This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report for Nov. 23, 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: Although many bass anglers think bass won't touch soft-plastic worms once the water cools, a jig-and-pork combination isn't the only slow-moving choice. Small finesse worms can bring quite a few bass to the boat when fishing over deep cover. Fish in 30 to 40 feet of water have been known to take a 4-inch worm in water temperatures as low as 40 degrees.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake is at normal level and the water clarity is stained. Crappie fishing is good from 11/2 to 6 feet of water. The best action has come on pink minnows and red-and-chartreuse sparkle jigs around log jams in Gold Creek, Caney Creek and the Hwy. 89 Bridge. Bass are fair on white spinnerbaits, Horny Toads and blue-and-chrome Rat-L-Traps. Catfishing is fair on yo-yos baited with minnows and "Magic Bait."

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the water level is normal, and the generators are not running much lately. The fishing has been slow with the full moon and the radical weather changes. Brown trout are spawning and the egg bite is starting to pick up. Wax worms, nightcrawlers and Power Bait are taking a few fish.

Greers Ferry: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 451.63 feet MSL.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is low and the water is clear. Bream are biting fair. The reports have been sporadic, but most anglers catching fish are using red worms and crickets under a cork. Crappie fishing is excellent in the coves. Both minnows and jigs are working well for the crappie. Reports on bass fishing have been good, with some bass being mixed in with the crappie. Catfishing is good on small bream and nightcrawlers.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake is low. Fishing reports have been pretty slow because deer season is open. Bream are biting well on small jigs. Crappie are biting very well on pink minnows, shiners and salt-and-pepper jigs.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the river is at normal levels and normal clarity. Bream are biting well on red worms, crickets and popping bugs. Crappie are biting well in 3 to 10 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits and minnows. Catfish are biting well on anything fished on the bottom.

Lake Cargile: Beeson's Grocery said hunting season has put a halt on the fishing in the area. No reports have come in lately.

Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said the water is stained and at normal levels. Crappie are fair in 12 to 20 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished around the islands. White bass are biting well as shallow as 3 to 4 feet of water on chrome crankbaits and topwaters.

Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 7,000 CFS with a headwater of 285.6 and a tailwater of 264.3. The water temperature ranges from 65 to 59 degrees. Black bass are excellent right now on compact, ¼-ounce white spinnerbaits with tandem blades. Fish the spinnerbaits in 6 to 8 feet of water around timber and other woody structure. The best bite is coming during the warmest part of the afternoon. White bass are excellent in the late afternoon as well. Find the schools of shad behind the jetties and in the eddies and cast a white Twistertail or Rat-L-Trap. Crappie are biting fair on tube jigs tipped with minnows. The crappie are holding in the creeks along the rock piles. Catfishing is good in the late evening in 20 feet of water. The trick to catching the cats is floating a large live minnow under a bobber set at only 5 feet deep. Sauger are starting to run upriver and are biting well below the dam. Use live minnows under a float about 4 to 6 feet deep on the outside swirls of the jetty tips.

Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said the water is stained. Stripers are biting well on large minnows and white Twistertails. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and cut shad fished on the bottom below the hydro plant.

Pickthorne Lake: Outdoor Super Store said the lake is muddy and at normal level. The bream bite is slow. Try red worms in 1 foot of water or less. Crappie are fair in 4 to 5 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is very slow, but a few have been caught on soft-plastic creature baits around the brush piles. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and stinkbait fished in the middle of the lake.

Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said the crappie fishing is fair in 6 to 10 feet of water on minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers fished on slip-sinker rigs. All other species are slow.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's said the lake is clear and at normal levels. Crappie fishing is fair on pink minnows fished around the stumps in 6 feet of water. Bass fishing is fair in 4 to 6 feet of water on small Rebel crankbaits. Catfishing is poor.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's said the river is clear. Crappie are biting fair on marabou jigs fished in 6 feet of water around the brush piles. Bass are biting well in 4 to 6 feet of water on Rebel Crawdad crankbaits and small Rapalas fished next to any stumps in the water.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said the river is running clear and at normal levels. Stripers are biting well on jigs and large bass minnows fished near or on the bottom. All other species have been slow.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the lake is high and clear. Crappie fishing is good in 3 feet of water on minnows fished around brush piles, stumps and rocky points. All other species have been slow.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has slacked off some this week, with one or two generators usually coming online in the early morning but only running for a couple hours, then shutting off for the rest of the day, providing plenty of wade fishing on the upper river from late morning on through the rest of the day. Wade fishing the upper river has been very productive with tan and olive McLellan's Hunchback Scuds and Woven Sow Bugs. Fishing high water out of a boat has also been very productive using large scuds, eggs, and San Juan Worms. Early winter is a great time to fish a streamer (even in low water); try to trigger a strike from the aggressive brown trout by swinging a streamer like the Zoo Cougar or Platte River Spider through a pool. Experiment with different retrieves until you start getting hits. Egg patterns are starting to hook several fish as more and more trout start their pre-spawn activities.

Wilderness Trail said fishing for trout on the White has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white. With generation, Buoyant Spoons, Rooster Tails and Blue Fox spinners are the baits of choice. Fly-fishermen did well on olive woolly buggers, olive scuds, zebra midges and unreal eggs in peach and white. Brown trout are being caught on nightcrawlers and Countdown Rapalas.

North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said Generation on the Norfork has been very sporadic lately, but it has slacked off some with the cooler temperatures, sometimes not even coming online during the daylight hours. The wade fishing has been very good lately, and fishing high water from a boat has been productive as well. Scuds, sow bugs, midges, and eggs in low water, and eggs, San Juan Worms, and big streamers like the Articulated Zoo Cougar in high water have been producing plenty of hook-ups. Egg patterns are starting to hook several fish as more and more trout start their pre-spawn activities. Some of our favorite egg patterns are the Flashtail Mini Egg, the Unreal Egg, and the Micro Egg. For the health of the fishery, remember to leave actively spawning fish alone, and avoid wading through their spawning redds (clean, oval depressions in the

gravel).

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 646.73 feet MSL.

Wilderness Trail said the lake temperature is 56.8 degrees in the upper lake. Not much to report on crappie this week, except around the Lead Hill area where crappie minnows, crappie tubes, grubs and Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows are catching nice crappie in the brush along pockets or creeks and pole trees along bluff walls. Shad are starting to move to the backs of the creeks and coves. Largemouth bass are scattered all over the lake. Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits shallow and football jigs or Carolina rigs deep. You can catch a few small smallmouth around points on jigs or grubs, but the keeper smallies are hiding. We should see smallies up foraging for crawdads on a fall bite, but we need some stable weather to bring them back in. Keep checking the points and creeks with spider jigs and crankbaits. Kentucky bass are deep and holding off the channel swings and in the flooded forests throughout the lake. Some nice 3-pound plus Kentuckies were caught over the weekend with football jigs and spoons on the bottom in 42 to 45 feet of water, so maybe the Kentuckies are already in the winter mode. Walleye are up on points at night foraging on shad and crawdads but it has been very cold at night to venture out on the lake. During the day the walleye are hugging the bottom in 45 to 50 feet of water on flats and off main lake points. Spooning is about the only method working on these fish during the day. White-and-blue and silver colors are the best.

Lake Norfork: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 541.8 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is low and clear. The surface temperature is 60 degrees and the lake has turned over. Crappie fishing is good on minnows. Bass are biting fair to good on crankbaits and jerkbaits like Rattlin' Rogues.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,106.86 feet MSL.

Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is low. Crappie fishing is fair in 4 to 8 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting fair to well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits as the water warms up. Kentucky bass are biting well on drop-shotted finesse worms. Stripers are busting shad on the surface in the main lake.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is low and the water clarity is good. Bream are in 4 to 8 feet of water, but the action is slow. Worms and crickets are working in brush piles, stumps and rocky areas of the lake. Crappie are fair in 4 to 8 feet of water on minnows fished around stumps and brush. Bass fishing is fair on soft-plastics and spinnerbaits near the same areas as the panfish. Catfishing is good on chicken livers, nightcrawlers and goldfish.

Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan's Fly Shop said there has been very little generation over the last few weeks. If generators come online at all, it's usually been between three and five o'clock, providing plenty of wading opportunities. Of course, scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive; however, egg patterns are starting to hook several fish as more trout start their pre-spawn activities. Some of our favorite egg patterns are the Flashtail Mini Egg, the Unreal Egg, and the Micro Egg. For the health of the fishery, remember to leave actively spawning fish alone, and avoid wading through their spawning redds (clean, oval depressions in the gravel).

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

White River: Local fisherman Jeff Moore said the White River at Batesville is 6.6 feet and rising. The low water conditions still make it difficult to navigate safely in certain parts of the river. Trout fishing in the Guion area continues to be fair with mostly small fish being caught. Corn, Power Bait, and worms are good choices for bait fishermen. Inline spinners and small Rapalas are catching fish, too. Waters in the Guion area that are normally too deep to wade are accessible and conducive to fly fishing, but some of the water will still need a boat for access. Largemouth bass are slow, but a few are being caught near the grass early and late in the day. Senkos, tube baits and topwaters continue to produce fish. Smallmouth are still biting well, but the average size ranges from 6 to 10 inches. Tube baits and crankbaits fished along the rocky banks will catch a lot of these fish. Catfishing near Lock 2 is still fair with prepared bait and worms. Fishing late and into the evening has been productive. A few crappie are being caught in the brush along the riverbank with a jig-and-minnow combination.

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is low and stained. Crappie fishing is good on minnows fished near the brush.

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

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Lake Chicot State Park said there aren't any boaters coming out to the lake lately. The lake is low.

Lake Monticello: Outdoor Super Store said hunting season has put a halt on the fishing in the area. No reports have come in lately.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.16 feet MSL.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake is low and clear. Bream fishing is good on red worms and crickets all over the lake. Crappie fishing has been good in 10 to 15 feet of water, but the heavy front Tuesday will probably change that. Bass fishing is good on Junebug-colored soft-plastics. Catfishing is fair on live bait.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is low. Crappie fishing has been fair. Bass and catfish are biting well, but not many anglers are coming to the lake.

White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said the lake is extremely low.

Lake Greeson: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 534.45 feet MSL.

Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said the lake is muddy and has been too low to even launch a boat in some areas. The recent rains should help. Bass fishing has been good in 1 to 10 feet of water on soft-plastic worms and crankbaits. Bream, crappie and catfish have all been poor.

DeGray Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 396.36 feet MSL.

Iron Mountain said hybrids are biting well, still schooling early in the mornings and late in the afternoons around the Alpine and Arlie Moore areas. Although these areas have been successful, the latest reports on hybrids have come from Brushy Creek, where schools of hybrids have been found. They are biting on spoons, shallow-running crankbaits, Boy Howdies, and a wide variety of top-water lures. Bream fishing is fair with worms off points and humps in 20-25 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and tube jigs in 12-20 feet of water near points, brush piles and marina docks. Catfish are fair in 15-25 feet of water off main lake points and rock piles on nightcrawlers and stinkbait. Largemouth and spotted bass are good. Some bass are shallow. Most largemouth are around and in the grass, but the depth will depend on how far the grass line comes out. Some success has been reported with Rattle Traps, shallow-diving crankbaits, and jigworms in 12-17 feet of water. Many bass are schooling on main lake points early in the morning and right before dark.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake level is low. Crappie fishing is good to excellent in 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished around bridges. White bass are biting well on grubs, Sassy Shads and white CC Spoons. Duck hunters also report the best opening day of duck season in years in the area.

Moss Point said the lake is low and clear. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets if you can still find them. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on live bait fished right on the bottom. Bass are moving deeper and are being caught on CC Spoons and soft-plastic worms.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the water is low and clear. Crappie fishing is good below the dam on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing has been slow. Catfish are fair on chicken livers and whole dead shad.

Lake Ouachita: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 568.00 feet MSL.

