8/15/2007

Weekly Fishing Report

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Randy Zellers (501) 223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for Aug. 15, 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: Larry Hurley of Poorman’s Guide Service said when fishing for breaking fish, use fluorocarbon line and a weightless soft-plastic jerkbait. Fluorocarbon line sinks slowly, so your shad-imitating jerkbait will go deeper, where the big fish are waiting for injured and dying shad killed in the surface frenzy.

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

Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater – 391.27 feet, Tailwater – 379.38 feet, Flow – 63,235 cubic feet per second

Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.32 feet, Tailwater – 345.17 feet

Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.80 feet, Tailwater – 292.71 feet

Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 284.35 feet, Tailwater – 273.17 feet, Flow – 70,963 cubic feet per second

Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 264.41 feet, Tailwater – 259.80 feet

Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 248.67 feet, Tailwater – 232.84 feet, Flow – 71,554 cubic feet per second

Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.15 feet, Tailwater – 218.62 feet, Flow – 71,803 cubic feet per second

Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater –195.80 feet, Tailwater – 185.99 feet

Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 182.25 feet, Tailwater – 173.19 feet

Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 162.56 feet, Tailwater – 136.63 feet, Flow – 76,322 cubic feet per second


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

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

6.3 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)

4.3 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)

15.9 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)

4 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)

13.1 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)


Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Fishing for catfish continues to be tough this week with the record breaking heat. Early morning and late evening will be the key times to fish for the rest of the summer. Shad, skipjack and stinkbait are producing a few fish in the ponds. Bream fishing has been good on crickets or 1/16-ounce microjigs. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free, 1-866-540-FISH (3474).



CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level. Bream and bass are both slow; some are biting early and late. Catfish are biting well at night on trotlines.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear. Fishing is good on wax worms with marshmallows or chartreuse or white Power Bait. Marabou jigs in olive, brown/orange and white are all working well. Floating Rapalas in black/silver or black/gold and red/gold Buoyant spoons are also working well. Fly-fishing is going well early and late on tan sow bugs (sizes 14 or 16), zebra midges in black, tan or red and Red tail midges (sizes 14 or 16).

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry powerhouse has been releasing a lot of water, but recently slowed to only one generator for 4 to 8 hours a day. The hottest weather of the season is upon us, air conditioners are running full blast and hydroelectric power is in demand. Mayfly hatches continue with blue-winged olives, sulphurs and pale morning duns making up the majority. Midges are also coming off in the afternoons, so dry flies are working better than normal. CDC baetis dun patterns (sizes 18-20), CDC PMDs (size 18), sulphur patterns (orange or yellow, size 18), BWO duns (size 18) and Adams (sizes 16-18) are your best bets to match the hatch. Dry midges (size 22) in cream or black are working well, too. Sub-surface flies include the lowly sow bug (sizes 14-16), zebra midge (sizes 16-22, red or black), pheasant tail (size 16), gold ribbed hare's ear (sizes 14-16), copper john (sizes 14-16, red or chartreuse), prince nymph (size 16), most any of the soft hackle emergers and streamers such as the zonker or woolly bugger in sizes 10 or 12 olive, brown or black. A special fly at the shop is the peacock sow bug in size 14. The ice dubbing used to tie this fly seems to call the trout by name.

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 458.90 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said hybrid and white bass fishing is hit and miss. They are schooling some and can be caught on top on Chug Bugs and Super Spook Jrs.. When they’re deep, use Buckshot inline spinners and spoons as well as swimbaits. Try Point 14 and Point 6, Edgemont Bridge and Cove Creek. Bass fishing is good for largemouths in 28 feet dragging jigs and Carolina rigs. Smallmouth have been holding in 22 feet of water and can be caught on Carolina-rigged lizards and Baby Brush Hogs on points. Small bream can be caught shallow in main-lake pockets, but the better ones are out in 22 feet of water, biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. The crappie are suspended in 15 to 20 feet of water over 80 feet and can be caught with minnows and jigs. The bite has slowed with the heat. Walleye are coming in real slow with calm conditions and the heat. Try dragging crawlers or leeches in 43 feet of water about 3 miles an hour.

