Arkansas Game and Fish Commission´s fishing report for July 1, 2009
Fishing Tip:
Consider blade style when selecting a spinnerbait. Willow leaf blades provide more flash and less vibration; Colorado blades provide more thump and water displacement. When fishing clear water, a willow leaf is the best choice. When fishing murky water or at night, you need to help the fish locate the bait through vibration, so go with a Colorado blade.
Arkansas River Levels
are available at:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt
White River Levels
are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:
Catfish
Northwest Arkansas
Weekly Fishing Report
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Weekly Fishing Report-draft
Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers(501)223-6406, e-mail:
rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us
July
1, 2009 Edition
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July
1, 2009. 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:
Consider blade style when selecting a spinnerbait. Willow leaf blades provide more flash and less vibration; Colorado blades provide more thump and water displacement. When fishing clear water, a willow leaf is the best choice. When fishing murky water or at night, you need to help the fish locate the bait through vibration, so go with a Colorado blade.
Arkansas River Levels
are available at:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt
White River Levels
are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:
Catfish
Central Arkansas
Northeast Arkansas
Southwest Arkansas
North Arkansas
Southeast Arkansas
West-Central Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
South Central Arkansas
East Arkansas
Central Arkansas
Lake Conway:
Bates Field and Stream
(501-470-1846)said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are being caught on redworms and wax worms along the bank. Crappie are biting well on minnows in about 2 feet of water. Bass are biting well on dark-colored spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. No report on catfish.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing
said bass are hitting well on shad color rattle traps and plastic worms.
Bream are doing fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fairly slow.
Catfishing is good.
Little Red River:
Lindsey’s Resort
(501-302-3139)said the fishing is excellent. The water level varies from low in the morning hours to normal around noon when they turn on the generators. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, marshmallows and wax worms when the water is low, and spoons, Rapalas and marabou jigs when the water is high.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) increased water releases at Greers Ferry to 4000 DSF. The volume increased to 4500 DSF on June 30 and may go to 5000 DSF in the near future. Drift fishing from a boat should produce satisfying results most anywhere you care to launch. Aquatic insect hatches are always prolific this time of year. I am seeing midge, BWO, caddis, March brown, sulphur and hexes coming off most every day. The best dries to try include parachute sulphur (sizes 18-20), midge (sizes 22-32; cream), parachute Adams (size 18), March brown (size 14), blue-winged olive (sizes 18-20) and elk hair caddis (sizes 16-20; tan or black). Sub-surface offerings should include sow bug (sizes 14-16; tan, smoky olive, UV tan or UV light gray), zebra midge (sizes 16-22; red, copper or black), San Juan worm (size 14; red, worm brown or fluorescent cerise), copper john (sizes 14-16; green, copper or red), red or green butt soft hackle (sizes 14-18) or woolly bugger (sizes 8-12; olive, brown or black).
Greers Ferry:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
464.94 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service
said the water level is falling by 4-6 inches per day. Hybrid bass are going crazy, even in the heat. There’s even been schooling activity on the surface. No report on crappie. Bream are biting well from 6 inches to 8 feet as well as in 40 feet of water on crawlers and crickets. Catfish are biting well with the flatheads spawning now all over the lake. Walleye have slowed, but the bite should pick up as they get set up deeper. Bass fishing is good with the smallmouth hanging around the thermocline. Kentucky bass are holding around main lake ledges and points. Largemouths are still shallow and can be caught on frogs fished around shade-producing cover.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and a little high. Not many people are fishing because of the heat.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing
(501-889-2745)said the water is back to normal and clear. The bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on minnows and nightcrawlers. Crappie are slow.
Lake Overcup:
Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470)said the water is murky. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good on goldfish and crayfish.
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007) said the water is normal and clear. Bream were biting well on wax worms and crickets near the bank and docks. Crappie are biting fairly well on small minnows and purple/blue/white jigs in deep water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, topwaters and buzzbaits. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with live bait.
Brewer Lake:
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007)said the water is clear and at normal levels. The bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows near brush tops in 15-20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on black plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait and chicken liver.
