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
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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, cottonseed mill cake, and chicken hearts and livers have been working well. Try yo-yo’s hung from cypress trees in about 10 feet of water near current. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and red worms around docks and cypress trees. With the mayfly hatch dwindling down, bream and redears can still be caught under a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spin cast tackle on smoke colored tubes, jigs, crickets, red worms, and also on white and chartreuse-colored popping bugs.
Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said USGA states that the water level is 1.83 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 75 to 80 degrees. With the ever increasing heat and lack of water, algae is beginning to grow rapidly all over the river, causing the fish to be less aggressive. Early and late in the day are the best times to try your hand at the fish in the river. Bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. The smallmouth bass are biting well early and late on green pumpkinseed finesse worms and crawdad crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water, small dark colored grubs are doing well too. Catfish are hit and miss; most are being caught at night on nightcrawlers.
Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and low. Bream fishing is good on crickets and red worms. Crappie are fair on shiners. Bass are fair on artificial baits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is dropping from lack of rain. The water is clear and the water temperature is high. Most fishing is slow. Bream are hitting on crickets. Bass are in the deeper, cooler water hitting artificial baits. Catfish are slow on jugs and trotlines.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 544.66 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said the water surface temperature is 92 degrees. Stripers are being caught early in deep water near the dam. Bream are biting well on crickets fished 8 to 12 feet deep over brush in 15 to 18 feet of water. All other species are fair early in the morning and poor during the day.
Lakeside Grocery said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 93 degrees. All fishing has been slow.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 405.90 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) had no report.
Charles at Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina said largemouth bass are biting fairly well on redbug and cherryseed colored worms fished on the deep side of moss points. Some fish are schooling very early and late and can be caught on Zara Spooks, Rooster Tails and Tiny Torpedoes. Kentucky bass are slow on live crawfish fished 20 to 26 feet deep on points and dropoffs. Hybrids are biting well on live shad, topwaters and jigging spoons in 35 to 45 feet of water. The best areas have been around the dam and Caddo Bend. Crappie are slow, but a few are being caught on Tennessee Shad grubs and live minnows fished slowly around moss points with brush piles set 18 to 22 feet deep. Catfish are biting well on trotlines and jugs baited with minnows or cut shad. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers fished 10 to 20 feet deep near points.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said river flow is expected to fall to around 35,000 CFS by mid-week. The small craft advisory has been lifted and this Friday, Saturday and Sunday fishermen are going to be hitting the Arkansas River in search of monster largemouth bass for a chance to win $100,000 in the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza. With air temperatures pushing 100 degrees and water temperature at 86 degrees, fishing for most species has become challenging. Bass can be caught in about 12-15 feet of water on humps and points on crankbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms. Early morning fishing is good with top-water baits such as frogs and buzz baits. Bream are doing well in the first few hours of the morning on crickets and worms. Catfishing seems to be doing well at night on cut shad, nightcrawlers and artificial baits.
Bill’s Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Bass are fair in deep water on crankbaits and worms. Catfish are biting well on stink bait.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 386.41 feet MSL.
Booneville Bait (479-675-9038) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair around the spillway on crickets. Crappie are being caught on minnows. Catfish are fair on worms.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is clearing up and starting to slow down. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers and crickets. A few crappie have been caught deep on minnows and jigs. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on liver, nightcrawlers and cut shad.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 575.24 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said the bite has actually been pretty good with good breaking action in the mornings and bass and stripers running together chasing shad. Topwaters have produced, but the best bite has been on shallow-running crankbaits and jigging spoons. After the morning bite is over, fish a 10-inch worm on a 3/8-oz. weight and target the outside edge of the grass in 25 feet of water.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and ranges from 86 to 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms and shakey head worms. Drop-shot rigs are also working fairly well around river channel drops near brush. Walleye are biting well on spoons fished over brush on main lake points. Some quality fish are also being taken on bottom bouncers rigged with a spinner rig and crawler harness. Stripers are biting well on live shad or trotline minnows. Bream are biting very well on crickets and worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are biting fairly well over grass and brush in 20 to 30 feet of water. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live bait hung from jugs and trotlines.
