Weekly Arkansas Fishing Report for April 12, 2013
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is high and clear. The surface temperature is 62 degrees. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets all over the lake. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 3 to 6 feet of water; try Gold Creek, Dix Creek and Palarm Creek. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics around rocks and riprap. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with chicken liver.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing said crappie are biting well on jigs or minnows. Bass are fair on white spinnerbaits. Bream fishing is good on redworms. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is a bit murky and one generator is running. Trout are biting well on wax worms with marshmallows and Power Bait. Fly-fishermen are doing well on zebra midges and sowbugs.
Lowell Myers of
Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said we are currently getting great water releases for wading and drift fishing from a boat. The middle and lower Little Red River is seeing heavy caddis hatches. Caddis pupas, emergers and soft hackles are currently the hot flies during the hatches. Streamers are still producing good catches during high water. Cotton candy and hot pink Trout Magnets are working well. Be sure to check the Corps of Engineers new app for smart phones 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 461.94 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 461 msl).
Tommy Cauley of
Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is dropping today, but the rain may cause it to rise again. The surface water temperature is 54 to 64 degrees and rising. White bass and hybrids are spread all over the lake, but the fishing at the mouths of the rivers has been off the charts. Try Alabama rigs, spoons, grubs and inline spinners. Bass fishing has been tough as most are on the move toward the bank; try Carolina rigs, Alabama rigs, Rat-L-Traps and Texas-rigged creature baits. Crappie fishing is good in the rivers and so-so in the lake. Try jigs and jigs tipped with minnows. Walleye are good some days and not the next, the main lake bite is still to come and should be excellent soon.
Cody S. Smith of
www.fishgreersferry.com said water surface temperatures range anywhere from 49 to 58 degrees, depending on the daily weather pattern and location in the lake. Right now prespawn largemouths, spotted bass, smallmouth, crappie and white bass are ready to go and walleyes have finished their spawn. I really think we are going to get a huge wave of spawners with the full moon this month and leading up to it should prove to be some of the best fishing of the year. All of the females I’ve cleaned are full of eggs that appear to be a few weeks off from being ready, however the fish are trying to move shallow but are positioning themselves in the most stable water. The shallow crappie bite is getting better day by day despite the roller coaster of weather we’ve seen thus far. Limits of crappie are out there but the bite seems to change by the hour. I’ve had the best luck fishing single and double jig rigs under a slip bobber with my presentation and depth changing according to the conditions. Red/chartreuse, white/chartreuse, glow and purple/hot orange have been my go-to colors.
Harris Brake Lake
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 62 degrees. Bream are slow. Crappie are excellent on minnows. Bass are biting well on minnows. No report on catfish.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are fair on minnows and Slab Slay’r and Stroll’rs in white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white and Cajun Cricket colors with a Power Bait crappie nibble in green or yellow. Catfish are fair in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and flukes. Bream are in deep water biting on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hopper jigs.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said fishing has been slow on Lake Overcup. Trotlines and yo-yos are catching a few catfish on cut shad and skipjack. The water is at normal level. Water temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees. The fish are in good shape and ready to spawn, all we need is a few warm days and nights.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report.
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said fishing has been slow on Lake Overcup. Trotlines and yo-yos are catching a few catfish on cut shad and skipjack. The water is at normal level. Water temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees. The fish are in good shape and ready to spawn, all we need is a few warm days and nights.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said fishing has been slow on Lake Overcup. Trotlines and yo-yos are catching a few catfish on cut shad and skipjack. The water is at normal level. Water temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees. The fish are in good shape and ready to spawn, all we need is a few warm days and nights.
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the lake is full and water is steadily flowing over the spillway. Lake temperature is 56 degrees. The temperature in the coves is 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are excellent, with many spawning in shallow water. Largemouths are hitting jigs, jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps during the day around rocky shorelines and points. Spotted bass are excellent on jigs and finesse worms fished along channel edges near the bank. White bass are excellent with the warmer weather. They’ve moved into the creeks and are spawning. Whites are hitting on Rogues, Rooster Tails, grubs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are biting well in about 4 to 6 feet of water in the grass. They can be caught on dull color jigs with bright neon jig heads and minnows. A few can still be caught on the edge of the channel. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets in 15 to 20 feet of water. Catfishing is good on trotlines fished near the main channel.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs in 20 to 30 feet of water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, soft-plastics and topwater lures. Catfishing is excellent on shad and green sunfish.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) filed no report this week.
Hatchet jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish are biting well on chicken liver, chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Benton City Lake
Very little activity to report. Only a few small bass were caught on no. 12 bass minnnows have been caught.
