Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Keith Stephens (501) 223-6342,
e-mail: kastephens@agfc.state.ar.us

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report for Jan. 19, 2005. If there is a body of water you would like to see included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.

Fishing Tip: Add a couple of safety pins to your tackle box or fishing vest. They come in handy to clear the paint-clogged eyes of jigs and flies. The point can also be used to help untangle backlashes and knots.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS: Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake is stained and high. Bream are biting wax worms fished near the bottom.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Rainbow Resort said the river clarity is excellent, but the level is high. Currently, there are 2 generators running. Trout fishing is good using. Try drift fishing for 4 to 5 miles using a gloworm and salmon egg combination or a wax worm and Power Egg combination.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting fair on pearl white jigs and worms.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the river is muddy and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 5- to 16-feet deep using minnows and jigs around some cover. Bass fishing is good using minnows around cover. Catfishing is good using just about anything on the bottom.

Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow at Lock #9 is 135.90 cubic feet per second with the headwater at 285 feet and the tailwater at 283.66 feet. The strong flows have kept the boaters off the river. However, catfishing is strong in the deeper holes of Flag Lake and Cooper's Gap and down stream on the inside bends in at least 20 feet of water. For catfish, try using whole shad. Kentucky bass are fair on the down stream side of the jetties and in the backwater. Use crankbaits in fire tiger from noon until dark. Whites are biting well in the backwater with the shad. Try using rattletraps in shad-colors.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river clarity is good, but the level is high. Generation is on 24-hours a day. Trout fishing is excellent on Colorado's and rouges, silver with a black belly. Also on sunny days, try using silver Rapala Countdowns or on cloudy days, try gold Rapala Countdowns.

Bull Shoals Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said 2 to 6 units have been running most days, building up to 8 units by late afternoon. Drifting with the lower water releases has produced some excellent fly-fishing opportunities from a boat. The trout are all fat and healthy after the extended period of high water. As a result, fly-fishing has been very good lately in the various shoals of the upper river, especially using sow bugs, scuds, Unreal Eggs, Golden Eggs and San Juan Worms. Some very large trout have been hooked lately. The best flies have been: Zebra and Black/Olive Rubber-leg Copper John (sizes 14 to18), McLellan's Woven V-Rib Sowbug (sizes 14 to 16), McLellan's Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16), Little Brown Bug (sizes 14 to 16), March Brown Spider (sizes 12 to 14), Red Ass (size 16), Partridge & Herl (size 16), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Golden Eggs (size 16), Unreal Eggs (size 12), Platte River Special (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been scaled back over the past week. The water is primarily running early and late in the day, providing some wade-fishing opportunities. However, with all of the water in the Norfork reservoir, the generation rate should increase over the next week. Scuds, sow bugs and midges have been producing plenty of strikes. Several big browns are in the North Fork right now in spawning mode. So in the interest of keeping our brown trout fishery healthy, it is important to avoid wading through any spawning reds or casting into actively spawning fish. Below spawning shoals, Golden Eggs and McLellan's Tan Hunchback Scuds are producing several hook-ups. During high-water conditions, streamer fishing has been excellent from a boat (especially on overcast days). Using Streamer Express lines, big new streamers like the Swimming Jimmy and Articulated Zoo Cougar have produced several strikes lately and plenty of excitement. Nymph fishing in high water has also been productive, using bigger McLellan's Hunchback Scuds, egg patterns and San Juan Worms. The best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to16), Morgan's Midge (sizes 22 to 24), Rojo Midge (size 22), Yong Special (sizes 20 to 22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (sizes 20 to 24), Mercury Black Beauty (sizes 20 to 22), Gray Mercury Midge (sizes 20 to 22), WD-50 (sizes 20 to 22), McLellan's Woven Sow Bug (sizes 14 to 16), Golden Egg (size 16), Unreal Eggs (size 12), Mercury Brassie (sizes 18 to 20), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Platte River Special (size 4), San Juan Worm (size 16), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (4).

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake has a stain, and the level is still high. Crappie are biting well from 20- to 25-feet deep on crappie jigs and split-tail jigs.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is muddy and high. There has been very little fishing. Crappie are biting well on minnows and crappie jigs and minnows fished less than 10-feet deep n the creek arms or clear water areas. Bass fishing is fair from 30- to 40-feet deep using large jigs and CC spoons in the creek channels.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is clear, and the level is normal. Crappie fishing is fair from 3- to 4-feet deep using tube jigs near the old bridge.

