3/28/2007

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 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: Rain during the spring usually brings fish up to the shallows to feed. As the lake rises, a buffet of insects and other forage are trapped by the water, and all species of fish take advantage of the food. Concentrate your efforts near small ditches and feeder creeks with flowing water and you should catch some of these opportunistic fish.



Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:

9.11 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet)

13.54 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet)

7.53 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet)

31.89 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet)

26.33 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:

8.29 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)

21.13 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)

8.51 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)

8.34 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)

4.51 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)



Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish, bream and hybrid striped bass are being caught in Family and Community Program ponds with the rising warmer temperatures. For more information on stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).



CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are bedding up around the lily pads and biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse jigs fished around cypress trees in 3 to 7 feet of water. Bass are biting well on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits and black lizards. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with minnows.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low and there has been little generation. Trout fishing has been great on chartreuse PowerBait, marshmallow/wax worm combinations and Buoyant spoons. Fly-anglers are doing well on olive or brown micro jigs and black zebra midges.

Jed Hollan at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said Greers Ferry Lake is down to top power pool and the generators have stopped operating around the clock. The low water is cold and clear, and the fishing is great! We are now back to weather determining water releases instead of lake level driven releases. It seems that, after several weeks of water releases, the fish are biting most everything. Tan or dark gray sow bugs are working well along with red asses, gold ribbed hare's ears, red zebra midges, March brown nymphs and brown wooly buggers. There are many small brown trout in the river (about 1-2 inches long) as a result of last year’s spawn. Many of our customers have been reporting that they are catching a lot of six inch long brown trout. A few may indeed be browns but the majority is brook trout. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had 16,400 brook trout left over from a stocking project on another river. They put 8,200 of them in the Little Red at Ramsey Access and an equal number at Dripping Springs access in Pangburn. These brookies (Arctic Char) have since migrated 19 miles up the river to Winkley Shoal (Swinging Bridge) on their way to the colder water at Kennedy Park.

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.29 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is rising from the recent rain. The walleye run is over and you can pick up a few in the days ahead as they head back down the rivers into the lake. Set up on main lake flats, humps and points and fish crawlers or minnows on the bottom or troll crankbaits in 32 feet of water. The white bass spawn is coming to a close in the major feeding arms but a lot have not spawned in the main lake and will use the small feeder creeks to do. Roadrunners, grubs and in-line spinners will work the best, and the main river fish will get schooled up and will be chasing shad in the main lake soon. The hybrids are schooling some in parts of the lake. Some can be caught with the white bass and some can be caught out of the bushes scattered all over the lake. Black bass are going great some are in the bushes and some are spawning up lake and some have just reached the secondary points. Fish main lake points with Texas-rigged worms or small top-water lures or secondary points with Carolina-rigged lizards or Right Bite Cinkos. Crappie are getting in full swing all over the lake and the rising water will help the spawn. Carp are spawning and the catfish can be caught eating their eggs right now all over the lake. Some good bream are being caught around docks and in about 12 feet of water.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear, despite the wind. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Some nice white bass are being caught on minnows as well. No report on black bass, bream or catfish.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is falling and the clarity is good. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting excellently on pearl white jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on blue worms and minnows. Catfishing is fair to good on chicken livers.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the crappie are beginning to spawn and fishing is picking up. Pink minnows and white/chartreuse tube jigs are catching many crappie. Bass are fair on black soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is poor.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is at 62 degrees and normal levels. Crappie fishing is getting extremely good. The fish are getting ready to spawn and can be caught around 3 to 4 feet deep on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on worms, blood bait, stinkbait and chicken livers.

