Your weekly Arkansas fishing report for July 20, 2013 is below. Good luck on the water and have fun.
| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake clarity is good and the water is at a normal level. Bream fishing is good on redworms, crickets and bream poppers. Crappie are fair by the cypress trees on medium-sized minnows fished on the bottom. Bass fishing is good on Chug Bugs, hoppers and bass minnows. Catfishing is good with worms, stink bait and chicken liver.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair at the base of cypress trees closer to the main lake. Bass are doing fair on white buzz baits, Rat-L-Traps and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good nightcrawlers and livers.
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is good and generators have not been running with the exception of one for about an hour in the late afternoon. Fishing has been excellent using wax worms with marshmallows, orange/white Power Bait and corn.
Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said with Greers Ferry Lake near top pool level, expect minimum generation over the next few days with great opportunities to wade your favorite shoals and also have great drift fishing from a boat. Hot pink Trout Magnets used on the chartreuse Trout Magnet jig heads are producing good catches for spin fishermen. Soft hackles, blue winged olive emergers, midges and sowbugs are producing good catches for the fly fishermen. Always be sure to check the Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power Administration websites 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 461.77 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) said the lake level is at 461.90 and falling with surface temperatures ranging from 83-86 degrees. A visible thermocline appears at 30-35 feet and fish are suspended at 15-25 feet. Surface schooling activity has decreased and fish are feeding heavily on tiny baitfish. Drop-offs, ledges, points and flats are key areas for foraging fish. Check for holding fish in the backs of creek and river channels where the first 20-30 foot depth appears. Submerged woody structure will hold fish in 20-30 foot depths.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is at 462.28 feet and falling, and the temperature is in the mid-80s. Bass fishing is good if you have wind or generation. Try drops 15-35 feet deep with football head jigs with crawdad trailers or worms, big Texas-rigged worms, Carolina-rigged lizards or a drop shot rig. The topwater bite is good early and late up shallow and there has been a little schooling action. The bream are biting well on crickets and crawlers from up shallow out to 15 feet of water. Crappie are slow but will improve with a little wind. Walleye are slow but steady on crawlers and cranks dragged in 15-27 feet of water on rocky points. Catfishing is good all over the lake on jugs and trotlines baited with bream, shrimp and many other types of bait. Hybrid and white bass fishing is good with wind and current and night fishing has picked up as well. Try spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits in 25-39 feet of water.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said had no report this week.
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is high and there is 2 feet of visibility. The surface water temperature is 85 to 88 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets fished around brushy areas of the bank. Crappie are in deep water and are fair on jigs and minnows. Bass are good on dark plastic worms and dark buzz baits early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Catfishing is good on cut bait, hot dogs and stinkbait suspended from trotlines.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is excellent on nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Crappie are good on minnows, slab slay’rs, stroll’r white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, cajun cricket /pink cotton candy/ bq chicken and blue/white jigs, Powerbait and crappie nibbles. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise, dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is fair on nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Crappie are fair on minnows, slab slay’rs, stroll’r white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, cajun cricket /pink cotton candy/ bq chicken and blue/white jigs, Powerbait and crappie nibbles. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise, dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop 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 had no report this week.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is fair in 10-12 feet of water using red worms and crickets on the main lake points. Crappie are fair in 20-30 feet of water using minnows, red/chartreuse and white/chartreuse jigs. Bass are good all day but especially good in the early morning and late afternoon using zara spooks and buzz baits. In the middle of the day, crankbaits have worked well. Catfishing is excellent in 20-25 feet of water using chicken liver, shad and slicks.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is excellent on nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Crappie are good on minnows, slab slay’rs, stroll’r white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, cajun cricket /pink cotton candy/ bq chicken and blue/white jigs, Powerbait and crappie nibbles. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise, dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms.
