Here is your weekly Arkansas fishing report for July 12, 2014. Enjoy your time on the water. Oh, and hey! Catch a bunch!
Fishing Highlight of the Week: Bream will be making another spawning run to the bank with the next full moon. There’s still time to get out on the water for some fast family fun.
| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
(Updated 7-2-2014) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream fishing is excellent on redworms and crickets around the lily pads and log jams at Palarm Creek and Adams and Greens lakes. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around green cypress trees, the 89 bridge and the interstate bridge at Gold Creek. Bass are biting well on frogs, buzzbaits, chatterbaits and dark-colored soft plastics around lily pads and banks. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines baited with large minnows, goldfish and green sunfish. Magic Bait and nightcrawlers fished off the bank also are working on the catfish.
(Updated 6-17-2014) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream are biting excellently on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Catfishing is very good with livers and nightcrawlers. Yo-yos, trotlines and limb lines baited with bream or shiners are working as well.
Little Red River (Greers Ferry Tailwater)
(Updated 7-2-2014) Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is low with some generation in the afternoons. Trout are biting well on wax worms with a marshmallow floater and on Power Bait.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ’em All Guide Service said there are good wading opportunities on the upper river in mornings and lower river in afternoons with afternoon and evening generation. Fly fishing has been excellent with midges, hares ears, soft hackles, chronic and sowbugs producing successful trips. We are having good hatches taking place on the mid and lower river in the afternoons creating some awesome dry fly action. Hot pink, red and “purple haze” colored Trout Magnet bodies on chartreuse and red jig heads are working well for Trout Magnet fishing. In slow moving or still water, remember to put some movement on the Trout Magnet by bumping the float across the water to get more strikes. Always check the Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power Administration websites and the Greers Ferry Dam Powerhouse phone recording for current and future water release before planning your fishing trip.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.52 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
(Updated 7-9-2014) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level at greers ferry lake is falling with generation. Catfishing is good all over the lake with good catches coming in on rod and reels, jugs and trotlines baited with bream, stink bait, soap and dog food. The bream action is good with the full moon, they will be spawning and guarding fry, and eating up shallow on crickets and crawlers and even some small crankbaits. Crappie are in the pole timber and biting during the day and at night under lights, as well as over brush piles 15-25 feet deep on minnows and jigs. Walleye have been scattered on flats with all the cloud cover and storms and are eating crank baits and crawlers in 12-35 feet of water next to deep water , try small chunk rock for the best results. Bass fishing is good. There are not a lot of big fish coming in but a 5 pounder will show up every now and then from deep water. Drag a football head, Carolina rig or Alabama rig on ledges as deep as 50 feet. Shallow fish can be caught on topwater lures, some are even schooling. Spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, jighead worms and Texas rigs are still working as well. Hybrid and white bass fishing can be good on topwater baits and vertical fishing at different times during the day. Find bait fish and stay with them in water 25-50 feet deep and be patient to catch them.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Cody Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said Greers Ferry is currently at normal pool and holding steady with a slight fall during daily releases at the dam. Water surface temperatures are still hovering in the upper 70s to low 80s. This has some of our shad still shallow, with the majority starting to settle out deeper. However, there is a feeding window shallow early with the shad in our major creeks and tributaries. Once the early morning shad bite is over, it’s time to move to 18-35 feet of water in and around brush is the deal. Walleyes, smallmouth, spotted bass, largemouth bass, catfish and some large bull bream are coming in daily. White bass and hybrids are finally starting to really show themselves up top in select areas, shad is the major factor right now for our temperate bass species.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Jeff Mays at Anglers Outpost Fishing (501-253-1905) said the lake is at normal pool and the water temperature is 82 to 84 degrees. Stable conditions made for good fishing and the development of a deep thermocline at 35 feet in the upper lake. Long line trolling with deep-diving cranks above the cooler water is producing on all suspended species, with good success on crappies. Look for walleyes on flats in 15-25 feet with bottom bouncers and nightcrawlers. Whites and hybrids will be anywhere you can find the bait balls on your sonar. Try topwater baits early and late for bass, and Carolina-rigged lizards on drop-offs in 40 feet during the day.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said bream are biting very well on crickets and decently on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs Bass are biting well on Purple Rain-colored soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on crickets in the cove about 4 feet deep.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting well on worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Crappie are fair to good in deep water. Bass are chasing shad and are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair to good on worms, minnows and stinkbait.
