Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 10/29/2008
October 29, 2008
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501) 223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers [at] agfc [dot] state [dot] ar [dot] us
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This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for Oct. 29, 2008. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip: When “walking the dog” with a top-water lure, it always helps to have the line floating at the surface. To make it easier, rub candle wax, bowstring wax or fly floatant along the last few feet of your line. The waxy surface will float higher, making the top-water walk better.
Arkansas River Levels are available at
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt
White River Levels are available at
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Program Report: The last catfish stockings for the year are complete and all program ponds are producing eating-size catfish well. The best baits to use are worms, liver, hot dogs and store-bought paste baits. Early and late in the day are the best times to fish. Bream are slowing a bit, but are still biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Trout will be stocked in program ponds when the water is cool enough to support them, which is usually in December. For more information on stockings, call toll free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level and the clarity is fair. Bream are fair in 31/2 feet of water on worms, wax worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on chartreuse jigs and minnows in lily pads around 31/2 to 5 feet deep. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Zoom soft plastics.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream are fairly slow. Crappie are biting well in the pads and 5 feet deep on shiners and rosy red minnows. Bass are biting fairly well on chartreuse spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on yo-yos and limb lines baited with shiners.
Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low with constant, slow releases. Trout fishing is good around the shoals on crankbaits and other artificials.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse continues to release water despite the fact that the preferred maximum of 461.4 feet above mean sea level was achieved last week. Control of the releases was transferred from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Southwestern Power Administration in Tulsa when top power pool was attained. SWPA has decided to use the Greers Ferry and Table Rock facilities to regulate hydroelectric power supply by conducting small yet constant water releases around the clock. The water in the river is getting clearer by the week. At times, above Jon’s Pocket, it’s positively crystal. The water coursing through the turbines is a chilly 56 degrees with dissolved oxygen content at an improved 5.1 mg/l (parts per million). Trout are doing their aerial leaps, which is part of the spawning ritual and not to be confused with aggressive feeding. The spawn is near. Mayfly hatches continue to occur mostly around dusk. Midge hatches are occurring after lunch in most areas of the stream continuing until dusk. The sulphur and pale morning dun mayfly hatches are dwindling. Trout are feeding selectively, and if you don’t change flies after 2-3 fish, your catch rate will decline. The best sub-surface flies to use include the sow bug (#14-#16; olive, tan or gray), zebra midge (#16-#22; red, copper or black), red butt soft hackle (#14-#18), pheasant tail (#16), gold ribbed hare’s ear (#14-#16), prince (#16), San Juan worm (#12-#14; red or fl. cerise), copper john (#14-#16) or woolly bugger (#8-#12; olive, brown or black). Egg patterns are becoming increasingly productive in sizes 12-14 in salmon, peach, bubble gum or watermelon. Be sure to weight your egg so that it bounces along the streambed.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.35 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is dropping and the water temperature is in the 60s. Some bass are out in front of the bushes and are still biting on many different crankbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits. Football head jigs and Carolina-rigged Senkos and lizards are working well in some creek mouths, as are drop-shot rigs. Some hybrids are coming up, but most are still not breaking the surface. They are schooled up with white bass, black bass and walleye but are scattered anywhere from 25 to 52 feet of water. Catfish are biting across the lake on jugs baited with live bait and liver. Walleye are scattered but are still biting on jigs and crawlers fished on the bottom in 28 feet of water and deeper.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said there have been very few anglers visiting the marina lately. No report.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and falling as the lake is being drawn down. Bream are fair on live bait. Crappie are biting very well on live minnows. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with live bait.
Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with water temperature around 65 degrees. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on chartreuse and light blue glitter jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good o trotlines and noodles baited with live bait at night.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is high and clear. All fishing has been slow lately.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said white bass are fair at the west end of the lake on road beds and humps. CC spoons, Sassy Shads and grubs are working the best on the whites. Black bass are off the points about 10 to 12 feet deep. Jigs and soft plastics are working the best on the black bass right now. Crappie are biting well on small minnows and 1/32-oz. jigs fished 20 feet deep. Catfishing is fair to good on prepared bait and chicken liver in 30 feet of water. Bream are slow.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is murky and the current is slow. Bass are fair on crankbaits and tubes fished over the jetties in the main channel. All other fishing is slow.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are fair on 2-inch Tennessee shad grubs. Bass are biting well on top-water lures.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on black or yellow Rooster Tails and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on crawdad-colored crankbaits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing below dams 9 and 10 is very good on shad. Largemouth bass are biting well on the inside of jetties and rocky areas on jig-and-pig combos in the afternoons. Kentucky bass are biting well around current breaks and jetties. Position the boat upstream of the jetty and fish spinnerbaits over the edges. Bream are slow, but a few have been caught in the grass on crickets. Stripers are fair below the dams on bucktail-dressed spoons.