Lake Wilestein: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting well on minnows in 2 to 3 feet of water. Bream are excellent on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting well on 6-inch lizards. Channel cats are beginning to bite on nightcrawlers and chicken hearts.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said this year has been the best for fishing in years. Largemouth bass are excellent and have started spawning. They are in 2 to 4 feet of water and hitting crankbaits and spinnerbaits. All of the bass, largemouth and Kentuckies look like they are in excellent shape. White bass are excellent. The spring run is about halfway over, but there a lot still out on the lake schooling. Most are being caught in the back of north shore on Rogues, Rooster Tails and Roadrunners. They are also at the west end, on the other side of the Hwy 10 bridge and on the lake side. Crappie are biting well, and have started moving into the shallow water about 4 to 5 feet deep. They are hitting minnows and small red/white jigs. Bream are fair. The activity on bream is starting, and they are being caught from 5 to 10 feet deep, crickets seem to be working best.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on wax worms, crickets and Belgian redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 4 to 6 feet of water. Bass are excellent on Rat-L-Traps and Rattlin’ Rogues. White bass are excellent on white Beetle Spins and Road Runners.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Some decent bass have also been caught on minnows. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on 6-inch lizards and 4-inch tubes. Catfishing is fair to good on worms.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 33,000 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 285.91 and a tailwater of 267.26. Some nice stripers and catfish are being caught around the jetties on shad and nightcrawlers in 10 to 15 feet of water. Kentucky bass are holding next to the timber in the main channel. Gold Rattlin’ Rogues are working well. Fishing the riprap with Horny Toads and 7-inch ribbontail worms is also producing some decent Kentuckies. Bream are on the riprap and biting well on crickets anywhere the rocks meet a grassline. Crappie are in backwaters such as Petit Jean River, Flagg Lake and Point Remove. Minnows fished in 3 to 8 feet of water are working well. Stripers and white bass are in the mouths of the creeks and back in the creeks. Shad and pearl-colored Rat-L-Traps are working well.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows. No report on bass or catfish.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is excellent on pink minnows and rosy reds. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are slow, but they’re beginning to move shallow. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on minnows.

Redbarn Landing (870-255-4315) said the water is clearing and the surface temperature is at 72 degrees. Bream are biting well on red/white jigs and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on yo-yos baited with minnows overnight.



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 pink. With generation the Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. The fly-fishermen have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors, and sow bugs.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.83 feet MSL.

Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said the surface temperature has moved up to 53.8 degrees in the main lake with some 57 to 58 degree water in the backs of some creeks. Crappie have moved from in front of the brush piles into the brush piles where they will stay until they move to the banks to spawn. Crappie minnows will work as a search bait but artificial crappie tubes, grubs and Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows are now out-fishing live bait. White bass are in the backs of the creeks getting ready for their spawn. Small spoons, Roadrunners and tiny Super Spots are key baits. Largemouth bass have moved from the points at the front of the pockets and cuts to secondary points or channel swing banks halfway back in. They are cruising the banks and for a while you will see more than you catch. A number of baits will work during this staging time. Suspending Rogues, spider jigs, Wiggle Warts, spinnerbaits and Senkos are all good choices. Smallmouth bass are up on the pea rock points in 10 to 20 feet of water both on the main lake and in the creeks and coves. They are not real aggressive as of yet but you can catch a few on spider jigs, tube baits, Wiggle Warts or mojo-rigged centipedes. Walleye are up staging in the mid and low lake areas but in the upper lake where the water temperature is 57 to 58 degrees walleye are starting to spawn in the northern creeks. Jerk baits and grub fishing is the best technique during spawn. In the rest of the lake walleye are up roaming the banks in the creeks and around secondary points and are striking jerk baits late in the afternoons until dark. If the weather pattern stays on the warm side, we should see walleye spawning throughout the lake by next week.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.02 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is around 50 degrees and the clarity ranges from 10 to 12 feet. Crappie are biting fairly well on Bobby Garland’s Swimming Minnow and live shiners from 2 to 20 feet deep. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are biting well on soft-plastic worms and jerkbaits near secondary points. White bass are being caught upriver on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Rooster Tails. Catfishing is poor.

Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water releases have been between one or two generators. The early morning hours have proven very good for low water, and fly-fishing has been great. Olive and black woolly buggers and sow bugs have dominated the eating pattern. Fishing was tough when the turbines ran last week. Be patient and get your fly or bait down far enough for the trout. Don’t add more weight to your line, just slow your boat’s drift. Frozen shad, nightcrawlers, corn, red wigglers, Power Eggs and salmon eggs are always a good choice to use for bait.