(Updated 6-4-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is good. All other species are slow.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Jan Johnson at Brewer Lake Bait Shop (501-354-4108) said the water is still a little high. Crappie are still good around brush piles in 10 to15 feet of water. Several 30 to 40 lb. flathead and some big blues were caught last week on noodles and trotlines baited with bream and large minnows. Bream are fair on crickets; large redear are biting on redworms fished on the bottom. Bass are slow.(Updated 6-4-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
(Updated 6-4-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water temperature is 83 degrees, the water level is at the spillway and fishing is very good. Largemouth bass are excellent in 5 to 10 feet of water around the grass. They are hitting on black/red spinnerbaits, floating worms and topwater baits. The Tuesday night tournament continues to have great weights, almost everyone is coming in with limits. Spotted bass are excellent 5 to 10 feet deep on jigs. White bass are fair at the east end of the lake on Roostertails, crappie jigs and clear topwater baits. Crappie are fair in 10 to 15 feet of water. They’re still not as good as last year; try using minnows on them. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms in 10 to 15 feet of water on brush piles. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines baited with small bream.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are excellent on redworms fished 10 to 12 feet deep. Crappie are excellent on medium-sized minnows in 12 to 18 feet of water. Bass are fair on shallow-diving crankbaits, Texas-rigged creature baits and spinnerbaits early in the morning and late in the evening. No report on catfish.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream and catfish have been biting fairly well on nightcrawlers. No reports of bass or crappie being caught recently.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream are biting well on crickets and redworms fished around brush and downed trees. Catfish are biting fair on chicken livers and night crawlers. Bass fishing has been good for some using live minnows and Texas rigged plastic worms. Crappie fishing has been slow.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bass fishing has been good with minnows, small Texas-rigged plastics and crawdad colored crankbaits. Catfish are biting minnows and black saltys on trot lines and limb lines. Crappie fishing has been slow. Bream fishing is always fun on the river with crickets and redworms fish on light line and tackle.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing is good with crickets and redworms. Bass have been biting slow but will hit a live minnow or Texas-rigged plastics. Catfish have been biting minnows and nightcrawlers at night and early in the mornings. Crappie have been slow and the few recent catches have been smaller fish.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing has been good with crickets. Catfish are slow but some are biting stink baits and night crawlers. Bass fishing has been slow. Some small crappie have been biting pink minnows and small pink jigs.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie have been biting for some customers using no. 6 and 12 minnows. Bream are hitting redworms and crickets around logs and brush. Bass have been biting minnows and Texas- or Carolina-rigged plastics. Catfish have been biting chicken livers and nightcrawlers close to the banks at dusk.
(Updated 6-18-2014) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said the fishing is really starting to come on now that the bad weather has pushed through. Black bass are getting strong on the jetties and are biting well on green pumpkin-colored brush hogs with rattles worked along the current break. White bass are schooling and chasing shad around jetty tips. Fish a citrus shad-colored crankbait on the front side of jetties early and late in the day. Spotted bass are mixed in with the white bass on the fronts of jetties. Catfishing is good in the shallows early on nightcrawler/shad combinations. At mid-day move to 15 to 20 feet of water off the jetties. Bream are in the grass on riprap and are biting well on crickets and black/gold blade Mepps and Rooster Tail spinners.
(Updated 6-25-2014) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie can be found by fishing minnows 6 feet deep over deep water near the channel. Bass fishing is excellent on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastic worms.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(Updated 6-25-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are fair on redworms and crickets in the Little Maumelle, but they are excellent on crickets and redworms up Palarm Creek where you can find any brush and grass. Crappie are excellent up the Maumelle River on minnows and red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits, black/blue jigs and Senkos fished around the Little Maumelle. Catfishing is fair on chicken hearts, livers and shad.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(Updated 7-2-2014) Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Bass fishing is good on topwater lures, worms, buzzbaits and creature baits around rocky points and jetties, and around grassy areas in the backwaters. Catfishing is good on cut bait and punch bait in the main river.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bass are biting excellent ly on jetty points and in backwaters on black and blue lizards, jigs and shallow-diving crankbaits. Catfishing is excellent on skipjack, shad, minnows and green sunfish. Below Murray Lock and Dam, crappie and white bass are biting well on jigs and minnows. Catfishing below the dam is excellent on skipjack. Flatheads are good on trotlines baited with live green sunfish near jetties.
