Iowa Fishing Reports - 10/2/2008

Northeast

Mississippi River Pools 9 to 15: Fishing is slowly picking up on the Mississippi River in Pools 9 to 15 with the drop in water temperature. Water levels at Lynxville are 12.3 feet, Guttenberg 4.0 feet, Dubuque 7.12 feet, Bellevue 4.11 feet, and Camanche 9.02 feet. The river is forecast to remain stable over the next week. Water temperature is in the mid 60s. As the temperature continues to drop, a fall feeding binge will begin for many fish species.

Walleye and sauger fishing is picking up in the tailwaters near Lock and Dams 9 (Lynxville), 10 (Guttenberg), 11 (Dubuque), and 12 (Bellevue). In Pool 9, anglers are reporting good catches of walleye in Minnesota Slough. Now is a good time of the year to troll crankbaits along the wing dams and running sloughs near Harpers Ferry (Pool 10) for larger walleyes. Try using a three-way rig tipped with either a floater or leach in Pools 12 to 15 along the front edge of the wing dams or the upper dams when they are in series. Sauger fishing should really pick up as water temperature drops into the 50s.

Fishing is very good for channel catfish using worms fished on the bottom in Pools 9 through 11.

Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing is good casting crankbaits along rocks with current in Pools 9 through 11.

Bluegill fishing is excellent near Harpers Ferry (Pool 10) near fallen trees. Bluegill fishing is fair in Pools 12 through 15 on night crawlers fished on the bottom in the snags along the side channel and around wing dams with little flow.

Crappie fishing is picking up in Pools 9 through 15 along snags in the side channels and running sloughs. Fishing should pick up as water temperature continues to decline. Try using small jigs or minnows on a bare hook for crappies or tie your boat up to the snag and vertically jig a small jig and minnow.

Freshwater drum (sheepshead) fishing is good in Pools 9 through 15 using night crawlers on the bottom. Drum can be found at nearly any shoreline location adjacent to the channel. Use a sliding egg sinker with night crawler or crayfish for bait. Large crayfish often produce larger drum.

Northern pike are hitting crankbaits in Minnesota Slough (Pool 9) and Harpers Ferry (Pool 10).

Cedar River (Mitchell, Floyd and Chickasaw): The river is still off color due to a diatom bloom but as water temperature drops, water clarity will improve. This bloom should not scare the angler away as the fish are still there waiting for whatever lure you want to throw their way. Try fishing for walleyes in the deeper pools using jigs tipped with long piece of night crawler. Channel catfishing has slowed a bit.

Shell Rock River (Floyd and Bremer): River conditions are very good and anglers are having good success. Fishing is excellent for channel catfish on night crawlers, live minnows and chicken liver. Walleye fishing is good casting crankbaits or jigs tipped with a night crawler or minnow near current breaks or runs below the riffles in 3 to 4 feet of water. Also try casting jigs tipped with a night crawler onto the sandbars and let them drop into deeper holes with current.

Cedar River (Bremer, Black Hawk), Maquoketa River (Delaware, Jones), Shell Rock River (Butler), and Wapsipinicon River (Buchanan, Black Hawk): Fishing is currently good for channel catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. Now is a great time to fish as water levels are favorable in all area rivers, water temperature is dropping, and water clarity is excellent. Fish activity is high during this time of year as fish feed in preparation for winter and the spring spawn. As water temperature cools, use more live bait presentations, such as a jig-and-night crawler, and slow-down retrieval speeds.

Turkey River (Clayton): Try using a variety of lures and live bait for smallmouth bass. Walleye can be caught in the deeper pools with slow moving artificial lures.

Upper Iowa River (Winneshiek and Allamakee): Anglers have been picking up larger smallmouth bass above Decorah. Try fishing twister tails and crankbaits in the pools and in the riffles. Walleye are biting on crankbaits, Shad Raps and white twister tails in the deeper pools. Also try tipping lead head with night crawler fished slowly on bottom of deep holes.

Yellow River (Allamakee): Water clarity is excellent. Smallmouth bass and trout fishing are good and should be picking up. Try using twister tails in a variety of colors.

