Weekly Fishing Report
2/28/2007

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 28, 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: Bass will be looking for spawning areas as the water warms. The females will be full of eggs and be at their peak weight of the year; it’s trophy time. Look for flats and shallow points next to the main lake and fish any woody cover in these areas with a jig or spinnerbait for the big bite.

Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
6.3 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet)
10.65 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet)
7.76 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet)
31.49 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet)
26.35 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:
20.23 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
31.07 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
19.65 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
9.97 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
8.54 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Anglers are catching trout in the ponds on Power Bait, corn and red Rooster Tails. Trout magnets, silver spoons and small nymph patterns are working well in Rock Creek. Bream and a few catfish have been biting with the warmer weather. 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 bream are still fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse jigs in deep water. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with shrimp.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and at normal level. Trout are biting well on wax worms and marshmallows, corn and Power Eggs. Marabou jigs, Little Cleos and Rooster Tails have been 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 (#16), tan bead head Sowbug (#14-#16), Zebra Midge (red or olive #16), San Juan Worm (#14-#18 especially when the water is high - more on that in a moment) and olive or brown woolly buggers (#8-#12). Dry patterns are Adams (#16), BWO (#16) and Midges (#22-#24).

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 266.89 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said fishing has been slow.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and normal level. Crappie are good on minnows. All other fishing is poor.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is muddy from the rain. Crappie are hot using trot lines with minnows. No report on other species.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is murky. Crappie are biting well on minnows and blue and white jigs. Catfish are good on large minnows around the boat docks.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the poor weather conditions over the weekend kept people off the water.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said black bass are good and are being caught in shallow water on crank bait. White bass are good with the first reports of week coming on the west end of the lake and are being caught on Rogues. Crappie are fair and being caught about 25 feet deep on minnows and red and white jigs.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the clarity of the lake is good. Crappie are excellent on white and yellow 2-inch grubs. Bass are biting well on gold-colored jerk bait in the afternoons. Anglers can also try using brown jigs with a black trailer. Catfish and bream are both slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is dirty and high. Crappie are biting well on bubblegum-colored 2-inch grubs. Bass are biting on peanut butter and jelly jigs. Bream and catfish are both poor. Walleye are excellent on Rebel Crawdad lures in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 28,000 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 286.5 and a tailwater of 266.6. A few anglers are fishing for catfish around the jetty tips using whole shad. Bank fishing below the dam with shad has been working well for catfish. Black bass fishing has been slow. Try Fire Tiger crawdads on jetty tips in 8 to 15 feet of water. Stripers have been found around the mouths of the main creeks. Try floating live shad about 10 feet deep. Sauger are being caught 9 to 10 feet deep on minnow-tipped jigs.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and normal. Bream, crappie and catfish are poor right now. Bass are fair on white Mr. Twister's about 4 feet from the banks.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the lake is clear. Bream and catfish are poor. Crappie are biting on minnows around brush and stumps in 5 feet of water. Bass are fair and biting on nightcrawlers.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the lake is dingy and at normal level. Crappie and catfish are fair on minnows. Bass are biting on minnows.

Redbarn Landing (870-255-4315) said the lake is clear, but around the brush it is muddy. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Catfish are biting well on minnows and crappie jigs.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said high water and shad are coming through making it an excellent time for trophy fishing. Many browns being caught in the 2 to 4 pound class and larger. Ten pound browns have been somewhat common. This is the first shad "run" the area has had in four or five years. Most browns are being caught on #9 and #7 Countdown Rapalas, 1/8 ounce white jigs, Silver Rogues and spoons. Water generation has been running around the clock, with 6 to 7 units running fulltime. Power Eggs in yellow and white with Glo-worms are still catching plenty of rainbows. The gold Cleo Spoons and Buoyant Spoons will catch rainbows as well. Fly fishing on this high water will probably be best with red San Juan Worms, white wooly buggers, white shad flies and Egg Patterns in yellow, peach and red. The rainbows are hitting white/chartreuse and yellow Power Bait. Other baits that are working on the rainbows are white worms, gold Cleos and Buoyant Spoons. Fly fisherman are using egg patterns, wooly buggers, and red San Juan Worms can help weigh down a stringer.

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. With generation the Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleo’s are the baits of choice. The fly fishermen have done well with little generation on olive Woolly Buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors, white doll flies (jigs) and “unreal” eggs in peach or white. The browns are being caught on Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers. 

