Weekly Arkansas Fishing Report – March 29, 2014

 

Weekly Arkansas fishing report for March 29, 2014. Enjoy your time on the water and catch a bunch.

Central Arkansas

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

(Updated 3-26-2014) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream fishing is good on worms and crickets at Pierce Creek and Palarm Creek. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs around the trees at Adams Lake, Greens Lake and Gold Creek. Bass fishing is good throughout the lake on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on yo-yos baited with minnows and goldfish.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are biting well in 2 to 9 feet of water early in the morning and late in the afternoon on chartreuse jigs and pink minnows. Bass are fair. No report on bream or catfish.

Little Red River (Greers Ferry Tailwater)

 

(Updated 3-26-2014) Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is clear as usual and at normal level. Both the brown trout and rainbow trout are biting very well. Wax worms, Power Bait and marshmallows are working well for bait anglers, while sow bugs and zebra midges are working for fly-fishermen.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ’em All Guide Service said while the power plant is being repaired, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue to release water into the Little Red River from the spillway gates until the lake level returns below top pool of 462. At that time, flows should return to a continuous 300 to 500 cfs through the turbines until the power plant is repaired in mid-April. San Juan worms, soft hackles, pheasant tails and streamers are working well for fly-fishing. Chartreuse and pink Trout Magnets are working well for those spin fishing. Always check the Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power Administration websites for current and future water release before planning your fishing trip.

Greers Ferry
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.20 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.50 msl).

 

(Updated 3-26-2014) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the anglers expo is this Friday and Saturday at Heber Springs, visit anglersexpo.com for more information. The water level at Greers Ferry is 0.01 feet below normal pool and is falling. The surface water temperature is 48-56 degrees depending on time of day, location and weather. Hybrid and white bass are on the move. Some are up the river; some males are upriver, but most females are only about halfway up. Cold fronts are keeping them back, but the warmer weather should kick it in high gear. Try grubs, small flies, in-line spinners and jerkbaits. Crappie are biting fairly well. They are beginning to mve shallow as well. Many can be found 3 to 5 feet deep over brush and timber in 10 feet of water. A few crappie are still suspended out in 25 to 30 feet of water in the pole timber. Walleye are almost finished spawning upriver. Try trolled crank baits, Rattling Rogues and jigs tipped with minnows on humps, points and rip rap banks between upriver spawning areas and the main lake. Bass fishing is catching fire with a lot of different baits working. Most fish are shallow or are moving that way. Try spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, Alabama rigs, Carolina rigs and jigs.

 
(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.

Harris Brake Lake

 

(Updated 3-26-2014) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water has about 3 feet of visibility, which is about average for this time of year. Crappie and bass are both biting well on white grubs with pink jigheads. Catfishing has been good.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well 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.

Lake Overcup
(Updated 3-26-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said all work is complete on the dam, and the new water control structure is in place. The water is a little high, but is falling. The surface water temperature is 54 degrees, and rising. Crappie are being caught on yo-yos and noodles baited with minnows. A few crappie also are being caught on white/chartruese and pink/white/chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is good on large minnows and cut shad. Bass are slow. Bream are slow.

 
(Updated 3-26-2014) 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.

Brewer Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is still a little low and clear. Crappie are being caught on yo-yos and noodles baited with minnows. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with cut shad. Bass and bream are slow.

Lake Barnett
Local angler Nicholas Karras had no report this week.

Lake Maumelle
(Updated 3-26-2014) Jolly Roger’s Marina said the surface water temperature is 54 degrees. Fishing is picking up and the water level is 1 inch below the spillway. Largemouth bass are excellent on jigs and jerk baits fished around grass in 5 to 10 feet of water. Spotted bass are biting excellently on white jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water. White bass are staging up at the west end of the lake around the bridge and the mouth of the creek. They are making their move to spawn upstream. Crappie are biting well in 5 to 10 feet of water in the grass. Bream are biting well on jigs and live worms fished in 10 to 15 feet of water. No report on catfishing.

(Updated 3-26-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is slow, but a few have been caught on redworms. Crappie fishing is excellent on 1/8-oz. Johnson spoons, white/chartreuse and red/chartreuse jigs and pink minnows. Bass are excellent in the morning and evening on shad-colored spinnerbaits, Zara Spooks and shallow-diving crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on green sunfish, shad, skipjack and minnows.

