Weekly Arkansas Fishing Report – May 25

Courtesy Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

 

Weekly Arkansas Fishing Report for May 25, 2013

 

Central Arkansas

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Bass are excellent on YUM Dingers. Catfishing is excellent on cut bait.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bluegill and redear biting well in lily pad patches away from the bank on crickets and redworms from 1½ to 3 feet deep. Crappie fair in the cypress trees. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Catfishing is good on trotlines and limb lines baited with bream.

Little Red River

Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low and clear with one generator running. Trout are biting well on wax worms and Power Bait. Fly-fishermen are having good success (the sow bug and San Juan worm are year-round favorites). Spin-fishing is good on small jigs.

Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said with the current generation schedule, there is plenty of opportunity to wade fish shoals and drift fish from a boat on the Little Red. Pink and white Trout Magnets used on gold and chartreuse Trout Magnet heads are producing good catches. Fly-fishing the San Juan worm, pheasant tails, and sowbugs are producing good catches as well. Always check the Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power Administration websites for current and future water release before planning your fishing trip.

Greers Ferry

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 463.11 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 461 msl).

Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) said conditions on Greers Ferry have not changed much this week. Water temperatures are nearly all in the 70s with crappie and bass still in spawn stages and catchable by a variety of methods. Hybrids and whites are still schooling and chasing shad in the coves and to the shore. The walleye bite has improved with evening fishing producing numbers in 10-15 feet of water. Try trolling crankbaits near the bottom. The recent storm will increase turbidity and may push some fish shallow until the lake settles and clarifies.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is rising and the surface temperature is in the middle 70s during the day. Crappie fishing is still going good with fish being caught shallow and out to 20 feet of water on jigs and minnows. White bass fishing is on-and-off with fish being caught from 15 feet out to 50 feet on spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits. Catfishing is good all over the lake with the blue cats spawning. Walleye are fair on trolled crankbaits and slow-trolled crawler harnesses dragged along the bottom. Bream fishing is good with bedding fish all over the lake. Bass fishing is fair with fish scattered. Some are still spawning, some are chasing bream, some are chasing the shad spawn and some have moved deep.

Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said the surface water temperature is 64-71 degrees. The bite is exploding! Every species in the lake is starting to feed with some consistency now that water temperatures have stabilized at comfortable levels. Fish are starting to transition into early summer patterns and are biting well. Right now you can catch fish on a number of lures and presentations lake-wide.

Harris Brake Lake

Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is high with about 2 feet of visibility. The surface water temperature is 72 degrees. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is excellent on live and prepared bait.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are good on minnows and Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white with a green or yellow PowerBait Crappie Nibble. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes. Bream are excellent on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Redear are biting on redworms fished near the bottom.

Lake Overcup

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Bass are biting well on spinners and plastic worms. Catfish are fair on trotlines and noodles using cut shad and live bream. Crappie are slow, but some are being picked up in deep water using Stinger Shads and minnows.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are good on minnows, Baby Shad, Stroll’rs and Slab Slay’rs in white/salt-and-pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white, barbecue chicken and blue/white tipped with a green or yellow PowerBait Crappie Nibble. Bream are in deep water and are biting on nightcrawlers, redworms, mealworms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Brewer Lake

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is a little high and clear. Bass are good on spinners and buzzbaits around the bank. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Catfish are fair on limb lines and noodles using bass minnows and live bream. Crappie are being caught over brush piles on white and white/chartreuse Crappie Stingers.

Lake Cargile

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) filed no new report.

Lake Barnett

Local angler Nicholas Karras said bass fishing is good. Worms, flukes and top-water lures in shallow water near structure doing well. Bream are great on grasshoppers and small baits. No report for any other species.

