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 Feb. 9, 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: If a hook penetrates your skin past the barb, try to push the point through the skin in a different spot, then cut the hook below the barb with a pair of pliers. If the barb is embedded too deep, you may need to go to a hospital for removal.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the water is stained, but it is at normal pool. Bream fishing is good using worms, crickets and wax worms on the bottom. Crappie are biting well on minnows and pepper-colored jigs on the edge of the creek channels.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Rainbow Resort said the river clarity is good, but with two generators running, the river is still about 4 feet above normal. Trout fishing is good using Original Rapalas, Shad Raps and marabou jigs.

Greers Ferry: Shiloh Marina said the lake is murky and at normal pool. Hybrids and whites are being caught trolling marabou jigs and minnows at 25- to 40 feet. Bait Master said the lake is clearing up, and the level is normal. Bream are biting fair from 20- to 25-feet deep on red worms and nightcrawlers over rocky points. Crappie are biting fair about 50 feet off the river channel. Try using small crappie minnows from 20- to 25-feet deep near standing trees. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is good using soft plastics and crankbaits off the main lake points. Hybrids and whites are schooling; try using top-water lures or spoons in the main lake area. Catfish are biting well on large shiners and nightcrawlers near the mouths of the rivers. Walleye are making their spring run and are biting well from 25- to 30-feet deep on nightcrawlers and jig ‘n’ minnows.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake is clear and a little high. Bream are biting fair on wax worms and nightcrawlers near the docks. Crappie fishing is good in the deep waters using minnows and tubes. However, the crappie are beginning to move into the coves. Bass are being found near the shad as they come close to the bank. Catfishing is good using minnows close to the bank.

Beaverfork Lake: Wooster Grocery said the lake is high. However, crappie are biting well on minnows in the coves.

Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Bates Field and Stream said the water is stained and the level is normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows in the backwaters and on the edges of the creek channels. Catfishing is good using minnows and shad.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is murky and the river is below normal. Crappie fishing is excellent from 3- to 4-feet deep using yo-yos baited with minnows or worms; try placing the yo-yos 5-feet from the bank. Catfish are biting well in the channels about 6-feet deep on minnows and worms.

Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock no. 9 is 72,000 cubic feet per second with headwater at 284.60 feet and tailwater at 372.35 feet. Catfishing is good on the jetty tips from 25- to 30-feet deep. Try fishing about 2 feet off the bottom with live shad. A few stripers have been caught while fishing for catfish. Kentucky bass are being caught late in the evening on top of the jetties; try fishing very slow with a chartreuse-and-black Gitzit. Crappie fishing is slow in Point Remove Creek and Flag Lake, but try using minnows in 10 to 15 feet of water.

Bradford Lake: Shirley’s Bait said the lake is clear and has dropped some from last week. Crappie are biting well on yo-yos baited with crappie minnows over brush piles or stumps.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river clarity is good, and the river is still high. There are four to six generators running. Trout fishing is good using Rapala Countdowns. Brown trout in the 3- to 8-pound range are biting on Rapala Husky Jerks in green with an orange belly or silver with an orange belly. Rainbow trout are biting on yellow or white Power Eggs.

Bull Shoals Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said the trophy area below Bull Shoals Dam opened on Feb. 1, although you’ll need a boat to fish it. Six units have been running most days, building up to eight units by late afternoon. Fly-fishing from a boat has produced plenty of hookups and brought many quality trout to the net, especially in the first mile below Bull Shoals Dam. Shad patterns like White Zonkers and Arkansas Coneheads have been hooking several quality trout when drifted under large strike indicators with heavy split shot. The best flies have been: White Zonker (size 6), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), San Juan Worms (size 10), Micro Eggs (size 14), Zebra and Black/Olive Rubber-leg Copper John (sizes 14 to 18), McLellan’s Woven V-Rib Sowbug (sizes 14 to 16), McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to 16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Golden Eggs (size 16), Platte River Spider (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