Benton City Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) has had no recent reports from this lake.

Sunset Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfishing is starting to pick up in the afternoons. Chicken livers, nightcrawlers and no. 12 bass minnows have worked well. Bream fishing is slow, but a few have been caught on crickets. Bass and crappie have been slow.

Saline River Access in Benton
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said spotted bass, smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has been good. no. 12 bass minnows, 4- or 5-inch lizards, small crankbaits, small spinnerbaits big brood minnows. Catfish are being caught on trotlines baited with black salties, goldfish and minnows. Crappie fishing has been very good for some customers using no. 6 crappie minnows, jigs and Beetle spins. Most of them are being caught in backwater coves and close to steep banks. Bream and small sunfish can almost always be caught on crickets or redworms.

Lake Norrell
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie have slowed, but some customers are still catching one or two here and there. Their bait of choice seems to be pink minnows. Catfish are biting minnows and worms at night around some docks. Bass fishing has been fair and we’ve had no reports of the big Lake Norrell bream being caught yet, but expect that to start if we can get two warm weeks in a row.

Bishop Park Lakes in Bryant
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie are biting no. 6 minnows and pink minnows. Catfish are biting chicken livers and some have been caught on minnows while crappie fishing. Bass are quicker to bite the larger no. 12 or brood minnows. Bream are being caught on crickets and redworms.

Lake Winona
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said a few crappie have been caught recently on no. 12 bass minnows and Kalin’s 2-inch Triple Threat Grubs in various colors. Catfish are biting in the last hour or so of daylight on nightcrawlers, chicken livers and minnows. Some walleye have been caught recently in the upper end of the lake on brood minnows. No reports have come in from bass or bream fishermen.

Arkansas River at Morrilton
(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.

Little Maumelle River
(Updated 3-26-2014) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is 56 degrees at the marina. The crappie just haven’t turned on yet, but the bass are biting very well. Bass are biting on jerk baits, soft-plastics and any crappie lure you want to throw.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(Updated 3-26-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is excellent in backwaters on pink minnows, red/chartreuse jigs and Beetle Spins. Bass are excellent on shad-colored spinnerbaits and chartreuse/black shallow-diving crankbaits in backwater areas. Catfishing is excellent on minnows, chicken hearts, livers and worms.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(Updated 3-26-2014) Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said crappie fishign is pretty good on minnows and jigs in the backwater along brush piles. Bass fishing is good on crankbaits along jetties. Fishing is fair to good for the most part.

 
(Updated 3-26-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is excellent on white/chartreuse jigs and chartreuse twister tails on 1/8 ounce jigheads fished around brush. Bass fishing is excellent in the backwaters and on jetty points on Texas-rigged lizards and Big Bite Baits Fighting Frogs. White bass are excellent on chartreuse twin-tailed jigs and spoons below Murray Lock and Dam. Catfishing is excellent on skipjack, shad, sunfish and minnows.
 
(Updated 3-12-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing has been good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Some catfish are being caught on cut bait.

Clear Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits.

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

Bull Shoals

 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 659.01 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
(Updated on 3-26-2014) Mike Worley’s Guide Service said surface water temperatures are in the 40s. Walleye are starting to move to the rocky main lake points and a few are being caught on suspending stickbaits, Alabama rigs and jigs. A warm rain should get the bite going after the cold winter we have had.
(Updated 1-8-2014) Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock had no report.

White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater)

 

(Updated 3-26-2014) Newland’s Resort below Bull Shoals said the water conditions are trending toward the higher side, with 4-5 generators running all day. Popular baits have been shad, yellow Power Bait, and Little Cleo gold spoons. Be sure to visit the Projected Water flow page and live web cam at Newland’s web site.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said fly-fishing has been working well on low water. Sow bugs, zebra midges, San Juan worms and red/pink worms have worked well. Little Cleos, Buoyant Spoons and white jigs are working well. Rapalas adn Rogues are catching some good brown trout lately.
 