Hatchet jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is excellent using chicken hearts, livers and worms.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said there’s been one report of a few nice catfish caught on nightcrawlers and then released over the weekend. Some small bream were caught among the catfish and released as well. No reports of crappie or bass being caught recently.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said fishing has been relatively slow but a few catfish are being caught at daybreak and after dark. No. 12 bass minnows seem to be working best at those times. Chicken liver or stink bait fished on the bottom when the sun gets up will get a somewhat slower bite. Bream are biting crickets and worms. Bass fishing has been good for a couple of customers using small black or white buzz baits from right before to about an hour after daylight. Crappie have been caught around the docks at night on pink and no. 6 crappie minnows but numbers have been low.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said the Saline River is low and slow due to the lack of rain but if you can get to some water with any depth, you can catch smallmouth and Kentucky bass on 4-inch lizards, live minnows or black salties. Catfish are being caught on lines baited with black salties and brooder minnows and on rod-and-reel with chicken livers or brooder minnows. Bream and sunfish of all types and sizes can be caught on crickets, redworms or a small jig or grub such as a Kalins Triple Threat Grub.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing has slowed a bit and the big ones seem to be scattered and deep. Numbers are down but still a few of the big redears are being caught on crickets and redworms. Bass have been fairly active early in the morning and at night and will hit floating worms, buzz baits or top-water baits fished over and around brush or under docks.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said some decent bass have been caught recently in both lakes at Bishop Park. Texas-rigged Zoom Mag II in red shad colors and top-water baits have been working. Catfish are being caught on night crawlers and chicken livers at Lake Charles. One customer that seems to be doing particularly well says he’s found a ditch or creek bed in the lake and the catfish are there. Some bream are being caught around the lakes on crickets and redworms. A few small crappie were caught early Monday morning on pink minnows fished about 2½ ft. under a small cork in the middle of the lake.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie fishing has slowed, but a couple of people have had success with no. 6 crappie minnows fished deep under a slip cork. Catfish have been biting night crawlers and no. 12 bass minnows at night in water 3-5 ft. deep. Some decent sized bream are being caught on crickets and redworms along steep rocky banks. Bass have been hitting Carolina-rigged lizards and floating worms along those same banks.
Charley’s Hidden Harbor said catfishing is good in 20-30 feet of water with whole shad. Black bass are good early in the mornings and late in the afternoons in grass beds with toads or brush hawgs. Alabama rigs trolled in 30 feet of water have also worked well. White bass have been feeding on shad in the shallows early and late in the day. After they move into the deep water, use shallow-diving crankbaits and spoons for success. Bream fishing is excellent in the grass beds with crickets and black Rooster Tails.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair and have been caught on white/chartresue, green/ chartreuse and money colored jigs. Bass fishing is good at jetti points using Texas-rigged creature baits and Sinko worms. Catfishing is excellent on slicks, skip jacks, shad and nightcrawlers.
Palarm Creek: No report this week.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the flow has slowed down and the water level is normal. Bream fishing is good using worms and crickets around the bank. Crappie are poor but some have been caught over toward brush piles on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good using football head jigs and Carolina rigs around deep structure. Crankbaits and jigs have worked well in areas where there is some current. Catfishing is good using worms and cut bait off of jetty points.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair and have been caught on white/chartresue, green/ chartreuse and money colored jigs. Bass fishing is good at jetti points using Texas-rigged creature baits and Sinko worms. Catfishing is excellent on slicks, skip jacks, shad and nightcrawlers.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor but occasionally a few can be caught. Bass fishing is good using crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on snagging poles and cut bait.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water clarity is good and fishing has been good. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair and have been caught with minnows and jigs. Bass are good using crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and chicken livers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water clarity is good and the lake is close to normal pool. Bream fishing is good using crickets and worms. Crappie fishing has slowed down and is considered poor. Bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good on any type of bait.
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 fishing is excellent off of the fishing piers using redworms and crickets. Bass are good on the north said of the lake in the grass flats using topwater frogs, jigs and buzz baits. Catfishing is excellent in the evenings using hot dogs, livers, hearts and minnows.
| North Arkansas |
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the number of generators running has dropped from five to two with good water clarity. Fishing for rainbows has been great as usual and a flurry of browns were also caught over the weekend.
Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the hot spot has been the section from the State Park down to White hole. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon. Midday can be slow. The hot flies were prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hare’s ears and 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). Some anglers have been fishing large streamers on the heavy flows we have been getting and having success. This requires heavy sink tip lines, heavy rods (eight weights or better) and advanced casting skills. The hot flies have been large articulated streamers in various colors. Hopper season has begun. These are tempting morsels for large trout. You need a stiff six weight rod and a stout seven and a half 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. 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.