Big Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said water conditions are normal. Crappie biting well on pink minnows fished under a slip-cork rig. Bass are fair early in the morning on large minnows and Gilmore Jumper topwaters.
Little Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on white/chartreuse jigs tipped with a pink minnow. Bass are fair on topwaters in the early morning and large minnows during the day.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting fairly well on pink minnows. Catfishing is excellent snagging below the dam. Stripers are biting fairly well on a ½-ounce jig with a chartreuse twister tail grub. A few white bass have been caught on Little Georges and twister tail grubs.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and the fishing is very slow. Some catfish are biting cut shad fished on the bottom below the dam.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and all fishing has been slow. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on pink minnows in 5 to 6 feet of water.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water has very low oxygen content and the fishing has been poor.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam will close to all fishing Nov. 1 and will remain closed until Feb. 1. The section from the bottom of this catch-and-release section downstream to the wing wall at the state park is catch-and-release fishing only for the same time period. The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam to Cane Island has not been fishing as well. The Cotter area from the new bridge down to the bottom of Roundhouse Shoals has been fishing a bit better than the upper river. This section has a higher dissolved oxygen level than you may encounter upstream below Bull Shoals Dam. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and midge patterns, be sure and try sow bugs. Rim Shoals has not been fishing as well as it did last week. The hot fly has been the San Juan worm in hot pink and cerise. Remember that there is some limited safe wading in the vicinity of the second island during high water. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock and have them ferry you down for a nominal fee. Crooked Creek has fished well during the last week. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns. The creek is low and clear. The section above the Snow access, as well as the lower creek near the confluence with the White River, have been hot spots.
Mountain River Fly Shop said fishing the White this week has been very good, considering the low dissolved oxygen. The fishing will be up and down during the course of the day, but very good at times. There are some very fat fish in the river that are beautifully colored and hungry. Davy pointed out dynamite worms are working very well, and you can fish standard San Juan’s in hot pink, red, brown. Try an attractor egg in front of the worm; flame, orange or yellow seems to be the preference. Streamer anglers also are picking up fish with tungsten slumpbusters, sculpin patterns, and larger buggers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 673.08 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 562.53 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the low 70s. Fishing has been good for largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs fished in the coves and along bluffs have been the top producers. Crappie fishing has been good for some and spotty for others. Fishing around the shore out to about 20 feet from the bank using minnows has worked the best. Bluegill fishing is great using worms and a small split-shot. White bass fishing has been slow. Striper fishing has been slow. Walleye fishing has been slow.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water temperature is around 69 degrees and the water is still 12 feet over normal pool. The lake is beginning to turn over. Bream, crappie, catfish, stripers and walleye are all slow. Bass are biting well. Most of the largemouths and Kentuckies are in the shallow areas in the backs of coves. Spinnerbaits, topwaters and soft-plastics are all working well on smaller bass. Very few keepers are being caught, however.
Norfork Tailwater: John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. There have been some limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Fishing has been spotty. The flows during the day have been light. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp but with the lower dissolved oxygen the upper river has not fished as well as the lower river. Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). With school back in session there is hardly anyone there. It is a great time to take your children or grandchildren.
Mountain River Fly Shop said the tailwater has been fishing well, with a surprising number of good catches around the mouth of Dry Run Creek, even during high water. Midges, worms and eggs seem to be the preference. Try bigger midge patterns, such as 14, in black and red, like Clint’s Black Tungsten Midge, and Davy’s Whitetail Midges in 12 and 14, fished deep.
Spring River: Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said the small rains have helped the flow a bit on the Spring River. The water clarity is extremely clear and caution should be used when sneaking upstream to fish. Quite a few white midges have been hatching lately. A size 20 midge imitator should work well. Drop by the Spring River Fly Shop and pick up a map and a little instruction while you’re there.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,127.37 feet MSL.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been decent lately. Many small bass have been caught with a few keepers mixed in. Spinnerbaits fished around stumps, trees and rocky points seem to be working best. Many small crappie are being caught, but only a few keepers are being taken lately. The crappie are near standing timber, laydowns and boat docks in 4 to 15 feet of water. Black/chartreuse and yellow/white tubes are the best lures for the crappie. Catfish have been biting well on liver and worms under docks at night and during the day. White bass are schooled up just off main-lake flats. They are suspended over the main channel 20 to 30 feet deep. Find the shad and you’ll find the white bass. The Monte-Ne area has been a good place to start.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are biting well on the upper end of the lake. Crappie are biting well on small tubes and minnows in brush piles from 12 to 15 feet deep. Bass are biting well on shad-colored spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits. Stripers are biting well on spoons and live bait.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the fishing is as slow as “molasses in cold weather.”
