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 Oct. 26, 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.

       
        Lure of the Week: To familiarize new anglers with the huge variety of lures available, we will be using the fishing tip section to describe a new lure every week.

CC Spoons -Although it may look simple, the spoon puts out flash and vibration that deep-water fish find irresistible. When fall temperatures cool the water quickly, look for schools of baitfish on ledges and deep flats and drop a spoon to the bottom. Jerk it up a foot or two, and then let it settle back down. The spoon flutters and flashes like and injured shad, and most strikes will happen on the drop. Spoons are excellent for black bass, white bass, stripers, walleye and even crappie, but don’t try to work them around too much brush because they hang up easily.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
        
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake is low. Bream are biting well on wax worms, Tiny Mite bream jigs, worms and crickets fished near cypress trees around the banks. Crappie are moving into the main channel and biting well. They are being caught from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 31/2 to 10 feet of water and are biting at night on yo-yos baited with minnows.  Bass fishing has been good on white spinnerbaits and buzzbaits and dark-colored plastic worms fished near the lily pads. Catfishing is fair on yo-yos and trotlines baited with minnows.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the river is low, and there has been very little generation lately. Trout fishing is good on wax worms, PowerBait and corn. The brown trout are beginning to spawn, and egg patterns are working well for the fly-fishermen.

Greers Ferry: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 452.11 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina said white bass and hybrids have been biting well on The Secret Weapon near Edgemont Bay.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temp is in the high 60's, increasing to the low-70's by mid-day. The fishing has picked up considerably with fish coming up from the deep flats and early staging areas. The best bait for walleye seems to be nightcrawlers and minnows on bottom bouncers. Wally Divers and Spoonbill Rebels are also working when trolled with clip-on line weights. Black bass are still in transition and are changing day-to-day. You can chase them shallow with crankbait, buzzbait, spinnerbait or top-water lure, or go deep with a Carolina rig. Catfishing continues to be superb both shallow and deep. The crappie fishing and bream fishing have improved dramatically, with various baits working shallow to deep, as they are also in transition. The hybrid and white bass fishing is fantastic. They can be caught anywhere from 1 to 80 feet deep on in-line spinners, jigging spoons, grubs, hair jigs and live shad. Kidney Cove, Point One and Dugger Hollow are the best places to start fishing.

 
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is low and clear. Bream are biting fair in 4 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie anglers did well last week on small minnows and pearl-colored jigs around brush piles in 4 feet of water. The white bass were excellent on silver and blue spoons.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake is very low and the docks are almost out of the water. Not many anglers are visiting the lake. Crappie are fair around the stumps on minnows. Bass are biting fair on spinnerbaits and Junebug soft-plastic worms. Catfish anglers are going well on trotlines baited with live minnows. A 36-pound cat was caught last week by trotliners.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the river is at normal levels. Bream are fair on small worms and popping bugs in 2 to 3 feet of water. Crappie and bass are both fair on live minnows. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and worms fished on the bottom near any cut or run-out.

Lake Cargile: Beeson’s Grocery said the lake is low. Dry conditions have really hit Cargile hard.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said largemouth fishing is good in the back of the coves right now. Fish areas 3 to 5 feet deep with spinnerbaits and top-water lures for the best action. Kentucky bass are biting well around 10 to 15 feet deep on 3-inch pumpkin grubs and Gitzits. The white bass are in the shallows from 2 to 5 feet deep and are biting excellently on top-water lures like Spooks, on shallow divers like Rattlin’ Rogues and on Rooster Tails. Catfish are biting well in about 10 to 15 feet of water on large minnows and prepared baits. Crappie and bream are fair with most of the panfish holding around 20 feet deep and biting small jigs or live-bait offerings.

Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said flow from Lock 9 is 6,000 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 285.24 and a tailwater of 264.65. Strong winds and the deer season combined to keep many anglers off the river. White bass and Kentucky bass are biting well along the windblown banks. Stripers are running with the whites, so be prepared for a fight when casting to schooling whites on the banks. Try Rat-L-Traps in pearl or Smokey Joe. Catfishing is good on the upstream side of the jetties using whole shad and nightcrawlers.

Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said stripers are biting well on large minnows and chartreuse split-tailed grubs beneath the hydro plant. Crappie are biting well around the Burns Park area. The best bet for the crappie is a minnow or a jig. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers fished near the main river channel.

Pickthorne Lake: Outdoor Super Store said muzzleloading season put a halt on last week’s fishing.
       
        Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s said the river is low. Smallmouth and black bass are biting well on 4-inch watermelonseed lizards and top-water lures fished against the bank out to the first drop to deeper water.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the lake is at normal pool. Bream, bass and catfish have all been poor the last few days. Crappie anglers are having good success around any cover in 4 to 5 feet of water on minnows.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river is running relatively low, but 4 generators were running Monday morning. The trout fishing has been good on red worms, wax worms and corn. Fly-fishing with small gray Sow Bugs and Olive Woolly Buggers are taking a few trout as well. Spin-fishermen are doing the best on Buoyant Spoons and Little Cleo Spoons fished across the current.

Wilderness Trail said fishing for trout on the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow-and-white and pink. Buoyant Spoons, Super Dupers, Countdowns and Blue Fox in-line spinners are the baits of choice when the generators are going. Fly-fishermen did well on olive woolly buggers, olive scuds, zebra midges and San Juan worms. Brown trout are being caught on Flat Fish, Rapala Countdowns, nightcrawlers and small Rattlin’ Rogues.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 646.44 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said the lake temperature is down to 68.5. A week or two of stable weather should turn on the fall bite. The thermocline remains at 40 feet, and there is really no temperature break from the surface to 40 feet, so the game fish are scattered anywhere from the bank to 40 feet of water. Crappie returned to the brush piles for a few days last week and were feeding on minnows at 23 to 24 feet depths. Once the cold front pushed in, they moved deeper. Crappie minnows will still catch a few but the bite has slowed down.  Largemouth bass continue to cruise in the creeks and pockets, making them difficult to pattern. One day you can find them on the banks with Zara Spooks or buzzbaits and the next day you only can get a few to bite jigs off secondary points or in the brush piles. Smallmouth are holding in 36 to 40 feet of water off pea rock banks and transition banks. The best baits for smallmouth are spider jigs, football jigs and Carolina rigs with Baby Brush Hogs. Try a drop-shot rig with a 4-inch finesse worm or Zoom Meathead Worm on sunny, calm days. Kentucky bass have dropped into deeper water with the shad. The shad will make a move into the cuts and pockets to feed on plankton and the Kentuckies will follow. Meanwhile look for balls of shad at the entrance of the cuts or pockets and drop a spoon or drop-shot rig underneath the shad. Walleye are still out around the thermocline and are being caught on Hot’N Tots, Wally Divers and Reef Runners trolled on leadcore line. Some walleye have already started to move to the banks and points with the weather change. A few were caught this week by bass anglers on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. It might be time to prowl the banks with Shad Raps and Lucky Craft Pointer DD’s in the mornings and late afternoons.

Sugar Loaf Harbor said the lake is very low. The water has been cloudy lately, but is clearing up. Crappie are excellent on minnows fished near the brush piles in 25 feet of water. Kentucky bass are biting well in 30 feet of water on crawfish and crawfish-imitating plastics.

Lake Norfork: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 541.84 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is low and clear. Crappie anglers are doing well around 18 to 20 feet deep on crappie minnows fished near the outside edges of planted brush piles. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and football-head jigs with Hula Grubs. Check the deeper points and rock bluffs to fish the Hula Grubs. Walleye and stripers are both being picked up trolling and vertically jigging spoons in 52 feet of water.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1107.25 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is low, but water clarity is still good. Bream are biting fair in 4 to 8 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fair to good around planted cover in 4 to 10 feet of water. Bass are fair at night on spinnerbaits fished along the shallows. The daytime bass bite is slow, but finesse worms and drop-shot rigs are working well for Kentucky bass. Crankbaits and small spinnerbaits in shad patterns are catching a few largemouths.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the lake is 6 to 8 inches low. All species were slow last week.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is 3 feet below normal pool. Crappie and bream anglers are doing decent finding logs, treetops and bushes in 4 to 8 feet of water and jigging small worms, micro jigs and crickets around the woody structure. Bass fishing is fair in 4 to 8 feet of water on spinnerbaits and soft plastics fished around weed beds and rocky points. Catfish are fair on cut sunfish, shad, chicken livers and worms fished in 4 to 10 feet of water.