(Updated 7-2-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained below Terry Lock and Dam. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
(Updated 7-2-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is slow.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the lake clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on live and prepared baits. No report on bass.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is good on chicken livers, minnows and green sunfish.
(Updated 6-18-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
(Updated 6-18-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 661.58 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
(Updated 7-2-2014) Ken Minsky of Ken Minksy’s Loch Leven Guide Service said it’s fair to say the dog days of summer are upon us. Don’t expect lots of change from week to week in the foreseeable future. The water continues to warm and the fish are relating to the thermocline. Early mornings, evenings and after dark are going to be the best times to catch walleyes moving to shallower water. Primary points and structure along bluffs will produce the best chances to catch a bite during the day. Getting bait to their depth zone of 35+ feet and keeping it there is paramount to triggering a strike. Jigs, trolling lead core line and downriggers will certainly help getting bait to those depths. Try flats and break lines along flats as well as primary points during the evening and early morning hours. Look for smallmouths in 6 to 12 foot depths along bluffs during twilight hours as well as shaded areas during the day. Crappie are hitting near deeper brush piles in 35 to 45 feet of water. Spotted bass and largemouth bass are working shad near the surface along bluffs and primary points in the mornings and evenings, however, you’ll have to chase them around a bit with the electric motor to stay with them. Trotlines along the main lake have been hit and miss the last week, mostly miss, so expect to move them a time or two until you find a location producing a consistent catch.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Newland’s Resort below Bull Shoals said water conditions are trending toward the medium side through the week, with one to four generators all day long. The weekend is more toward minimum flow. Popular baits have been shad, sculpins, pink artificial worms, Rapalas and Little Cleo spoons. One lady caught a 9.5 lb. brown from the bank on Gulp Alive. Be sure to visit the Projected water flow page and live web cam at Newland’s web site.(Updated 7-2-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said water levels are vayring throughout the day. Bait fishermen are using pink worms and shrimp for the best bite. White jigs, rogues and Rapalas are producing some nice brown trout.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there was limited wadable water last week. The hot spot was Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby midges, pink and cerise San Juan worms, and sowbugs. The sulphur hatch has been sighted but is sparse. Several anglers have reported success fishing this hatch. It seems to be late, possibly due to the brutal weather last winter. This is our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year. It is a size 14 or 16 yellowish orange insect. Before the hatch, fish copper Johns and flashback pheasant tails. As the insects begin their emergence, switch to a partridge and orange or partridge and yellow soft hackle. When you observe the adults on the top of the water, switch to a sulphur parachute dry fly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 556.86 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
(Updated 7-9-2014) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake is at normal pool for the summer. The water temperature is in the high-70s. The water visibility is stained. We have seen rain each day with lots of cloud cover. The stripers and hybrids continue to be found suspended in the river channels, off the main lake and secondary points. They are feeding on 1-inch long baby shad and crawdads in 35 to 50 feet of water. Live bait is the most effective method to catch a striper, but stripers are now being caught trolling umbrella and Alabama rigs. Spoons also have produced a few stripers. I caught stripers near the dam, the Brushy Creek area, and the Robinson Point flat. The method was free lines 50 to 70 feet deep between the boat and down lines, 2 oz sinker, with 6’ leader counted down to depth of the stripers. Now is the time to get out on the lake. The stripers are moving out of the creeks and setting up for their summer feed fest. The walleye have moved to their summer pattern and can be caught trolling crankbaits, nightcrawlers on worm harnesses, and spoons. The walleye are staying between 25 and 30 feet of water on the flats and rounded points. Look at East Pigeon, Panther area, Hand Cove, and the flats leading into Float Creek.