Avenue of the Saints Lake and Plainfield Lake (Bremer County): Fishing is good for largemouth bass and bluegills; try crankbaits and plastics for largemouth and use small night crawlers or red worms for bluegill.

Casey Lake (Tama): Fishing is good for bluegills using flies and wax worms. Bass fishing is fair.

Lake Delhi (Delaware): Fishing is fair to good for bluegill using live bait. Bass fishing is good around structure using crankbaits and plastics.

Lake Hendricks (Howard): Largemouth bass fishing is good with a variety of artificial lures fished along shore. Channel catfish are actively looking for food in shallow area. Try using night crawlers or chicken liver fished on the bottom. Bluegill fishing is fair. Try using smaller gear when fishing midday to hook the finicky ones. Larger crappies are being caught by slowly trolling at 4 to 5 feet deep with a minnow.

Lake Meyer (Winneshiek): Good numbers of 7 to 9-inch crappies are moving in on the brush piles on the south and east sides of the lake. They are being caught with small jigs or minnows under a bobber. Try throwing the rig a few feet past the snags and reeling in toward them. This works really well if the wind is blowing into the snags. Bluegill fishing is good for medium sized fish on night crawlers or angleworms. Some larger bluegills are being caught while fishing for crappie with jigs. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using spinner baits working the shoreline. Channel catfish fishing has slowed, but a few nice sized ones are still being caught.

Volga Lake (Fayette): Largemouth bass fishing is good in the early morning and late evening hours. Use slower-moving artificial lures worked along structure. Bluegill fishing is fair using wax worms or night crawlers on a very small hook under a bobber near structure. Crappies are being caught while slowly drifting or trolling in deeper, open water using a slip bobber. Catfishing has slowed, but there is an excellent population of channel catfish in this lake. A good number of them are in the trophy-sized range.

Northeast Iowa Trout Streams: GO!!! Area streams are in excellent condition, fishing pressure is moderate while fishing continues to be outstanding, and fall colors are adding a splash of colors to northeast Iowa. Stream stockings are no longer announced, but do not let this bog you down. There are plenty of fish out there and the leaves are really beginning to put on a show.

Anglers are reminded to help the DNR monitor the health of our streams and rivers by reporting fish kills immediately by calling 515-281-8694. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Only with your help can we continue to protect and enhance the aquatic communities in our public waters.

For information on fishing in northeast Iowa, call the regional office in Manchester at 563-927-3276.
Northwest

Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Walleyes are being caught drifting the weed lines with spinner rigs tipped with worms or casting along weed lines with crankbaits or jerk baits, and by fishing from shore at the North Grade with a minnow and jig at sunrise or sunset. Fish weed lines with jerk baits or tube jigs for smallmouth bass. Bluegills are biting around boat docks on ice jigs tipped with worms or wax worms or at the North Grade. Vertically jig or drift with small jigging spoons or micro jigs tipped with worms across the main lake basin for yellow perch. Work tube jigs or other soft plastics around boat docks for largemouth bass.

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): White bass are biting at bridges and boat docks on a slip bobber and minnow. For yellow bass, drift to find active fish then anchor and vertically jig with jigging spoons tipped with worms, or fish around docks with a bobber and minnow. Channel catfish are biting on cut bait, liver and stink bait around the bridges. Fish around boat docks with ice jigs tipped with worms for bluegills.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Largemouth bass are being caught around the docks and weed lines with soft plastics and jerk baits. Smallmouth bass are being picked up around the points with soft plastics or jerk baits, or on surface lures late in the evening. Troll with crankbaits along the weed lines and rock piles in Brown’s, Emerson and Miller’s bays, or drift with bottom bouncers and live bait for walleyes. Yellow perch are biting at the rock piles and weed lines around points and bays on small jigging spoons tipped with live bait. Troll or cast along weed edges in Miller’s, North, Smith’s and Emerson bays for northern pike. Cast or troll along the weed lines and rock piles in Emerson, Millers, North and Smith Bay with crankbaits and spinners for muskies.

Minnewashta (Dickinson): Fish around boat docks with small ice jigs tipped with live bait for bluegills, yellow bass and some crappies.

Upper Gar (Dickinson): Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks for bluegills, yellow bass and crappies.