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water conditions are normal. All fishing is slow.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass and catfish are slow.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA: Judy Potts of Judy’s Bait Shoppe at the North entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA reports that fishing reports have been slow to come in because of hunting season. Please wear hunter orange even when fishing to be safe on the area.
Lake Charles: Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is down about 3 feet and the surface temperature ranges from 58 to 60 degrees. The water clarity is around 6 inches. Bream are slow on crickets and worms. Crappie is slow on minnows and crickets. Bass are slow on spinners and crankbaits. Catfish have picked up on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers and prepared bait.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is at normal level and is very clear. The lake has seen a lot of wind lately. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Almost all the anglers on the lake are chasing the good crappie bite right now.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said very few anglers have visited the state park. Catfish are fair to good on minnows.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said fishing has really slowed in the last week. There are a few fish schooling around the lake. Some bass have been caught on Basshunter shallow-running crankbaits. The worm bite has fallen off, but there are still a few to be caught. Fishing has really been tough overall.
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on small crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.35 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water clarity worsened this week from 20-30 mph winds on the main lake. Some high-density broken vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River. Main lake and Little River water surface temperatures are currently ranging from 64 to 70 degrees, depending on location and time of day. The lake level is slowly falling. Current in Little River is 1,169 cubic feet per second. Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair. Cooler daytime highs in the 60s and nighttime lows in the 40s continue to improve the fishing. Bass continue to feed well and very good schooling activities are being seen in many places around the lake. Chunky bass from 2 to 6 pounds are excellent on Rat-L-Traps in many of the oxbow lakes upriver. Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started and best schooling activities are running between noon and 3 p.m. Johnson silver spoons, War Eagle Spinnerbaits, and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the go-to baits when the bass move into the vegetation and remaining lily pads. Swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges and pockets of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation is still working. Once the sun is up, switch to 10- or 12-inch worms in Peanut Butter and Jelly, Plum or Blue Fleck and fish high density grass, stumps, and cover. Edges of lily pads near deep drops in the clearer water, cypress trees, and stumps in vegetation, remain best locations this week for a better worm bite. White bass remain schooling along with the largemouths in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this week. Several schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads, Rat-L-Traps and grubs along Little River between Highway 71 Bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River. The crappie bite continues improving with the clarity along Little River. The best depth has been 11-12 feet deep over planted brush piles. Blues and channel cats remain consistent on trotlines or yo-yos along the current in Little River.
Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) had no report.
Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said bream are moving into the shallows again and starting to bite on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well during the day and at night on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are fair.
Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are fair. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park had no report.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 542.78 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said surface temperature is 66 to 68 degrees and the lake level is falling. Crappie, bream, black bass and white bass can be caught on live bait 12 to 16 feet deep on hardwood brush piles and bamboo condos in 15 to 24 feet of water. Kentucky bass are feeding aggressively on live bait fished on the bottom around rocky points in 15 to 25 feet of water.
Lakeside Grocery (870-398-5304) said the water is murky and about 68 degrees. The water is still high, but is dropping almost a foot a day. Bream and crappie are slow. Bass are biting well 4 to 9 feet of water on crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on trotlines and jugs baited with minnows and set in 8 to 10 feet of water. White bass are hitting shad-colored crankbaits in 3 to 6 feet of water.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.97 feet MSL.
DeGray Lake Resort said the water is 69 degrees. The water is clearing up. Black bass fishing is tough. Some are being caught, but many anglers are striking out. Bream have moved off their beds. The catfish are starting bite well. Hybrids are breaking more now than they have in the last 3 years on the south end of the lake; they are coming up and staying longer. There are no moss or grass beds to speak of, so it’s been little tougher than usual out there.
