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 Nov. 30, 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.

Heddon Sonars

Blade Bait - Spinnerbaits aren’t the only bass lure with a blade. Heddon Sonars, Heddon Gay Blades and a variety of other blade baits draw reaction strikes from lethargic fish even when the water temperature drops to the 30s. Blade baits are especially effective on white bass, stripers, and walleye. Bass, crappie and any other fish that eats minnows will strike at them, too. To work the bait, cast it out to a deep ledge and let it sink to the bottom. Bring it back to the boat with a fast lift-and-drop retrieve, much like a jigging spoon. The strikes will almost always come on the drop. Be careful not to fish a blade around too much cover, because they hang easily.

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 1 1/2 to 6 feet of water. The best action has come on pink minnows and red-and-chartreuse sparkle jigs around logjams in Gold Creek, Caney Creek and the Highway 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 river clarity is good, and with little generation, the river level is low. Trout fishing is pretty good using wax worms with marshmallows, chartreuse or pink Power Bait. Egg patterns, Hare Ears, Brassies and sow bugs.

Greers Ferry: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 451.80 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina said the lake is clear and low. Bass fishing is fair using crankbaits early in the morning. Hybrids and whites are coming up over Cove Creek’s south side early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The seagulls are helpful in locating the whites and hybrids. Catfishing is good in the deeper water using throw lines baited with stink bait. Walleye fishing is very slow, but some are being taken about 35-feet deep using nightcrawlers.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service <http://greersferry.com/fishfinder> said the lake came up some with the storm, and now with generation, it is about back to where it has been, which is about 10 feet low. The crappie are biting pretty well in 15 feet of water on jigs and minnows around pole timber and homemade brush piles. At times, you need to tie on the drop shot to get the crappie to bite. The bass fishing has been good in the run offs with Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Now that the water has receded, the bass will go back to the steep chunk rock banks. For smallmouths, try throwing crankbaits, spinnerbaits and rattletraps with c-rigs and drop shots in 15 feet of water. The hybrids and whites, as well as walleye, are roaming and chasing shad. Try jigging a spoon, using swim baits or dropping an in-line spinner down over the tops of bait pods, and then, reeling them straight back up in 53 feet of water.

 
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is clear and low. The rain did help the lake a little. A few good size crappie have been taken on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said there haven’t been many fishermen on the lake.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is dirty and high. Bream are biting well about 3-feet deep on worms and Fly Poppers near brush piles and stumps. Crappie are biting well from 3- to 11-feet deep on minnows and assorted jigs. Bass fishing is fair from 3- to 6-feet deep using assorted spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good using just about anything on the bottom.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said black bass are biting well. Fish the channels and ledges topping out at 15 feet and dropping to 20 feet deep using drop-shotted soft plastics and jigging spoons. Kentucky bass are being caught in 15 to 20 feet of water in the same areas as the largemouths. They are biting the best on 3-inch pumpkin grubs, finesse worms and tubes. White bass are excellent.  The whites are close to or in the channel at around 20 feet deep and are feeding on schools of shad. They have been breaking early to midday. Top-water baits and spoons have been deadly. Trolling with Shad Raps in 12 to 15 feet of water is also working well. Catfish are biting well in the channel about 20 feet deep. Canadian nightcrawlers, large minnows and prepared baits are all working well. The crappie are in about 15 to 20 feet of water and are being caught on small 1/32 jigs and pink crappie minnows, but action is very slow. Bream are slow, but a few are hitting on crickets and worms about 20 feet deep.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said stripers are biting fair on live shad and live minnows under the west-end bridge.

Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said

Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair using live minnows from 4- to 6-feet deep in the feeder creeks. Kentucky bass are biting on crankbaits in the main channel on the jetty points. Stripers are fair using white or chartreuse Twistertails or Twintails at Murray Lock and Dam. Crappie are also biting at Murray Lock and Dam. Try using pink minnows or mini jigs in red, chartreuse, pink or white.

Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream, bass and catfish are biting poorly. Crappie fishing is fair from 3- to 4-feet deep using minnows in locations with any cover.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort <http://www.gastons.com/> said a couple of units are usually ran early in the mornings, but generation usually ceases before lunch. However as many as, four units have been pumping in the late afternoons. Try fishing the running water in the morning from a boat, fish low water in the afternoon, and catch the trout on rising water later in the day.  There are a lot of opportunities to catch a large number of rainbows and browns with this generation pattern.  The hot flies right now are the brown and olive bead head Wooley Buggers, Hank's Sculpinator on lower water, and Hank's Ant Bee on high water. Egg patterns or San Juan worms are also seeing much success on high water.  Spin fishermen are using white Power Bait with pink plastic worms or live wax worms in the low water, as well as Buoyant Spoons, Rooster Tails, Krocodile lures, and Little Cleos.  The higher water allows the use of nightcrawlers and white or yellow Power Bait, Husky Jerks and Rogue suspending lures. 

