Here is your weekly Arkansas fishing report for June 22, 2013. 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 water clarity is fair, but the lake has risen to normal level. Bream fishing is good using crickets and worms. Crappie are fair and are better at night with jigs and minnows around cypress trees. Bass fishing is good throughout the lake with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastic worms, buzzbaits and topwater frogs. Catfishing is good especially at night using worms, stink bait and livers.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing had no report this week.
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is good and that generators haven’t been running until about 10 a.m. Fishing is excellent on any bait.
Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service had no new report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 467.36 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) said the water is about 5 feet above the conservation pool and has the fish scattered and on the move. Catfish and bream should be spawning, but the water levels will either help them or hinder their success. Trolling with jigs and crankbaits has worked well. Look for fish in the creeks and tributaries as they clear from the rain surge.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is just about 3.5 feet above normal level and falling with temperatures in the 80s. The hybrid and white bass fishing is good in 25-35 feet of water with the generation. Some smaller fish are coming to the surface at times, so concentrate around the shad during generation spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits. The bream are starting to bed and the bite will be good if you can get to them with the water high. Use crawlers and crickets for the best results. Catfishing is good all over the lake using a variety of baits on lines and jugs. Stay close to the river channel to catch the most fish. Crappie are fair but can be caught on minnows, jigs and small crankbaits in 15-20 feet of water. The walleye bite is slow, but you can try dragging crawlers in 15-19 feet of water to catch them. The bass fishing is good early in the morning on topwater baits and throughout the day in brush piles and on drops with Texas-rigged worms and football head jigs.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said Greers Ferry is currently above normal summer pool with current generation lasting 6-10 hours a day, bringing the lake down to desired levels of 462.04 ft. Water surface temperatures this year have taken awhile to reach average levels in the low 80s. The reservoir is clear to moderately stained depending on location. White bass and hybrid stripers are feeding well and topwater action is getting better by the day. It has been my experience that the summer months are by far the most consistent and the very best time to catch a boat load in short order. Being on the water early will pay large dividends. Fish Dinner Lures, Cindy K Spinners and the Glitter Spinners are my number one confidence baits when it comes to hooking up with these fish. For topwaters, I like a clear Spook on slick days or albino shad-colored Sammy if you have some wind. I like to fish them on spinning tackle with braided line for long casts and good hook ups once the fish bite. A fast retrieve is necessary to entice the bite and I like to skip it across the top always keeping it moving but varying the speed to provoke the fish and allowing them to catch up to the bait without stopping it.
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water clarity is good and the temperature is 82 degrees. Bream fishing is good using worms and crickets. Crappie are fair with a few reports of decent-sized fish being caught in deeper water. Bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines and noodles baited with cut bait and hot dogs.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) had no report this week.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Bass are biting well on spinners and plastic worms. Catfish are fair on trotlines and noodles using cut shad and live bream. Crappie are slow, but some are being picked up in deep water using Stinger Shads and minnows.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are slow on minnows, Baby Shad, Stroll’rs and Slab Slay’rs in white/salt-and-pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white, barbecue chicken and blue/white tipped with a green or yellow PowerBait Crappie Nibble. Bream are slow on nightcrawlers, redworms, mealworms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is a little high and clear. Bass are good on spinners and buzzbaits around the bank. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Catfish are fair on limb lines and noodles using bass minnows and live bream. Crappie are being caught over brush piles on white and white/chartreuse Crappie Stingers.
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 excellent using worms and crickets at main lake points. Crappie are fair in 10-20 feet of water using minnows, white/chartreuse, red/chartreuse, and electric chicken jigs. Bass fishing is excellent using crankbaits, spooks and Big Bite Fighting Frogs. Catfishing is excellent using slicks, shad, nightcrawlers, skip jacks and hearts.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are good and have been biting on minnows, baby shad, slab slay’r and stroll’rs in white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse in bone white shad and cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white with Power Bait crappie nibbles green or yellow. Bream fishing is excellent using nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise and dark colored worms. Spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms are also working well. White bass are good on Rooster Tails and shad-colored drop-shot worms.