Trader Bill’s said the hot weather has moved everything to the deep edge of the moss. Some good bass are being caught on Texas-rigged 10-inch worms, large brush hogs and jigs pitched to the deep weed edge but it’s slow. Frogs will work once the grass tops out. If you find some matted grass, try fishing a swimbait along its edge or pitching a heavy jig such as an Oldham’s grass jig to punch through the surface to reach fish below.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good at night using 10-inch Berkley worms with small weights 12 to 18 feet deep.
Trader Bill’s said white bass, Kentuckies and largemouths can be caught early in the morning on live bass minnows tailhooked and freelined in front of Stokes, Williams and Hot Springs creeks and Scully Basin. Night fishing with Zara Puppies and dark-colored soft-plastics is good during the first 2 hours of the evening and again after midnight.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the extreme summer heat has limited the anglers at Carpenter Dam. Most of the fishing has taken place in the early morning hours or right before nightfall. Rainbow trout continue to be very slow with some fish being caught on nightcrawlers and Power Bait near the dam. The limited numbers of trout in the tailrace make fishing very difficult and getting consistent bites is out of the question. Restocking will begin again in November. Striper and hybrid activity has been hit-or-miss as the threadfin shad schools move in and out of the tailrace. Fishermen need to monitor the movements of the baitfish as their presence will dictate whether or not the striper and hybrid bass will be in the immediate area. Carpenter Dam can be alive with schooling fish one day and no fish at all the next. Large brood and gizzard shad fished under a balloon rig will target the larger fish, but casting Super Spooks and C-10 Redfins has taken many 10- to 12-pound fish. Soft plastic presentations from 6 to 9 inches long are excellent for enticing fish to strike when they refuse hard-sided baits.
Diamond Head Marina said water conditions are normal with water temperature in the high 80’s. Bream are biting well around drop-offs on crickets. Crappie are fair in deep water on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair around shore lines on plastic worms. A few walleye have been caught on minnows.
Lake Hinkle: Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. A few crappie have been caught deep on minnows. Bass fishing is good on top-water lures and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on worms, liver and shad.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clearing up and at normal level. Bream are biting well in deep water on crickets and worms. Catfishing is excellent on crickets and large minnows.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the Ouachita River remains at summer normal which is 65ft above sea level. Bream are being caught on crickets and worms in the lake and in the bay. Even bank fishermen are catching bream in the park on crickets. Experienced crappie fishermen are catching some crappie on shiners and jigs in the bay but most fishermen aren’t catching any crappie. Small bass (less and 1 ½ pounds) have been caught on plastic worms, buzz baits, and small crank baits near cypress trees in the bay. One fisherman reported catching some good catfish on jugs in the lake. Several fishermen reported doing well tight lining with bream in the main river channel.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and black or chartreuse jigs. Bass are excellent on crankbaits, plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfish are picking up on worms and cut bait.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and high. Bass are biting well on soft plastics and crankbaits. Early in the morning they are biting well on top-water lures and buzzbaits.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said water conditions are normal. A few bream have been caught on worms.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said all fishing is slow.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said bream are biting well around lily pads on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair near piers on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair around lily pads on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms and chicken liver.
Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is murky and low. A few crappie have been caught on jigs. Catifsh are fair on chicken liver and worms.
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Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 7/16/2008
July 16, 2008
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers [at] agfc [dot] state [dot] ar [dot] us
July 16, 2008 Edition
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July 16. 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 spinner baits, use darker-colored skirts under cloudy or low-light conditions and lighter-colored skirts under sunny or high visibility conditions.
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 – 389.83 feet, Tailwater – 381.39 feet, Flow – 81,200 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.21 feet, Tailwater – 348.18 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 338.03 feet, Tailwater – 296.17 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 285.68 feet, Tailwater – 275.74 feet
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 260.16 feet, Tailwater – 265.93 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 248.59 feet, Tailwater – 233.98 feet, Flow – 82,889 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.57 feet, Tailwater – 220.15 feet
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 195.60 feet, Tailwater – 187.52 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 181.77 feet, Tailwater – 174.30 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 161.97 feet, Tailwater – 141.83 feet, Flow – 85,759 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the White River stages are:
9.5 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
9.9 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
15.6 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
27.5 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
16.4 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
23.8 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 water conditions are normal with temperatures in the mid 80’s. Bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are fair in 6 to 8 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well around lily pads on plastic frogs. Catfish are starting to pick up on trot lines with live bait.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bream are biting well. Bass are biting fairly well on frogs and buzzbaits early. Crappie fishing is slow. Catfish are biting well on live and prepared baits.