(Updated 3-26-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the hot spot was been the section from Wildcat Shoals down to Cotter. 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 suspended below it). The Corps of Engineers have been running a bit more water than they did the previous week; that has been an advantage to streamer fishermen. To do this you need at least an 8-weight fly rod, a heavy sink-tip fly line and large articulated streamers. The idea is to bang the bank and strip the fly back to the boat. This is heavy work and requires advanced casting skills. Some effective patterns are sex dungeons and circus peanuts. We have had numerous reports of caddis hatches. Though sparse, the trout did key in on them, it is a harbinger of spring and a promise of what is to come. 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 trout start keying 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).

Lake Norfork

 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.61 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
(Updated 3-26-2014) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake is at normal pool. The water temperature is in the mid-40s and rising. The water visibility is stained. The night bite has slowed this past week, the moon phase and cold weather have the stripers in a holding pattern. They are feeding but in short periods. The stripers become very active when the moon rises and the past week the moon is slowing becoming less visible each day. The stripers have move up the creek and are staging, waiting on warm water, the magic number for stripers is 60 degrees. Bennett’s Bayou held some good fish last week that were caught on 7-inch gizzard shad. The stripers are looking for big baits right now. If you are throwing Rouges, make sure you use 5 inch or bigger. Crappie are biting on minnows, small spoons and jigs on brush piles in 30 feet of water. As the day warms up, the crappie are moving shallow. Walleye have slowed with the cold water; the water temperature has dropped back to the high 40s. Once the river begins to warm back up the walleye will begin their spawn. The best spots are at the state line, Liner Creek, Udall Marina, and from Bridges Creek to the 160 bridge.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said another cool front arrived yesterday, but the weather outlook is now back to spring temperatures, which will help to warm the water and get the fish active. Striper fishing has been picking up every day. The best locations to find stripers are backs of major creeks where the water is warmer. Look back in the Bennett’s area, upriver around the state line, and more than likely back in Big Creek. The night bite has started with suspending jerk baits. Both a bone color or firetiger have been working well. Live bait fishing has been slow, but it appears that is starting to pick up. The cool water temperature also is affecting black bass fishing. Some fish are coming shallow to feed, but the bigger fish are holding out in deeper water and may be starting to stage for their spawn. Jigging a spoon or small grub in brush is working, and jerk baits are starting to work. Crankbaits are picking up some nice fish. For shallow fish you will need to get back in the warmer stained water. Crappie fishing has also been affected by the cooler water, but I have noticed an increase in the numbers of fish starting to be caught. Look for brush in 20-30 feet of water. Walleye should be up the river and back in the major creeks spawning. It will not be long until they start to move out and the night feeding bite will begin for walleye. White bass are being found back in the warm water mainly in the afternoon after the sun has warmed up the shallow water. Small spinnerbaits are working.
(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 3-26-2014) 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 seen a few anglers with spring break giving more days to fish. The hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise).

Buffalo River
(Updated 3-26-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River is low and clear. low and clear. 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.

Crooked Creek
(Updated 3-26-2014) 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

Beaver Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.46 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).

 
(Updated 3-26-2014) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said walleye are done spawning and the white bass are right behind them. Stripers are on the prowl for warmer water and food; they are biting throughout the day with peaks at dusk and dawn. Fishing is fair with stripers taken on live shad fished from the surface to 25 feet deep. Trolling small umbrella rigs with white grub, Rapalas, Bomber 15-16As or spoons on flat lines with planer boards near the channel are also producing. Watch for schooling fish and have a spoon or Redfin plug ready! Check the following hot spots: At Lost Bridge North, walleye and white bass are being caught on medium-diving crankbaits; at Point 5 stripers adn walleye are holding around secondary points; at Rocky Branch, check the road bed that extends from the marina to the island; at the Ark. Highway 12 Bridge, walleye are being caught on medium-diving crankbaits, spinner rigs with nightcrawlers and minnows and jigs, and white bass are being caught in numbers; at Prairie creek, medium-diving plugs, jigs and spinner rigs with nightcrawlers are catching good walleye.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and cold. Crappie fishing is good, and the crappie are about ready to spawn. They can be caught around brush in 5 to 20 feet of water. White bass are fair in the tributary arms of the lake. Largemouth bass are biting well on jerkbaits, Alabama rigs, crawfish and suspending crankbaits fished with a stop-and-go retrieve. Walleye are biting well around the White River arm and War Eagle on large minnows and long-billed crankbaits.
(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.