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. 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.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 660.86 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 556.01 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters had said fishing has been slow with the cold north winds lowering the water temperatures. However, the past week, warmer weather and south winds have come back and the fishing is improving. The stripers are on the feed and the best bait is a 7” gizzard shad. Robinson Point in the mid-lake area has been a good place to fish as the stripers continue to migrate south toward the dam. Fish on flats about 45 to 60 feet deep in 125 feet of water early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said the surface water temperature ranges from 81-82 degrees and the fish on Norfork Lake are transitioning to their normal summer pattern. Striper fishing has been good in the mid lake area down to the dam. We have caught stripers on live bait and by vertical jigging with a spoon. Most of the fish that I have found are in the old river channel 30 to 60 feet down suspended in 100 plus feet of water. I am fishing main lake points where the channel swings in and also deep water flats. You will need good electronics this time of year to mark the fish especially if you are vertical jigging. When I am vertical jigging I drop my spoon down to 30 feet and start to move around slowly with my trolling motor. I pull the spoon up a good 5 feet and let it free fall. If I mark fish deeper I drop the spoon down to their level, but be alert, as it is falling they suck it up so be ready to make a good hard hook set. When live bait fishing, I have had the best luck with large gizzard shad. I have been setting my bait at 30 – 45 feet down and moving around slowly with my trolling motor. Largemouth and spotted bass fishing has also been really good. I am finding these fish around 30 feet sunken brush piles, and main lake points in 20 – 30 feet of water. Early in the morning there still is some good top water action, so have your spook handy. Crank baits that go about 10 feet down are working as are standard Texas-rigged worms and jig & pigs worked slowly along the bottom. Crappie are on the move and you can find a few on the 30 feet brush, but most are starting to migrate out to deeper water and suspend along deep bluff water ridges. Catfishing has been good on rod and reel as well as jugs and trotlines. You can get them in about 20 feet or less of water with minnows and nightcrawlers.. The surface water temperature cooled to 81 – 82 degrees and climbing.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water clarity is good and temperatures are in the mid 80’s. Striper fishing is good and the fish are in their summer patterns. Look for fish in 40-50 feet of water as they are suspended in big schools. Bass are hitting topwater baits early in the morning and in the afternoons. After the sun gets up higher, fish with a jig, drop shot or Texas-rigged worm. Walleye fishing is fair and a few can be caught around hanging brush with spoons.
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 no wadable water on the Norfork. The most productive flies have been small (size 20 or smaller) midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and Dan’s turkey tail emerger or soft hackles like my green butt or the partridge and orange. There has also been a sparse hatch of very small mayflies; reliable hatches of midges (try a size 22 parachute Adams for both), some smaller caddis (size 18) and the crane flies are still coming off. 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.
| Northwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.67 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said stripers are biting well, but are scattered. Live shad (8-12 inches long) fished on down lines set 20-25 feet deep will work well, as will umbrella rigs with white grubs in clear water and chartreuse grubs in stained water. Three-way rigged Rapala no. 9 Husky Jerks, and Rogues in black- or purple-backed colors will pick up some stripers as well. Be sure to check out the following hot spots for stripers: Indian Creek (past Lost Bridge and the mouth of the creek); Rocky Branch (check the channel between the front of the marina and the road bed that extends to the island.) Most walleye are about 15-20 deep and can be caught using a variety of methods. 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 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 clarity is good and the lake is at normal pool. Bream fishing is fair with worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in 20 feet of water using jigs, minnows and deep-diving crankbaits. Bass are fair at night on spinnerbaits. During the day, crankbaits and soft plastics have been effective in the brush.
Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said the night time is 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 fished 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 buzz baits in and around the flooded 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 lines 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.
Beaver Dam Store said fishing has been good for browns and rainbows. Gold and silver spoons worked well drifting and casting along the banks. Fire Tiger Flicker Shad and night crawlers worked on the bottom are effective to fish as well.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat had no report this week.
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water clarity is good and at a normal level. Bream fishing is good with worms and minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair with both black and white bass being caught on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastic worms and topwater baits. Catfishing is good with chicken livers and cut bait.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake clarity is good with temperatures sitting at 84 degrees. Bream fishing is good with worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor but some fish have been caught deep with minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair using spinnerbaits, buzz baits and any other topwater baits. Catfishing is good with chicken livers and shad.
Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said bass fishing has been excellent with the cooler weather and calm water turning on the topwater bite. Pop-r’s, buzzbaits and Zara spooks were the go to topwater lures, while spinnerbaits and soft plastics also took their share of fish. The catfish are spawning, so the bite has been good. Bream fishing has remained excellent on crickets and worms.
| Northeast Arkansas |
Lake Poinsett State Park said bream fishing is good on worms and crickets in the shallow end of the lake. Catfishing is good in all areas of the lake on various types of bait. Bass and crappie fishing are fair and crappie can be caught on minnows and jigs.
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water clarity is good and the lake is at a normal level. Bream fishing is good using crickets. Bass fishing is good with topwater baits early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Catfishing is good with chicken livers and shrimp.
Lake Frierson State Park said the lake level is falling slightly, but still near normal pool with water temperatures in the upper 70’s to lower 80’s. Bass have been fair on soft plastics and crankbaits during the day. Try a chartreuse or white buzzbait early or late near schooling shad in the mouths of coves or the main lake channel for some action. Bream are still being caught all around the lake, try small pieces of nightcrawlers or redworms fished under a float at varying depths. Catfish are still wrapping up the spawn and have been fair. Blue catfish have been biting well on cut bait or nightcrawlers and several fish over 15 pounds have come in over the last week. Channels and flatheads have been slow, but should be ready to feed soon after spawning.
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are at 302 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. We are having some really great catching going on here at the Spring River with high numbers and big. Y2k’s, Guppies, Brownies and black and olive woollies are working great. Hot pink trout magnets and yellow and white rooster tails are doing great.
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 and the canoeists can a problem. Fish the upper river at the Lassiter Access to avoid them. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
| Southeast Arkansas |
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team had no report this week.
Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s said bream fishing is good at Cane Creek Lake right now on crickets. Bass fishing has also picked up and fish can be caught on many types of lures.
Lake Chicot State Park said bream are being caught on crickets around brush piles. Catfishing is good all over the lake on worms and cut bait. Bass are good on ledges using shad colored King Cranks and flash mob rigs (Alabama rigs.) White spinnerbaits and sinko worms are also working well around docks.
Jesse James Charter Fishing (870-355-7800) had no report this week.
| Southwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.50 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said bass fishing is good and top water action has continued to be good from dawn to around 9am in shady areas underneath cypress trees, in lily pads and out of the direct sunlight. The majority of Bass continue their surface feeding activity aggressively at dawn until mid-morning or until the sun begins heating the water surface. The recent Mayfly hatch on Millwood has bream, and bass both looking to surface feeding.The best reaction baits at dawn lately continue to be Bass Assassin Shads, Buzz baits, Arborgast Jitterbugs, Wounded Spooks, Heddon dying flutters and soft frogs. Buzz baits in sexy shad, white/chartreuse or bleeding bream colors are getting solid strikes by Largemouths at dawn. Jitterbugs in black or leopard frog are good choices, along with wacky rigged Yum Dingers and Bass Assassin Shads in white, or salt-n-pepper. Salty Rat Tails in purple smoke or watermelon-red colors are still good rigged wacky style, and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in Firetiger or Spot Remover are working along hydrilla, pond weed and coontail moss or most any vegetation lines. Largemouths continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in Wild Shiner or gold/black back colors around 2-3 foot flats with stumps/grass/pads nearby. 10″ Power Worms in Black Grape, plum or blue fleck continue working near cypress trees and stumps. Jumbo Gizit tubes are still working around cypress trees in the oxbows from 5-9′ depths. Best reactions we have had lately on the tubes are on smoke/black/red flake, or black/blue tail with rattles inside. Bass Assassin’s Jingle Bugs in Okeechobee, watermelon/red, and June Bug colors continue working along drop offs from flats into the stumps from 5 to 9 feet deep in the better water clarity of the oxbows in the same locations as the jumbo Gizit tubes. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs continue working for 14-16″ Largemouths, in Cinnamon-raisin, VooDoo, or Okeechobee Spice colors. Use a black and blue or pumpkinseed craw trailer. Work the jigs on base of cypress trees, knees, and stumps in 8-10 foot depths, around patches of sawgrass, and where alligator weed is in close proximity to cypress trees.