Little Red River:Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the conditions are normal with two generators running. Trout fishing is good drift fishing on spinner rigs with a glow worm or Power Egg. Shad Raps, Countdowns and Rouges seem to be working very well.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is continuing around-the-clock water releases. The temperature of the water coming through the turbines is averaging 52 degrees with dissolved oxygen at 7.2 mg/l. Your friendly, neighborhood trout hatchery has continued its stocking of rainbow trout despite the high water. There are now more trout in the Little Red River than in the previous year or so. Stocking continues even though very few trout are being taken due to the high water. I predict that when our water releases are reduced, the Little Red River will produce amazing numbers of trout. They have been gorging on all that food coming downstream in the current and will eagerly take your any offering. Fishing with a fly rod in high water is so unrewarding that most fly fishermen don’t bother to try. Bait fishing and spin casting, on the other hand, have been highly successful in high water. There have been 12 capsized boats in the Little Red since June 11th. Since there is an inherent danger navigating a boat in fast water while also trying to fish, spin and bait casters should hire a guide to take care of the navigation, thereby freeing them to fish successfully and safely all day. Sporadic sightings of sulphur and blue winged olive mayflies are being reported with dependable midge hatches occurring daily. The best flies are a San Juan worm (#12-#18 red, orange or cerise), sowbug (#14-#18 tan, uv tan, uv gray or olive), copper john (#16-#18 red, green or copper), pheasant tail (#16), zebra midge (#16 red or black) or woolly bugger (#4-#10 olive or black).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 468.92 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the lake is still falling, but is only 8 feet high. The bass fishing has been tough and most of the tournament weights are down. Many fish are still shallow. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms are working fairly well, and Carolina rigs and football head jigs are working deeper. Some crappie are coming from the pole timber suspended 15 to 20 feet deep over 60 feet of water. Some are hanging around buck brush shallow. Minnows and jigs are working on the crappie. Catfishing is good all over the lake on live and prepared baits. Walleye are hit-and-miss with all the recent cold fronts. Dragging crawlers from 17 to 28 feet deep and trolling crankbaits with line weights are both working when the fish are active. The white bass and hybrids have been hit-and-miss as well. The bite has been best in the mornings on small soft-plastic grubs and shads and very small in-line spinners. Spoons and large topwaters are working on the bigger fish when you can find them.
Shiloh Marina said the fish are scattered and all species have been slow.
Harris Brake Lake:Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and high with a surface temperature of 83 degrees. Catfish are the best thing going on bream.
Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said water conditions are normal and the water is still a little choppy. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. A few bass have been caught on white jigs.
Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and high with temperatures in the high 80’s. Bream are fair on crickets and wax worms. A few crappie have been caught on small minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and plastic frogs. Catfishing is good on bream and cut bait.
Brewer Lake:Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well 12 feet deep on crickets. Bass are fair 10 to 15 feet deep on top-water lures and plastic worms. Catfish are fair on Magic Bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on small rooster tails. Crappie are fair on white road runners. Smallmouth and Kentucky bass are fair on small top-water poppers. Catfishing is fair on trot lines with live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said crappie are fair in 6 to 10 feet of water on white jigs tipped with a minnow. Bream are biting well around sand bars on crickets. Black bass are biting well early in the morning on buzzing toads. Spotted bass are doing well on crankbaits. Striper fishing is good below lock 9 on bream or live shad. Catfishing is picking up in 20 to 30 feet of water on shad.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is finally dropping and should be back to normal soon. Bass fishing has been good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs.
