2008

November 19, 2008

Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 11/19/2008 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

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

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this report, visit http://www.agfc.com/enews/default.aspx

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for Nov. 19, 2008. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip: When fishing in thick grass, use braided line (such as Spiderwire or Berkley Fireline) instead of monofilament. Braid cuts through the vegetation during the fight and is more sensitive. But be careful with braid and keep your fingers clear of the line when you set the hook and fight the fish; it can cuts your skin, too.

Arkansas River Levels are available at

http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt

White River Levels are available at

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Program Report: The last catfish stockings for the year are complete and all program ponds are producing eating-size catfish. Catfishing is beginning to slow with the cold weather, but the trout stockings are right around the corner. For more information on stockings, call toll free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on yo-yos baited with minnows.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting well on pink minnows fished in Caney Creek and Gold Creek.

Dan at Gold Creek Marina said bream are fairly slow, but a few are biting in 3-4 feet of water on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on shiners and pink minnows fished 1-2 feet deep in pad beds and 5 feet deep over brush. Chartreuse and black/chartreuse jigs tipped with small minnows are also working on the crappie. Bass fishing is slow on chartreuse crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on limb lines baited with nightcrawlers and shiners.

Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is dingy with some generation in the late afternoon. Trout fishing is good on wax worms, corn and Power Eggs. Fly fishing is picking up as well.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said water releases at Greers Ferry are few and far between. Power generation last occurred at the facility on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 16. The quantity of water released was equivalent to 1/3 of one generator’s capacity and lasted five hours. The female brown trout have moved onto the shoals in large numbers. Redds have been spotted at Mossy Shoal, Cow Shoal and Winkley Shoal. Male brown trout can be seen throughout the length of Cow Shoal and three large browns have been caught there. Please remember, if you come to the Little Red to fish the brown trout spawn, there are a few simple rules that should be followed. First, do not walk in the redds. A redd is an area of the streambed that has been cleared of rocks, moss, sticks, etc. by the female brown trout. This is her nest and should not be disturbed. Try to cooperate with other anglers on the shoals by staying at least one long cast away from them. Smash the barbs on your flies to make releasing the fish easier. There have been no major changes in the aquatic insect hatches since my last report. Midges remain the dominant species buzzing over the Little Red with BWOs and caddis flies in the mix. Dry flies are working well and the best ones to use include midge (#22; cream or black), blue-winged olive mayflies (baetis #18-#24), parachute Adams (#18) and elk hair caddis (#16-#18; tan). Fishing below the surface? Try a sowbug (#14-#16; UV tan, UV lt. gray, peacock or olive), red butt soft hackle emerger (#14-#18), zebra midge (#16-#22; red or black), pheasant tail (#16), copper john (#14-#16; red. green or copper), gold ribbed hare’s ear (#14-#16), egg patterns (#12-#16; peach, pink, cerise or salmon) and woolly bugger (#8-#12; olive, brown or black).

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.24 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said most of the largemouths, Kentucky bass and smallmouths are holding in front of the bushes and are biting well on tubes, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, Carolina-rigged lizards and grubs, and whacky-rigged Senkos. Some are out deeper and can be caught on football head jigs, spoons and Carolina-rigged lizards in 20-25 feet. Crappie are still biting in brush piles and pole timber, and in creek bends in 15-20 feet of water on grubs and minnows. Walleye are scattered in 27 feet and biting crawlers. Some are also underneath hybrids and white bass in 45 to 50 feet of water and are biting on spoons. No report on bream. Catfish are biting all over the lake on jugs baited with live and prepared bait. The whites and hybrids are going good in 32-45 feet of water if you have some wind. Spoons and small in-line spinners are working the best.

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and in the low 60s. Bass and hybrids are schooling early and late in the day.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is cloudy and at normal level. Bream, bass and catfish all are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush.

Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair. Crappie are fair on crickets fished around the docks. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and bream.

Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is fairly clear. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and Crappie Stingers fished around piers. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on trotlines at night.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said catfishing is fair. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair at best.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said Lake Maumelle is going to winter patterns. Largemouth bass are fair off the points. Bass jigs and CC spoons fished 15 feet deep are working. The Kentucky bass are mixed in with the largemouths. White bass are fair. They have moved to the humps on the west end of the lake and are being caught on CC Spoons and Sassy Shads. Crappie are fair around 20 feet deep and are hitting minnows and 1/32-oz. red/white and chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught along the main channel on prepared bait and large minnows.

