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 31, 2006. 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: It’s peak time for fishing. It’s also peak time for pleasure boating and skiing. Please be courteous to other users of the water and the boat ramps. Try to get your boat ready before you back down the ramp, so other users may launch. As lakes get more crowded, launch ramp etiquette becomes extremely important to prevent long waits to get to the water.

       
        Statewide Urban Fishing Report: Most statewide program ponds were stocked with catfish last week. Anglers are catching good numbers of catfish on chicken livers and stinkbait. Several blue catfish in the 10- to 40-pound range were stocked last week in the Boyle, Kiwanis, MacArthur and War Memorial Park ponds. Lake Village Community pond anglers report good catch rates of catfish and bream on nightcrawlers.

 
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
        
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the water is stained and at normal pool. Bream are biting very well on red worms and crickets around lily pads in depths of 1 to 2 feet close to banks. Crappie fishing is poor, but they are biting minnows and jigs in depths of 8 to 10 feet. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits, plastic worms and white and black buzzbaits around brush and rocky points. Catfishing is good on minnows and trotlines around the Gold Creek area.

 
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the water is clear. Pink or chartreuse PowerBait is working well on the trout. Corn, nightcrawlers, Trout Magnets and Berkley Power Honey Worms are working well drifted under a bobber. Fly anglers are doing well on olive woolly buggers and gray sow bug patterns.

 
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.64 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the catfish are biting very well as the blues and flatheads are trying to spawn. You can catch them with cut bait, live or prepared bait on trotlines with about a 1-foot leader and on jugs or noodles with a 17-23 feet of leader, close to deep water. The walleye grouped up with the bright days, but scattered again as soon as the cooler weather and cloud cover arrived. Bottom bouncers with crawlers and floating jigheads on a Lindy rig baited with nightcrawlers in 27-32 feet of water. The whites and hybrids are few and far between other than early and late in the day or at night with live bait. The bass are scattered all over. They are trying to get in their summer patterns but the cold fronts have kept some shallow and all species call be caught on an assortment of baits all over the lake from 6 inches to 25 feet of water on any of your favorite baits. Crappie are like the bass are still scattered everywhere from 6 inches to 25 feet deep. Bream are still spawning and are shallow and around docks.

 
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in depths of 2 to 8 feet around banks. Crappie are poor. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and minnows. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and large minnows.

 
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the water is nasty from fertilizer, but the overall fishing prospects are pretty good. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows in deep water. Bass are biting fairly well on spinner baits. Catfishing is good on minnows and trotlines or yoyos.

 
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Bates Field and Stream said the water is muddy and at the normal level. Bream are bedded in the backwater and biting well on wax worms, crickets and red wigglers in depths of 12 to 18 inches around woody cover. Crappie are biting fairly well around cypress trees in depths of 6 feet. Papermouths are biting well on minnows under a bobber. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, Zoom Horny Toads and tubes around the first access to deeper water from the bank. Catfishing is excellent on red worms, blood bait and stinkbait.

 
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the water is clear and at its normal level. Bream are biting very well on worms and crickets in depths of 12 to 14 feet. Crappie are poor. Bass are biting fairly well at night on the banks. Catfishing is good on live slicks on poles after dark.

 
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charlie’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 1,500 CFS with a headwater of 284.21. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets when fished in backwater areas. Black bass are in the main river while Kentuckies are around sunken jetties and are biting on shallow-running crankbaits in fire tiger or crawfish colors. Largemouth fishing is excellent around woody areas in main drops of the river channel. Use buzzbaits early mornings and move to crankbaits. Catfish are around the front sides of jetties and are biting well on nightcrawlers fished like a bass jig. Stripers are biting fairly well on CC spoons. Fish for crappie in 4 to 6 feet of water using red/chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows.

 
Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets around rocky points and close to the banks. Crappie are poor. Catfishing is excellent using cut shad and nightcrawlers.

 
Pickthorne Lake: The Outdoor Super Store said bluegills and red-eared sunfish are biting very well on red worms and crickets around brush. Catfishing is excellent using slicks and chicken hearts around the levy.

 
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the water looks stained and is at its normal level. Catfishing is good using chicken livers, chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.