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 wading on the upper river from late morning on through the rest of the day. Wading 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 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.

 Wilderness Trail <http://www.wildernesstrail.com/> said fishing for trout on the White River has been good on yellow and white Berkley Power Eggs. During 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. The brown trout are being caught on Smithwick Rattlin’ Rogues, nightcrawlers and Rapala Countdowns.     

         North Fork River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation 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.  Best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (14-16), Flashback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (12-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Rojo Midge (22), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Red Jujubee Midge (20-22), Johnny Flash (20-24), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Flashtail Mini Egg (14-16), Unreal Egg, Micro Egg.

        Norfork Trout Dock said the lake is turning over. Rainbow trout and brown trout are biting well on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Other fish species are biting fair.

 
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 <http://www.wildernesstrail.com/> said the lake temperature is at 56.9 degrees in the mid and lower lake and at 55 degrees above Lead Hill and in the Theodosia arm. The fall bite is in full swing in the upper part of the lake and in the Theodosia arm.  Here are a few things that you can try this week. Crappie are on brush piles and deep brush in the watersheds, both on the main lake and in the creeks and pockets. The best bite is in the morning on crappie jigs or tubes and Bobby Garland Split Tails and Baby Shads. Best colors are blue thunder, crystal, pearlescent, and pink or black/blue/white. Crappie minnows are also hard to beat this time of year. Largemouth bass are up on the banks, from the main lake points to the back of the cuts, creeks and pockets. It is typical fall fishing, with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs being the go-to baits. Windy points are better than leeward points and big rock is better than pea rock. Smallmouth bass are feeding on crayfish and are in the 28- to 35-foot range on channel swing ends or points. Best baits are Wiggle Warts, Bandits and spider jigs or football-head jigs. Kentucky bass have also started to break away from the shad and roam the banks, but the good bite is still under the shad with spoons or a drop-shot rig. Check the cuts and pockets off the main lake for concentrations of Kentuckies. The walleye are at the same depth as the shad. Whether you decide to troll, spoon or fish a bottom bouncer, spend some time graphing to locate baitfish. Main lake areas are always better during a cold fall, but if the weather pattern stabilizes, the walleye will stack up along the banks at one depth. We will just have to wait to see what develops.

Lake Norfork: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 541.28 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake clarity is good, but the level is low. Crappie are biting off and on; try using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair to good using spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs. Some stripers are being picked up on spoons in the deep water.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1106.76 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake clarity is good, but the level is low. The area could use some rain. Crappie fishing is excellent using minnows and chartreuse tube jigs in the river arms. Bass fishing is good from 20- to 25-feet deep using crankbaits, jigs, spoons and top-water lures on Point 12 and War Eagle. Stripers using jigs or live shad. Bream fishing and catfishing are both poor.   

Hickory Creek Marina said the water temperature ranges from 54 to 56 degrees. The water level is low and the color is ideal for black bass. Given the current weather spinnerbaits could produce some nice fish on the flats. Given the water drop, water temperature and color, look on the long points for the best action. Stripers are roaming finding schools of shad. Look at every sharp bend in the river near a flat, and try fishing from 10- to 25-feet deep with shiners or shad. A few stripers have been caught at Horseshoe Bend, up War Eagle, in the river mouths and near War Eagle Marina. There have been some 20+ pound fish caught. The crappie bite is picking up along drop-offs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Some "Spider Riggers" are having some luck in open water at the mouth of coves, such as Big Hickory, Eden Bluff, Mouth of War Eagle.  White bass have been moving. Look for surface activity both early and late in the day, and use anything white or yellow about 1.5 inches long. Jigging spoons (3/4- to 1-ounce) are producing in the channels around balls of shad. Some good spots are across from the water intake, from the "power lines" to the "sidewalk hole" up War Eagle and across from Eden Bluff. The incidental catfish catch continues to be awesome. Some major fish have been caught around schools of shad while fishing for other species. Jigging spoons the most popular bait, but large minnows are also producing fish. The bluff line at Hickory Creek continues to produce large fish. Most of the catfish taken have been over 20 pounds.  Bream have moved to deeper water and appear to be biting on assorted plastics.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is clear and low. The rain didn’t really help the lake level. Bream fishing is poor. Crappie are biting well about 4-feet deep on minnows and jigs. Some bass are being taken with spinnerbaits, jigs and frogs about 4-feet deep. Catfish are biting well on goldfish and chicken liver.

Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation for the last few weeks. If generators come online at all, it’s usually been between 3 and 5 p.m., 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 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. The best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud, gray and olive (14-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Lightning Bug (16), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Rojo Midge (22), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Red Jujubee Midge (20-22), Johnny Flash (20-24), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Swing Nymph (16), Submarine Soft Hackle (16) and Pearl-Tungsten Soft Hackle (16)

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said crappie are biting fair on minnows and nightcrawlers. Bass fishing is fair.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.20 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service <http://www.millwoodguideservice.com/> said the water temperature ranges from 57 to 62 degrees during the day. Largemouth bass from 3 to 5 pounds remain very good on spinnerbaits in perch colors with gold Indiana blades fished along dying lily pad stems in Little River. A soft pitch to the edges and a long pause to let the spinnerbait helicopter down to 6 to 9 feet is the best presentation. Half-ounce Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome are taking black and Kentucky bass in the same areas. Bass Assassin Shads are still taking some fair keepers in the dying lily pad stems and hydrilla and in pockets in backs of creeks. Kentuckies were stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek, and Mud Lake Creeks this week. Yearling bass are still randomly schooling up Little River between White Cliffs and the Ark. Hwy 71 bridge. Baby Torpedoes, Johnson Spoons, Rat-L-Traps and white Dying Flutters are catching the schoolers from the surface to 5 feet deep the last few weeks. White bass are still schooling in Little River, above and below Hwy 71 bridge. Cast a Rat-L-Trap or Strike King Rocket Shad wherever you see baitfish flicking the surface of the river. Work these baitfish schools and all around the edges of the bait schools you see on the surface or depth finder.  Catches of 25-50 White bass are common in the last few weeks. Crappie are fair to good, and have moved to slightly deeper drop-offs in Little River. The Crappie are suspended about 13 feet deep along Little River. The best bite has shifted to mid-day. Channel Cats are fair on chicken livers, cut shad and dog food. The cats are holding about 16 feet deep on outside river bends.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake is clear, and the level is low. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good from 10- to 12-feet deep or 18- to 24-feet deep using small shiners. Bass fishing is good using junebug-colored soft plastics. Catfishing is fair using live bait.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is low. However, crappie are biting well from 10- to 12-feet deep or from 18- to 24-feet deep using small shiners. Bass fishing and catfishing are both fair. 

Lake Greeson: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 534.97 feet MSL.

DeGray Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 396.68 feet MSL.

        Little Missouri River:  Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing <http://www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com/> said the Little Mo just keeps getting better. The colors of the trees and the fish have been spectacular this fall. November saw a good number of new fish stocked, particularly before Thanksgiving. So far, the fish have been surprisingly large. Many fish larger than 12 inches have been the standard every day. Through November look for new fish to spread down our six miles of trout water. Generation patterns this time of year are typically "none" to minimal.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing, bass fishing and catfishing are all poor. Crappie fishing is good using minnows or black-and-chartreuse jigs from 4- to 6-feet deep around the creek channel and a few feet from the bottom under bridges.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river is clear and at normal pool. Bream fishing and catfishing are both poor. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and jigs about 12-feet deep around brush piles and stumps. Whites and stripers are biting from 6- to 8-feet deep using minnows or white-and-yellow grubs.

Lake Ouachita: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 568.13 feet MSL.
        Lake Ouachita State Park Marina reports fishing has been sporadic. Recent storms have clouded the water. The water temp is between 63 and 65 degrees. Stripers are biting well in the mornings and afternoons, and anglers have been catching them on top-water lures such as a Spook Jr., spooning with CC Spoons and trolling with Rapala Shad Raps. Bass fishing has been fair on traditional baits such as finesse worms and spinner baits. Top-water action is good in the mornings. The crappie are beginning to move into 10 to 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. Occasional walleyes have been caught while spooning in 30 feet water or around submerged and standing timber.

Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting well about 30-feet deep on minnows and jigs in Lemon Marian or Tennessee Shad. Bass are biting well on crawfish-colored crankbaits.

        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 341.55 feet MSL.
        
 
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

        Felsenthal: Benson’s Grocery and Bait said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well on minnows.

EAST ARKANSAS: 

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake conditions are good. The lake clarity is pretty, and the lake level ranges from low to normal. The area received some needed rain. Bream fishing is good to excellent using wax worms and red worms. Crappie are biting well near the piers on black-and-chartreuse crappie nibblets. Bass fishing is good using spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps around the piers. Catfish are biting well on worms and cut bait.

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Area): The Tackle Box said the lake is murky. Bream fishing is poor. Crappie are biting from 5- to 6-feet deep on minnows or blue-and-white jigs. Some crappie are being taken in the harbor about 14-feet deep. Bass are biting on buzz baits in shallow water late in the evening. Catfishing is fair to good using worms on the bottom.

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