Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail:
rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us |
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| This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s
fishing report for April 16. 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:
When it comes to
walleye, few anglers are as in touch with the species as Bass Pro
Shops angler Keith Kavajecz. Here is his breakdown of the species in
spring:
“The walleye’s large eyes, sensitive lateral line
and good hearing, make it a deadly predator in low-light conditions.
Their large eyes make them sensitive to bright light, causing them to
avoid it. Walleye lakes in warm water states, which have an abundant
food supply, can produce rapid growth rates. Walleye like clean, hard
bottoms made up of gravel, rock, and sand. They seek out water
temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees. However, when searching for
food they may frequent warmer areas, containing green weeds or
submerged wood. An ideal walleye habitat would include a hard bottom
with humps and points near deep water.”
This tip and many others are available in the
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Library. |
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| 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 –
389.14 feet, Tailwater – 386.94 feet, Flow – 123,565 cubic feet per
second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12):
Headwater –
371.52 feet, Tailwater – 353.29 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam
10):
Headwater – 337.68 feet, Tailwater – 303.29 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9):
Headwater –
286.20 feet, Tailwater – 284.60 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8):
Headwater –
269.49 feet, Tailwater – 268.29 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7):
Headwater –
247.11 feet, Tailwater – 241.53 feet, Flow – 193,751
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6):
Headwater –
230.51 feet, Tailwater – 229.50 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4):
Headwater –
198.67 feet, Tailwater – 197.74 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3):
Headwater –
186.64 feet, Tailwater – 185.63 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2):
Headwater – 162.59 feet,
Tailwater – 162.16 feet, Flow – 153,558 cubic feet per second
White River Levels:
According to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages
are:
14.3 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
13.4 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
29.6 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
36.5 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
29.9 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
32.7 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing
Report:
Catfish are now available in selected ponds around Arkansas. To
increase your fishing success, be sure to have good fishing line on
your reel, fish early morning or late afternoon and try using liver,
worms or stinkbait fished near the bottom of the ponds. Bream are
becoming more active in the ponds this month. Try worms and crickets
near brush tops for better success. For more information on 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 water is
stained and still high. Crappie are fair in 7 to 8 feet of water on
minnows. Bass fishing is good on Trixie baits and pumpkin chartreuse
lizards. Catfish are good on trotlines.
Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590)
said fishing is slow for all species, but some are starting to
improve. Bass are biting fair some days. Catfishing is decent on
trotlines and rod-and-reel fished in the current of the creek channels
with shiners and nightcrawlers.
Little Red River:
Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and high
with little generation. Trout are still biting well on spinnerbaits,
wax worms and glow worms.
Jed Hollan at the
Little Red
Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is releasing water
around the clock. They are maintaining all the lake levels by
releasing as much water as is flowing into the lakes from the
tributaries. Greers Ferry Lake is boatable and fishable. The Little
Red River is also boatable and fishable. Many miles downstream, the
Little Red River is out of its banks at Judsonia and Georgetown. With
all the high water, the incredible fishing from the last several weeks
has ended.
Greers Ferry:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 485.90 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina said the water is dingy and very high.
No anglers, so no report.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level
fell off a bit and is down to 485.88 this morning and falling slow.
White bass and hybrid fishing is good now that the water has cleared;
try grubs and in-line spinners. Bass fishing is picking back up after
some cold nights. Weightless Rite Bite Cinkos and other Senko-type
lures are working well in the shallows, as are Chatterbaits, Shakey
Hookers and spinnerbaits. A few walleye have been caught dragging
nightcrawlers across flats in 17 feet of water. Crappie are biting
well on Road Runners and minnows. Bream are moving to the shallows.
Catfishing is good all over the lake on live and prepared baits.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and
high. Crappie are biting well on minnows. All other species are fair.
Lake Overcup:
Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is high
and murky. Crappie are fair on minnows. A few catfish have been caught
on goldfish and nightcrawlers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is dingy and about 8
inches higher than normal. Crappie are fair on minnows and
black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and
buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on large minnows and nightcrawlers.