       
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports said the water level is normal. Bream are biting well on crickets in 2 to 4 feet of water around brush piles. Bass are biting well on top-water lures around brush. Catfishing is good on stinkbait. Crappie fishing is poor.

 
        Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s said the water is stained and at a higher than normal level. Bream are bedding in backwaters 4 feet deep. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows 6 feet deep around brush piles. Bass are biting well on Rebel Crawdad crankbaits worked 3 to 4 feet deep, close to swift waters. Catfishing is good on live bait.

 
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said bream and crappie are poor. Bass and stripers are biting fairly well on CC spoons in depths of 15 feet. Catfishing is excellent using cut shad on the bottom of the lake.

 
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the water is clear and at the normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets fished 2 to 3 feet deep close to banks. Crappie are slow on minnows. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits and white buzzbaits in depths of 2 feet around brush and wood stumps. Catfishing is fair using nightcrawlers on the bottom of the lake.

 
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing said the water is clear and 8 inches below normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are poor but a few have been caught around lily pads. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits. Catfishing is good using cut bait.

 
Murray Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said crappie are biting fairly well on 1½-inch white Mister Twister grubs around rock jetties. Catfishing is excellent using shad on the bottom of the river channel.

 
Little Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the water is a little muddy and at the normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms around lily pads and cypress knees. Crappie are poor. Bass are biting fairly well on top-water stick baits, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good using worms, minnows and cut shad on the bottom of the river.

 
Lake Willowstein: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, black/red flake tubes and finesse worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows drifted in the middle of the lake.

 
 
NORTH ARKANSAS:
 
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said there has been some generation almost every day this week. The water is lower in the morning than in the afternoon and evening. Fishing from a boat is great when the water is running. Buoyant spoons, Little Cleos and any type of worm with some yellow PowerBait work great in the current. Fly anglers are using black ant flies, the no. 14 Red Ass, the no. 14 Brown Bivisible dry fly and the Light Fluttering Caddis dry fly.

Wilderness Trail said trout have been biting red worms, nightcrawlers and Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and Sunrise during times of little or no generation. Fly anglers have done well with olive woolly buggers, blood midges, San Juan worms, zebra midges and red fox squirrel nymphs. During generation, try Buoyant Spoons, Panther Martins and Countdown Rapalas. Brown trout are biting Flat Fish, suspending Rogues and nightcrawlers.

 
  North Fork River: Gene’s Trout Dock said the water is clear with some generation. Frozen shad and normal fishing baits are doing well.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.43 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said spawning sunfish are easy to catch on flat banks. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows, tubes and grubs around brush piles and docks that are near trees or brush. Bass are foraging for crawdads in the backs of creeks just before dark. Try using a jig-and-pig combo or tube bait. Secondary points and brush piles are holding largemouths, and smallmouth are in flats and main lake points. Largemouth bass are biting shad in the morning. In the afternoon they congregate under docks or around ledges. Try buzzbaits, finesse worms, top-water baits or Brush Hogs. Smallmouth bass are congregating around transitional banks and secondary points in the creeks, coves and drop offs 18 to 26 feet deep. Try spider jigs, tubes and grubs in the mornings and from 5 p.m. until midnight. Kentucky bass are under the shad and are biting top-water baits during feeding frenzies, and drop-shot rigs with brightly colored finesse worms during the afternoon. Walleye are over drop offs in 26 to 30 feet of water. Try pulling nightcrawlers or leeches with bottom bouncers along the drop offs around the points.  At night try Shad Raps and X-raps.

Sugar Loaf Harbor said the water looks fair and the water level is normal. Bream are biting well on worms and small minnows. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs in depths of 13 to 20 feet. Walleye are biting well on crawler harnesses. Catfishing is good using jigs with any kind of live or prepared bait.

 Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.97 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the water is good and at the normal level. Bream are biting very well on red worms, small jigs and crickets in depths of 5 feet around banks. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well in the early morning and late afternoon on spinnerbaits, top-water lures and buzzbaits. Catfishing is best using yoyos with minnows or goldfish. Walleye are biting well in the late afternoon on Wally Divers, Reef Runners and crawler harnesses. Stripers are schooling on Flukes in the early morning and late afternoon. Anglers are also doing very well on a new lure called a Swarming Hornet.

