Weekly Arkansas fishing report for March 22, 2014. Enjoy your time on the water and catch a bunch.
| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
(Updated 3-19-2014) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bass fishing is good all over the lake on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and suspending jerkbaits. Crappie are biting well in Pierce Creek Wilhelmina Cove, around Paradise Landing, Palarm Creek, Palarm Creek and Greens Lake. Catfishing is good on worms and cut shad.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are biting well early in the morning and late in the evening on minnows or chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits. Bream are biting well on the bottom with redworms and crickets. Catfish are biting fairly well on yo-yos baited with shiners.
Little Red River (Greers Ferry Tailwater)
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the river clarity is perfect right now. The generators are down for repairs for about eight weeks, so water releases will be made by the spillway gates. Trout fishing is excellent on wax worms and Power Bait.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ’em All Guide Service said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water from the spillway gates last Monday. The spillway gates are being used while the power plant is being repaired. Expect this to continue until the lake level returns below top pool of 462 feet. When that level is obtained, generation should return back to one turbine continuously releasing water at about 300 to 500 cfs into the Little Red River. Fly fishers should consider San Juan worms, midges, soft hackles, pheasant tails and streamers. Weighted flies with a dropper have been working well during the high water. Chartreuse and pink Trout Magnets are working well for those spin fishing..
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.76 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
(Updated 3-19-2014) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is above normal pool and rising. The surface water temperature is in the high 40s to low 50s. Bass fishing is getting better by the hour, with many small males moving from deep water to areas near spawning flats. The warm rain should have the surface temperature rising quickly and kicking things in gear for prespawn feeding in the shallows. Concentrate on water from 12 feet deep to right up on the bank if there’s some wind blowing on it. Wiggle Warts, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, football head jigs and finesse worms are key baits for this time of year. Walleye fishing is on and off with a lot of fish getting done up the rivers and moving back to the lake. Some stragglers will still be caught upriver on grubs. crankbaits, drop shot rigs and jerk baits. Crappie fishing is on again and off again. Some fish are still out as deep as 40 feet, but they are beginning to move shallower (suspended 3 or 4 feet deep over 10 feet of water). The shallow fish are still scattered, and are not locked on to any cover, so finding them can be tricky. Try using jigs and jigs tipped with minnows, for the best success. Hybrids and white bass are eating grubs, Rinky Dinks, in-line spinners,spoons and crankbaits all over the lake from 15-50 feet deep, try and stay around the shad for the best bite.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Cody Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said the water is rising. Surface water temperatures took a hit last week and fell several degrees, but will rebound quickly with a little stain in the water. Fishing should take right back off before the next cool down and the rain. White bass and hybrid fishing will really pick up in staging areas. Look for schools of them on your graph halfway up Devils Fork and 2/3 up Middle Fork. These fish are in hanging out in depths of 8 to 15 feet of water. Fish Dinner Lures jigging spoons, inline spinners and small swim baits are producing well.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) said recent rains have brought the lake up about 2 feet in the last 48 hours to about normal pool. This increase dropped the temperature 2 degrees to 47.6 in the upper part of the lake. Fishing is still good with crappie and white bass moving into and around spawning areas in the tributaries. Crappie can be caught in the pole timber in 20-26 feet of water slowly trolling minnows and jigs 4-8 feet deep. White bass and walleye should be heading into the Johnson Hole on the South Fork of the Little Red River in numbers.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is fairly clear and the surface water temperature is in the low 50s. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well along the shoreline or spinnerbaits.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappier are starting to pick up on minnows, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white, salt-and-peper, red/chartreuse shad, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, monkey milk, barbecue chicken and blue/white with a Power Bait crappie nibble. Catfish are biting on minnows, worms, stink bait and livers. Bass are biting on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits and drop-shot worms. Bream are biting fairly well on meal worms, redworms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are beginning to pick up on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Stroll’Rs and Slab Slay’Rs in white/salt-and-pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white, barbecue chicken and blue/white with a Power Bait crappie nibble. Bream are slow on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms and crickets. Bass are slow on dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits and drop-shot worms.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Local angler Nicholas Karras had no report this week.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Jolly Roger’s Marina had no new report.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is fair using minnows and jigs, pink minnows and white Crappie Stinger jigs with a pink head in 12 to 20 feet of water. White bass are staging on the west end of the lake near the creek channel and are biting on CC spoons, white grubs on a pink jig head, large minnows and white Beetle Spins with a black stripe. .
