Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report

Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12):   Headwater - 371.76 feet, Tailwater - 353.70 feet

Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10):   Headwater - 337.60 feet, Tailwater - 302.81 feet

Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9):   Headwater - 285.91 feet, Tailwater - 282.59 feet, Flow - NO READING AVAILABLE

Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8):   Headwater - 266.31 feet, Tailwater - 265.89 feet

Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7):   Headwater - 247.14 feet, Tailwater - 239.81 feet, Flow - 167,289

Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6):   Headwater - 230.61 feet, Tailwater - 227.61 feet, Flow - NO READING AVAILABLE

Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4):   Headwater - 195.48 feet, Tailwater - 194.01 feet

Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3):   Headwater - 183.48 feet, Tailwater - 182.34 feet

Mills Dam (Dam 2):   Headwater - 160.81 feet, Tailwater - 155.88 feet, Flow - 163,523 cubic feet per second

 

White River Levels:   According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:

11 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
13 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)
26.1 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)
32.6 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)
22.9 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)
30 feet at Clarendon (flood stage - 26 feet) 

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:   Catfish are available in selected ponds around Arkansas. Fish early morning or late afternoon and try using liver, worms or stinkbait fished near the bottom of the ponds. Bream are becoming more active in the ponds this month. Try worms and crickets near brush tops. For more information on stockings, please call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Little Red River:  Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and high, with heavy generation. Fishing for trout is very good on Power Bait, corn, spinnerbaits, Rapalas and wax worms.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the big news remains water, water, everywhere. All five White River impoundments are releasing copious amounts of water in an effort to lower lake levels. If you take your boat out on the river looking for trout, try casting a midge (#22 or smaller in cream or black), Adams (#18-#20), elk hair caddis (#14-#16) or March brown (#14) during hatches. To improve the odds of catching a trout in this high water, go deep instead of surface fishing. You could try a sowbug (#14-#16 in gray or tan with a bead head), zebra midge (#16-#22 red, black or chartreuse), San Juan worm (#16-#18 red or pink), copper John (#14-#16) or any streamer, such as a wooly bugger, in sizes #4-#12 olive, brown or black. Choose a fly that has lots of flash or sparkle. If you elect to fish sub-surface in high water, you will need to use split shot or sink putty to get your fly down quickly.

Greers Ferry:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 485.12 feet MSL.

Shiloh Marina said the water is stained and 25 feet high. Walleye are biting well around the trees on minnows. Hybrids are biting early in the morning on spinnerbaits and Rogues.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level fell off a bit and is down to 485.88 this morning and falling slow. White bass and hybrid fishing is good now that the water has cleared; try grubs and in-line spinners. Bass fishing is picking back up after some cold nights. Weightless Rite Bite Cinkos and other Senko-type lures are working well in the shallows, as are Chatterbaits, Shakey Hookers and spinnerbaits. A few walleye have been caught dragging nightcrawlers across flats in 17 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on Road Runners and minnows. Bream are moving to the shallows. Catfishing is good all over the lake on live and prepared baits.

Harris Brake Lake:  Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is stained and is still dropping. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are hit or miss but can usually be caught on minnows or jigs. Catfishing is fair on minnows and worms.

Lake Overcup:  Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting very well on minnows and jigs. Catfish are being caught on worms, goldfish, and crawfish.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and is almost back to normal level. Bream fishing is fair on red worms, wax worms, and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 5 to 7 feet of water on minnows and brown jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

Sunset Lake:  Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are biting well in shallow water on 2-inch lemon-colored grubs. Bass are excellent on watermelonseed lizards and floating worms. A few catfish have been caught on liver.

Saline River Access in Benton:  Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is normal. Crappie are biting well on red/chartreuse Road Runners around brush piles. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and pumpkinseed finesse worms.

Arkansas River at Morrilton:  Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Opello said the current is still strong. Backwater fishing is really heating up. Fishing along flooded grasslines and overhangs has been the best bet for most game fish. Some nice largemouth are being caught on buzzing toads flipped up in flooded grass and under overhangs and twitched erratically on the retrieve. White bass are in the creek mouths and jetty tips early and late in the day. White or pearl-colored Shad Raps are working well. Catfish are cruising flooded areas and biting well on worms. Gar are in the shallows and will bite a free-floating hook baited with a minnow or bream. Be sure to let the gar run with the bait a little while before setting the hook. Crappie are biting well around flooded timber and laydowns on live minnows.

Lake Maumelle:  Jolly Rogers Marina said the water is 0.3 feet above the spillway. Black bass are biting excellently in 3 to 7 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, tubes and crankbaits are all working well. There are still some fish spawning on the south bank. Kentucky bass are mixed in with the largemouths. Crappie are biting well but the spawn is a little behind. There are several reports of crappie being caught 20 feet deep on small jigs and minnows. Bream are moving to the shallows and biting well on crickets and redworms. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared bait in 5 to 15 feet of water.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bass are the best thing going on CC spoons.