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and at normal level. Whites and hybrids are starting to come up.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is low and clear. Fishing has been quite slow, but a few bass and bream have been caught.

Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said it is too hot and no anglers are out fishing.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing reported that the lake conditions are clear and the water is a little bit low. Fishing has been extremely slow due to the hot weather.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well around the banks on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow; some are biting in deep water on live minnows. Bass fishing is slow; some are biting early on top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on live bream and cut shad on trotlines.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water clarity is good and at normal level.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said the heat has slowed the anglers some, but the fishing is still good. Largemouth bass are deep, and a few can be caught on jigs, Carolina rigs and tubes near drop-offs. Kentucky bass are also deep, and hitting the same lures as the largemouths. Focus on 18 to 25 feet deep for both black bass species. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets fished 20 to 25 feet deep. White bass fishing is good with several reports of breaking fish just outside of the restricted zone. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on minnows in 20 to 25 feet of water. Catfish are fair on live and prepared baits.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water level is normal. Bream are biting well in 15 feet of water on crickets. Crappie and catfish are slow. Bass are biting well on top-water lures early and redworms as the day progresses.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting well on small, bright spinners. Crappie are biting well on live minnows. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits, plugs and top-water lures. Catfishing is slow.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor reported that bass fishing is coming on strong using poppers and buzz baits in 2-6 feet of water around jetties. During the mid-day hours, use weighted buzzing toads. Kentucky bass fishing is strong where water is flowing over the jetties. Try spinner baits and pulling upstream during the day. Catfish are excellent on whole shad. Bream are biting well on crickets, while stripers and crappie fishing is a little slow.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is a little muddy and beginning to fall. Striped bass are being caught on white, 4-inch twister-tail worms.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and a little below normal level. A few bream are being caught,4 to 5 feet deep on crickets around the stumps and logs. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting in the grass in 1 to 2 feet of water. Best bite is on white or chartreuse buzzbaits. Catfish are biting best at night on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and hot. Catfish is the best thing going.





NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and low. Fishing is very good on Buoyant spoons, Rooster Tails, Countdown Rapalas and crappie jigs. Fly-anglers are having luck with zebra midges and olive Woolly Buggers.

Angler’s White River Resort (870-585-2226) said river conditions are still clear with a normal water level. Trout fishing has been good using Power Bait, spinners, Rapala CD-5s or CD-7s.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.92 feet MSL.

Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said bass still have a good top-water bite first thing in the morning. First light is an excellent time for early risers or late niters. Main-lake points, bluff ends, timber bluffs and the tops of brush piles are the best for top-water action. Zara Spooks, Zoom Flukes or any other shad-simulating topwater will work. When the top-water bite fades, it is time to go deep. Pinch a size 3 to 5 split shot on your line about 2 feet from a size 4 hook baited with a nightcrawler. Slowly work the bait over any structure you find between 25 and 35 feet of water. For artificial baits, try a Texas-rigged strawberry-colored worm with silver or gold flake, tube bait, or Carolina or mojo rigs with a 4-inch worm or centipede. Night fishing for bass has been fair on a jig-and-pig combos in a dark colors. Some walleye have been coming in to the dock during daylight hours; some techniques that have been working are split shotting or slow-trolling a nightcrawler around 30 feet deep, flat line trolling with deep-diving crankbaits or stick baits and downrigging. Some crappie are being caught around the brush piles and timber on the bluffs with small minnows, tiny tubes and small jigs. Try deeper brush piles with slip bobbers. White bass are being caught at night under the lights on minnows in 25 to 40 feet of water. The catfish have turned on with the water temperature rising. Trotlines and jug lines at night are producing good stringers.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.84 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal level. A few bream have been caught on crickets. Bass are biting well at night on jigs and plastic worms. Walleye are biting well on Mack’s Walleye Pops. Stripers are biting early on spoons in 60 to 70 feet of water. White bass and hybrids are biting early in about 40 feet of water.

