2/7/2007

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 Feb. 7, 2007. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.

           
Fishing Tip: A throw line is an important piece of safety equipment when you’re on the water, but the rope can get tangled in the bottom of a boat. Wash out an empty bleach bottle and slide a nylon rope through the opening. The rope will coil around the outside edge of the bottle, allowing you to put up to 50 yards of line inside. Tie the end to the handle with a half-hitch knot so that it doesn’t fall in the bottle. When you need to use it, untie the knot, hold the end of the rope and throw the bottle to the person in the water. The line will flow freely and the weight of the rope will allow you to throw the line farther.

Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
8.61 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet)
11.07 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet)
7.55 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet)
31.51 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet)
26.30 feet at Pendleton (flood stage – 31 feet)
           
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:

21.80 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
31.68 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
18.96 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
10.09 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
8.54 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:  Trout fishing has been excellent. Pink or chartreuse PowerBait tipped with a waxworm is catching trout in all locations. Anglers are also having good luck using black or silver Rooster Tails and chartreuse Trout Magnets. Fly anglers are catching fish in Rock Creek on black woolly buggers.  For more information on trout stockings, call toll-free (866) 540-FISH (3474).

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
             
            Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is muddy. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse, chartreuse pepper and orange core Dynamax jigs in deep water. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with shrimp.

 
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the generators are running around the clock. Trout fishing is very good drifting wax worms and marshmallows, yellow or chartreuse PowerBait and Power Eggs. Rapalas cast across the current are working as well.

Mark Hollan at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said the brown trout spawn is over but egg patterns are still working well. Other flies that are proving productive include the Red Ass (size 16), tan bead head sow bug (sizes 14 to 16), Zebra Midge (red or olive, size 16), San Juan worm (size 14 to 18) and olive or brown woolly buggers (sizes 8 to 12). There is a wade fishing opportunity at Winkley and Libby Shoal every morning from dawn to about 9 a.m.

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 467.71 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature is between 43 and 46 degrees. Shad are suspended out in 100 feet of water, and the fish are roaming after them. Fishing is poor for all species, but should pick up in the next week if a little stable weather can settle in.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is at normal pool and is fairly clear. All species are slow.

 
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said not many anglers are on the lake. The water is down again and fishing should improve soon.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is 1 foot high and dingy. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on white, pink/white and white/chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is good on trotlines and noodles baited with minnows. A few bream and bass have been caught, but overall fishing for these two species is poor.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is clear. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on live or prepared baits. All other species are slow.

Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair in the cypress trees on yo-yos baited with pink minnows.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is at normal levels and the clarity is good. Bream fishing is slow. Crappie are biting well on chartreuse/red tube jigs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Bass are biting well on red crankbaits in 12 to 15 feet of water around brush. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clearing and back to normal levels. Bass are fair on green-colored crawdad crankbaits in 6 to 8 feet of water. All other species are poor.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing is decent on whole shad fished around deep holes in the river and the deeper jetty tips. Kentucky bass are decent on secondary drops in 10 to 15 feet of water on cc spoons and jig-and-pig combos. Stripers are biting well around creek mouths and below the dams on wobble spoons. Some large drum are being caught on the backside of the jetties using worms and live shad. 

            Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jacks Sport shop said the hydroplant is open. Crappie are biting well on slip-cork rigs baited with live minnows and chartreuse or red/chartreuse mini jigs. White bass are biting fairly well on white or chartreuse twister-tailed grubs.

            Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and there is plenty of current. Catfishing is good below the dam on cut shad. All other species are slow.

 
            Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 5 to 6 feet of water. All other species are slow.

NORTH ARKANSAS:
 
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the brown trout spawn is over and the seasonal catch-and-release area is open. With all the rain we had a few weeks ago and the snow and rain in Missouri, we have seen a substantial increase in water generation. We have seen anywhere from 3 to 7 generators being turned on almost every morning. There are a ton of shad being pushed through and the fish are in a frenzy. Guests are catching big trout on white 1/8-ounce jigs, Silver Countdown Rapalas, Silver Rogues and White or Silver Krocodile spoons. Bait fishermen are using white, yellow and rainbow colored Power Eggs tipped with a Glo Worm. Fly Fishing during early hours on this higher water is best with white or pink micro jigs, egg patterns and San Juan worms. Late afternoons they have been turning off the water so wade fisherman will still have an opportunity to fish toward the evenings.

Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white along with white marabou jigs with or without a chrome dome head. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, white Rooster Tails and white Krocodiles are the baits of choice. The fly-fishermen have done well with olive or white Woolly Buggers, San Juan worms, and “unreal” eggs in peach or white.

 
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.68 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said lake level has dropped to 654.80. Lake temperature is 43 degrees on top, 44 degrees at 50 feet and 44 degrees at 80 feet. The fish are slowed down and they can be at any depth. Crappie are slow throughout the lake except above Lead Hill where the crappie are holding on main lake brush piles in 30 feet of water.  Best baits are Bobby Garland Twin tail grubs and crappie tubes. Binks crappie spoon is also working well. Largemouth bass are hard to find during winter. You can find a few in the back of creeks up against the banks, but one bass every three hours is not much of a pattern. Your best bet is to graph drop offs until you find some fish, then drop small finesse worms, spoons, Little George’s or small football jigs down to them. Small baits such as grubs, finesse worms, tubes and Bitsy Jigs are key baits for winter smallies. Fish bluff walls and drop offs along main lake points in 35 to 55 feet of water. Kentucky bass are back on the shad bite, so finding them is like playing a game of hide and seek.  Most shad are in the 40-60 foot range. Drop shot rigs and spoons are the key baits although you can get a few Kentuckies to strike tubes if they are on the bottom. You might find a few suspended and they might react to a jerk bait but right now that pattern is a little spotty. Walleye will spend the month moving to the entrance of the creeks. The upper part of the lake will see the first early spring walleye movement at the end of February through the beginning of March. Jigs, Lucky Crafts and suspending Rogues will trigger early season bites. From now until then look around points out in front of the creeks and work spoons, live bait jigs and jigs and grubs.     

 Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.63 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear in the main lake, but dingy from runoff in the creeks. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around deeper brush piles. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jerkbaits and jigs fished around deep ledges.

 
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and high with two generators running most of the day. Trout fishing is excellent on corn and nightcrawlers. A 19-lb. brown trout was caught on a large Husky Jerk last week. Be careful and wear your life jacket. The current has made anchoring very dangerous. 

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
 
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,123.21 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the upstream end of the lake is stained from the snow melt. Crappie are biting fair in 8 to 20 feet of water on tube jigs and minnows as well as Shinneee Hinneee jigs fished in and around brush. A few white bass are still in the lake and biting well on spinners and spoons fished beneath schools of baitfish. Bass fishing is good on jigging spoons, jig-and-pig combos and spinnerbaits.

Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said with Beaver Lake filling, generation has increased on the Beaver Tailwater the last few days. Midge patterns are always important on Beaver Tailwater, but especially during winter. Patterns like the Jujubee, the Poison Tung, and the Zebra Midge have been fooling lots of trout this week, and especially on breezy days, Griffith’s Gnats and other midge dry fly patterns have been hooking plenty of trout as well.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said no anglers are out because of the ice.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and the surface has frozen over in places. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are fair in 4 to 12 feet of water on tube jigs and minnows. Bass are fair on jig-and-pig combos and spinnerbaits in 4 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is slow on chicken livers fished in 10 to 12 feet of water near the open water of the main channel.

SWEPCO Lake: Local guide Brad Wiegman said the water is clear and the boat ramp is still a challenge with the ice and slick conditions. Some fog has been covering the lake in the early morning. Water temperatures are the lowest they have been all year. Some bass are spawning on the flats with rocky bottoms. Early mornings and late in the day or cloudy days have been productive top water days. Try dropshotting, shaky head jigs with finesse worms or Texas-rigging finesse worms around rocky bottom flats, deep points, the discharge area, and dam area.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

            Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is at normal levels. Bass are biting fairly well on spoons fished in deep water.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
  
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is slightly above normal pool. Crappie are biting well on yo-yos baited with minnows.