Beaver Tailwaters: Riverview Resort said the trout fishing has been good this week. Water remains low, making ideal conditions for wade fishing. We suggest using ginger and olive beadhead woolly buggers. Micro jigs have also been very productive. Bait fishermen have had the best success with white and fluorescent yellow power eggs tipped with a wax worm. It may also be good to have a few nightcrawlers on hand. Generation has been reduced to late afternoon most days.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

White River: Local fisherman Jeff Moore said the White River at Batesville is 7 feet and the low condition makes it very difficult to get up and down the river. Many of the boat ramps are difficult to negotiate. Trout fishing in the Guion area is slow as is bass fishing. What few trout are around are near the wingdam and between the bridge and the power line upstream. If a person likes to wade fish, this is as good as it gets in this area. Bass fishing is fairly slow with a few smallmouth being caught. Largemouth are in the grass but are not biting very well. Topwaters and plastic frogs will draw a few out late in the day. The smallmouth can be caught on Gitzits and small crankbaits along the steeper banks. There have been a few walleye caught beneath Lock1 and 2 dams. Trolling crankbaits such as a Wally Divers and casting gray grubs fished on a ¼- to 3/8-ounce jighead has produced a few fish from late evening until after dark. Catfishing has been fair with the best fishing below Lock 1 dam on prepared bait and chicken livers.

Black River: Powhatan Landing said the river is low. No fishermen are visiting the river lately

Spring River: Many Islands camp said the river is crystal clear and a little low. Trout fishing has been good on all the traditional trout setups. Quite a few walleye are also being caught in the current breaks.

        
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Lake Chicot State Park said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie fishing has been good on wax worms fished near the brush piles and stumps in the lake. Catfishing is good on dog food and nightcrawlers around the cypress trees on the north end of the lake.

Lake Monticello: Outdoor Super Store said the lake is at normal level. Bream and crappie are biting fair and are moving deeper. Catfishing is good on chicken livers in the deep water near the spillway. Bass fishing has been good on all the main points in the lake. Some big bass are exploding on top-water lures fished over the points early in the morning.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.29 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 66 to 72 degrees and the discharge at the dam is around 138 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass are biting very well on white or chrome Rat-L-Traps, Zoom Horny Toads, buzz baits and spinnerbaits along the vegetation lines in Little River. Many bass larger than 6 pounds were caught last week. Yearling bass are schooling in creeks and oxbows such as McGuire and Horseshoe Lakes along Little River. White Heddon Dying Flutters; clear Baby Torpedoes; and Johnson spoons, are catching schoolers from the surface to 6 feet deep. Five-inch Bass Assassin Shads and Johnson spoons with white grub trailers, are taking good-size bass in the pads and vegetation. White bass are still randomly schooling in Little River near the Hwy 71 Bridge and Cossatot inflow, and are hitting 1/4 to 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in chrome/chartreuse. Cast all around the edges of bait schools, and count down to 4-8 feet deep and yo-yo the lure back through the school until you connect. It's a great time to take kids fishing. Thirty to 40 fish days are common. Kentucky bass are good up to 2-1/2 pounds along the river on small spinnerbaits and live shiners around laydowns and brush piles. Crappie are suspended 6-10 feet deep. They are biting well on white or pink jigs and shiners around planted brush piles and tops. The best bite has shifted to later in the day. Channel Cats are biting fair on chicken livers and cut shad along Little River on trotlines set 12-14 feet deep, and under cypress trees on yo-yos baited with live shiners and set 6-8 feet deep.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake is low and the water is stained. Bream are biting well in 3 to 4 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on shiners and gray-and-orange jigs around 6 feet deep. Bass are biting dark jigs well early in the morning. Catfish anglers are doing well on trotlines baited with stinkbait.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is low and stained. Catfish anglers are doing well on stinkbait suspended from trotlines. Bream are biting well in 3 feet of water. Crappie are being found over the creek channel and are biting well on gray-and-orange jigs. Bass are biting well on dark-colored jig-and-pig combos.

        White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop said the lake has been dropped to 6 feet below normal pool for maintenance. Bream are biting well on micro jigs and crickets throughout the lake. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. The bass have moved off the banks and are biting well on soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.

Lake Greeson: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 534.61 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said the lake is very low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets fished around 5 feet deep. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished in the brush piles around 10 to 15 feet deep. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and top-water lures fished around the brush piles. Catfish are fair on worms and large, live minnows.

DeGray Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 395.81 feet MSL.
Point Cedar Bait Shop said the lake is clear and still extremely low. Crappie are sitting on their old springtime beds are biting well on minnows.

 
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake is at normal levels and the water temperature is in the mid-70s. Last week’s cold front really slowed the fishing down. Crappie are biting well under the bridges and around brush piles in 4 to 8 feet of water on minnows. Bass anglers are reporting fair catches of fish at best. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers near the main creek channels.

