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 May 18, 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: Braided lines are more sensitive than monofilament. Because they are much smaller in diameter than monofilament, they offer less resistance in the water. This also makes them excellent for lures that sink quickly, especially jigs.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake is not very clear, but the level is normal. Bream are heading to the beds and are biting well in shallow water around brush or stumps on red worms, crickets, pink minnows and jigs in chartreuse or red-and-black. Crappie fishing is good using pink minnows or jigs in chartreuse or pink-and-black around brush piles. Bass fishing is fair using soft-plastic worms near trees close to the bank. Catfishing is fair using chicken liver, crickets and nightcrawlers.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Rainbow Resort said the river is clear and low. Trout fishing is good using wax worms and marshmallows, pink Power Bait, chartreuse Roostertails, marabou jigs and chartreuse Trout Magnets drifted under a float.

Greers Ferry: Shiloh Marina said the water is extremely clear. Fishing is poor, but hybrids and whites are schooling early in the morning and late in the evening. Local Fishing Guide Tommy Cauley said the water level is 461.94 feet. The fluctuating water level is pulling the black bass off the bank. Try fishing in deeper water near brush piles, on ledges, in channel bends and off deep points using a Texas-rigged worms or Carolina-rigged worms or lizards. Some bass can be also caught schooling. The walleye are still good on points and flats. Try using minnows and nightcrawlers from 24- to 33-feet deep. Some walleye are being taken with the bass on Carolina-rigged lizards. Hybrids and whites can be caught at night in various places, as well as around the bridges. The action during the day is spotty at best but will to get better with the heat. Crappie fishing is good using minnows and small jigs around standing timber or near deep brush piles. Bream fishing is very good fishing shallow in the same areas as the crappie. Catfishing is excellent. Flatheads are biting on trotlines or jugs baited with minnows or bream.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake clarity is poor, but the lake level is normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished shallow near brush. Crappie fishing is good using minnows in deep water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and minnows. Catfishing is fair using blood bait, chicken liver and minnows.

Beaverfork Lake: Wooster Grocery said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well from 8- to 10-feet deep on crickets in the brush and near stumps. Crappie fishing and bass fishing are both fair using minnows.

Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Bates Field and Stream said the water is clear. Crappie are biting well from 3- to 6-feet deep on minnows in the backwaters. Bass fishing is good using black-and-red tube jigs or crankbaits. Catfishing is good using shad, minnows and nightcrawlers.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the river is clarity is normal, but the level is a little high. Redear are biting well about 3-feet deep on worms and wax worms near the edge of the bank. Crappie fishing is fair from 7- to 11-feet deep using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair from 3- to 4-feet deep using spinner baits and minnows. Catfishing is good using just about anything on the bottom. Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop bream fishing is excellent using crickets, red worms and Patton Bream Jigs. Crappie fishing is fair to good using live minnows. Bass fishing is fair using 6-inch lizards, Zoom Flukes, spinner baits and buzz baits. Catfishing is good using trotlines, limb lines or yo-yos baited with shad, nightcrawlers, skipjack or rice slicks.

Big Maumelle River: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream fishing is excellent using crickets and red worms from 3- to 4-feet deep. Crappie fishing is fair to good using minnows from 4- to 5-feet deep. White bass are biting at the old spillway using Twistertails, minnows or CC Spoons. Catfishing is good using trotlines or limb lines baited with shad or nightcrawlers in the creek channel.

Lake Cargile: Beeson's Grocery said crappie, bass and catfish are all excellent.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said black bass are biting well in
weeds up to 8 feet deep. The northwest side of the lake is producing most of the bass.
Blacks are hitting best on dark-colored crankbaits, spinner baits and floating worms.
Kentucky bass are biting well from 8- to 14-feet deep. They are hitting 3-inch pumpkin
grubs, crankbaits and CC Spoons. Drop-shotting is real good about 12 feet deep. White bass fishing is fair. The whites have been reported schooling from the marina east to Three Fingers Cove. Spooks, Roostertails, CC Spoons, and Rogues with orange belles are all working on the whites. Catfish are biting well in deep water (20 to 28 feet) and are
hitting on large minnows and prepared baits. Crappie fishing is good in 5 to10 feet on 1/32-ounce jigs and crappie minnows. Bream fishing is really good using crickets and worms from 5- to 15-feet deep. Bream should be bedding up with the full moon coming.

Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 21,000 cubic feet per second with headwater at 286.30 feet and tailwater at 265.75 feet. Black bass are starting to bite well on chartreuse crankbaits and chartreuse spinner baits with white trailers. Try fishing off the bank near wood structure, but do not cast out more than 4 feet from the bank. Kentucky bass are biting strong on the same lures as the blacks, but are near rocks instead. Bream are biting in the same areas as the bass. White bass are starting to school early and late in deeper water. Try using a Heddon Sonar Flash in chartreuse-and-white. Catfish are spawning in water that is 3- to 10-feet deep. Try using a combination of nightcrawlers and shad. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished from 4- to 10-feet deep around wood.

Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfishing is good to excellent using trotlines baited with shad, nightcrawlers, skipjack and rice slicks. Bass fishing is fair to good. Try using a 4-inch, Carolina-rigged Ring Worm on the jetty points, a shad-colored crankbait on the jetties or a buzz bait on the jetties early and late.

Bradford Lake: Shirley's Bait said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Redear are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting on crappie minnows and crickets.

Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is good in the creek using minnows. Catfishing is good at the mouth of the creek using nightcrawlers, shad and skipjack.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said fishing access is restricted to the north side of the hydro plant. Crappie fishing is fair using a slip-cork rig with live minnows. White bass and stripers are coming out on the cloudy days and are hitting spoons, Twistertails and Mann's Split Tails. Snagging for blue cats or channel cats is good. Catfish can also be taken bait fishing with nightcrawlers, shad, skipjack or rice slicks.

Pickthorne Lake: Outdoor Super Store said the lake is colored and down a little. Bream fishing is fair about 1½-feet deep using crickets in the stumps. Crappie fishing is good drifting in the middle of the lake with red-and-yellow jigs tipped with a minnows. Bass fishing is good from 2- to 5-feet deep using shallow-running, shad-colored crankbaits. Bass are starting to school on the edges of the lake. Catfishing is good using chicken liver about 5-feet deep in the middle of the lake. Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream fishing is excellent using crickets and red worms. Bass fishing is really good using spinner baits. Some large bass are being taken.

Burns Park: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfishing is excellent using rice slicks, skipjack and shad. Crappie fishing is slow.

Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bass fishing is good using red crankbaits or jig-and-pig combos. Catfishing is good using limb lines, yo-yos or trotlines baited with rice slicks, shad or skipjack.

Fourche Creek: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is slow. Bass fishing is good using crankbaits. Catfishing is good using jugs or trotlines baited with shad, skipjack or nightcrawlers in the creek channel.


NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river is clear and low. There are no generators running. Trout fishing is excellent using pink salmon eggs, yellow and white Power Eggs, small Cleo Spoons in gold or silver, Woolly Buggers and gray sowbugs.

Bull Shoals Tailwaters: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has slacked off some this week, providing some low-water wading opportunities. After all the recent high water, the trout are used to eating a lot. Drift a scud, sowbug, mayfly nymph or caddis pupa under a strike indicator in the faster runs and riffles. Caddis action is still hot on the White River, so be sure to have plenty of caddis pupa, as well as dries, in your fly box. Pupa patterns like the Z-Wing Caddis and the new Graphic Caddis are some of our favorites. As for dry fly patterns, it is hard to beat the classic Elk Hair Caddis. For slower currents, carry the E-Z Caddis, which rides flush in the film. The best flies have been: Zebra and black-and-olive Rubber-leg Copper John (sizes 14 to 18), McLellan's Woven V-Rib Sowbug (sizes 14 to 16), McLellan's Hunchback Scud in tan, olive and gray (sizes 14 to 16) Graphic Caddis in tan and olive (sizes 14 to 18), Z-Wing Caddis (sizes 14 to 16), Caddis Larva (sizes 14-16), Elk Hair Caddis (and variations) (sizes 14 to 18), E-Z Caddis (sizes 14 to 18), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4), Swimming Jimmy (size 4) White Zonker (size 6), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), San Juan Worm (size 10) and Micro Eggs (size 14).