White bass are being caught on main and secondary points of Little River using Bomber crankbaits in sexy shad or Tenneessee Shad colors, and in grass beds on Firetiger colored spinner baits. Whites also continue biting Rat-L-Traps in Chrome/black or chrome/blue back and Millwood Magic. Crappie have slowed over the past week. Live shiners, Southern Pro Lit’l Hustler or Umbrella tubes were working by vertical jigging in and around planted brush piles from 8-14 feet of depth. Jigs in pink, pink/white, or pearl colors seemed to be best colors. Channel Cats and Flatheads are fair on trot lines or yo-yo’s with cut shad or cut drum and carp, chicken hearts or livers along the Little River and creek mouths dumping into the river placed from 9-14 feet deep. Yo-yo’s hung from cypress tree limbs in the oxbows up Little River are working from 9-12 feet depths using live shiners, hot dogs, cut bait and Charlie dough balls.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 545.73 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 404.30 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said surface water temperatures are in the mid 80’s and the lake is clear throughout. Look for walleyes in the big coves between points 2 and 4 on the South side. Drop a 3 inch white grub on a 1/2 ounce jig head to about 50 feet down next to standing timber. Also, points in the big coves along the State Park between DeRoche Ridge and Caddo Bend have been producing. Heavy jigging spoons in white or chartreuse have been best fished near the bottom in 30 to 40 feet of water on the steep side of the point. Bass fishing is fair with only a few decent catches reported. Look for surface feeding early in the morning off of points along the South side between points 2 and 6. Also try points in the coves all along the State Park. The best pattern has been Flukes, Sammy’s, Zara Spooks and 3 inch swim baits. A few fish are coming on Texas or Carolina rigged 6 and 8 inch worms fished in 15 to 25 feet of water in the same areas. Try red bug, red shad and green pumpkin/red flake. Crappie fishing remains slow with only a few catches reported. The best bet is main lake brush piles at about 20 to 25 feet. Fish a 2 inch grub or tube in natural shad on a 1/16 ounce jig head vertically just above the brush. Hybrid fishing has slowed and the fish are suspended in deep water, (100 feet plus) at about 30 feet down and not schooling. The best bet is to use the sonar to locate the fish and drop a heavy jigging spoon in chartreuse, green or pink to just above the fish. Bream fishing is good and some nice red ears have been caught off of points in major coves at about 15 to 20 feet down. Fish a red worm near the bottom for the red ears and use crickets or red worms with a float in shallow water for blue gills. Catfish are good with lots of channel cats coming on trot lines and noodles set at night. Set the trot lines across small coves in 30 to 40 feet of water and drop the noodles over standing timber in deeper water. Some of the better baits include Catfish Charlie, liver, cut shad, hot dogs with soap and night crawlers.
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 344.57 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is excellent on nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Crappie are good on minnows, slab slay’rs, stroll’r white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, cajun cricket /pink cotton candy/ bq chicken and blue/white jigs, Powerbait and crappie nibbles. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise, dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is excellent on nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise, dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is excellent on nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Crappie are good on minnows, slab slay’rs, stroll’r white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, cajun cricket /pink cotton candy/ bq chicken and blue/white jigs, Powerbait and crappie nibbles. Catfish are good in deep water on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken/ turkey /rabbit livers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise, dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said the water is 85 degrees and dingy, bass can be caught using jigs, crankbaits and spooks on the main river channel at the points of the dikes. Mid river bass can be taken on frogs, crankbaits, spooks, large worms and jigs. Mid River bass are on points with vegetation or structure. Lower river bass can be taken off of rock piles, brush piles and gravel. These bass have been caught on crankbaits, sweet beavers, jigs, spooks ,spoons and swimbaits. Stripped bass can be taken on the main river channel with topwater baits, swim baits, crankbaits and stick baits. White bass can be caught in the Greeks River back water and main river channel on white jigs with grubs, small rattle traps, tail spins and small white crankbaits. Bream fishing is excellent using worms and crickets. Catfishing is good on cut shad, livers and worms under low hanging trees along the main river.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 386.72 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 576.19 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said black bass are fair on jig head worms, brush hogs and Texas-rigged U tail worms. Drop shot rigs are still producing some quality Kentucky bass fished in 20 feet of water. Walleye fishing is good on bottom bouncers and shad raps fished over main lake points and humps. Stripers are fair and are being caught on live bait and big hair jigs. These fish are still located near main lake humps and points central and east sections of the lake. Bream fishing is excellent with worms and crickets in 20-25 feet of water. Crappie are fair and have caught near and over brush with minnows or crappie grubs. Catfishing is excellent with cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trot lines from 18-25 feet deep.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no new report.