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) has had no recent reports from this lake.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish are starting to bite chicken liver and nightcrawlers. Bass and crappie are being caught on no. 6 crappie minnows and pink minnows.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said smallmouth and spotted bass fishing has been great with big brood minnows and no. 12 bass minnows. A 4- or 5-inch Texas rigged lizard works well also. Crappie fishing has been good with no. 6 crappie minnows. The last hour of daylight has been the best time to crappie fish lately. Catfish are being caught on trotlines baited with minnows and black salties. Bream can be caught on crickets or redworms around almost any underwater cover.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said some crappie have been biting lately in the back of some coves on no. 6 crappie minnows and pink minnows. Catfish are biting no. 12 bass minnows, night crawlers and chicken livers. Bass fishing has been slow.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie are biting no. 6 minnows and pink minnows. Bass fishing has been good on live minnows as well. Catfish and bream are starting to hit nightcrawlers and redworms.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie fishing is starting slow but picking up in the evenings right before dark. No. 6 crappie minnows will work but customers are saying the bigger fish are coming on no. 12 bass minnows. Bass also are biting on minnows. Walleye have been caught recently on brood minnows in the upper part of the lake. No reports of bream or catfish.
(Updated 1-29-2014) River Valley Outdoors said a few people are catching some crappie on jigs, but overall the fishing has been very slow.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said a few people are finally getting out on the river. White bass are biting well on firetiger crankbaits fished below dams 9 and 10. Catfishing below lock 9 with skipjack fillets in deep holes in the afternoon as been fair. Spotted bass are on the tops of jetties in 4 to 8 feet of water and are biting well on jig-and-craw combos.
(Updated 3-19-2014) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) is fully stocked with bait, drinks and snacks. The fee to launch a boat at the marina is $3, The water is very clear and about a foot lower than normal for this time of year. Crappie are excellent on minnows fished around deep brush. As the water warms, the crappie should move up on the shallow flats. Bass are excellent and gorging themselves on shad. Fish a suspending jerkbait like a Rattling Rogue near the channel edge or a spinnerbait in the shallow flats just outside the channel.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(Updated 3-19-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said In the Little Maumelle River and Maumelle River, crappie fishing is excellent on small minnows and pink minnows. Bass fishing is good on pearl/black Bandit 200 series crankbaits, Tennessee shad Bomber 6As and chrome/black Rat-L-Traps. Catfsihing is good on chicken hearts, livers, nightcrawlers and shad. In Palarm Creek, crappie fishing is excellent on pink minnows and on white/chartreuse jigs with pink heads. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines baited with skipjack, cut shad, brood minnows and goldfish.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(Updated 3-19-2014) Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is muddy and at 50 degrees. Crappie fishing is fair, but it’s starting to pick up with some fish moving into shallow areas of the river. Bass fishing is good on crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and chatterbaits in the dead grass.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is excellent in the backwater areas on medium sized minnows, pink minnows and red/chartreuse tubes on a pink jig head. Kalin’s 2-inch grubs in the Color of Money and other chartreuse colors are working as well. White bass are excellent on white/chartreuse curly tailed grubs, chartreuse twin tails, large minnows and shad. Catfishing is picking up on skipjack, shad and nightcrawlers below the dam. In Fourche Creek, crappie fishing is good on pink minnows and white/chartreuse jigs on a pink jig head.
(Updated 3-12-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs fished around backwater areas near Terry Lock and Dam. Bass are biting well on crankbaits fished in backwater areas below the dam. Catfish are responding best to cut bait near the main river.
(Updated 3-19-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair on crankbaits with a few being caught on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is still slow, but a few have been caught on trotlines baited with cut bait.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is excellent on medium-sized minnows.
Peckerwood Lake
(Updated 3-19-2014) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) is open again for the season. The water is at normal level for this time of year. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on worms. No report on bass or bream.
| North Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 659.13 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
(Updated on 1-8-2014) Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report.
(Updated 1-8-2014) Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock had no report.