(Updated 6-11-2014) Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fishing continues to be the best bite on the lake. Striped bass fishing is the next best bite. Catfishing has been very good and crappie fishing has been fair. There is still a good top water bite for bass at sunrise and sunset. Once the sun comes up, the fish stay down, but can still be caught in the sunken brush down through 20 feet of water. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are working well on windy days and soft plastics are working when it is windy or calm. Look for bass off of secondary points back in creeks and coves, close to submerged brush piles or on shallow flats. Spots can be found on the deeper rock bluff walls. Striper fishing keeps getting better. I have only been using artificial baits. I have had luck with top water baits as well as flukes and jerk baits (when it is still dark). Top water action for stripers has been spotty, but when you find the fish it can be a blast. I have found fish half way back in major creeks. At this time of year and with this water temperature you will be able to find stripers on the surface down to around 30 feet of water. We should start to see schooling fish so get your spoons ready as it will soon be vertical jigging time for stripers. You can also troll umbrella rigs or Alabama rigs to catch some of these strong fish. If you find fish down 30 feet you may need to add in-line weights to get your artificial bait down to the right depth. Catfish are hitting really well on trotlines and jugs baited with live bluegill, nightcrawlers, chicken livers and shad. Set your trotlines in 10-25 feet of water. Jug fishing works the best if you weight the jug to the bottom. This way you will be able to find them when you are checking them. Crawler harnesses are also working very well for catfish. Crappie fishing is starting to slow down. You can still catch some nice fish on brush piles in 20-30 feet of water. The crappie will be inside of brush or suspended as the water warms.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Guide Steve Olomon said the lake level is 556.5 and the water temperature is warming up just like the weather. The surface temperature is in the low 80s. Stripers are staring to group up suspended 35-40 feet deep and will start going deeper as the water continues to warm. They were hitting on live bait and jigging spoons. The bass are starting to get more active early in the mornings, chasing bait to the surface. Throw a Zara Puppy or a Spook or a soft jerkbait. After the sun gets high, switch to a worm, jig or a drop-shot rig with a small worm or plastic minnow type bait.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the Norfork River has fished poorly. With little wadable water on the White there has been more angling pressure on the Norfork. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles like the green butt. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small beadheaded nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). There have been reliable hatches of small midges (try a size 24 Adams parachute) and caddis (try a size 18 elk hair caddis).The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are a low and clear, but navigable. With the warmer weather, the smallmouths are active. The most effective flies are Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. 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.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said The Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear, but navigable. With the warmer weather, the smallmouths are active. The most effective flies are Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. 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.
Beaver Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.56 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
(Updated 7-9-2014) Roger Cravens of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (254-315-2927) said night fishing continues to be the best option for bass. Dark-colored crawdad-imitating soft plastics and large worms either Texas-rigged or on a shaky head have worked well along sloping gravel to chunk rock banks. Bass can also be picked off early and late in the day by using top water plugs or buzzbaits in and around the brush along the bank. During the day a Carolina-rigged tube, lizard or worm fished over points and flats has been effective. Monte-Ne, Prairie Creek, Big Ventris and both Clifty arms have all been good. Crappie fishing has been best early in the day. Look for them to be suspending under large docks, between timber and a bluff line and along pole timber close to a channel. Most fish have been down 15 to 20 feet over 25 to 35 feet of water. Small curl tail grubs or tube jigs on a 1/16 oz jighead worked slowly from the bottom up in those areas has been effective. Trolling Hot “N” Tot or Bandit crankbaits over main lake flats has also been effective. Night fishing has also been good under lights close to channel bends or bluff lines in 25 to 50 feet of water. White River, Eden Bluff, Horseshoe Bend and Monte-Ne have all been good places to fish. White bass have been biting well at night under lights on minnows or shad along bluff lines close to the channel and under the 12 bridge. During the day they can be found schooling on main lake flats and can be caught using Kastmaster spoons once a school is located. Catfish have been caught using liver or worms from the bank at 12 bridge, Monte-NE, Hickory Creek and the 412 bridge access.