Norfork Tailwater: Mountain River Fly Shop said water clarity is fair and the level is normal, but increases about 6 feet higher when the generators start running in the afternoons. Trout fishing has been excellent using corn, redworms, crawfish tails and Colorado spoons.



NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,117.97 feet MSL.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the heat is causing fishing to be quite slow, but the clarity is still clear and at a normal water level. Some bass are being caught on black spinnerbaits, at dark and in shallow water. Catfish, stripers, and sunfish are slow. Schools of white bass are breaking the surface during the mornings.

Wiegmann’s Guide Service (479-756-5279) said the water is clear in the dam area and mid lake. Black bass are biting well on Arbogast Jitterbugs in black, Booyah buzzbaits in black, Booyah moontalkers in black/blue or black/red, Booyah jigs in Ozark Craw with a Yum Chunk. White bass are biting well on Cotton Cordell Spoons and Bomber Slab Spoons in shad patterns. The bass continue schooling in mid-lake around the Horseshoe Bend area and Point 12. Stripers are biting well on Pencil Poppers in Pearl/Blue. During summer, anglers fishing for stripers usually focus on the area from Rocky Branch toward the dam. Top-water bites start early but last for only a very short period. Live bait fished straight down in the cluster of underwater trees or underwater structure continues to be productive.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water clarity is fine. Fishing is slow.


NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said all fishing has been extremely slow because of the heat.

Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bass are biting well on artificial lures such as crankbaits. Catfish are biting well on minnows. Walleye are biting well.

Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and the river is at normal level. Trout fishing has been fair while using corn and salmon eggs. Bass fishing has been very good using minnows. Walleyes are being caught on minnows. There has not been much luck fishing for catfish or bream.


SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are baiting well on worms, minnows and crickets.

Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie have been caught trolling in 7 or 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs.


SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.58 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water surface temperature is 85 to 89 degrees, much lower than normal for this time of year. Little River's clarity is much improved at 8-10 inches of visibility. Main lake clarity also improved. Current has decreased to 3,548 cubic feet per second. The boat ramps at Beard's Bluff Lake, River Run East, River Run West, and White Cliffs have re-opened now that the high water has receded. Bass and crappie are in normal summer patterns, with the most aggressive bite being early and late in the day. Toads, Bass Assassin Shads and buzzbaits are all producing well early and late. Buzzbaits in Black/blue or smoke/chartreuse colors, Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper and Floating Rat-L-Traps are catching good bass from the river in areas with grass and lily pads. Later in the day, 10- to 12-inch worms in blue fleck, junebug/red, or black grape are working well as are jigs in Texas Craw or black/blue. Rat-L-Traps in white and chrome/blue are producing yearling bass. Bass Assassin twitch worms in crystal shad color or a salt and pepper silver phantom color are working around grass. When the bite shuts down in late morning, anglers have been doing well jigging a CC spoon in 12 to 16 feet of water near river washouts and in the main lake in front of the dam where Little River and the Saline River intersect. White bass are good and are in large schools around Horseshoe Lake, the back of McGuire Lake and in Little River near Hurricane Creek. Rat-L-Traps, Little Georges, Rocket Shads and Roadrunners are the best bets this week for white bass. Crappie are fair to good on live shiners and Cordell paddletail grubs fished 17 to 22 feet deep in planted brush piles. Channel catfish are biting well on trotlines set 8 to 12 feet deep on outside river bends and baited with cut shad, Catfish Charlie or catalpa worms. Bream are biting well around Jack’s Isle and the state park on crickets, redworms and wax worms.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said you can see about 18 inches deep and most of the fishing is slow. Some catfish are being caught on pool noodles baited with live bream.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said catfishing is fair on jugs and noodles baited with live bream and nightcrawlers. All other species are slow.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 543.93 feet MSL.

Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said all species are slow.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the lake is steadily falling and water temperature is around 90 degrees. Crappie and the other panfish are slow, but watch for them on deep brush piles near the channels. Some catfish are being caught near cover in deep coves. Black bass can be found surface feeding in the early part of the morning. White bass and stripers can be found in deeper water on the main channel.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 403.08 feet MSL.

