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Arkansas Fishing Report
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Arkansas Reports from Anglers
Free Fishing Days - Kansas June 7
8, 2008, Arkansas June 6 8, 2008, Colorado June 7
8, 2008, Iowa June 6 8, 2008, Missouri June 7 8,
2008, Nebraska May 17, 2008, Oklahoma June 7 8, 2008 and
Texas June 7, 2008
May 8, 2008
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)
9.4 feet at Batesville (flood stage 15 feet)
21.7 feet at Newport (flood stage 26 feet)
31.9 feet at Augusta (flood stage 26 feet)
22 feet at Georgetown (flood stage 21 feet)
28.9 feet at Clarendon (flood stage 26 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 (501-302-3139)
said the water is clear and high, with heavy generation. Fishing
for trout is very good on Power Bait, corn, spinnerbaits, Rapalas
and wax worms.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said Greers
Ferry Lake continues to hover near the top flood pool level.
The U.S. Corps of Engineers said the flood gates will be opened
if flood pool is reached. Meanwhile, water releases continue
around the clock, averaging the equivalent of one full generator.
Larger releases are desired, but the White River is still too
high downstream. Fishing the Little Red River in high water is
definitely possible from a boat. Guide trips at the shop are
continuing and trout are being caught and released. Be sure to
wear a life jacket if you launch a boat. Sub-surface flies are
most productive in high water. The sub-surface flies that are
working the best include San Juan worms (#14-#18 peach, orange
or red), gold-ribbed hare's ear (#14-#16), copper john (#14-#16
red or green), sow bug (#14-#16 light gray or tan), zebra midge
(#16 red or chartreuse) or woolly bugger (#4-#12 olive or brown).
Most any heavy fly that is brightly colored or has flash will
work. If you elect to tie on a dry fly, try an elk hair caddis
(#14-#16 tan), Adams (#18-#20), midge (#22 cream or black) or
American March brown (#14). Dries work best when presented to
the trout during a hatch.
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 walleye have been caught on large minnows around trees.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said
the water is falling and the surface temperature ranges from
61 to 70 degrees. White bass and hybrids are still upriver and
biting well on grubs, Road Runners and jerkbaits. A few bream
are biting in the main lake on nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing
is picking up on jigs fished close to the brush. The best action
is coming from Choctaw Basin, Hill Creek and all three river
arms. Walleye are hit-and-miss, and it seems like the main-lake
walleye have not spawned yet. The river-run walleye have spawned
but have not set up on the flats like usual. Bass fishing continues
to improve, but the spawn seems a bit behind. A few largemouths
are on beds, and smallmouths are just pulling up to prepare beds.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745)
said the water has cleared up and the lake isalmost back to normal
level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are still
hit or miss. Bass are biting well on minnows and artificial lures.
Catfishing is good on goldfish or bream.
Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation
Department said the water is murky and a little high. Crappie
are good on minnows.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said
the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream fishing is good
on red worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows.
Catfishing is good on shad and nightcrawlers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions
are normal. Bream are picking up on wax worms and crickets. Crappie
are biting well on minnows and dark brown jigs. Bass fishing
is good on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is very good
on large minnows and nightcrawlers.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said
the water is still high and all species are slow right now.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061)
said water conditions are normal. Bream are good on crickets.
Crappie are biting well in shallow water on 2-inch lemon-colored
grubs. Bass are excellent on watermelonseed lizards and floating
worms. A few catfish have been caught on liver.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is normal. Crappie are biting
well on red/chartreuse Road Runners around brush piles. Bass
are biting well on crankbaits and pumpkinseed finesse worms.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said the lake
level is 0.2 feet above the spillway. Largemouth bass are biting
very well in 3 to 6 feet of water. They've finished their spawn,
but are still shallow. Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits are working
the best. Kentucky bass have been mixed in with the largemouths.
Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs along the banks in
4 to 10 feet of water. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets,
with worms working the best. Fish shallow cover and docks for
the best success. Catfishing is good on prepared baits in 10
to 15 feet of water. Jolly Roger's will be hosting a catfish
tournament this weekend to take advantage of the plentiful cats
in the lake. Call the marina for details.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said
the water is still very high and dingy. All species are slow
right now.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from
Fish 'N Stuff said the water is still high with strong currents.
Bass can be caught in the backwaters on spinnerbaits and lizards.
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 65 to 70. The water visibility
and clarity is low. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms.
Crappie are biting fairly well on shiners and black/chartreuse
1/8-ounce crappie jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on small
chartreuse/white spinnerbaits and small Texas-rigged creature
baits. Catfish are biting well on night crawlers.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are being
caught around the bridge on crickets. Bass are good on flukes
and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on yo-yos and trotlines
with cut bait.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream
fishing is good on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair on
pink minnows.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop
said crappie are biting well on red or chartreuse jigs and minnows
with a slip-cork rig. Catfishing is good snagging or bait fishing.