North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been more sporadic lately, but there have been some good wading opportunities during the morning hours. With all the recent high water, the trout are in very good shape. Several fat brook trout have been taken just below Norfork Dam. During low water, concentrate your nymph fishing on the faster runs and riffles, and tie on a size 16 scud or sowbug. During high-water, streamer fishing has also been excellent from a boat (especially on overcast days). The best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud in tan, olive and gray (sizes 14 to 16), Flashback Scud in tan, olive and gray (sizes 12 to 16), McLellan's Woven Sowbug (sizes 14 to16), Graphic Caddis in tan and olive (sizes 14 to 18), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph (sizes 16 to 20), Beadhead Hare's Ear Nymph (sizes 14 to 18), Mercury Brassie (sizes 18 to 20), Rojo Midge (size 22), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Red Jujubee Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Johnny Flash (sizes 20 to 24), Mercury Black Beauty (sizes 20 to 22), Gray Mercury Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Black Wooly Sculpin (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said the Ozarks had an early taste of summer last week and the lake temperature went from 65 degrees to 70 degrees in three days, pushing sunfish to the banks and largemouth bass that had been in deep water onto beds. The lake level is 653.86 feet. The catfish have moved up on the banks in the creek arm cuts, and some catfish are in the main lake cuts. Chicken livers, Magic Bait and nightcrawlers are the best baits. Crappie continue to move toward their spawning areas and a few are spawning. For the best results, fish close to the banks with crappie minnows, swimming minnows or crappie tubes. White bass are still close to the back of the creeks although their spawn is over. Look for top-water frenzy feeding in the mornings and fish clear Pop R's, small spoons or No. 5 Shad Raps. During the day, the whites will school under shad; try dropping spoons or ¼-ounce roadrunners to trigger a few bites. Largemouth bass remain in post spawn and spawn patterns. The post spawn fish have moved to deep ledges, boat docks and elongated points. Some top-water action is present in the mornings and late afternoons with Zara Spooks, buzz baits and Chug Bugs. During the day, try flipping jigs or throwing a Carolina rig with lizards or centipedes. Smallmouth bass are in deep water off the side of points. Smallmouths are moving up on the points to feed and can be caught on tubes or jigs and any crawdad imitation you wish to fish. When they slide off into the deeper water, jigs seem to shut down and tubes or Mojo rigs with a centipede, 4-inch lizards, finesse worms and brush hogs seem to work the best. Kentucky bass are all over and very hard to pattern. There are a lot of shad against the shore and in the middle of the pockets or cuts. If you see Kentuckies breaking the surface, throw Spit'N Image or Pop R baits into the schools. The Kentuckies that are working the shad along the banks will strike Fish Doctors, centipedes and small crankbaits. Also, try watermelon or watermelon-and-red tubes. The big story for walleye this week was in the PWT Walleye tournament. The winning weight for three days was 47.97 pounds. Some walleye were caught early in the week on Reef Runners pulled on lead core line over the standing timber in 60 to 70 feet of water. That pattern changed drastically when summer arrived and warmed the lake 5 degrees. Try fishing in 6 to 8 feet of water off the banks with small crankbaits and bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses. Sugar Loaf Harbor said the lake clarity is good, and the lake level is normal. Crappie have finished spawning and are biting well in the timber on minnows and Bobby Garland's 2-inch Blue Thunder in green trout color.

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is almost clear, and the level is normal. Bream fishing is good using red worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on live minnows and crappie jigs. Whites, stripers and hybrids are biting on top-water lures early in the morning. Black bass fishing is good using spinner baits, jigs and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair using trotlines and jugs.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake clarity is good, and the level is normal. Crappie fishing is poor, but some are biting from 4- to 10-feet deep on minnows. Black bass are biting well on spinner baits, Super Flukes and trick worms. White bass fishing has slowed, but some are biting at Point 12 on crankbaits and Roostertails. Catfishing is fair and starting to pick up using trotlines baited with bluegill and goldfish.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the lake is murky and normal. Crappie are biting well from 12- to 15-feet deep on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good fishing shallow along the edges of the lake. Try using spinner baits, crankbaits and plastic worms. Bluegill are biting on worms and crickets fished along the bottom.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Redear are biting well on worms fished against the bank about 10-inches deep. Crappie fishing is fair about 2-feet deep using minnows and jigs in the weed beds off the bank. Bass fishing is good about 2-feet deep using spinner baits. Catfishing is fair using chicken liver and shiners.