Beaver Tailwaters: Beaver Dam Store said generation has on from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. Beaver lake level has remained around 1126.6 feet over the past week. Table Rock is generating almost constantly with the lake level at 918.25 feet which is about 3 feet into flood stage. Bull Shoals' level is 663.5 feet which is about 9 feet into flood pool, and generation has been occuring 24-hours a day. Trout fishing is decent on Beaver with fly patterns of midges, midge emergers, scuds and buggers. The best baits are night crawlers and wax worms. McLellan's Fly Shop said generation should increase on Beaver Tailwater this week as Table Rock Lake level is pulled down. Midges are the most consistent food source at this time, but scuds and sow bugs have also been reliable. Some large trout have been hooked lately on McLellan's Hunchback Scud in olive and the Golden Egg. The best flies have been: Morgan's Midge (sizes 22 to 24), Rojo Midge (size 22), WD-50 (sizes 20 to 22), Red Jujubee Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20 to 24), Pure Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Black Beauty Emerger (sizes 22 to 24), Biot Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Rainbow Warrior (size 18), Chocolate Emerger (size 20), Adult Midge (size 24), JB Emerger (sizes 20 to 22), McLellan's Hunchback Scud Gray (sizes 14 to16), McLellan's Woven Sow Bug (sizes 14 to16) and Golden Egg (size 16).

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is a little stained and high. Crappie are biting well from 5- to 10-feet deep on minnows near the bank.

Black River: Powhatan Landings said the river is muddy and high.

Spring River: Local fisherman Gary Salard said the water clarity is fair to poor by Spring River standards due to the recent rains, but limits of rainbows are still being taken by the die hards willing to brave the weather. Fly rod enthusiasts are having good success using Pistol Petes #4 or #6 in black or brown with a chrome spinner working the best. yellow Power Bait and 1/16- to 1/8-ounce Roostertails are also producing fish. Smallmouth bass are pretty well lock jawed but this should improve as the water clears and spring approaches. The walleye bite should start in mid-February.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Enterprise: Fred's Sport Shop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie fishing is fair in the deeper water using tube jigs and shiners.

Lake Chicot: Koenig's Bass Tracker Marine said the lake clarity is normal, but the lake is still low. Bream are biting well from 3- to 4-feet deep on worms. Crappie fishing is fair, and catfishing is good.

Mississippi River: Koenig's Bass Tracker Marine said the river clarity is normal, but the river is still high. Catfishing is good.

Arkansas River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said crappie fishing is fair using small minnows.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said water temperature ranges from 45 to 49-degrees. The lake is approximately 15 inches above normal pool with a moderate stain and heavy current. The lake elevation is 260.45 feet. The release rate with 13 gates open is 17,636 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass are fair on black-and-blue or pumpkin-and-chartreuse jigs with Uncle Josh 101 or 11A jumbo pork frog trailers 3- to 4-feet deep and 4 to 6 feet away from the cypress trees. Black bass are good on swimming white Lead head jigs with spilt milk grub trailers or white-and-orange or chartreuse spinner baits through any vegetation such as coontail or hydrilla, along Little River edges in 6 to 8 foot depths. A 10-inch Power Worm in june bug has been taking keepers in the 3- to 4-pound range. Zoom brush hogs and baby brush hogs are catching bass in the 2- to 4-pound range on the stumps along the edges of the river in 7 to 9 feet depths and on sunny days, bass are biting in backs of creeks on the base of cypress trees. The more aggressive bass are being found off the edges of the riverbank near stumps and timber from 8- to 12-feet deep. The best colors for brush hogs in the past week seem to be pumpkinseed with a chartreuse tail, blackberry or chartreuse pepper. Heavy, 5/8- or ¾-ounce spinner baits in white or spot remover color patterns in the remaining vegetation and dead lily pads are taking fair keepers on shallow flats close to the river and deeper water. The larger bass remain slightly deeper in the creeks and closer to the deeper haunts of the river drops at the creek mouths or points dumping into Little River. Southern Pro Fat Butt Tubes with rattles in black with a red flake, or pumpkinseed with a chartreuse tail pitched in on the base of cypress trees are catching decent bass in those areas of shallow flats next to deep creek channel swings. During the heat of the day, bass in the 2- to 3-pound range remain fair to good on ½- and ¾-ounce sized Rat-L-Traps in red chrome, gold Tennessee shad or bleeding gold shiner. Shallow- to medium-diving red, brown or orange crankbaits continue working on points and creek channels. Slowing the crankbait retrieve to a mere crawl seems to have the best results in this colder water climate. Blue catfish remain fair to good in Little River on trotlines, cottonseed mill cakes, chicken hearts or livers and cut shad. The outside river bends between Pugh Slough and Snake Creek, between Hole-in-the-Wall and South Hickory seem to be best locations. Try setting your hook from 12- to 15-feet deep in these areas. Water clarity in the river has improved to approx 5- to 6-inches. Clarity is somewhat worse on the main lake due to increase in heavy current, high winds and current toward the dam. The northeastern sector of the lake around Cottenshed and OK Landing remains extremely muddy with increased current and muddy water in the Saline River. Creeks and sloughs of Little River have begun clearing now with the lake falling. The upriver oxbows such as McGuire, Horseshoe, Mud Lake, Cemetary Slough, etc, away from the current in Little River still have much better water visibility. Visibility is estimated to be from 2- to 3-feet in places.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are biting well about 9-feet deep on red jigs with silver coloring and small shiners fished over brush piles along the creek. Bass are biting well on mid-range divers and Tennessee shad-colored crankbaits.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms fished on the bottom. Crappie fishing is fair using orange-and-silver jigs in the channel over brush piles. Catfishing is good in the channel from 6- to 8-feet deep on Canadian night crawlers.