Stripers are biting well on large silk chartreuse twister tails.
White bass are fair on CC spoons.
Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said
bream are good in shallow water on wax worms and crickets. Crappie
are fair on slip-cork rigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits
early and late. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and chicken
hearts.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471)
said catfish are the best thing going on large minnows.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471)
said the water is stained and high. Bream are biting wellon crickets
in 4 to 6 feet of water around the banks. Crappie are fair on
pink minnows. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and
black jigsaround logs.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731)
had no report.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides
said although the reservoirs on the White River system have fallen,
they remain precariously close to the top of flood pool. The
pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around
the clock. In addition they opened the flood gates and ran 13,
000 additional cubic feet per second (the equivalent of four
additional generators). The also ran the flood gates on Beaver
and Table Rock. All have now been shut down. There have been
a few brief periods of wading opportunities on the Norfork River
at night but none on the White. On the higher water, boating
conditions have been excellent. Most boat ramps on the White
River are now usable. Great care should be taken when launching
or loading your boat during heavy generation. The use of a personal
flotation device is highly recommended when boating on heavy
water. Fishing on the White has been tough. The water has been
so high most anglers have avoided it all together. A few brave
souls have fished the upper White with some success, particularly
the Catch-and-Release section below Bull Shoals dam.
Mountain River Fly Shop said it will be a while
before you hear no generation on the White, but if no more torrential
rains hit, we're hopeful that we won't see any more spillway
flows. There will be some very good fishing from a boat over
the next weeks. High water can produce growth rates of around
an inch a month. And with the super-size buffet of drowned worms,
decaying warmwater fish and more during times the floodgates
were open these fish should be stacking on the weight. There
is no better time to catch a trophy White River fish than during
high water. It's a good bet to start with fly patterns from Wotton
or Wilkinson. The Dynamite Worm has been one of Davy's little
secrets until he let it slip last month. The Sunday Special has
been a go-to fly for Clint for a good while, and if you had been
one of his clients there is a good chance you had it on your
rod at some stage. If you aren't fishing in a catch-and-release
zone, try a double rig with the Dynamite Worm trailing the heavier
Sunday Special.
Sportsman's White River Resort said the water is
clearing up, but eightgenerators arerunning around the clock.
Trout fishing has been very good on small red or purple worms
with heavy sinkers. Rogues and Rapalasare also very good.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 693.62 feet
MSL.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 578.35 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141)
said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are biting well on
the banks on minnows. Stripers are being caught in 25 to 30 feet
of water on flukes and Stump Jumpers. A few catfish have been
caught on jugs with minnows.
101 Grocery and Bait said fishing is good. The
surface water temperature ranges from 61-64 degrees. Walleye
fishing has been good on live bait, spoons and Rogues fished
around 6-10 feet deep along bluffs and main-lake points. Crappie
fishing is fair on minnows and small chrome dome jigs. Striper
fishing is good, and most are being caught using live bait and
your favorite stick bait. Bass fishing has been fair. Catfish
has been good using limblines and live bait with rod-and-reel.
Sunfish are starting to hit on wax worms and crickets.
Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers
Guides said with the water on the White River extremely high,
the action was centered on the Norfork River. The traffic was
incredibly heavy. With the ramp at Quarry Park destroyed by recent
flooding and the ramp at the confluence flooded by the additional
water coming through the flood gates at Bull Shoals dam, the
only place to launch boats on the Norfork was off the side of
the road leading to the confluence ramp. This is a tricky place
to launch and at times the spot got quite congested. Patience
prevailed and I heard of no mishaps. Despite the extremely crowded
conditions, the fishing, while not hot, was steady. The key to
success has been to use conventional high-water tactics. Large,
brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot pink, cerise and fire
orange have all been productive) and brightly colored egg patterns.
One tactic that helped produce fish was the use of a dropper
in the sections of the Norfork that were not designated Catch-and-Release.
A small nymph can be attached to the bend of the hook of the
San Juan worm by a 24-inch tippet with a couple of simple improved
clinch knots. A good nymph to use for this technique would be
the copper john. Our most reliable mayfly hatch of the year is
the sulphur. They regularly hatch in May and June and the nymphs
should be coming more active in the coming weeks. Use the copper
wire variety in size 14. It is a dead on imitation of the sulphur
nymphs. Other good nymphs to try would be olive scuds or black
zebra nymphs in size 14. Dry Run Creek as usual is fishing very
well. The hot fly has been the worm brown San Juan worm in smaller
sizes. Other productive patterns have been sowbugs, olive woolly
buggers, egg patterns and Y2Ks. While you are there take a tour
of the National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating and educational.
Be sure and remove your waders before entering the hatchery to
prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,128.71 feet MSL.
JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said
bass have been biting well on spinnerbaits fished along the points
and in the flooded timber. Sight-fishing is at its best in the
Indian Creek arm and in the back of the Cliftys. Crappie fishing
is the same, slow and tough. Try a minnow under a cork in the
flooded timber around 2 to 6 feet deep in the White River and
War Eagle arms. White bass action has slowed and the fish have
moved back to the main lake. Stripers are scattered and the bite
is slow. Fishing live shad around Point 12 has produced well.
Catfishing is excellent across the lake.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the
water is muddy and high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie
are fair in 6 to 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs. White bass
are fair in shallow water on crawfish.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock
(479-444-3476) said water is dingy and at normal level. Crappie
are scattered and are being caught on minnows. Bass are biting
well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475)
said the water is clearing up and at normal level. Crappie are
biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on minnows.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467)
said all species are slow.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles: Brenda Mans at Lake Charles State
Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is 6 inches high and
the surface temperature ranges from 64 to 65 degrees. Water clarity
is 12-inches. Bream are biting well on jigs. Crappie are biting
fairly well on minnows, and crappie candy. Catfish are biting
on minnows. No report on bass.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said
water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on red worms
and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and small jigs.
Bass are biting well on small spinnerbaits and plastic worms.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the
water is high. All species are slow.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374)
said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on crickets.
Crappie are biting well on minnows and silver jigs. Catfish are
being caught on soap.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all
species are slow.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.95 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the main lake
and Little River's surface temp ranges from 63 to 75 degrees,
depending on location and time of day. The water clarity is improving
away from the current. There is still much debris coming down
the river. along the river and main lake, is beginning to improve.
Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway of 18,048 CFS. Most bass
are still pre-spawn in the lake. Jigs, 10-12-inch worms, magnum
lizards large Rat-L-Traps and magnum tubes continue working well
on the bass. Overall the bass bite continues improving. Fish
are slowly recovering with lake level reaching closer to normal
pool. The most aggressive bite remains on jigs in black/blue,
black/blue/purple, Bass Assassin Shads in baby bass or bubble
gum pink, Trick Worms and Senkos in watermelon-red, top-water
toads, and big bulky Rat-L-Traps. Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes
(with rattles) in black/red flake are still working in off-colored
water. Siefert's Buzz Baits, in bubblegum/black, or black/red
near newly emerging lily pads, in the clearest water you can
find, are drawing good reactions from big fish, as long as you
use a trailer hook. Spot Remover/orange and hot mouse-colored
War Eagle spinnerbaits are taking some decent largemouths around
flooded vegetation and cypress trees, away from current of the
river, close to deep water. Some nice White Bass were caught
adjacent to creek mouths dumping into Little River, just inside
the current breaks above White Cliffs. The crappie bite, took
another major improvement this past week. The big crappie have
been caught under cypress trees on live shiners, red/white or
white/chartreuse jigs during the last few weeks. The good news
continues for blue catfish and channel catfish. Catfish are good,
using dog food, cut shad or Charlie on trotlines and yo-yos along
the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 9-11 feet
of water near river current. Bream are beginning to bite well
along the banks on crickets and redworms around docks and cypress
trees. White/chartreuse or white/yellow popping bugs on fly rods,
remain catching nice redear. Longnose gar remain relatively shallow
and are cruising in large numbers, making excellent targets for
bowfishermen.
Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River
State Park (870) 385-2201 said the water level is 2.48 feet according
to the USGA. The surface temperature ranges from 60 to 65 degrees
and the water is a bit stained. Bream are biting fairly well
on worms and crickets in 3 to 4 feet of water. Smallmouth bass
are biting fairly well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdad-colored
Crain baits around cover in deeper pools around 4 to 5 feet deep.
Largemouth bass are slow, but a few have been taken on dark-colored
finesse worms and grubs fished slowly through deep cover. Catfishing
is slow with some catfish being taken on live perch. Most of
the catfish are being caught just above the Highway 278 bridge
south to Gillham Lake. To experience the fishing on the Cossatot
at its best, make a call to Cossatot River State Park Visitor
Center and schedule a fishing kayak tour.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said
water conditions are normal. Bream are the best thing going,
withworms and cricketsproducing the best results.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said
water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on worms and
crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are being
caught on liver and nightcrawlers.
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said
the water level is stable and the water is warming up slowly.
Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow, but a few
have been caught on live minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on surface
poppers. Catfish are biting well on live and artificial baits
hung from jugs.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 547.74 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery said the water is murky and at
normal level with water temperature at 75 degrees. Bream fishing
is fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and small
jigs. Bass fishing is very good in shallow water on topwater
lures and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on trotlines and
jugs with stinkbait or large minnows.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 407.80 feet MSL.
