Weekly Fishing Report

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 March 2, 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 you’re looking to find walleye in the shallows during the spawn, shine a floodlight into the water at night. Walleyes’ eyes reflect light so brightly that they look as though they are glowing. The light may temporarily spook the fish, but you can return several hours later or the next day to fish the area.

 

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

Little Rock City Parks: Community Fishing Program Coordinator Clifton Jackson said stable water levels and great weather have made seasonal trout fishing awesome in Little Rock. The low, clear-running water in Rock Creek at Boyle Park has pooled up, and trout are congregated in many of the pools.

 

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake is stained and a foot below normal. Bream and redear are biting well on wax worms and jigs fished on the bottom. Crappie are biting well on chartreuse jigs or yoyos baited with minnows. Bass are biting well on spinner baits and top-water lures.

 

Little Red River: Lindsey's Rainbow Resort said the river is clear and has been low for the past week. There are two generators running. Trout fishing is good using wax worms with marshmallows or Power Bait, Power Eggs and marabou jigs in brown-and-black.

 

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake clarity is good and the level is starting to drop. Crappie are biting well from 6- to 8-feet deep on minnows at the dock on the south side of the lake. Jug fishermen are catching catfish in the southwest cove.

 

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake is clear and getting low. Bream are biting fair on red worms and wax worms off the bank. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows, grubs, shiners and tube jigs. The larger crappie are being taken in deep water with live bait. Catfishing is good using chicken liver and minnows.

 

Beaverfork Lake: Wooster Grocery said crappie are biting well on minnows near the bank and near stumps. 

 

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the river is down a little, and the clarity is poor. Bream and redear fishing is slow. Crappie fishing is excellent early in the morning and late in the afternoon; try using minnows and dark-colored jigs. Bass fishermen are doing well using minnows and assorting spinners. Catfishing is excellent using just about anything. Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting around the lily pads from 3- to 40-feet deep on minnows and white or red-and-chartreuse jigs.

 

Big Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie and white bass are both biting on minnows or red-and-chartreuse mini jigs at the concrete spillway.

 

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said black bass fishing is good; they are moving into their spring patterns and are located from 3- to 8-feet deep among the weeds. The north side of the lake is the best. Blacks are hitting best on dark-colored crankbaits and spinner baits. Kentuckies are still in their winter pattern and are being caught from 25- to 30-feet deep on the channel edges. They are hitting 3-inch Pumpkin Grubs and CC Spoons. White bass fishing is excellent. The whites are moving to the west end of the lake and are staging for the spring run. Whites are being caught on both sides of the bridge. The whites are bunched up in the channels as the fronts come through and move shallow on warm days. Roostertails, CC Spoons, Sassy Shads and Rogues with orange bellies are all working. Catfishing is fair; they are hitting from 20- to 28-feet deep on large minnows and prepared baits. Crappie fishing is fair using 1/32-ounce jigs or pink minnows. The crappie have been in about 35 feet of water but are starting to move into shallower water Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie fishing is fair from 15- to 20-feet deep tight-lining minnows around structure. White bass are biting at the far west end of the lake on jigging spoons and Roadrunners.

 

Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock no. 9 is 58,000 cubic feet per second with headwater at 285.12 feet and tailwater at 279.60 feet. Whites and stripers are making their run to the creek mouths as the water temperature nears 55 degrees. Try using firetiger-colored crankbaits. Kentucky bass fishing is strong on the jetty tips and around rocks. The best time to catch Kentuckies is in the lake afternoon; try using fire-tiger colored crankbait. Catfish are biting on whole shad from 5- to 30-feet deep on the backside of the jetties (down stream side). Black bass are biting well on the backside of the jetties near the bank in 8- to 11-feet of water. For black bass, try using a red or firetiger crankbait. Some crappie are biting in the creeks on live minnows fished form 6- to 12-feet deep.

 

Arkansas River (Fourche Creek): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting well on minnows, red-and-white or black-and-chartreuse jigs around woody structure. Catfishing is good using jugs baited with shad, nightcrawlers or chicken liver.

 

Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the lake is murky and high. Crappie are biting well from 4- to 5-feet deep on minnows over brush piles.

