Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail:
rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us |
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October 17, 2007 Edition
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| This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for
October 17, 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. |
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| Fishing Tip: Fishing in clear water means
downsizing your lures. Here’s a tip from bass fishing pro Woo Dave’s
video Woo’s Clues to make the most of your smaller spinnerbaits:Small
spinnerbaits usually are difficult to cast a long distance because
they are so light. To add weight to your small spinnerbaits, buy some
lead wire from a fly-fishing shop and wrap it around the shank of the
spinnerbait’s hook underneath the skirt. The added weight will help in
casting and will keep the spinnerbait deep on a fast retrieve. Check
out more tips from the
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Library |
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Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater – 391.83 feet,
Tailwater – 371.60 feet, Flow – 8,120 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.36 feet,
Tailwater – 339.05 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.97 feet,
Tailwater – 286.05 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 286.08 feet,
Tailwater – 264.97 feet, Flow – 10,170 cubic feet per second
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 264.84 feet,
Tailwater – 251.03 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 250.32 feet,
Tailwater – 231.41 feet, Flow – 11,880 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.88 feet,
Tailwater – 212.68 feet, Flow – 12,272 cubic feet per second
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 196.04 feet,
Tailwater – 182.38 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 182.00 feet,
Tailwater – 164.87 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 162.83 feet, Tailwater – 125.67
feet, Flow – 25,620 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
2.8 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
6.5 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
2.3 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
13.4 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
1.6 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
10.6 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:
Catfishing has been good on chicken liver and shrimp. All other lures
have been fair at best. Bream are good on crickets or micro-jigs. For
information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH
(3474). |
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CENTRAL ARKANSAS
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| Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream
(501-470-1846) said the lake is clear and at a normal level. Some
bream are being caught on wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is
picking up on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on top-water
baits. Some catfish have been caught on jugs and trotlines.
Little Red River:
Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is normal.
Generators are still running in the afternoons. Trout fishing has been
excellent on chartreuse Power Bait and Power Eggs, wax worms, lures
and olive or brown marabou jigs.
Jed Hollan at the
Little Red Fly Shop said generators are releasing small amounts of
water mid-afternoon. About half of the capacity of one generator has
been the norm (2200 CFS) with generation lasting one to three hours.
Caddis, blue-winged olives and midges continue to hatch all along the
river, especially late afternoons and evenings. Trout have been seen
rising to hatches as late as 10 p.m. This, in part, explains why our
trout are lethargic in the morning. They are not feeding early the
next day because they are not hungry. When they are actively feeding,
you will find that the following dry flies work well: Caddis (sizes
18-20, tan), BWO (sizes 18-22), midges (sizes 22-24) and Adams (sizes
18-20). Sub-surface flies that attract trout include sow bugs (sizes
14-16, light gray, tan, purple haze or peacock), zebra midges (sizes
16-22, red or black), pheasant tails (size 16), princes (size 16), P&O
or Chuck's emergers (size 16) and wooly buggers (sizes 10-12, olive or
black). Egg patterns in size 14 (salmon color) are taking fish
everywhere because of the rather significant rainbow spawn that is
currently underway.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 457.03 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said hybrid fishing
continues to be very good with catches of 50-100 fish a day. They can
be caught on top as well as with a Buckshot Spinner or a Rite Bite
jigging spoon around 35 to 43 feet deep all around the lake. Crappie
have continued to get better with the better catches coming at night
under lights in about 15 feet of water. Catfish are biting well with
many large blue cats coming in on jugs. Walleye can be caught in
various areas with the most consistent bite being around feeding
hybrids and whites on spoons. Bass fishing is improving every day,
even with all the pressure. Many bass are being caught around
schooling fish on spoons, topwaters and jerk baits. When the action
slows you can depend on a deep jig or Carolina rig to catch all three
species of black bass as well.
Shiloh Marina said the water is clear and fishing has been slow
with few anglers on the lake.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said lake conditions are
normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair on
minnows. Bass fishing is good on plastic worms. Catfishing is good on
large minnows.
Beaverfork Lake: The City of Conway Parks and
Recreation Department said fishing has been extremely slow.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said
the water is clear and low. Crappie are beginning to bite around the
banks. Bass fishing is fair on plastic worms. Catfishing is good on
liver and large minnows.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said lake conditions are normal.
Some bream have been caught on crickets. Crappie fishing is good on
small minnows. Bass fishing is pretty good on top-water baits and
plastic worms. A few catfish have been caught on live bait and
nightcrawlers.
Brewer Lake:
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal.
