| Central Arkansas |
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows, jigs and spicy mustard Trout Magnets around Gold Creek Caney Creek and Ark. Highway 89 Bridge. Bass are biting well on swimbaits fished around brush near the main channel of creeks. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is normal. Two generators are running on some days. Trout fishing is good on Power Bait and wax worms around Beach Island.
Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been very low with several days of no generation. Most days in last week saw water releases at 3,000 cfs for 2-6 hours. No report on the fishing.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 454.21 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 461 msl).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 55 to 62 degrees. Bass are getting into their winter patterns and the bite has improved. Try 45-degree banks, ends of points, secondary points and flats with a Rat-L-Trap or spinnerbait. Wiggle Warts and Alabama Rigs are working along steeper banks and Carolina rigs and football head jigs are working around the points. Catfish are biting well on deep flats with shad. Walleye are biting better after the turn over, but most are still floating around suspended, try trolling crankbaits, or fishing Road Runners and minnows. Bream fishing is better now, try crickets and crawlers shallow on secondary points and out to 27 feet on the ends of flats with crawlers and minnows as well. Crappie are biting better as well. Try minnows and jigs in 5-15 feet of water on any wood or other structure. White bass and hybrid fishing has finally cranked back up. Try flats in 25-60 feet of water with shad balls in the graph. Use spoons, in-line spinners, hair jigs and swim baits. Look for birds to tell you where the action is. The bite will be good all winter on sunny days with wind.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com filed no report.
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets near brush. Crappie are biting excellently on minnows and jigs on the south side of the lake. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and bass minnows near the shoreline. Catfishing is slow.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are fair on minnows, Bobby Garland Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white/salt and pepper, red shad and bone colors. Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow also are working. Catfishing is good on minnows, worms, goldfish, stinkbait and chicken livers. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Flukes, Rooster Tails and tequila sunrise worms. Bream are biting on nightcrawlers and redworms near the bottom in deep water.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads, Stroll’rs and Slab Slay’rs in white/salt and pepper and red/chartreuse and bone white. Power Bait Crappie Nibbles green or yellow are working as well. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007)had no report.
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water level is 6 feet below the spillway. Black bass are biting well around 15 to 20 feet deep. They’ll come up for Pop R’s and Tiny Torpedoes early in the day, but are on the bottom once the sun is high; try a jig or Carolina rig around drop offs, pockets and points for the deep fish. Lots of spotted bass are being caught on Rooster Tails and jighead worms fished 15 to 20 feet deep. White bass are excellent near the restricted area and North Shore on Rooster Tails, trolled crankbaits and CC spoons in 25 feet of water. Crappie are excellent around any cover on the main channel in 30 to 35 feet of water. They are hitting small, dull-colored jigs, grubs and pink minnows. Bream are excellent on worms in 35 feet of water around artificial brush piles near the channel. There are some really big bream being caught this year. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with bream and marshmallows set near the channel.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is stained. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around the main channel. Bass are biting well on jigs fished near rocky points. Catfishing is good on blood bait, stink bait and chicken liver.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) filed no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is good on blood bait, chicken liver and nightcrawlers. No report on any other species.
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream reports have been good with jigs in shallow water. Bass have been good on shallow-running crankbaits in up to 5 feet of water. Crappie and catfish reports have been poor.
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bass are biting excellently on orange/green crankbaits fished in water 6 to 7 feet deep. All other species are slow.
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the cool weather has the shad schooled up in 20 to 30 feet of water. This is the most shad Charley’s seen in the last 6 years. Find the schools on your graph, position your boat above them and drop a CC spoon through the school. You’ll catch spotted bass, many white bass, catfish and drum, all underneath the shad. During the late evening, cast crankbaits in blue herring colors on the downstream side of jetties for spotted bass and white bass as well.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Main River Channel: Bass are biting well in the current breaks behind jetties and obstructions in the river. Try a shad-colored spinner bait or shaky-head worm right at the swirl of the current. Catfishing is fair on night crawlers, brood minnows and chicken livers.