Table Rock Lake: Phillip Stone of Stone’s Guide Service said bass fishing remains about the same for this week, with a few more moving up shallow. Best tactics right now are still the Wiggle Wart on chunk-rock banks and stick baits out in deeper water off the same banks. Anglers are starting to catch a few on laydown logs by flipping a jig. With the water temperature in the low 60s, it won't be long before they start moving up. The crappie bite is getting better every week. They seem to be scattered out on the spawning flats in 15-18 feet of water, but only about 5-8 feet down. Look for large schools of baitfish in the Long Creek and Cricket areas and you will find the fish. I have been drifting live minnows and fan casting swimming minnows in these areas. We have been catching 15-25 crappie a day consistently in the 12 to 14-inch range with the occasional 15-16-inch crappie during guide trips. It won't be long before they start to move up to spawning areas in the shallow water. We have also started catching some white bass in the same areas while fishing for crappie. The biggest was almost 4 lbs. on a recent guide trip.



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 is good and at normal levels. Crappie are biting well on minnows and tube jigs in 4 to 10 feet of water later in the day. Bass are fair to good around Point 12 on live crayfish, Road Runners and Rooster Tails. Hybrids and stripers are scattered, but a few are being caught on large brood minnows and shad.

Local guide Brad Wiegmann said anglers have only a couple weeks left for productively catching bass on hard-bodied jerkbaits like the Smithwick Rogue. Soft-plastic jerk baits like Yum’s Houdini Shad in Pearl White will begin to catch bass in shallow water once the surface temperature gets above 60 degrees. Top-water action has increased this week with the increasing water temp. Look for bass to be staging towards secondary points in major creek arms. White bass are being caught on lipless crankbaits, spoons and other small lures in the river arms. In fact the top-water bite has been excellent around the Point 12 area and the river arms of the lake. Small stripers have been caught on artificial baits in the river arms. Try using live bait such as shad, Black Salty’s and shiners to catch bigger stripers.

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 Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and the surface temperature ranges from 58 to 60 degrees. Bream are fair on worms and crickets fished around stumps and brush in 4 to 8 feet deep. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs trolled in 4 to 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on 4 to 6 feet of water on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is poor.



NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs fished in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers.



SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is a little murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows or black/silver jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse spinnerbaits worked against docks, stumps and other wood cover. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and prepared baits.

Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are biting well in the shallows on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on black/silver jigs. Bass are good on chartreuse spinnerbaits with a chartreuse Colorado blade. Catfishing is good on just about anything, but especially worms.

Lake Wilson: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is a little murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows or black/silver jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse spinnerbaits worked against docks, stumps and other wood cover. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and prepared baits.

Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is at normal levels and the clarity is decent. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on shiners. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. Bass are fair on 6-inch soft plastics.



SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.32 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said water surface temperature ranges from 60 to 70 degrees. Little River's clarity is much improved, at 10-15 inches visibility and current is consistent with last week at 1,251 cubic feet per second. The activity levels of bass and crappie are still in pre-spawn in certain areas of the lake and spawning with very large bass seen on beds over the last week in other areas. In the last two weeks, many pre-spawn, big female bass full of roe have been caught and released. At least one 13-pound bass has been caught and many between 7.5 and 11 pounds. Twitch Assassins, lizards, Cordell Red Fins and Bass Assassin shads remain the best bet for a good bass bite. Bed-making and full blown spawning activities are evident in many locations. Some of the bass upriver have already spawned. Twitch Assassins, Senkos, lizards and Southern Pro Fatbutt Tubes are taking some nice bass. Early morning bass are good from daylight to approx 10 a.m. on firecracker-colored buzzbaits, Bass Assassin Twitch or Shad Assassins, and Senkos. Bass are still hitting War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover, blue herring, and blue glimmer colors around any remaining vegetation and stumps on flats next to drop offs. Good quality bass remain around cypress trees and cypress knees in the 12 to 14 foot depth range. Jigs with pork trailers and 3-inch tubes in camo or purple smoke are working well on these fish, as are Texas-rigged lizards and Hogg Assassin blackberry, watermelon-red, black/blue, or red shad colors. White bass are still very good between Patterson shoals as far downriver as White Cliffs this week. Small Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners like Roadrunners, Rocket Shads and Rooster Tails in white or red or chrome/blue are working well. Crappie improved last week with lake level and clarity improvements. Crappie are beginning to move shallow as well, and will continue to improve as long as the wind stays down and doesn’t muddy up the lake and the river. The best crappie bite was between the brush piles along Little River in 12-13 feet of water up to the shallow cypress trees and in spawning areas. Huge carp are still spawning on shallow flats, making for some excellent opportunities for bow fishermen. Best locations are flats all around Jack's Isle, and between Bee Lake and Outlaw Trail. Channel catfish are biting well, along outer river bends of Little River on trotlines using chicken livers, homemade blood or stink bait combinations with cut shad, Charlie, or cottonseed mill cake. Longnose and spotted gar are cruising the shallows and back of creeks, making very good opportunities for bow fishermen.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are in the shallows and will bite well on any black/blue soft plastics.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on shiners in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting well on Texas-rigged soft plastics worked around shallow cover.