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 the water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 60 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. At present, Entergy has scheduled 10 hour generation periods which has kept the area cooled and cleared of heavy moss growth. Rainbow trout are thriving in the area in these conditions and are being caught in good numbers on guided trips. Trout in the 15 inch class are common and trophy fish weighing over 5 pounds have been caught and released in the last week. July will be the last good month of trout fishing as the heat of August will cause water temperatures to rise above 70 degrees below the dam and force trout to migrate downstream. Live bait presentations are the ticket to success used in slack water periods. Nightcrawlers, redworms, wax and meal worms floated just off the bottom or fished under a bobber will give anglers the best chance to catch trout. Thousands of threadfin shad are in the tailrace and wary rainbows eagerly bite other live prey other than shad. Patience is a must this time of year as trout are finicky feeders and move around in small schools searching for food and shelter. White bass are still present in the tailrace chasing shad below the bridge. The bite is best during periods of current flow in the late evening. Small crankbaits that imitate shad or crawfish work well and enable fishermen to cover large areas easily. Jerkbaits and small jigs have proven to be equally effective when casted from an anchored boat or from the bank. Catfish have finished their spawning run and are migrating downstream. Freshwater drum are chasing shad in the current and have been caught on nightcrawlers and crawfish. For some reason, no striper activity has been observed in weeks below the dam. The shad schools are thick but no topwater action has occured. This could change in moments as striped bass are highly migratory and ofen seek the cooler waters provided by hydro-electric facilities. Brood or gizzard shad fished with a balloon rig is a best bet for large striper. Anyone visiting Carpenter Dam is urged to be aware of the generation schedules and must always wear a life jacket when navigating the tailrace.
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 new 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 said water levels have dropped tremendously over the past several days so there are new habitat structures starting to emerge. There are also new grass and moss beds inhabiting areas not previously inhabited by aquatic vegetation which gives fish cover and food sources. Bass have been caught on these new aquatic structures on black/chartreuse spinnerbaits with gold blades and topwater frogs. Bream are slowing down so fishermen need to be patient. There are still schools of larger bream that are hanging around bedding areas but catching them is tricky now. For fishermen that like throwing live bait, they might want to try something new in throwing a small spinner jig or rooster tail as these fish are starting to get more aggressive towards a reaction strike.
Jaret Rushing said people are catching small bass throughout the day on a variety of different baits. Early in the morning, you can catch bass in the shallow flats on the north side of the lake or among the inlets on either a shallow-running crankbait or spinnerbait in blue/chartreuse. Toward mid-morning, bass are deepening up around boat docks and the deeper channels on the rock banks. You have to slow your presentation down to get them to hit by using some form of soft plastic with a weight light enough to give the bait a slow fall. A few crappie have been caught early in the morning in the channels of the main lake 4-6 feet deep using a lighter colored jig.
| East Arkansas |
Mississippi River State Park had no report this week.
Mississippi River State Park had no report this week.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is clear but still a little high. Bream fishing is fair using crickets. Bass are also fair using soft plastics.
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water clarity is good and water levels are normal. Bream fishing is fair with worms and crickets. Crappie and bass are also fair. Catfishing is excellent on rod and reel and trotlines baited with just about anything.
We are saddened to report that Clyde Gregory, our fishing report contact for Horseshoe Lake, passed away Sunday, July 7. Mr. Gregory provided a weekly fishing report for Horseshoe Lake in Crittenden County for more than a decade. He was always happy to share his knowledge with the people of Arkansas and never turned down an opportunity to talk about fishing. He will be greatly missed.
Courtesy Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