Sunset Lake:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water
conditions are almost back to normal. Crappie are fair on minnows and
bubblegum-colored jigs. Bass are biting well on watermelonseed
lizards. Catfish are fair on Magic Bait.
Saline River Access in Benton:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061)
said the river is still high and muddy with fast current. Fishing is
slow for all species.
Arkansas River at Morrilton:
Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Opello said
the water is still very high. The warm weather and flow has put the
shad in the backwater areas, and all the fish have followed. Bass are
fair on redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfish are
being caught in flooded fields on worms.
Lake Maumelle:
Jolly
Rogers Marina said largemouths are excellent. They are on the beds
and biting well on spinnerbaits, floating worms and crankbaits.
Kentucky bass are getting ready to bed up along the north shore. Try a
Carolina rig fished a little deeper than the largemouth bedding areas.
Crappie are biting well on minnows and small jigs fished from 2 to 6
feet deep around any sort of bedding cover. White bass are fair on
Road Runners Rooster Tails and small jigs. They are holding in the
creek at the west end of the lake, but the spawning run is over. Bream
are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is fair on minnows
and prepared baits fished on the bottom near shallow water.
Arkansas River at Little Rock:
Vince Miller from
Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is still very high and
no anglers are on the water.
Little Maumelle River:
River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the
water level is almost back to normal, but all species are slow right
now.
Murray Lock and Dam:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are
fair on white and chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on large minnows and
white twister tails. Catfish are biting on shad and large minnows.
Clear Lake:
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is
muddy and high. All species are slow.
Peckerwood Lake:
Herman’s Landing said all species are slow.
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NORTH ARKANSAS
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| White River:
John
Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said we have had two more major
rain events and the reservoirs on the White River system continue to
rise at an alarming rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose six
and six tenths feet to rest at thirty four and eight tenths feet above
power pool of 654.00 feet. This is six and two tenths feet below the
top of flood pool and it continues to rise. Up stream, Table Rock Lake
dropped six tenths of a foot to rest at eleven and nine tenths of a
foot above power pool or four and one tenth of a foot below the top of
flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to settle at nine and
three tenths feet above pool or three tenths of a foot below the top
of flood pool. At the time of this writing we are receiving heavy rain
and the flood gates are open at Beaver. Beaver and Table Rock Lakes
have been generating heavily. The water has been collecting in Bull
Shoals Lake which is nearing capacity. Norfork Lake has risen three
and five tenths feet to rest at twenty eight and four tenths of a foot
above power pool of 552.00 feet or four tenths of a foot above the top
of flood pool. Norfork Lake is over capacity and the Corps of
Engineers have opened all flood gates at Norfork dam and are
generating heavily. As flooding clears down stream, the Corps of
Engineers will begin drawing down the Dams on the White River. The
weather has been very wet. There have been a few days with lake wind
advisories. There have been no wading opportunities on the Norfork
River and precious few on the White. Boating conditions have been
excellent. The Buffalo River and Crooked Creek are high and off
colored. The White River below these streams is stained and not
fishing well. The Upper White River is red hot. We have had low level
generation (one to two generators). During this period, the Bull
Shoals Dam Catch and Release has fished particularly well. The
productive flies were black zebra midges, soft hackles and San Juan
worms. The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has also been hot.
There has been a predictable rhyacophilia caddis hatch in the late
afternoon. This is our premier hatch of the year. Prior to the hatch,
caddis pupae patterns like the pulsating caddis have been effective.
During the emergence, the green butt or partridge and green soft
hackle have been the go to flies. When the trout start keying in on
the adults, switch to green elk hair caddis size fourteen. Other
productive flies in this section have been San Juan worms, sow bugs,
zebra midges and partridge and orange soft hackles.
Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is
clear and very high. Trout fishing is fair on Power Bait, Rattling
Rogues and Rapalas.