North Fork River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has increased over the past week, with two units running during most of the daylight hours. While wade-fishing is severely limited by this much generation, fly-fishing from a boat has been excellent. Shad patterns, San Juan Worms and egg patterns have been producing a ton of hookups while drifting under large strike indicators and heavy split shot. The best flies have been: Micro Eggs (size 14), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), White Zonker (size 6), Platte River Spider (size 4), San Juan Worms (size 10), Black Wooly Sculpin (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said the lake level has been pulled down to normal pool, 654.49 feet, and the lake clarity is about 14 feet. Crappie are still scattered as the water temperature is in the mid-40s. They are being caught along the bluff walls around the pole trees at about 38 to 40 feet. The best technique is a crappie tube or Bobby Garland Swimming Minnow on a pink or red jighead. Largemouth bass have really shut down. They are roaming from points to transition banks to the backs of the pockets. Covering a lot of water with search baits is the key at this time. The best baits to use are Bandit and Wiggle Wart crankbaits, Suspending Rogues and Lucky Craft jerk baits. Smallmouth bass are a little easier to pattern. Main lake points and creek arm transition banks are key areas to check until the weather makes a swing toward spring and the water starts to warm. Fish grubs, Spider Jigs and suspending rogues from the bank out to 40 feet of water. Kentucky bass are traveling with the shad just like last week. Most of the shad and Kentucky bass are down 40- to 50-feet deep. For the Kentuckies, spoons and drop shot rigs with grubs or 4-inch drop shot worms are your best bets. Walleye continue to be a hit or miss situation. They are deep over flooded forests, roaming over deep flats and suspended in the middle of the creeks. Spoons and shiners on ball jigs or grubs are your best bet. The walleye will start their move when the water warms to around 52-degrees. So, the spring migration is not far away. Fishing for trout on the White River has still been good. When there is not much generation, Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, orange and white have done well. With generation Rooster Tails, the Buoyant spoon, Super Dupers, Little Cleos and Rapala Countdowns are the bait of choice. With the generation, fly-fishing has been limited but olive Woolly Buggers, sow bugs and scuds have done well.

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the water is dingy, but the lake level is normal at 552 feet. Crappie are biting well from 25- to 50-feet deep on minnows and jigs fished over brush piles. Bass fishing is good from shallow to 20-feet deep using crankbaits or jigs near the chunk-rock banks.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is clear and about 5 feet above normal. However, the lake is being dropped about ½ a foot a day. Crappie are biting well from 5- to 20-feet deep on tube jigs and minnows in the river arms. Bass fishing is good using spinner baits and crankbaits in the river channels. Stripers are fair using spinner baits from the shallows to 25-feet deep.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 4- to 6-feet deep on minnows and pink-and-white crappie tubes over brush piles and stumps in the old river channel. Bream fishing, bass fishing and catfishing are all poor.

Beaver Tailwaters: Beaver Dam Store said in spite of high-water conditions, there are a few folks that just won't stay away from the river. Fishermen are catching fish by using more weight to get those baits on the bottom. Power Eggs and nightcrawlers are attracting bites. Lures should be a couple of sizes heavier during the heavy generations so that the lure slips closer to the bottom before being whisked downstream by the fast current. Kastmasters, Little Cleos and Rapala Countdowns in sizes 7 to 9 are decent producers under fast water conditions. Fly fishermen need flies like Zonkers, Clouser Minnows and Woolly Buggers with plenty of weight to reach the productive depths. Adding a few split shot above the fly will get you down as well. Sink tip fly lines are perfect for these conditions and work best with short leaders in the 4- to 7 ½-feet lengths. Pocket water or eddy water is another great place to search for fish during generations. Nymphs, emergers or midge pupa under an indicator can be very hot fished in these swirls. Beaver’s floodwaters are forecast to be emptied by the middle of next week. Monday morning the lake was at 1124.2 feet, which is still about three feet into the flood pool. Twenty-four hour generation is dropping the lake about a ½-foot each day. Crappie fishing reports are fair on jigs from 8- to 12-feet deep. Purple-and-white or chartreuse-and-red combinations are the colors. Minnows jigged slowly around treetops are the best bait. Beaver Town is a pretty good area to look for walleye this time of year. Walleye are in pre-spawn right now, and it makes good sense to release females at least until mid-April when the spawn is finished. McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has increased significantly over the past week, making for some great high-water fly-fishing from a boat. Shad patterns have worked well this week, either fished on a sink-tip line, or dead drifted under a strike indicator. San Juan Worms, Egg Patterns, larger scuds and sow bugs have also fooled several trout over the past week. The best flies have been: White Zonkers (size 6), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), San Juan Worms (size 10), Micro Eggs (size 14), McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Gray (sizes 14 to 16), Woven Sow Bug (sizes 14 to 16), and Golden Egg (size 14).