White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater)
(Updated 3-19-2014) Newland’s Resort below Bull Shoals said the water conditions are trending toward the low side, with a few mornings being the exception with moderate flows. nightcrawlers, pink Power Worms, yellow Power Bait and frozen shad have been the top producers around the dock latley. Be sure to visit the Projected Water flow page and live web cam at Newland’s web site.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is moderately clear and low. Trout are biting well. Rainbow trout are biting best on Power Bait and Power Worms. Brown trout are biting well on suspending stick baits, jigs and minnows.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said some minor rain and heavy winds have been impacting the fishing conditions lately around the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters in the last week. On the White, we had significantly more wadable water. The hot spot was the section from Cotter down to 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. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (try a cerise or pink San Juan worm with a midge pattern (ruby midge) suspended below it). We have had many reports of caddis hatches. Though sparse, the trout did key in on them. The area will soon have its best caddis hatch of the year. Before the hatch, fish green caddis pupa (size 14). You will often get more strikes at the end of the drift as the fly rises. When they move to the surface and begin keying in on emergers, switch over to a green butt soft hackle (size 15). When they start taking adult insects off the water’s surface, you should switch to a green elk hair caddis (size 14).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.92 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
(Updated 3-12-2014) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the lake is down 1 foot. The water temperature is in the mid-40s and rising. The water visibility is stained. With the full moon and warmer temperatures this weekend, you should see the beginning of a night bite for stripers and walleye. During the day, find the bait fish and seagulls and you will find the stripers. Right now the bait fish are stacked in Panther Bay from Point 4 to Panther Creek. It will be an early morning bite using shiners. Rogues will be the best bait in the evening. I found stripers near the Blue Lady dock and in front of Lake Norfork Marina in Henderson. Crappie are biting on minnows, small spoons and jigs on brush piles in 30 feet of water. Walleyes are starting to bite above the old Udall Marina. I fished Sunday and caught one short walleye, but saw several keepers being caught. With the warm-up this week the spawn will begin and we should see a strong bite for the next several weeks. The best spots are at the state line, Liner Creek, Udall Marina, and from Bridges creek to the 160 bridge.
(Updated 1-29-2014) Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said all species are in their winter patterns and winter locations. Striped bass are roaming in the deep channels about 55-70 feet down in 100+ feet of water. Live bait fishing has been slow, but vertical jigging with a spoon has been producing some nice fish. The stripers I have been catching are very healthy with fat bellies. Float and Panther creeks are full of shad, but not many fish have found them yet. The best winter locations for stripers have been from the 62 bridge back to the 101 Marina area. The big slab crappie have moved onto the brush piles, but look for deep brush. I haven’t been out bass or crappie fishing, but a few of my lake friends have been doing pretty well. Fish over brush that is 30 – 50 feet deep. Most of the time the crappie will be on the top of the brush, but occasionally the bigger slabs are down in it. Largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass will also be holding out near the brush.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Guide Steve Olomon said It seems Old Man Winter just doesn’t want to leave. The surface water temp is in the mid 40s and the lake level is 551.6. There are baitfish dying all over the lake. This hasn’t happened for a few years because the last few winters have been mild. Spring fishing will be better because of all the dying baitfish. The jerk bait bite for bass will be good. There are some bass hitting them along with crankbaits along the shore in 5-10 feet of water. For deeper fish, drop a jigging spoon or fish a jig very slowly.
North Fork River (Norfork Tailwater)
(Updated 3-19-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has some good wadable water 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 and very small caddis (try a size 24 Adams parachute).The fishing is much better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. Some anglers have been fishing heavy articulated streamers on sink tip lines on the higher flows to great effect. Dry Run Creek has been virtually abandoned. Now would be a great time to take a kid fishing, especially with spring break right around the corner. The hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise).
(Updated 3-19-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River is low and clear. With the cool temperatures, the smallmouth are inactive. 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 3-19-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek is low and clear. With the cool temperatures, the smallmouth are inactive. 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.
| Northwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.74 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
(Updated 3-19-2014) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said water temperatures are in the high 40s. The walleye are spawning and the white bass are right behind them. All species are up rivers and feeders for spawning runs. Stripers are on the prowl for warmer water and food. They are biting throughout the day with peaks at dusk and dawn. You can look upriver for whites and some stripers, but most are still on main lake structures and secondary points. Fishing is fair on live 3- to 5-inch shad fished 30-60 feet deep. Bottom fishing will also be productive with cut shad or live shad fished on the flats where you find birds feeding on concentrations of dead shad. Trolling small umbrella rigs with white grub, Rapalas, Bomber 15A’s or spoons on flat lines with planer boards near the channel are also producing. Jigging spoons on main lake humps and points as well as casting spoons to schooling fish in the same areas. Be sure to check the following hot spots for stripers and walleye: War Eagle and the junction of War Eagle and the White River have been excellent for walleye on medium-diving plugs, jigs and spinner rigs with minnows or nightcrawlers. White bass also are thick here. The Blue Springs Area and the White River from Point 12 upstream have been excellent of walleye on jigs, spinner rigs with nightcrawlers or minnows and medium-diving crankbaits. Stripers and white bass also are heavy in these areas. Most walleye are holding in 5 to 20 feet of water. Most walleye are being caught 10-30 feet deep on three- way rigs with a No. 11 Rapala, a flat-line trolled Hot-n-Tot, Wiggle Wart, Rapala Tail Dancer, Shad Rap, Reef Runner or Ripstik, a slow-death rig baited with minnows, nightcrawlers or leeches, jigs with curly tails in white, chartreuse, orange or black and jigging spoons. They are beginning to make their move upriver to spawn. Keep an eye in the backs of the following areas as the water warms and the days get longer: Copper Mine, Prairie Creek, Coose Hollow, Blackburn Creek, Beaver Shores, Horseshoe Bend, Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and War Eagle. The rip rap along the dam on the downstream end of the lake also is a good place to find walleye during the spawn.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water level is high and the surface temperature is in the mid-40s. The water is muddy from the rain the last few days. Crappie fishing has picked up; they are being caugh on minnows in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass fishing is good on jerk baits, Rooster Tails, minnows and live crawfish around Twin Bridges. Walleye are being caught around Neals Bluff and Twin Bridges on large minnows and firetiger or chartreuse crankbaits trolled along the first break to deep water from the bank.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said the best place as of late to catch bass has been up either river arm where water is stained and a bit warmer. Try fishing a slow rolled spinnerbait or a jig-and-craw combo around visible cover along the channel or along sloping banks. On the main lake, a suspending jerkbait has continued to work well fished on points or sloping banks with timber. Both river arms, Little Clifty, Big Ventris and Prairie Creek have fished well. Crappie fishing has been best up either river arm as well. Fish a baby shad-style bait on a minnow or 1/32-oz. jig head under a small cork 2-4 feet down around log jams, pole timber or laydown trees close to either river channel. On the main lake look for fish to be suspending 2 to 6 feet down over water deeper than 20 feet under docks and along bluff lines. Upstream from 412 bridge has produced good numbers of crappie, Eden Bluff and Monte-Ne have also been producing a few fish. Afternoons tend to fish better. White bass have been holding off main lake flats at the break and on main lake points. For the most part they have been suspending 15 to 30 feet deep in 25 to 50 feet of water. Once a school is located, a ½-oz. jigging spoon fished vertically very slowly should do the trick. As the water begins to warm into the 50s, look for whites to start moving into main coves and both river arms. Not many reports on catfish. The best bank action should be at Hickory Creek or the 412 Bridge access using liver or worms. Late afternoon into the evening would be best.
(Updated 2-12-2014) Scott Branyan at Ozark Fly Flinger had no report.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Beaver Dam Store said many people looking for walleye. Most are catching a lot of trout and farther downstream there are a few largemouth. Fly anglers are still drifting midges, especially with windy days. Pheasant tails, peacock herl soft hackles and woolly buggers always get some attention. Nickle and gold Colorado spoons are hard to beat. We have some GULP maggots that will work when nothing else will on a micro jig. White and yellow Power Bait with a wax worm. also will produce.
Lake Elmdale
(Updated 3-19-2014) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said after the weekend’s rainfall, our surface temp has dropped slightly below the 50-degree mark, but is rising quickly with the sunny skies. The coves are warming up, but don’t be too quick to go shallow. Fishing 7 feet deep around 8 feet of water has produced many nice redear, bluegill and crappie. Concentrate your time in the narrower part of the lake south of Goose Island. Rock Island has also been good.
Use a 1/32 white jig, tipped with a one-inch piece of live worm under a bobber; cast out and retrieve it with short twitches. Trolling along Harmon’s Bluff with minnows has produced bass and crappie. For bass, keep a jig and pig or a jerkbait tied on and cover some water.
(Updated on 3-19-2014) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is at normal level. Catfishing is slow. White bass are fair on slow-rolled spinnerbaits near the channel. No report on crappie, black bass or bream.