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 80 to 83 degrees. The water clarity is low. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting slow on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are slow, but are being caught on shad-colored flukes, shaky head finesse worms, small top-water baits (early in the mornings and late in the afternoons), Texas-rigged creature baits in the heat of the day, and small crankbaits around ledges and drops. Catfish are biting fairly well on night crawlers and different types of stink bait around ledges and drops.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are fair in the pad beds on crickets and wax worms. Bass are fair early on spinnerbaits and flukes. Catfishing is excellent on trot lines, yoyos and limb lines.
Big Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are fair on crickets. Catfishing is excellent on trot lines with slicks and cut shad.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said black bass are fair early (from sun up to 7:30 a.m.) just outside of the weeds in about 10 feet of water with crankbaits, Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits. Once the sun is up, go deep off points with jig-and-pigs, CC Spoons and drop-shot rigs. Kentucky bass are biting a little better, with reports of schooling Kentuckies over deeper water. White bass are good. They are schooling in the late evening and are hitting on CC Spoons, Near Nuthings and Spooks. Bream are excellent 15 feet deep on crickets. If using worms you will pick up some nice Catfish mixed in with the bream. The College Bass National Championship is being held Wednesday and Thursday of this week with 56 teams from around the country fishing Lake Maumelle.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair in 12 to 14 feet of water on a split shot and cricket.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are the best thing going on nightcrawlers and chicken hearts.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfishing is excellent snagging on rice slicks and cut shad as well as trot lines.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is still very rough and dangerous.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and dropping. Bream are fair 4 to 6 feet of water on crickets and red worms. Catfish are fair fishing on the bottoms with nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing has been good on liver, minnows and worms.
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 is clear with 8 generators running around the clock. Trout fishing is excellent red or pink plastic worms, .25 ounce red or gold lures and rooster tails. Although fly fishing has been slow, egg patterns seem to be working fair as well as San Juan worms.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 691.05 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.40 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 (870-492-5141) said the water is murky and high. 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 1,129.16 feet MSL.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said Bass have been taking buzz baits early fished around flooded cover. They have also been caught off of main lake points and humps on Carolina-rigged finesse worms. Crappie fishing has been very good early and late around docks and timber. Small curly tail grubs have worked well. Fish have been suspended just off the bottom in 30 feet of water. Trolling small Rapala jointed minnows on flats 20 to 35 feet deep has also produced some nice white crappie in the Hickory Creek area. White bass are few and far between. Some surfacing is taking place but you have to be fast because it doesn’t last long. Night fishing is still probably your best bet along channel bends in the main lake. Use lights to attract bait then fish a minnow 15′ to 30 feet deep. Striped bass have been scattered on the downstream end of the lake. Trolled crankbaits or umbrella rigs have worked best. Catfishing remains good from the bank at night using worms or liver. Bluegill fishing has been great using crickets or worms around rocks and docks.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and high. Bream are biting well in 4 to 8 feet of water on crickets and red worms. A few crappie have been caught on minnows and Shad Raps. Bass are fair early and late on finesse worms, rooster tails and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on trot lines and jug lines with live bait.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on buzzbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is slow.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are biting well on cut bait.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) had no report.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles:Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal and the surface temperature is 70 to 72. The water clarity is 13 inches.
Bream are biting on crickets and worms, while the crappies are biting on minnows and jigs. Bass are hitting on spinners and crankbaits. Catfish are biting on minnows.
Crown Lake:Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well early on crickets. Crappie are fair in deep water on minnows. Bass are biting well early on top-water lures. Catfishing is good at night on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
Lake Frierson:Lake Frierson State Park said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on worms, shrimp and chicken liver.
Spring River: Mark’s Fly Shop said fishing has been great. The weather has been perfect for wading. During the heat of the day, the best technique has been to find deep water and get the fly to the bottom. Many people seem to be concerned about canoe and floater traffic during summer months, but downstream of Dam 3 you will not see a canoe until about 11 a.m. Right now is a fine time to fish.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
LakeMonticello: Greg Gulledge with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said bass are biting in the 9 to 20 foot range with nice fish being caught on 10 to 12-inch worms. Topwater fishing is very spotty with a few nice bass being caught on Baby Kill Gills, Sammys, and Pop Rs. There is some schooling activity, but it’s spotty and random. The surface temp is in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Night fishing continues to produce a few nice bass.
LakeChicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all species are slow.
GrandLake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all species are slow.
SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the river is only a fraction above summer normal and it’s not moving up or down very quickly. Fishing has slowed down a bit, but bream are still being caught in the bay from the beginning of the cypress trees to the mouth of the creek. Crickets and worms fished at a depth of about 5 foot are working best. Several good catfish have also been caught in the main river channel on bream and shad. A few bass have been caught in the bay while trolling with white spinnerbaits and red-shad plastic worms. Very few reports of crappie have come in. A crappie fisherman would most likely do best in the bay fishing fairly deep and moving around to find scattered fish.
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 the water clarity is 6 to 8 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 85 to 88 degrees. Current in Little River is 338 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass are biting fairly well early and late in the day. Top-water toads and plugs, Bass Assassin Shads, 10-12-inch worms and swim baits all continue working well for bass. The mayfly hatch continues, and bream feeding under willow and cypress trees which are feeding on the mayfly population are making good bass magnets. Chunky bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are tough to find and entice after 11 a.m. until just before dark. Swimming jigs in bleeding white pearl or blue glimmer with a pearl white chunk or craw trailer through grass and pads continue to take some nice bass. Early and late, find shallow flats with cypress, stumps and grass or pads, next to deep water drops and creek channel swings, and you are in the right zone. Swimbaits like the magic shad are working near deep drop zones in the river and creek channels, close to most any grass. White Bass are full on or full off, between White Cliffs and Cemetery Slough, along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges, Rooster Tails and Rocket Shads in white, red, and chrome. Best depths are 12-16 feet. The crappie bite, slightly improved again with the better water clarity. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke grubs on light wire jig heads. Blue and channel cats continue to hit well on trotlines baited with cut shad, Catfish Charlie, cottonseed meal cake and chicken hearts and livers. Yo-yos hung from cypress trees in approx 8-10 feet of water near any current are working well. Bream are biting 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 1.93 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 75 degrees to 80 degrees. With the ever increasing heat and lack of water, algae is beginning to grow rapidly all over the river, causing the fish to be less aggressive. Early and late in the day are the best times to try your hand at the fish in the river. Bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting very well on Green Pumpkinseed finesse worms and crawdad Crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Small dark-colored grubs are doing well, too. All are more productive fished as slow as possible. Black bass are fair with some being taken on dark finesse worms and grubs fished very slowly around deep structure. As always, minnow rigged setups are producing some limits of bass. Catfish are hit-and-miss, most are being caught at night on night crawlers. Many fish are being caught all across the park and as far south as the backwaters of the lake.
Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and wax worms. Bass fishing is fair on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and wax worms. Bass are fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on nighcrawlers.
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is steady and water is clearing up. Bream and crappie are slow on crickets. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on trotlines with minnows.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 545.34 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature has cooled a few degrees to the mid-80s. Crappie and Catfish are fair using live bait. Bream are excellent on crickets. Surface activity for bass is increasing. Stripers are being caught in the lower end of the lake.
Lakeside Grocery (870-398-5304) said the water is high and temperature has reached the mid 90’s. Fishing has been slow.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.98 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said all fishing is slow.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said the river flow on Lake Dardanelle is currently 90,000 cfs and is expected to decline as the week progresses if no significant amount of rain falls. Temperatures are holding steady at 82 degrees. Catfishing is excellent with several people taking home a stringer full of catfish. Fishermen report catching them on chicken liver and hearts, cut shad and stink bait. Bluegill, redear sunfish and yellow bass are being caught off the fishing pier and boardwalk in the park using crickets, mayflies and worms. Bass tournaments have about come to a standstill this month because of high temperatures. Bass fishermen are reporting that bass are biting early morning and late in the day on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms.
Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water murky and falling. Catfish are the best thing going on shad and stink bait. Fishing will be slow until the water stabilizes.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 386.59 feet MSL.
