2008

June 18, 2008

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers [at] agfc [dot] state [dot] ar [dot] us

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for June 18. 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:   If you are going to fly fish one of Arkansas’s many small streams, the best baits will imitate insects that are active along the water. To quickly give you an idea of the insect life around a particular body of water, look for spider webs along the bank and turn up rocks at the edge of the water. The bugs you’ll find in these places are usually the best patterns to start with on the water.

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 – 389.18 feet, Tailwater – 387.26 feet, Flow – 126,710 cubic feet per second

Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.30 feet, Tailwater – 353.48 feet

Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.72 feet, Tailwater – 303.50 feet

Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 286.09 feet, Tailwater – 283.27 feet

Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 265.72 feet, Tailwater – 265.93 feet

Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 247.74 feet, Tailwater – 239.49 feet, Flow – 156,257 cubic feet per second

Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.50 feet, Tailwater – 226.19 feet, Flow – 166,050 cubic feet per second

Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 194.25 feet, Tailwater – 193.88 feet

Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 182.99 feet, Tailwater – 181.82 feet

Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 161.52 feet, Tailwater – 148.68 feet, Flow – 157,395 cubic feet per second

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

8.3 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
10.3 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
14.3 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
26.3 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
15.8 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
23.5 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Channel catfish are being 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. Bream are still biting well on crickets, wax worms and redworms in shallow water and near brush. 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 water conditions are normal. Bream are picking up on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair around the docks on minnows. Bass are biting well on flukes and Trixie worms. Catfish are fair on large minnows.

Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. They should begin bedding again with the full moon approaching. Bass are fair on plastics and top-water baits. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught along deeper cypress trees. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and livers baited on limb lines and trotlines.

Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said water conditions are normal with two generators running around the clock. Trout fishing is good on spinners with a glow worm and Power Egg, countdowns and Shad Raps.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House has been releasing water continuously. If you elect to fish the Little Red from a boat in this high water, be sure the operator gives full attention to the task of keeping the boat in a safe position. The operator should not fish. Effective dries include the Adams (#14-#24), sulphur (#16-#18), BWO (blue winged olive mayfly #16-#18) or midge (#22 or smaller in cream or black). Sub-surface offerings should include the lowly sowbug (#14-#16 UV tan, UV gray or olive), zebra midge (#16-#22 red, black or olive), copper john (a great sulphur nymph imitation in sizes #16-#18), San Juan worm (#14-#18 cerise, fl. orange or red), red butt soft hackle (best in low water -sizes #14-#18), pheasant tail (#16), hare’s ear nymph (#14-#16) or wooly bugger (#4-#12 olive, brown or black).

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 478.36 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the hybrid and white bass fishing is good. With the water being pulled down they are eating young fry coming out of the bushes and pushing them to the top up on the banks. Use a very small bait to mimic the fry. Walleye are few and far between. A few can be caught on crankbaits up shallow, but the rest are on their way to deep water. Catfish are biting pretty well all over the lake. Some bass are back shallow chasing bream in the bushes and will hit frogs, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits, a lot of the bass are in 22-25 feet of water on the tips of points or on gravel flats making their way to point tips. They can be caught dragging a Carolina rig, football head jig or a Texas-rigged worm in crabapple or grasshopper colors. Buzzbaits and Zara Spooks are working in the same places early and late in the day until the sun gets high.

Shiloh Marina said the water is murky and high. All species are currently slow.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is high and murky. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on any bait.

Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is high and rough right now. All fishing is slow.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and red worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on crayfish.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with the surface temperature around 90 degrees. Bream are good around the banks on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are fair in 7 to 10 foot of water on red or chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair in buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines and yo-yos using bream or nightcrawlers.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are fair around brush piles on minnows. Bass are fair on top-water lures. Catfishing is good around banks on any bait.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass fishing is good on small crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.

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

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said bass fishing is good. Tournament results are still in the 10 to 12 pound range to win. Largemouths are still shallow, 5 to 8 feet deep, but they should be moving to deeper water with the hot days. Fish shallow-running crankbaits, Carolina rigs with lizards or floating worms and spinnerbaits. Bream are Excellent. They are starting to bed up with the full moon. Fish with crickets and worms. Patrick Point and the old Jolly Rogers location are hot. Crappie are fair. They are deep, 10 to 20 feet, and hitting small jigs and minnows. Catfish are excellent. They are shallow and hitting big minnows and prepared bait. The chimney area seems good. White bass are good. Some are schooling around Jim’s Island and biting well on clear topwaters and CC Spoons.

