Weekly Arkansas fishing report for Aug. 25, 2013. Enjoy your time on the water and catch a bunch.
| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said conditions are great on Lake Conway. Bream fishing is excellent on beds, lily pads and the banks using worms and crickets when there is a full moon. Bass are biting very well early in the mornings on topwater lures, such as buzzbaits and frogs. During the day, switch to spinnerbaits and dark-colored soft-plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished deep along the Highway 89 Bridge and the mouth of Gold Creek. Catfishing is good on trotlines, yo-yos and limblines baited with large minnows, goldfish and nightcrawlers.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bream are still biting fairly well on the banks and around lily pads on crickets and worms. Bass fishing is fair on plastic worms, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are beginning to be caught around bridges and deeper structures on jigs and minnows. Catfishing is good.
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is high and is clearing up from the recent rains. Trout fishing is excellent. The temperature of the water is lower than normal for this time of year, which is excellent for fishing. Wax worms, PowerBait, corn and any artificial lure is working well on the river right now.
Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said Greers Ferry has returned to generation pool level. We are receiving daily afternoon generations, allowing for great wade and drift fishing along the river. Soft hackles with a midge dropper have been a good combination as well as emergers and small sowbugs. Hot pink Trout Magnets on gold and chartreuse Trout Magnet jig heads continue to produce good catches for spin fishermen.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.38 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) said heavy rains have the rivers running and the lake rising. Surface activity is on the increase as schooling bass are chasing bait to the top. Topwater plugs, in-line spinners, spoons and crankbaits will work on surfacing fish. Cruise the lake early and look for surface eruptions. Ease in and try to stay on them with a trolling motor. Largemouth, spotted bass, white bass and hybrids can be caught in big numbers if you can get to a surfacing school. Trolling crankbaits is still producing crappie and other fish at 20 feet deep. Ask your bait shop for black salty minnows for your catfishing.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling, and the surface water temperature has risen to the upper 80s. Bream are shallow and can be caught off of beds on crawlers and crickets all over the lake. Bass fishing has improved in shallow water, with many largemouth roaming and chasing bream. Try topwater lures and bream=colored crankbaits in the shallows. Deeper, switch to an Alabama rig, Carolina rig or Football head jig. Walleye are slow, but a few have been caught by anglers dragging nightcrawlers on the bottom in 23 to 32 feet of water. White bass and hybrids are roaming, and are hard to pinpoint. If you can stay with them, you might catch one or two. But as the temperature falls, they should begin to pick up. Use spoons, inline spinners and topwater baits for the best results. Crappie are slow.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said Greers Ferry is currently on the rise with periods of heavy rain and limited generation at the dam. White bass and hybrids made a huge push with surface feeding over the last week. They are very willing to take a spinners or spoons when fished through these schools. The drop shot and crawler bite is still decent to good when covering large flats and roll offs into the main or primary channel. Night fishing is still proving to be the best time to bass fish with artificials. Deeper brush in the 20 – 25 foot range can hold good numbers of species specific fish.
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is very high with 2 feet of visibility. Bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Bass and catfish are biting well. Crappie fishing is excellent right now on white and chartreuse jigs.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting on Bandit and Bomber crankbaits trolled 6 to 12 feet deep. They also are biting on minnows, Bobby Garland 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 tipped with a PowerBait Crappie Nibble in green or yellow. Catfish are biting well on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes and drop-shot worms. Bream are excellent on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Redear are biting well on redworms fished near the bottom.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Stroll’rs and Slab Slay’rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white, barbecue chicken and blue/white with green or yellow PowerBait Crappie Nibbles. Bream are slow on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes and drop-shot worms.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) filed no new report.
Local angler Nicholas Karras had no report this week.
Jolly Roger’s Marina said black bass are biting very well. They are deep during the day and closer to weeds and structure in the evening and early morning. Largemouths are biting floating worms, swim baits and top-water lures early and jigs or other deep-water baits later in the day. Spotted bass are deep and in grassy areas in the evenings and late hours, and are hitting on small crankbaits, jigs and finesse worms. White bass are all over the lake, but most reported activity is close to the dam, where whites are schooling. They are hitting on CC spoons, Rooster Tails and Spooks. Crappie are fair in about 15 to 20 feet of water around points and any structure. They can be caught on dull color jigs with bright neon jigheads and minnows. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets in 10 to 15 feet of water and hitting on crickets. Catfish should be bedding up. Fish with nightcrawlers, live bait and chicken livers.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are hitting in 6 to 12 feet of water on Bandit and Bomber crankbaits, minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Slab Slay’rs in red/chartreuse, bone white, pearl, orange/chartreuse, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white. White bass are biting on Rooster tails and jigs in white/salt and pepper. Bream are good on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and Rock Hoppers jigs. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes and drop-shot worms.