Bream fishing is fair on crickets. Bass fishing is fair on top-water
baits. Catfish are being caught on live bait and nightcrawlers.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait
(501-868-3279) said the river is clear and at a normal level. The
fishing has been very poor.
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said
crappie is the best thing going on minnows in deep water.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said
catfish are the best thing going on liver and nightcrawlers.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports
(501-315-3061) said the water is normal. Bream are being caught on
crickets in 8-10 feet of water. Bass fishing is good on top-water
baits.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is muddy and a little high.
Crappie fishing is fair around brush on chartreuse Rooster Tails. Bass
fishing is good on chartreuse spinnerbaits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden
Harbor in Oppelo said black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.
Kentucky bass are biting well on crayfish, jigs and mud bug-colored
crankbaits. White bass are doing well on shad and Rooster Tails.
Catfish are biting well on whole shad. Bream fishing is good on black
Rooster Tails and crickets. Crappie fishing is good in 4-8 feet of
water on red or yellow jigs.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from
Fish ‘N Stuff said the river is still low with a slow current.
Bass are biting well on crankbaits and jigs in the backwaters.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
said crappie fishing is fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on
trotlines.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said the water is clear, but has no current at all,
which has made fishing extremely slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471)
said the water is clear and low. A few bream have been caught on
crickets in 5-8 feet of water. Crappie fishing is good in 4-5 feet of
water on minnows. Bass fishing is fair in 3-4 feet of water in grassy
areas on spinnerbaits.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731)
said lake conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows
and jigs. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits and top-water baits.
Catifishing is good on liver. |
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NORTH ARKANSAS
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| White River:
Gaston’s White River Resort said the generators have been shut
down in the morning, but later in the day, one or two units have been
on. With any amount of flow, fly-fishing or spin fishing for trophy
trout has been very good. Trout can be caught on a variety of
different lures. The most common bait is two Power Eggs or a pink
rubber worm with a single yellow or white power egg called the “Barbie
Bait,” set up on a White River rig. Red/gold buoyant spoons and small
spinners are very effective when generators are running. When the
generators really get going, switch to Countdown Rapalas, pearl shad
Excalibur's and pink, green, or brown jigs. Fly-fishermen are still
having excellent catches with 1/64-ounce chrome dome pink jigs under a
large strike indicator. Rising trophy browns have also been hitting
Hank's Bulbous Bivisible or Hank's Quick Sight Ant. When throwing
jigs, remember to set the strike indicator where the jig is 1-2 inches
off the bottom. Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is
clear and normal. The generators are completely shut off, but fishing
for trout is still pretty good on Power Bait. Fly fishing is very
slow.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 649.95 feet MSL.
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said the water
temperature has dropped to 77-79 degrees, depending on location. There
has been a really good bite as of late, with all of the guides
bringing in some terrific stingers of fish, mostly Kentucky bass, but
the crappie have been turning on as well. Live bait has been working
the best on bass and walleye, especially nightcrawlers on split shot
rigs. The fish have been suspending over deep water and can be found
on bluff ends and long points near deep drop offs. Deep water refers
to water anywhere from 55 to 120 feet with the fish suspended at 40 to
50 feet. There is a good top-water bite in the morning, but keep a
small top-water lure ready as schools of fish can start feeding
through out the day. Jigging spoons have been very productive on bass
and walleye. The walleye bite has been best at early morning and dusk.
Look for schools of shad on your graph and work your lure though them.
Also, try casting your spoon with a sinking and retrieving motion.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.59 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is
clear and low. Crappie fishing is good in about 20 feet of water
around brush on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is decent on
spinnerbaits, jigs and finesse worms. Stripers are being caught on
top-water baits and spoons.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock
(870-499-5381) said the water is clear and normal. Rainbow and
cutthroat trout fishing has been good on nightcrawlers, Power Bait,
corn and a variety of jigs.
Mountain River Fly Shop said the best wade fishing in the area has
been on Norfork, which has basically been shut down from dawn until
mid-afternoon. Norfork Lake is close to turning over, which will slow
the fishing for a while. Midges, scuds and buggers have been the fare
of choice and there are some big fish out there. Copper beadhead zebra
midges have been killer, whether you are using a black body or a brown
body. Red zebra midges have also been doing well when the sun gets
high. Don’t forget the small stuff – olive WD40s, tungsten rainbow
warriors and Craven’s poison tung on these sunny days. Black woollies
were all the talk earlier this week. Every other angler through the
store had a tale to tell about fishing black woollies. Most were
swinging and stripping the buggers across the noses of rising fish. |
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NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
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| Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,115.11 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and at
a normal level. Bream fishing has been good on crickets. Crappie
fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is starting to pick
up on top-water baits and drop shots.