Lake Maumelle

Jolly Roger’s Marina said the lake is at full level with water is steadily flowing over the spillway. The surface water temperature is 70 degrees in the main lake and 73 degrees in the coves. Largemouth and spotted bass are excellent along the edges of grass. Floating worms, top-water lures and swim baits are working well. Spotted bass can also be caught on the first drop from the shallows on jigs, finesse worms and small crankbaits. White bass are biting well in the mid-section of the lake. Rogues, Rooster Tails, Rat-L-Traps and grubs are all working well. Crappie are biting well on dull colored jigs fished in 15 to 20 feet of water near bends in the river channel with cover. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets in 4 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are excellent on crickets and worms fished around main lake points in 15 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs fished around any cover near the main channel. Bass are excellent on top-water lures, buzzbaits and Rat-L-Traps. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers, shad, skipjack and chicken hearts.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on minnows, Baby Shads and Slab Slay’rs in red/chartreuse, bone white, pearl, orange/chartreuse, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white with green or yellow PowerBait crappie nibbles. White bass are biting well in the main channel on Rooster Tails and Baby Shads in white/salt and pepper and on drop-shotted worms. Bream are excellent on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Lake Valencia

Hatchet jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish are biting excellently on chicken liver, chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.

Benton City Lake

Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) had no new report.

Sunset Lake

Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said it’s been hit-or-miss on the catfish, but if you stick with them you can catch a mess on a number of different baits. Bream fishing has been fair with crickets and worms and crappie fishing has been slow. Bass are fairly easy to catch on minnows or floating worms but must be released immediately.

Saline River Access in Benton

Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton  (501-778-6944) said catfish are being caught on trotlines and limb lines baited with minnows, black salties and small live bream. Spotted and smallmouth bass are hitting Texas-rigged 4″ lizards in green pumpkin and watermelon seed. No recent reports of crappie being caught. Bream and other small sunfish will almost always bite a worm or cricket on a light line and small hook.

Lake Norrell

Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton  (501-778-6944) said bream are moving to the beds and some nice stringers are being caught on crickets and redworms. Some catfish are being caught around the bream beds while bream fishing and just add weight to the stringer and fun to the trip. Bass fishing remains fair on floating worms and spinnerbaits fished around docks and walls.

Bishop Park Lake in Bryant

Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton  (501-778-6944) said crappie fishing seems to have slowed, but a few are still being caught on minnows and Kalin’s Tennessee shad grubs. Bream fishing has been pretty good. Some big ones were caught last week on crickets fished out toward the middle of the smaller lake about 3 feet under a cork. No reports of catfish or bass.

Lake Winona

Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton  (501-778-6944) said some customers have been taking crickets and minnows to Winona but only smile when we ask if they’re catching any.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said fishing is beginning to pick up. Bream are biting around the banks where sandbars and grass meet. They are also biting excellently on small black Rooster Tails fished along rocky areas. White bass are biting well below dams 9 and 10 on Rat-L-Traps and other shad-colored crankbaits where you have about 10 feet of water. Largemouth bass are biting very well on large soft-plastic worms and jigs fished in 3 to 8 feet of water. Spotted bass are biting well on pearl-colored Fat Raps fished along jetties.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is muddy and high. The surface water temperature is 65 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows, jigs and grubs fished in 4 to 10 feet of water. Bass are excellent on crankbaits, jigs and lizards. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

Palarm Creek: No report this week.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)

Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is muddy and high. The surface water temperature is 65 to 70 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs fished around brush in 4 to 10 feet of water. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs and soft-plastics fished close to grass. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting fair in the main channel on minnows and very well below Murray Lock and Dam on curly tailed jigs. Bass are biting excellently around jetties on jigs and Texas-rigged creature baits. Catfishing is good on the main river and excellent below Murray Lock and Dam on skipjack, shad, worms and green sunfish.

Fourche Creek: No report this week.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and stained. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on shad.

Clear Lake

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and stained. Bream are biting well on worms fished near brush piles. Crappie are excellent on jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastics and spinnerbaits. No report on catfishing.

Peckerwood Lake

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is high and dingy. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.