West Fork of the Des Moines River: Fish a jig and minnow around riffles and holes for walleyes.

Yellow Smoke Lake (Crawford): Fishing is good for bluegill and crappie around flooded timber on small ice jigs tipped with night crawlers.

North Twin Lake (Calhoun): Fishing is fair to good for yellow bass on jigs tipped with cut bait.

Brushy Creek (Webster): Bluegills are in 10 to 15 feet of water and can be caught on a piece of worm on a small hook fished just off the bottom. A few crappies have been caught on minnows around trees located near shore. Bass have been more active. Water clarity is fair.

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Walleye fishing continues to be slow. A few fish are being caught in the west end of the lake. Yellow bass fishing is good around drifting cut bait or a piece of night crawler in 8 to 14 feet of water by the artificial weed beds, from the island to the north shore and by the Baptist Camp. White bass are sill biting around the island and from any sandy areas in the morning and late evening. A few muskies are being caught trolling baits near the weed edge.

For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at 712-336-1840.
Southwest

Fogle Lake (Ringgold): A few crappies are biting in the evenings.

Lake of Three Fires (Taylor): Several mid-sized largemouth bass can be caught from structure or the edges of the lotus beds in 3 to 6 feet of water. Channel catfish can be caught using cut baits in less than 6 feet of water, from the shoreline. Several nice bluegills have been caught on night crawlers near shore. Water clarity is at least 4 feet.

Icaria (Adams): A few channel catfish are being caught using cut bait. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and spinners. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers.

Three Mile Lake (Union): Largemouth bass are being caught near structure. A few crappies are caught suspended over the dirt mounds. Wipers and walleyes have picked up over the rock areas.

Twelve Mile Lake (Union): Several mid-sized largemouth bass are being caught from the flooded timber. Bullheads are biting well on night crawlers anywhere in the lake. Some crappies and several bluegills biting are rear rocks.

Green Valley (Union): The water level is drained down to 12 feet and the fishery was renovated. Fish will be restocked by early October. Boating access is possible using the main ramp but not encouraged. Extreme care must be used during launching and loading.

Local Rivers and Streams: Anglers have been catching an abundance of catfish in these areas.

Contact Gary Sobotka at (641) 464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.

Don Williams (Boone): A few crappies and bluegills are being caught on jigs tipped with minnows.

Big Creek (Polk): Crappie fishing is still reported as slow with a few fish being caught. Catfish can still be caught on chicken liver, shrimp or stink bait.

Red Rock (Marion): White bass bite has slowed.

Rock Creek (Jasper): Crappie fishing is reported as good using small jigs tipped with wax worms.

Saylorville Lake (Polk): White bass fishing is still fair out in the main lake trolling or jigging. Good numbers of catfish are being caught using cut bait and fishing on flats in around 15 feet of water.

Hickory Grove (Story): Fishing has been slow with smaller catches of Bluegill and Crappie. A few Catfish are still being caught on cut bait and stink bait. .

Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Bluegill and crappie bite is slow. A few catfish are still being caught.

Skunk River (Story): Smallmouth fishing is still very good with some nice fish up to 17 inches being caught using crawfish imitations or small inline spinners.

Banner Pits (Warren): South Banner is being drawn down to a normal level. Shoreline access will improve.

Contact Ben Dodd at (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes.

Viking Lake (Montgomery): Anglers are catching 16 to 19-inch channel catfish on stink baits or chicken liver.

Lake Manawa (Pottawattamie): Catfish are fair to good using crawdads and shrimp. Crappies are being caught on the northeast part of lake around boat docks. Fishing for wipers is good on east side of lake. Walleyes are picking up using large minnows.

Willow Lake (Harrison): Channel catfish has been fair using liver.

Meadow Lake (Adair): Meadow is open to fishing, however the lake has been lowered 8 feet and the boat ramp is not usable. Habitat improvements are scheduled for this fall and winter.

Orient (Adair): Catfish is fair using liver.

Greenfield (Adair): Bluegills are fair drifting small jigs and around jetties. A few catfish are being caught on liver.

Mormon Trail (Adair): Fishing for channel catfish has been good in the evenings using liver and cut bait.