DeGray Lake State Park said the black bass are
being seen paired up in the shallows. Bream is starting to move
in, with some starting to hit crickets, but they're still on
the small side. The catfish are starting to come in a big way
from the bank to 15 feet of water, including a 37-pound flathead
caught on a noodle. The hybrids are breaking more now than they
have in the last three years; they are coming up and staying
longer while schooling the shad. The water temperature is 62
degrees, down 5 degrees from last week, but warming in the shallows.
Clarity is dingy from the high water but clearing slowly.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200)
said the water is muddy and high. Bass are good in shallow water
on top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on shad.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 408.91 feet
MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water
is murky and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs.
Bass are fair on lures. Catfish are being caught on worms and
chicken liver.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said
the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair in the creeks on
nightcrawlers and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish are being caught
below the dam on cut bait, nightcrawlers and minnows.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake's elevation was 577.84 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said
walleye are excellent. Many big walleye are being caught on spinnerbaits,
jigs and jerkbaits over the grass. Bass are biting very well
with larger fish coming on crankbaits and a jig. Bass are on
the points and creek turns. Stripers are improving, but are still
spotty.
Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474)
said the water is warming and clear. Stripers are in the creek
mouths and on the points. Live gizzard shad are working well
when freelined. All sizes of stripers are biting well, but larger
fish are biting best on 10 to 18-inch shad. Most of the fishing
is over by 9:30 in the morning and doesn't pick up again until
4:30 in the evening. Some stripers are being caught in 20 to
30 feet of water on trolled umbrella rigs in the mornings.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 62 to
64 degrees and clearing. Largemouth bass are still biting very
well on YUM Dingers, floating worms and Carolina rigs. Walleye
are biting very well, and are being caught on jerkbaits over
main-lake points. Stripers are still excellent on live bait and
top-water action is excellent right now with C-10 Redfins. Bream
are biting very well on crickets or worms in 10 to 20 feet of
water. Crappie are good and being caught over grass and brush.
Try large moss flats and brush in water 10 to 20 feet deep. Minnows
or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and
white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are excellent
and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Several large fish have been caught this week.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em
All Guide Service, reports that the tailrace is now clear and
the lake level is back to its normal summertime level. The surface
temperature is 56 degrees and drops to 51 as you arrive at the
dam. Despite almost two months of storms and statewide flooding,
the rainbow trout population is alive and well below the dam.
The trout are healthy and feeding heavily on the threadfin shad
schools that are migrating towards the dam. Fly-fishermen are
catching limits of trout on streamers and micro jigs in white
or grey with the best results during periods of generation. Boaters
are landing trout in the 2- to 3-pound range by trolling the
channels with small crankbaits that run 4 to 6 feet deep. Shad
or crawfish imitators work best as both of these creatures are
a prime food source for all the fish that inhabit the tailrace.
Spin fishermen are recording limits of fish by casting Roostertails
and Super Dupers in brown and silver in areas of current. Bank
fishermen using corn with a marshmallow floater quickly hook
trout that mistake the corn for fish eggs. Rainbow trout have
an inborn instinct to feed on fish eggs and any fishermen that
does not take advantage of this fact is missing a great opportunity
to experience big time trout fishing. White bass have completely
covered the area in full spawn mode. Males are in the 1 to 2
pound range and can be caught with jigs and crankbaits at will.
Live bait rigs are catching the larger females in the deeper
waters in front of the powerhouse. Freshwater drum are also plentiful
and actively feeding on shad and crawfish. Many of these fish
are in the 20-pound range with some hooked in the 30- to 40-pound
class. Stripers are beginning to show themselves as they chase
trout and shad to the top and feed heavily in the shallow water.
Action is hit-and-miss but will become more predictable as the
temperature becomes more stable.
Diamond Head Marina reported water conditions are
normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are being
caught on minnows. Bass are picking up along the shorelines on
silver and white lures. Catfishing is decent on stinkbait and
nightcrawlers.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide
Service said Carolina rigs and crankbaits are working well on
flats near brush and stumps. Some walleye are being caught on
jerkbaits.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said
the water is murky and a little high. Crappie are biting well
on minnows and jigs. Bass are also hitting minnows. Catfishing
is very good on worms, shiners and liver.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions
are normal. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfishing
is good on shad and large minnows.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting
Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is still murky and dropping
slowly. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie
are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on top-water
lures and lizards. Catfishing is good on shad, liver and nightcrawlers.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said
the water is clearing up and is still high. Bream fishing is
good on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well around stumps
on minnows and small jigs. Bass fishing is good on shiners.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had
no report.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240)
said water conditions are normal. Bream are the best thing going
on worms and crickets.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said
the water is in good condition right now. Bream fishing is good
on redworms and crickets around lily pads. Crappie are biting
well in shallow water on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits.
Catfishing is good on stink bait.
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