Sunset Lake
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said folks have been hitting Sunset pretty hard since the two recent stockings of the lake. Only a few lucky ones were able to catch a few 7 lb. catfish on chicken livers. Crappie seem to have gone deeper and are keeping a tight lip. The ponds across from Sunset have produced some nice crappie on no. 12 bass minnows.
Saline River Access in Benton
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said the Saline River has been very poor because of high water from recent rains. It looks like more rain in the forecast will only make it more difficult and high. Many anglers fished it hard last weekend, but only a few small spotted bass were reported.
Lake Norrell
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said a lot of small bass have been caught on no. 6 crappie minnows. The crappie are very hard to catch at this lake, but catfish have been excellent on Danny King’s Punch Bait. Norrell is an excellent redear lake and a few very large readear have been caught on crickets.
Bishop Park Lake in Bryant
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said most of the success comes from the second lake away from the road. Crappie seem to have slowed down. Bass were slow. A few redear have been caught on crickets. These lakes go by statewide regulations for limits.
Lake Winona
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said some good eating-size catfish have been caught on chicken livers and bait shrimp. Only a few crappie have been caught on no. 6 crappie minnows. A lot of smaller bass have been hitting the minnows as well.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo filed no report.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets and worms in the Little Maumelle and Maumelle rivers. Crappie are excellent on brush in Little Maumelle on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on Spooks, buzzbaits and topwater frogs back in Little Maumelle.
Palarm Creek: No report this week.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is stained and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 57 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 2 to 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well on live minnows. Bream and catfish are slow.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting well on jigs fished around rocky areas in Burns Park and at the dam. Bass are biting well around current on jigs and jerk baits. Catfishing is excellent on green sunfish, shad and nightcrawlers.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471)said crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished near the bank in backwater areas. Catfishing is good on shad near the main channel.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and murky. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. No report on catfish or bream.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is stained and high. Crappie are fair on yo-yos at night and jigs during the day. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good at night on yo-yos baited with minnows.
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 well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting excellently on jigs and minnows fished around brush near the bank. Bass are biting excellently on 6-inch soft-plastic worms fished around grass. Catfishing is excellent on nightcrawlers, chicken livers and hearts and green sunfish.
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.48 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water is slowly rising and is clear in most areas. The surface water temperature is in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Light line, such as 6-lb.-test, is necessary during the daytime. Bass are biting a variety of baits in shallow water; jigs, grubs, stick baits and live minnows are all catching fish. The walleye are biting in the late evening and at night on suspending stick baits like Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers. White bass are biting well in the afternoon, mostly in the backs of the creek arms in 5 to 15 feet of water on white or shad-colored jigs, spinners and crankbaits.
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.02 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of
STR Outfitters said the weather is beginning to warm and the winds have changed to the south. The water has gone from 43 to 51 degrees and the stripers and white bass have started their migration to the creeks. The whites are spawning in the creeks and the stripers are staged to move from the mouths of the creeks to the stained upper creek arms. I have fished the Cranfield area using threadfin shad on a split-shot free line 80 feet behind the boat. The stripers are smashing the bait. Some people are catching stripers in the 101 area using stick baits early in the morning and late in the evening. The walleyes are spawning up the creeks and river.
Lou Gabric of
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing is heating up for a great spring season. The lake has finally warmed up to the low 50s and the temperature is gradually increasing each day. Striper fishing is improving daily. I fished Friday and Saturday with live threadfin shad with great success. White bass fishing had been phenomenal the last couple of weeks on spoons, trolled umbrella rigs and cast crankbaits in the Cranfield area. Also look back in Pigeon Creek, back in the Bennett’s area and up river in the Calamity area. The males should be waiting. Crappie had started to move up to the shoreline before our unseasonal snowfall. They moved back out, but with the warming of the water they have started to move back to the banks. Look for dead timber on the shoreline and shallow brush and you should start to find the crappie.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is finally in the mid 50s, and the bite is improving. There has been a few hybrids and stripers coming up. The night bite is getting good for stripers and hybrids. Friday night I had three clients out and they caught their limit. The best bite was just after dark. They were throwing rouges and the color didn’t really make a difference. I had to keep reminding them to reel the bait slowly. The water uplake is running a little warmer. Bass are hitting soft jerk baits, swimbaits and a few came up and hit a Zara spook. When they stop hitting, go to a jig. If it’s windy throw a crankbait or spinnerbait along the banks with the wind blowing in on them. If you see fish down 25-35 feet deep, drop a jigging spoon to them.