Lake Maumelle:
Jolly Roger’s Marina
had no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said the water is back to normal and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. There is no report on crappie. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms during the day. Catfish are biting well on live bream and cut bait.
Lake Valencia:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting on crickets. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and package bait.
Sunset Lake:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting excellently on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting in the morning and late evening on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on cheese-flavored Magic Bait in 8-10 feet of water.
Saline River Access in Benton:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is low and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting excellently on small top-water lures. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton:
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo
said the river flow has dropped all the way to 2,100 cfs on some days and the water is clearing. The best fishing has been early and late in the day. Catfishing is good below dams on skipjack and shad strips fished in 15 feet of water. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms fished around grassy areas near riprap and around cover on sandbars. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits fished under overhangs early in the morning and firetiger-colored chatterbaits fished around wood on secondary drops just outside the river channel. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 3 to 8 feet of water early in the day. White bass are biting well, but are focusing on schools of shad. Find the shad balls with your electronics and you should find the white bass.
Arkansas River at Little Rock:
Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff(501-834-5733) had no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets in Fourche Creek, the Maumelle River, the Little Maumelle River and Palarm Creek. Bass are slow on pearl crankbaits, chartreuse spinnerbaits and buzzbaits at the openings of all the backwater areas. Catfishing is good on large minnows, and cut shad.
McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said at Terry Lock and Dam, the water is a little murky. Bream are biting fair on redworms and crickets. Bass are biting well on red shad worms. Catfish are biting well on goldfish, skipjack and shad.
Clear Lake:
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms in shallow water, crappie are biting poorly in deep water on minnows. The bass are biting well on buzzbaits and frogs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake:
Herman’s Landing
(870-241-3731) said the water is at normal levels and clear. The bream are biting poorly along the outer edges of timber on crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on trolled jigs and minnows. Catfish are biting well on noodles with liver or minnows.
Pickthorne Lake:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are slow. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut shad. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and spinnerbaits.
North Arkansas
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid the pattern on the White was for around-the-clock generation of varied flows (3,000 CFS to 12,000 CFS) with lower flows at night and in the morning. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and some limited wade fishing. If possible, fish early in the morning to avoid the heat. The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been productive. Anglers reported success on midge larva patterns. The most effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were 14-16. Copper Johns and pheasant tails also have been productive. During higher flows, the hot patterns have been hot pink San Juan worms and eggs. The sulphurs are still in the upper river. They were sighted from the Dam to the Narrows in numbers but were thinning a bit in the Rim Shoals to Cotter area. This is our major mayfly hatch of the year. They are yellow/orange insects. The best way to fish them is with copper John or pheasant tail nymphs before the hatch begins, when the nymphs are more active. When the nymphs rise to the surface and begin to emerge, switch to partridge and orange or pheasant tail soft hackles. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. The section from White Hole to Cotter has been very popular for float trips. The preferred technique in this section is to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. Most anglers use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. Rim Shoals has fished particularly well. The sulphur hatch is still coming off most days, but is diminished.
Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said fishing has been great with 2 to 4 generators running around the clock. Fly-fishermen are using woolly buggers, San Juan worms and copper johns. The boat fishermen are boing very well with silver and gold Lil’ Cleos. Thomas Spoons in red/gold and rainbow colors are working as well.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said Rim Shoals to Crooked Creek continues to be hot. The average size has been much better in the last two weeks. White River Zig Jigs and Power Bait above and below the catch-and-release zone have been working exceptionally well. Shipps Ferry to Norfork will produce fish, but not as many and not as large as upstream. From the Norfork down to Reds Landing has been slower than usual.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have fished extremely well, particularly on Clouser minnows. The water has reached a much safer level and has cleared substantially.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
667.92 feet MSL.
Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) with Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dockhad no report.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
561.33 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait
said the water temperature is in the mid- to upper 80s. Bluegill fishing is good using crickets, worms and small minnows. Crappie fishing has been fair fishing around 20-30 deep. Minnows have been the bait of choice for the crappie. Catfishing has been fair. Walleye fishing has been fair 20-25 feet deep on night crawlers. Bass fishing has been fair. White bass fishing has been fair. Striper fishing has been slow. Stripers are still being caught in the upper part of the lake north of Bidwell Point.
Norfork Tailwater:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid generation on the Norfork has been limited, which has created some excellent wading. The flows are heavier in the afternoon, during peak power demand. The river received a lot of pressure last week. There was great wadable water every morning and a lot of anglers took advantage of it. The most productive flies have been small black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads and red micro San Juan worms. On higher water, fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Olive woolly buggers accounted for several nice trout. Remember that the water rise happens very fast here. At the earliest hint of rising water, get out. Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well. The hot fly has been the sow bug. Use heavy tippet (4X) and work a short line. This is a great place to escape the heat. The creek is in a tight little valley with lots of tree cover and deceptively cold water.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said fishing is slow, and the fish being caught are small.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
1,128.21 feet MSL.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service
(479-640-3980) said bass fishing is going to be best at night for quite some time. Try dark spinnerbaits or 6-inch lizards worked close to flooded cover along gravel banks. During the day, try a Texas rigged lizard or a hula grub on a football jig head and work them under shaded docks or bluff lines. Crappie fishing has been best early and late. Try trolling the main lake channel south of Hickory creek with small deep-diving crankbaits in white or firetiger, Also try fishing minnows along bluff lines 20 to 35 feet deep next to standing timber. White bass have been schooling the main lake flats early and late and can be caught on a variety of shad-imitating baits. Night fishing remains good along bluff lines and the Highway 12 Bridge under lights using minnows or shad.
Southtown Sporting Goods
(479-443-7148)said the water is 8-10 feet high and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in the brush and trolled crankbaits in deep water. Bass are biting well on big crankbaits, Carolina-rigged plastics and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on live minnows and nightcrawlers.
Beaver Tailwaters:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid fishing and boating on the tailwater has been very active. Hot weather and Cloudless skies usually dictate good morning and evening fishing. Fish are very picky and can be spooky. For the fly fisherman, smaller sizes in flies are the choice. Olive sow bugs, pink scuds, hare’s ear nymphs and copper johns in sizes 18-20 about 6-8 inches under an indicator in deep sections of the river is your best bet. A soft hackle slowly stripped or dead drifted will induce a strike as well. With conventional tackle, Rooster Tails and Power Bait are always very productive. Fish tend to be schooling with the higher water, so work the channels and shady banks.
Kings River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid some great smallmouth bass have come from the Kings this spring. Higher water during the spring made for great spawning and plenty of food. This goes the same for panfish. Tube jigs and finesse worms have been working well in the deep sections. Riffles and tailouts at the end of the rapids are great places to catch feeding fish. Shallow-running Rapalas and crayfish crankbaits excellent choices. Fly anglers will get their fill of bream on terrestrials such as ants, beetles and hopper patterns. Most fish are off their spawning beds and will be moving around freely, so keep your eyes open.
Lake Fayetteville:
Lake Fayetteville Boat
Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is low and murky. The fishing is slow. The only thing to report is that bass are biting in the early morning on top-water lures before the sun is up.
Lake Sequoyah:
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock
(479-444-3475)had no report.
Northeast Arkansas
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA:
Judy Potts of Judy’s Bait
Shoppe at the North entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane
Lake WMA said fishing is still good on all lakes. Bream are doing very well on crickets and redworms, mostly in the mornings and late evenings. A few crappie are being caught at Big Bell Lake and Hurricane Lake. The road to Hurricane Lake is open. Anglers report catching hand-size bream from the bank. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and minnows. The campsites are all dry and ready for the 4th of July weekend. All camping is free in the WMA and is primitive camping only, so don’t expect electric and sewer connections. Fresh water is available across the road from the headquarters going into the WMA. For more information, call Judy’s Bait Shoppe, (501) 428-8726. Our last day of business at this location will be July 8.
Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina
(870-670-4496) said the water is normal and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and stinkbait.
Lake Frierson:
Lake Frierson State Park
said the water is high and muddy. There is no report on bass or crappie. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver. Bream are biting well on crickets.
Spring River:
Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shophad no report.
Southeast Arkansas
Lake Chicot:
Lakeshore Motel and Marina
(870-265-9901) had no report.
Lake Monticello:
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.comsaid boat traffic on the lake has dropped, but bass fishing is picking up. Early and late still seem to be key times for catching. Bass are coming out of 9 to 14 feet of water on drops. Worms in natural colors like watermelon, watermelon/red and tequila sunrise are working well. Fishing should get better as temperatures push the fish to their normal summertime haunts.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
259.39 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service
said Millwood Lake will be drawn down beginning July 13 to control unwanted vegetation and make scheduled repairs. The lake will be drawn to 255.2, 4 feet below normal pool, until February 2010. Boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas will begin to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. As of Monday, June 29, surface water temperature was 87 to 92 degrees. The discharge at the dam was 779 cubic feet per second with two gates open 1 foot each. Main lake visibility is 6-10 inches away from any remaining current in Little River. The USACE campground at Beards Bluff is closed. Bass are in typical seasonal summer routines. The best bite during the last few weeks ranged from daylight until 11 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. until dark. The best bite has been on weightless trick worms or wacky rigs in June bug, grasshopper or kiwi colors. Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and buzz baits, in the clearest water you can find has worked well. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Gold Tennessee Shad and Spring Bream colors are working for a good reaction bite as well. Medium-diving crankbaits like the Deep Little N’s and Bomber crankbaits in brown back/orange belly crawfish or citrus shad colors are taking keeper size bass. Once the sun gets high, switch to a 10-inch worm in black, blue fleck, peanut butter ‘n jelly, or plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. White bass are slow. Crappie improved with the water clarity. Blackmore Roadrunners and live shiners are the best bait during the last few weeks, especially around cypress trees in 17-25 feet of water near deep creek channels and Little River. Channel catfish are biting well on cut shad and chicken livers hung from yo-yos and trotlines in 8 to 12 feet of water.
White Oak Lake:
Local angler John Tilley said the hot weather has really put a damper on fishing. Bass fishing has been slow with very few reports of good catches. Bream have also slowed with only small numbers being reported. A few still remain on the beds but smaller bream have moved into the beds now that the larger males have been caught. Fish a little deeper water near the beds for better size bream. Catfishing is also spotty with a few being caught on jugs and trotlines using live bait. Best times for any fishing has been early morning and late afternoon right at sundown.
Lake Greeson:
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Servicesaid the lake level is 546.24msl and the surface temperature is 91 degrees. The oxygen content of the water below 15 feet is still low. Crappie, black bass, white bass and small catfish are being caught on live bait 6-12 feet deep on brush piles and bamboo condos. Bream are good on crickets. Stripers are slow.
DeGray Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
404.18 feet MSL.
Local angler George
Graves said the surface water temperature is in the high 80s. The temperature is in the upper 60s 20-feet deep. Hybrid fishing is good with many reports coming from all over the lower lake. The best areas have been Spillway Cove, main-lake points at Iron Mountain, lake points 2 and 3 and all along the state park from DeRoche Ridge to Caddo Bend. Look for the few breaking fish and use the fish finder to locate the school (about 20 to 30 feet deep). Large jigging spoons and in-line spinners are working well between first light and 7:30 a.m. Bass fishing is fair. A few breaking fish have been reported off points along the south side of the State Park. A Texas-rigged worm fished in 15 to 20 feet of water is working well on bass that aren’t breaking. Crappie fishing is fair on brush piles in 20 to 25 feet of water between Caddo Drive and Alpine Ridge. Bream fishing is still good on just about any main or secondary lake point, 5 to 15 feet deep.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Winona:
Local angler Steve Warren
said bass are biting well on Devil’s Horses worked across the flats early in the morning. Later in the day, switch to a Texas-rigged bloodline worm or slow-roll a spinnerbait for a bigger bite. Crappie are slow, but the south end of the lake is producing a few.