Charles at Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina said the water temperature is 70 degrees and falling. Largemouth bass are biting well on 11-inch redbug, cherryseed, tequila green and bloodline worms. Some bass are schooling early and late and are being caught on Zara Spooks, Tiny Torpedoes, Rooster Tails and watermelonseed jigs. Kentucky bass are biting well on live crayfish fished around drop offs and points around DeRoche and Caddo Bend in 20 to 26 feet of water. Hybrids are biting well on live shad. They are schooling early and late and are biting well on top-water lures and large CC spoons. The Dam and Caddo Bend are good places to try, as are the drop offs directly across from Iron Mountain. The Hybrids seem to be holding to 24-28 feet deep. Crappie are biting well on Tennessee shad grubs and live minnows fished around moss flats and points in 18 to 20 feet of water. Brush piles from 20 to 25 feet deep are also holding some crappie. Catfishing is good on jugs and trotlines baited with minnows or cut shad. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets fished 6 to 12 feet deep.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said the water is still very murky. The surface water temperature is around 62 degrees. A forecasted release on Lake Dardanelle is expected to be around 25,000 cubic feet per second. Bass fishing on Dardanelle is beginning to improve. Some good keepers are being caught by anglers fishing very slowly. Texas-rigged 10-inch worms and ½-ounce jigs are working when crawled around rocky areas and brush piles. Black spinnerbaits have been effective as well, but a slow retrieve is the key. A few anglers have reported catching crappie around brush piles fishing with minnows. Catfish have slowed down from the cooler water temperatures. Catfish can be caught using cut shad, nightcrawlers, liver and some artificial baits. Bluegill, redear and green sunfish are still biting well on crickets.
Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy and high. Bass are the best thing going on crankbaits near rocky points.
Spadra Marina on Lake Dardanelle in Clarksville reports daily limits coming in on crappie. Crappie are biting on the bottom on light-colored Panfish Assassins with black specks. Cream and white jigs are doing best. Channel cats have been biting on livers, while blue and flatheads are sticking to cut shad and stink bait. The bass are fair at best.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are slow, but a few have been caught deep on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair. White bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.79 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is 66 to 72 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits fished around grass. Kentucky bass and largemouths are still breaking the surface on cloudy days as well. Walleye are fair on spoons fished over main-lake points with brush. Stripers are biting well on live shad and trotline minnows. Heavy jigs and spoons are working as well. Bream are biting well in 18 to 25 feet of water on crickets and worms. Crappie are excellent over brush in 20 to 30 feet of water on minnows and Tennessee shad crappie grubs. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait fished from jugs and trotlines.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is the hottest fishing on the lake right now. Anglers are catching large bass by punching the grass with a 1-oz. Revenge jig and a Berkley Chigger Craw trailer. Green colors are working the best. Bass up to 7 lbs. have been caught lately.
Dave Lindhag at Striped Bass Adventures said the water temperature is looking great for some breaking fish, but the cold fronts have really kept things from starting. You can pick up a fish here and there but limits are tough to come by. When you find a school of stripers, they are moving quite a bit. The breaking action should be any day now, but things are slow at the moment.
Lake Hamilton: Red Tuggle at Gene Lockwood’s said the drawdown should begin on November 1 in Hamilton. During the drawdown, fishing will really slack off, but as soon as it stabilizes the fishing will really pick up quickly. Crayfish will be looking for new homes and the bass will be feeding. Look for gently sloping banks near the shallows and fish crayfish-colored Bandit and Deep Wee R crankbaits. Buzzbaits worked around any stickups will also produce fish. The nastier the weather, the better the bite will get. Crappie will move a bit deeper during the drawdown. Some walleye have moved up a little, but it’s still a little early for the good fishing.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the winter drawdown will begin Nov. 17 and finish Nov. 23 for Lake Catherine. A 3-foot drop is scheduled instead of last year’s 5-foot level. White bass and hybrid action has been very good below the dam as these fish gorge themselves on the threadfin shad schools. Anglers casting 1/8- and ¼-ounce jigs in white or gray around rocks and sand bars have caught fish at will during periods of generation. Most of the white bass are 1 to 2 pounds with hybrids as large as 9 pounds reported. Trolling the channels has been effective for boaters targeting larger fish. Minnow and crawfish lures that run 5 to 6 feet deep have produced the best results. Several walleye around 5 pounds have been caught as well. The colder temperatures at night will cause the shad to migrate away from the dam in search of warmer water. This migration will take the game fish with it. Large stripers have already vanished, but can reappear at any time. Rainbow trout stocking will start again in mid-November.
Diamondhead Marina said the water is at normal level and clarity. Bass fishing is good on various artificial lures around the shoreline.
Lake Hinkle: Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on large bass minnows. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with live bait.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are moving to coves and are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are slowing down, but are biting well on soft-plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live shad.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park at the conjunction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the river is at 67.5ft above sea level which is only a couple feet above its normal level. It has been dropping about a half a foot to a foot per day. If this continues it will be at the normal 65 feet above sea level in the next few days. A few crappie were caught in the lake last weekend. Crappie should be biting well when the water returns to normal. They bite best here during winter. Some small bass have also been caught by bank fisherman along with some bream. No one has mentioned anything of catfish but that’s probably because few people are fishing right now. Most are concentrating on hunting, so don’t forget to wear some orange if you get back in the bay or in the lake.
