curly tail grubs. Also some nice white bass are being taken while fishing for hybrids. Chartreuse is good for all lures and pink/white is hard to beat for the grubs. With the water getting a bit warmer, the fish are feeding more toward evening. A few bream starting to show on the deeper cover at 15 to 20 feet. Tight line a redworm or cricket near the bottom next to the brush. Look for bream off points in major coves between Arlie Moore and Shouse Ford.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 347.17 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl). .
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie in deep water, biting on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white and Cajun cricket/pink cotton candy with a green or yellow Power Bait Crappie Nibble. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers in deep water. Bass are biting fairly well on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, flukes and Rooster Tails. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are biting well on redworms, nightcrawlers, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Catfishing is good on redworms, nightcrawlers, minnows, stink bait and chicken livers. Bass are fair on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, flukes and Rooster Tails.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is stained and very low. Crappie are fair on minnows, and Bobby Garland Slab Slay’rs or Baby Shad in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse and Cajun cricket/pink cotton candy. Catfishing is good on stink bait, chicken livers or minnows. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise worms and Rooster Tails.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419)had no report this week.
Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said water temperature is at 55 degrees, warming up to 60. The water is murky from Piney Bay upriver, and stained below Piney Bay. The closer you go in the backs of pockets the clearer and warmer the water gets. Baits of choice are black/blue jigs, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The bass are moving from the drops and channel turns to the spawning flats. Get the lizards and floating worms ready for fishing the flats as male bass begin looking for areas to make beds. Crappie are being taken in all creeks and in the backs of spawning flats. Fishing close to woody cover with chartreuse/green jigs has taken many large crappie lately. Anglers have been taking catfish all up and down the river on cut shad. Stripers and white bass are moving up the creeks and are biting well on jerkbaits, hair jigs with grubs and a white flukes. Bream are in the creeks and can be seen sunning on warm days with small largemouth bass. Beetle spins, crickets and worms are producing well on sunny days.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 388.50 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL FISHING CLOSURE: Commercial catfishing is temporarily closed on Blue Mountain Lake because of the extreme low water conditions. Commercial fishermen will not be able to harvest any species of catfish from Blue Mountain Lake through noon, March 1, 2013. Other commercial fish species may still be harvested.
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 576.40 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 48 to 54 degrees and is clearing from the recent rain. Black bass are very good on football jigs, swim baits and Alabama rigs with shad- or crawfish-colored baits. Try areas with structure; brush piles, moss beds and timber near main lake and secondary points are getting the best results. Walleye are up the rivers and major creek basins for the spring spawn. Flashy crankbaits and inline spinners should still work for these fish as well as bottom-bouncing nightcrawlers near structure 15-25 feet deep. Stripers are still very good and are being caught on Alabama rigs with 3- and 4-inch shad-colored swim baits or live bait. We are still getting good reports on the south fork of the river from Joplin to Denby. Crappie are very good and are being caught near and over brush in 15 to 20 feet of water on minnows and crappie grubs suspended 4 to 10 feet down. Catfish are biting well on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines set 20-30 feet deep.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service filed no report.
For a report on the crappie fishing at Lake Hamilton, visit Family Fishing Trips.
Drawdown Update: Entergy Arkansas says winter drawdowns of 5 feet on Hamilton and 3 feet on Catherine will be maintained until March 2013. Water released at the dams will be used to generate hydroelectric power. The annual drawdowns help with shoreline maintenance and inspection, and are part of a plan to help control nuisance aquatic vegetation. Entergy Arkansas coordinates the annual winter drawdown with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 49 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Moss growth is a problem around rock structure, but has not made bottom fishing impossible. Rainbow trout fishing is king below the dam with thousands of quality fish present and thriving in the nutrient-rich waters. Bank fishermen are having success using wax worms and meal worms combined with a marshmallow floater. Live minnows tightlined over deep water or fished under a bobber have taken trout over 17 inches. Corn closely resembles fish eggs which is a rainbow trout’s favorite meal and consistently catches fish. Power Bait also works well and will remain on the hook after repeated strikes. Patience is a key factor in any fishing venture and this fact is especially true when targeting trout that are gorging themselves on shad. Artificial lures are ignored during these times with so much forage to feed on. Boaters trolling shallow-running crankbaits have done well by covering a lot of water. Fly fishermen are scarce with the lake now at full level; however, anglers can still wade to areas that hold trout. San Juan worms in red cast with a strike indicator have produced good catches along with egg patterns in orange or white. Sand bars and shallow flats are the preferred places to fish with trout resting and feeding consistently in these areas. Crappie are now spawning in the tailrace but few fish have been caught this week. Rapid weather changes have turned off the bite and a more consistent pattern is needed for success. Live minnows and small 1/16-ounce jigs are the best presentations to use for these fish. Much the same is true for the walleye bite as the spawn nears completion. Walleye will remain in the area to rest and feed for weeks after the spawn and can be caught is greater numbers during this time. White bass fishing is slow, but will improve as warmer temperatures rise. Striper fishing is almost non-existent as little topwater action has been observed and no fish caught.
Drawdown Update: Entergy Arkansas says winter drawdowns began Nov. 3. Lake Hamilton will drop 5 feet and Lake Catherine will drop 3 feet. Water released at the dams will be used to generate hydroelectric power. Both lakes will return to their normal summertime levels in March 2013. The annual drawdowns help with shoreline maintenance and inspection, and are part of a plan to help control nuisance aquatic vegetation. Entergy Arkansas coordinates the annual winter drawdown with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) filed no report.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperatures are in the low 50s with backwaters reaching mid-50s by midday. Visibility on the main channel, with light current, is still just under 1 foot with Lake Langhofer visibility 1 to 1.5 feet. Last week’s warm weather has sparked bass activity in the backwaters. The fish have started moving into their pre-spawn locations and they are eating slow-rolled shad-colored lures. Bass are still a little slower on the main channel and open water of Lake Langhofer, but big ones are starting to show up.
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.
Jaret Rushing said the oxbows are hit or miss right now. In places, you can catch a good stringer of bass but the hits are sporadic. Your best bet is to use some sort of crankbait that dives around 5-8 feet deep and fish trees extended farthest from the bank. Color seemed to vary but crankbaits with a white/silver belly and a red breast seemed to work best. Also, as always during this time of year, it seems that there are a lot of reports of people catching bass on black/blue jigs. Crappie seem to be starting to really pool up in pockets of 6 feet deep water. Reports are that catching these has been pretty steady (although slow) on shiners and dark colored jigs.
Jaret Rushing filed no report this week.
Mississippi River State Park said the lake is clear and at normal level. During the warmer weather fishing had boomed, but with the rain and cooler temperatures the number of anglers has decreased significantly. Crappie fishing has slowed but they are still biting on minnows and jigs. No word at this time on bass or catfish. Bream are starting to bite some in the heat of the day on worms around limbs and other cover.
Mississippi River State Park said bream are fair on worms in the heat of the afternoon. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around limbs. Bass are slow. No word on catfishing.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is clear and at normal level. Crappie have been fair with minnows near brush piles. Bass are fair; crank baits and plastic baits are the best bets. Walleye have been poor but try minnow and river slicks. No reports for bream or catfish.
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the river is muddy, high and 56 degrees. Crappie are fair with minnows on yo-yos. Catfish are fair, also on yo-yos. No bream or bass reports.
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the lake is low and clarity is good. Bream are good with worms in shallow water, especially around piers. Crappie are good with minnows and jigs in lily pads and near piers. Bass are good with jigs in lily pads. Catfish are good; try cut bait and night crawlers.
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