 

            Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting fair on live minnows. Bass fishing is fair using jig ‘n’ pig combos in black-and-chartreuse.

 

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting on mini jigs in black-and-red or chartreuse-and-white. White bass are biting on white Twistertails and CC Spoons. Saugers are biting on chartreuse Twistertails. Catfish are biting on shad and nightcrawlers.

 

NORTH ARKANSAS:

 

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river is still high, but the clarity is great. There have been four to eight generators running 24-hours a day since January 9. Trout fishing is excellent. Try using white or yellow Power Bait or Rogues. The Rogues are working the best for the larger brown trout; a 14-pound brown was picked up last week. Also, anything white or mimicking a shad will work because there are several shad being pumped through the dam.

 

Bull Shoals Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said eight units have been running most of the time. Fly-fishing from a boat using large strike indicators and heavy split shot has produced plenty of trout to the net, especially in the first mile below Bull Shoals Dam. Shad from Bull Shoals Lake have been getting sucked through the dam for almost a month now, and the trout are looking for them. 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 Worm (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; two units have been running during most of the daylight hours. While wade fishing is severely, fly-fishing from a boat has been excellent over the past week. While drift fishing with large strike indicators and heavy split shot, shad patterns, San Juan Worms and egg patterns have been producing a ton of hook-ups. Streamer fishing has also been excellent (especially on overcast days). 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 weather has been great. A little front came through the middle of the week, but other than that, the temperatures have been in the upper 50s. The lake temperature ranges from 47 to 49 degrees. The warmer water is on the northern banks. This week’s lake level is at 653.86 feet, which is ½ foot below normal pool. The lake clarity remains around 15 feet with a greenish tint. Crappie were slow this week but not impossible to catch. They continue to suspend over the top of crappie cribs or brush piles in 12- to18-feet deep. Crappie minnows on a small slip bobber worked the best. Some white bass started to show up in the backs of the northern creeks. Most are small males. They are feeding on shad in 30 feet of water. The best baits are ¼-ounce Roadrunners and ½-ounce spoons. A few largemouth are roaming the northern banks and points, but they are staying close to deep water. Crankbaits and slow-rolled spinner baits will trigger a few. Spider Jigs and football jigs around transition banks and the ends of channel swings have worked well this week on staging largemouth. Smallmouth bass are still holding in 30 feet of water off points and large rock banks. You can catch one or two up on the bank, but there is no pattern. Kentucky bass have pulled off the cliff walls and channel swings and moved with the shad into the pockets and coves off the main lake and cuts in the creek arms. They are still over deep water and spoons are still the best way to catch a few. Walleye moved into 32 to 44 feet of water last week, and are still holding off points and flats this week. Trolling is the key to trigger a few. Reef Runners and Rapala Glass Shad are the best lures to pull on lead-core line.

 

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is stained and at normal pool, which is 552 feet. The lake temperature is at 49 degrees. Crappie are starting to move in and are biting well on live minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good using crankbaits, jerkbaits and jigs. Stripers are fair trolling with live bait. Walleye are fair trolling with nightcrawlers in the creek arm.

 

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

 

Beaver Lake: Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 5- to 15-feet deep on minnows and tube jigs over brush piles. Bass are biting well all over the lake on spinner baits, crankbaits and jerkbaits. Stripers are biting on live shad in the river arm.

 

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the lake is murky and at normal pool. Bluegill are biting from 12- to 15-feet deep on red worms, nightcrawlers and small jigs. A 43-pound blue catfish was taken using chicken liver. 

 

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is stained and at normal pool. Bream and catfish are both poor. Crappie fishing is good from 4- to 8-feet deep using crappie minnows or crappie jigs. Largemouth bass are biting well from 3- to 4-feet deep on spinner baits fished near brush or rocky points. White bass are biting behind the dam on minnows fished about 4-feet deep.