JB’s Guide Service said it was windy over the weekend, but there was still some good action. Bass are biting on crankbaits. Crappie are chasing twister tails. Catfish were biting as well. We also caught some of the last few days of the fall color display along with some stunning sunsets.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on live minnows fished deep.

Lake Valencia in Maumelle: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said channel catfish are fair on stinkbait and nightcrawlers.

Lake Pickthorne: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on pink minnows around brush in 2 feet of water.

Burns Park: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

Fourche La Fave River: Crappie are fair on medium-sized minnows fished under a cork or red/chartreuse jigs.

Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said bass fishing is fair on chartreuse/black and black/blue jigs as well as black tubes fished around rock jetties.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair. Catfish are slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on Rebel crawdad crankbaits. Catfishing is slow. Some walleye have been caught on minnow-imitating crankbaits.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing below dams 9 and 10 is excellent on whole shad. Channel cats up to 15 pounds are being caught regularly. Stripers are holding on jetty tips late in the afternoons and can be caught on live bream and shad fished 10 to 20 feet deep. Most stripers being caught are 8 to 12 pounds. Kentucky bass are biting well on top of jetties on black/blue jigs. Sauger are beginning to bite on chartreuse and red Speck rigs (tandem floating bucktail jigs) in eddies downstream from points where there is some current.

Little Maumelle River: No report.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting fairly well on red/chartreuse, black/chartreuse and white/chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on twister tails and bucktailed jigs. Catfishing is good on cut shad and small bream.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and running at normal level.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair. Crappie are fair on pink minnows fished around log jams in 6 feet of water. Bass are fair.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing said the lake is closed to fishing until Feb. 1.

NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Sportsman’s White River Resort said no anglers have visited the shop in a week. The oxygen levels are up on the river and stocking should resume.

Mountain River Fly Shop said oxygen levels topped 6.0 for the first time in several weeks and fishing is improving. The cooler weather will help as well. Some guides said the brown were much more aggressive, chasing down streamers. White Zonkers, Circus Peanuts and Conrad Sculpins are working well if you fancy throwing something big. Tungsten Slumpbusters and Bunny Leeches are also working well. Drifting the standard egg-and-worm rig remains hot where legal. Hot Pink San Juans or Dynamite worms probably head the list, Clint’s Sunday specials and Davy’s Sowbugs are also doing well.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed until Feb. 1. The section from the bottom of the catch-and-release area downstream to the wing wall at the state park is seasonal catch-and-release until Feb. 1. Fishing on the White River has been a bit better. Dissolved oxygen levels in the upper river have improved and the colder weather has eased the water temperatures. The section from the Narrows to Wildcat Shoals is still fishing well. The most productive method has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms below indicators with a lot of lead. For a change of pace, try fishing a dropper like an orange egg, sow bug or zebra midge below the San Juan worm. Banging the bank with large streamers on a sink tip or full sinking line is still the most effective method to move big fish. Hot patterns have been white zonkers, kiwi muddlers and Mengle’s Ozark sculpin. The catch-and-release section at Rim Shoals has at times fished a bit better than the upper river. The fishing has been spotty. The better fishing has been in the morning. The hot flies for this area have been hot pink San Juan worms and brightly colored egg patterns.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 661.53 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 559.53 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the 50-degree range. Crappie fishing is good using minnows on a small jig or just a plain hook and a small split-shot. Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets. Striper fishing has been slow. White bass fishing is fair. Bass fishing is good using crankbaits, spinnerbaits, stick baits and live shiners and worms. Catfishing is slow. Walleye fishing is fair, some are being caught at night using stick baits along the points and shallow banks.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) had no report.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Norfork has fished much better during the last week. It is suffering through even lower dissolved oxygen levels than the White. The upper river is fishing particularly poorly. The lower sections (from the long hole down) have fished well. Hot flies have been hot pink San Juan worms and orange eggs. Concentrate on fast riffles where the dissolved oxygen may be a bit higher. Dry Run Creek (youth only area) is absolutely red hot. The creek is choked with large fish that have moved into it to take advantage of the higher dissolved oxygen levels and cleaner water. With the cooler temperatures, there has been very little pressure on it. Now is the best time of year to visit. The hot flies are worm brown San Juan worms, egg patterns (peach is the go-to color) and sow bugs.