Lake Anita (Cass): Crappie fishing is good for 8 to 9-inch fish drifting a small white jig or anchored near structure. Schools of crappie have scattered around the lake and when anglers find the schools, they are able to catch quite a few. Largemouth Bass fishing has been good using plastic baits around rock reefs and along the road bed during the day.

Arrowhead Lake (Pottawattamie): Largemouth bass are being caught using plastic baits around structure. Channel catfish is fair using liver.

Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby): Channel catfish is fair using liver and stink bait.

Middle Raccoon River (Guthrie): A few bluegills and crappies are being caught below the Lennon Mills Dam. Conditions are favorable for fishing the catch and release stretch for smallmouth bass from Lennon Mills Dam to Redfield.

Contact Bryan Hayes at (712) 769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.

For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the regional office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
Southeast

Mississippi River Pools 16 to 20: In Pool 16, river stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 4.46 feet with water temperature around 68 degrees. Channel catfish are being caught on shad and dip baits. Crappies are being caught in the Andalusia Island complex fishing brush piles with minnows and tube jigs. Walleye fishing has been slow but some fish are being caught on the wing dams around Credit Island. A few white bass are being caught in Sylvan Slough. In Pool 17, river stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 3.76 feet with water temperature around 66 degrees. Channel catfish are being caught on dip baits and night crawlers. Crappies are being caught on jigs and minnows fishing the brush piles in Big Timber. Some crappies are also being caught in the Muscatine Harbor. Walleye fishing has been slow. White bass fishing has been slow.

In Pool 18, river stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 4.46 feet. Channel catfish are being caught fishing shad along the main channel. Crappies are being caught in Huron Island fishing the brush piles with minnows and tube jigs. In Pool 19, river stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 1.79 feet. Channel catfish are being caught on shad and night crawlers. Some crappies are being caught in the backwaters on minnows. In Pool 20, river stage at Lock and Dam 19 is 3.05 feet. Tailwater stages are changing daily due to dam releases. Channel catfish are being caught on shad and night crawlers.

Lake Odessa (Louisa): Anglers are catching nice crappies and bluegills around the trees and beaver lodges in the Horseshoe Bend and Sand Run areas. Yes, this is the same as last week’s report but the fish are on their fall migration and they are looking for something to eat.

Lake Darling (Washington): The channel and flathead catfish fishing has been fair to good with the arrival of the cooler weather. They are looking to fatten up for the winter. Cut bait and chicken liver for the channels and green sunfish for the flatheads.

Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk): Fishing is good right now. Anglers are catching good numbers of the big bluegills in 10 feet of water along the weed beds and other habitat at that depth. Anglers are also taking a lot of catfish as those fish start to fatten up for winter.

Lake Geode (Henry): The fish are still trying to settle down after the lake came up from those heavy rains a couple of weeks ago. The redears are coming in shallow as well as a few crappies.

Lake Rathbun (Appanoose): The lake is about 14 feet above normal pool and three boat ramps remain open; Bridgeview, Honey Creek, and Buck Creek marina high water ramp. Crappies have been hitting on minnows fished around the shoreline in flooded vegetation. Walleyes have been hitting on crankbaits being trolled along rocky drop-offs and underwater islands.

Lake Sugema (Van Buren): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and minnows. Bluegills have been biting on small jigs fished around a variety of underwater structure.

Lake Wapello (Davis): The lake has been drained for renovation.

Lake Miami (Monroe): Crappies have been hitting on small jigs and on minnows. Try drifting along deeper water. Use small jigs fished along shore for bluegills and an occasional crappie.

Lake Macbride (Johnson): Fishing has been hit or miss here. Crappies can be found in some of the brush piles and some are still roaming open water. A few walleyes, channel catfish, and largemouth bass are also being picked up. Remember, any size motor may be used at no wake speed during this time of the year.

Union Grove (Tama): Bluegill fishing around shallow structure has been good. A few crappies will also be found on the shallow brush, but boat anglers are also picking crappies up by drifting the main lake.

Skunk River (Washington and Henry): The river has fallen back to what it was before the big rains. Anglers in the Brighton area are catching nice numbers of catfish. Anglers are also catching good numbers of flatheads as these big fish are staring to move to their over wintering holes as the water temps drop.