Lake Pickthorne

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 are biting very well on worms and crickets around the piers. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows. Bass are biting well on top-water frogs and buzzbaits fished along the grass. Catfishing is good on hot dogs, worms and chicken livers.

North Arkansas

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water clarity is good with two generators running. Trout are excellent on Power Bait, wax worms and shrimp. Spin-fishing is good on Rogues and jigs.

Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said rain, warm temperatures and moderate winds have changed things on the river. On the White, we have had significant generation and no wadable water. The lakes in the White River system are all above the top of power pool and we are getting much more generation. I expect this trend to continue for the next few weeks. Our major mayfly hatch, the sulphurs, is just beginning to come off. This is a size 14 yellow/orange aquatic insect. Before the hatch, concentrate on fishing mayfly nymphs. My favorite is the copper John. When you observe fish feeding near the surface but see no insects, the trout are keying in on the emergers. The best fly for this phase is a partridge and orange soft hackle. Then, when you observe insects on the surface of the water and trout keying in on them, you switch over to the adult insect fly. My hands down choice is the sulphur parachute (size 14). The hot spot has been the section from White Hole down to Wildcat Shoals. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. Midday can be slow. 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 sow bugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended eighteen inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise).

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185)

Buffalo River

Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable. With spring 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.

Crooked Creek

Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable. With spring 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.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 663.68 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no new report this week.

Lake Norfork

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 558.86 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).

Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said stripers are still waiting on the weather. The water temperature is in the mid-60s. We should see 70 degree water by the weeks end and the shad should spawn. Once the shad begin spawning, the stripers will move to the clear lake points to feed on the shad. There are some fish being caught off the points in the Cranfield area but it’s hit-or-miss. The top-water bite should begin once the south winds start. Look towards the end of this week to see a big improvement in fishing.

Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing was good nine days ago and has only gotten better. I anticipate that fishing will continue to improve with top-water action getting better and better. I have been using three main baits – a fluke or bass assassin with a 5/0 worm hook un-weighted, a Heddon Zara Spook junior size and live shad. You can use large shiners if you don’t have a shad tank. Rogues, or a similar type of suspending jerk bait, are working the best for walleye. The best bite has been at sunrise and at sunset. If you are fishing mid-day, you may need to go a little deeper for all species. A jig-and-pig has been working well for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. All species are showing up in the same areas. Fish are being found from the mouths of the major creeks to halfway back into the creeks. Some fish have started to move out to main lake points. The shad are in the buck brush, possibly spawning. I have found shad just going crazy on the shore because the fish have them cornered and are having a buffet.

Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the low to mid 70s. Stripers are starting to chase baitfish to the surface. Keep a top-water rod rigged with a Spook and if they miss it follow it up with a soft jerk bait or throw a swim bait. Bass are hitting these baits also as well as jigs, crankbaits and if it’s windy a spinnerbait. The night bite has been hit-or-miss, but should improve with the weather finally getting better. Find baitfish and you’ll improve your chances.

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.

Norfork Tailwater

Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been wadable water on the Norfork almost every day. The action has picked up somewhat. With no wadable water on the White, it can get crowded, particularly on the weekends. You should fish early or late to avoid the crowds. 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) and some smaller caddis (size 16). The crane flies have been hit or miss (try a size 14 light Cahill or a partridge and yellow soft hackle). 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. Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot flies have been sow bugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective.

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,123.74 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).

Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said water surface temperature is in the mid-60s. Striper activity is fair. The stripers are scattered but on the feed, and they are still quite shallow. The white bass run is about done and the whites are working their way back downriver. Stripers have been taken on 8- to 12-inch live shad fished on free lines and down lines from the surface to 15 feet deep. Trolling small umbrella rigs with white grubs for clearer water and chartreuse for stained water and flat line, 3-way rigged Rapalas and Rogues also are producing. Casting Redfins and Small umbrella rigs on windblown points also will produce some nice stripers. Casting Redfins, Rapalas, rouges around rock piles on points and near timber are producing fish at night. Check the following hot spots for stripers: Indian creek past lost bridge and in the mouth of Indian creek; Point 5 (cast jerk baits on points with timber for striper and walleye; Highway 12 bridge (check the cove at Serenity Point and work your way toward Prairie creek); and Prairie Creek (fish are being taken in the channel between the creek and the islands. Walleye are also being taken on Kastmaster spoons fished near the bottom). Walleye are being caught on gravel bars in Big Clifty, Point 5, Point 6, Rocky Branch, Larue and Prairie Creek. They are being caught closer to the channel on crankbaits in Blackburn Creek, Beaver Shores and Horseshoe Bend. Most walleye are about 4-8 deep and are headed back down river to the main lake after visiting spawning grounds. The rain slowed them down a bit, but they are recovering nicely and starting to feed. 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 stained water. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush near secondary points. Smallmouth bass are fair on Rooster Tails fished near Twin Bridges. Catfishing is fair on cut bait.

Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said a few bass can still be found in the backs of pockets and coves on spawning beds. Lightly weighted plastics on a 3/0 hook worked over the beds have been working well. Most bass have moved out a bit and can be caught using spinnerbaits and Alabama rigs fished along sloping banks with timber. Another good option is to work Texas-rigged plastics in and around boat docks. Both Clifty arms, Rambo, Ventris and Monte-Ne have all been good places to fish. Most crappie have completed the spawn process with the exception of a few males left on beds. Look for crappie to be holding along creek and run off channels close to brush piles and timber suspending 8 to 15 feet deep over 20 to 35 feet of water. Small, 2-inch swim baits and curly tail grubs have been working well to pick these fish off. Avoca, Prairie Creek, Monte-Ne, Eden Bluff and Piney Creek have all been good places to fish. White bass have been biting well in the backs of windblown coves using shad-imitating lures. Night fishing under lights has also picked up along bluff walls close to the river channel and the Highway 12 Bridge. Catfishing has picked up and catfish have been caught using liver or worms from the bank at Highway 12 Bridge, Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and the Highway 412 bridge access.

Beaver Tailwater

Beaver Dam Store said the walleye and white bass slowed down again this week. Hopefully a couple of warmer days and they will be moving back upriver. I did very well using a grey over white Clouser minnow. Flicker shad, night crawlers, and small minnows are also working. Many decent trout reports have come from everyone from the fly guys to the bait fishermen. Table Rock Lake is back at normal power pool. This takes away some access and slows the water down. With the higher and slower water, try larger (size 12 and 14) prince nymphs. Fish a soft hackle in the slower water by stripping it. Midge fishing early and later with scuds are catching fish. Fire Tiger Flicker Shad are fun to fish and work well. We used an olive and a white micro jig with good results. Colorado spoons are a great choice. Gold spoons, micro jigs and Rapalas are doing good for the spin fishermen. For the bait fishermen white PowerBait with a wax worm is hard to beat. Try a nightcrawler while the walleye and whites are coming up for a chance to catch a couple of different species of fish.

Lake Elmdale 

Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the water is high and fairly clear. Many redear sunfish and bluegill are being caught on the beds with redworms or crickets fished 16 inches under a bobber. Beds are all over the lake in shallow water. Another method is to fish with a 1/32-oz., white jig head , tipped with a one inch piece of redworm, under a weighted bobber about 6 feet deep. This has produced many crappie as well. Bass fishing has been good on spinnerbaits and on wacky worms.

Lake Fayetteville

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is fairly clear and is at normal levels. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms fished in shallow water. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting well on artificials. White bass are biting well on shad-imitating lures. No report on catfish.

Lake Sequoyah

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is muddy and high. The surface water temperature is 76 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished close to the bank. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and shad.