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said stripers are on the prowl for food. Early morning and at night have been the best bets. Slow warming water and the current bait situation have put most of the stripers in the mid-section of the lake still. Stripers are being caught on live shad fished 10 to 60 feet deep and on trolled umbrella rigs with white grubs, Rapala No. 14 Husky Jerks and Bomber 15A-16A lures and spoons on downriggers. Be sure to check the mouth of Indian Creek and Dry Creek area. Stripers are also scattered through the Lost Bridge North area and are being caught in numbers.Points Four, Five and Six have all been good for stripers, as well as Rocky Branck and Cedar Creek. Walleye are being caught on trolled crankbaits, jigs and spinner rigs with crawler harnesses around Copper Mine, Indian Creek, Blackburn Creek, Beaver Shores, Hickory Creek, War Eagle and the White River/War Eagle junction. The walleye are holding at around 5 to 10 feet deep.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bass fishing is best at night under lights. Bass can also be caught early in the morning on topwater lures. During the day, look for bass at 20 feet deep and fish deep-diving crankbaits and football-head jigs for them. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting at night under lights. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Beaver Dam Store said fishing conditions are changing. There’s very little current and warm water temperatures. Look for deeper pockets of shade, as the trout will be looking for cooler water. Midges and pheasant tails behind a peacock herl soft hackle and woolly buggers are great for the still water. Nickel and gold Colorado spoons are hard to beat. PJ’s jigs or micro jigs under a casting bubble will work as well. GULP maggots that will work when nothing else will.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said Lake Elmdale was busy over the weekend, with more and more fishermen finding out where the lake is. Newcomers are learning this lake is a redear bonanza. Redworms and crickets top the choices of bait. Bluegill are also abundant and often feeding along with the redear. Fish just off the bottom a foot or so, in 5 to 8 ft. of water, either tight lining or with a bobber.
Crappie are still biting; fish 6 to 8 feet deep with minnows near any cover. Bass fishing has been good. Black and blue spinnerbaits top the list, but as the heat is on you will need to go deep. Try 8 ft. and deeper. Topwater frogs are best early and late. The catfish bite keeps getting better. All species have been caught. Live bream on throw lines have been excellent. Nightcrawlers or liver is good on rod-and-reel. Try a treble hook to keep the liver on.
(Updated on 6-25-2014) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water temperature is 83 degrees at the surface and the water is clear. Bluegill are biting well on crickets and a few redear are biting on worms. Black bass are biting well on topwater lures during cloudy weather. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers fished as shallow as 2 feet of water.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the dock will be open for all night fishing Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5. Crappie fishing is fair in the deep water on minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and topwater baits. Bluegill are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is excellent on liver and shad.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Lake Manager Dennis Kruse said catfish are being caught on a variety of live baits. Bream are doing good on crickets and worms. Bass remain active in the early morning hours, on a wide variety of lures.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Jake Knoedl at Knoedl’s Outdoor Tech in Hiwasse (479-344-6131) said bass fishing has been good on brush hogs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits in 3-7 feet of water. Bluegill and redear are hitting crickets in shallow water around cover. Catfish can be caught on stink bait and chicken liver. Crappie are slow, but hitting minnows at dawn and dusk.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Jake Knoedl at Knoedl’s Outdoor Tech in Hiwasse (479-344-6131) said bluegill and redear are hitting crickets near brush in 3-10 feet of water. Bass fishing has been good on topwater lures and Texas-rigged worms. Catfishing has been good on nightcrawlers, small bluegill and chicken liver.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Lake Poinsett State Park said warmer weather has not slowed down the fishermen. There are good reports on a lot of bream being caught. Some nice crappie are still being caught in the deeper areas of Lake Poinsett. There are some nice size catfish out there and they too are being caught. Still no word about the bass. The anglers are buying a variety of bait (crickets, minnows, redworms, nightcrawlers, goldfish, liver and some artificial baits) at the state park bait shop.
Crown Lake
(Updated 7-2-2014) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said bream are biting well. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. No report on crappie.
Lake Frierson
(Updated 7-2-2014) Lake Frierson State Park said water levels are staying at full pool after recent rains. Catfish have been good. Channel catfish and blue catfish are biting on nightcrawlers, dip baits, liver, hot dogs and minnows. Try running your bait under a float if you do not have luck on the bottom; 3-5 feet has been a good depth. Flatheads have been biting well under jugs with goldfish, minnows and bream. Bass have been fair to good on crankbaits, buzzbaits, poppers and dark-colored soft plastics with colored flakes. Make repeated casts with the soft plastics and fish the crankbaits and topwaters around timber. Square-billed crankbaits that will deflect off of the wood appear to be the best. Crappie have been poor with a few fish being caught trolling crankbaits near the levee. Bream have been good on pieces of nightcrawlers and redworms. Saugeye have been poor to fair on crankbaits, minnows and nightcrawlers around the levee, mouths of coves and deeper points.