Mountain River Fly Shop said Low water is back on Norfork and its time to dig out your low-water fly boxes, your 6x tippet and your waders. Midges (#16-#20) will be very good. Camel midges, olive zebras, black/silver and black/copper zebras, ruby midges and Davy’s Super Midges all do very well. Don’t forget your sowbug and scud imitations. We will also expect soft hackles to be very good. Tailwater soft hackles in green/yellow and copper/brown were killers the last time we had low water. For dry fly and emerger addicts can we suggest the Parachute Adams, Morgan’s Para Midge, Sprout’s or Clint’s Midge Emerger.

Spring River: Spring River Fly Shop said cold weather can mean big fish on the Spring River. The water is still clear and low, despite the rain from last week. Leaves are beginning to clear out and have not been a problem in the last couple of days for fishing. Fishing pressure has been low. We’ve had great success with Super Buggers and Turk’s Tarantulas.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,125.97 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been hitting a variety of lures all over the lake. Try spinnerbaits and buzzbaits fished along and through flooded timber early in the day. Later, try a hula grub fished along and in docks. Crappie fishing is decent. Try working a chartreuse Shinee Hinee or a chartreuse curly tail grub over brush piles 15 to 25 feet deep. Most fish have been suspended 5 to 10 feet deep. White bass are few and far between, but a few small fish can be caught off main-lake points and on the edge of main-lake flats. Jigging spoons have been effective. Bluegill fishing has been excellent. Try crickets or worms along and in docks 5-10 feet deep. Catfish have been biting well from the bank in the evening on worms and liver.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is high. Crappie are biting fairly well on live minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on CC spoons. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught on crickets. Overall, the fishing has been slow.

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

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are fair on crickets and worms fished around weed beds and treetops in 3 to 4 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows and Roadrunner jigs fished around stumps in 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, soft-plastic worms and jigs fished around rocks and brush in 8 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on cut bream, shad and chicken liver in 8 to 20 feet of water.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) had no report.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA: Judy Potts of Judy’s Bait Shoppe at the North entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA reports all fishing is very sluggish in the Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA because of water levels changing so much.

Lake Charles: Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said that the water level is down about 6 feet and the floodgates are open. The boat ramp inside the park has been closed, but you can still access the ramps for Highway 25. The temperature ranges from 55 to 58 degrees and the water level is around 6 inches. All species are slow.

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is very clear and at normal level. Fishing is fair for all species. Not many anglers are on the water.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said fishing on Lake Monticello has picked up from last week. There have been several nice bass caught in the last few days. Flipping Fishboy Crawtubes in 4 to 6 feet of water has worked best. Some fish are still schooling and are biting fairly well on Baby Basshunters and Kill Gills.

Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on small crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.33 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said water clarity improved to 3 to 5 inches of visibility in the lake away from the current. The main lake and Little River’s water surface temperatures range from 55 63 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Current in Little River is 3,152 CFS. All Corps of Engineers boat ramps and campgrounds are open. Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair. Cool morning temperatures are delaying the most aggressive feeding activity until later in the day. The bass continue to feed well, with sub-surface schooling activities being seen around the lake. Chunky bass from 2 to 6 pounds continue to bite excellently on Rat-L-Traps at random periods throughout the day. Johnson silver spoons with white grub trailers, War Eagle spinnerbaits and Bass Assassin shad jerk baits are the go-to baits when the schooling bass move into the vegetation and remaining lily pads. Bass were still very aggressive in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver this week, chasing shad deep in the lily pads. Swimming white jigs w/ white chunk trailers along the edges and pockets of hydrilla or other open holes in remaining vegetation are still working but best bet is a Bass Assassin Shad in white or clear/silver flake or a white or Smoky Joe Rat-L-Trap. Dead-sticking Bass Assassin twitch worms are also working around stumps and vegetation. Jigs are producing some big bass, but the bite is still slow. Large worms are producing fair numbers of fish when the fish aren’t actively feeding. Edges of lily pads near deep drops in the clearer water, several feet away from the base of cypress trees (hint* cypress knees), and stumps in vegetation or on drop offs to deeper water, remain best locations this week for a better worm bite. White bass were roaming this week; however, several schools have been biting well on spoons, Rocket Shads, Rat-L-Traps, and grubs along Little River between Highway 71 Bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River. The crappie bite continues improving with the water clarity. The best bite has been on live shiners and jigs fished over brush in 10 to 15 feet of water. Blue and channel catfish remain excellent on trotlines or yo-yos baited with cut shad, blood bait and chicken livers near heavy current in Little River.