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

White River: Local fisherman Jeff Moore said the White River remains high at 9.8 feet and steady at Batesville. Fishing from Guion to Batesville is fair. Trout fishing above Guion to the power lines continues to be good using a Rapala Countdown Minnow and Little Cleo spoons. Rogues with a black back and orange and gold belly are producing some brown trout, too. Trolling with small crankbaits is catching smallmouth bass and trout. Rebel crawdad crankbaits and the small Husky Jerk in clown have both been effective along the steep banks and in the deep holes. Hula Grubs and tube baits are catching smallmouth from the main river rocks and boulders. Largemouth are at the mouth of the creeks and sloughs. Jig ‘n’ frog combinations in black, brown, and green have been working the best. Walleye fishing below Batesville has been slow with only a few anglers catching some fish on minnows. Yo-yo fishing for crappie is beginning to pick up. A few crappie are being taken on fathead minnows in the sloughs and creeks.

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is stained and a little above normal. Crappie are biting well on yo-yos baited with minnows and jigs off the bank over brush piles.

Black River: Powhatan Landing said the river is a little high and stained.

Spring River: Local fisherman Gary Salard said trout fishing is slow but a few nice fish are being caught fly-fishing on brown-and-tan Woolly Buggers. The Walleye bite is picking up. Some nice fish are being caught tightlining after dark using large live minnows fished 2 feet from the bottom over a bell sinker. Smallmouths are still in the deeper holes, they are being caught on live minnows fished off the bottom as well.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Koenig’s Bass Tracker Marine said the lake is muddy and low. Bream fishing is fair from 7- to 8-feet deep using wax worms under the bridges. Crappie fishing is fair about 4-feet deep using minnows over brush piles. Bass fishing is fair using spinner baits around the boat dock and off the bank.

Grand Lake: Koenig’s Bass Tracker Marine said the lake is muddy and at normal pool. Crappie are biting fair trolling with minnows and jigs.

Mississippi River: Koenig’s Bass Tracker Marine said the river is still high.

Arkansas River: Cross Creek said the river is murky and high. Crappie fishing is good from 8- to 12-feet deep using jigs over brush piles and around the docks. Bass are biting well from 10- to 12-feet deep on crankbaits and jig ‘n’ pig combos over brush, rocky points or on shallow flats.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature varies from 42 to 48 degrees. The lake is approximately 5 inches above normal pool with a moderate stain and reduced river current. The lake elevation is 259.6 feet. With all 13 gates open at 1 foot, the release rate is 4,310 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass are fair to good on black-and-blue or black/pumpkinseed/chartreuse jigs with pork trailers fished 7-to 9-feet deep on cypress trees and stumps along Little River. Black bass fishing is very good on Carolina-rigged 4-inch lizards in green pumpkin or cotton candy with chartreuse tail. Ten-inch Power Worms in red shad or tequila sunrise are taking keepers along the river. Hammered CC Spoons with white-and-red buck tails or ¼-ounce Rat-L-Trap Jigging-Traps with tail spinners, jigged in 11 to 14 feet of water of Little River remain taking some nice bass north of Outlaw Trail boat run in the river. Tubes, brush hogs and ¾-ounce spinner baits with large Colorado blades fished from 9- to 13-feet deep are catching decent size bass on stumps along the edges of the river. The crappie bite has drastically improved since the water began clearing, and the lake began falling toward normal pool. Nice slab catches have been taken on live shiners and jigs from 15- to 19-feet deep along Little River and in Horseshoe Lake above Jack's Isle on Little River. Colors of jigs varied but included green, pink, white, and red. Blue catfish are good in the current of Little River on trotlines baited with chicken hearts/livers, shiners and cut shad. Lines set approximately 16- to18-feet deep just off the bottom seem to be the best locations. Water clarity in the river has improved; it ranges from 6- to 7-feet. Creeks and sloughs of Little River have begun clearing now with the lake falling. The upriver oxbows such as McGuire, Horseshoe, Mud Lake, and Cemetery Slough have visibility estimated to be approximately 2 to 3 feet in places.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake level is about normal. Bream are

biting fair on worms and crickets fished on the bottom. Crappie are biting really well on jigs and orange shiners. Bass fishing is fair on plastic lizards.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake level is about normal. Crappie fishing

is fair using jigs or shiners.

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said the lake is stained and low. Bream fishing and catfishing are both poor. Crappie are biting well about 15-feet deep on jigs over brush piles. Bass fishing is fair from 1- to 15-feet deep using crankbaits. White bass are schooling; try using top-water lures, spoons and jigs in the creek channels from 10- to 20-feet deep.