Prairie Grove Lake

Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said bluegill and redear are on their beds, and are hitting anything that comes close to them, especially crickets and worms. A good number of catfish were also caught using crickets and worms. Bass were slow, just coming off their spawn, but some were caught on soft plastics and jigs. Crappie are deep, with some being caught on jigs.

Northeast Arkansas

Lake Poinsett

Lake Poinsett State Park said there was a 5 pound, 2 ounce bass caught last week using a top-water lure. Crappie are slowing, but some anglers are catching their limits. We haven’t heard anything about the bream, but we are selling a lot of crickets. Catfishing is still very good.

Crown Lake

Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 71 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers.

Lake Frierson

Lake Frierson State Park said recent rains will have the lake several feet over normal pool for much of the next week. Before the storms, catfishing was good to excellent; fish are being caught on almost all baits with a slight edge for nightcrawlers, minnows and dip bait. Jug fishermen are having good luck with cut bait, live minnows and goldfish. Bank anglers seem to be doing better with nightcrawlers and minnows under floats. Bass have been a little harder to catch this week as they are recovering from the spawn. Some fish are still being caught on topwaters early and late as well as spinnerbaits and crankbaits during the day; however soft plastics repeatedly cast to cover are starting to produce fish as well. Try the edges of creek channels and main lake points. Bream have been all around the shoreline and being caught on crickets and pieces of worms; small jigs are producing some as well. No reports of crappie this week, a couple saugeye were caught on crankbaits and minnows. With changing water levels, anglers will need to adjust depths for all species until they find the sweet spot.

Spring River

Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 405 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. Mayflies and caddis flies have been hatching heavily during morning hours. Mayfly emergers and caddis emergers are very productive during this time of day. Y2Ks and woolly buggers are great later in the day. Purple haze and white Trout Magnets and yellow and black Rooster Tails are working great for spin fishing. If you’re after walleye, use large stick baits imitating baitfish and trout.

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 will soon begin and the canoeists can a problem. 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

Cane Creek Lake

Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s filed no new report this week.

Lake Chicot

Lake Chicot State Park filed no new report.

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.88 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).

Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake is 7 inches above normal conservation pool and rising. There is consistent current in Little River. Surface temperatures range from 71to 78 degrees. Discharge rate as of Monday was a total discharge of 2,798CFS. Clarity and visibility drastically improved over the past week. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity and visibility ranges 10 to 20 inches. The bass improved their attitude toward top-water surface feeding. The best bite is occurring around daybreak, and best reaction baits lately continue to be buzzbaits, Spooks, Spitn’ Images, Chug Bugs, Pop-R’s and Bass Assassin Shads. Frogs are beginning to draw strikes around new lily pad growth. Chatterbaits in white shad, lizards in blackberry or green pumpkin, Yum Dingers in watermelon red, and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or blue herring continue getting good reactions over the past couple weeks. Largemouths continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in Transparent or Spring Bream colors in clearer water of the oxbows, around 6-8 foot drop-offs of flats with stumps nearby. Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper, baby bass, and gizzard shad colors have been taking some nice size bass as well, up Little River in the oxbows around vegetation lines and lily pads. Eager Beavers in June Bug or Watermelon Candy colors continue working along drop offs from flats into the stumps from 5 to 9 feet deep in the better water clarity areas. White bass have finished their annual spawning runs up Little River near Patterson shoals. Whites are roaming the deeper sections of Little River now, and Rat-L-Traps in Chrome/black or chrome/blue back and Millwood Magic; or crankbaits in shad patterns are randomly working between White Cliffs and Highway 71 Bridge. Crappie continue improving around cypress trees and some are finishing their annual spawning rituals. Several crappie in the 2-3 pound range have been caught over the past week moving from bedding areas back toward creek channels and depressions between 8-12 feet deep on jigs and tubes in white, white/red, and hair jigs in white and gray with silver tinsel. Channel cats and flatheads are good on trotlines with chicken hearts, gizzards and livers, blood bait, and cut shad in the outer bends of Little River placed from 8-12 feet deep.

