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3/21/2007 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 March 21, 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: Ultra-clear water and too much fishing pressure can make fishing in spring difficult. Downsize to a clear, light line to take advantage of those bass that are spooky from all the pressure.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are: 4.75 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet) 9.61 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet) 7.21 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet) 31.35 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet) 26.11 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:
8.11 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet) 19.36 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet) 6.60 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet) 7.17 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet) 4.09 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet) Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Trout have been biting very well on chartreuse or pink PowerBait tipped with a wax worm. A few catfish have been taken recently on chicken liver, and several crappie have been caught on minnows in late afternoon. Regular catfish stockings will begin in April. For more information on stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS: Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is running off and on with only one generator online at a time. Trout are biting excellently on wax worms, PowerBait and panfish worms. Almost everyone fishing is catching their limit. Jed Hollan at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said Greers Ferry is back to Zone 2, which means they will generate the equivalent of two generators for 12 hours every day until the lake level is at top power pool. The good news is that they will be shutting down periodically which will provide windows of opportunity for wade fishermen. The algae problem may have been temporarily relieved by all the water releases. Flies that have been working include dark gray beadhead sow bugs (no.14-16), red asses (no. 16), woolly buggers (olive, no. 10-12), San Juan worms (no. 16-18) and midges (red or olive, no. 16-22). Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.16 feet MSL. Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished near the first drop to deep water. All other species are slow. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 52 to 62 degrees. The walleye spawn is pretty much over, and some can be caught coming back downriver. The post-spawn bite should pick back up on crawler harnesses soon. Hybrids are mixing in with the whites in parts of the river systems, the white bass spawn is on the verge of exploding all over the lake, and they can be caught on just about anything as long as it is small, just keep your bait wet. Bream are slow. Crappie have slowed and have backed out to deeper water, but they should be moving back to the bank to spawn soon. Bass were affected by the front. Many bass can be caught mixed in with the white bass and hybrids around the bushes and also on main lake points and secondary points. Main lake fish can be caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are fair on redworms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well and are moving in to the banks. Spinnerbaits are working well. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with cut shad. Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and white/pink or chartreuse/blue/white tube jigs. Bass are biting excellently on white jigs and minnows. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with worms. Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on redworms and wax worms. Crappie are fair to good on white/chartreuse and blue/white tube jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and black soft-plastics. Catfishing is fair on minnows and nightcrawlers. Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are biting excellently on spinnerbaits. White bass are running in the river and biting excellently on jigs and minnows fished as far upriver as you can get. Catfishing is good on live and prepared baits just off the edge of the bank. Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on watermelon-colored lizards. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait. Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on Tennessee shad-colored jigs. Bass are biting well on 5-inch green pumpkin lizards. Catfishing is slow. Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is at normal levels. Bass fishing is poor, but a few are being caught around the dam on white Mister Twister grubs. Catfishing is good on cut shad and nightcrawlers fished below the dam. Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is at normal levels and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on 5 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits fished in brush piles around 2 feet deep. Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfishing is fair on minnows. All other species are slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS: White River: Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, pink and bubblegum along with Power Wigglers in chartreuse or pink. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. Fly-fishermen have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors, and “unreal” eggs in peach or white. 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 653.84 feet MSL. Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said before the last cold front, the lake temperature was 50 degrees with some 54 degree water in the back of the creeks and northern pockets, but by Sunday morning the lake temperature dropped almost 3 degrees. Crappie have picked up in the upper lake on brush piles in the cuts and coves. Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows and crappie tubes are the hot baits. Crappie in the mid-lake and lower lake are just now starting to turn on in the creek coves that have brush. These crappie are holding outside of the brush piles and live crappie minnows are the best bait. White bass are in the backs of most creeks, but the cool down has pushed them out a little. Switch to ¼-oz. Roadrunners and small spoons this week and fish a little deeper. Largemouth continue moving out of the deep water and repositioning themselves in the pockets, coves and creeks around secondary points and along pea rock banks. The best bite seems to be early in the morning on spider jigs, spinnerbaits, Wiggle Warts and jerkbaits. Some nice smallmouth bass have been on pea rock banks on the main lake. Kentucky bass have left the shad and are moving into channel swings and secondary points in the creeks and pockets near the main lake. Suspending Rogues and X-raps are just starting to work with a slow jerk and a pause motion. Most strikes will come on the pause. Best colors have been Tennessee shad, sour grape and silver. Walleye were on the banks and starting to stage up and then came the cold front and the walleye have backed off the banks and are suspending in 24 to 30 feet of water. The best bite is at night and early morning when the walleye are moving up to feed. Fish Suspending Rogues, Shad Raps and X-raps around secondary points. Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.73 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on minnows, baby shad and small silver jigs. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic jerkbaits and crankbaits. Stripers and hybrids are biting well during low-light hours on shad-patterned jerkbaits. Walleye are picking up on jerkbaits and 3-inch Kalin’s grubs. Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and running off and on. Brown trout are biting well on no. 7 silver Countdown Minnows and corn. Table Rock Lake: Phillip Stone of Stone’s Guide Service said bass fishing has slowed, but anglers are still catching fish on green craw Wiggle Warts in the Long Creek area. The fish seem to be holding in 5-8ft. of water on the steeper chunk-rock banks. Jerkbaits are also working well in deeper water just off the points. Crappie are biting very well. Most are still scattered and starting to move up to shallow water. We have been catching them near spawning flats from 8-15 feet deep. Live minnows are the best bet for deeper crappie, but as they move up to spawn, switch over to swimming minnows or jigs.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.47 feet MSL. Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is slightly stained and one foot low. Crappie are biting well on minnows and Mister Twister grubs on a jighead. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished shallow. White bass and hybrids are staging upriver. Local guide Brad Wiegmann said the water is clear around the dam and stained in the upriver section of the lake. The surface temperature is 55 degrees at Point 12. Warming water has bass migrating to staging areas. Pre-spawn areas protected from cold northern winds have been productive. White bass are biting well on lipless crankbaits, spoons and small in-line spinnerbaits fished around rocky flats and shoals. Stripers have been caught in the river arms on top-water lures. When the bite gets tough live shad and shiners are producing a few fish. Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has decreased 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, and shad patterns like the Arkansas beadhead. During low water, midge patterns are always important on Beaver Tailwater. 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 the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits bounced off cover. Catfishing is slow, but cut shad are picking up a few. Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on worms and crickets fished tight to brush and other woody cover. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse tube jigs and red/pink headed Roadrunners in 3 to 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well in 4 to 8 feet of water on spinnerbaits.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are excellent on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are excellent on crankbaits and soft-plastics fished close to the shoreline.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair. Lake Wilson: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair. Grand lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are fair on wax worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits worked close to wood cover. Crappie are fair on minnows. Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are fair on shiners. Bass are biting well near shallow water on soft-plastic worms.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.62 feet MSL. Millwood Lake Guide Service said water surface temperature ranges from 59 to 67 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Upriver water is slightly warmer at 70 degrees. Navigation along Little River is fair, but there are several buoy markers missing in long runs and in some of the turns along the river. The release rate at the spillway is 1,251 cubic feet per second with one gate open 0.2 feet and 3 gates open at 1 foot each. Male bass have been seen making beds along the oxbows and Little River. Several big pre-spawn females have been caught and released in the last couple weeks – many over 8 pounds. Trick worms, Senkos, crankbaits, lizards, Cordell Red Fins and suspending Smithwick Rouges remain the best bet for a good bass bite over the last two weeks. Some bass upriver have already spawned on top of tree stumps in 7-8 feet of water. Trick worms, Senkos and lizards are taking some nice bass. The best bite has been on Bass Assassin twitch worms (trick worms) or gold Red Fins and suspending Smithwick Rouges in clown or gold colors. The best jig colors for the last week were pumpkinseed/ chartreuse and black/blue. Good quality bass are congregating around cypress trees and cypress knees near deep drops. Texas-rigged lizards, creature baits and Hogg Assassins are taking some nice 3-6-lb. bass. Best colors for creature plastics and lizard over the past week are green-pumpkin, watermelon-red, black/blue, red shad and redbug. White bass are biting well between Patterson shoals and Highway 71 bridge this week. Small Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners, Rocket Shads and Rooster Tails in white, red or chrome/blue are working well. Crappie are beginning to move up shallow. The best crappie bite was in brush piles along Little River in 12-13 feet depths, but they are beginning to move toward spawning areas, and beginning to transition. Best bite this week was on grubs in smoke color, or jigs in white. Huge carp and gar are in shallow water adjacent to the river, making for some excellent bow-fishing opportunities. Channel catfish are biting well on the outer river bends on trotlines baited with chicken livers, blood bait, stink bait, cut shad or cottonseed meal cake. Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is at 65 degrees and fishing is improving. Bream are biting well in 2 to 3 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on shiners in 18 inches of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and tequila sunrise or red shad worms. Catfishing is good on blood bait and stink bait suspended from trotlines. Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 2 to 3 feet of water. Crappie anglers are doing well on yo-yos baited with shiners in 18 inches of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on stink bait and blood bait. White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop (870-685-2753) said the water is at normal level with good clarity. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 544.06 feet MSL. Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is stained and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished in 2 to 8 feet of water around brush and rocky points. Bass are biting well on floating worms and crankbaits fished in 2 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing is poor. A few walleye are being caught upriver on crankbaits. Stripers and white bass are schooling and can be caught on crankbaits and spoons. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the crappie are going crazy in shallow brush right now. Jigs, swimming minnows and live bait are all working well. DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.86 feet MSL. DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is clear and ranges from 58 to 64 degrees. Bream are in deep water, around 28 to 30 feet deep, but can be caught on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished shallow. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and floating worms. The bass are starting to bed up in the warmer coves of the lake. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers, shrimp and minnows fished under a noodle. Hybrids are moving upriver and biting well on spoons and Rooster Tails.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is at normal level and current for spring. Crappie are biting well shallow on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jig-and-pig combos fished shallow. Catfishing is good on shad and minnows. Stripers are biting well on chartreuse split tails and hair jigs. Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 386.06 feet MSL. CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is fair and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well in 2 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jigs with white/yellow grubs. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and shad. Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 576.90 feet MSL. Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said bass are excellent. You can fish your favorite baits from Trick Worms to tubes and jigs. Fish the pockets and use 8- to 10-pound-test line for the best bites. Stripers are fair on gray hair jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is at normal pool. Crappie are biting well on white jigs in 6 to 8 feet of water on brush tops. Bass are biting well around the shoreline on artificials. Walleye are fair on a jig-and-minnow combination. Lake Hamilton: Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said bass fishing is very good with some bass already on the beds. White tube baits and pink Zoom Trick Worms are catching fish right now. Crappie are fair on Tennessee shad-colored grubs and white/chartreuse grubs. Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 3 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting sell on spinnerbaits and minnows. Catfishing is poor. Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is murky from the recent winds. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms fished in the shallows. Catfishing is fair on minnows. Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 344.22 feet MSL. Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is clear and at normal levels. All species are slow, but the warmer weather should have fish moving to the shallows soon.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS Felsenthal: Hale’s One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is at normal levels and has good clarity. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse/white spinnerbaits. Catfishing is slow.
EAST ARKANSAS: Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is slightly muddy and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on skipjack, shrimp and nightcrawlers. River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is at normal level and current and has good clarity. Bream are fair on crickets around brush and stumps in 4 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around backwater areas in 4 feet of water. Black/chartreuse jigs seem to be working the best. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in 2 to 4 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and chicken livers. Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and down a little. All fishing is slow. White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and a little low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crayfish colored crankbaits. Walleye fishing is poor, but a few have been caught on minnows. Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished in 2 to 5 feet of water in the evenings. No report on any other species. Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on plastic worms. All other species are slow. Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the water is clear and the lake is full. Bream are fair on crickets fished in 3 to 4 feet of water near the bank. Crappie are fair to poor on minnows and black/white jigs fished near the bank. No report on bass or catfish. Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and a little low. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs in 4 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished in shallow water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut bait in 4 to 5 feet of water.
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