The renovation of Dam No. 3 on the Spring River is underway. Accesses at Lassiters, Cold Spring and Bayou are available for the Spring River, and anglers may have better success launching at these places during heavy traffic periods.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 340 cfs at the spring and that is about average rate of flow. Water clarity has been clear. The river has been getting low and clear and the wading has been easier with lower water levels. The hot pattern over the last week has been a brown/olive woolly bugger with hot orange rubber legs. The Guppie has been coming in a hot second. Hot pink trout magnets, silver rooster tails and brown trout kranks have been hot for spin fishing.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
(Updated 6-17-2014) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperatures are in the low 80s. Water clarity is up to one foot in parts of Lake Langhofer and closer to half a foot everywhere else. The river has been flowing strongly for several days. Bass are biting well in Lake Langhofer and in parts of the river, but the sizes have been down. Jigs are still producing well.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said the lake is slowly being drawn down. Creel Limits are cut in half with crappie limit at 7. Bream are still biting well on crickets and worms. Catfish were biting well on live bait, including but not limited to minnows and bream less than 4 inches. Bass are still biting well if you can get into the lily pads, if not try a gray jig next to standing timber. No report on crappie.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Geoff Wright at Lake Chicot State Park said catfishing is good at Lake Chicot on gizzard shad, minnows and hot dogs. Bream are biting well on crickets. No report on any other species.
| Southwest Arkansas |
Millwood Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.44 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.60 msl).
(Updated 7-9-2014) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said as of Monday the lake level is 3.2 inches above normal conservation pool and steady. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 867 CFS. Navigation continues improving for Little River, as of Monday, but caution still urged with the debris, limbs, logs and broken vegetation in the river. Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 77º to 87º. Visibility improved to 10-15 inches in most areas of the main lake. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake remains stained. Little River’s visibility ranges 12-15 inches depending on location and current. Largemouth bass are biting well on topwaters early and late around lily pad stands, and shallow vegetation. Buzzbaits, Cordell Crazy Shads, Baby Torpedoes and Jitterbugs all are working well, as are soft-plastic frogs. Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper or gold pepper shiner colors continue working around vegetation, and Rat-L- Traps and cranks are working around deeper drops into the creek channels. Tennessee Shad or Citrus Shad Bomber crankbaits are getting bit over the past week by largemouths and white bass alike. Magnum sized, 4-inch salty tubes in pumpkinseed, black/blue tail, or Ozark Craw colors were working last week. Whites and hybrids continue roaming Little River and the oxbows, and have been caught on jigging spoons behind primary points in the river, just out of the current, where the Kentucky and small Largemouths were stacked up. Whites were also hitting the Tennessee Shad crankbaits in the back of the oxbows, and several days last week the Whites were surface breaking on shad in Mud, and McGuire. These fish were hitting small, Smokey Joe Pop-R’s and Chug Bugs with a rear feather tail hook. Crappie returned to a more normal pattern this week, and were biting jigs and minnows from 8-13 feet deep in planted brush piles. Blues and channel cats improved to good in the reduced current in Little River over the past week on trot lines set at 12-15 feet, in creek mouths and outer bends of the river. Best trotline baits were cut shad, chicken livers and blood bait.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.27 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.18 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 7-9-2014) Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the low 80s and the lake is clear throughout. Fishing is just fair on all fronts and early in the morning is by far the best time.Quite a few bass catches reported, but no great quantities. Best bet is to work the main lake points with a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard. Green pumpkin with red flake is hard to beat on DeGray. Fish the plastics slowly on the bottom from 10 to 20 feet of water. Also try a heavy jig with a craw type trailer. A few schooling fish reported along the south side between point 2 and the mouth of Brushy Creek. Throw an Alabama rig or a top water such as a Zara Spook or Sammy. Once again, early and late are the times to look for bass. No reports on crappie. Hybrid fishing is only fair with the fish scattered from the mouth of Brushy Creek to the State Park Marina. Best bet is to look for any breaking fish and work a heavy spoon or in-line spinner deep up through the fish. The fish you see breaking are probably small white bass and the hybrids hang out under the whites. Also try the big coves along the south side between points 2 and 7. Be on the water before sunrise because the bite is over by 8:00 AM. Bream fishing remains good but most of the fish are small bluegills. Some big redears are starting to show on the points in 20 to 25 feet of water. Use crickets for the gills and redworms for the redears. Most anywhere in the lake will have bream, just keep moving until you find the school. A few good reports of catfish catches coming on trotlines at night. Set the lines across points in 20 to 30 feet of water. Bait with nightcrawlers, cut shad, Catfish Charlie, hot dogs or chicken livers. Also big minnows or small bream for live bait. Try Brushy and Big Hill Creeks.