Hatchet jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) had no new report.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish have been slow to bite, but some are being caught on no.12 bass minnows, nightcrawlers and chicken liver. Bream are biting redworms and crickets. Bass fishing has been fair with live minnows, watermelon/red trick worms and small topwater baits fished at first light. A few small crappie have been biting no. 6 and pink crappie minnows.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said the river is right. Bass fishing has been excellent with Texas-rigged 4-inch lizards, Baby Brush Hogs and Lil’ Critter Craws. Watermelon, watermelon/red, green pumpkin and pumpkin are the hottest colors. Fish with light line and be quiet in that clear water and your catch will improve. Catfish are biting well also. Some nice flatheads have been caught on trotlines baited with brooder minnows and black salties. A few pretty good sized crappie were caught last week in a deep hole with a lot of brush and logs along the bottom. Dropping a no. 6 crappie minnow right against the brush or logs did the trick. Again, light line and stealth were a major key to success. Bream and other sunfish can be caught almost any time of any day on the Saline River as long as the water is at a safe, fishable level. Light tackle, small hooks and some crickets or redworms will work. You’ll catch large numbers of small ones and a big one now and then.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said if you read this report regularly you know I always start the Lake Norrell report with bream. This little lake has some big bream. A couple of fishing partners caught their limits on Thursday, of some really nice redear bream. They always use crickets and fish the bottom in 12-20 feet of water. They reported that the fish were a little more concentrated than they have been in the last month or so. Catfish have been slow, but some have been caught on live minnows, nightcrawlers and big gobs of redworms. Bass have been hitting trick worms, Carolina-rigged lizards and Baby Brush Hogs. Small topwater baits and buzzbaits have been working early in the mornings. No reports of crappie being caught.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish have been caught in pretty good numbers during the last week in Lake Charles. Nightcrawlers, chicken liver and bait shrimp on bottom of the deepest parts of the lake have done the trick. A few decent bream have come from both Lake Charles and Lake Norma while fishing with crickets and nightcrawlers. A couple of very nice bass were caught at Lake Charles recently by a customer that shared pics on our facebook page. Some crappie have been caught on no. 6 crappie minnows at both lakes.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said customers report that catfishing has been very good in the late afternoon/early evening. One reported that to catch a good mess of catfish, you just need to take no. 12 bass minnows and go crappie fishing. He did catch a good mess of crappie as well, so the crappie are biting, too. Bass fishing has been fast and fun but most of them have been small. Trick worms and Carolina-rigged lizards are working well. Bream fishing has been fair to good with crickets and redworms.
Charley’s Hidden Harbor had no report.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Palarm Creek: No report this week.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the current is too strong right now for most folks to fish. There have been a few reports of bass biting on the backside and ends of jetties on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms, but Vince advises to be patient until the flow is a little more manageable.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the current is too strong for anyone to be fishing lately. Catfishing is good from the bank below Terry Lock and Dam on cut shad.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and clear. There has been no angling on the lake lately, but bream should been biting crickets.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and stumps are beginning to show at the water’s surface. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on worms, liver and stink bait. Bass are biting well, but the bass anglers are staying tight-lipped about the lures they’re using. There haven’t been any bream anglers fishing lately.
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) had no report.
| North Arkansas |
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water level has been nice and the water is cool. The generators aren’t running constantly, which is offering excellent wading conditions. Trout are biting excellently on a variety of bait, including sculpin and shrimp. In the current, Power Bait and pink trout worms seem to be the baits of coice. Brown trout are biting well on Rogues and Rapalas. Fly-fishing has been very good on zebra midges, copper Johns and grasshopper patterns. .
Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said rain has raised all of the lakes in the White River system to a level above power pool. All are now in flood pool. As a result, there likely will be more generation and less wadable water in the coming weeks. On the White, the hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. The hot flies were prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hare’s ears and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small 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). On the higher flows some anglers have had success on large streamers with heavy sink tip lines. The hot flies have been large articulated streamers in various colors. Hopper season is in full swing. These are tempting morsels for large trout. You need a stiff 6-weight rod and a 7 ½-foot 4X leader. My favorite hopper patterns are the western style foam hoppers with rubber legs and a bright quick sight patch on the back. Dave’s hoppers are also a good choice but be sure to dress them with plenty of fly floatant to ensure that they ride high. A small nymph dropper can increase your takes. It is not uncommon to take more trout on the dropper. My favorite dropper flies are beadhead pheasant tails or zebra midges.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable and both are receiving a lot of pressure. With summer here, the smallmouths are active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. They are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are navigable and both are receiving a lot of pressure. With summer here, the smallmouths are active. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. They are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 668.05 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 561.64 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the weather turned cooler and the rain made the water rise, turning on the stripers. The fresh water has reduced the thermocline and the stripers are schooling, the preferred depth is 34′, fish are being caught trolling, jigging and using live bait. I expect the next few weeks fishing will continue to be fast with lots of limits.
Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Norfork Lake fishing has been really good after the rise in the lake level. The striped bass have finally started to school. The best action has come from vertically jigging spoons 40 to 50 feet deep in 105 feet of water over schools of fish found on the graph. There also has been plenty of topwater action for large spotted bass and smaller hybrids. A few days ago I was fishing with my daughter and she landed a monster 25-pound striper. I was trolling a white headed Hyper Striper with a 6 inch green with silver fleck tail. I was using 6 ounces of clip on weights about 60 feet back of the bait then another 150 feet of line. I think my bait was down close to 30 feet deep. With the rise in the water level the fish have moved back into the creeks and coves. Start looking for fish from 30 ft. down out to the deep channel. Once the lake stabilizes the stripers will start to move out to the main lake points if this hasn’t already started to happen. Crappie fishing has also been really good. With the cooler water temperature and the relatively shallow thermocline, crappies have moved back to the brush and at times are only 5 feet deep. Bob and Angie caught well over 100 crappie last week with maybe 40 percent of them being keeper size.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temp has dropped to the low 80s. Look for stripers suspended 30-50 feet deep. If you use a jigging spoon, try silver on sunny days and white on cloudy days in ¾- or 1-oz. sizes. Bass are chasing shad to the surface early in the morning. Throw a topwater bait like a Spook or Pop-R. After the sun gets high, fish deeper with a Texas-rigged worm (red or red with silver or gold flake in it). You can also throw a jig in green pumpkin or peanut butter and jelly. Smallmouth are particularly fond of peanut butter and jelly football head jigs.
Campground News: Jordan Campground on Norfork Lake is open April 1-Oct. 1 and managed by Jordan Marina. Formerly run by the Army Corps of Engineers, Jordan Campground is a favorite of families camping on the south end of Norfork Lake and is the gateway to Sand Island and Jordan area beaches. This area also is a favorite of scuba divers, with 30 dive sites within 2 miles of the campground. Jordan Campground has 41 RV and tent sites; sites with 50-amp service and 30-amp service are available for $20 per night. The campground, adjacent to Jordan Marina, also features a swimming beach, picnic pavilion, boat launch and two restrooms. For more information, call (870) 499-7223 or Jordan Marina at (870) 499-7348.
Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been wadable water most days and it has fished well. 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 a green butt or 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 18). Grasshoppers have started producing fish, particularly when used in conjunction with a small nymph dropper (try a size 20 black zebra midge). Olive woolly buggers have also accounted for a lot of trout. The fishing is much better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. Dry Run Creek has fished well. School is out and there is much more traffic on the stream. You should fish early or late to avoid the crowds. Weekends can get quite crowded. The hot flies have been sowbugs and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. Use at least 4X tippet and carry the largest net that you can find to increase your chances of landing these big fish.
| Northwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,121.83 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said stripers are scattered but on the feed. The surface water temperature is in the mid-70s to low 80s. Beaver lakes middle layers are mixing and the preturnover cycle is beginning due to the low temperatures. The night bite has still been best! Try live 8-12 inch shad fished on free lines and down lines 30-35 feet deep. Trolling small umbrella rigs with white grub, Rapalas, Bombers or spoons near timber, bluffs and rock piles near the main channel also is working. Hot spots for stripers include Indian Creek (past lost bridge and in the mouth of Indian Creek) and Rocky Branch (Check the channel between the marina and the road bed that extends to the island. Also check the channel around the little islands in front of Larue boat ramp.). Most walleye are about 15-30 feet deep and can be caught using a variety of methods. You can flat line troll with Cotton Cordell spots, Hot-n-Tots, Wiggle Warts, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners, or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos in clear water or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in areas of stained water. Slow death rigs featuring orange and chartreuse beads are working very well on a bottom bouncer. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and in the low 80s. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around brush near the main channel in 15 feet of water. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky head worms and Texas-rigged worms in green pumpkin or watermelon colors. Some large catfish have been caught on yoyos and trotlines baited with prepared bait and live bait.
Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been decent. Look for fish in newly flooded brush early and late in the day. A Texas-rigged or shaky head lizard or worm will work well fished in those areas. A Carolina rigged lizard or worm as well as a deep-diving crankbait slowly cranked over main lake points and flats with timber will work during the day. At night try dark-colored plastics fished slowly along sloping banks on the main lake. Point 12, Rambo, Big Clifty and Rocky Branch have all been good. Crappie fishing has slowed. Look for them to remain suspended over brush piles and next to timber in 20 to 40 feet of water close to a channel. Docks, bluffs and tree lines along the channel in coves have been productive. Small curly tail grubs on a 1/16-oz. jighead swam slowly from the bottom up has been most productive. Pearl/chartreuse, black/chartreuse and pink/white have been best colors. Trolling has been a slightly better option as of late; troll a Hot-n-Tot or Bandit crankbait slowly over main lake flats close to a channel or point. Piney Creek, White River, Horseshoe Bend and Eden Bluff have all been good. White bass fishing has slowed, but remains best at night under lights on minnows or shad along bluff lines close to the channel in the Rocky Branch area. Early and late in the day they can be found schooling on main lake flats and can be caught using Kastmaster spoons once a school is located. Catfishing has been good from the bank using liver or worms at 12 bridge, Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and the 412 bridge access.
Beaver Dam Store had no report this week.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat had no report.
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is back to normal flows, but is still murky. A few catfish have been caught on liver, worms and cut bait. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Crappie fishing is slow. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said fishing is very good right now thanks to the cooler temperatures and rain last week. The water level is back to normal, and the water is very clear. Crappie are biting very well on crankbaits pulled 6 feet deep and jigs slow-trolled near brush in 6 feet of water. Brea are biting well on worms. White bass are excellent on spinnerbaits and shad-imitating lures. Catfishing is good on shad and chicken liver.
Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said after the cooler weather of the last two weeks, warmer weather ahead should bring fish back to their normal summer patterns. Fishing first thing in the morning is best; try topwaters for bass early, then switch to jerkbaits and spinnerbaits later in the day. Bream are steady on a diet of worms and crickets near brush. Crappie can be caught by slow-trolling minnows and jigs in deeper water off flats and weed beds. Catfish are good this time of year on live bait, such as small bream and minnows.
| Northeast Arkansas |
Lake Poinsett State Park said catfish are biting on about any bait. The crappie are being caught early and late, mostly on minnows. Crickets are still the choice of bait for bream. The bass have been very active.
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is very clear and at normal level. Catfishing is excellent on chicken liver and shrimp. Bass are biting fairly well early in the morning on topwater lures, but after the morning bite, the fish are done. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. .
Lake Frierson State Park said the lake is slightly below normal pool and has risen with recent rains. Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Catfishing is starting to pick back up after the delayed spawn. Channel catfish and blue catfish are fair to good on cut bait, liver, dip bait and minnows. Anglers are having success with jugs and rod and reels; different depths are producing fish; vary your depth if you aren’t having luck. Flathead catfish are fair; a few have been caught on minnows and goldfish. Bass have been fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. The shad are schooling in the morning and especially the evenings, which gives some top-water action. Bream have been fair to good on pieces of worms and small jigs; try a variety of colors. No report on crappie or saugeye.
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 400 cfs and water clarity is clear. The river has cleared up and is ready for fishing. This week the hot flies have been Y2Ks, Guppies and mayfly emergers. Hot pink and white Trout Magnets are working great for spin fishers. With the river clearing up many trout will be looking for food.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said the water level on the Spring River is fishable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season is in full swing, so fish the upper river at the Lassiter Access to avoid them. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
| Southeast Arkansas |
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperature is in the lower 80s and current is still high. Visibility in Lake Langhofer, backwaters and the main channel is around 1 foot or less. The main channel is muddy with cleaner pockets in Lake Langhofer and other protected backwaters. Be careful running the main channel; there is still some debris floating in running lanes and some new large logs are now wedged on sandbars near the Emmett Sanders lock and dam. Fish on the main channel are positioned in eddies of cover and can be caught with dark-colored jigs and brightly colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits/chatterbaits. Fish in Lake Langhofer are still biting jigs and soft plastics in brush piles, as well as moving baits up shallow with the high water.
Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s had no report.
Lake Chicot State Park had no report.
Jesse James Charter Fishing (870-355-7800) said catfishing is good on cut bait all over the lake. Crappie fishing is fair and fish have been caught on black/yellow jigs and live minnows around brush piles. Bream fishing is good with worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on Alabama rigs with swimbaits in mystic shad and pearl shad colors around points and creek channels. White spinnerbaits fished around the sides of docks and around cypress trees are also working well.
| Southwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.30 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said surface water temperatures range from 83 to 88 degrees. The lake is about 1.5 inches above conservation pool, and is falling. Discharge rate as of Monday was a total discharge of 171 CFS. Clarity and visibility have continued improving over the past week with the reduced current in Little River. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity and visibility ranges 15-20 inches. Little River’s visibility ranges 12-18 inches depending on location and current. Topwater action for largemouth bass is still excellent from dawn until abou 10 a.m.. Plastic frogs and Bass Assassin Shads are catching good Largemouths around vegetation. The best reaction baits at dawn for the past couple weeks for schooling fish were Bass Assassin Shads, buzzbaits, clear Rat-L-Traps, clear Baby Torpedoes, flitter-shad colored Dying Flutters, and soft plastic frogs and Johnson Spoons when the activity moves into vegetation and pads. Jumbo Yum 4-inch F2 tubes and Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs are still working around cypress knees in the oxbows in 8-10 feet of water. White bass are also surface schooling upriver and being caught in the oxbows alongside the largemouths using Bomber and XCalibur crankbaits in Black Shad, Tenneessee Special, or Rootbeer Float colors. Crappie continue to improve the better water clarity. Live shiners, Southern Pro Lit’l Hustler or Umbrella tubes continue working by vertical jigging in and around planted brush piles from 12-15 feet of water from daylight until 10 a.m. Jigs in white/chartreuse, black/chartreuse, or Blakemore Roadrunners in black/chartreuse seemed to be best colors. Blue catfish and channel cats are good on trotlines or yo-yos with cut bait (shad, drum, carp) chicken livers and hot dogs along Little River and creek mouths dumping into the river. The 12-15 feet deep wash-outs and creek dumps into Little River seem to be best locations for drop lines or tight lines.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., said crappie were fair, but sporadic, holding in the thermocline. Slow trolling shiners and jigs around brush tops in 8 to 10 feet of water produced a few crappie. Not many were caught, but they were good-size fish.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 544.80 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Cossatot River State Park had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 401.03 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the mid-80s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is good early in the morning for breaking fish. Look for fish on secondary points in major coves at mid-lake. Throw surface lures, such as Zara Spooks, Sammy’s, Pop-Rs,Flukes or 3-inch swim baits. Look for fish in Caddo Drive, Arlie Moore, the big coves along the south side of the State Park, Brushy Creek and Big Hill Creek. Later in the day try a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard worked deep off these same points. Try red shad, green pumpkin/red flake or cotton candy. Some nice fish were reported at night under the full moon on black spinnerbaits or big black worms. Crappies are still a no show, however when the water cools, there should be a few fish in the attractors. Hybrid fishing is picking up with some nice catches reported. Surface-feeding fish have been reported in the big cove outside the State Park Marina. Throw a heavy spoon in chartreuse or pink into the schools. Be sure to let the spoon sink to about 20 feet and work it back up through the fish. This is early morning fishing, so be sure to be there even before sun up. The deep water bite is only fair with fish scattered and suspended along the old river channel in the Iron Mountain area. Use the sonar to locate the fish which will be in water over 100 feet deep and sitting at 30 to 40 feet down. Drop a heavy jigging spoon in chartreuse or a 3-inch chartreuse grub to just above the fish. A few walleyes reported by hybrid fishermen who are fishing over the standing timber at 30 to 40 feet down. Once again, early morning is the prime time. Bream fishing is good with fish reported coming from all over the lake. The best bet is in the coves with some rock or wood cover. Bank fishing around the State Park has been very good. Use redworms or crickets. A few catfish reported biting at night for those using noodles or trotlines. Place the trot lines across main lake coves in 20 to 40 feet of water and drop the noodles over standing timber which is now within 30 feet of the surface. Bait with cut shad, blood, Catfish Charlie, chicken livers, nightcrawlers and hot dogs/soap. For live bait try big minnows and small bream.