Lower Ouachita River: Water is starting to subside in the Ouachita River lakes. Some people are catching a few crappie along moss lines using shiners. No report on other species.
Tri-County Lake: Small worms on 1/16-oz. weights are working well on bass around channels. People are starting gearing up for catfishing, so the catfish bite should be good in the next few weeks.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870) 534-1948 said the water is muddy and cold with slow current. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are excellent in the bar pits. Bass are biting well on jigs. Catfishing is fair.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said some of the oxbow lakes have some good crappie fishing in 18 to 20 feet of water.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs in 18 to 24 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and low. There have been no anglers on the lake lately.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is in very good condition right now. Bream are slow. Crappie anglers are doing well trolling minnows and jigs in the middle of the lake. Bass are slow. Catfishing is very good on cut bait and stink bait.
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Cash Reward Offered for Tagged Bass in the Arkansas River
October 29, 2008
DUMAS – Anglers may find a bonus when they catch a largemouth bass on Pool 2 of the Arkansas River – many wear special reward tags worth $10 to $100.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has partnered with the Aquaculture and Fisheries Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in an effort to estimate the catch and harvest of largemouth bass from this pool of the river. AGFC and UAPB personnel have tagged 1,500 largemouth bass collected from Pool 2 and released them back into the river. Extensive tagging was done in Coal Pile and Lake Merrisach areas of the river. However, tagged bass were released throughout the river from Dam 3 to the Arkansas Post Canal.
The yellow reward tags are on the left side of the fish just below the dorsal fin. Anglers that catch these bass can keep the tags and call the AGFC toll-free hotline, (877) 367-3559, to report their catch. Tags can be removed from sub-legal bass and returned for rewards.
Anglers calling the hotline will be asked to provide the number printed on the tag, the length of the bass, the date they caught it, whether they kept or released the bass, if they caught it during a fishing tournament, and the general area where the fish was caught. They can mail the tag to the AGFC to collect their reward. Rewards will be chosen at random, but all anglers returning tags will be guaranteed at least $10. Some lucky anglers will receive $50 or $100.
In addition to the tag-reward study, UAPB personnel will conduct brief angler interviews at several boat ramps on Pool 2 next year. The angler survey will collect information on fishing effort and the number of fish caught and harvested. Anglers also will be asked their opinions on certain fishing regulations and the overall quality of fishing in the river.
Information collected from these studies will help AGFC biologists better understand how anglers use the Arkansas River for bass fishing and will help them manage this valuable resource more efficiently.
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Bass Fishing Bounces Back Along Lower Arkansas River
August 6, 2008
PENDLETON – Bass fishing on the lower portion of the Arkansas River has rebounded, as evidenced by the 2008 Big Bass Bonanza.
From an area of disappointment for anglers in the last 20 years or so, the river and its renowned tributaries and backwaters is producing much better black bass – largemouth and spotted – according to fishermen who competed in this years bonanza and according to fisheries biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
There appears to be larger bass and more bass, the two ingredients that go a long way to bringing smiles to fishermen.
Biggest smile may be on the face of Duke Gunnell of Benton, who won this year’s Big Bass Bonanza with an 8.14-pound largemouth. One observer called it “a really good-looking bass.”
Gunnell’s catch beat out John Higman of Evansville, who caught a bass weighing 7.81 pounds at the other end of the Big Bass Bonanza waters, the Fort Smith pool.
The Pendleton pool yielded the Bonanza’s third largest fish, 7.32 pounds by Steve Blasengame of Star City, Twelve bass weighing between 6 and 7 pounds were also checked in at Pendleton.
Kevin Hopkins, AGFC’s assistant black bass program biologist, was on hand at the Pendleton weigh-in site for the Bonanza when Gunnell brought his fish to the scale. Hopkins said, “We have had a good spawn down in this part of the river this year. The bass seem to be improving from all reports.”
Alan Melder of Monticello, the Bonanza weighmaster at the site, nodded agreement and said, “It’s not only this tournament; other tournaments are telling us that the (bass) fishing is better in this part of the river. In the one-day tournaments, 7 to 10 pounds (for a 5-bass tournament limit) were winning, and now it takes 12 to 15 pounds to win one of these tournaments.”