 
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
 
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,114.01 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods said the water is clear with temperatures in the upper 70s and the level still 7 feet low. Crappie and white bass anglers are doing well using underwater light and small shad. Catfishing is good using trotlines around rocky areas. Black bass are biting well on top-water baits early in the morning and spinnerbaits and plastic worms at night. Stripers are biting fairly well early in the morning and late at night.

 
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the water looks good and the lake is at its normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers in depths of 5 to 12 feet. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs in depths of 12 to 15 feet. Bass are biting well on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair using worms and chicken livers at the bottom of the lake.

 
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the water is clear and at the normal level. Bream are biting fairly well on worms, crickets and tiny jigs. Crappie are biting fairly well on crappie tubes and Road Runners in depths of 2 to 10 feet around stumps and brush piles. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in depths of 4 to 10 feet around mossy points and brush. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers in open waters 4 to 15 feet deep.

 
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation the last few days, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. Scuds, sow bugs and midge pupa patterns have been very productive. Cream midge adult patterns have hooked several trout as well. Spring is a good time to swing soft hackles across the river. New soft hackle patterns like the Swing Nymph, Submarine Soft hackle and Wired Red Ass have all been hooking plenty of trout this spring.

 
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
 
Spring River: Many Islands Camp said the water is clear and at the normal level. Trout are biting very well on any color of PowerBait.

 
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina said the water is clear and at the normal level with temperatures in the 70s. Bream are biting very well on wax worms, crickets and nightcrawlers in depths of 2 to 8 feet. Crappie are biting well a jig-and-minnow combination in deep water. Bass are biting well on top-water baits in bright colors. Catfishing is good using stinkbait, chicken livers and goldfish.

 
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground said river conditions are clear and cold with high, rapidly moving water. Fishing for smallmouth, largemouth and rock bass is good overall on soft-plastic worms and lizards. 

        
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
  
Lake Chicot: Fowler’s said bream are biting well on red worms, wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Catfishing is good on goldfish, minnows and just about any prepared bait.

 
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said crappie are slow but are catchable on minnows and jigs in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bream have been biting well on crickets along the south bank of the lake. Catfishing has been great for trotline anglers in the deeper water by the spillway. Stinkbait has been the best bet. Bass anglers said the bass are really getting after white Horny Toads or other soft-plastic buzzbaits fished over the coontail and other aquatic weeds.

 
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
 
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.40 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature has increased, and ranges from 79 to 88 degrees. Water clarity has improved. Several river markers are missing on the main lake and Little River. Current in Little River is drastically reduced, and release at the dam is 244CFS. Largemouth bass are biting best early and late in the day. They are biting well on buzzbaits in Tennessee shad, blue glimmer, white and chartreuse colors, Salty Rat Tails and Z-Nails in watermelon/red, blue fleck and green pumpkin colors, Bass Assassin Shads in gizzard shad and alewife colors and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover, aurora and mouse/chartreuse colors. Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs are catching keeper bass. Horny Toads are working well around new pad growth. Zoom Magnum Lizards in watermelon/red, Junebug and black neon colors are working well. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes are catching fish on cypress trees in black neon and black/blue tail colors. Crappie are beginning to stack up again in Little River around 11 to 15 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners. Channel catfish are biting well on cut shad on trotlines in 14 to 16 feet of water in Little River, and at night on yo-yos with chicken livers or Catfish Charlie, hung from cypress tree limbs 7 to 8 feet deep.

 
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said red-eared sunfish are biting excellently in 4 to 5 feet of water on worms and small crawfish fished along the bottom. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs fished on the surface. Bass are biting well at night on black buzzbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cold worms and stinkbait. Big catfish are biting in 5 to 6 feet of water on small bream, goldfish, big shiners fished along the bottom.

 
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said red-eared sunfish are biting excellently in 4 to 5 feet of water on worms and small crawfish when fished along the bottom. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished near the surface. Bass are biting well at night on black buzzbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cold worms and stinkbait. Big catfish are biting in 5 to 6 feet of water on small bream, gold fish, big shiners when fished along the bottom.

       
        White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop said the water looks good and is at the normal level. Bream are biting very well on red worms and crickets in depths of 6 to 7 feet. Crappie are biting well on minnows in depths of 6 to 10 feet. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good using chicken livers and trotlines.