Beaver Tailwaters: Beaver Dam Store said trout are weighing in on the hefty size according to several anglers last weekend. Rainbows in the 13- to 14-inch range are being caught in the upper end of the tailwaters. The bait of choice is any combination with a wax worm. A micro jig in brown or ginger combined with a wax worm is good for floating under a clear bobber. Super Dupers and Little Cleos in gold or silver are taking fish from the deeper pools around the Spider Creek area. White bass, hybrids and stripers are in good numbers in the upper areas of the tailwaters. Try fishing from the ramp below the dam to Spider Creek or around the Houseman access. Kastmasters, marabou jigs in white, Roostertails in white with a red tip, grubs in smoke or white on a 1/8-ounce jighead and jerkbaits (sizes 8 to 10) are hot lures. Fly fishermen can lock up some white bass on Beadhead Woolly Buggers in chartreuse or white (sizes 8 to 12) or Clouser Minnows in chartreuse-and-white (sizes 6 to 8). Dinosaur World Pond is producing some slab crappies on minnows, P.J.'s White Flash jigs (1/8-ounce) and swimming minnows in smoke or smoke glitter. McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been coming on in the afternoon, providing plenty of wade fishing during the morning hours. All of the recent high water has produced some fat and healthy trout that are eager to bite. Scuds and sowbugs, as well as midge pupa patterns, have been the most productive. However, soft-hackle action is starting to heat up as well. The best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud in gray and olive (sizes 14 to 16), McLellan's Woven Sowbug (sizes 14 to 16), Mercury Brassie (sizes 18 to 20), Rojo Midge (size 22), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20 to 22), red Jujubee Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Johnny Flash (sizes 20 to 24), Mercury Black Beauty (sizes 20 to 22), gray Mercury Midge (sizes 20 to 22), March Brown Spider (size 14) and Red Ass (size 16).

Kings River: Kings River Outfitters said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on Roostertails, small grubs and 8-ounce lures. Bass fishing is excellent using Twintail grubs. Beaver Dam Store said Kings River is providing some good smallmouth fishing on pearl or smoke swimming minnows, white Roostertails, white or chartreuse Woolly Buggers (sizes 6 to 10), white-and-tan Clouser Minnows (size 8).

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

White River: Local fisherman Jeff Moore said trout fishing in the Guion area is good. The low water is making anchor fishing the preferred method. Corn, Power Eggs and worms are all working well. Small spoons and Countdown Rapalas are producing fish for the artificial bait fishermen. Bass fishing is fair for largemouth and smallmouth. With the falling water, many of the fish have pulled out of the creeks and returned to the river and the grass beds. Flukes in green pumpkin and similar colors have been taking largemouth from the grass. Smallmouth are on the large rocks and beneath the dams. Tube baits, Hula Grubs and small crankbaits in firetiger or crawdad are catching these fish. There are not many smallmouth over a pound or a pound and a half but several can be taken. Fishing below Lock No. 1 is picking up and a variety of fish are being caught using the same method. A jig-and-minnow combination and a 3-inch Kalin grub on a ¼-ounce jighead are catching a mixed bag of fish. Sauger, walleye, white bass and black bass are all being caught on these baits in the eddies and at the foot of the shoals.

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished off the bank. Crappie are biting well on minnows off the bank. Catfishing is good using stink bait.

Black River: Powhatan Landing said the river clarity is not too bad, but the river is still high. Bass fishing is good.

Spring River: Many Islands Camp said the river is clear and at normal pool. Trout fishing is good using orange Power Bait and nightcrawlers.


SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Koenig's Bass Tracker Marine said bream fishing is good using crickets about 4-feet deep. Bass are biting well on crankbaits from 5- to 10-feet deep. Catfishing is good using worms.