Moss Point said the lake is low. Crappie are fair in 6 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting fair, with some good fish being taken on YUM Crawbugs and Zoom Horny Toads. Catfish are biting well on chicken livers near the main creek channels.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting fair on worms and crickets in 4 feet of water. The crappie bite is improving on minnows and jigs fished over the rock jetties. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft jerkbaits on main river ledges. Catfish are fair on chicken livers and worms below the dam.

Lake Ouachita: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 567.59 feet MSL.
Lake Ouachita State Park Marina said the lake is clear and about 10 feet low. Bream are holding in about 15 to 25 feet of water and biting crickets fished around the submerged brush in this depth range. Bass fishing is decent in the evenings on secondary points and pockets holding shad. The best lure has been a spinnerbait. Catfishing is good on chicken livers fished in 6 to 8 feet of water.

 
Lake Catherine: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said the lake is clear. Bream are holding in the backs of coves and around docks in about 12 to 20 feet of water. Red worms and crickets fished around brush piles in these areas are working the best. Crappie have moved shallow and are biting well around the brush piles. Top-water lures and crankbaits are working well on largemouths. Catfishing is poor, but a few have been taken on blood bait. Walleye anglers are doing well on jigging spoons fished around brush piles in 17 to 25 feet of water.

Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said bass are biting well around planted brush piles on top-water lures and shad-imitating crankbaits. Crappie are biting well around the shallow ends of docks with brush. Catfishing is poor. Walleye are biting well on jigging spoons in 20 feet of water.

        Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are staying in 15 feet of water and biting well on jigs and minnows. Small bass have started schooling a little around the lake and are biting Tiny Torpedoes and other small top-water lures during the feeding frenzies. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.

        Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting excellent on crickets fished in 2 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush piles in 7 feet of water. Bass are biting fair on spinnerbaits cast right up to the bank and reeled in slowly. Catfish are biting well on live bait around 6 feet deep.

        Lake Nimrod: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 341.90 feet MSL.
Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More II said the lake is down but fishing well. Bass are doing well in the early morning and late evening on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Many crappie are being caught in 10 to 13 feet of water over brush on jigs or minnows. Catfish are biting well on worms and minnows. Many cats are also being caught on yo-yos baited with goldfish.

        Arkansas River: Tackle Box said the river is at normal levels and has a fair stain to it. Crappie have gone deep with the recent cool weather. Most papermouths are holding in 9 to 12 feet of water and biting jigs and minnows. Some large bass have been caught lately on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished along the jetties and in the standing timber in slack-water areas. Catfishing is good below the dam on cut shad.

 
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

        Felsenthal: Benson’s Grocery and Bait said the water level is low for this time of year. Bream and bass were biting fair last week. Some crappie anglers had good success on minnows.

Cox Creek Lake: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the lake is low. Crappie are biting fair in 3 to 4 feet of water at night. Most anglers are using minnows under lights.

EAST ARKANSAS: 

Old Town Lake: Old Town Fish Camp said the lake is clear and 1 foot below normal pool. Bluegill are biting well in 2 feet of water on crickets fished in the brush piles. Crappie are biting fair and are picking up. Anglers are doing the best on minnows, and black jigs fished right against the stumps. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and other top-water lures fished around the brush. Catfish are good on just about every kind of live or prepared bait.

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said the water is low and murky. Bream are in 2 to 3 feet of water and biting decent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 8 feet of water on black-and-chartreuse jigs and minnows fished in the slack-water areas. Bass are fair on small crankbaits and topwaters. Catfishing is good on chicken livers fished near the main channel.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the lake is low and clear. Bream are biting well around the docks and submerged treetops. Crickets fished under a bobber are still working well. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished 4 to 6 feet deep around planted brush piles. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished in 2 to 4 feet of water. 

        Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said no one has been visiting the lake to fish lately.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is 2 feet below normal pool, but access to the lake is still good. The lake was windy last week, but fishing was good for most species. Some good size crappie were caught in 3 feet of water around the outer edges of the lily pads. Bass angling was excellent before last week’s front moved in, and the bass are still biting well around the lily pads and cypress trees on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent with worms and stinkbait being the best producers. Some really nice 5 to 6 pound cats are being caught pretty regularly in Horseshoe right now. The only species that slowed down was sunfish. The bream seemed to move deeper off the edges of the lily pads.

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