Palarm Creek: No report this week.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is low and clear below Murray Lock and Dam. The surface water temperature is 55 degrees. Crappie are biting well on jigs along rocky points. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and jigs fished around rocky points and jetties in 10 to 15 feet of water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers fished around sandbars near backwater chutes and turns.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said white bass and catfish are biting well below Murray Lock and Dam. Catfish are also biting well in Fourche Creek and along the main channel.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the river below Terry Lock and Dam is low and muddy. The surface water temperature is 50s. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around rocky points and jetties near backwater chutes. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) filed no report this week.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) is closed until February 2013
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) had no report.
| North Arkansas |
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and low with two generators running. Trout are biting well on jigs and flies when the generation slows.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) no report.
Just Fishing Guides said as of Monday, the river was very low. Ponca was at 1.61 feet, Pruitt was very low at 3.50 feet, Tyler Bend was low at 3.51 feet and Buffalo Point was low at 2.71 feet. No recent report of fishing on the Buffalo.
Just Fishing Guides said the water is at 9.51 feet at Kelly’s Access. Water temperatures are in the lower 40’s in the morning to near 50 degrees in the afternoon. Get ready to fish slow and deep for smallmouth.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 646.69 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said water temperature is 59 degrees. Be very careful when boating as the low water level has exposed hazards that we haven’t seen for several years. Walleye are starting to bite in shallow water (less than 10 feet deep) and biting on suspending stick baits, such as Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers, and on Alabama rigs. Smallmouth bass and large stripers are also biting on this pattern. Trolling Alabama rigs in 20 feet one day last week produced six hooked stripers in the 30-lb. range with three boated and released. Crappie are suspended over brush piles and in the standing timber along bluff banks, and are biting on jigs and minnows and ¼-oz. jigging spoons. White bass and spotted bass are biting on jigging spoons in 30-60 feet of water.
Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been averaging 1,000 with highs to 5,000 cfs. Generation has been a soft one or two units around the clock, although there have been a couple of days without water releases. This is allowing wade fishing in certain areas as well as good drift fishing. During generation streamer addicts are having fun throwing larger patterns looking for the big bite. During periods of non- generation, wade fishermen are having fun as well fishing a variety of their favorite presentations. Recommended flies include soft hackles, scuds, sow bugs, midges, micro caddis, blue wing olives, and medium to large streamers. Remember the area above the state park is closed until February 1 to protect spawning browns.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 541.83 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said stripers are still up the lake near Red Bank and Calamity Beach. I fished the last two days and caught stripers and hybrids in 28 and 40 feet of water. The water has warmed to the high 50s. Look for bait balls and fish on top of the bait; the stripers are holding in the bait and will come up for your offering. Once the weather begins to cool, the bait will move to the channels and the best bet will be main lake channels near Bidwell, Blue Lady, Crystal Cove, Float, and Panther Bay.
Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing patterns changing with the cooling water. Since my last report, most of my fish were caught in water 50-60 feet deep, but over the last couple of days I have seen a movement of the larger fish to shallower water. It appears fish are starting to move to their winter patterns and locations. Downsize your baits and fishing line and slow down your method of fishing. The bass bite has improved for bigger fish. I have been vertical jigging with a ¼-oz. spoon in 18-30 feet of water around brush piles. Sunday afternoon I was fishing a main lake point near our resort and landed seven bass including a 20.5 inch largemouth. The others were all spotted bass in the 12-15 inch range. Saturday evening was much of the same, but the walleye were biting. I landed a 22-inch walleye and lost two others at the boat. All of the walleye were in 18-25 feet of water on the bottom. Crappie are still scattered, but are starting to show up on brush in 30-40 feet of water. I have caught many crappie over the last couple of weeks, and most were caught in places where I did not expect to find them. I was striper fishing about a week ago around a sunken bridge and was spooning with a 1-ounce spoon off of the edge in 60 feet of water. I was dropping my spoon in baitfish 40 feet down and caught two nice white crappie. I caught one along a bluff line in 50 feet of water. They are a very skittish fish and get spooked easily. I have only been using my ¼-ounce spoon, but live small minnows on a slip float and also a small grub tipped with a crappie minnow will work great. Striped bass fishing has been hit and miss for most, but there have been some nice fish caught.