DeGray Lake: DeGray One Stop said the lake clarity is good, and the water level has dropped about 3 feet. The lake temperature is 49 degrees. Bream fishing is good in deep water using red worms and small jigs. Crappie fishing is good from 18- to 28-feet deep using live bait and jigs over brush piles. Black bass and Kentucky bass are biting from 18- to 28-feet deep on crankbaits and black or blue hair jigs. Catfishing is good using live bait in the deep water. Whites and hybrids are moving to the northwest end of the lake, and they are biting on crankbaits, spoons, Roostertails and shad.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is good from 3- to 4-feet deep using minnows over brush piles or stumps. Bass fishing is fair from 8- to 12-feet deep using Smithwick Rogues and Flukes, let them sink. Stripers are biting on live shad fished on the bottom near the nuclear plant. Catfishing is good using live shad near the nuclear plant. Cross Creek said the lake is murky and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 8- to 12-feet deep on jigs fished over brush piles and around the docks. Bass are biting well from 10- to 12-feet deep on crankbaits or jig ‘n’ pig combos around brush, rocky points or on shallow flats. Catfish are biting from 5- to 6-feet deep on whole, small shad or cut shad on the flats.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river clarity is fair, but the level is low. Crappie fishing is fair from 4- to 5-feet deep using minnows and jigs over brush piles, stumps or rocky points. Bass fishing is poor using jigs close to the bank. Catfishing is poor.

Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature ranges from 44 to 48 degrees and the lake level is 576.17 feet. Also, the lake clarity is improving. Largemouth bass are schooling and can still be caught with Roostertails, gray jigs and silver spoons. Jerk baits such as Rouges and Husky Jerks have been productive as well. For the best results, try main lake points and humps in 20 to 30 feet of water. Walleye are slow with reports of these fish still being caught over or near large river channel points. Jigging spoons or jigs tipped with minnows are still the most effective. Try water depths between 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. Cross Creek said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 8- to 12-feet deep on jigs fished over brush piles or around the docks. Bass fishing is good from 10- to 12-feet deep using crankbaits and jig ‘n’ pig combos over brush, around rocky points or on shallow flats.

Lake Catherine: Dozhier’s Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said trout are going for wax worms/marshmallow combinations, Power Bait or red worms under a float. When the generators are running fly fishing with bead head woolies is working well. Stripers are feeding about half a mile below the dam and being taken on Rattling Rogues and large Red Fins. Catfish are going for live crawfish and large shiners. The best action is from the bridge downstream for about two miles. Crappie are in the larger coves and along the main channel holding on timber. Small shiners fished four to six feet deep is working the best. Walleye continue to move upstream for the spawn, which is expected to start in about three weeks.

Lake Hamilton: Dozhier’s Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said bass are hitting crawfish-like crank baits and deep running shad-like crank baits worked off the rocky outcrops. There is some action around the Highway 7 south bridges. Crappie are coming on with some nice catches in the area of Hot Springs Creek using small shiners fished eight to 10 feet deep. Catfish are hitting cut shad, live crawfish and large shiners fished 10 to 15 feet deep. Walleye are hitting deep running crank baits in the Mazarn area trolling downstream.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the lake is clear and high. Crappie fishing is good about 15-feet deep using minnows and jigs over brush piles. Bass fishing is good using minnows over brush. Catfishing is good on the upper-end of the lake on worms and chicken liver at the mouth of the lake.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Everything is poor.

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More II said the lake is back to normal level. Crappie are biting really well on minnows and jigs. Some of the crappie have weighed from 1 to 2½ pounds. Catfishing is good. Saugeye are being caught below the dam.

Arkansas River: Tackle Box said the river is muddy and high. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows over brush piles or stumps.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Felsenthal: Benson’s Grocery and Bait said the lake clarity is good, but the lake is high. Crappie are biting well about 23-feet deep on minnows and jigs.

Saline River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the river is high and muddy.

Cox Creek Lake: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting fair on minnows in the dam area.

EAST ARKANSAS:

Mississippi River: Arkansas Outdoors said the river is falling 3 feet a day.

Lower St. Francis River: Arkansas Outdoors said the river is falling at a rate of 3 feet a day.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is clear, and the level is normal. Bream are biting well from 3½- to 4-feet deep on wax worms near the piers. Crappie are biting well at 15-feet deep trolling minnows in open water. Bass are biting well from 4- to 5-feet deep on plastic worms around the cypress trees.

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