 
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.62 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows after dark in depths of 25 feet. Bass are biting artificial baits in depths of 2 to 15 feet.  Catfishing is good on worms, chicken liver and stinkbait.

 
        DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 408.10 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop said the water looks good and is at a higher than normal level with temperatures in the 80s. Bream are heading to the beds this week and are biting well on crickets and red worms. Crappie are scattered and slowing. Try minnows and jigs. Black and Kentucky bass are in shallow waters in the morning. Try top-water lures or jerkbaits.  In the afternoon, the bass move to deeper water. Try spinnerbaits. Hybrids and whites are biting well on white Rooster Tails, CC Spoons, Boy Howdies and clear Spooks. Catfishing is good on trotlines and noodles with live bait.

 
 
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
 
Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the water is muddy and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers in 1 to 2 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows fished near wood cover near deeper water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits fished against rocky shorelines and brush tops. Catfishing is good below the dam on live bait, cut shad and stinkbait.

 
Blue Mountain Lake: CNC’s End of the Line said the lake has a brownish tint to it and the water is at a good level for launching a boat at any ramp on the lake. Catfishing is good on minnows and worms. All other species are slow.

 
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said bream are biting well in 2 to 6 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs. Catfishing is good on cut shad and nightcrawlers when drift fished.

 
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 578.22 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and the temperature ranges from 72 to 78 degrees. Largemouth bass fishing is slowing but still good on Texas-rigged worms, Yum Dingers and Carolina rigs. Try moss flats, standing timber and points for best results. Rooster Tails, top-water Spooks and Boy Howdies are still effective on wind-blown points and pockets. Walleye are fair on or near main lake points. White or chrome jerkbaits and Rat-L-Traps have been the most effective in waters 8 to15 feet deep. Stripers are very good on live bait, bucktail jigs and C-10 Redfins. These fish are around main lake points and rock bluffs near or in river channels on all sections of the lake. Bream fishing is excellent on small jigs, crickets and worms fished around structure. Crappie are fair and are being caught over brush piles and moss flats on feather jigs, 2-inch grubs and minnows. Try pockets and large moss flats 8 to 15 feet deep. White, silver and Tennessee shad are the best colors. Catfish are excellent and being caught on cut bait, nightcrawlers and live shad. Try pockets and moss flats 10 to 15 feet deep.

 
Lake Catherine: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said bream fishing is excellent on honey worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass are biting well in 6 to 8 feet of water on white spinnerbaits and crankbaits around rocky points and moss. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and nightcrawlers.

 
Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said bream fishing is excellent on honey worms and crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass fishing is good in 6 to 8 feet of water on white spinnerbaits and crankbaits around rocky points and moss. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and nightcrawlers.

 
        Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie have moved to deep water, but are still biting minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and plugs. Catfishing is good on goldfish, chicken livers and shiners either with trotlines or pole fishing.

 
        Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 345.49 feet MSL.
Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More said bream are biting well on crickets in the shallows. Crappie fishing has slowed, and the slabs are getting harder to find. The best bite has been on minnows fished in 17 feet of water. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers, goldfish and bass minnows.  

 
 
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
 
        Felsenthal: Hale’s One Stop said the river will be dredged over the next 3 weeks, so fishing is very slow.
 
 
EAST ARKANSAS: 
 
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said river conditions are murky and water level varies. Bream are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in deeper water on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits when fished around trees. Catfishing is good using worms, stinkbait and skipjack herring.

River City Sporting Goods said river conditions are clear and steady. Bream are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on red worms and crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and top-water buzzbaits. Catfishing is good in 30 to 40 feet of water on worms and cut shad.

 
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is a fairly clear and levels are high. Bream fishing is good in 2 to 6 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass are biting fairly well in shallow water on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is poor.

  
        Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said lake levels are normal and clarity is good. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are deeper than normal and fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. All other species are poor.

        Six Rivers Sport Center said lake levels are normal and clarity is good. Bream fishing is excellent around the bank, in 4 feet of water. They are biting crickets and black Beetle Spins. Crappie are biting well at 14 to 15 feet on minnows and salt-and-pepper jigs fished around the middle of the lake. All other species are poor.