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
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,116.92 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said water surface temperature is in the low 50s. Striper activity is picking up and the white bass run is on. Beaver lake striper fishing is good with striper taken on live shad fished on free lines and down lines from the surface to 40 feet deep. Troll small umbrella rigs with white grubs in clear water and chartreuse in stained water for some good action. Flat line trolling, and trolling three-way rigs with Rapalas and Rogues are also producing. Beaver lake stripers will be located in area’s holding bait near the main channel. Live shad as always on Beaver Lake when fishing for trophy Stripers is the go-to approach. Stripers are hitting larger shad in the 8-12 inch range. Check the following hot spots for stripers: Indian creek past lost bridge and in the mouth of Indian creek; Point 6 (look for birds working the surface and check the channel and treetops from 25 to 45 feet deep); Rambo Creek Arm (birds are working the area and stripers have been caught toward War Eagle Cavern on umbrella rigs and jerk baits); Highway 12 bridge (check the cove at Serenity Point and work your way toward Prairie creek); Prairie Creek (stripers will be using this area frequently to avoid the dirty water), and Coose Hollow (try both arms of Coose Hollow, there have been schools of whites working their way through here). Walleye are being caught in Blackburn Creek (on flats near the channel), 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. White bass are piled up in every major creek upriver waiting to spawn.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and low. The surface water temperature is in the mid 50s. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 2 to 10 feet of water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, swim baits and Alabama rigs. White bass are biting well on minnows and crayfish fished on the bottom and on Rooster Tails. Walleye are biting well on minnows, jigs and Rapala Shad Raps.
Jason Piper of
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been caught shallow along sloping gravel banks with cover. Work a Texas-rigged lizard slowly around the cover or fish a 3/8-oz. spinnerbait or medium-diving crawdad-colored crankbait along the shoreline out to the drop off. Fords Creek, Ventris, Monte-Ne and White River have all been good places to find bass. Male crappie continue to move in and can be found near the bank under brush. A minnow or 2-inch swim bait fished 3 to 5 feet under a cork will be most productive. Females can still be found suspending 4-10 feet down over deeper water close to brush piles, timber or bluff walls. Swim a small curly tail grub or tube on a 1/16-oz. jighead in those areas to pick off female crappie. Females may start to move in and lay their eggs over the weekend beginning upstream first then moving out to the main lake late next week as the water nears 60 to 62 degrees. Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek, White River upstream from the 412 bridge and Piney Creek have all been good places to fish. White bass have begun to move to their spawning grounds and can be caught up both river arms and in the backs of all main coves on the lake. Small minnow-imitating lures will work best. Catfishing has been slow, but a few can be caught in the evening using liver or cut bait. Hickory Creek, 12 Bridge and the 412 Bridge access have all been good places to fish.
Beaver Dam Store said trout have been biting well for everyone from the fly guys to the bait fishermen. Midge fishing early and late in the day is working, as are scud patterns. We used a olive and a white micro jig on fly-fishing gear with good results as well. Gold Colorado spoons, micro jigs and Rapalas are the best lures for spin fishermen lately. For the bait fishermen, white Power Bait with a wax worm is hard to beat right now. Walleye and white bass have moved into the tailwater as well. A jig-and-minnow combination is working well to pick up the occasional white or walleye.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said Lake Elmdale is up a little from last week, and the water is clear. Surface temperatures have been above 52 degrees for the most part. Bass have been biting suspending Rattling Rogues, and brown, orange or green jigs with a brown swimming chunk frog. One fisherman caught 18 in an hour and a half last Saturday afternoon. Up the lake in the channel of Brush Creek, a large stringer of seven redear, several bluegill and one large crappie was caught using a crappie jig tipped with red worms, fished under a bobber at 7 feet. The turnover should be complete by the weekend, and we are expecting the crappie to have moved shallow by then.
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is stained and high. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are biting very well on minnows. Black bass are biting well on shiners and artificial lures. No report on catfish.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 63 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs near the bank from 1 to 8 feet deep. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms and chicken liver. Walleye are excellent below the dam on grubs, live minnows and nightcrawlers.
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
Just Fishing Guides has closed, and we are currently looking for a new contact.
Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said the water temperature is 54 degrees and the water is clear. Crappie are biting well early in shallow water on minnows, then moving into deeper water as sun comes up. Bass are biting well in 4 to 6 feet of water on a variety of lures, including jerk baits and soft plastics. Bream should be starting to bite well soon, as the water warms; try crickets in 3 to 6 feet of water on flats and grass edges.
Lake Poinsett State Park said bass are biting well and have moved up to the shallows near the banks. Bream fishing and catfishing are both slow. Crappie fishing is fairly good, with most of the success coming from deeper water on minnows. A few crappie have been caught on jigs.