 
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
 
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.72 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges from 40 to 43 degrees. Upriver water and oxbows surface temperatures are about 45 degrees. Lake level has dropped during the last two weeks and has almost returned to normal. Currently, Millwood is 8 inches above normal pool. Little River's clarity improved to 4-6 inches and current is slightly reduced at 12,572 cubic feet per second. Bass and crappie are in typical winter patterns. Feeding periods are are slow, but best, during the warmest periods of the day. The bass bite is fair from noon to 3 p.m.  The best bite over the past couple weeks has been on jigs, 10-inch worms, and slow rattling crankbaits. A chrome hammered Cordell spoon w/ white and red bucktail jigged over brush piles in 12-14 feet has taken some decent bass, if you can find some clear water. Bass that are still feeding on shad, will hit a slow moving, War Eagle spinnerbait.  Better quality bass are congregating around cypress trees near deep drops and will hit a jig-and-pig combo. With the lake continuing to fall to normal pool, the deeper stumps and larger cypress trees are holding the better quality fish in the 9-14 feet depth range.  Chartreuse-pumpkin lizards, Texas rigged, are taking a few decent 3 to 5lb bass. No report for white bass. Not much improvement in the crappie bite. Crappie have shut off with the recent muddy water and excessive current. Channel cats continue to bite well in the current along outer river bends of Little River. Trotlines were working using just about any blood-type bait or stinkbait.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is at normal levels. Bream fishing is fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair. Bass fishing is improving with the more stable weather. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait and shiners.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the lake is at full pool. Fishing is slow for all species.

White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop (870-685-2753) said the water is clear and at 46 degrees. Bream are biting well on small pink minnows. Crappie are biting very well on pink minnows.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.49 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is 48 degrees and very high. All three generators are on, pulling the lake down 2 feet per day. Bass are fair in 10 to 30 feet of water on spinnerbaits and jigs worked slowly along main lake points. All other species are slow.

 
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.94 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water clarity is good and the surface temperature is 45 to 46 degrees. White bass and hybrids are moving up the lake, getting ready for their run, but fishing has been slow so far. All species are slow.

Little Missouri River:  Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Flyfishing said the temperatures and high water flows have kept fishing to a minimum. Once the current settles down, there should be some great fishing with trout full of fight.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
 
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said Crappie are biting well on minnows in Illinois Bayou. Stripers and black bass are biting well on spoons and white grubs around the power plant discharge. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits on main lake points as well. Catfishing is good on minnows in Illinois Bayou around 7 to 8 feet deep. Catfish anglers are also doing well on large bass minnows below the dam.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 386.20 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is high and a little murky. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Some large crappie are being caught lately. All other species are slow.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said not many anglers are out with the colder weather. A few white bass have been caught on jigs and minnows in the current towards the dam. Catfishing is fair in the main river channel.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.86 feet MSL.
Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said stripers are in the creek channels in 60 feet of water around 20 feet deep and are excellent good. Jigging spoons and bucktails will catch some nice fish, but there’s no surface action. Look for the schools in your sonar and get ready for fun. Bass have scattered throughout the lake and are suspended out in the middle of nowhere. A few have been caught up the river on crankbaits. Walleye are stuck to the bottom around 35 feet deep. Spoons bounced off the bottom will catch a few, and the fishing is good.

Mountain Harbor Resort said largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits on the outside edge of the moss and green pumpkin or black/blue grass jigs. Try brush in 20-30 feet of water. Walleye are biting well on silver spoons on the edges of creek channels 20 to 35 feet deep. Stripers are fair on live gizzard shad or bass minnows. Gray or white hair jigs are productive as well. These fish are located around main lake points and rock bluffs near or in the river channels on all areas of the lake. Crappie are biting well over brush piles. Try deep pockets and standing timber 8-20 feet deep.

 
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said fishing has been slow and not many anglers are out with the weather.

Lake Hamilton: No report.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said fishing is slow. Not many anglers are out.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream fishing is fair on redworms. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is fair on small whole shad. Bass fishing is slow.

Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 346.03 feet MSL.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
 
            Felsenthal: Hale’s One Stop (870-943-2683) said fishing has been very slow. Not many anglers are out with the weather conditions. The water level is very high.

  
EAST ARKANSAS: 
  
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky with little flow. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are excellent on red/chartreuse, white/chartreuse, blue/white and black/chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is good on worms, cut shad and skipjack herring.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said very few anglers are out lately. The bass and walleye bite is very slow. All other fishing is poor.

            Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are fair on minnows trolled in 18 feet of water. All other species are slow.

 
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake has excellent color and clarity, but is still low. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on trolled minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is fair on cut bait and stinkbait. Bass fishing is slow.

####