Gunnell is a veteran bass chaser. He has often been among the prize winners in the Big Bass Bonanza and led it for two days in 2005 before being bumped to runner-up. This year, he fished the first two days on the Dardanelle pool of the river then moved to the Pendleton pool the last day.
He went to Post Lake, an oxbow water next to Arkansas Post National Memorial. But Gunnell and his partner, Hugh Burnett of Little Rock, moved away from a crowd of other competitors who were fishing in open water near the edge of lily pads. Gunnell and Burnett went deep into the thick lily pads. One bass exploded at Gunnell’s white plastic frog but missed. Not long after that, another bass softly sucked in the lure then put up a stiff fight when Gunnell set the hook.
The widespread of the lower Arkansas River and its backwaters has long been magnets for bass fishermen. Some of the areas are well-known to anglers in the state and from other areas. Coal Pile, Merrisach, Moore’s Bayou, Post Lake, Morgan Point and Notrebe’s Bend are familiar in fishing conversations.
A largemouth bass from Coal Pile, which got its name in 19th century steamboat days, was the state record at 13 pounds, 4 ounces, until the current record of 16-4 was caught in 1976 at Mallard Lake in northeast Arkansas.
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Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 7/30/2008
July 30, 2008
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501) 223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers [at] agfc [dot] state [dot] ar [dot] us
To sign-up for this newsletter, visit http://www.agfc.com/enews/default.aspx
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July 30, 2008. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip: Although it may seem strange, wearing a lightweight long-sleeved shirt and lightweight pants during the summer can keep you out on the water longer when the sun is beating down. The extra coverage gives protection from sunburns and keeps your skin out of the heat of direct light.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater – 391.49 feet, Tailwater – 379.25 feet, Flow – 66,524 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.78 feet, Tailwater – 344.83 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.53 feet, Tailwater – 291.52 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 285.99 feet, Tailwater – 271.46 feet
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 258.61 feet, Tailwater – 265.93 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 248.62 feet, Tailwater – 232.11 feet, Flow – 54,047 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.35 feet, Tailwater – 217.45 feet, Flow – 69,044 cubic feet per second
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 195.47 feet, Tailwater – 185.55 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 181.75 feet, Tailwater – 171.60 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 162.88 feet, Tailwater – 137.51 feet, Flow – 64,390 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the White River stages are:
9.6 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
10.4 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
12.8 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
25.1 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
14.9 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
23.5 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Program Report: Channel catfish have been stocked in all program ponds and are biting well on worms, liver, hot dogs, bait shrimp and paste baits. Channel catfish are being caught with more success in early mornings and late evenings because of warmer weather. Bream are still biting well on crickets, wax worms and redworms in shallow water and near brushy cover. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows. Bass are fair on plastic frogs. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream are bedding near the banks and are biting well on crickets and redworms. Bass are doing well early and late in the day off pads and edges of creek channels on frogs, buzzbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught deep in the lake. Catfish are good on trotlines.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfishing is excellent on limb lines and trotlines with shad or cut bait.
Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said water conditions are normal with 2 units running around the clock. Trout fishing has been very good drift fishing on the bottom with white or chartreuse Power Eggs, pink Power Worms, red worms and Carolina rigs.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is still generating around the clock with both generators, but there should be a reduction to 12 hour generation schedules if the weather holds. Aquatic insect hatches have been few and far between in the high water. Our daily midge hatches are occurring but blue winged olives and sulphur mayflies are scarce. This time last year, we had low water and tons of bugs. Blue wings, pale morning duns and sulphur mayflies along with midges were abundant. If you try to fly fish in high water, you will need to get your fly down to the streambed with plenty of leader length and weight using a strike indicator large enough to float it all. The best fly has been the San Juan worm in sizes 12-16 in orange, cerise, worm brown or red. Bait and spin casting fishermen are in their element in high water.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 466.04 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is still falling and is close to normal pool. Hybrid and white bass fishing continues to be hit-or-miss. Stay on the move looking for baitfish with your electronics and keep your bait wet. Bass fishing is fair and should improve once the water stabilizes. Fish main lake points and small secondary points with football head jigs, Carolina-rigged lizards and Texas-rigged worms. There’s also a small topwater bite early and late in the day along the same places. Bream fishing is fair around docks on crickets and worms. Crappie are so-so, with most fish being taken on a jig tipped with a minnow and set at 15 to 20 feet deep over pole timber in 60 feet of water. Walleye are slow. Catfishing is good all over the lake, even on artificial baits. Liver, cut bait and live bait are all working well.
Shiloh Marina said all fishing has been slow.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is high with a 90 degree surface temperature. Bream are picking up on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well at night on top-water lures. Catfishing is good at night and liver and cut bait.
Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is murky and at normal level with a surface temperature in the high 80’s. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows. Catfishing are fair on liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. Catfishing is good on shad and nightcrawlers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 95 degrees. All species are slow.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said all species are slow.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and all species have been slow.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is murky and low. Bream are fair on crickets. Bass are fair on top-water lures.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flows keep dropping and the water is starting to clear up. Bream are biting well around rocks on crickets. Late in the afternoon, black rooster tails seem to working good too. Some white bass have been schooling early on shad colored crankbaits. Black bass are biting well on blue and black Jig & Pigs near drop-offs. Catifsh are biting well early with whole shad. Stripers are good in the evening at Lock 9 on live shad.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said water conditions are almost back to normal. Bass fishing has been fair around rocky points on jigs and shallow running crankbaits.
Little Maumelle River: Josh Jeffers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (501-868-5806) said the water level is receding and the surface temperature ranges from 85 to 90. The water visibility and clarity is low. Bream are biting fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting slow on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are fair, and are being caught on small top-water baits and frogs (early in the mornings and late in the afternoons), Texas-rigged creature baits are working well around thick grass and vegetation in the heat of the day, and small crankbaits and jigs are producing good fish around ledges and drops. Catfish are biting fair on nightcrawlers and different types of stink bait around ledges and drops.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well in pad beds on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting well early and late on top-water stick baits and 6 inch black core worms. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are doing well on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Big Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream fishing is good on crickets and wax worms. Bass are fair on black or red 6 inch worms. Catfishing is excellent on cut bait and chicken hearts.
Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are good on jigs and brown craw worms. Catfishing is excellent on cut bait and chicken hearts.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said the fish are deep due to the hot weather. White bass are schooling around Jim’s Island and in front of the old Jolly Rogers cove. A CC spoon cast into the schools is working well. Black bass are good despite the heat. It is still taking 7 to 9 pounds to win the Tuesday or Friday tournaments. The Blacks and Kentuckys are about 20 to 25 feet deep hitting on drop shot, jigging or using plastics. Bream are hitting crickets in about 15 feet of water. Catfish are good in about 15 to 20 feet of water using prepared bait.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are the best thing going on shad and rice slicks.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and low. Bream are fair on crickets. Bass fishing is fair on dark crankbaits. Catfishing is good on any bait.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said all fishing is slow.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and dropping. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on any bait.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River. It has at times been spectacular, particularly at the Catch-and-release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point up which makes them virtually weedless. Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. Those fishing just outside the catch-and-release sections had good results by using black zebra midges and copper johns as droppers. The best fishing has occurred in the Red Bud area. The hot fly there has been brightly colored marabou jigs.
Sportsman’s White River Resort said water conditions are normal with 8 generators still running. Trout fishing has been excellent on red or pink 3 inch power worms, buoyant spoons, Little Cleos, woolly buggers and San Juan worms.
Mountain River Fly Shop said generation continues on the White, but it’s nice to see some progress being made on drawing down the lake. Guides and their clients are reveling in the conditions. We keep getting reports of “fat and sassy” browns and rainbows being caught, with the average fish size increasing every month. These fish are fighting with some strength after being toned up in the White River treadmill. San Juan’s and Dynamite Worms, with or without an attractor egg leading the way, has been the fly of choice. Bigger scuds and sowbugs have had their followers and have caught some nice fish. The Midge bite has been up and down but White Tail Super Midges, Cadion Midges and Clint’s Tungsten Black Midge have caught fish. The streamer brigade are doing well, one of our mates Ken Richards telling us on a day out on big black woollies, on a bright sunny day no less, whacking trout through the middle of the river.
Ken Richards with www.justfishinguides.com says the high water has not put off the fishing. Some of the best trout fishing is going on right now. Fly fishing with streamers and sink-tip lines have brought many large browns to hand. Black weighted streamers sizes 4 to 8 of various types; woolly buggers, matukas, leeches, etc. have been working when pounding the banks. Short stout leaders are best. Several browns in the 5 to 6 pound range have been caught from the Dam area down to Buffalo City.