Brewer Lake:  Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is still very high and dingy. All species are slow right now..

Arkansas River at Little Rock:  Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is still high and in bad condition. All species are slow.

Little Maumelle River:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines with cut bait.

Big Maumelle River:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on pink minnows. Catfish are biting very well on cut bait and chicken hearts.

Palarm Creek:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good cut bait and chicken hearts.

Murray Lock and Dam:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are good on minnows and red or chartreuse jigs. White bass are biting well on chartreuse twister tails. Catfishing is excellent on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

Pickthorne Lake:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said that bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on stink bait or cut bait.

Terry Lock and Dam:  McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said catfish are the best thing going on large minnows.

Clear Lake:  McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said water conditions are normal. Bream are the best thing going on worms and crickets.

Peckerwood Lake:  Herman’s Landing said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

NORTH ARKANSAS

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the reservoirs on the White River system have fallen a bit. They remain precariously close to the top of flood pool. It has been very windy and there were lake wind advisories on several days. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose fell six tenths of a foot to rest at forty and two tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is eight tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake remained steady at fifteen and five tenths of a foot above power pool or five tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose six tenths of a foot to settle at nine and two tenths feet above pool or four tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The flood gates at Bull Shoals have been closed. The pattern on the White is to run all eight generators around the clock. The fishing on the upper White has been excellent, particularly the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam.. Large brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot pink, cerise and fire orange have all been productive) and brightly colored egg patterns. They must be fished with a lot of lead and, of course, a really big strike indicator to float it all. I would recommend at least 4X to handle the larger flies and additional weight. Make sure that your indicator is set on the leader to enable the fly to tick the bottom of the water column. Other generally hot spots on the river have not fished as well as the upper river. Rim shoals and the Cotter area, in particular, have not been producing well.

Mountain River Fly Shop said just as we were getting used to fishing 10 units, with the spillways open, we came back to a more standard 8 units last week. The fishing had been different but very good all week. White River trout are going to be stacking on the weight courtesy of the floodgates. As the water receded down the eight units level, and below, the fishing was still pretty damn good up and down the river. The Corp has been fluctuating the water significantly. Virtually every day this week flows were cut back to two units around midnight before gradually returning to 8 unit flows by “work hours”. This had opened up some small windows of wadable water downstream. One angler led the way last Saturday with a 22″ brown. Best flies remain the San Juan Worm or Dynamite Worm. Other anglers picked up fish early on Shad patterns, but went back to the reliable San Juans (red, pink, and hot orange) and of course Kev’s Pink Lady. With recent rain, we are hearing reports that both the Table Rock and Beaver spillways have opened in response. Just what impact that will have on this section of the river remains to be seen.

Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is still high with the flood gates open. Trout are biting on plastic worms, Rapalas, and Rogues.

Bull Shoals Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 694.04 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 578.96 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) reported the water is high. No fishing report.

101 Grocery and Bait said walleye fishing has been good this week on the points and in the coves with running creeks. Most walleye have been caught on live bait. White bass are still biting well. Striper fishing is good on live bait and some are doing well using Rogues fished in less than 30 feet of water. Crappie fishing is picking up using a minnow/jig combo around 20-30 feet deep. The water temperature has been in the high 50s to mid-60s. Catfishing has been good using limb lines and rod-and-reel with live bait. Bass fishing has been fair on trick worms, lizards and flukes in the grassy areas and around the trees and brush.

Norfork Tailwater:  Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water conditions are normal with 2 generators on around the clock. Trout fishing is excellent on corn, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and olive or black wooly buggers.

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said Quarry Park is closed because he Corps of Engineers opened the flood gates to drop the water level on Norfork Lake because it was well over the top of flood pool. This means that the water flow (the equivalent of thirty generators) was fifteen times the level we had previously considered the maximum. If you want to boat, you must use the ramp at the confluence and motor up. There has been a lot of high water and the same high water tactics suggested for the White should also work here. During a recent fishing trip, I saw a three foot gar and a thirty pound striper. The tales of fish being washed into the river when the flood gates were open are true. It should make for some very interesting fishing this year. There were a couple of brief periods of wadable water. The fishing during these was spectacular. There were literally millions of scuds in the water and the nymphing action was non stop. The biggest fish were an eighteen inch rainbow and a wild brown the same size. The river has changed but it is still a great place to fish. Dry Run Creek is back in business and fishing very well. After the recent flooding, the hot fly has been the worm brown San Juan worm in smaller sizes. Other hot flies have been sowbugs, olive woolly buggers, egg patterns and Y2Ks. Make sure that you mash down all barbs.

Mountain River Fly Shop said last weekend’s periods of low water, enabling state and federal officials to assess damage from the spillway opening, appear now to be a thing of the past. We heard the fishing was pretty good.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 4 to 10 feet of water on minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair in shallow water on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. White bass are fair on minnows and crawdads. Stripers are fair on live bait.