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 53 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on jig-and-craw combos. No report on catfish or bream.
Lake Frierson State Park said the lake is slightly above normal pool. Water temperatures have been 52 to 55 degrees, with the warmer water on the eastern and northern sections of the lake. Channel and blue catfish have been good to excellent on nightcrawlers, minnows, goldfish, stinkbait and cut bait. Several 10 lb. catfish were caught last week, both on rod-and-reel and noodles. Bass have been biting well on crankbaits, minnows and soft-plastics with a little morning topwater action as well. A few nice crappie have been caught on minnows, but no limits have been reported. A few saugeye have been caught on minnows and crankbaits.
Mark Crawford with
Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running 330 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. Over the last week we have had excellent fishing conditions. Black woolly buggers and Y2Ks have been the hot flies. Candy corn and black Trout Magnets, and black and yellow Rooster Tails are doing great. We have had some of the best fishing over the last few weeks. The best catching has been on days when bad weather is forecast. On sunny days it is just a matter of getting the fly to the bottom.
Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s said the surface water temperature is 54 degrees. Crappie are beginning to pick up as the water warms. Catfishing and bass fishing are beginning to improve with the warm water as well.
Millwood Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.50 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level is 21.5 inches above normal conservation pool and rising. There remains strong current in Little River w/ the release of discharge at the dam. Surface temperatures range from 57 to 67 degrees, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Discharge rate Monday was 9,260CFS. The water is muddy with visibility at 1 to 3 inches at best. Largemouth bass scattered last week with the muddy current and poor visibility. The best bite runs from mid-morning through mid-afternoon, when surface temps are greatest. Males and female bass have already been on beds up river and along the sheltered pockets of the west end such as Red Slough, pockets along south hickory and the golf course for last two weeks. Beds extremely hard to see with all the muddy effluent. Female bass on beds in numerous locations upriver and in protected coves on the west bank and pockets of the main lake when they can be seen. Good numbers of fat prespawn or spawning female largemouths have been caught and released. Here is what was working prior to the muddy deluge of incoming water: Rat-L-Traps, Salty Rat Tails, Lizards, Trick Worms, Yum Dingers, and chatterbaits were the go-to lures over the past couple weeks, working during majority of the warmest period of the day. Male largemouths have been hitting the Rat-L-Traps in 3-6 foot depths of creek channels with protected pockets and flats nearby. The most productive colors of Rat-L-Traps over the past few weeks are ‘Lectric Red, Toledo Gold, Red Chrome, or Chrome/Blue Back. Millwood Magic colored Rat-L-Traps have also been landing some shallow cruising male bass on flats and in the creek channel ditches. For bedding bass, best colors of Salty Rat Tails, lizards and soft plastics are the pumpkinseed/chartreuse, green pumpkin, watermelon-red, blackberry, and merthiolate in stained water areas. White Bass continue well into their annual spawning runs up Little River near Patterson shoals (along with the spotted bass) but have scattered with all the current and muddy water. Best locations prior to the incoming fresh water were between Highway 71 Bridge and Patterson Shoals and on points and cuts protruding into the river. Crappie scattered and the bite shut down over the past few days. Catfish are slow to fair with muddy current.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Lake Erling
Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., said the weather kept them off the lake last weekend, but they did have a report from week before. They managed to catch 101 channel catfish and 68 crappie in four days and three nights of running yo-yos between three anglers. They used only shiners, and set their yo-yos about 12 inches away from the grass about halfway up the lake on the west bank. There have been no reports on bass or bream.