Hatchet jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is excellent using chicken livers, nightcrawlers and hearts.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream have been biting crickets and worms around the docks and around the lake about 3ft. deep. Some catfish have been caught recently on night crawlers right before dark and close to the banks. A few small crappie and bass were caught and released over the weekend while fishing with pink minnows.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish are biting fresh chicken liver, bait shrimp and no. 12 bass minnows, but a couple of customers are claiming Wild Cat Full Stringer stink bait works best. Bream fishing has been good using crickets and redworms with the bigger ones being caught 6-8 feet deep. Bass have been hitting early and late in the day on live minnows and floating worms. Watermelon/red seems to be the hot color lately. Crappie fishing has been fair if you can get away from the banks and fish the depth changes in the middle of the lake. No. 6 crappie minnows or Kalin’s Tennessee Shad grubs have been working pretty well.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfishing has been good at night on black salties, minnows and small bream. Bass are biting live minnows, crawfish and Zoom 4-inch lizards. Bream will always bite crickets and redworms on the Saline.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing is good using crickets and redworms, and the big ones seem to be coming out of deeper water than most bream do this time of year. Bass are still pretty active early and late and will hit a floating worm or Carolina-rigged lizard around docks, rock walls and grass. Catfish have been caught lately on live minnows, night crawlers and a few on crickets while bream fishing.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) bream fishing has been good with crickets and redworms. Bass have been hitting floating worms and small topwater baits early in the mornings and live minnows as the sun gets higher. Catfishing has been fair and a few have been caught on night crawlers and chicken livers, fished on the bottom with patience.
Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said some nice crappie were caught this week on no. 12 bass minnows fished around some deep brush piles. Catfish have been biting pretty well on night crawlers and chicken livers as well as no. 12 bass minnows in shallow water late in the day and after dark. Bream are biting crickets and worms and are being caught around rocks, logs and about any other structure in the lake. Bass have been hitting live minnows and Texas-rigged worms and lizards fished off big points with sudden depth changes. Green pumpkin, black and black/red flake seem to be working best.
Charley’s Hidden Harbor Charley’s Hidden Harbor had no report this week.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is excellent around trees using red worms and crickets. Crappie are fair around brush with white/chartreuse, red/chartreuse and green/ chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass fishing is excellent in the shallows using creature baits, Senkos and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good using hearts, livers, shad, green sunfish and skipjack.
Palarm Creek: No report this week.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is muddy and 85 degrees. The river has gone back down to normal levels and boats are now good to go on the water. Bream fishing has been good on worms and crickets around the edges of grass beds. Bass fishing is excellent at the edge of jetty points using crankbaits and Sweet Beavers. Catfishing is good using worms and cut bait.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is fair using redworms and crickets in the backwater. Crappie are fair at jetty points using minnows, white/chartreuse, red/chartreuse and purple/chartreuse jigs. Bass fishing is excellent in the backwater using jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on rod and reel and trotlines using green sunfish, shad and skipjack.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is still very high and running very swiftly. The only reports of fish being caught are of catfish.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water clarity is good and is at a normal level. Bream fishing is good on worms and crickets fished close to the bank. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and jigs. Bass are fair using spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Bream fishing is good with worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair trolling in deeper water. Bass are good on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on just about everything.
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 good around piers using redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is excellent around brush using minnows, red/chartreuse and white/chartreuse jigs. Bass fishing is good on the north side of the lake in grass using jigs and topwater frogs. Catfishing is good using minnows, hot dogs, hearts, livers and slicks.
| North Arkansas |
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and levels are up and down. In the morning, up to two units have been running but in the afternoon, six units have been running and water really gets rolling. Fishing has been good for browns using jigs and stick baits. Rainbow fishing has been excellent using drift rigs and spoons. There was a report of a lady catching over 100 rainbows in one day using shrimp.
Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said we have had significant wadable water and the hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon; midday can be slow. The hot flies were prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hare’s ears and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have also been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise).
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185)
Berry Brothers Guide Service said 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 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 664.99 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water temperature is in the lower 80s. Walleye fishing has been good this past week on crawler rigs in 15-30 feet trolled on bottom bouncers or Carolina-rigs. Topwater lures are catching bass in the early morning, late afternoon and during cloudy, rainy days. Soft plastics like tubes, craws and worms fished near the brush or old shore line are catching lots of bass. Crankbaits in shad or crawfish colors are working well casting or trolling on windy overcast days for bass and walleye.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 560.06 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the stripers are schooling and are on the feed. Fish have been caught mid-lake and at the lower end. The fish are feeding between 30 and 50 feet over open water ranging from 50 to 80 feet in the channel. Between five boats fishing with gizzard and shad, 40 to 45 stripers were caught. 19 of those fish were kept, and they ranged from 10 to 24 lbs. The lake is in great shape and the best fishing of the year will be from now till the end of summer.
Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing continues to be outstanding and expects it to continue to be that way for the next couple of weeks. Topwater action has been great at sunrise and sunset with a lot of fish being caught on weighted flukes. Mid-day fishing is still good but you have to go deeper to catch them. The fish are in about 18-30 feet of water, so find some underwater brush at that depth and fish in it with a jig pig or a Texas-rigged worm. For night fishing, use a black spinnerbait. The catfish have moved into shallow water to feed; use shiners, small bluegill and nightcrawlers. Crappie are scattered and in deep water.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the upper 70s to the low 80s and fishing is good. The stripers are starting to go deeper in the 30-40 foot range. There are still a few fish busting baitfish in the mornings. Zara Spooks and soft jerk baits have worked well. The bass are coming up early and just before dark, feeding on baitfish. They will hit any topwater bait, but the most popular baits have been spooks and soft jerk baits. If the wind is blowing, crankbaits and spinnerbaits have been effective. Look for the white bass in coves about 25-40 feet deep and use a jigging spoon. Some walleye and catfish have been reported being caught on crickets and worms while bream fishing.
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 here has been wadable water on the Norfork almost every day. The action has picked up somewhat. With significant wadable water on the White, the crowding has eased somewhat. The most productive flies have been small (size 20 or smaller) midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and Dan’s turkey tail emerger or soft hackles like my green butt or the partridge and orange. There has also been a sparse hatch of very small mayflies; reliable hatches of midges (try a size 22 parachute Adams for both) and some smaller caddis (size 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.
| Northwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,125.13 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said striper fishing is fair with fish being caught on live shad fished on free lines and down lines from the surface to 25ft deep. Troll with small umbrella rigs with white grubs for clearer water, chartreuse for stained water. Three way rigs with Rapalas and Rogues are also producing. Try Rapala no. 9 Husky Jerks in black back or purple back colors and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in 5-6 inch models. Casting Redfins and small umbrella rigs on windblown points is also producing some nice stripers. Casting Redfins, Rapalas and Rouges around rock piles on points and near timber are catching fish at night. Walleye are 4-8 feet deep and are headed back down river to the main lake after visiting spawning grounds. The rain slowed them down but they are recovering nicely and starting to feed. You can flatline 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. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the lake clarity is good and temperatures are now in the 70s. Bream fishing is excellent using worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good especially at night under lights using jigs, plastic tubes in black and white colors and 2 inch grubs fished off of deep banks. Bass fishing is fair at night using black spinnerbaits. During the day, use plastic worms and topwater baits in the mornings. Catfishing is fair on jugs and trotlines baited with gold fish.
Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good in the mornings and evenings using topwater 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. Night fishing has picked up, and anglers have been successful using black/blue hula grubs along sloping gravel to chunk rock banks. Crappie fishing has been good and anglers can find them suspended around pole timber and over brush piles half way back in coves where the water hits 20 to 40 feet deep. A curly tail grub on a 1/16 oz. jighead has been producing well. At night, look for docks that have a light shining on the water, a few crappie can be caught in these locations using dark colored tubes and curly tail grubs or a minnow under a cork 5 to 10 feet deep. White River, Piney Creek, Eden Bluff, Monte-Ne and Ventris have all been good places to find crappie. Catfishing has picked up and fish 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 had no report this week.
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 the lake level is normal. Bream fishing is good using worms and crickets. Crappie are very slow. Bass fishing is good using plastic worms and topwater baits.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and 80 degrees. Bream fishing is good using worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good using spinnerbaits and topwater baits in the morning. Catfishing is excellent with any live bait but shad and livers have worked especially well.
Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said the fish have settled into their normal summer patterns. Bass are good early in the morning on topwaters and spinnerbaits. In the afternoon, switch to jerk baits, crankbaits and Carolina-rigged worms. Crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs fished shallow early in the morning, and then deeper off the points after the sun comes up. Bream are still doing well in shallow water using worms and crickets. Catfish have been caught on live bait and commercial dough bait.
| Northeast Arkansas |
Lake Poinsett State Park said fishing is slow but there are some reports of good fishing on different parts of the lake. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms on the shallow end of the lake. Catfishing is good using a variety of baits but they seem to be hitting goldfish and minnows the most right now. Some small bass have been caught on minnows and artificial lures.
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 and worms. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water as deep as 18 feet. Bass fishing is good using topwater baits and 10 inch worms. Catfishing is fair and a few have been seen caught around their beds.
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is at a normal level and the temperature is in the 70s. Catfish have been good on nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows and dip bait. Blue cats and channel cats are being caught on the bottom and under floats about 2-5 feet deep. Flatheads are starting to bite better on jugs baited with small bream, minnows and goldfish. Bass have been fair to good with most of the fish being caught in shallow water on soft plastics and crankbaits. Bream have been good all along the shoreline on crickets and small pieces of nightcrawlers or redworms.
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 340 cfs, the water clarity is clear and the trout are biting great. Guppies and Brownie woolly’s are doing great and Y2Ks are the best later in the day when the bite slows down. On some of the tougher trout that are visible but seem to ignore what the other trout want, a simple hackle fly in a size 12-10 works great. Hot pink and candy corn Trout Magnets and yellow and white Rooster Tails are also working great.
Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Spring River is fishable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Canoe season will began last weekend, 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 the water temperature is around 80 degrees with visibility about 1 foot in backwaters and Lake Langhofer. The main channel current is still very strong, but fish can still be caught close to rocks and brush piles with jigs, worms and shad-colored crankbaits.
Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park’s said bass fishing is excellent, we saw several catches over 5 lbs. this weekend. Topwater lures are working the best. Anglers have mentioned Chug Bugs and popping-style baits. Fish near the edge of the lily pad fields throughout the day and around structure towards shore in the evening. Large bream are still being caught on the east side of the lake and in the bayou near the spillway. Bream are mostly being caught on nightcrawlers, red wigglers and some on crickets.
Lake Chicot State Park filed no new report.
| Southwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.60 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake has muddied this week a little due to thunderstorms and incoming fresh water. The lake is approximately 5 inches above normal pool, but it is dropping. Surface feeding continues to be good from dawn to around 10 a.m. in shady spots out of the direct sunlight. The best bite of the day currently is running from daylight through mid- to late morning. The recent Mayfly hatch on Millwood has bream and bass both surface feeding. The best reaction baits lately continue to be Spit’n Images, Arborgast Buzzplugs, Ken-Pops, soft plastic frogs and Bass Assassin Shads. Frog strikes around new lily pad growth and hydrilla and stumps continues to improve. Buzzplugs in black or firetiger colors are getting good reaction strikes from solid largemouths at dawn. Lizards in green pumpkin, watermelon/red, junebug, Yum Dingers or Salty Rat Tails in purple smoke or blackberry colors, and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in Hot Mouse or Firetiger continue getting good reactions over the past couple of weeks. Largemouths continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold, Wild Shiner, or gold/black back colors, around 2-3 foot flats with stumps/grass/pads nearby. Ten-inch Power Worms in black grape or blue fleck continue working near cypress trees and stumps. White bass are being caught on main lake points of Little River and in grass beds on spinnerbaits. Whites also have continued biting Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black or chrome/blue back and Millwood Magic. Crankbaits in shad patterns are randomly working between McGuire Lake oxbow and Highway 71 bridge out of the current behind points and in sloughs. Most Crappie over the past week have remained scattered with the increase in muddy water and increase of current in Little River, and the bite has been slow. Channel Cats and Flatheads are very good on trotlines with chicken gizzards, livers and cut shad in the outer bends of Little River placed from 12-15 feet deep.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Joshua and Jacob Bass of Sarepta, La., said the bream are excellent and the bait shop can’t keep enough crickets in stock to supply to the anglers. The fish have been biting all day and it looks to continue.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 547.29 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 407.34 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said the surface temperature is in the low 80s and the water is clear throughout. Bass fishing remains good with a nice topwater bite developing. The fish are feeding on the newly hatched shad early in the morning off most any main lake point in the lower end of the lake. Look for breaking fish and throw Zara Spooks, Sammys, Flukes and 4-inch swim baits. Later in the day, fish the same points with a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm in green pumpkin or red shad. Good places to look for bass have been between points 2 and 4 on the South side, around the spillway and the big coves by the lodge causeway. A few crappie have been caught in the lower end of the lake and Brushy Creek. Look for fish in 18 to 25 feet of water and throw a 2-inch grub or tube over brush. The best colors for the plastics has been natural shad or black/chartreuse. Best time is early in the morning, even before sunrise. Hybrid fishing is great with fish now showing up all over the lower end of the lake. A lot of surface activity is occurring early in the morning and a good deep water bite is also developing. Look for surface feeding fish on the south side of the lake between points 2 and 6 and around Iron Mountain. Throw topwater baits such as Zara Spooks, Sammys or swim baits. Also heavy spoons fished up through the school can be very productive. Best spoon colors have been chartreuse, green and pink. Bigger fish will be suspended at about 35 feet over deep water. Use the sonar to find these deep-water fish and drop a jigging spoon to just above them. The best hybrid bite is early in the morning, even before sunrise. Bream fishing is good using redworms or crickets with a float. Catfishing is good on both trotlines and noodles. The best baits have been Catfish Charlie, hot dogs with soap, liver, nightcrawlers and cut shad. For bigger cats such as blues and flatheads, try live small bream or big minnows.
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 357.69 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are good and have been biting on minnows, baby shad, slab slay’r and stroll’r in white /salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken or blue/white with a PowerBait Crappie Nibble in green or yellow. Bream fishing is excellent using nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are good on tequila sunrise and dark colored worms. Spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms are also working well. Catfishing is good using nightcrawlers and chicken, turkey and rabbit livers.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is excellent using nightcrawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Catfishing is good on red worms, nightcrawlers, minnows, stink bait and chicken, turkey and rabbit livers. Bass fishing is good on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained but fishing is good. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in white/ salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white with green or yellow PowerBait Crappie Nibbles. Catfishing is good using stink bait, livers and minnows. Bass are good on tequila sunrise and dark colored worms. Spinnerbaits, rooster tails, flukes and drop worms are also working well.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419)had no report this week.
Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said upriver bass are good on jigs, lizards, brush hogs, buzz baits, Spooks and frogs. Mid-river bass are being caught on crankbaits, jigs, frogs , Spooks, Rat-L-Traps and swim baits. Lower-river bass are being caught on crankbaits, swim baits, tubes and 10-inch worms. Catfish are biting well on sunfish and liver. Bream are excellent on all parts of the lake on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow, but some have been caught on minnows and jigs.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.92 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 579.28 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing and has a surface temperature between 74 and 78 degrees. Black bass are good on jighead worms, Brush Hogs and Texas-rigged Ol’ Monster or U-tail worms. Walleye are still very good on spoons and Shad Raps fished over main lake points and humps. Stripers are very good and are being caught on live bait and big hair jigs. These fish are located near main lake humps and points. Bream are excellent and have been caught with crickets or worms in 8-15 feet of water. Crappie are still fair and are being caught near and over brush on minnows and crappie grubs. Catfish are excellent and have been caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines from 10-20 feet deep.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no new report.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the surface water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s to low 80s and the lake level is full. The color is stained due to all the rain. Black bass are biting shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and any other lure fished in 5 feet of water and less. White bass are schooling in the mouths of most major creeks and biting on shad-type lures. Crappie are in 7 feet of water and less biting on jigs and minnows. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms.
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 Lake Ouachita should fall out of the flood pool this week and a 12-hour generation schedule will be put into place. Open flood gates and fast currents have been the norm below Carpenter Dam for weeks in an effort to pass flood water from area lakes. Little fishing has taken place during this time and boaters have been warned to stay off the water until conditions stabilize. Once Lake Ouachita is out of flood pool, the rainbow trout season will continue. Quality trout are living in the tailrace and will feed heavily in slack water. Weeks of unfishable water below the dam will extend the season that is normally finished in late July. Anglers must fish in the tailrace during periods of no flow release in order to take full advantage of the bite. Artificial lures are largely ineffective this time of year and live bait presentations are a must for success. Nightcrawlers, redworms, wax and meal worms and live minnows are all highly effective presentations and can be fished on the bottom or under a bobber. White bass are also present as June is a spawning month for these fish. Jerk baits, spinnerbaits and small jigs will work well in current or slack water periods. Large catfish spawn next to the dam and will take shad and cut baits cast in deep water. Striper activity will improve greatly as the oxygenated water of the tailrace and large shad schools move into the area. Brood or gizzard shad fished with a balloon rig is a best bet for attracting the largest bass. The tailrace will recover quickly as soon as the high flows subside and the conditions return to normal. Anyone navigating the channels around Carpenter Dam should use extreme caution and always wear a life jacket. All park regulations are established for everyone’s safety and must be obeyed at all times.
Drawdown Update: Entergy Arkansas says winter drawdowns began Nov. 3. Lake Hamilton will drop 5 feet and Lake Catherine will drop 3 feet. Water released at the dams will be used to generate hydroelectric power. Both lakes will return to their normal summertime levels in March 2013. The annual drawdowns help with shoreline maintenance and inspection, and are part of a plan to help control nuisance aquatic vegetation. Entergy Arkansas coordinates the annual winter drawdown with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) 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 bass are finally starting to bite pretty well in these lakes. The water has receded enough where people can catch bass behind the larger cypress trees by using a variety of different baits and sizes. It seemed like the spotted bass were pretty prevalent in some of these lakes and were hitting faster moving crankbaits, but the largemouth were more prevalent on spinners. Bream are still bedding in spots along these lakes and people can catch them using live baits fished around 3-5 feet deep.
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 said bass are excellent in the mornings on jerk baits, gitzits and plum-colored worms. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on jugs with stink bait.
Mississippi River State Park said bass are picking up on Spooks and spinner baits. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfish are good on stink bait and chicken liver.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and fishing is pretty good. Bream are good using crickets. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows around brush piles. Bass fishing is fair using jigs, Hula grubs and crankbaits.
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the river is still very dirty and high. Fishing has been extremely slow and there hasn’t been much of a report other than a couple of people catching a few catfish. Overall catfishing should be considered fair.
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water clarity is good and the temperatures are in the low 70s. Bream fishing is good in the shallow water between piers using crickets and wax worms. Crappie are good by piers and cypress trees using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair around lily pads using spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is excellent on jugs, trotlines and noodles.
Courtesy Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
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