Beaver Tailwater

 

(Updated 3-26-2014) Scott Branyan at Ozark Fly Flinger  said there is a bit of a fishing slump on the tailwaters with the increased releases, cold water temperatures and high feeder streams the past week. Some warmer weather, sunshine and stable water conditions will improve the fishing. Fishing on Beaver tailwater was slow the end of last week. Water temperature was 41 degrees with the prolonged generation. Some afternoon shutdown returned beginning Sunday, but weather has been cold. There were no signs of shad coming through last week with the peak in generation. Shad patterns did not produce well either. Darker streamers work better although catch rates were way down. Generation early in the morning and again late in the day continues this week.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Beaver Dam Store said midges pheasant tails or peacock herl soft hackles have worked well. Woolly Buggers will get some attention too. A nickle and gold Colorado spoon it hard to beat for spin fishermen. GULP maggots on a micro jig and yellow or white Power Bait with a wax worm will work when nothing else will.

Lake Elmdale
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the lake is at normal level, and a little dingy. The surface temperature has been 49-51 degrees, depending on where you’re at. Things are  a little tough with a new cold front every other day. If there is a bite, it’s cut short by the changing wind direction. A small white crappie jig tipped with a piece of live worm, fished a foot off the bottom in 7-8 ft of water under a bobber has worked for redear, bluegill and the occasional crappie. Bass fishing is fair on green/orange jigs with a green trailer. Senkos and jerkbaits also have worked well.

Lake Fayetteville
(Updated on 3-26-2014) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said some small crappie are being caught, but no big keepers lately. A few largemoutt bass are showing up. Catfishing is very good on nightcrawlers. Slip rental fees are due for everyone keeping a boat at the dock.

Lake Sequoyah
(Updated on 3-26-2014) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake is clear and at normal level. Walleye are biting well on grubs and crankbaits in the river. Crappie fishing is also good on minnows and jigs. Black bass fishing is excellent on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and shad.

Northeast Arkansas

Lake Poinsett
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lake Poinsett State Park said bass and crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Some people are catching 30-35 crappie per day. No report on catfish or bream. We have been selling a little of everything (crickets, goldfish, worms, and minnows). The second annual “Fishin the Ridge” panfish tournament at Lake Poinsett State Park is scheduled for April 12 from 6:30 to 11:00 am. Click here for more information.

Crown Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the lake is at normal level and the water clarity is stained. The surface water temperature is 50 degrees. Crappie fishing is good on minnows in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bass fishing is good on crankbaits fished in shallow water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.

Lake Frierson
(Updated 3-26-2014) Lake Frierson State Park said surface water temperatures are still in the 40s. Temps should rise to the 50s within a couple of weeks following warmer days and nights. Crappie have been spotted up in the flooded bushes on the northern end of the lake. Try long cane poles with minnows or grubs to reach these fish. Bass have been spotty, but some nice fish have been caught with jigs and slow-moving crankbaits. Try square-billed models that will bounce off stumps to trigger reaction bites. The soft-plastic bite should improve as temperatures warm. Some nice channel catfish have been caught under jugs. Fish appear to be in the 5-10 foot range and are biting liver, dip baits and live bait. No report of flathead or blue catfish. No reports of saugeye, but these fish should be able to be caught with crankbaits near drop offs.

Spring River

 

Work to restore Dam No. 3 near the hatchery began March 24 and will continue through September. Water will be diverted from the main channel to the north channel of the spring river during repairs. This will result in an approximate 2-foot rise in the water level at the public access at Dam No. 3 during normal flows. The area will remain open for launching, fishing, loading and unloading, but parking will be restricted to AGFC property on the north side of the railroad crossing during busy periods (Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon). The dam is 100 years old and the gates have been inoperable since 2009. This much needed change is needed to continue producing trout at the hatchery in larger numbers.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said flow is 420 cfs at the spring and water clarity is cloudy. The river is up some, which makes wading more difficult. Over the last week we have been fishing a Y2K with a size 12 nymph like a hare’s ear for a dropper below an indicator. This has worked well with the off-color water. It has slowed the presentation down and has been hot all weekend. Red Trout Magnets and Rooster Tails have been hot for spin fishing.
(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 3-26-2014) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said the surface water temperature is right around 60 degrees in Lake Langhofer and other protected backwaters; the main channel of the river is a few degrees cooler. Visibility is about 1 foot in Lake Langhofer and protected backwaters, and around half a foot on the main channel. There is a little flow on the river, just not very fast. The bass are shallow and hungry. Moving lures such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits have been catching fish in less than 5 feet of water. On slow days, jigs and soft plastics have been working as well. Catch rates have been improving for several weeks, it’s finally time go have some fun on the water!