Little and Big Maumelle Rivers: Josh Jeffers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (501-868-5806) said the water level is receding and the surface temperature ranges from 75 to 79. The water clarity is low. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting fair on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on shad-colored flukes, shaky head finesse worms, small top-water baits (early in the mornings and late in the afternoons), and Texas-rigged creature baits. Catfish are biting well on night crawlers and different types of stink bait.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop had no report.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and high and still very dangerous. There is no fishing on the river at this time.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are good 20 feet from the bank, 5 to 6 feet deep on crickets and redworms. Catfishing is good around the dam on chicken liver.

Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop had no report.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) had no report.

NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. It has not fished as well as it has in previous weeks. The ticket to success as always on high water has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and large brightly colored eggs. If you are not fishing catch and release water, tie a dropper on at the bend of the hook. A good choice would be a copper john or a zebra midge both in size 14.

Mountain River Fly Shop said traffic is slowing down as the heat kicks in and the water rises. But the fishing is good. Apart from Sunday morning, when the water was shut down to coincide with the Casting For Recovery event, generation has remained between 6 and 8 units this week, though the cfs varied from 8000 cfs to over 18000cfs. The fish are in great condition, very fat and hungry. Our guides are continuing to do well with spaghetti and meatballs rigs (attractor eggs in front of a San Juan), or for variety shrimp and dumplings (scuds and eggs). There are huge numbers of scuds now visible with the heaviest didymo removed by the high flows. The attractor eggs get the trout’s attention to the more natural offering. Streamers have been working very well. Tan hues have been more successful over the last week .

Sportsman’s White River Resort said eight generators are running around the clock, which doesn’t make for good fishing. Trout are still fair on pink or red Power worms, gold Little Cleos, Rogues and Rapalas.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 691.24 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 576.30 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the low to mid 80s. Bream fishing is great using crickets, redworms and nightcrawlers. Striper fishing is good using live bait (small shiners or shad). The stripers are also hitting artificial baits fished around 20-30 feet deep. White bass fishing is fair. Try using small in-line spinners. Walleye fishing has been good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good. Crappie fishing is slow. They are out there but finding them can be a challenge.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork has been spectacular on low water. Anglers reported great success with pheasant tail nymphs in size 14 and black zebra nymphs in size 18-20. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles and worm brown San Juan worms. In the afternoon, when they fired up the generators, fishing slowed a bit. Use conventional high water techniques and if you are not fishing Catch and Release consider using a dropper tied to the lead flies. A good choice for this would be a black zebra midge or copper john in size 14. My most productive fly for high water on the Norfork has been the hot fluorescent pink San Juan worm. Dry Run Creek has fished well of late. There have been few youngsters taking advantage of this remarkable fishery during the last week. The major food source on the creek is sow bugs size 14. Anyone considering taking a youngster fishing there should take along a good supply. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet because the fish here are huge. Most of the fish hooked are lost at the net. Take the biggest net you can lay your hands on and do not forget the camera.

Mountain River Fly Shop said apart from last Saturday’s low water for the Norfork Kids Fishing derby, when the crowds turned out (and the fishing was pretty good) Norfork has been little touched in high water.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,129.18 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good. Spinnerbaits worked slowly around flooded trees have worked well. Grassy points are a good place to work a Carolina rig or wacky worm. Crappie fishing has improved greatly. Better numbers are coming in. Good places to look are under floating debris in coves, standing timber and brush all in 30 feet of water or less. Most fish have been suspended and biting curly tail grubs. White bass fishing continues to be best at night with lights. Catching your own shad is the best bet. Walleye also have been caught. Bluff lines near the main channel have worked best. Striped bass are scattered from Rocky Branch north. Trolled umbrella rigs with white curly tails are working well. Bluegill are biting fairly well around docks and rocks on crickets. Catfish are hitting anything you throw at them all over the lake from the bank at night.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clearing and remains high. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Stripers are fair on minnows.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) had no report.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is muddy and high. All species are slow.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on minnows.