Guide Steve Olomon of Steve’s Guide Service said the water temperature is in the low- to mid-60s. There are some stripers up the river and in the creek arms. If you don’t use live bait, try slowly cranking a swimbait through any schools you find. Black bass are hitting jigs, suspending jerk baits and crankbaits; try throwing a green/brown back Wiggle Wart. Use caution while boating, as the lake is very low. There are not many boaters on the lake, so make sure your cell phone has a full charge and let someone know what area of the lake you are going to fish and what time you are going to be back.
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.
Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been about 1,000-5,000 cfs several times per day. Some days there have been brief pulses of generation and on other days, generation is starting in late morning with one unit. There have been periods of low water every day for wading anglers. The hot flies lately have been the Squirrely Tuckas and olive zebra midges. Mid-morning and late afternoon/early evening is when the fish are keying on midges. Fish a size 8 streamer the rest of the day. Olive, rusty brown and natural tan colors are all working for the streamers. Have a selection of scud, sow bug, worm and egg flies as well.
| Northwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,109.74 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl)..
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said surface water temperatures are in the mid to high 50s. Stripers are scattered due to the cool water temperature and can be caught from Point 12 to the Indian Creek area. White bass, small stripers and hybrids are schooling on the surface. Throw small Kastmaster spoons to schooling fish. Beaver lake striper fishing will be fair with striper taken on live shad fished on down lines and lightly weighted balloon lines trolled 50-100 feet behind the boat, set 10-40 feet deep. Down riggers and flat lines are also producing with artificials, such as no. 14 Husky Jerks in black back or purple back colors. Live shad is the go-to approach for trophy stripers on Beaver Lake. Stripers are hitting shad in the 4-8 inch range. The hot spots for stripers have been Indian Creek (in the mouth of the creek and past Lost Bridge), Lost Bridge North, Point 4 (check the humps near the cedar thicket and in fish trap hollow), Lost Bridge South (look on the flat between fish trap hollow and LBS), Point 6 (many walleye as well as stripers have been caught), Big Clifty, Rocky Branch (Try the island and road bed that extends to the island, also check the islands in front of the Larue boat ramp, both are producing stripers on large Rat-L-Traps at night), and Prairie Creek (stripers, white bass and walleye all being taken on the flats and cuts around the islands, especially Deer Island). Stripers are beginning to show up around Copper Mine and Ventris. Check the rock piles in front of Copper Mine Lodge and the channel near Ventris Resort Boat Dock. Most walleye are about 5-15 feet deep, and are being caught off flats near the channel. Flat line troll with Hot-n-Tots, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos or chartreuse/orange and clown colors. Also try Cotton Cordell super spots and Rat-L-Traps in similar colors. The best places to look for walleye have been Prairie Creek around Deer Island, Blackburn Creek, Beaver Shores, Escapalia Hollow, Horseshoe Bend, Monte-Ne and the junction of War Eagle and the White River.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) did not file a report this week.
Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass continue holding close to pole timber in 25 to 45 feet of water along chunk rock banks and along rock- to gravel-type banks. Jigging spoons and drop-shotted finesse worms have worked well along the pole timber. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits have worked well along rock banks with timber. Ventris, Little Clifty, Escalapia Hollow and Piney Creek have all been good places to find bass. Crappie have been biting well on Arkie brand Sexee Shads or tube jigs fished on a 1/32-oz. jighead around pole timber close to bluff walls in 20 to 35 feet of water. Most fish have been suspended down 5-10 feet. Crappie have also been suspending above brush piles along channel ledges in 25 to 35 feet of water. Black/chartreuse or white/chartreuse curly tailed grubs on a 1/16-oz. jighead fished from the bottom up slowly has been effective. Eden Bluff, Horseshoe Bend, Monte-Ne and Piney creek have all been good places to fish for crappie. White Bass have been schooling throughout main lake coves and adjacent points. Once a school is located, ½-oz. jigging spoons have been working well. Slow troll medium- to deep-diving crankbaits along the creek channel drop offs to find the fish, then use the spoon. Coose Hollow, Ventris, Blackburn, Monte-NE and Prairie Creek have all been good places to find whites. Catfishing has been best after dark using nightcrawlers or chicken liver. Arkansas Highway 12 Bridge, Hickory Creek and Horseshoe Bend have all been good places to fish.
Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been in the morning for 2-4 hours at 2,000 cfs. Most days there are no water releases. Olive or gray scuds, gray or olive zebra midges, peach and yellow eggs and olive woolly buggers are all working well. For spin fisherman, olive marabou jigs and black/gold and shad-colored Rapalas are catching good numbers of fish as well. Generation has been off most days but expect increases with the colder weather. Cover the water to find concentrations of active fish. There are wading opportunities well below the Arkansas Hwy. 62 Bridge. The lower tailwater below Bertrand Access fishing has been slow.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the rain has caused a silt line. Although it’s easy to see, it didn’t offer any advantage. Bass were caught on green hula grubs and wacky-rigged soft-plastics. Areas with grassy patches near drop offs to 5 to 7 feet have been producing well. There haven’t been many crappie anglers on the lake because of high winds.
Just Fishing Guides said the water is 2.57 feet at Grandview Bridge. Water temperatures are in the lower 40’s in the morning to near 50 degrees in the afternoon. Get ready to fish slow and deep for smallmouth.
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) filed no report this week.
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface water temperature is 53 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around brush piles in 4 to 12 feet deep. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and crankbaits. No report on bream or catfish.
Upper White River (Twin Bridges area)
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Just Fishing Guides said the water is 0.74 feet near Huntsville. No report on fishing activity.
| Northeast Arkansas |
Lake Poinsett State Park had no report this week.
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is low and clear. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 4 to 8 feet of water near the middle of the lake. Bass are biting well on crankbaits in 4-8 feet of water in the middle of the lake. Catfishing is slow.
Justin Huss at Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low. Bass are biting well on crankbaits fished near timber and rocks. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught near deep holes on nightcrawlers, stinkbait and cut bait. Saugeye are fair on crankbaits near the levee.
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides the water is running 215 cfs at the spring and water clarity is very clear. With the clear water, 5x tippet is the way to go. Y2K’s below indicators and nymphs have been hot all week. Trout-colored spoons, Rooster Tails and purple haze Trout Magnets have been hot for spin fishers. This is the time to get out and get after the big trout. The trick to spot and stalk is to work the water upstream, looking for big trout. Present the fly 3-4 feet above the trout at an angle so the fly line does not flop on top of the fish. Watch how the trout reacts to the fly and adjust accordingly. If the trout will not bite then start going through the fly box and try to find something that is appealing to the fish. Really nice size trout were stocked last week and it is just a great time to get out and enjoy the Spring River.
| Southeast Arkansas |
Cane Creek State Park‘s Geoff Wright filed no report this week.
Local angler and guide Jessie James (870-355-7800) filed no report.
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com had no report this week.
| Southwest Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.4 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said surface temperatures range from 61 to 68 degrees, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, and time of day. Discharge at the dam is 171 cfs. Clarity is good, with 10-15 inches of visibility in the river depending on location. The USACE upgrade project and maintenance work including installation of a new bypass valve at the River Run East recreational area below the spillway is almost complete. USACE expects to have completion reached and park open soon. Bass have been excellent most days through mid-afternoon. Many techniques and lures are catching bass. Clear Baby Torpedoes, Bone Pop-R’s, Bomber crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps are working early and late in the day. Later in the morning, largemouth, spotted bass and white bass will begin full-blown surface breaking. Switch to Cotton Cordell, Kastmaster, or Johnson Splinter spoons, Little Cleos, Little Georges and Rocket Shads. Shad have been grouping tighter with the cooler weather, forcing bass to surface feed in these groups. Points are producing best in Little River, while pockets and coves are providing good action in the oxbows. Bang Vapor Shads in Salt and Pepper/Silver Phantom continue catching solid bass around most any vegetation, remaining lily pads, or grass when bass are not schooling. Bomber and Excalibur crankbaits also continue catching schooling largemouths, spots and