DeGray One Stop said the lake conditions are good with a continuous drop in water level. The temperature is in the low 90s. Bream fishing is good in about 15-20 feet of water using crickets. Crappie and bass are fair at night in 20-25 feet of water using live bait. Catfishing is poor.



WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy and falling. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on worms and some crankbaits. Catfish are biting in the lake on stink bait and shad. Stripers are also biting well in the lake.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 385.68 feet MSL.

CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is at normal level. Bream and catfish are biting well. A few bass have been caught.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is clearing and has slowed down quite a bit. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. A few crappie have been caught. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and large plastic worms or lizards. Catfish are biting minnows, cut bait and nightcrawlers. White bass are biting below the dam on jigs and minnows.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 572.65 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is fair on large, 10-inch worms in 30 feet of water worked through treetops for suspending fish. Shad-colored, silver-bladed spinnerbaits are working when counted down to 20 feet deep in 40 feet of water around the same trees. Striper fishing is fair on jigging spoons and trout-colored swim baits in 35 feet of water. Bream fishing is picking up with larger bream being caught in 30 feet of water on crickets fished on the bottom. No report on walleye or crappie.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports the rainbow trout action below Carpenter Dam remains good despite the record high temperatures. With Entergy generating 12 hours a day, the water temperature is holding at 58 degrees. Huge shad schools provide a rich forage base for the trout and other species of fish that inhabit the tailrace. Fly-anglers continue hooking fish in the early morning hours by casting olive green woolly buggers and egg patterns. San Juan worms are working well in the deeper water. Boaters are recording limits of trout by using live bait patterns, the best of which are nightcrawlers and redworms. Bank fishermen consistently land trout by sticking to wax worm and marshmallow combinations. Numbers of trout caught are down considerably but the size of the trout range from 14 to18 inches. Striper and hybrid activity is good as the fish migrate up and down the main lake channel feeding on the shad schools. Most of the good fishing is taking place below the bridge as anglers throw large top-water baits at feeding fish. Magnum Zara Spooks and C-10 Redfins are the baits of choice as these large predator fish frantically feed on top.

Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said walleye are fair around the 270 bridge when water is running. Bream are good on crickets fished in brush piles 15 to 16 feet deep. Striper and bass fishing is fair before any boat traffic starts. Concentrate on main lake points in 15 feet of water with Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water clarity is good. Bream are biting very well in deep water on crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs. Bass are schooling and biting well on top-water plugs. Catfish are biting well.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is low. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfish are biting well.

Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 343.52 feet MSL.

Bait N More said the lake is about back to normal levels and a little murky. Crappie are deep and hard to find right now. Bass are hitting good using minnows and artificial baits. Catfishing is great using worms, livers, crickets or just about anything else. Best catfishing hours are early morning and late evening.



SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water level remains at the normal 65 feet above sea level. Several mayfly hatches have made fishing for bream with crickets a sure bet around docks and trees along the bank. Even a few crappie fishermen have reported good catches, but are reluctant to say on what or where they are biting. Catfish are biting bream, minnows and liver on trotlines in the main river channel. Bass fishing has been slow. Reports of random pickerel (Jack Fish to the locals) seem to be increasing as anglers catch them while bream and bass fishing. In summary, the fishing is good but the weather is hot.



EAST ARKANSAS:

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky. Bream are excellent on redworms, wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Some are in 16 to 20 feet of water in the river. Catfishing is excellent. Stripers are biting well on chrome spoons or white bucktail jigs.

River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is stained and beginning to clear. Bream are biting well in two feet of water on redworms and crickets around wood. Crappie fishing is slow. Stripers are biting well by the lock and dam on 1½-oz. white bucktail jigs. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, plastic worms and top-water toads. Catfish are biting well in 30 feet of water on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water level is constantly changing from high to low. Bream and bass are fair on crickets and shiners. Walleye fishing is quite good, with a 30-inch walleye recently caught.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said river conditions are clear and at a normal level. Most fishing is slow due to the heat, but early in the morning, bass are being spotted breaking. A few bream have been caught also.

Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water clarity is good. Catfish are biting well. All other species are slow.