Lake Fayetteville:  Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are scattered but can be caught on minnows. Black bass are biting well on crankbaits and buzzbaits

Lake Sequoyah:  Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is stained and a little high. Crappie are biting well below the spillway on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish are fair on worms.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Spring River:  Mark’s Fly Shop reported that water clarity is fair, but most importantly, the water levels are coming down. Fishing conditions could not be better. Mayfly emergers have been very productive this week. Brown and black caddis and mayfly hatches have been steady in early morning hours and in the late evening.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Lake Columbia:  Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) had no report.

Lake Erling:  Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) had no report.

White Oak Lake:  White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is at normal pool and the surface temperature is still fairly cool. The water clarity is clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on jugs.

Lake Greeson:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.87 feet MSL.

Lakeside Grocery said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well in 1 to 5 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are good in shallow water on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is very good on jugs and trotlines with minnows.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the lake is finally back down to just full pool. The cool nights are holding the water temperature in the 60’s, which is perfect to finish a good spawn. The bass and crappie are a bit scattered but can be found in staging areas and in the shallows. Each day things get better or back to normal. Both jigs and minnows are working well.

DeGray Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 408.03 feet MSL.

DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is murky and has a 70 degree surface temperature. All the boat ramps are now open again. Bream are picking up on red worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrids and black and white bass are schooling to the south end and are being caught on spoons, jerkbaits, rooster tails, and top-water lures. Catfish are picking up on trotlines with live bait.

DeGray Lake State Park said the water is warming up more in the shallows and clarity is dingy from the high water but clearing slowly. The crappie are in 15 to 2 foot of water, some large ones are being caught on baby bass 1/12″ jigs and electric chicken as well as yellow and white jigs. They were moving into the shallows but now have moved some what father out. The black bass are being seen paired up in the shallows. Bream are starting to move in and are hitting crickets. The catfish are starting to come in a little stronger than last week .

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Blue Mountain Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 411.55 feet MSL.

CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is murky and still a little high. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on worms and large minnows.

Ozark Pool:  Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high. A few bass have been caught on spinnerbaits and jigs. Catfish are fair on shad and nightcrawlers.

Lake Ouachita:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 578.44 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said the lake is high, but dropping about 4 inches a day. Bass are biting very well on frogs near flooded worms. Shakey head worms in watermelon colors. Carolina rigs on long, flat points are producing well. Striper fishing has been poor. Walleye are beginning to pull up shallow and should be biting crankbaits fairly well. Bream are biting well on small grubs and crickets in the shallows.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474) said the water is warming and clear. Stripers are in the creek mouths and on the points. Live gizzard shad are working well when freelined. All sizes of stripers are biting well, but larger fish are biting best on 10 to 18-inch shad. Most of the fishing is over by 9:30 in the morning and doesn’t pick up again until 4:30 in the evening. Some stripers are being caught in 20 to 30 feet of water on trolled umbrella rigs in the mornings.

Lake Catherine:  Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said the waters below the dam have finally cleared to normal, but very heavy generation has hampered the fishing. Entergy is running nearly full load generation in order to bring Lake Ouachita out of flood pool and this process has created very swift water in the tailrace. All of the rainbow trout have been stocked in the area for this season; however, these fish are extremely hard to catch while the turbines are running full blast. Periods of calm water are needed for the fish to return to their normal feeding patterns. Some fish are being caught, but any good fishing will not occur until the heavy generation subsides. The white bass run is in full swing and fishermen are catching these fish by trolling small crankbaits in the channels that imitate shad or crawfish. White jigs in 1/8 ounce sizes are also working well around the submerged islands and visible rock structures. The crappie spawn is winding down with some fish still being caught on minnows and small jigs in areas that are protected from the strong current. Mid - April marks the beginning of the freshwater drum spawn below the dam. Huge female drum will cover the area for the next month - many of which are from 20 to 40 pounds. While these fish are looked down upon by many anglers, you would be hard pressed to find a fish that can provide the fight these huge behemoths put out. Striper and hybrid activity is sure to improve this month as the temperature is on the rise and the trout downstream migrate towards the tailrace area.

Diamond Head Marina said that water conditions are normal. A few bream have been caught on crickets. Crappie are good at the west end of the lake on minnows and jigs. Bass are good around shorelines.

Lake Hamilton:  Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said Carolina rigs are working well on flats near brush and stumps. Inside the pockets and coves, throw a trick worm in Merthiolate or white. White bass are breaking in the mouths of the creeks, and a spinnerbait or Rooster Tail are working. If the wind will allow it, use the lightest weight possible to slow the fall of your soft plastics and give fish more time to react to the bait.

Lake Atkins:  Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfish are decent on minnows.

EAST ARKANSAS

Maddox Bay:  Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report.

Bear Creek Lake:  Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and high. All species are slow right now.

Horseshoe Lake:  Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is in very good condition. A few bream have been caught on wax worms and red worms. Crappie are biting well in shallow water on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on minnows.

Island 40 Chute:  Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) had no report.