Lake Columbia

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.

Lake Erling

Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., filed no new report.

Lake Greeson

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 547.23 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

Cossatot River State Park As of Wednesday, the Vandervoort gauge was at 2.26 and the gauge at De Queen was at 2.33.

DeGray Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.41 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).

Local angler George Graves said the water level at DeGray is holding up nicely, if the level stays up we could see a good spawn this year. Surface water temperature is in the mid-70s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is very good with many double-digit catches reported. Most of the fish are post spawn and are moving to points outside the spawning coves. Top waters such as Zara Spooks, Sammy’s and Flukes are working well in the mornings. During the day, medium-running crankbaits and jerk baits are producing. Use shad patterns in clear water and something with chartreuse or orange in discolored water. Spinnerbaits are catching some nice fish when worked around visible cover. For deeper fish, try a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard in green pumpkin or red shad. Fish the plastics slowly from 5 to 20 feet down. Best areas for bass have been between Caddo Drive and Point Cedar on the main lake and Beaton/Point Cedar, Brushy, Big Hill and Yancey creeks. Crappie fishing is still slow with a few catches reported from the lower end of the lake around the state park and the south side around Iron Mountain. Look for attractors or brush in 18 to 25 feet of water and drop a 2-inch curly tail grub or tube in Tennessee shad or chartreuse to just above the brush. Hybrid fishing remains slow with anglers having trouble locating fish. About the only pattern for caching a few fish now is trolling to cover a lot of water. Try trolling swim baits, No. 5 or 7 Shad Raps, Fat Free Shad and a small five-arm umbrella rig. Since the fish are not schooling and there is so much surface clutter now, you won’t see much on the sonar. However the fish are shallow, about 15 feet down. Just go to the spots where hybrids usually hang out and cover lots of water. Best areas have been between Shouse Ford and Point 28 on the main lake. Lots of bream showing up now in most any cove with some cover. The fish are shallow, so use the float set to about 3 feet and fish in 5 to 8 feet of water. Look for bedding fish around full moon time. Best baits are red worms and crickets. Some catfish are showing up on trotlines set at night on long points in the mid and upper lake areas. Bait with Catfish Charlie, liver, hot dogs, nightcrawlers or cut shad.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 346.78 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on minnows, Baby Shads, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white shad, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, Barbecue chicken and blue/white with green or yellow PowerBait crappie nibbles. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes. Catfish are biting on nightcrawlers and chicken /turkey/rabbit livers.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are biting well on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Catfish are biting well on redworms, nightcrawlers, minnows, stink bait and chicken/turkey/rabbit livers. Bass are fair on dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Fourche La Fave River

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained. Crappie are biting well in coves on minnows, white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbeque chicken and blue/white Bobby Garland soft plastics with a green or yellow PowerBait crappie nibble. Catfish are biting well on stink bait, minnows and chicken/turkey/rabbit livers. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Lake Hinkle

Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419)had no report this week.

Lake Dardanelle

Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said water temperatures are in the mid-80s. Upriver, bass can be taken on jigs, lizards, frogs, buzzbaits and crankbaits in the back water and main river near wood. White bass and stripers have been caught on tailspinners and white hair jigs. Crappie are slow, but some larger fish have been caught on minnows in 5 feet of water. In the mid-section of the river, bass can be taken on stick worms, frogs, buzzbaits and jigs in creeks and main river points. White bass and crappie are being taken in the creeks on jigs, tailspinners and small Rat-L-Traps. In the lower section of the lake, bass can be taken on jigs, frogs, buzzbaits, crankbaits, swim baits and stick worms on riprap, brush piles and new vegetation. White bass and stripers can be taken with small Rat-L-Traps on tailspinners and jerk baits fished near current. Catfishing is good from dam to dam on liver, cut shad and redworms.

Blue Mountain Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.70 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.

Lake Ouachita

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 578.09 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).

Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and 66 to 70 degrees. Black bass are still excellent on floating worms, brush hogs and Super Spooks. Walleye are very good on spoons, inline spinners and small green soft-plastic lizards and worms fished near cover 15 to 25 feet deep. Stripers are still very good and are being caught on C-10 Redfins and live bait. These fish have moved to main lake humps and points near major creek basins. Bream are good and being caught with crickets or worms in 8-15 feet of water. Crappie are good and are being caught near and over brush. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Catfish are still very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines set 15-30 feet deep.

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the surface water temperature is in the mid-60s and the water is in the buckbrush. The water color is stained in the creeks to clear on the lower main lake. Black bass are being caught shallow. Try any shallow-running lure, like a jerk bait, spinnerbait, floating worm or anything you want to throw in pockets. The spawn is most of the way done, but you can find beds on the southeast end of the lake. White bass are running in the river and most major creeks. Crappie are in 6 to 8 feet of water and are biting jigs and minnows.

Lake Hamilton

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the lake temperature is in the mid to upper 60s and the lake level is full. The color is stained and there is trash floating from the rains. Bass are 75 percent through with bedding. Black bass are biting shallow-running lures like jerk baits, floating worms, shallow crankbaits, and any other lure fished in 8 feet of water and less. White bass are running in most major creeks and biting on shad-type lures. Crappie are in 7 feet of water and less biting on jigs and minnows.

For a report on the crappie fishing at Lake Hamilton, visit Family Fishing Trips.

Lake Catherine

For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said the water temperature below Carpenter Dam has risen to 65 degrees. This increase is primarily from minimum flow releases from the dam. Water temperature is vital to the survival of rainbow trout due to the fact that these fish become stressed when faced with temperatures over 70 degrees. Clear conditions exist in the tailrace; however, the entire area is covered with thick moss and long grass. Rainbow trout fishing is still good with quality limits taken daily. Trout living downstream are migrating toward the dam in search of cooler water. Live bait presentations are key as artificial lures are mostly ignored by very wary trout. Nightcrawlers, redworms, wax and meal worms are all working well fished off the bottom or under a bobber. Crickets will attract trout and also target bream which are in the tailrace spawning around rock structure. Freshwater drum are chasing shad and crawfish between the bridge and the dam with many of these fish in the 15 to 25 pound class. White bass are very slow although the spawn is in full swing. Crappie have moved away from the dam. Striper action is non-existent with no fish caught or seen in the past week.

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.

Lake Atkins

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no new report.

South-Central Arkansas

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 60s after last week’s cold snap. Visibility is around 6 inches on the main channel and gradually clearing to around 1 foot as you go further into Lake Langhofer. There is light flow on the river. Bass in the backwaters and Lake Langhofer are biting well on shallow running shad-imitating lures. Slower moving worms and jigs are also working when the bite slows. Darker colored plastics and jigs are important with the muddier water. Bass have not yet made the transition to offshore brush piles, and they are still keying heavily on rocks.

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

Jaret Rushing had no report.

Tri-County Lake

Jaret Rushing had no report.

East Arkansas

Bear Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park said the water is normal and clear. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs. Bass are good on spinnerbaits in coves. Bream are good in shallow water on worms and crickets. Catfish are fair on trotlines using stink bait.

Storm Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park said bass are biting well on spinnerbaits in about 2 feet of water. Bream are biting on crickets in shallow water. Crappie are fair on minnows and catfish are biting on yo-yos.

White River

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets fished near creeks. Crappie are fair. Bass are fair. No report on catfish or walleye.

Maddox Bay

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said overall, fishing is slow. The water is high and fairly clear. The surface water temperature is 70 degrees. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on stink bait.

Horseshoe Lake

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water clarity is good and the water is at normal level. The surface water temperature is 70 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms fished near lily pads in shallow water. Crappie are biting well on jigs fished next to piers and cypress trees. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms fished around lily pads. Catfishing is good on yo-yos hung from cypress trees and baited with cut bait.

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