Kings River: Ken Richards with www.justfishinguides.com says the fishing has slowed in the middle of the day for smallmouth since the really hot days have arrived. Fly fishing with medium white poppers have brought up several nice fish in the 16 inch range. They must be fished actively. Spin fishermen are having luck with Carolina and Texas rigged 4 inch lizards in green pumkinseed and watermelon. Smaller lures and flies have been racking up large numbers of sunfish.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 689.71 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 574.74 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait said fishing has been fair. The early morning has been the best time of day to be fishing. Top-water fishing is still good until about 8 a.m. After that, you will need to fish deep. Bluegill fishing is very good using worms and crickets fished around 20-30 feet deep. Striper fishing has been fair. A few are being caught on small live bait. Mid-lake and toward the dam have been the better areas to fish for stripers. They are hanging in 40 feet of water and deeper. Walleye fishing has slowed, but a few are being caught on live bait. Try fishing around the thermocline (18-25 feet deep). Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing are fair. The bass are still being caught around the trees and along the bluffs. Crappie fishing is slow. White bass fishing is fair. White in-line spinners are still the choice lure. Catfish are still hitting live bait on limb lines.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said all fishing is slow.
Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork has been spectacular on low water. Anglers reported great success with black zebra nymphs, olive scuds, and black Norfork bead heads all in size 18. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles, and worm brown San Juan worms. The top producer was the green butt soft hackle. There have been some sparse sulphur hatches in mid morning and this was the key to success. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing slows a bit. Use conventional high-water techniques, and if you are not fishing a catch-and-release area consider using a dropper tied to the lead flies. Dry Run Creek has been a local hot spot. This is a great place for you to while away the summer with your children or grand children. It is also a great place to beat the heat.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,128.74 feet MSL.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been on the small side, but they continue to bite. Best places have been off main lake points and humps early and late in the day. Finesse tactics have worked best. A buzzbait or a spinnerbait has worked when fished along the flooded cover at dawn and at dusk. Crappie are suspended 15 to 25 feet under shaded docks, bluff walls, standing timber and in open water on flats. Minnows, tubes and shineee hineee jigs have been effective. Small crankbaits have worked on the flats from Hickory Creek south into the rivers. White bass are scattered but can be found at night along deep bluff walls. Fish minnows under lights 10 to 30 feet deep. Stripers have been found on the downstream end of the lake in deep water. Try trolling an umbrella rig 30 to 40 feet deep. Catfish again have been biting well all over the lake. Liver, goldfish, worms or stink bait have all worked well. Bluegill are taking crickets and worms 4 feet deep around rocks and docks.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is murky and high. Bream fishing is fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well around docks on minnows. Bass fishing is good early on top-water lures and crankbaits. They are also good at night on plastics, jigs and spoons. Catfish are fair jug fishing with cut bait.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said all fishing is slow.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water conditions are normal. Fishing has been slow due to few anglers, but a few crappie have been caught on road runners.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is clear and low. All fishing has been slow.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles: Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal and the temperature ranges from 70 to 72 degrees. The water clarity is about 10 inches. Bream are biting on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow on minnows, jigs, and worms. Bass are slow on spinners and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on carp minnows.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the high 80’s. Bream have been excellent on crickets and beetle spins. A few crappie are being caught deep on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well early and late on top-water lures and crankbaits. Catfishing is excellent on stink bait, shrimp, liver and shad.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Catfish are being caught on worms and nightcrawlers.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Greg Gulledge with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said Lake Monticello is finally settling into the summer pattern. Hot weather has put the bass on drops in 10 to 22 feet of water. Nice bass have been caught this week, including a 9 lb. 3 oz. toad on Fishboy plastic worms and tubes. There are schoolers to be caught if you are lucky enough to be in range of them before they go back down. Topwaters and crankbaits have been catching the schoolers. The frog fishing has been very spotty with a few nice bass being taken on the Spro Bronze Eye Frog.
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and low. All fishing has been slow.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all fishing is slow.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.28 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service says largemouth bass remain best early and late in the day or during periods of lowest light and heat. Fishing is tough from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The current if Little River has decreased from last week and the Millwood is at normal level and falling. Topwater toads and plugs, Bass Assassin shads, 10-inch to 12-inch worms, and swim baits, all continue working well for bass. The water clarity along the main lake and also in Little River improved this week. Some high density, broken vegetation and floating mats remain in Little River. Corps of Engineers crews have replaced many damaged or missing river buoys in Little River in the clear cut main lake area and up the river. The main lake and Little River’s water surface temp range from about 85 to 91 degrees, depending on location and time of day. White bass remain nomadic and sporadic. The white bass bite is full on or full off, between White Cliffs and Cemetary Slough, along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges, Roostertails and Rocket Shads in white, red and chrome colors. Best depth zones run 12 to 18 inches. Times best last week continue from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The crappie bite has improved slightly. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke grubs on light wire jig heads and Mizmo tubes. Blues and channel cats continue to hit well on trotlines and can be found in current in Little River. Cut shad, Catfish Charlie,