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

Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on stink bait and worms.

Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is low and the lake is being drawn down. Crappie are biting well. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good on worms and stinkbait.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park had no report.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was not available.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the lake level is 537.69 msl and falling. Water temperature is in the upper 50s. Water clarity is good to excellent. Crappie are scattered and can be caught shallow and deep on brush piles and bamboo condos. Anywhere from 14 to 32 feet deep can produce some crappie right now. Stripers are surface feeding some mornings. They are also being caught on live bait fished near the bottom in 30 feet of water around points.

Lakeside Grocery (870-398-5304) said the water is murky and the surface temperature is 60 degrees. Bream and catfish are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished in brush piles from 8 to 15 feet deep. Bass are excellent on topwaters, crankbaits and soft-plastic worms around 2 to 10 feet deep. Some walleye have been caught on crankbaits fished around rocky points and banks.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.32 feet MSL.

DeGray Lake Resort had no report.

Charles at Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina said the water temperature is 66 degrees and dropping. Largemouth bass are biting well on 11-inch worms in Redbug, Cherryseed, Tequila Green and Bloodline colors. Some bass are still schooling early and late. Kentucky bass are biting well on live crayfish fished along drop-offs and points around DeRoche and Caddo Bend in 20 to 26 feet of water. Hybrids are biting well on live shad. They are still schooling in the early mornings and are biting well on top waters and 3¼-oz CC Spoons around the dam and Caddo Bend in 24 to 28 feet of water. Crappie are excellent on Tennessee shad grubs and live minnows. Around moss flats and points in 18 to 20 feet of water and on brush piles in 20 to 25 feet of water. Catfish are biting well on jugs and trotlines baited with minnows and cut shad. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 6 to 12 feet of water.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said the lake is getting close to normal with 12-15 inches of visibility in the main body of the lake. The water temperature is 56 degrees. The Corps of Engineers is reporting a forecasted release on Lake Dardanelle to be around 26,000 CFS. Bass fishing is fair. Most sportsmen out in the woods rather than on the water, so angler reports are down to about zero. Bass caught are hanging around ledges, drop offs and cover, such as submerged trees and wing jetties, waiting to ambush schools of shad. Black and blue, chartreuse or watermelon seed jigs and spinnerbaits have done the best fished in about 10 feet of water. Crappie are biting well at this time with anglers reporting success in Big Piney and around Illinois Bayou. Anglers are using small crappie jigs, tube jigs and Gitzits along creek channels, drop offs and brush piles in about 10-20 feet of water. Bream fishing is slow with crickets and worms. Catfishing is fair with anglers catching catfish in 20-25 feet of water off the edges of the main river channel.

Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) had no report.

Spadra Marina reports daily limits of crappie and catfish are pretty regular right now. Crappie are biting best on pink/white Panfish Assassins and blue/pearl jigs. Bass minnows are finding bigger crappie, averaging at least 1½ pounds. Most of the crappie are 18 inches to 4 feet deep. Catfish are biting best on cut shad. Good honey holes are producing limits in less than two hours. We have seen bigger bass lately than we have seen in a couple of months. Customers are reporting two to three keepers a trip.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are slow, but a few have been caught on minnows and crappie jigs. Catfishing is fair.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.15 feet MSL.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is 66 to 70 degrees and the water is clear. Largemouth bass are still good and can be caught on spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Spoons are effective, fished vertically near humps and main-lake points around 20 to 25 feet deep. Walleye are still fair and being caught on spoons over brush piles on main lake points. Stripers are still good on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. White ½-oz. jigs and ¾-oz spoons are still working as well. These fish are breaking early and late and can be caught with C-10 Redfins and Zara Spooks. Bream are fair with crickets or worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are very good and being caught over brush and moss beds. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are still the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are still fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said stripers are starting to break early in the creeks and are hitting shad-imitating baits. The bass are still biting well in the dense grass. Some large bass have been caught lately.