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.33 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said the area has had a nice break from the freezing weather this week with temperatures in the 70s for a few days. Rains came in over the weekend and the day time temperatures have leveled out in the mid-50s. Lake level is at 654.69, 1/2 foot above normal pool and the lake temperature is at 44 degrees with 46 to 47 degree water temperatures up in the Theodosia arm and above the Lead Hill area. With the lake warm up the shad kill is all but over and there are a lot of shad moving up onto the surface. Crappie were active this week both around brush piles and docks that have crappie brush hanging around them. Best baits are crappie minnows, Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows and crappie tubes. Bass have started to move toward the banks overnight and are staying up close in shallow water until 8 or 9 a.m. and on sunny days they are moving back up in the afternoon. Largemouth bass can be caught along the banks both in the main lake pockets and in the creeks in the mornings on stick baits and Wiggle Warts, but the bite lasts only a few hours. After the largemouth move off the banks work brush piles, docks and watersheds with Spider Jigs, Shaker heads and tubes. Smallmouth bass are not up on the banks, but they are staging on secondary points throughout the lake and they are holding in 30 to 38 feet of water. Even though crawdads are smallies favorite food source, they are still foraging on shad for the most part. Fish the points with stick baits, Sinko’s and grubs first, then if the bite seems off switch to Spider Jigs and tubes. Kentucky bass are not known for running the banks, but they are moving to the banks with the largemouth bass at this time. Stick baits and crankbaits will trigger the roaming Kentuckys in the mornings and on very windy days. The Kentuckys that are not moving onto the banks are staying with schools of shad in the middle of cuts, coves and pockets in 48 to 60 feet of water. Best baits remain spoons and drop shot rigs with a finesse worm. Walleye are on the move. They should be staying at the entrances of the creeks, but instead they are at the back of the creeks in the middle of the creeks, in creek pockets and cuts and they are also on main lake points, pea rock banks and bluff walls. But don’t get excited – they are not spawning there, just swimming around for some reason and they are shallow, 15 to 30 feet of water. Fish suspending rogues, Glass Shad Raps, Wiggle Warts, jig and grubs or in line spinners in the mornings or late afternoons and see if you trigger a few. It will be interesting to follow the walleye the next few weeks to see what they are up to.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.58 feet MSL.

Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and there has been two generator running. Trout fishing has been good with corn, frozen shad and red worms.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs in 25 to 40 feet of water around brush piles. Bass are good on crank baits in 10 to 60 feet of water. Striper fishing is fair with jerk baits in the main part of the lake and in the lake arms. Trout are biting fair on live shades of jerk baits.

McLellan’s Fly Shop said water releases have been pretty heavy. Fly fishing the high water from a boat has been very productive. Just remember to use larger strike indicators, flies and split shot as well as longer leaders and heavier tippet. Best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan Rainbow and Copper (14-16), Flashback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (12-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Sidewinder Midge (20-26), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (20-22), Poison Tung Black (20), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Flashtail Mini Egg (16-18), Unreal Egg (16), Shiela Sculpin (4), Exasperator Sculpin (2), Ziwi (4), San Juan Worm, Arkansas Beadhead (8), McLellan’s DOA Shad.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.48 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water clarity is good. Crappie fishing is good with minnows in 8 to 15 feet of water with minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair with jerk and spoon baits. Catfish and bream are slow.

Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has decreased somewhat this week. Especially during the weekend, watch for little or no generation, producing some excellent wade-fishing opportunities. Fishing high water out of a boat can be productive using San Juan worms, egg patterns, as well as shad patterns like the Arkansas Beadhead this time of year. During low water, midge patterns are always important on Beaver Tailwater, but especially during the winter months. 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. Best flies have been:  McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Gray and Olive (14-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16),Zebra Midge in Black/Copper and Olive (16-20), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Poison Tung in Gray/Blue and Black (20), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (20-22), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Cream Midge Adult (22-24), Flashtail Mini Egg (16-18), Unreal Egg (16), San Juan Worm, Arkansas Beadhead (8).

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the lake is dingy. Fishing overall is poor right now.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good in 4 to 8 feet of water on jigs and minnows fished around weeds, stumps and brush. Bass fishing has been fair in 4 to 8 feet of water on spinner baits and CC spoons along rocky points. Catfishing has been good on worms and chicken livers fished in the open water of the main channel.

SWEPCO Lake: Local guide Brad Wiegmann said the water temperature is 84 degrees at the discharge area and 68 degrees at the dam area. Visibility is clear with little or no stained water. Yum Muy Grub in white pearl or smoke patterns, Yum Houdini worm or Dinger in green pumpkin/purple flake have been working well. Strong winds this past week has been challenging. A few bass have been spotted on beds and cruising shallow. Anglers are apparently facing post spawn conditions, where bass like to suspend off some type of structure. Dropshot rig and shaky head jig combined with a finesse worm has been productive this past week. Try fishing long points, 45-degree banks or deep ledges with soft plastics baits to catch bass.   