White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop (870-685-2753) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair on minnows fished 10 feet deep. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 543.36 feet MSL.

Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is dropping a little and has a slight stain to it. The surface temperature is reaching 70 degrees in some places. Crappie are biting well in 3 to 6 feet of water on jigs and minnows fished around planted brush piles. Bass are biting well on floating worms, lizards and buzzbaits in 2 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing is good on chicken livers. A few walleye are being caught in windblown points on crankbaits between 5 to 10 feet deep. White bass and stripers are schooling and are being caught on top-water lures, spoons and gray hair jigs.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.82 feet MSL.



WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is a little low. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs fished near woody cover and rocky points from the bank out to 12 feet deep. Bass fishing is excellent on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Road Runners from the bank out to 4 feet deep. Catfishing is good on worms fished near the bottom below the dam.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 386.26 feet MSL.

CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is murky and dropping slightly. Many fish have moved shallow and fishing is good. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on Texas-rigged soft-plastic worms and lizards. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is very clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows around brush in 2 feet of water. Bass are biting well on black/blue jigs and white spinnerbaits. White bass are biting well on white/chartreuse grubs fished around creeks. Catfishing is good on large shiners and whole shad.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 576.84 feet MSL.

Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said it’s spring and anglers need to get out and enjoy the hot bite. Bass are excellent. You can fish your favorite baits from Trick Worms to tubes and jigs. Fish pockets and use 8- to 10-pound-test line for the best bite. Stripers are fair on gray hair jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows.

Lake Ouachita State Park marina reports fishing is good. The water temperature is between 58 and 61 degrees. The lake level is gradually dropping. Anglers have reported decent catches of crappie around the hydrilla lines and drop-offs on Kalin’s Tennessee shad jigs and John Deere colors. Striper fishing is good in areas where the shad are located and have been caught on gray flukes, spoons and crankbaits imitating the shad. Brood minnows have worked on stripers as well. Bass fishing has been excellent on the traditional baits such as finesse worms, spinnerbaits and live bait. There has been evening success on the bass on top water lures as well. The walleye fishing has tapered off, but a few have been caught on bass minnows in 30-foot depths. The bream fishing is good, and they have been caught in the shallows and off the hydrilla lines on small jigs, spinners and crickets.

Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is at normal level. Bream are slow, but a few are being caught on nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and light-colored jigs fished around brush and stumps in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well near the shorelines on a variety of soft-plastic lures.

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 60 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around 3 to 5 feet deep. Bass are biting well on spinners and minnow imitations in 5 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with shiners and goldfish.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is a little muddy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets on shallow cover. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs fished deep. Bass are fair on soft-plastics and are picking up as the spawn gets underway. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and worms.

Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 344.58 feet MSL.

Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is at normal levels and the clarity is good. Crappie fishing is excellent on chartreuse or red/pink/white jigs or minnows fished along staging areas near spawning flats.



SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Felsenthal: Hale’s One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.



EAST ARKANSAS:

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on redworms and wax worms around shallow water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished shallow. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic lizards and worms. Catfishing is good on worms, shrimp and cut shad.

River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair to good on worms and crickets in 2 to 4 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around woody cover in 2 to 3 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits fished in shallow backwater areas. Catfishing is good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is at normal levels and has good clarity. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on a variety of soft-plastic lures, including trick worms, hula grubs and small finesse worms. Walleye fishing has been poor. Most other species are slow.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 1 to 3 feet of water. Bass fishing is slow.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms, crickets and small minnows. No report on bass or catfish.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is low, but clarity is good. Crappie fishing is excellent using black/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bream fishing is fairly good using wax worms in shallow water. Catfishing is really good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. Bass fishing is slow.