Dave Lindhag at Striped Bass Adventures said fishing is tough. The fish have moved up into the creeks and rivers. There are a lot of scattered fish right now. Smaller shad are working, but the occasional topwater is working around points near 25-50 feet of water. Freelined or weighted shad are producing the best, but it’s not stellar. Most fish are 10 to 12 pounds. The schools are holding around 30 feet deep but will come up to 10 to feed.

Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good on shad- and crawfish-colored crankbaits fished along the shallows near areas that have been exposed from the drawdown. A jig or Carolina-rigged green centipede will catch some fish around any brush that’s exposed. This is one of the best times of year for Hamilton and hardly anyone will be on the water with you.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said that the winter drawdown is underway and will be complete Nov. 23. The lake is falling about 5 inches per day with a 3-foot overall drop planned. Lake Catherine will remain 3 feet below normal pool until next March when the refilling schedule begins for our area lakes. Rainbow trout are to be stocked in the tailrace during the next two weeks with 3,000 trout delivered in November. Trout stocking will continue until April. White bass and hybrid bass activity has remained good below the dam as the threadfin shad population holds steady in the tailrace. Topwater action in shallow areas has provided some exciting action with anglers casting into the feeding schools. Zara Puppies and Zara Spooks in clear and silver are the best choices; however, many bass have been taken with jigs and spoons. Walleye fishing has been productive as these fish are actively feeding on shad. Most of the action has taken place in the deep water closest to the dam with jigging spoons or heavy jigs. Fishermen need to pay close attention to generation schedules as moving water is essential to regular fish feeding cycles. Boaters are also urged to use caution when navigating the area as falling lake levels will expose many underwater hazards.

Diamondhead Marina said the water is clear and cold. Bass fishing is excellent on crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished along the shore. Walleye are fair on crankbaits trolled in 12 to 14 feet of water.

Lake Hinkle: Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on large bass minnows. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with live bait.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are moving to coves and are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are slowing down, but are biting well on soft-plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live shad.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park at the conjunction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said recent rains have brought the river up a couple feet above its normal level. Crappie were biting well, but cooler temperatures and rain have thinned out the anglers. However, it safe to assume that since the water has cleared up and remained mostly steady in the last 24 hours, crappie will be biting again. Submerged trees in the lake and bay are the best places this time of year. White and chartreuse jigs work well. Shiners are also good but are hard to find, area so buy them before you come. A few bream have been caught on worms buy those seeking crappie. Nothing has been said recently of bass or catfish. Don’t forget to dress warm and wear some orange.

Lower Ouachita River: No report.

Tri-County Lake: No report.

EAST ARKANSAS:
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870) 534-1948 said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on jig-and-minnow combinations. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is high and no one is fishing. No report.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is at normal level. Bream are biting well on minnows and jigs. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are fair.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal level. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers.

Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms around piers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and nightcrawlers around piers. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and nightcrawlers.

I-40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock said the water clarity is good and the water is at normal levels. Crappie are biting well on black jigs. Bass are fair on jigs. Catfishing is good.

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Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 11/12/2008

November 12, 2008

Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 11/12/2008 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 November 12. 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: The brown trout spawn is imminent on the Little Red River. Now’s the time for trophy hunters to find their once-in-a-lifetime trout. Be careful when wading not to disturb trout redds (nests) and try to stay at least two casts-lengths from other anglers. When you get your trophy, try not to handle it with your bare hands. If you must use your hands, wet them first to protect the fish’s protective slime coat.

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 Report: The last catfish stockings for the year are complete and all program ponds are producing eating-size catfish. The best baits to use are worms, liver, hot dogs and store-bought paste baits. Bream are slow. Trout will be stocked in program ponds when the water is cool enough to support them, which is usually in December. For more information on stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).

CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream are biting fairly well, but are a little deeper than normal. Crickets fished 10 to 12 feet away from the bank are working. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows and jigs fished around Gold Creek, Caney Creek and Pierce Creek. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits fished around any sort of riprap or rock. Catfishing is good on trotlines.

Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is a bit cloudy and low with no current. Trout are biting well on wax worms and marshmallows and on Power Bait.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse is slowing releases down to combat low dissolved oxygen in the water and prevent a fish kill. Restricted trout stocking is still occurring between the dam and Cow Shoal because of the low DO. The longer the water can stay in the lake, the more oxygen it will absorb from wave action and aquatic vegetation. Hopefully the lowered releases will move the dissolved oxygen up until the lake turns over later this month. The brown trout spawn is where it was a week ago – on the verge of happening. Male brown trout, in full spawn coloration and with the telltale hooked lower jaws, are all over the shoals in eager anticipation of the arrival of the larger, egg-laden females. Aquatic insect hatches continue with midges, BWOs and caddis being the primary players. A customer of ours from Pennsylvania fished at Libby Shoal, Winkley Shoal and Cow Shoal and in two days caught and released 107 trout using BWO dry fly patterns. That’s a lot of fish on dries for our river. Dry fly patterns that are working the best right now include blue winged olive mayflies (#18-#22), caddis (#16-#18), Adams (#16-#18) and crackleback (#12-#14). Beneath the meniscus, try a sowbug (#14-#16 UV tan, UV gray, olive or peacock), red butt soft hackle (#14-#18), copper john (#14-#16 red, green or copper), zebra midge (#16-#22 red or black), pheasant tail (#16), hare’s ear (#14-#16) and woolly bugger (#8-#12 olive, brown or black).

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.10 feet MSL.

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said white bass and hybrids are surface feeding in the evenings. Some black bass are being caught in the mornings.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and falling as the lake is being drawn down. Bream are fair on live bait. Crappie are biting very well on live minnows. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with live bait.

Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is 64 degrees. Bream are slow on redworms. Crappie are fair on jigs fished around boat docks. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms fished around brush piles. Catfish are fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around brush piles. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits around any woody cover. Catfishing is fair on live bait.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said Lake Maumelle is going to winter patterns. Largemouth bass are fair off the points. Bass jigs and CC spoons fished 15 feet deep are working. The Kentucky bass are mixed in with the largemouths. White bass are fair. They have moved to the humps on the west end of the lake and are being caught on CC Spoons and Sassy Shads. Crappie are fair around 20 feet deep and are hitting minnows and 1/32-oz. red/white and chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught along the main channel on prepared bait and large minnows.

Arkansas River at Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is muddy and at 63 degrees. Crappie are fair. Bass are biting well on shad-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished in 5 feet or less in backwater areas.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie, bass and catfish are all slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair. Bass are fair on topwaters. Catfish are fair.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said shad are moving into the shallow water during the late afternoon. White bass, largemouth bass and Kentucky bass have followed the shad into the backwaters and are biting well on Shad Raps and other shallow-diving crankbaits. Catfish are still near the main river channel and are biting on skipjack and nightcrawlers below dams 9 and 10. Crappie are in the cutoffs and mouths of creeks and are moving toward the main channel. Minnows fished 4 to 8 feet deep near banks are producing well. Large drum are being caught around rocks on crayfish-colored jigs.

Little Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream fishing is slow. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows under a slip-cork rig. Bass are biting well on Gilmore Jumpers and tandem-bladed spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on yo-yos and limb lines baited with chicken hearts.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting fairly well on pink minnows fished under a slip-cork. Pink/white mini jigs are also catching some crappie. White bass are biting well on white and chartreuse twister tails and yellow/white mini jigs. Catfishing is good on live green sunfish and shad fillets. Stripers are fair on large chartreuse twister tails on ½-ounce jigheads.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the current and clarity are about average. Crappie are biting well on bass minnows.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are poor. Crappie are fair on pink minnows around stumps in 6 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished near brush in 4 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing is slow.

NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is clear and seven generators are running. Trout fishing is fair. The slower fishing is upriver from the Resort. Fly-fishing is good on red San Juan worms. Other artificials are hard to use in the current.