Iowa River (Louisa): The river was almost back to its normal level but it has started to go back up. The rise is forecasted to be short lived and the river level should start to drop very soon. Look for the fishing for flatheads to start picking up as they start on their fall feeding frenzy.

For more information on fishing in southeast Iowa, call the regional office in Brighton at 319-694-2430.

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Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 10/1/2008

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 Oct. 1, 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: Plastic top-water lures and crankbaits can begin to leak if they’re used around rocky areas. The lures will fill with water, rendering them useless. Instead of throwing away the lure, sink it in large glass bowl of water and look for the bubbles to find the leak. Once you find the leak, a touch of super glue will save the lure.

Arkansas River Levels are available at

http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt White River Levels are available at

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Program Report:  Channel catfish are being stocked in all program ponds and will be 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. 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. A few bream have been caught around docks on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Black bass are being caught around banks.

            Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bream are fair but appear to be moving off the bank. Bass are fair on plastic worms and frogs. Crappie are fair near cypress trees and creek channels. Catfishing is fair on limb lines and trotlines.

Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said generation has slowed a bit from recent months. Trout fishing is good on wax worms with marshmallows and chartreuse Power Eggs.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse is releasing water beginning before dawn, continuing until midnight. This protocol has ended most anglers’ dreams of long hours of wade fishing bliss on our trophy trout stream and has made boat fishing problematic. A small window of wading opportunity exists at Winkley Shoal (Swinging Bridge) until about 9:30 a.m. and until 11 a.m. or so at Libby Shoal. One of our generators was shut down on Monday, the 29th of September for inspection and maintenance. Until this process is complete, the other unit will operate 24/7 and no wade fishing opportunities will exist. Mayflies and midges continue to “come off”  late afternoons and early evenings.  Sulphurs, blue winged olives and pale morning duns are the mayflies and midges, our smallest aquatic insects (chironomidae) complete the hatches.  Trout simply love these little critters and if you can select and properly use the right imitation from your fly box, you will catch fish.  To imitate the winged adult mayflies, try a sulphur (#16-#18), BWO (#16-#18), adams (#16 - a universal dry fly pattern), PMD (#18-#20) or midge (#22 or smaller in cream or black).  Fishing under the hatch normally produces more catches than with dry flies.  Mayfly nymph patterns such as the pheasant tail (#16), copper john (#14-#16 red, green or copper), gold ribbed hare’s ear (#16-#18) or prince (#14-#16) will work.  Other flies to try include a hopper pattern (#10-#12), San Juan worm (#12-#14 red or fl. cerise), crackleback (#12), red @ss soft hackle (#14-#18) or wooly bugger (#10-#12 olive, brown or black). The brown trout spawn is right around the corner and I can feel the eager anticipation growing among our clients with each day. It is exciting to stand in shallow water next to large spawning brown trout knowing that you can catch them. Egg patterns are the attractor of choice during the three months of spawning activity.

            Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 465.77 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 75 degrees on the north end of the lake to 80 degrees on the south end. The warmer water being pulled to the south end of the lake has slowed the hybrids and whites there, but the north end of the lake is still going strong. Black bass are biting very well in shallow water around flooded brush. Spinnerbaits, topwaters, buzzbaits and small crankbaits are working well around the brush. Bass are also on long points and will bite Carolina rigs and football head jigs. Crappie are fair in the pole timber and brush in 15 to 20 feet of water. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Catfish are biting well on jugs and trotlines. Walleye are slow and can be found anywhere from 10 feet deep to 48 feet deep.

Shiloh Marina said water conditions are high and murky. Kentucky bass are schooling.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and a little high. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on cut bait.

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

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is dingy and a little high. Crappie are in 8 to 10 feet of water on small minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on black spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on trotlines on live bait and stinkbait.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and high. Crappie are good around the banks on salt/pepper jigs. Bass are fair near banks on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines with nightcrawlers.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water is level with the spillway. Largemouth bass are fair around points in 4 to 8 feet of water. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are working the best on the largemouth. Kentucky bas are excellent on Carolina-rigged soft plastics and crankbaits in 6 to 12 feet of water at the west end of the lake. White bass are biting well, with some schooling activity all over the lake. CC spoons are working the best on the white bass. Catfishing is fair about 20 feet deep on the edges of the channel. Crappie are about 20 feet deep and are hitting small red/white jigs around the channel edges. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms fished 10 to 15 feet deep. The old Jolly Rogers cove is a good place to start looking for bream.

Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is muddy and still a little high. Bass can be caught in the mouths of the backwater on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are fair on chartreuse jigs or red tube jigs. Bass are biting well in shallow water on top-water lures and buzzbaits.

Saline River Access in Bnton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and green pumpkin 4-inch lizards. Catfishing is good on Magic Bait.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the water is muddy with water temperature in the high 60s. Drum are still good on spoons. Stripers are good below dams using live shad. White bass are best in the late afternoon around creek mouths on chartreuse crankbaits. Bass fishing is fairly good on spinnerbaits or plastic worms. Catfish are fair on bream or shad.

Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is starting to drop, but is still dangerous. Some bass have been caught in the backwaters.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bass are good on brown and orange jig-and-pig combos and chartreuse/orange belly crankbaits. Catfishing is good on live green sunfish and cut shad.

Little Maumelle River: No report.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and high. Fishing is slow.

            Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are picking up on spinnerbaits.

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

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Sportsman’s White River Resort said water conditions are normal with seven generators running around the clock. Trout fishing has been very good on trout worms, Rogues and Rapalas.

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said we have had a week without rain and the lakes in the White River system have experienced a slight decline. The pattern on the White is for heavy generation around the clock. Boating conditions on the White have been uniformly good. The upper river below Bull Shoals Dam has been producing well. With the higher flows we have had this week; anglers have had to return to their conventional high-water techniques. The top technique for this level of water is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator. Hot colors have been red, cerise and hot pink. Other effective flies have been black zebra midges in size 14 and egg patterns in peach and pink. The section from Wildcat Shoals to the Narrows was a hot spot. In addition to fishing San Juan worms and nymphs, anglers have reported success fishing large streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines.

Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said on high water, pink, cerise and hot red San Juan worms are working well. Dynamite San Juans in hot pink are the best of the family. Large streamers worked around the banks are catching some large brown trout. Look for the browns to be moving to their pre-spawn lies. Sowbugs are the hot fly near the dam.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 684.96 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 567.01 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature ranges from the mid-60s to the mid-70s. Kentucky bass fishing has been good. Bluegill fishing is good. Crappie fishing is fair. Catfishing is good using trotlines. Striper fishing is slow. White bass fishing is fair. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing is fair.  

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is murky and high. All species are slow.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said Norfork Lake has fallen three tenths of a foot to rest at fifteen and five tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twelve and five tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run one or two generators part of the day and to turn it off at night. There have been some excellent wading conditions on the Norfork during the last week. The boat ramp at Quarry Park on the upper Norfork River is closed while a contractor removes the old pedestrian bridge across the mouth of Dry Run Creek. Fishing on the Norfork has remained steady this past week. The low flows in the morning have enticed quite a few anglers and most have not been disappointed. The section at Quarry Park just below Norfork Dam has fished particularly well. Small black zebra midges size 18, scuds in size eighteen, olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, and Dan’s turkey tail emergers have been the go-to flies. Dry Run Creek is clear and very wadable. Effective flies have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers. With the pleasant weather we have had lately, now is a good time to get in some quality fishing with your children or grandchildren before the weather turns cold. Be sure to carry a camera and the biggest net you can find. The fish here are huge.

Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said small sowbugs, zebra midges and soft hackles are working well on the low water. During high water, Y2K bugs, San Juan worms and dynamite worms are working the best.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,129.03 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass are biting small topwater baits early and late around Prairie Creek and Horseshoe Bend Parks. In the middle of the day bass can be caught on Hula Grubs fished around shaded banks near chunk rock. Crappie fishing has slowed since last week. The water temperature has gone back up a bit, halting the fall feeding frenzy. They can be caught under deep shaded docks and along bluff lines with standing timber. Black/chartreuse tubes or a minnow fished 10 to 25 feet over cover has produced best. White bass fishing has been almost non existent. A few are moving here and there and can be caught on small casting spoons. Catfish are biting liver, worms and minnows under docks and from the bank at night. Bluegill can be caught in the flooded cover with crickets under a float 2 to 4 feet deep.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in brush. Bass are biting well on Carolina rigs and drop shots.