Mountain River Fly Shop said on April 9 that incredible caddis
hatches have been coming off in the last week around Rim Shoals.
Anything twitched slowly under the surface would have drawn at least
some takes, but emergers were knocking them dead. We have also had
good reports higher upstream than Rim, with caddis showing all the way
to White Hole by midweek. Up higher we had some fuzzy reports of
mayflies hatching and some big midge hatches, which even triggered
some great dry fly action. Davy Wotton Super Midges in red, black and
pearl have been the trick from the dam to Rim Shoals. If the water is
a little cloudy lower down try running San Juan's deep.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 694.94 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 585.90 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141)
reported the water is high and stained. The flood gates were recently
opened. Stripers are the best thing going right now in shallow water
on live bait, Flukes and Rattling Rogues.
101
Grocery and Bait said the store isn’t flooded out, come on by.
Fishing is very good with the high water. This will be some of the
best fishing there has been in a long time and it will only get
better. The water is beginning to clear in the upper end and some of
the coves. There is some debris here and there but for the most part
it is starting to look good. Crappie fishing is fair using a small
minnow on 1/16-oz. jig fished around 20 feet deep. Crappie will begin
their staging for the spawn soon and start moving into the tree lines
and the grass and brush that is above the normal shoreline. Water
temps are still in the low 60s. Largemouth bass are biting well on
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and worms fished in the grass and trees.
White bass are biting well in creek arms. Striper fishing is good at
all depths of water, and they are all over the lake. Try using live
bait, stinkbait or what ever fits your style. Walleye fishing is fair.
The boat ramps are open and so are the marinas. The walleye tournament
for April 26 is still on and take off has been moved to Panther Bay
Marina.
Norfork Tailwater:
Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said most
places are underwater and there has been no fishing on the Norfork
from their establishment. |
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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 1,129.02 feet MSL.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said Beaver lake is high
and muddy. Bass fishing has been good on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits
in and along the flooded timber. Another good choice is a black/blue
rattling bass jig fished along steep banks. Crappie fishing has been
slow. Action will pick up as soon as the water warms into the upper
50s. Minnows fished 2 feet down along flooded timber will be
effective. White bass fishing has been outstanding upstream from the
Highway 45 bridge to the Lake Sequoyah spillway. Anything that
resembles a minnow will work. Striper fishing has been tough but some
fish have been caught around the Highway 45 bridge area on live brood
minnows. Catfishing has been good all over the lake. Limblines and jug
lines have been working best baited with small bream or cut bait .
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the
water is stained and high. Crappie are biting well in shallow water on
minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on crawfish, jigs, minnows and Rooster
Tails. Stripers are fair on jerkbaits and top-water lures.
Lake Fayetteville:
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said crappie fishing has
been outstanding. Many limits are being filled by fishing a live
minnow 2 feet under a float along points of coves and pockets on the
south bank close to shore.
Elmdale Lake:
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has
been good on chartreuse spinnerbaits fished along the bank near
flooded brush.
Lake Sequoyah:
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water
is muddy and high. No report. |
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NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
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| Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is dingy and high.
Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits
and buzzbaits.
Spring River:
Mark’s Fly Shop said the severe flooding of the river
last week caused high water levels and poor clarity. Fishing was good
over the weekend at Dam Three with brown woolly buggers. Water levels
are beginning to drop, so fishing should be great once again.
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SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
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| Lake Chicot:
Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said fishing is slow
for all species.
Grand Lake:
Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said fishing
is slow for all species.