(Updated on 3-19-2014) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is murky and at normal level. Black bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and shad. No report on bream or crappie.
| Northeast Arkansas |
(Updated 3-19-2014) Lake Poinsett State Park said the anglers are really coming out to fish for crappie. They are buying lots of minnows and some are buying white spinner jigs. They tell me that the bass are also going after the minnows. We have been selling nightcrawlers and goldfish to quite a few anglers after catfish. The second annual “Fishin the Ridge” panfish tournament here at Lake Poinsett State Park is scheduled for April 12 from 6:30 to 11:00 am. Click here for more information.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is dingy and at 47 degrees. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. No report on bream, crappie or catfish.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Lake Frierson State Park said water levels are about a foot above normal pool. Many anglers have been fighting the elements and getting out on the water now that the lake has thawed. There is some surface activity starting to occur during the afternoons and early evening in the coves. A few channel catfish have been caught on minnows and dip baits. There have been several nice bass pulled out; try large, slow moving baits like jigs with trailers around structure; black/blue or coffee colored are usually the best options. Crankbaits and soft plastics should start producing fish as the water warms. A couple of saugeye were caught last week on minnows; the fish appear to be located on the edges of deeper water; try crankbaits, minnows and jerkbaits in these areas. No reports of crappie or bream yet, but it shouldn’t be long. Don’t forget about the fishing area off Highway 141 north of the park; this is usually a good spot in the spring.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running 400 cfs and water clarity is murky. There was a heavy rain storm that came through the area last Saturday night, which muddied the water up this week. It was not looking good over the weekend, but has already began to clear up and should be good to go by this weekend. Y2Ks and Guppies were hot this week. Hot pink Trout Magnets and white and black Rooster Tails have been hot for spin fishing. In off-color water, gold spoons typically work well.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the water level on the Spring River is clear and quite fishable. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. 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)
(Updated 3-12-2014) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team had no report.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said Cane Creek Lake had increased activity last weekend with bass starting to go shallow. Most anglers had the best luck with black/blue plastics dragged across the shallows. The crappie will start warming up to anglers this weekend with warmer, more consistent temperatures.
No report.
| Southwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.00 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
(Updated 3-19-2014) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water is 6.5 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. Surface temperatures range form 54 to 61 degrees. Discharge rate as of Monday was 1,574 cfs. Clarity on the main lake, away from current, was 8-10 inches of visibility with Cottonshed and the northeast section of the lake still muddy. The warmer temperature put bass in a prespawn mode. We are watching male and female bass running in and out of bedding areas, preparing beds this week. Plastic lizards, Rat-L-Traps, chatterbaits and suspending hard jerk baits have been taking staging bass on flats with stumps, ditches, and in creek channels. The key continues to be finding water temps 5-8 degrees warmer than surrounding areas, and clearer water with the current conditions. Bass are continuing to roam onto flats and spawning grounds, out of the creek channels, yet still holding tight to cover. Cordell Red Fins, Smithwick Rouges, and hard jerk baits continue taking a few good size Bass in south Hickory pockets of the area of main lake and the Millwood State Park. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs in Texas shad, Texas craw, or bruiser colors with a Berkley craw chunk or Yum Woolly Bullee or Wooly Bug trailer are taking a few prespawn bass in the 3-4 lb class. Chatterbaits were catching nice bass in Mud Lake oxbow over the weekend in dead lily pad stems. White bass continue staging above Ark. Highway 71 bridge for prespawn. Points along Cossatot inflow ditch and creek channels protruding into Little River were giving up a few whites mid-week to chrome/blue, Millwood Magic, or Smokey Joe Rat-L-Traps. The annual move to spawning grounds for the whites continues. A few more crappie fishermen were out over the past week, and have been catching prespawn black and white crappie around cypress trees in 8 to 12 feet of water along creek channels.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.99 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
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 407.93 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 3-19-2014) Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the low 50s. The water is clear up to Point 14 and slightly stained above that. Overall fishing is still pretty slow due to the exceptionally cold water. Look for action to pick up once the water temperature gets into the mid 60s. Bass fishing is fair with a few decent catches reported, however they are mostly slot fish. Look for fish now in the bigger coves and about halfway back. Work the north shore and throw lipless and regular crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs into the flooded shoreline brush. The fish are up shallow because that is where the water is a bit warmer. Try natural shad in clear water and something in chartreuse or red when fishing stained water. Best areas have been between Lenox Marcos and Shouse Ford. No reports on crappies and just about no one is even fishing for them. Looks like it might be another slow spring like it has been for the past few years. Hybrid and white bass fishing is good, but the fish are far up the Caddo River above Amity. The best pattern is to look for current breaks and throw small swimbaits, Shad Raps or small bucktails in chartreuse and white.
| South-Central Arkansas |
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.