 

Beaver Tailwaters: Beaver Dam Store said lots of water is expected to come in the next couple of months. Hopefully, wade-fishing will pick up in the afternoons this week as Beaver Lake returns to power pool level. Trout fishing has been doing well due to the recent stockings of rainbow trout from the net pens. Over the next couple of months, several thousand rainbow trout will be released into the tailwater. These are healthy, hungry trout and are eager for flies, bait or lures. Lures that resemble small threadfin shad are currently taking trout because shad are flowing in great quantity from the lake through the generators. The best fly patterns have been black, chartreuse or white Beadhead Woolly Buggers (sizes 8 to12), natural-colored Beadhead Hare's Ear (sizes 14 to 18), olive-colored Beadhead Hare's Ear (16 to18), cream-colored Midges (sizes 22 to 24), olive-colored McLellan's Hunchback Scud (size 14), and partridge-and-yellow Soft Hackles (sizes14 to 16). Bait anglers are doing best with nightcrawlers. This technique works well during generation; fish them slowly across the bottom with small twitches. King's River and Beaver Town are walleye hotspots. Try using chartreuse jigs (solitary or tipped with minnows), nightcrawlers or extra deep running hard baits. Crappie reports are still fair, but a few anglers are catching fish around 30-feet deep in the river. McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has backed off a little this week, providing some wade-fishing opportunities.

 

Kings River: Kings River Outfitters said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are slow in the deep pools on tube baits and assorted plastics. Walleye are biting on the north end on live minnows and Rapalas.

 

 

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

 

White River: Local fisherman Jeff Moore said the White River at Batesville is at 10 feet and has remained relatively steady for the last week or two. Trout and smallmouth fishing has been good in the Guion area. There are some quality rainbows being caught in the shoals on spoons and Rapala Countdowns. Drift fishing has been working as well. The traditional spinner tipped with Power Eggs, corn and worms continues to produce limits of trout too. Smallmouth are moving into and around the creek mouths. Tube baits and Hula Grubs in brown and green are the most effective baits and colors. Largemouth have been slow with a few being caught in the creeks on jig ‘n’ frog combinations in brown and black colors. Walleye fishing from Lock No. 3 down swings from bad to good. Weather seems to affect it more than anything. The cloudier days tend to be the better days to fish. Various methods are catching walleye. Trolling small crankbaits, such as wiggle warts, through the deep holes is working. Also, jig ‘n’ minnow combinations dragged slowly with the trolling motor through the same areas is producing fish. The best method for catching a quality fish is still fishing with creek minnows in the deeper pools. A few crappie are being caught on yoyos in the creeks around logs and brush tops with fathead minnows being the bait of choice. 

 

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is stained and high. Crappie are biting well on yoyos baited with minnows over brush piles and stumps. Bass are also biting on yoyos baited with minnows.

 

Spring River: Local fisherman Gary Salard said trout fishing was really slow this week. However, some rainbows are being taken on brown Woolly Buggers. The water is still cloudy due to the rain runoff. Smallmouth fishing is fair with some 20-inch fish caught last week on live minnows fished off the bottom.

 

Mallard Lake: Clark’s Bait and Tackle said a few crappie are being taken. Catfish are biting on trotlines baited with live, regular minnows or red rosies.

 

 

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

 

Lake Chicot: Koenig's Bass Tracker Marine the lake clarity is normal. The lake level is down 2 feet from normal. Bream fishing is fair from 7- to 8-feet deep using wax worms under the bridges. Crappie are biting well about 2-feet deep on jigs in the ditch and on Connelly Bayou. 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.

 

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

 

Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 48 to 56 degrees. The lake level is approximately 10-inches above normal pool and falling. The lake elevation is 260.19 feet. The stain in the lake has decreased, and the river current has slowed. The release rate with 13 gates open at 1 foot is 5,117 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass remain very good on several different red and orange patterns of Rat-L-Traps. A 9 pound, 12 ounce Largemouth Bass was caught in Horseshoe Lake area. Fish the Rat-L-Traps slowly and deliberately on points in Little River around stumps in 5 to 9 feet drop-offs. Jigs in black-and-blue or Texas craw color, with black pork trailers fished 9- to 11-feet deep on stumps along Little River are still working. Black bass remain fair to good on Bass Assassin Shads or Carolina rigged-Zoom lizards in green pumpkin or pumpkinseed with chartreuse tail.  A 10- to 12-inch Power Worm in red shad, june bug or blue fleck continue taking keepers along the river. Brush Hogs in black neon, blackberry or sour grape and white-and-chartreuse spinner baits, worked slowly from 9- to 14-feet deep, are catching decent size bass on stumps along the edges of the river. The majority of the bass patterns remain very constant this time of year. The crappie bite continues to improve since water began clearing and the lake began falling. Nice slab catches have been taken on live shiners and jigs in last few days; try fishing from 12- to 15-feet deep in planted brush piles along Little River. White bass are biting on Little Cleos, Chuck-N-Spins and red-and-white Roostertails in Little River below the Highway 71 Bridge. Blue Cats remain good in Little River on trotlines baited with cut shad and chicken livers in the current; try setting your lines from 14- to 20-feet deep. The water clarity in the river is approximately 7 inches. The main lake clarity is somewhat worse, and toward the dam, the clarity ranges from 4- to 5-inches. The upriver oxbows still have much better water visibility; the clarity is estimated to reach over 3 feet in places.  

 

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake conditions are normal. Bream are biting fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting really well on yoyos baited with shiners. The bass bite is improving, and they are moving into the banks. Blue catfish are biting fair on yoyos.

 

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is normal for this time of year. Bream fishing is fair using worms or crickets. Crappie fishing is really good using yoyos baited with shiners. Bass fishing is improving; the bass are biting on everything as they move into the banks. Catfishing is fair using yoyos.

 

            White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie fishing is slow, but some are biting in the deep water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is pretty good using minnows. Last week a 10½-pound bass was taken on the upper section of the lake. Some catfish are biting on trotlines baited with stink bait.

 

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait Shop said the lake is clear to stained. The lake level is low and dropping about a foot a day. The lake temperature is in the mid-50s. Walleye are biting on grubs, Gitzits and small crankbaits in the river channel. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair using spinner baits, crankbaits and plastic worms. Whites in the 2- to 3-pound range, and stripers are schooling, and fishing is excellent using crankbaits, top-water lures and Gitzits. Catfish are biting fair on worms and Power Baits.

 

DeGray Lake: Point Cedar Bait Shop said crappie fishing is pretty good from 10- to 15-feet deep using jigs and live bait. Whites, hybrids and walleye are all biting fair. DeGray One Stop said the lake clarity is good, the lake is at normal pool, and the lake temperature is around 52 degrees. Bream are biting deep on worms and small jigs. Crappie are biting well from 18- to 28-feet deep on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Bass are biting well in the morning from 18- to 28-feet on crankbaits or jigs in black-and-blue or brown-and-yellow. In the afternoon, bass are biting on rogues fished from 6- to 8-feet deep. Kentuckies are biting on Rat-L-Traps. Whites and hybrids are biting on Roostertails, Sassy Shads and spoons on flats between Shouse Ford and Point Cedar. Catfish are biting well on live bait fished deep and slow.

 

Little Missouri River: Local fly-fishing guide Jeff Guerin said an A&W fly has been working well. At the Confluence Hole a big group of fish have been steadily feeding at the top of the pool. The fish have been larger averaging around 11 inches. Even with the water at 51 degrees there have been enough bugs hatching to keep the rises steady even though the real hatch is still two months away. In the Pasture Pool a Paraduck has been working well.

 

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

 

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake level has been fluctuating. The lake temperature is around 51 or 52 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Try fishing from 5- to 6-feet deep in the bays and coves, and fish about 16-feet deep under the bridges. Bass are biting well on swim baits and jerkbaits. Catfishing is fair using nightcrawlers and shad. Cross Creek said the lake is murky but at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 8- to 10-feet deep on minnows and artificial bait fished over brush piles and near the dock. Bass fishing is good from 5- to 10-feet deep using jig ‘n’ pig combos over rocky points.

 

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river is fairly clear and is rising to normal pool. A few crappie are biting on jigs and minnows. A black bass is picked up now and then in the creek on spinner baits and jigs. A few white bass are being taken on minnows and tube jigs in black-and-chartreuse or green-and-chartreuse. A few catfish are biting on worms and cut bait.