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Jaret Rushing said due to the constant rise and fall of the Ouachita River, fishing the oxbows is all about timing right now. Anglers should monitor the river system to try and target subtle rises in the river. When water is falling, fish tend to stage rather than bite aggresively. Summer patterns are working well for bass. Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are the best bets.Bream are in a transition stage and tend to be in cooler water temperatures (shaded areas or 3+ feet of water). Schools of large bluegill are still being targeted, but anglers shouldn’t be too quick to stay on a single spot for very long.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Jaret Rushing said bass are in several different patterns. Early in the morning until mid-moring, fishing in the shallows on the north end of the lake has yeilded some good catches. Bass tend to be using the moss beds for cover so anglers should slow down their presentations and try keep their baits in the strike zones along the beds for as long as they can. During the heat of the day, anglers are targeting channels within the lake to catch bass suspended on 6-foot deep shelves. Anglers are also catching crappie in these channels, although it seems that crappie are more aggressive beore the heat of the day.
(Updated 7-9-2014) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) said in the lower lake, the daily catfish limit is five and the daily bream limit is 50. All other species are catch and release only in the lower lake. Bass are biting on flukes, topwater lures and spinnerbaits. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms early in the mornings and late in the evenings. Catfishing is good on trotlines bated with worms, minnows and commercial catfish bait. In the upper lake, bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishi are biting well on trotlines baited with worms, minnows and prepared catfish bait. Bass are biting well on flukes, topwaters and spinnerbaits.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are excellent. Bass are chasing shad and are biting excellently on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is high and stained. Bream are biting well, but you have to do a lot of looking to find the beds. Crappie are slow. White bass are biting well on dark-colored spinnerbaits and flukes. Catfishing is good on worms, stink bait and minnows.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said fishing has been good from dam to dam for largemouth bass and spotted bass on topwater pop baits and walking baits. On days with low flow, go to the bottom with jigs, large worms and crankbaits off of drops and use chatterbaits and frogs around the vegetation. Striped bass have been excellent on topwater baits and large swimbaits just outside the buoy line and in current brakes. White bass have been schooling in creeks and on spawning flats and will bite small white crankbaits, tailspinners, in-line spinners and top water poppersl. Bream have been excellent on crickets and worms in the main river and creeks. Catfish have been good on cut bait, nightcrawlers and catalpa worms. Flathead catfish has been good large shiners and bream.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.30 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
(Updated 7-2-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said crappie fishing is fair to good on crankbaits trolled at 1.7 miles per hour and on a double-jig or double-minnow rig trolled at about 1 mile per hour. Catfishing is good on noodles and jugs.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said catfishing has been good on noodles and jugs.
(Updated 7-2-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said fishing has slowed everywhere with the up and down weather. Once the weather stabilizes, summer patterns should re-emerge.
(Updated 6-18-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said shellcrackers are in the shallows and are biting well on small jigs cast and slow-rolled back to the boat in all coves and pockets of the lake. Bass are fair. Crappie are biting fairly well for anglers trolling by the dam in deep water.
(Updated 6-18-2014) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bass and catfish are slow. No report on bream or crappie.
(Updated 6-25-2014) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said fishing is still very slow, but a few folks are finding some fish here and there.
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