Lake Greeson
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.90 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 407.67 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the low 60s and the lake is clear up to Point Cedar and slightly stained farther upriver. Bass fishing is good with lots of reports of small and slot fish. Most fish are coming from the Shouse Ford/Point Cedar areas and Beaton Creek. The best pattern has been a medium-running crankbait in firetiger or chartreuse or Rat-L-Trap. Some fish are being taken on Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms and lizards in darker colors. Windy secondary points next to spawning coves are the best bet. Crappie fishing is very slow with virtually no reports. The hybrids have mostly disappeared with only a few reported. No reports on bream or catfish.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 357.40 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, cajun cricket, Barbecue chicken and blue/white. Bream are biting well in deep water on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hopper jigs. Bass are fair on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits and Rooster Tails. Catfish are biting on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are biting well on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms and rock hopper jigs. Catfishing is good on redworms, nightcrawlers, minnows, stink bait and livers. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and dark soft-plastics.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained and very low. Crappie are biting well on minnows, white /salt and pepper and red / chartreuse shad and cajun cricket Bobby Garland jigs with a green or yellow Power Bait crappie nibble. Catfish are good on stink bait, minnows, and livers. Bass are fair on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits 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) said the bass are on fire, and there are multiple ways to catch them. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, plastics swim baits, Alabama rigs and floating worms are all catching bass in the spawning flats and creeks. Pockets and cuts off the river will be heating up this week for pre spawn bass, and the drops out from the spawning flats will begin holding some post spawn bass. Crappie have been caught both shallow and deep on jigs and minnows with some river crappie being caught on small Rat-L-Traps. Catfishing has been good on cut shad and worms. White bass and striped bass have been good on tailspinners and jerk baits. Bream are fair on worms in the creeks.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 397.80 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 578.80 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Todd Gadberry at
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing and the surface temperature is 54-62 degrees. Black bass are excellent on jerk baits, Carolina-rigged green pumpkin lizards and floating worms. These fish are spawning and staging for the spawn. Walleye are still good on flashy crankbaits and inline spinners as well as bottom bouncing nightcrawlers near cover 15-25 feet deep. Stripers are still excellent on C-10 Redfins and Alabama rigs with 3- and 4-inch shad-colored swim baits or live bait. We are still getting great reports on the south fork of the river from Joplin to Denby. Bream are still slow and being caught with crickets or worms in 20-25 feet of water. Crappie are biting very well on minnows and crappie grubs fished near and over brush in 15 to 20 feet of water; suspend the lure 4 to 10 feet deep. Catfish are biting very well on jug lines and trotlines baited with cut bait and live bait and set 20-30 feet deep.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said Entergy has been running around the clock generation below Carpenter Dam in an effort to bring Lake Ouachita down out of flood pool. Fast currents and changing water levels are the norm and this trend will continue until normal lake levels are achieved. Water temperature is 46 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. The final rainbow trout stocking until mid-November is scheduled for this month with thousands of quality trout already thriving below the dam. Bank fishermen need to target areas that have some protection from the heavy current and stick to proven live bait presentations. Wax and meal worms, nightcrawlers and redworms, crickets and live minnows are all productive baits and will greatly out-fish any artificial lure this time of year. Spin fishermen casting small spoons and in-line spinners can still catch trout in the current with shad in short supply. Fly-fishermen continue to wade to areas that hold feeding trout and are having success using small streamers in white. Micro-jigs are another quality fly that closely resembles the threadfin shad that inhabit the area. Boaters trolling small crankbaits have taken trout in the 14- to 17-inch class below the bridge. Crappie continue to spawn and are being caught on live minnows close to the dam over deep water. A few good limits of fish were caught this week before the storm shut down the bite. Bigger numbers of white bass are now present in the tailrace and are actively feeding on shad while the turbines are running. Striper fishing is very slow with no reported catches this week. Freshwater drum are beginning to spawn over shallow flats. Many of these fish are over 20 pounds and can be caught on crawfish and nightcrawlers.
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) said fishing has been slow. The water temperature is between 46 and 50 degrees. The lake has been clear this past week but is still a little high. Some larger bass have been caught, and some crappie have been taken on yo-yo’s. Some catfish are being caught on trotlines. But overall, the bite is slow.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperatures on the main channel and Lake Langhofer are in the low 50s and mid 50s, respectively. Backwater areas are warmer. Water visibility is between ½- to 1 foot on the main channel and around 1 foot in Lake Langhofer. There is a light current on the river. Bass are on their pre-spawn spots, relating to shallow wood and rock cover and eating shad-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
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 said the water is on the rise due to the heavy rains from last week. However, bass seem to be hitting pretty well in warmer pockets of water using a finesse-rigged worm in either a green or orange color due to the color of the crawdads. Some female bass have already spawned, so getting a reaction strike when the water warms up a little more should be the way to go. Several crappie have been caught on large black/blue or green/red jigs in about 6 feet of water.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing had no new report.
Bear Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park said crappie are biting on jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water around points. Bream are slow but should start biting in the next couple of weeks. Bass are fair on worms in shallow water. No word on catfishing.
Storm Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park said bream are fair on jigs and worms. Crappie are fair on jigs about 10 feet from shore. No word on catfish or bass.
White River
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is low and clear. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around brush. Bass are fair on tube baits. Walleye are slow, but a few have been caught on live minnows. No report on catfish or bream.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is murky and high. The surface water temperature is 60 degrees. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished near rocky ledges and points. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, crawfish and worms.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on worms fished around lily pads and piers. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around piers and pad stems. Bass are biting well in shallow water on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on minnows fished near lily pads close to deep water.
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