 

Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is between 46 and 54 degrees, and the water is stained. The lake level is 574.06 feet. Largemouth bass are good but have slowed a little. These fish can be caught with red Rat-L-Traps, gray jigs and silver spoons. Jerkbaits such as Rouges and Husky Jerks have been productive as well. Try main lake points and large bay pockets near creek channels in 15 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are still fair to good with reports of these fish being caught up the river. Crankbaits or jigs tipped with minnows are still the most effective. Try water depths of 8 to 20 feet. Stripers are excellent on live bait, hair jigs or silver spoons. Stripers are staging in pockets and old creek channels, and are moving up the river channels. White bass action is excellent in the river channels from 20- to 25-feet deep. Bream are slow to fair on crickets or worms. Crappie are still very 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 about 10-feet deep using minnows and jigs near the docks, over brush piles, around stumps or near rocky points. Stripers are biting from 15- to 18-feet deep using artificial bait. Black bass are biting from 8- to 10-feet deep on crankbaits and Husky Jerks over rocky points.

 

Lake Catherine: Dozhier’s Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said trout fishing is excellent. Trout are now beginning to concentrate below the dam and for a couple of miles downstream. Power Bait, wax worms and marshmallow, red worms and small shad like crank bait or silver spoons are taking trout. Crappie are being taken using small shiners fished three to five feet deep. Bass are hitting deep running crank baits and live crawfish, with most of the action around the cliffs across from the sand bar. Catfish are going for large shiners, cut shad and whole dead shad fished three to five feet deep. Some good action is being found between the bridge and Thunderbird Beach.

 

Lake Hamilton: Dozhier’s Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said some nice white bass catches are coming from Hot Springs Creek, around the fish hatchery and the mouth of the Little Mazarn. Small spinner baits, spoons and live shiners are all working well. Crappie are being found on the deep side of established brush piles and artificial fish structures and going for jigs and small shiners. Bass are hitting deep running crank baits, slow rolled spinner baits and jigs. Some stripers and hybrids are mixed in with the whites and are being taken using large flukes and Red Fins.

 

            Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the lake is clear, and the level is just about right. Crappie are biting well on minnows about 10-feet deep. Bass are biting well on minnows and plastic worms. Some nice bass are being taken. Catfish are biting fair on chicken liver.

 

            Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool. The lake temperature is 51 degrees. Bream are biting well on wax worms right off the bank in shallow water. Crappie are biting well about 4-feet deep on minnows and tube jigs in the coves. Bass are biting well shallow on black-and-blue jigs around wood structure.

 

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More II said the lake level is normal at 342 feet. Crappie fishing is great using minnows and red-and-chartreuse or black-and-chartreuse jigs. Bass fishing is good. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Catfishing is good using worms and minnows.

 

Arkansas River: Cross Creek said the river is murky and 3-feet above normal pool. Catfishing is good using cut bait and whole bait on the bottom. Crappie are biting on tube jigs. Smallmouth bass are biting on 4-inch tube jigs. The Tackle Box said crappie are biting from 18- to 5 feet deep on minnows and jigs over rocky points. Stripers are being taken below the dam on 3- and 4-inch grubs.

 

Atkins Lake: Sanders Pawn and Bait said crappie are biting well in the middle of the lake at 9-feet deep on minnows.

 

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

 

            Felsenthal: Benson’s Grocery and Bait said the lake level is high. Crappie are biting well on crappie jigs and cold worms over brush piles.

 

            Saline River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the river is dark and about 6 inches below normal pool. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Bass are biting well off the edge of the bank.

 

            Cox Creek Lake: Sanders Pawn & Bait said bass are biting fair on minnows and artificials.

 

EAST ARKANSAS:

 

            Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the lake conditions are good. Crappie are biting really well on yoyos baited with minnows. Some catfish have been taken toward the dam.

 

            Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are being caught trolling with minnows about 15-feet deep. Bass are biting fair from 4- to 5-feet deep on plastic worms.

 

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake looks great. The level is at a normal pool, but the temperature is still low at 50 degrees. Bream fishing is good using wax worms and crickets around the bayous. Some nice size bream are being taken. Crappie fishing is good about 15-feet deep trolling with minnows. The lake temperature is still too low for good bass fishing, but those fishing for bass took a couple. Catfishing is good using just about anything.