Wiegmann’s Guide Service (479-756-5279) said the water is clear in
the mid-lake and dam areas. Bass fishing has been decent, but is
better at night for anglers. The most effective baits have been
crankbaits, black Jitterbugs, dark-colored worms and spinnerbaits.
Some small bass are being caught during the day using buzz baits. Some
stripers can be caught on shad and shiners.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock
(479-444-3476) said lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good
on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs.
Bass fishing is good early on crankbaits.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock
(479-444-3475) said all species are slow.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467)
said the water is muddy and at a normal level. Bream fishing is fair
on crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows. A few bass are being
caught on minnows and lures. Catfishing is fair on live bait. |
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NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
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| Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and low
with a temperature in the lower 70s. Bream fishing is fair on worms
and crickets. Crappie fishing has been good on minnows and jigs.
Catfishing is good on liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Frierson:
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and low. Catfish
are the best thing going on liver and nightcrawlers.
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and
Campground (870-892-9732) said the river is clear and at a normal
level. All species are still slow
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451)
said the water is clear and normal. Trout fishing has been excellent
using Rooster Tails, spinnerbaits and salmon eggs. |
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SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
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Lake
Chicot
: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) lake conditions
are normal. Bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. A few
crappie are being caught on minnow and jigs. Bass fishing is good on
top-water baits. Catfishing is good on worms.
Grand
Lake
: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water
is normal. Crappie is the best thing going on minnows and jigs. |
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SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
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| Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.59 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River
surface temperature is 72 to 75 degrees, depending on location and
time of day. Main lake clarity and visibility is at 2 to 3 inches
because of wind. Current is at 1,159 cubic feet per second. Largemouth
bass and white bass continue schooling in many locations along Little
River, and her oxbows, from mid- to late morning and again near
dusk. The bass bite remains excellent on swimming jig heads with Bass
Assassin Curly Shad trailers and on Rat-L-Traps early in the
morning. Schooling bass are hitting a variety of minnow-imitating
top-water lures as well. Salt-n-pepper or smoke-colored grubs on a
1/8- to 3/8-ounce jig head are working the best when swum from 3" to 6
feet deep. The schools are surfacing when the wind picks up and
dropping to the bottom when the surface is calm. Follow the school
with your electronics and you should be able to catch fish on spoons
and Rocket Shads up to a half-hour after the surface action stops. The
best jig bite is still on peanut butter and jelly color with
black/blue pork or plastic chunks fished along stumps near
intersections between the main river and creek channels. Texas-rigged
10-inch worms in junebug/red, plum, blue ice and sour grape are also
catching some good bass in the same areas. Spot remover
and firecracker colored War Eagle spinnerbaits are still taking good
keeper-sized bass around any remaining lily pad stems and vegetation.
Crappie are biting fairly well along Little River on live shiners and
hair jigs, but are scattered and shallow, at 3-7 feet in trees and
lily pads. Channel catfish are biting well with the improved current
in Little River. Some keeper channel cats were caught over the past
few days, up to 7 and 8 pounds each, using Catfish Charlie,
goldfish and cut bait on trotlines and yo-yos.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said
lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on crickets, and
crappie fishing is good on jigs.
Sportsman’s One Stop (870-863-7248) said crappie fishing has been
good on jigs. Bass are biting well on watermelon-colored worms.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said
the lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on crickets.
Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on shiners.
White Oak Lake:
White Oak Lake State Park said the fishing on White Oak Lake
continues to improve. Bass are being caught on live bait in the early
morning. Fishing for catfish is good on live and prepared bait. The
water temperature is stable and the water is clear.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 535.57 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said Lake
Greeson’s water temperature and level are holding fairly steady
with water temperature around 80 degrees. The crappie are showing up
on brush piles better than weeks prior and the cooling trend should
stack them up even better. Recently, crappie have been caught on brush
piles in 18-28 feet of water with most fish suspended at 15-18
feet. The crappie are starting to become more aggressive, and will hit
jigs as well as minnows. Spotted bass are still being caught on rocky
points off the main channel.
Little Missouri River:
Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said evening fishing is
nothing short of excellent on sub-surface flies such as the smidge
pattern. The front came through, but bright, sunny skies are still the
order of the day. When you can get a little breeze to add some chop to
the water, try a light Cahill.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 394.82 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the lake is clear and low. The
temperature is in the mid 70s. Bream can be caught in 20-25 feet of
water on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting in 15-20 feet of
water on live bait. Bass fishing is good on Carolina rigs, worms, jigs
and early and late they can be caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.