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the lake is clear and at normal level. The crappie are biting well on large minnows. Bass are good on jigs and grubs. There have been no reports on bream or catfish.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the lake is murky. Crappie are biting well on worms and crickets. All other species are poor.

Grand lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said crappie are biting well on worms and crickets. All other fishing is slow.

Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said they have had bad weather lately that has kept people off the lake.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.77 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Upriver water and oxbow's surface temps remain slightly warmer than the main lake, and approximately 48 degrees. Little River's clarity as of Monday is heavy stain from recent high wind and lake advisories being issued, at approximately 2 to 3 inches of visibility and current increased at 5,218 CFS. Navigation is much improved with the replaced river buoy markers, for boating and navigation in Little River. The Army Corps of Engineers continues to run the river working to replace the buoys that the high water levels recently moved out of place, with their routine maintenance of replacing lost or misplaced river buoy markers. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good in water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 1 to 2 feet in places, further from river currents and warmer than that of the main lake. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was 229.69 feet on Monday. Release Rate at the spillway of 5,218 CFS is with 13 gates open at 1 foot each. The activity levels of bass and crappie are improving over the past week with increased daytime hours and sunlight penetration, increasing water temperatures. Feeding periods are increasing in duration and are best during the warmest periods of the day. Several days over the past week, in which daytime highs warmed up into the 70 to 80 degree range improved the activity levels of the bass. Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, lizards, suspending Smithwick Rouges and jigs remain the best bet for a good bass bite over the past 2 weeks.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and fishing is slow.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and fishing is slow.

White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop (870-685-2753) said the water clarity is clear. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around the banks. The bass are fair on minnows. The catfish are biting fair on trot lines with minnows.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 544.72 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said Lake Greeson’s water level is steady and its water temperature is warming. The crappie are on the move toward the shallower water, but most fish are being caught on staging beds in the deeper water just outside the coves. Some 50-plus water temperatures can be found in the backs of some coves. The white bass and stripers are starting to run. Watch for the birds hitting the water and you’ll find the schools of shad. In the past 10 days, anglers have caught five stripers between 10 and 13 pounds on brushpiles using crappie poles with 6-pound test line.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.41 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said crappie fishing is good with minnows and jigs. Catfish and bream are both fair using worms.

Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Flyfishing said Copperhead Crossing fishing has been sporadic in that area. The water is still around 47 degrees Sycamore Run has a decent amount of water flowing through the run and fish have been very active throughout the stretch. About noon, there has been an increase in activity, using A&Ws. There have also been a couple of nice Eagle Lake males caught as well.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 384.76 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the lake is a bit dingy. Fishing is good for crappie and catfish. They are being caught with minnows, jigs and worms. All other fishing is slow.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water clarity is good. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinner baits around brush piles. Catfishing is good with large bass minnows and worms.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.31 feet MSL.
Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said the bass are good right now on various baits over grassy areas. Stripers are fair to good on jigs and spoons. Crappie fishing is excellent in 4 to 6 feet of water on Tennessee shad and grubs.

Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bass are fair in 6 to 8 feet of water on minnows around the shorelines. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. A few walleye have been caught on minnows in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Lake Hamilton: Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said bass are biting well on trick worms, jerk baits and crank baits. Look for the bass in the warm shallow water pockets in the creeks. White bass are starting to school and are hitting on crank baits. Crappie fishing is very good on white and chartreuse jigs in 4 to 5 feet of water next to brush. Walleye fishing is good on white and chartreuse grubs.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said a few crappie are being caught in deep waters with minnows. All other species are slow.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the clarity is normal. Bream are biting well on red wigglers fished just off the bottom in 6 feet of water. Crappie are biting fairly well on jigs fished around brush piles in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good with minnows.

Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 342.69 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the weather has been bad lately and fishing has been slow.

EAST ARKANSAS:

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is a little murky. Bream are biting on wax worms and crickets by the Lock and Dam, and by the borrow pits. Crappie are also biting well in the same area on minnows and jigs. Fishermen haven't heard much luck on bass, and catfish are biting fair on night crawlers.

Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is murky. Crappie are fair in 5 to 6 feet of water toward the river end on jigs. All other species are slow.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is dingy, but clearing. Fishing near the docks and brush piles is good. Crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on minnows and crankbaits.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said fishing has been slow due to the recent bad weather.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the lake is high. Crappie fishing is good with minnows. All other fishing is slow.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is clear and is in good condition. The bream are biting well on worms in the shallow water. Crappie are biting good in 10 to 12 feet of water with minnows. Catfish are good on minnows or nightcrawlers.