Lake Fort Smith: Jay Schneider at Lake Fort Smith State Park said bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and minnows. Crappie are hitting in 10-12 feet of water on red/white tube jigs and minnows. The water clarity is steadily improving after the last flooding.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles: Mike Wayer at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water temperature is 78 degrees and the water clarity is about 18 inches. Crappie and bass have been biting very well on minnows and the occasional worm. Catfishing is good on jugs baited with worms. Bream fishing has been good on worms and jigs.

Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said this week the fishing has been great! Water levels and clarity have been excellent. Fish have been averaging 12 to 15 inches with an occasional big trout. Fishing has been most productive from sunup to noon. The trout slow down during the afternoon hours but that is the time when the larger fish are caught.

Mark’s Fly Shop said fishing has been great this week. Water clarity has been good. Bait anglers have been seeing great results with Power Bait, shrimp, and worms. Caddis and mayfly hatches have been increasing during morning and evening hours. Trout tend not to rise on the Spring River, but when a good hatch starts, a proper nymph or emerger will do the trick.

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal with surface temperatures of 80 degrees most mornings. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 8 to 10 feet on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and topwaters in the morning and deep-diving crankbaits in the afternoons. Catfishing is excellent on stink bait, chicken liver and goldfish.

Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on worms and shrimp.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Local angler Greg Gulledge said the fishing on Lake Monticello is beginning to heat back up with the weather. Surface temperatures have been in the mid-80s. Bass are settling into a summer pattern on the drops in the 12- to 20-foot range. Nice fish have been coming in on tequila and watermelon/red ribbon-tailed and straight-tailed worms. The best fishing has been late in the afternoon and early evening.

Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and about one foot above normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and topwaters. Catfishing is good on any bait.

SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the Ouachita River is only a few feet higher than normal now and it is falling slowly. The bream fishing is the best it’s been in the last several years. Most fisherman report catching from 50 to 100 big bream on crickets in the bay. Some are also catching bream in the lake. Catfish have been hitting shad and bream on trotlines in the bay as well. Mostly blue and channel cats are being caught, but several nice flatheads were pulled in over the weekend. Crappie and bass fishing has been slow.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.15 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 3 to 6 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 79 to 86 degrees. Current in Little River is 6,621 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass are excellent with the increased current. Buzzbaits, jigs, worms Bass Assassin Shads and Topwater Toads are all working well in water 2 to 12 feet deep. Black/blue or black/red jigs, Salt-and-Pepper/silver phantom and baby bass Bass Assassin Shads and watermelon/red flake Trick Worms have been steady producers. Shallow flats with cypress stumps and grass or lily pads next to deep water are the areas anglers should key on. Siefert’s Buzz Baits in Blue Glimmer Bleeding Avocado and Blue Bubblegum fished near emerging lily pads in 2 to 5 feet of water are taking some good keepers as long as the water stays clear. White bass are fair on trolled Rat-L-Traps or Norman Deep Little N’s, between Jack’s Isle and Mud Lake, along Little River at 10-15′ depths. The crappie bite dropped off with increased current and off-clarity water. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, chartreuse tube jigs and white grubs, but it’s still very slow. Blues and channel cats continue to hit well on trotlines, and remain best w/ consistent current in Little River over the past week. Channel cats from 3-12 pounds are very good to excellent on chicken livers and hearts, cottonseed meal cakes, cut shad or Charlie baited on trotlines and yo-yos along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 9-15 feet of water. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms around docks and cypress trees.

Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said USGA states that the water level is 2.73 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 68 to 75 degrees. Recent rains of 3-plus inches have the river rising quickly, but if you can catch the draw down right, the action will be fast and plentiful. Bream are biting poorly, but some are being caught around low-water bridges off bait sitting on the bottom. About the only bait that is working has been worms. Smallmouth bass are not biting very well mainly because the water is too swift to get to them, and until the water starts to clear, they will have more than enough food. The bite will stay slow until then. Largemouth bass are reacting the same as smallmouth. Most of the bass that are being caught are hooked while fishing for perch. Catfish, however, are biting well in the eddies. With some being taken on chunks of hot dogs or worms, live perch baited trotlines are doing good as well. Keep in mind that when fishing on Cossatot River, the smallmouth limit is two and they must be at least 12 inches.

Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on liver and cut bait.

Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on any bait.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the lake level is steady and the water is cloudy. Catfish are hitting worms, especially catalpa worms, well. Bream and crappie are slow. Bass fishing is very slow.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 548.07 feet MSL.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said crappie are excellent on live bait and good most days on a jig. They are staying relatively shallow (10-12 feet) in the mornings and moving deeper (15-18 feet) by noon. Bream, catfish and bass are also good on the morning bite. A few walleye have shown up on the main channel points.

Lakeside Grocery said the water is high and the surface temperature is in the high 80s. Crappie are biting well in 15 to 25 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good in 10 to 20 feet on spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Catfishing is fair on bream and minnows.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures said stripers are biting well in 25-30 feet deep on live shad fished near the main channel with most of the fish being 6-10 pounds.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 447.17 feet MSL.

DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is clearing up with temperature in the 70s. Bream are fair outside the grass beds on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and top-water baits. Catfishing is fair on trotlines with minnows.

Larry Hurley of Poorman’s Guide Service said DeGray has been on fire and should be the best lake in the state this week as well. Bass are chasing shad early over main lake points. Once the sun is high, bass are moving to the grass and biting very well on black/blue jigs fished along the inside and outside edges of the weeds. Hybrids and white bass are chasing anything swimming and breaking the surface often. Spoons, top-water baits and crankbaits are killing them.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is high and rough. Bass are biting well in shallow water on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic frogs. Catfishing is good on worms, stink bait and nightcrawlers.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 390.31 feet MSL.

Booneville Bait said the water is high and murky. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are good around shorelines on minnows. Bass are biting well on worms and minnows. Catfishing is good on any bait..

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good below the dam on nightcrawlers, liver, minnows and cut bait.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 578.01 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing slowed down, but bass are still biting well on spinnerbaits and topwaters fished over the grass early. By 11 a.m., move to the outer edge of the grass and work a 10-inch Power Worm in Watermelon Candy or Redbug along the grass line. Stripers are hit-and-miss, but spoons and shad imitations are still catching a few.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474) said the fishing is best in the early morning and late evening. Most are being caught in 25-30 feet deep, but some schools have been seen as deep as 45 feet. Live gizzard shad around 4-7 inches are working well around points near the channel. Bird Island has been a consistent producer.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and the surface temperature is 74 to 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on Zara Spooks, Boy Howdies and buzzbaits fished over the grass. Jerkbaits, Rooster Tails and flukes are also working well in the mornings and evenings. Walleye are fair on spoons fished over brush on main-lake points. Stripers are fair to good on live bait. Some top-water action has picked up on C-10 Redfins. Bream are biting very well on crickets and worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are biting well over grass and brush in 16 to 20 feet of water. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are still good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jugs and trotlines.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said rainbow trout fishing below the dam remains extremely slow. Trout are normally caught in good numbers until the middle of August. This year will not live up to the norm. Fishermen catching a 5-fish limit can consider that a great day with the conditions being what they are. The March and April flooding has radically changed the numbers of fish that are living in the tailrace. Unfortunately these two months are the very best fishing times at Carpenter Dam and the good fishing for rainbows is over until December. White and hybrid bass fishing is improving as the huge schools of threadfin shad migrate toward the dam. Live minnows floated under a bobber are catching the majority of fish, but 1/8-oz. white jigs fished in the current have taken the largest. Stripers are present in the tailrace, but are not schooling yet. July and August are prime months for striper fishing as these fish chase shad and feed heavily on top. C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks are the baits of choice when schools of stripers are present.

Diamond Head Marina said water conditions are normal with surface temperature in the high 70s. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and plastic worms.

Lake Hinkle: Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well around the dam on minnows. Catfishing is good on worms, liver and large minnows.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on worms and liver.

EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is murky and high. Bream fishing is good on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, topwaters and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and cut bait.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Bass are fair on jigs and trick worms.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on any bait.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.

Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said water conditions are very good. Bream are fair around the piers on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are fair on trolled minnows. Catfishing is very good on yo-yos with nightcrawlers and cut bait.

Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is very high. All species are slow.