Mountain Harbor Resort said Largemouth bass are biting well on Rooster Tails, Flukes and hair jigs. The best bite has been around the windblown pockets near the moss line. Spotted bass are biting well on live crawfish fished over brush in 15 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are fair to good with some fish being caught over or near large moss flats and humps. Jigging spoons and a jig-and-minnow combination are working well in 18 to 30 feet of water. Stripers are biting well on live bait, bucktail jigs and Zara Puppy stickbaits. The stripers are holding around main lake points and rock bluffs near the river channel. Crappie fishing is getting better with some crappie being caught over brush piles and moss flats 15-25 feet deep on feather jigs, 2-inch grubs and minnows. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers, stinkbait and live minnows.

Moss Point said the lake is low and the water is gin clear. Bream fishing is poor. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs fished near the moss line. Bass are biting well in the early mornings on Zoom Horny Toads fished around any green vegetation in the water. Catfish are biting well in the creek mouths on nightcrawlers.

Lake Ouachita State Park Marina said fishing has been really good, especially on overcast days. The water temperature is between 64 and 67 degrees and the lake is beginning to clear from last week's rain. Stripers are biting well in the mornings and afternoons and anglers have been catching them on top-water lures such as a Spook Jr. Anglers are also doing well spooning with CC spoons and trolling Shad Raps. Bass fishing has been good on finesse worms and spinner baits, and top-water action is good in the mornings. The crappie are beginning to move into 10-15 feet of water and have been caught on Kalin's grubs and crappie minnows. Anglers have reported the bream fishing as slow. There have been no reports of catfish success. An occasional walleye has been caught while spooning in 30 feet water around submerged and standing timber.

Lake Catherine: Trader Bill's Sport Shop said the lake is very dingy and at winter pool. Bream and crappie are biting fair on worms, crickets and minnows in brush piles from 10 to 15 feet of water. Bass fishing is poor, but a few can be taken from the rocky areas on crawfish-colored crankbaits and small jigs. Stripers are biting well on large topwaters like Redfins and Super Spooks.

Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill's Sport Shop said the lake is at 395 (winter pool), which is 5 feet lower than the summer pool. Bream fishing is fair in 15 to 20 feet of water. Grubs, minnows and worms fished around brush piles and stumps are working well. Crappie fishing is fair on small jigs and minnows fished around brush in 15 to 20 feet of water. Largemouth bass are excellent on crawfish-colored crankbaits in 6 to 8 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with minnows.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said only one fisherman came in this week to give a report. He caught a few crappie and bass on minnows. The lake is low.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is clear and low. Bream are biting excellent on the shoreline on red worms. Crappie are biting excellent in 6 to 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished in the brush piles. Bass fishing is good on soft-plastic creature baits like YUM Sooies and Baby Brush Hogs. Catfishing is good on worms fished right on the bottom.

Lake Nimrod: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 341.48 feet MSL.

Lake Nimrod Bait 'n' More II said the lake a little low for this time of year, but fishing is picking up. Crappie are schooling and biting on minnows and red or black-and-chartreuse jigs in about 8-12 feet of water over brush tops. Catfish are still doing good using minnows, worms or yo-yos baited with goldfish. Bass anglers are doing well using spinner baits and plastic worms.

Arkansas River: Tackle Box said the river is at normal levels and the water clarity is normal. Crappie fishing has been good in 12 to 14 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished near woody structure. Bass fishing has been good on the area lakes and small cuts off the river on drop-shot rigs, jigs and spoons. Catfishing is fair on cut shad in the main river.

EAST ARKANSAS:

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said the lake is low and murky. Crappie are biting well in 3 to 10 feet of water on minnows fished under a bobber and jigs worked extremely slowly along the woody cover near the river. Catfish are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers fished right on the bottom.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said hunting season has put a halt on the fishing in the area. No reports have come in lately.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said only a few boats were on the lake last week. Crappie fishing was fair in 8 feet of water on minnows.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is low but water conditions are excellent. All fishing on the lake has been good, with some of the largest fish of the year coming in. Bream are biting well on red worms and wax worms around 6 feet deep around the piers. Crappie are biting well on black-and-chartreuse jigs and crappie nibbles fished around the piers as well. Bass are slow, but some good-sized fish are coming from the lily pads and cypress trees on white spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers. There's also been some good duck hunting in the area, so fishing pressure has slacked off.