Jaret Rushing had no new report.
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park said on the upper lake,bream are biting well on crickets and worms early in the morning and evening. Catfish are biting well on worms in the evenings. Bass are a little slow but can be picked up in the mornings and evenings on artificial lures. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs.
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 347.81 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
(Updated 3-19-2014) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the water level is a little low as some is being released. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishign is fair on spinnerbaits and worms. No report on other species.
(Updated 3-14-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are starting to pick up in 4 to 10 feet of water on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Slab Slay’rs, Stroll’rs and split tails in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white tipped with a yellow or green crappie nibble. Bream are biting on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and drop-shot worms. Catfish are biting on nightcrawlers and livers.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
(Updated 3-12-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are fair on redworms, nightcrawlers and Rock Hopper jigs. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait and livers. Bass are fair on dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits and Rooster Tails.
(Updated 3-12-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained. Crappie are picking up on minnows and Bobby Garland baits in red/chartreuse, cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white. Catfish are slow on stink bait, livers and minnows. Bass are slow on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and drop-shot worms.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said the water was very high last weekend on the river. No report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.56 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 575.97 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
(Updated 3-5-2014) Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the surface water temperature is in the mid-40s and the lake level is well into the buckbrush and rising. Black bass are being caught on Alabama rigs in the guts of pockets. Slow your retrieve down and keep it near the bottom. Also try a 3/4-oz. football jig in the areas that have too much cover for an A-rig. Crappie are in 12 to 15 feet of water around cedar trees and man made brush.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is 48 to 50 degrees. Black bass are biting very well. Football jigs and crankbaits are the most effective baits, but there have been some good reports with jerk baits as the water warms during the day. Walleye are staging for the spawning run on main river channels. Lipless crankbaits and fluorescent jigs fished near structure are producing fish. Stripers are good and being caught on big grubs, hair jigs and Alabama rigs in major creek basins. Bream are fair with a few being caught around brush 20 feet deep. Crappie are good and being caught over brush with minnows or crappie jigs. These fish are being caught 10-14 feet deep in 20-25 feet of water. Catfish are fair and being caught on trotlines fished near main lake and secondary points.
(Updated 3-5-2014) Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs said the water temperature is in the lower 40s. Black bass are biting Alabama rigs and jigs over brush piles in 8 to 12 feet of water. In the afternoons, if the sun comes out, fish rocky banks where the sunlight is warming the shore with crankbaits. Crappie are in 10 to 12 feet of water around brush. Use a float and fish a straight tailed jig slowly.
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said Lake Catherine has been refilled to normal summertime pool. Water temperature is 43 degrees below Carpenter Dam with very stained conditions in the tailrace. Rising lake levels on both lakes Hamilton and Catherine have muddied the area, it is clearing. Rainbow trout fishing has been excellent, but has slowed in the off-colored water. Bank fishermen are having success using corn, wax worms, meal worms, redworms and nightcrawlers fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Boaters trolling small crankbaits that imitate shad or crawfish have taken rainbows in the 15-inch class with some fish measuring over 17 inches. Spin fishermen are easily recording limits of trout using Super Dupers in silver or gold around rock structure during current flow. Jigs in 1/16- or 1/8- ounce sizes are also working well. Fly fishermen can still wade to areas that hold trout and have caught numbers of fish on San Juan worms in hot pink or red combined with a strike indicator. Micro-jigs closely resemble injured shad and are a deadly presentation cast over sand bars. Walleye are in full spawning mode and are being caught in the late evening on nightcrawler rigs and Carolina rigs tipped with live minnows. Crappie are moving into the tailrace to spawn. Small males are already present and a few have been caught on jigs. The much larger females will follow in another week and can be caught on live minnows, jigs, and shallow-running crankbaits. White bass should begin spawning at the end of the month. Striper action has been very slow with no topwater action observed. Now that the lake is at full pool, these aggressive predators can show up at any time near the dam.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the lake is clear and up a little at Lake Atkins. Several bass over 7 lbs. have been caught over the past few days. There also have been reports of crappie being caught below the spillway on minnows. Catfish and some bream are biting in very deep waters on crawlers and redworms.
| East Arkansas |
(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no new report.
(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no report.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and no anglers have been fishing lately.
(Updated 3-19-2014) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is stained. Crappie are fair on yo-yos, with a few folks coming in with an ice chest full. Catfishing is slow. Bass are fair on minnows. No report on bream.
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