Mountain River Fly Shop said water temperatures are still high on the White, but the dissolved oxygen is more positive than early last week. Fishing toward the end of last week was very good. Bull Shoals is now at 31 percent of flood pool (15 feet above power pool). Depending on rainfall over the next month, we might be seeing some low water in mid-December. We might even seem some extended wading for the week between Christmas and New Year. Traditionally this week, has low power demand, increasing the chances of low water. It just depends on lack of rainfall. On the river, Eggs and worms remain very productive. Puffball eggs, or standard orange, yellow or cerise eggs are great attractors. For worms, choose between Dynamite Worms or standard San Juan Worms if you are boat drifting. Hot pink, red, brown and light tan are great colors.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 666.04 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 559.55 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the upper 60s. Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair. White bass fishing has been good with the best time around sunset. Striper fishing is slow. Walleye fishing is fair using nightcrawlers. Catfishing has been slow. Bass fishing (Kentucky, smallmouth and largemouth bass) has been good.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water temperature is around 69 degrees and the water is still 12 feet over normal pool. The lake is beginning to turn over. Bream, crappie, catfish, stripers and walleye are all slow. Bass are biting well. Most of the largemouths and Kentuckies are in the shallow areas in the backs of coves. Spinnerbaits, topwaters and soft-plastics are all working well on smaller bass. Very few keepers are being caught, however.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern has been to run one generator around the clock. There have been some limited wading opportunities on the Norfork. Fishing has been spotty. The flows during the day have been light. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in hot pink and brightly colored eggs. There has been a bit of wading at Quarry Park below the dam along the parking lot for the ramp but with the lower dissolved oxygen the upper river has not fished as well as the lower river. Dry Run Creek is fishing well as always. With the brown trout spawn approaching, some of the browns are beginning to move up in the creek. There are plenty of large trout in the creek already. The hot flies are sow bugs, San Juan worms and egg patterns (peach would be the best color). With school back in session there is hardly anyone there. It is a great time to take your children or grandchildren.

Mountain River Fly Shop said Norfork is only 8 feet from power pool and could be at power pool by early December (weather permitting). The second piece of good news is a significant kick to the outrageously low dissolved oxygen levels seen recently. Fishing is significantly better from McClellan’s downstream, where the riffles and shoals can oxygenate the water. San Juans and eggs have been doing well here. But don’t be afraid to try larger (size 14) midge patterns, scuds and sowbugs.

Spring River: Spring River Fly Shop said fishing has been great. The water is running low and clear. Leaves are still falling heavily into the river and can be bothersome. Ants are working well because of the leaves in the water and egg patterns are producing fish. Mayfly and caddis hatches have been consistent. Mayfly and caddis emergers are the ticket during a hatch. Getting them down to the bottom is very important.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,126.44 feet MSL.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is still very high and water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished around inside channel turns. Vertically jigged spoons over flat areas near the main channel are working as well.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said bad weather has kept most anglers off the lake.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around weed beds and woody cover. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished near stumps in 2 to 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft plastics fished in 2 to 10 feet of water around brush and rocky areas. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught on shad and worms around 20-feet deep.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is low. Fishing is at a crawl for all species. It has been two weeks since the last reported fish was caught.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA: Judy Potts of Judy’s Bait Shoppe at the north entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA reports all fishing is very sluggish in the Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA because of water levels changing so much.

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. All species are fair.

Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is murky. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers along the banks. Crappie are biting well on crappie jigs near the drawdown tower at the dam. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said fishing on Lake Monticello has really slowed over the last couple weeks. There are some bass being caught on Texas-rigged Fishboy tubes and Fishboy Pedes. The fishing has been spotty at best with mostly small fish being taken.

Grand Lake: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.

SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park at the conjunction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the river is at its normal level (65 feet above sea level). Crappie are starting to bite well on chartreuse jigs. Most are being caught near cypress trees and sunken debris near the bottom. Even a few bream have been caught this week on worms and jigs while crappie fishing. Some small bass have also been caught on plastic worms and live worms by bank anglers. No one has mentioned anything of catfish but that’s probably because few people are fishing right now. Most are concentrating on hunting this time of year, so don’t forget to wear some orange if you get back in the bay or in the lake this weekend.

Lower Ouachita River: Water is starting to subside in the Ouachita River lakes. Some people are catching a few

Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 11/19/2008

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Arkansas Weekly Fishing Report - 11/12/2008