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5/16/2007 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 May 16, 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: Coontail, hydrilla and other deep-water grasses are a curse to some anglers, a benefit to others and a certainty in Arkansas’ clear-water lakes. Just remember that the grass beds you see from the top are totally different underneath the surface. The thick mats up high block out sunlight below and create shade for fish of all types. Fish the edges and pockets in these grass beds, and you’re sure to find some fish that are willing to hit.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are: 21.45 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet) 24.51 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet) 11.68 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet) 35.88 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet) 28.45 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:
13.46 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet) 25.71 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet) 13.76 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet) 7.76 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet) 3.01 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Roughly 25,000 catfish have been stocked in program ponds across the state this year. Catfish are biting very well lately, and there is no better time than now to get out with family and friends and enjoy some fishing. Chicken liver and blood paste baits have been producing a lot of catfish. Bream are good on crickets. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and fishing is good on pink or chartreuse PowerBait or nightcrawlers. Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is releasing water every day in small quantities. This makes all the shoals open to wade fishing most of the day. There is no dependable schedule for future water releases. Always be on the lookout for rising water when you are on the river. Caddis flies continue to hatch most every day on the river along with midges, blue-winged olives, sulphurs and March browns (the last three being mayflies). The dry flies that are attracting the most fish include elk hair caddis (sizes 14-16, tan with black bodies), sulphurs (sizes 18-20), Adams (size 16, tan), midges (size 22, cream or black), and March browns (sizes 14-16). The best sub-surface flies are a red zebra midges (size 16), smoky olive sow bugs (size 14, beadhead), pheasant tails (size 16), and gold-ribbed hare's ears (sizes 14-16).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.57 feet MSL. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level should rise again with the rains and the surface temperature is still a bit cool for this time of year. Walleye are biting fairly well. They’re moving as shallow as 7 to 8 feet of water on cloudy days and holding around 27 feet during sunny days. Nightcrawlers are working well on the walleye at any depth. Catfishing is good and should remain good until the dog days of summer. Hybrids and white bass are schooling, but the action is fast. If you can get on top of them quickly, you can catch plenty. Crappie are bream are biting well around brush in 15 to 20 feet of water. All three species of bass are scattered with the cool water and fluctuating levels. Some have gone back to the shallows chasing bream, but most are suspended in 8 to 10 feet of water and are hard to target. Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 25 feet of water. A few bass are being caught on spinnerbaits and top-water lures near visible brush. Walleye have moved out to around 50 feet deep and are slow.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting very well on crickets and worms. Small bream are around the shoreline, but the bigger bream seem to be a bit deeper. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass are biting well on top-water lures fished close to the banks. Catfishing is good on trotlines or rod-and-reel baited with live bream or minnows.
Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is high and stained. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Some small crappie are being caught on chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on Texas-rigged lizards and worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on waxworms and crickets. Crappie are biting very well on salt-and-pepper, pink/white/chartreuse or blue/silver flake jigs set 5 to 6 feet deep in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on black 6-inch soft-plastics and spinnerbaits fished around the grass and buck brush. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and worms.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets near the banks. Crappie are biting well on small minnows and blue/white or pink/white jigs fished around brush piles near drop-offs. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and low. Bream, crappie and bass are fair. Catfishing has been pretty good on live and prepared baits.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said largemouth bass are biting well during the day on spinnerbaits, Gitzits and jig-and-pig combos fished on deep ledges. Kentucky bass are mixed in with the largemouth. White bass are biting very well around the spillway area and the North shore. They are chasing shad just under the surface and will bite a spoon or tail spinner very well. Crappie are biting fairly well around 15 feet deep on red/white jigs. Bream are excellent on crickets fished shallow. Catfishing is good on large minnows and prepared baits.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water clarity is good. Bream are biting fairly well on live bait. Crappie are biting well on Tennessee shad-colored grubs fished in and around brush piles. Bass are fair on scuppernong soft-plastic worms fished around 8 to 10 feet deep. Catfishing is fair on live bait fished shallow.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is at normal levels. Bream are biting well on Roostertails. Crappie are poor. Bass are fair on Rebel Crawdad crankbaits fished across the current. Catfishing is good in slower water where the catfish are spawning.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 131,800 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 284.34 and a tailwater of 282.22. The heavy current has pushed most game fish into the backwaters. Look for overhangs and flip a small Beetle Spin underneath them. You might catch a bass, crappie, bream or even a catfish. Catfishing below dams 9 and 10 is good using an 8-ounce weight and a whole shad. White bass are on the backside of the jetties and biting well in the slack water on Rapala Husky Jerks. Stripers are holding below the dam and on jetty tips and are biting well on 2-ounce bucktail spoons. Black bass are hitting top-water frogs underneath overhangs around the backwaters.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are poor. They have moved deep. Bass are fair to good. Catfishing is good.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Gaston’s White River Resort said generation has been varied the last two weeks – some days none, others two to four generators running nonstop. During low water, Mepps, Red and Gold Buoyant Spoons and spinners seem to be the best lures to use. Yellow PowerBait and orange PowerBait with a wax worm attract many fish to the hook. Nightcrawlers are catching a lot of fish while the water is low and if one or two power units start, the redworms are best. Fly-fisherman have really enjoyed the last two weeks. Flies that work best are red butt soft hackle, orange soft hackle, olive woolly buggers, and red San Juan worms. Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 657.33 feet MSL. Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.59 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and up 2 feet. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished around brush in 15 feet of water. Bass and stripers are biting well early and late in the day on top-water lures. Walleye are fair on crankbaits trolled over deep flats. Catfishing is good on jugs baited with cut bream.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and the flow is good with one to two generators running. Trout fishing has been good on nightcrawlers and chartreuse PowerBait. Mountain River Fly Shop said the river has had low water in the mornings to mid afternoon, and the fish are feisty. Some sulphurs are being seen in the afternoon. The hatch is not full blown but soon will be. A Humpback Sulphur nymph, Parachute Sulphur, or Copper Anna “K” soft hackle are the best bet once the hatch hits.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,121.27 feet MSL. Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water clarity is good and the water is at normal levels. Bream are beginning to really turn on. The best bite is on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair on minnows, tube jigs and Shinneee Hinneee jigs in 6 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures in the mornings and soft-plastics during the day. Football-head jigs are also working well on the bass. White bass are schooling and biting well on Roostertails and spoons. Brad Wiegmann of Wiegmann’s Guide Service said angling pressure and the postspawn conditions have bass extremely picky. Fishing has been slow in the river arms with mid lake and the dam end being more productive. White bass are biting in the mid-lake area but anglers are finding them by chance. Anglers can look for top-water action very early or late in the day in the dam or mid-lake area.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation this week. Especially during the weekend, watch for little or no generation, producing some excellent wade-fishing opportunities. 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 clarity is good and the water has a green tint. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers and worms.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is stained and at normal levels. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on minnows and chicken livers. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Some large paddlefish are below the dam.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is excellent on worms and minnows.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and has risen slightly from last week. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting very well on swimming minnows and small spinners. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and live worms or minnows.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said fishing has been slow, and few visitors have been using the park.
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said bass fishing has been very good on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on worms.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is rising and clear. Trout are biting very well on corn and nightcrawlers.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and black/silver jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on chartreuse/black crankbaits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.37 feet MSL. Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges from 70 to 75 degrees. Main lake clarity and visibility is improved, and is fair at about 5 to 7 inches. Current has decreased to 10,634 cubic feet per second. Navigation along Little River is extremely dangerous due to recent high water, heavy current and debris. Activity levels of bass and crappie are beginning to resemble normal, typical summertime patterns. The bite has improved over the past couple days with the improvement in clarity. Largemouth bass are best early and late in the day on buzzbaits, Horny Toads, Bass Assassin Shads and top-water frogs fished around lily pads and vegetation. Once the sun is up at a good angle, shadows from frog baits in the pads are drawing good blow ups and decent strikes. Be patient and let them take the lure before setting the hook. If you miss the bass, let the bait fall or sit and he will hit it on the drop. Midday bass remain fair on Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes in camo, or Appleseed with loud rattles, around stumps and cypress trees close to deep water. These fish will also bite jigs with pork trailers or 10-inch Power Worms. Texas-rigged lizards and Hogg Assassins were taking some bass in the 3-6 lb class, prior to the recent rise and muddy water. Crappie are beginning to take on a normal summer pattern. They are suspended in brush piles around 12 to 18 feet deep along the river channel. The best bite over the past week has been on live shiners and white jigs, or smoke grubs on lightweight jig heads. Channel cats are biting well in little river on trotlines baited with chicken liver or blood bait and set in the current.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on crickets and especially worms in the shallows. Crappie are biting well on gray jigs and silver minnows. Bass are biting well on pumpkinseed lizards and top-water toads anywhere from 18 inches to 5 feet deep. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live bait.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on crickets and especially worms in the shallows. Crappie are biting well on gray jigs and silver minnows. Bass are biting well on pumpkinseed lizards and top-water toads anywhere from 18 inches to 5 feet deep. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live bait.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.71 feet MSL. DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is around 70 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets and red worms. The bream are bedded up. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows in 15 to 25 feet deep. Bass are shallow in the mornings and biting well during low-light hours. As the sun comes up, the bass are moving to deeper water and biting fairly well on Texas-rigged soft plastics and jighead worms. Catfishing is fair on noodles fished around deeper water. White bass and hybrids are schooling early and late in the day with a lot of top-water action.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the main lake is muddy with a lot of current, but the bays are still in good shape. Bream are biting well on crickets fished around the banks. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting very well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is excellent on stinkbait below the dam. White bass and stripers are also holding below the dam. Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 387.32 feet MSL. CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water level and clarity are normal for this time of year. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the current has been strong lately. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers and crickets in 10 to 12 feet of water. Crappie are fair around the river. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and crankbaits around current breaks. Catfishing is fair on worms and chicken livers in the backwater areas. A few stripers have been caught on hair jigs around current breaks.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.89 feet MSL. Mountain Harbor Marina said largemouth bass are still very good on Yum Dingers, trick worms and lizards. Jighead finesse worms and Texas-rigged brush hogs are also working well. Postspawn fish are being caught on top with Spooks and Boy Howdies. Walleye are very good on crankbaits and jerkbaits near creek channels and up the river channels. Stripers are excellent on live bait; brood minnows and threadfin shad are the baits of choice. Top-water action is still very good; try C10 Redfins and Zara spooks. Bream are very good on crickets and worms in 10 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are excellent and being caught over grass in shallow water. Try large moss flats in water 6 to 12 feet deep. Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are fair, with many bass still hanging around the brush and the stumps on the inside edge of the grass. Albino shad-colored Flukes and watermelon/red jighead worms are working the best. Stripers are fair around the timber. Gray hair jigs and swim baits are working well, but live shad are still your best bet. Crappie are slow. Bream are still roaming the shallows, looking for a place to spawn. Lake Ouachita State Park reports the bass and catfish bite is still good. The surface temperature ranges from 73 to 75 degrees on the east side of the lake. Crappie fishing has slowed with a few fish coming off brush piles or structure in 20 feet of water on jigs tipped with minnows. Striper fishing is good on flukes, spoons and crankbaits in areas where shad are concentrated. Bass fishing has been excellent on traditional baits such as finesse worms, spinnerbaits and small top-water plugs. Jerkbaits and rogues fished in 8 to 12 feet of water have been producing nice bass as well. Anglers have reported fair numbers of walleye being caught on jerkbaits and crankbaits in 10 to 15 feet of water off points and the hydrilla lines. Great catches of catfish have been caught on trotlines with blood bait. Big bluegill are beginning to move into the shallows to create their beds.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 4 to 8 feet of water. Crappie are biting very well on minnows in 4 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures in the mornings and Texas-rigged Brush hogs during the day. Catfishing is good on worms fished around deeper water. Walleye are biting fairly well on trolled cranks. Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports Lake Ouachita is now out of flood pool and Entergy has scheduled periods of no generation. The still water is excellent for rainbow trout. The fish are in great shape from feeding heavily on threadfin shad and are in a fighting mood when hooked. Many of the trout are in the 15-inch range with fish in the 17- to 19-inch length not uncommon. Bank fishermen are catching limits of trout on nightcrawlers, wax worms and corn with boaters recording limits of trout casting white and brown Roostertails around the rocks. The white bass run is still on and many of the larger females are being caught while trolling the channels with small crankbaits. Live shiners under a bobber are taking quite a few as well. Very large schools of threadfin shad are now at the dam. The shad are attracting large stripers and hybrids. Top-water baits, such as C10 Redfins are a good choice to entice these aggressive fish into striking. As the water warms into the upper 50s, the stripers and hybrid action will really heat up.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is still good in the early mornings and late evenings on swim baits and top-water lures. The bass are biting black jigs and worms fished in the shallows very well in the evenings. Stripers are biting well below the dam on Trout-colored swim baits. Bream are excellent on crickets in 4 to 7 feet of water.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs, but the ones that are being caught are very large. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and minnows.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clearing and the fishing is beginning to pick up. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 345.38 feet MSL. Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water level is perfect for crappie fishing, but the crappie haven’t figured it out yet. Fishing has been fair, but not many larger fish are being caught.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale’s One Stop (870-943-2683) said fishing has been good, especially at Wildcat Lake. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on live or prepared baits.
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water level continues to fluctuate. Bream and small bass were biting well when the water began to fall early last week, but more rainfall put a stop to that. The river is currently at 75 feet (10 feet above normal pool) and though it’s not expected to rise more, it doesn’t look as though it will be falling for several days. High water usually translates into poor fishing, but as it begins to fall the fish will bite better.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is slowly falling. A few people have caught some catfish on live and prepared baits, but very few anglers are out.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is muddy. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets, worms and small brown jigs. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse or orange/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and black soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on skipjack, shrimp, chicken livers and nightcrawlers.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is a little lower than normal. All species are a bit on the slow side. Bream are slow, but a few are holding off the edges of the main channel. Crappie are fair. Bass are fair. Walleye are poor to fair.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said catfishing has been fair on minnows and stinkbait fished on trotlines. Crayfish have been the best bet for rod-and-reel catfishing. All other species are slow.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) the water is getting dingy. Bream are biting well on worms, crickets and small soft-plastic insect imitations available at the store. Crappie are slow. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers. Bass are slow. Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the water clarity is good. Bream are biting very well on crickets near the banks. Some nice shellcrackers are being caught on redworms in 8 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse jigs around woody cover. Catfishing is good on green sunfish.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs fished around the piers. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers or cut bait.
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