Cane Creek Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said the crappie are biting shiners at a depth of 6 feet. This is particularly true around submerged stumps and standing timber. The bass have continued to go shallow to prepare for spawning, Watermelon/chartreuse worms are recommended. Catfish are biting as well, one local angler caught a 50-pound blue catfish on chicken liver using a pole. With the weather warming up, things should only get better.

Lake Chicot
No report.

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.79 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.60 msl).

 
(Updated 3-26-2014) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level is 3 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 4,681 CFS as of Monday. Water clarity is about 8 to 10 inches of visibility away from current. Cottonshed is still muddy. Surface temperatures range from 58 to 63 degrees. The rise in water temperature has kick-started the bass. We are seeing males and female bass on beds up to 7 or 8 pounds this week.  The bite can be soft, and random, but good. Soft-plastic lizards, Rat-L-Traps, chatterbaits and suspending hard jerk baits have been taking staging bass on flats with stumps, and in ditches and creek channels.  Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassins, frogs, chatterbaits, and plastic lizards, tubes, and jigs over the past few week, have been the go-to baits. The further from Little River current and heavily stained water the better. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs in Texas Craw, PB and J, or bruiser colors with a Berkley craw chunk are taking a few prespawn bass in the 4-7 lb class. Large size Rat-L-Traps worked much slower and deflecting off stumps and timber, deeper in the creek channels, over the past few week are still catching largemouths.  Red Shad Zombie, Candy Craw, Sexy Bone Nova, or Honey Craw around 4-8 feet depth flats near creek channel swings, deflecting off stumps in the clearest water you can locate away from muddy water or Little River current. White bass are above Ark. Highway 71 bridge for the spawn.  Points along Cossatot inflow ditch and creek channels protruding into Little River were giving up a few whites mid-week. A few more crappie fishermen were out over the past week, and have been catching prespawn black and white crappie around 8-12 feet deep around creek channels with deep cypress trees. Blue and channel catfish improved with the increase of current in Little River on trotlines set 8-12 feet deep, baited with chicken hearts, gizzards, liver, hot dogs and blood bait.

Lake Greeson

 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 548.07 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.

DeGray Lake

 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.87 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 3-26-2014) Local angler George Graves said spring might be late, but the weeds in his lawn are right on time. Surface water temperature is in the mid-50s. The lake is clear up to Point 14, slightly stained up to Cox Creek and muddy up the river. Overall fishing remains pretty slow due to cold water. Bass fishing is only fair at best with only a few decent catches reported. The best pattern right now is to fish the north shore in the upper end of the lake between Lenox Marcus and Shouse Ford. The fish are up shallow looking for warmer water. Throw Rat-L-Traps, lipped crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Alabama rigs across secondary points at the mouths of spawning coves. Be prepared to cover a lot of water because the fish are really spread out. Some nice spotted bass were reported coming from rocky bluffs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Throw a 4-inch Texas-rigged finesse worm in green pumpkin or red shad. Good bluff areas are Point 14, across from Point 15 and the west side of Goat Island. Crappie fishing remains extremely slow with the best report being a one-fish catch. A few hybrids are coming from far up the Caddo River, but rain has muddied the river and slowed fishing.  Look for the fish to be migrating back to the Point Cedar/Shrouse Ford areas in a few weeks. A few bream were caught by crappie fishermen coming from deep brush at about 25 feet. Tightline a redworm or cricket close to the bottom just outside the brush.
South-Central Arkansas

Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.