Some catfish have been caught on noodles and live bait. |
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WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
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Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods
(479-229-3200) said the water is clear and normal. Crappie fishing is
good in 12-15 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing has been
good on crankbaits and plastic worms.
Bill’s Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) said the water is muddy and
low. Crappie fishing is good around brush on minnows and jigs. Bass
are being caught on buzzing toads. Catfish are being caught on shad in
shallow water.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 384.34 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is a little
muddy and at a normal level. A few bream have been caught on worms.
Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair on
plastic worms and jigs. Catfishing has been good on worms, minnows,
and liver.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said
the water is normal. Bream fishing is fair on crickets and
nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing has been good on minnows and jigs.
Catfishing is good on cut bait, nightcrawlers and minnows. Black bass
are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striper fishing is
good below the dam.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 568.18 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from
Poorman’s Guide Service said breaking action is very spotty, but
there is some surface feeding very early. At mid-morning, a drop-shot
rig or Carolina rig is working well along the outside edge of the
grass with quite a few fish being caught. Although it’s a slight bit
slower, the larger fish are biting well on 1-ounce jigs flipped to the
outside edge of the grass. Stripers are slow. No report on crappie or
bream.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 76 to 80 degrees and
clear. Largemouth bass are biting well and can still be caught on
buzzbaits, Rooster Tails and Spooks on main lake points and secondary
points. Top-water buzzing toads are still getting good results fished
over and around moss beds. Spotted bass are excellent on live crawfish
fished near brush 15- to 25-feet deep. Walleye are biting well on
spoons and crankbaits fished over humps and main lake points with
brush piles. Stripers are very good on live brood minnows and gizzard
shad. Top-water action is picking up but is still one or two weeks
from being very good. Bream are good on crickets and worms in 18 to 25
feet of water. Crappie are good and are being caught over grass and
brush in deep water. Try large moss flats and brush in water 20- to
35-feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best.
Arkansas shad, Tennessee shad and white are still the best colors for
artificial baits. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait in 20 to
25 feet of water on jugs and trotlines.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272)
said lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair on worms and
crickets. Bass fishing is picking up around the shorelines on
top-water baits.
Shane Goodner, owner of
Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the rainbow trout
stocking program will begin again on November 16. These fish will be
11 inches and longer and are in good condition and ready to be fished
for. As previously reported, the trout population at Carpenter Dam
is minimal at best with most of the tailrace water over 70 degrees.
With the winter drawdown beginning November 3, remaining trout will be
forced completely out of the area. Since the majority of threadfin
shad have migrated out of the tailrace area, the striper and hybrid
activity has been almost non-existent.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from
Poorman’s Guide Service said small fish are breaking early in the
morning and active.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said
the water is clear and at a normal level. A few bream have been caught
on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good in deep water on
minnows. Bass are schooling and the fishing is good. Catfish are
biting well on shiners and goldfish.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the
water is murky and high. Bream fishing has been good on crickets.
Crappie fishing is picking up on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good
on trotlines and yo-yos in deep water. A few large bass have been
caught, but most of the action has been on small fish.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 342.13 feet MSL.
Bait N’ More (479-272-4025) said the water is at a normal level and
murky. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and chartreuse or black
jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on
worms and minnows. |
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SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
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| Felsenthal: Sportsman’s One Stop said the water
is normal. Crappie is the best thing going on jigs and shiners.
Felsenthal (JonesLake):
Russell Ice & Tackle (870-797-2993) said lake conditions are normal.
Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass are starting to hit
on watermelon/red plastic worms. |
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EAST ARKANSAS
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Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box
(870-534-1498) said the water is murky. Bream fishing is good on wax
worms and crickets. A few crappie are starting to bite on minnows and
jigs. A few catfish have been caught on nightcrawlers.
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said river conditions are
normal. Bream fishing is fair around the banks on red wigglers and
crickets. Bass fishing is fair on crankbaits and plastic worms.
Catfish are being caught in about 30 feet of water on cut shad.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said
the water is clear and low. Crappie fishing has been good on minnows
and jigs. Kentucky and white bass are hitting on crankbaits.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240)
said the water is almost back to normal. A few bream have been caught
on crickets. Bass are biting on plastic worms.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said
the lake conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair on crickets.
Crappie fishing is excellent trolling on minnows and black/chartreuse
jigs. Bass fishing has been good in shallow water around grassy areas
on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is also good on trotlines with cut bait or
nightcrawlers. |
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