Old Town Lake: Old Town Fish Camp said the lake clarity is good, and the lake level is normal. Bream fishing is good about 16-inches deep using wax worms and crickets. Bream are bedded up along the bank. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and jigs about 2-feet deep near the cypress trees. Bass fishing is fair using spinner baits and top-water lures near the cypress trees. Catfishing is good using limb lines and yo-yos baited with minnows.


SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 70 to 80 degrees. The lake level is 259.45 feet, which is 3 inches above normal. Largemouth bass are post spawn and are biting well on spinner baits in white-and-chartreuse or spot remover colors, crankbaits with a brown back and orange belly, Rat-L-Traps in gold or white and Power Worms in blue fleck and tequila sunrise colors. Buzzbaits are also catching good bass. Most post-spawn black bass remain fair to good on Carolina-rigged Zoom lizards in pumpkinseed with a chartreuse tail or watermelon with red flake. A bass weighing more than 8 pounds won the Ark-La-Tex Big Bass Classic this past weekend. Bass are feeding on shad in deep water next to shallow flats early and late in the day. Kentucky bass are stacked up in the mouths of creeks, such as Mud Lake, Snake Creek, Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and are hitting on white Rat-L-Traps, Carolina-rigged French Fries in watermelon with red flake and 5-inch Bass Assassins. Crappie have transitioned back to deeper water. They are now post spawn. Crappie fishermen report fair catches in brush piles from 8- to 13-feet deep. Bream are beginning their spawning activities in shallow water around cypress trees, the same areas previously used by crappie. Several huge gar and carp, weighing from 10 to 20 pounds each, have been noted extremely shallow and are spawning.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake clarity is good, and the lake level is normal. Bream are on the beds and biting well about 2-feet deep on worms and crickets. Bass fishing is good using Slimy Slugs in tequila sunrise or shad. With the cool nights, catfishing is excellent using trotlines baited with small bream, stink bait or chicken liver.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake level is down. Redear are biting on crickets and worms. Bass are being taken on crankbaits. Catfish are biting in 3- to 4-feet of water on the bottom.

White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said crappie are biting well on crickets and worms.

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait Shop said the lake is clear and at normal pool, which is 542 feet. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in shallow water. Crappie are biting fair from 5- to 10-feet deep. Black bass are biting well on crankbaits, top-water lures, worms and lizards fished from 3- to 6-feet deep. Black bass and Kentucky bass are schooling. Stripers and white bass are biting on top-water lures, spoons and Gitzits. Catfishing is good using jugs or trotlines baited with stink bait or live bait. Walleye are biting on small crankbaits from 3- to 4-feet deep in the coves.

DeGray Lake: Point Cedar Bait Shop said bream are biting well on crickets. Hybrids are biting in the evening. Catfishing is good using trotlines or jugs baited with liver, shrimp, minnows or goldfish. DeGray One Stop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. The lake temperature is 76 degrees. Bream are moving on the beds and are biting well from 6- to 18-feet deep on crickets, red wigglers and pieces of nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is good from 16- to 24-feet deep on minnows, live bait and artificials near brush or on the creek channel edges. Black bass are spawned out and biting well on spinner baits, buzzbaits and top-water lures from 8- to 18-feet deep in the creek channels, in the creek mouths or near rocky points. Whites and hybrids are schooling and being taken on top-water lures up until 11 a.m. Later, whites and hybrids are biting on Near Nothings, spoons and top-water lures in the middle of the lake, around Iron Mountain and or in Brushy Creek where these fish are breaking. Catfishing is good from 12- to 28-feet deep using live bait, rice slicks and bass minnows. Blue catfish are in prespawn and channel cats are moving toward the end of the lake mouth to spawn.

Little Missouri River: Local fly-fishing guide Jeff Guerin said that Smidges were working well around the Flat. There are quite a few fish in the Catch and Release Area.


WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake clarity and level is normal, and the lake temperature is 77 degrees. Bream are being picked up on red worms and crickets from 1- to 3-feet deep. Crappie are biting fair from 2- to 4-feet deep on minnows. Bass are biting well on swimming jigs and Horny Toads near drops. Catfish are biting well on stink bait and live bait.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river is clear. Bream fishing is good using worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good using minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting well on spinner baits and plastic worms. Whites and stripers are biting on minnows and jigs. Trout fishing is slow using red worms and Power Bait. Catfishing is good using shad, large minnows and nightcrawlers below the dam.

Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said largemouth bass are still good. These fish can be caught with finesse worms, Carolina-rigged lizards and Yum Dingers. The best colors are still watermelon seed, watermelon candy and green pumpkin. Top water action is still good with boy howdies and Zara spooks. Try main lake points and large bay pockets near creek channels for best results in 8 - 20 feet of water. Walleye are still fair with reports of these fish being caught on main lake points. Jerk baits or silver rattle traps are the most effective. Try water depths of 8 - 20 feet. Stripers are excellent on live bait, hair jigs or top water C-10 redfins. Try areas around points 17, 19 and Bird island. Bream are excellent on crickets or worms. These fish are spawning in water depths of 4 to 8 feet of water. Crappie are still good and still being caught over brush piles and moss flats using feather jigs, 2" grubs and minnows. Try main lake points and large moss flats 4 - 12 feet deep. The best colors are still white, silver, lemon meringue and Tennessee shad. Catfish are very good and still being caught on live bait or cut bait in water depths from 10 - 20 feet deep. The lake water temperature is between 68 and 76 degrees, water clarity is clear and the lake level 575.32.

Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill's Sport Shop said the lake is clear and in the mid 60s. Bream fishing is good about 5-feet deep using worms and crickets. The bream are spawning in the pockets. Stripers are breaking on top in Williams Creek and Hot Springs Creek.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream fishing is fair from 2- to 3-feet deep using crickets in the weed beds. Crappie fishing is excellent using minnows near brush or stumps. Bass fishing is good using plastic worms and minnows on top near rocky points. Bass are starting to school. Catfishing is excellent using trotlines.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good using crickets around the cypress trees. The bream are staying shallow on the beds. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows around brush about 3-feet deep. Bass fishing is excellent using jigs, buzzbaits and top-water lures around brush. Catfishing is good fishing shallow with worms, minnows and crickets around cypress trees and around the edge of the bank.

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait 'n' More II said the lake level is being held at 345 feet. Crappie fishing is excellent from 5- to 18-feet deep using minnows and jigs in pink-and-white or red-and-chartreuse. Catfishing is great bait fishing with worms or using yo-yos baited with minnows or goldfish. Bream fishing is excellent using crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on minnows, buzz baits and spinner baits.

Arkansas River: Tackle Box said the river clarity is fair, and the level is normal. Bream are spawning and biting on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is fair from 5- to 8-feet deep using minnows. Largemouth bass are biting early in the day on buzz baits and Horny Toads in the weeds. Catfishing is good using cut shad below the dam.


SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Felsenthal: Benson's Grocery and Bait said bream fishing is good using red wigglers and crickets. Crappie are biting well on crickets.

Saline River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the river is clear and low. Fishing is not very good.

Cox Creek Lake: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the lake is clear but low. Fishing is poor.


EAST ARKANSAS:

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is clear, but the lake is a little low. Bream, crappie, bass and catfish are all biting excellent. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs in blue-and-white or black-and-chartreuse. Bass are biting on spinner baits and crawfish-colored cranks. Catfish are biting on trotlines baited with crawfish and large shiners.

Midway Lake: Ed's Boat Camp said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream fishing is good about 2-feet deep using crickets in the brush. Crappie fishing is good 4- to 5-feet deep trolling with minnows. Bass fishing is good using top-water lures near the cypress trees. Catfishing is good using limb lines and yo-yos baited with minnows.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake clarity is excellent, and the lake level is normal. Bream fishing is good about 3-feet deep using crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black-and-chartreuse jigs from 2- to 2½-feet deep around the piers and the cypress trees. Bass fishing is fair using spinner baits in shallow water around the trees and lily pads. Catfishing is good using stink bait, live bait and cut bait in shallow water.

White River Refuge Lakes: Ed's Bait Shop said the water clarity is good, but the lakes are down. Bream fishing is excellent using worms, crickets and artificial baits. Crappie fishing is excellent using minnows and jigs.


 

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