Booneville Bait (479-675-9038) had no report.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is murky and high. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. A few crappie have been caught on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is very good on minnows, nightcrawlers and cut bait.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 576.05 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good with some nice largemouths being caught on a Berkley 10-inch plastic worms fished on the outside edge of the grass using a ½-oz. weight. Some stripers are breaking, but it is hit-and-miss. The best striper action has been at the dam along the bouys.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and ranges from 82 to 86 degrees. Largemouth bass are still fair and can still be caught with Texas-rigged worms, jighead worms and black spinnerbaits. Drop-shot rigs are still working well for Kentucky bass off drop offs in the river channels and over brush. Walleye are still biting well on spoons fished on main lake points. Bottom bouncers with spinners and nightcrawlers are producing some quality fish as well. Stripers are still fair on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. Bream are very good with crickets or worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are fair and being caught over grass and brush in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good at night using 10-inch Berkley worms with small weights 12 to 18 feet deep.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the summer heat has increased the water temperature in the tailrace to 62 degrees. Water clarity remains good as Entergy maintains a regular generation schedule. Rainbow trout fishing is painfully slow as the hot weather creates a summertime feeding pattern. The very small number of trout that remain around the dam are scattered and feed sparingly during the day which makes it almost impossible to catch them in any decent numbers. The rainbow trout season at Carpenter Dam begins in December and normally extends until August. Trout anglers will have to wait until late November to experience the consistent bite again this year. Striper and hybrid activity is on the rise as the water warms into the 60s. The threadfin shad population has brought these large game fish into the tailrace in search of an easy meal. Topwater action has been heavy at times with fishermen targeting the breaking fish. Super Spooks and C-10 Redfins in rainbow trout colors are the baits of choice. Large brood minnows and gizzard shad floated under a balloon rig have produced many fish in the 10 to 15-pound range.
Diamond Head Marina (501-262-2272) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the low 80’s. Bream are biting well in 5 to 10 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well in shallow water on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Hinkle: Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair in deep water on minnows. Bass are good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good in deep water on crickets and worms. Catfish are biting well on large minnows.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is dingy and starting to drop. Bream are biting well on wax worms, red worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on bream, worms and cut shad.
Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and falling. All fishing is slow.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and high. All species are slow.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is murky and high. Bream are fair on crickets. A few crappie have been caught on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said all fishing has been slow.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is in great condition. Bream have been fair in shallow water around lily pads on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well in deep water trolling on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on top-water plugs. Catfishing is very good around trees on yoyos using worms or cut bait.
Related posts
Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report
May 8, 2008
| Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report 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 May 7. 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: Many fly-fishermen use sink-tip lines to get streamers or nymphs down to trout feeding near the bottom in fast current. Here’s a cheaper and more convenient way. Tie a section of lead-core trolling line between your fly line and a 3-foot mono leader. Use a short piece to sink a fly in shallow water, a longer one in deeper 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 - 388.69 feet, Tailwater - 387.93 feet, Flow - 133,270 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater - 371.39 feet, Tailwater - 354.75 feet Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater - 337.93 feet, Tailwater - 303.58 feet Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater - 285.99 feet, Tailwater - 283.50 feet, Flow - NO READING AVAILABLE Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater - 266.21 feet, Tailwater - 266.54 feet Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater - 247.23 feet, Tailwater - 239.93 feet, Flow - 162,957 Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater - 230.05 feet, Tailwater - 226.67 feet, Flow - NO READING AVAILABLE Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater - 194.54 feet, Tailwater - 193.76 feet Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater - 183.21 feet, Tailwater - 182.05 feet Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 160.77 feet, Tailwater - 150.82 feet, Flow - 167,628 cubic feet per second White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are: 8.2 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet) Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are now available in selected ponds around Arkansas. To increase your fishing success, be sure to have good fishing line on your reel (6-pound test and stronger), fish early mornings or late afternoon and try using chicken livers, worms or stinkbait fished near the bottom of the ponds. Bream are becoming more active in the ponds. Try worms and crickets near brush tops or 3 to 5 feet deep in ponds for better success. For more information on stockings, please 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 biting well in the afternoon on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 6 to 9 feet of water. Bass are being caught on plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on any bait.Dan Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream are continuing to bite well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair around cypress trees. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms and tubes. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with shiners and green sunfish.
Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 485.31 feet MSL. Shiloh Marina said the water is still very high, but some |