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 343.62 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said bream fishing is excellent right now on worms and crickets. Crappie are holding around deeper water, but a few can be caught on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting fairly well early in the morning and late in the evening on soft-plastic worms. The water is very warm, so fish caught on trotlines are dying from the heat and lack of oxygen during the day. The cooler nights are ideal for jug fishing if you want to catch some fish with downlines.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on Bandit and Bomber crankbaits trolled 6 to 12 feet deep. Crappie are also biting on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white tipped with a PowerBait crappie nibble in green or yellow. Bream are biting excellently on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes and drop-shot worms. 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 great on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Catfish are being caught on redworms, nightcrawlers, minnows, stink bait and chicken livers. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes, drop-shot worms and dark-colored soft-plastic worms.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained. Crappie are biting on Bandit and Bomber crankbaits, minnows, and jigs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white tipped with PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Catfish hitting stink bait, livers and minnows. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise- and other dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes and drop-shot worms.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 386.74 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 574.04 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said black bass have picked up a little with some schooling action early or late. However, fish are primarily still deep near structure, and Texas-rigged plastics or big jigs are working best. Walleye are hitting on drop-shots fished with nightcrawlers and CC spoons near brush in the 20-30 foot range. Stripers are being caught on live bait and big hair jigs near main lake humps and points. Bream are still good and being caught with crickets or worms in 20-25 feet of water near brush. Crappie are still being caught near and over brush in 25-40 feet of water with minnows or crappie grubs. Catfish are very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines from 18-25 feet deep. Rod-and-reel fishermen are catching them near brush piles during the day with big night crawlers.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no report this week.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no report this week.
For a report on the crappie fishing at Lake Hamilton, visit Family Fishing Trips.
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 61 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy is running water 10 hours each day which has kept the area clear of heavy moss and provided oxygenated water for all area fish species. Rainbow trout fishing is very slow. August normally marks the end of the trout season in Lake Catherine until restocking begins in late November. Extreme patience is the key to catching trout this time of year below the dam due to limited numbers and wary fish. Anglers can expect a limited number of bites per trip and must be ready to set the hook when the strikes occur. Live bait presentations are best as artificial lures are often ignored. Wax worms and meal worms, redworms and nightcrawlers, corn and Power Bait all will attract trout, but the bite will be slow and inconsistent. White bass and walleye action has slowed considerably with few fish caught. These two species are often present in the tailrace and provide anglers some catchable fish. Striper and hybrid action is almost non-existent but should improve toward the end of the month. Freshwater drum are being caught on nightcrawlers over shallow flats in the late evening.
Fish early or late in the day for bass. Try fishing edges of creek channels with jigs, plastics and Bandit black splatterback crankbaits. Bass can also be caught early in the morning along shoreline vegetation of frogs and swim baits. Try slowly fishing intact brush shelters with plastic worms. Bream can be caught on worms and crickets in 4-5 feet of water and along the dam where logs have washed up next to the bank. Crappie are deeper and can be caught on minnows and variety of Slab Slayer colors depending on water clarity.
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.
| South-Central Arkansas |
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.
Robert Giles at White Oak Lake State Park said bream are biting well on crickets and worms early in the morning and evening on the upper lake. Catfish are biting well on worms in the evenings in the upper lake. Bass are a little slow but can be picked up in the mornings and evenings on artificial lures. Lower White Oak Lake continues to fill up with every rainfall. Fishing on the Lower Lake continues to be catch and release only.
| East Arkansas |
Mississippi River State Park said bass are biting early in the morning and late in the evening on plum-colored soft-plastic worms. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and hot dogs.
Mississippi River State Park said bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Bream are biting on worms and crickets in shallow water.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is still high and muddy from all of last week’s rain, but it is beginning to clear up. A few striped bass have been caught below the dam, but that’s about all the fishing that’s been productive this week.
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is still slightly high from last week’s rain and the water temperature is beginning to climb again. Bream and bass fishing is slow. Ther have been some reports of crappie being caught in the lower lakes on minnows and jigs. Catfishing has been good on trotlines.
No report.
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