            Beaver Tailwater: Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said the water levels are beginning to get back down, so there are more wading opportunities. Gray or tan sowbugs, red copper Johns, Hornbergs and hare’s ear nymphs are good patterns for the tailwater now. During high water, large streamers such as #4 black woolly buggers are picking up some nice fish.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. A few crappie have been caught on jigs. Bass are fair on buzzbaits and plastic worms.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are good 4 feet deep on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. A few catfish have been caught on chicken liver.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are the best thing going on minnows.

            King’s River: Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said water levels are low and clear. Smallmouth are biting well on crazydads and minnow patterns such as Crease flies and Clouser deep minnows. Grasshopper patterns are working as well. Sunfish are hitting anything you throw at them from poppers, to woolly buggers to bream killers.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

            Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA: Judy Potts of Judy’s Bait Shoppe at the North entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA said that fishing was very good last week. The four main fishing areas (Glaise Creek, Honey Lake, Big Bell Lake and Hurricane Lake) were all stocked with catchable-size catfish. Campers on Honey Lake reported catching some of these nice 2- to 3-pound cats as well as a good stringer of crappie using minnows. Bream were biting well on crickets at all locations. Campers over on Big Bell Lake caught many slab-sized crappie. This is the best fishing has been all year. All lake levels are getting right just in time for some great fall fishing before hunting season gets in full swing. Hurricane and Whorl Lakes were busy with the yo-yo’s and trotlines as well with crappie and cats hitting good on minnows, cut bait and stink baits. Mosquitoes were biting very good as well, so be sure to bring some bug spray.

            Lake Charles: Lak Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal and the surface temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with goldfish. All other species are slow.

Lake Frierson:  Lake Frierson State Park (870-932-2615) reports the water is high. All species are slow.

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is good on minnows. Bass are picking up on plastic worms.

 SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

            Lake Monticello: Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said the bass on Lake Monticello are picking up a little more every week as the weather cools. Bass are chasing shad all over the lake.  Worms continue to produce in all depths. The best worm colors are junebug, red shad and anything watermelon. The crankbait bite is picking up with the best color being Basshunter Shad.  Topwaters are working for schooling fish. As the water cools in the coming weeks, the whites and crappie should pick up.

Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are good on worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait and worms.

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 heavy current has kept the clarity in Millwood low and has broken many floating mats of vegetation loose from the banks. The surface temperature ranges from 72 to 78 degrees. Little River current was 6,699 cubic feet per second Monday. Largemouth bass are excellent and randomly schooling around Millwood. Bass Assassin Shads, Rat-L-Traps and 10-inch worms are definitely the go-to baits for bass during the last few weeks.  The best schooling activity has been around midday. Chunky bass from 2-4 pounds are schooling randomly in Cemetery Slough, Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver, and fishermen are catching many schooling fish periodically during the day. Schooling bass seem to take a few hours to get started and best schooling activities are running between 10am to 2pm.  The most consistent reaction bite during schooling activity is on Rat-L-Traps, hammered Cordell spoons (hint* use a buck tail feather hook!), Cordell’s Crazy Shads, clear Baby Torpedoes, and white or smoke colored grubs on light wire jigheads. Fat Free Shad crankbaits, Norman Deep Little N’s and Cordell Big O’s in shad patterns, are working in and around flooded timber and laydown timber.  Deadsticking Bass Assassin Shads around vegetation edges, flooded timber stands or Cypress knees well away from the base of the tree, are good bets and working well for keeper largemouths. The best reaction buzzbait bite is on Siefert’s Buzz Baits around pads and primrose grass from 1-6 feet deep. White bass were schooling in Mud, Horseshoe and McGuire Oxbow lakes this week and biting well on hammered spoons, Rat-L-Traps, 3-inch smoke or white grubs on jigheads. The crappie bite is still slow. Blues and channel cats remain consistent this week along the current in Little River on trotlines baited with cut shad and chicken livers.

Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) had no report.

Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on cut bait.

Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said crappie are the best thing going on minnows and jigs.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park