Moro Bay:
Moro Bay State Park said the park is closed because of
high water. Fishing is very difficult. Look for shallow current in
nearby flooded areas if you want to catch a few bream. |
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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 261.25 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service
said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 62 to 70
degrees. Water clarity is minimal because of all the runoff. Current
is 37,698 cubic feet per second. Increased current in Little River and
increase in discharge at Millwood Dam is slowly lowering the elevated
lake level. Largemouth bass are fair and continue to improve. Some of
the bass are still pre-spawn, others have already spawned over last
week; beds are being seen. Bulky 10 to 12-inch worms, lizards and
bulky jigs; Bass Assassin Shads and toads, large Rat-L-Traps, and
large, thumping Colorado-bladed spinnerbaits remain the best ways to
catch chunky bass. White Bass remained elusive again this week, no
report. The crappie bite along Little River is still slow, but it’s
beginning to improve. The muddy water and tremendous current has shut
off the crappie, although a few big slabs have been caught under
cypress trees on pink/white, or red/white jigs. Blue catfish and
channel catfish are excellent in 7 to 9 feet of water near the main
channel around river current.
Lake Columbia:
Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is stained
and high. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on
spinnerbaits.
Lake Erling:
Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is still
very high. Crappie are the best thing going on minnows.
White Oak Lake:
White Oak Lake State Park said fishing has slowed, but anglers are
still catching some nice fish. The lake is dropping back to normal
level. Live bait has been the key for catching fish this week, but
yellow jigs have been working very well on crappie.
Lake Greeson:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 556.61 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery reports that all of Lake Greeson is
completely closed. There are no ramps open at this time.
DeGray Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 413.97 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is
very high. They recently opened the spillway ramp. |
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WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
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| Lake Dardanelle:
Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water
is muddy and high. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.
Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and shad.
Bill’s Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) said the water
is high and very muddy. Fishing in the creeks is decent, but not the
lake itself. Crappie are being caught on jigs and minnows. Bass are
fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on shad
and punchbait. Stripers are hitting spoons and top-water lures.
Blue Mountain Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 420.13 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water
is still high and murky. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish
are fair on worms and large minnows.
Ozark Pool:
Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is
dingy and high. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish are fair below
the dam on cut bait, nightcrawlers and large minnows.
Lake Ouachita:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports
the lake’s elevation at 583.85 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from
Poorman’s Guide Service said the lake is extremely high, but all
boat ramps on the south side of the lake are open and doing well. Bass
are very good, hitting many lures from floating worms to jigs. The key
is to fish deeper than you think fish would normally bed. The old
shoreline is 8 to 10 feet deep, and that’s where most of the bites
have been coming from. Crappie and stripers are hit and miss.
Lake Catherine:
Shane Goodner, owner of
Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the tailrace waters are
extremely muddy and fast flowing. It will be some time until the flood
waters have receded and things get back to normal. While fishing is
possible, the currents are very strong and Entergy is still running
the turbines hard in an effort to clear the flood water. Anyone
navigating the area should use caution and follow all guidelines for
safe boating. One wrong move could easily spell disaster. Flood gates
continue to be open creating dangerous undertow, as well as covering
the area with very muddy water. Very little fishing has been done
since the flooding began March 15.
Diamond Head Marina reported that the water is still
pretty high, but a few fish are being caught. Crappie are fair on
minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits.
Lake Hamilton:
Larry Hurley from
Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are biting very well on jigs and
Carolina rigs with green pumpkin lizards. An extremely large bass was
caught on a crankbait last weekend while filming “Another Day of
Fishing.” Be sure to tune in to KWBF (My 42) Sunday at 9 a.m. to catch
the action.
Lake Atkins:
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is high and
stained. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on
spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on crappie minnows.
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EAST ARKANSAS
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| Arkansas River (Pine Bluff):
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303)
said the water is murky and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows
and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits. Catfishing are fair in
the backwaters on nightcrawlers and large minnows.
White River:
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said water is extremely
high. No report.
Maddox Bay:
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said no report.
Bear Creek Lake:
Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is
stained and high. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are
fair in 8 to 12 feet on minnows and jigs. A few bass have been caught
on spinnerbaits.
Horseshoe Lake:
Local angler Clyde Gregory said it is pretty windy on
Horseshoe Lake and still very high. Crappie are being caught in
shallow water on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair in shallow water
around lily pads on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on
nightcrawlers. |
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