Ouachita River Oxbows
(Updated 3-26-2014) Local angler Jaret Rushing said bass are starting to move into their spawning stage. Females and males have emerged in shallower waters. With water temperatures still a little cool, anglers can probably catch a few bass on soft-plastic baits around treelines or on hard-bodied baits resembling slower moving baitfish.  Water clarity is tricky this time of year to work around so make sure that your bait color choice is appropriate for water clarity. Crappie are full of eggs and are about to spawn. Anglers are catching crappie right now on the lake-side of tree edges on small minnows and light-colored jigs in 4-6 feet of water.

Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing had no report this week.

White Oak Lake
(Updated 3-26-2014) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) said catfish are biting on trotlines in the lower lake (remember, the catfish limit is only 5 for the lower lake). On the upper lake, bream are biting well on crickets and worms early in the morning and evening. Catfish are biting well on worms and trotlines 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

Lake Nimrod

 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 345.43 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 3-26-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting very well 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 3-26-2014) 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.

Fourche La Fave River
(Updated 3-26-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained and low. Crappie are biting well 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.

Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.

Lake Dardanelle
(Updated 3-26-2014) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said the water clarity is poor with some backwater areas clearer. River water temperature is 56 with some backwater areas in the lower 60s. Bass have been very good from dam to dam; stick with dark baits in the muddy water and lighter colors in the clear backwater. Jigs have done well on largemouth bass and lizards and brush hogs are doing well on spotted bass in the creeks. Striped bass have been doing very well on white crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and swim baits. White bass has been biting well on tailspinners, spoons and small white crankbaits. Crappie fishing has been very good in the creeks and bays, with many being caught shallow down to 6 feet on black/orange and black/green jigs and minnows. Bream have been good on worms and crickets in the creeks around stumps. Catfish have been good on cut skipjack and shad in the river and on liver and cut bream in the creeks.

Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 392.78 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).

Lake Ouachita

 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 576.08 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 3-26-2014) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is 52 to 58 degrees and clearing. Black bass are still biting very well. Jerkbaits, Rat-L-Traps and Alabama rigs are hot right now, and the Carolina rig bite is turning on. Walleye are spawning in the main river channels. Lipless crankbaits and fluorescent jigs fished near structure are producing fish. Stripers are excellent and being caught on live bait, large grubs, hair jigs and Alabama rigs in major creek basins and up the rivers. Bream are still fair and being caught around brush in 20 feet of water. Crappie are excellent on minnows and crappie jigs fished over brush in 6 to 14 feet of water. Catfish are still fair and being caught on trotlines near main lake and secondary points.

Lake Hamilton
(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.

Lake Catherine

 

For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(Updated 3-26-2014) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said Lake Catherine has been refilled to normal summertime pool. Water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 46 degrees with stained conditions from the dam to the bridge. Much lower water clarity than normal has greatly affected the trout bite in the tailrace for the last two weeks. Conditions are much better now with trout being caught from the bank and from boats. Wax and meal worms, as well as, redworms and nightcrawlers fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater have taken limits of trout in the last several days. Power Bait in white or orange have worked well in the dingy waters when fish are struggling to see prey. Trolling shallow-running crankbaits against the current has accounted for the largest rainbows caught – some in the 16-inch class. Casting white 1/16- to 1/8-oz. jigs has also proven effective. Walleye are still spawning below the dam and are being caught trolling and casting jigs by trout fishermen. The late evening has been the best time to target these fish when current is flowing from the dam. Carolina rigs tipped with nightcrawlers or live minnows is the best overall method to use on spawning walleye as these fish often ignore artificial lures. Crappie are now spawning with numbers caught from the bridge to the dam on minnows fished under a bobber or tightlined over deep water. Rock structure is a key feature to search for when chasing crappie with little timber available for these fish to relate to in the tailrace. White bass are beginning to migrate towards the dam preparing to spawn and a few have been caught tightlining minnows or using jerk baits around sand bars when the generators are running. No topwater action has been observed from stripers this week.

Lake Atkins
(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

Bear Creek Lake
(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no new report.

Storm Creek Lake
(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no report.

White River
(Updated 3-19-2014) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and no anglers have been fishing lately.

Maddox Bay
(Updated 3-26-2014) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is still on the rise and dingy. The surface water temperature is 58 degrees. Crappie and catfish are fair on yo-yos baited with minnows. There haven’t been many good reports on crappie or catfish by pole fishermen. Bass are excellent.

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