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Arkansas Weekly Fishing Reports - 6/11/2008

June 11, 2008

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers [at] agfc [dot] state [dot] ar [dot] us

June 11, 2008 Edition

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for June 11. 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 fishing for bass with top-water lures, always have a back-up rod ready. Whenever a bass strikes at a buzzbait or other surface lure and misses, reel in quickly and cast back to the same spot with your backup. The fish will often strike, thinking they stunned the animal they struck at the first time. Tubes, soft-plastic stick baits and worms are some of the best backups.

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 – 389.44 feet, Tailwater – 388.59 feet, Flow – 138,130 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.84 feet, Tailwater – 353.56 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.52 feet, Tailwater – 302.19 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 285.49 feet, Tailwater – 281.96 feet
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 266.18 feet, Tailwater – 265.94 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 247.88 feet, Tailwater – 238.32 feet, Flow – 137,062
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.85 feet, Tailwater – 224.40 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 195.26 feet, Tailwater – 191.71 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 181.49 feet, Tailwater – 179.76 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 161.68 feet, Tailwater – 145.60 feet, Flow – 130,846 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 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
9.6 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
13.8 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
26.1 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
15.5 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
23.8 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report
Channel catfish are being stocked in all program ponds and are biting well on worms, liver, hot dogs, shrimp and paste baits. Channel catfish are being caught with more success in early mornings and late evenings. Bream are still biting well on crickets, wax worms and redworms. 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 murky and at normal level. Bream are fair in 15 to 20 feet of water on worms, waxworms and crickets. Crappie are fair in 6 to 8 feet of water at the north side of the lake on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good around lily pads on Trixie lures. Catfishing is fair on minnows.

Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water conditions are normal with one generator running around the clock. Trout fishing has been excellent on in-line spinnerbaits with a pink worm and yellow Power Bait.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House continues daily water releases using one generator at 4 a.m., ramping up the second generator at 6 a.m. and shutting both down around midnight. Greers Ferry Lake is 481 feet above man sea level which is 20 feet too high. A 30-inch brown trout was caught last week at Winkley Shoal. A 27-inch rainbow was hooked at JFK Park on Saturday morning during the Kid’s Fishing Derby, but got away. The aquatic insect hatches continue to include new participants. Along with caddis flies, sulphur mayflies, March brown mayflies and midges, we now have blue-winged olive mayflies buzzing around. Our insect-rich stream will soon see light cahill mayflies joining in the activity. Most any nymph pattern or emerger will attract trout. When dry fly fishing, try an Adams (size 14-size 24), sulphur (size 16-size 18), BWO (blue winged olive size 16-size 18), march brown (size 14), elk hair caddis (size 14-size 16) or midge (size 22 or smaller in cream or black). The best sub-surface flies include the sow bug (size 14-size 16; UV tan, UV gray or olive), zebra midge (size 16-size 22; red, olive or black), red butt soft hackle (size 14-size 16), San Juan worm (size 14-size 18; peach, fl. orange or red), pheasant tail (size 16), hare’s ear nymph (size 14-size 16) or woolly bugger (size 4-size 12 olive, brown or black.)

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 480.84 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the hybrid and white bass fishing is going crazy right now. With the water being pulled down they are eating young fry coming out of the bushes and pushing them to the top up on the banks. Use a very small bait to mimic the fry. No-report on crappie or bream. Walleye are few and far between. A few can be caught on crankbaits up shallow. But the rest are on their way out deeper. Catfish are biting pretty well all over the lake. Some bass are back shallow chasing bream in the bushes and will hit frogs, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits, a lot of the bass are in 22-25 feet of water on the tips of points or on gravel flats making their way to point tips. They can be caught dragging a rig, football head jig or a Texas-rigged worm in crabapple or grasshopper colors. Buzzbaits and Zara Spooks are working in the same places early and late in the day until the sun gets high.

Shiloh Marina said the water is murky and high with surface temperature in the low 70s. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on worms.

Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is murky and high. Crappie are fair around brush on minnows and jigs.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is murky and at normal level with surface temperature in the low 80s. Bream are fair around the banks on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting well on top-water baits. Catfishing is good on trotlines and yoyos with minnows, nightcrawlers and bream.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is murky and at normal level. All fishing is fair.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on Magic Bait.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass fishing is good on Rooster Tails. Catfishing is good on Magic Bait.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charlie’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said the flow is still well over 100,000 cfs, but fishing is very good below the dams and in the backwater. Catfishing is very good below dams nine and 10. Use a 3 to 6-ounce weight on a three-way rig baited with live bream. Channel catfish are biting well on liver and worms around Flagg Lake Cutoff, Coppers Gap and Gala Creek. White bass are chasing shad early and late in the day on the backside of jetties. Wobble spoons and Sassy Shads are taking quite a few. Black bass are biting well. Early in the morning, try a buzzbait or Jitterbug under overhangs. Later in the day move to 4 to 6 feet of water and throw Firetiger crankbaits. Bream are biting well in the backwater in 1 to 3 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are on the backs of jetties and in the creeks and are biting fairly well on minnows fished around wood.

Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is still really rough and fishing has been slow. A few bass have been caught in the backwater on jigs and frogs.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said bass fishing continues to be good. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are holding just outside the weed line and can be caught on spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs. The best bite is in the first two hours of the day on the north banks. Bream fishing is excellent. The bream should be bedding up again very soon. Patrick Point and the old Jolly Rogers Marina are producing well. Crappie are 10 to 25 feet deep and are hitting minnows and small jigs. Catfishing is good on live and prepared baits in 10 to 20 feet of water. White bas are fair with some schooling reported around Jim’s Island.

Little and Big Maumelle Rivers: Josh Jeffers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (501-868-5806) said the water level is receding and the surface temperature ranges from 75 to 79. The water clarity is low. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting fairly well on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on shad-colored flukes, shaky head finesse worms and small top-water baits. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and different types of stink bait.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bass are good early on white spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bream are excellent on crickets in pad beds. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines with cut shad, chicken hearts and live slicks.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said Catfish are excellent on shad and live slicks. Crappie are fair on minnows with a slip cork rig and twister tails.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and high and still very dangerous. There is no fishing on the river at this time.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair in shallow water on crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jigs.

Lake Pickthorne: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are excellent on crickets and wax worms. Bass are good on spinnerbaits and top-water stick baits. Catfishing is excellent on nightcrawlers and chicken hearts.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water conditions are normal with a surface temperature of about 80 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in deep water on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms, liver and large minnows.

NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said water flows on the White have been significantly higher than the past weeks. As a result, it has not fished as well as it has in previous weeks. The lower flows have been around six generators with the higher flows being more like eight. With water this high, you will be required to fish from a boat to achieve any level of success. The upper river from the Catch and Release section at the base of Bull Shoals dam to Cane Island Shoals which is usually a hot spot has yielded few fish. Some anglers, however, have been successful. The key to success has been to use conventional high water techniques. The hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise, and fire orange and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (pink, orange, tan, and red). To get the flies down use copious amounts of lead and a huge strike indicator to float all of this. I use at least 4X tippet and set the strike indicator so that the distance from the fly to the strike indicator is one and one half the depth of the water. If the water is ten feet deep the length of the tippet from fly to indicator will be fifteen feet. A rig this heavy and long will be a bit tricky to cast. I would suggest a fairly open loop and a heavier rod than normal (a fairly stiff six weight nine foot would work well).

Mountain River Fly Shop said summer temperatures, electricity demand and high water levels have seen plenty of generation on the White over the last week. Since we last reported the lowest generation level has been about 3.5 units, and most days by 10 a.m., there is about 15,000 cfs in the tailwater. Boat fishing is pretty much the only way to go. The worm bite continues even after the water is high, with Dynamite Worms, San Juans, and Bugskin Wigglers the pick. Color choices vary from the standard red and brown, but brighter hot pink, cerise and orange have their fans. The best of the drift fishing is coming in the morning on the more moderate flows, staying ahead of the dirty high water seems to be the key to staying on the best of the fishing. Some better fish seem to come on the rise, but the higher flow is very trashy and reduces your options.

Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is high with 8 to 10 generators running. Trout fishing is very good on Rogues and Rapalas and drift-fishing with Power Bait. Walleye fishing is excellent. Some white bass have also been seen in the river.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 692.17 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.16 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature has been in the mid 80s. The best fishing has been early mornings. Striper fishing is good using down lines with 1-1 1/2 oz sinkers getting the live bait down around 20-30 feet deep in 50 feet or more of water. Some stripers are being caught on artificial bait also. Walleye fishing is fair on live bait and deep-diving stick baits. The walleye have been around 20 feet deep. Bluegill fishing has been great using redworms and crickets fished with a slip bobber around 20 feet deep in the coves. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Smallmouth bass fishing is good. White bass fishing is slow. Crappie fishing is slow. Catfishing has been fair.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork has fished a bit better this week. While there have been periods of no generation at night, the better fishing has occurred in the morning when they have been running just one generator. In the afternoon, when they fire up the other generator, fishing slows a bit. Use conventional high water techniques and if you are not fishing Catch and Release consider using a dropper tied to the lead flies. A good choice for this would be a black zebra midge or copper john both in size 14. Several anglers have been observed using drag chains on the Norfork. This is illegal. The Norfork is a sensitive fishery and the use of drag chains could harm the weed beds which provide habitat and produce food for the trout. Dry Run Creek has fished well of late. There have been few youngsters taking advantage of this remarkable fishery during the last week. Now that the weather is warming up, this is a great place to escape the heat. The creek is always several degrees cooler than any other place around here. The hot flies this week have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers.

Mountain River Fly Shop said there has been some low water, but it’s all at night and over by 6 a.m. Hardly any anglers are fishing the area. There are few fly fishing guides tackling the high water. With the boat ramp at Quarry Park out of commission there are a lot of guides unwilling to risk getting stuck if the water drops out underneath them.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,129.07 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) bass fishing has been good for smaller fish. Bigger fish are around, but a bit inactive. Small spinnerbaits fished in front of flooded brush have worked best. Small finesse worms rigged wacky-style have also produced. Crappie fishing has been best at night under lights. Horseshoe Bend and Edens Bluff have both been good spots. Catching your own small shad around the lights has been the best bait. Fish them down 15 to 30 feet. Walleye and white bass also have been caught. Bluegill fishing has been good during the day around rocks and docks with crickets. Catfishing is still good lake-wide on stink bait and liver. Striped bass have been scattered but Rocky Branch would be a good place to look. Trolling umbrella rigs with white curly tails can be productive.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and high. Bream are biting well in shallow water on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair early on top-water baits. White bass are biting well at night on flukes, live shad and finesse plastics. Catfishing is fair on trotlines and limb lines on live bait and liver.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on top-water baits. Catfishing is fair on any bait.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water conditions are normal. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and minnows.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are fair on minnows and nightcrawlers.

Lake Fort Smith: Jay Schneider at Lake Fort Smith State Park said bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and minnows. Crappie are hitting in 10-12 feet of water on red/white tube jigs and minnows. The water clarity is steadily improving after the last flooding.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Charles: Mike Wayer at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said catfish are the only thing biting right now. The water level is normal and the water is clear.

Spring River: Mark’s Fly Shop said fishing has been great this week. Water clarity has been good. Bait anglers have been seeing great results with Power Bait, shrimp, and worms. Caddis and mayfly hatches have been increasing during morning and evening hours. Trout tend not to rise on the Spring River, but when a good hatch starts, a proper nymph or emerger will do the trick.

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good in 8 to 10 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are excellent on top-water baits early in the morning. Catfishing is excellent in the evening on goldfish and chicken liver. Saugeye are fair on orange/red belly lures.

Lake Frierson:Lake Frierson State Park said the water is murky and at a normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Catfishing is good on minnows.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the Ouachita river is only a few feet higher than normal now and it is falling slowly. The bream fishing is the best it’s been in the last several years. Most fisherman report catching from 50 to 100 big bream on crickets in the bay. Some are also catching bream in the lake. Catfish have been hitting shad and bream on trotlines in the bay as well. Mostly blue and channel cats are being caught, but several nice flatheads were pulled in over the weekend. Crappie and bass fishing has been slow.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and is almost back to normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well early on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on soap.

Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) had no report.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.65 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 10 to 12 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 77 to 86 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,171 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass are excellent on jigs, 10 to 12-inch worms, buzzbaits, Bass Assassin Shads and topwater toads. Most bass are being caught from 3 to 9 feet deep. Jigs in black/blue or black/red, Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper silver phantom or baby bass, Trick Worms and Salty Rat Tails in watermelon-red flake, Topwater Toads, and big bulky 10-12″ worms in camo, grasshopper, plum, and blue fleck, continue working well. Siefert’s Buzz Baits, in Alewife Shad, Hot Firecracker, or Blue Glimmer, near newly emerging lily pads and hydrilla in 2-5 feet of the clearest water you can find near cypress trees and knees are drawing good reactions. War Eagle spinnerbaits in Aurora, Cole Slaw, and Hot Mouse colors are taking some decent keepers around flooded vegetation and cypress trees away from current of the river. White bass are decent with the consistent current in Little River between Jack’s Isle and Mud Lake, along Little River. Trolling with Rat-L-Traps and deep-diving cranks in Little River between Pugh Slough and Horseshoe at 10-15 deep are the best bets. The crappie bite has been consistent in Little River, but worse on the main lake since it stained up w/ the high winds and thunderstorms from Yarborough Point to Big Bayou Boat Run. The most consistent bite was on live shiners, chartreuse tube jigs and white grubs. Channel Cats from 3-8 pounds each are very good to excellent on chicken livers and hearts, cut shad or Charlie, on trotlines and yo-yos along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 9-15 feet of water. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms around docks and cypress trees.

Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. The smallmouth bass are biting very well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdad Crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Black Bass are fair with some being taken on dark-colored finesse worms and grubs fished very slowly around deep structure. Most any grub or finesse worm fished around structure and drops will produce good bites. Catfish are good with some being taken on chunks of hot dogs; live perch baited on trotlines are doing good as well. A great deal of fish are being caught all across the park and as far south as the backwater of the lake. If conventional styles of fishing begin to fail you might want to give fly-fishing a try. Keep in mind that when fishing on Cossatot River the smallmouth limit is two and the smallmouth have to be at least 12 inches long. To experience the fishing on this river at its best, call Cossatot River State park Visitor Center to schedule a fishing Kayak tour.

Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on worms and large minnows.

Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Catfishing is good on any bait.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is stable but the water is cloudy. There have been some bream and crappie caught on crickets and worms. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with prepared bait. Bass are slow.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.32 feet MSL.

Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said fishing on Lake Greeson is good. Crappie are holding shallower than normal for this time of year. Most are being caught 10 to 11 feet deep in 18 to 22 feet of water on bamboo and hardwood mats. Black bass are doing well early. Stripers are biting well at the lower end of the lake around 30 feet deep.

Lakeside Grocery said the water is murky and at normal level with surface temperature at about 85 degrees. Bream are biting well 5 feet deep on crickets. Crappie are biting well in 15-20 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are fair on trotlines and limb lines with live bait.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.40 feet MSL.

Lake DeGray State Park said the largemouth bass are back, out in 5 to 20 feet. They are being caught on tequila sunrise, watermelon and pumpkinseed worms. Bream are on and around their beds they are hitting crickets. Larger bream are in 25 feet of water. The catfish are starting to come in and can be found from the bank to 15 feet of water. The hybrids are breaking, coming up and staying longer, mixed with black bass and white bass. The surface temperature is 82 degrees and warming.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are picking up on worms and crickets. Catfishing is very good on stink bait and nightcrawlers. They are also being caught snagging below the dam.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 388.33 feet MSL.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high Bream are biting well on crickets. Black bass are being caught on spinnerbaits. A few catfish have been caught on shad and nightcrawlers.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.61 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley of Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing is very good with a lot of action happening early mornings and a variety of fish busting the surface on the main lake. Many white are being caught on spoons and black bass and stripers are hitting spinnerbaits over the grass. After 10 a.m. the bite slows, but anglers can find a steady bite on 10-inch Berkley Power Worms around the outside edge of the grass near standing timber.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474) said stripers have moved a little deeper than last week. A 5- to 7-inch shad weighed down between 20 and 30 feet deep and worked slowly around main-lake points is working well. Look for schools of fish on your graph and drop the bait right in their face. The fish are not chasing the bait very far from the school. Points 27 and 25 have been good producers lately. Slow-trolling live shad has worked well in front of Brady Mountain and Crystal S

Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 6/18/2008

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