white bass along Little River and the oxbows, creek channels, ditches, and flats over the past couple weeks. Rat-L-Traps in shad patterns are working in Little River as well as shallow creeks and ditches or depressions deflecting on stumps (adjacent to flats) in the later morning hours. White bass continue roaming and schooling in Little River, Horseshoe, and McGuire oxbows in large schools over the past few weeks chasing shad. The Whites can be found slow-trolling shad colored crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps in Little River and in the oxbows. Rooster tails in red and white will also get good response from the white bass along Little River. Crappie continue to improve with the cooler weather. Southern Pro Crappie Stingers in red/white, pearl or pink/white, Berkley white or smoke-colored curly tail grubs, on light wire jig heads and Blakemore Roadrunners continue catching some nice slabs over the past week. Target planted brush piles in 10-15 feet depths out of current along Little River for best action. Catfishing has been consistent along Little River on yo-yos and trotlines. Try cut bait, cut shad and Catfish Charlie on trotlines hung 18-22 feet deep along Little River on the outer break lines and bends where any slow current remains.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report this week.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 538.0 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 As of Wednesday, the Vandervoort gauge was at 2.26 and the gauge at De Queen was at 2.33.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.88 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the high 50s, and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is only fair with the cold weather. The fish have moved to deeper water near the bottom of deeper points in the major coves and creeks. The best pattern now is to slowly work a Texas- or Carolina-rigged green pumpkin, green pumpkin/red flake or red shad worm or lizard down the steep side of points and ledges. Work the lure down as deep as 25 to 30 feet. Some decent catches also are coming on the A rig with 4-inch swim baits in white or albino. Once again, work the rig down deep and look for schooled fish. Now is the time for nice spotted bass along rocky bluffs or rocky points. Finesse worms on a Texas rig work best. The best bass activity has been between Arlie Moore and Point Cedar. Also give Big Hill Creek a try, especially the ledges along the old creek channel. Very few reports of crappies. Crappie like to hang out in 20 to 25 feet of water in winter and right now there are very few attractors at this depth. With the low water there is plenty of standing timber within 20 feet of the surface and the fish are probably scattered in these tree tops. If you can locate deep cover, fish a 2-inch grub or tube in a Tennessee shad tight to the cover and over the thickest part. Look for attractors on main lake points between Caddo Drive and Shouse Ford. Hybrid fishing is great with many schools about half way back in the major coves and creeks. The key is finding the shad, which will be suspended about 15 to 20 feet down in big schools. The hybrids will be in small schools about 15 feet down in 30 to 40 feet of water. The best pattern is to slow troll crankbaits such as Shad Raps or Fat Free Shads in shad patterns. Trolled spoons in chartreuse also will produce. But the best pattern by far is trolling a five-arm umbrella rig loaded with 3-inch white curly tail grubs. Be sure to use the trolling motor because the outboard will only spook the fish because they are up pretty shallow. Look for fish in Big Hill Creek, coves at Lenox Marcus, the cove at Alpine Ridge, Yancey Creek, Point 15 and the big cove to the right of point 15. No reports on bream, but they are now next to the deeper brush in coves. No reports on catfish, not even seeing many trotlines or jugs.
| West-Central Arkansas |
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 342.47 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are in open water and the river, biting on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white /salt and pepper, red and bone colors and on green or yellow Power Bait Crappie Nibbles. Bream are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, Flukes and tequila sunrise worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are fair on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms and crickets. Catfishing is good on redworms, nightcrawlers, minnows, goldfish, stinkbait and chicken livers. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Flukes and dark-colored worms.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained and very low. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows, white/salt and pepper or red/chartreuse Bobby Garland Baby Shads and green or yellow Power Bait Crappie Nibbles. Catfishing is fair on stink bait, goldfish, minnows and chicken livers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419)had no report this week.
Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said bass are holding on gravel bars upriver. He has been able to catch them on spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps and diving crankbaits. Around the Horsehead area, cast a spinnerbait around points and rocks to locate fish, then come back with a swimbait or jig to look for bigger fish in the same areas. Around Spadra, he caught a few fish off points with Alabama rigs, but found better fish around the lily pad stems on jigs and spinnerbaits. Also look for big timber and points around Cabin Creek with a spinnerbait. On slow days, a jerk bait or swim bait may work, as well as a jig in lily pad flats. The Alabama rig paid off big in Mud Creek and Shoal Bay. In Piney Bay, a jerk bait was the best presentation, but a few still hit swimbaits. At Hickey Town, spinnerbaits and swim baits caught the fish.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 376.00 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
The water level is 11 feet below winter level. Access to the lake at this level is off a temporary ramp on a raised gravel road past the Ashley Creek Access ramp. This wooden ramp is off the river bank, and boats of all sizes, except pontoon boats, have had no trouble launching. A boater can easily operate within the river channel and into parts of Lick Creek (follow your depth finder if you are not familiar with the lake). Crappie and catfish have been biting fairly well lately. The river portion of Blue Mountain Lake can be accessed off the newly renovated Hise Hill ramp near Sugar Grove. This area was renovated by the AGFC during summer. It was widened and the area dug out, so that access to the river is now possible. The river and the lake are two separate bodies of water, separated at Persimmon Point due to siltation. You cannot motor between the lake and the river.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 569.67 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is 56 to 60 degrees, and the water is clear. Black bass are biting well on peanut butter and jelly-colored football jigs, citrus shad crankbaits and drop shot rigs with watermelon candy finesse worms. Stripers are still fair on live bait or trolled hair jigs around main lake points. Crappie are very good and being caught near and over brush in water 20 to 25 feet deep on minnows and crappie grubs. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines set 20-30 feet deep.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service filed no report.
For a report on the crappie fishing at Lake Hamilton, visit Family Fishing Trips.
Drawdown Update: Entergy Arkansas says winter drawdowns of 5 feet on Hamilton and 3 feet on Catherine will be maintained until March 2013. Water released at the dams will be used to generate hydroelectric power. 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.
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 54 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Long generation periods Tuesday and Wednesday cooled the entire tailrace down several degrees and helped clear out moss growth. Rainbow trout fishing continues to improve as more fish are stocked into the area. Fly-fishermen are casting olive colored woolly buggers combined with a strike indicator in areas of current. Egg patterns in white or orange and small streamers are also working well as hungry rainbows search for prey. Spin fishermen are having success using Rooster Tails in white or silver. Super Dupers in gold or white are catching trout over sand bars and around exposed rock structure. Small jigs and shallow-running crankbaits work best in periods of current flow. Bank fishermen are catching limits of trout with wax or meal worms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Redworms or nightcrawlers cut in half have also drawn strikes from trout in slack or moving water. Boaters trolling crankbaits in the main channel during periods of generation have done well locating numbers of fish as well as quality trout. Hybrid and white bass are schooling together below the bridge, chasing shad that are migrating in and out of the tailrace. Silver ¼-ounce spoons have proven to be the best artificial lure to jig vertically or cast from the bank or boat. These fish key on moving water to feed in and prefer deep water around the bridge or dam to live in. Some striper activity has been observed below the bridge in the late evening. Super Spooks in white or C-10 Redfins in rainbow trout colors will entice heart-stopping strikes from these large predator fish. Five arm Alabama rigs work very well during feeding frenzies when combined with heavy lines and rods. Many of the stripers seen breaking water are in the 15 to 25 pound range and are ferocious fighters when hooked.
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) said fishing has picked up this month at Lake Atkins. Some really nice slab crappie were caught over the weekend. They’re still catching lots of small crappie, but those 21/2 pounders are being caught now. Also bream and redear are being caught daily. Catfish are doing good on trotlines. The water is clear but still about 3 feet lower than normal. Surface water temperature is about 56 degrees. Bass fishing is slow.
| South-Central Arkansas |
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team reports that water temperature in the mid-50s on the main channel and within Lake Langhofer. There is no current in main channel. Visibility is about 1 foot. Largemouth are relating to rock points and biting fairly well on slow-moving medium-diving crankbaits in shad colors, and on black/blue jigs. The bite has been picking up later in the day as the water warms.
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 report.
Jaret Rushing had no report.
| East Arkansas |
Mississippi River State Park Mississippi River State Park had no report this week.
Mississippi River State Park Mississippi River State Park had no report this week.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is very low. Surface water temperature is 55 degrees. No one is fishing. No report.
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317)filed no report this week.
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around lily pads in 2 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on jigs fished around the deep end of piers. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and soft-plastics in lily pads. Catfishing is good on stink bait and cut bait.
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