White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said crappie fishing is fair from 3- to 4-feet deep using minnows at the state park.

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said the lake is muddy and has dropped 2 feet since last week.

DeGray Lake: Point Cedar Bait Shop said the crappie are biting on live bait.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake clarity is poor, and the lake is high. Crappie are biting well form 8- to 14-feet deep on minnows fished over the brush piles. Bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is fair using shad and skipjack near the nuclear plant discharge.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river is muddy and high. Bream and bass fishing is poor. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and black crappie jigs below the dam. Catfishing is fair using cut shad below the dam.

Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature ranges from 44- to 52-degrees. The water is stained, and the level is at 580.14 feet. Largemouth bass are still good and these fish are schooling and can be caught with Roostertails, gray jigs and silver spoons. Try main lake points and humps for best results in 20 to 30 feet of water. Walleye are good with reports of these fish being caught over or near large river channel points. Jigging spoons or jigs tipped with minnows are still the most effective. Try water depths of 20 to 35 feet. Stripers are excellent on live bait, hair jigs or silver spoons. These fish are located in pockets and old creek channels. Areas around points 16 and 19 are still getting good reports. White bass action is excellent in the river channels from 30- to 35-feet deep. Crappie are still good and being caught over brush piles and moss flats using feather jigs, 2-inch grubs and minnows. Try main lake points and large moss flats 10 to 25 feet deep. The best colors are still white, silver and Tennessee shad.

Lake Catherine: Dozhier's Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said fish are still moving upstream and feeding on dead shad. Trout are hitting power bait and small shad-like crankbaits. Crappie are staging around brush and downed timber and are going for small shiners. Stripers and hybrids are moving toward the dam and are feeding on shad. Fishermen have had some success using large red fins and flukes.

Lake Hamilton: Dozhier's Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said bass are going for crawfish-like crankbaits and jigs worked around rocky outcrops and steep banks. Walleye are moving toward the main channel at the west end of the lake and are hitting Rogues and deep-running crankbaits. Catfish are hitting whole dead and live crawfish with some good jug action fishing 8- to 10-feet deep. Crappie are holding off deep structure in 8 to 12 feet of water and are hitting small shiners.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the lake is clear but high. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished from 15- to 20-feet deep over deep stumps. Bass are biting from 5- to 10-feet deep on deep-running plugs. Catfishing is fair on worms and chicken liver fishing off the bank near the dam.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is high. Bream are biting well on wax worms in shallow water near the bank. Some catfish are biting on yo-yos baited with minnows.

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait 'n' More II said the lake is high. Crappie fishing is good using minnows and jigs. Catfish are also biting well.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Felsenthal: Benson's Grocery and Bait said crappie are biting fair.

Cox Creek Lake: Cox Creek Lake said the lake is a little high. Crappie are biting really well on minnows, and bass are biting well on artificials.

EAST ARKANSAS:

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the lake is clear, but high. Crappie are biting well 2-feet deep in the off lakes. Try using yo-yos baited with minnows. Bass fishing is fair.

Midway Lake: Ed's Boat Camp said with the high river, fishing has not been good.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 12- to 16-feet deep trolling with minnows.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is clear and high. Crappie are biting well on black-and-red jigs fished deep. Bass are biting well in 4 feet of water on plastic worms around the cypress trees.

Click Here To Return To The Previous Page