Lake Dardanelle:
Regina Olson at Spadra Marinasaid fishing has slowed from last week. The best bet for action is to get a tube of crickets and fish for bream. The water level has been stable and near normal. Catfish are still doing well on cut shad and stinkbait. Crappie are biting for about 2 hours a day some time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Largemouth bass are starting to become more active; they are chasing black/blue and white spinners. Bass fishermen are also beginning to do well on frogs early in the mornings.
Blue Mountain Lake:
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop
(479-947-2178) said the water is high and muddy. Catfishing is fair. Crappie are excellent on minnows. No report on bass or bream.
Ozark Pool:
Lakeside Food Mart
(479-667-5155) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on bass minnows, cut shad and nightcrawlers. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and crankbaits.
Lake Ouachita:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had no elevation available.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Servicesaid bass fishing is fair with some schooling action early. Fishing a Texas-rigged 10-inch worm has worked the best during the day. Concentrate on woody cover at the outer edge of the weed line. Striper fishing is excellent. Many big fish have been caught on spoons and swim baits.
Mountain Harbor Resort
said the water level is 577.37 and clear. The surface temperature is 80-86 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair to good on shad-imitating baits and flukes fished on main and secondary points. Top-water action is still good early and late. Large Texas-rigged worms are effective in brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water. Watermelon red, bloodline and red shad are the best colors. Walleye are still good and being caught on bottom bouncers and Lindy rigs on main-lake points near brush. Bream-colored crankbaits also are working. Stripers are very good on live shad or trotline minnows. Main-lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Bream are still excellent on worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are good and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep and moss flats 10 to 20 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports
had no new report.
Lake Hamilton:
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports
had no new report.
Lake Catherine:
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature has risen into the low 60s with the intense heat of the past few weeks. Entergy has been running water continuously during the daylight hours and shutting down only for a few hours after midnight. Starting this week - the turbines won’t be started until around 10 a.m. which will enable trout fishermen to take advantage of still water conditions that are much more suitable for most trout presentations. Rainbow trout move around in small schools during the summer months in still water and actively search for food. Moss is now a problem in the tailrace, so float fishing a nightcrawler or wax worm is the best bet. Power Bait also works well. Trolling the channels with small crayfish crankbaits can be effective. Many white bass are chasing the shad schools below the dam and are being caught on white jigs and spinnerbaits during generation. Large stripers are cruising the shallows feeding on trout and shad. Large top-water baits like C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks offer anglers a good chance to hook these fish when they are feeding on top.
Lake Hinkle:
Bill’s Bait Shop
(479-637-4719)said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in deep water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
Lake Atkins:
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615)said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on jigs and minnows. Bass are slow, but can be caught on crankbaits and jigs in deep water. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, minnows and nightcrawlers. There will be a bream tournament this weekend for kids 12 and under and a fireworks show.
South Central Arkansas
Moro Bay:
Moro Bay State Park
at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the river is at 73.20 feet above sea level (8 feet above normal). It is dropping steadily and fishing has been good. Bank fisherman and boaters are catching bream on worms and crickets. Some catfish are being caught on worms while tight-lining on the bottom. Several bass fishermen have been out lately, but few reports have been given. The Perch Jerk Classic fishing tournament was held June 20 and many good crappie and bream were weighed in. The fishing seems to get better as the water level recedes.
Tri-County Lake:
The water is beginning to drop. Some anglers have made it to the water and are doing well on bass. Fishing is slow at first, but picks up at around mid-morning. Shallow crankbaits, finesse worms and top-water frogs are working well around any growing moss.
Ouachita River Oxbows:
Things are starting to come around. The Ouachita is still high and at flood stage in places, but people are starting to catch crappie on minnows around submerged tops. Catfish are good in channels with running water on trotlines. Bass seem to be hit-or-miss. A few have been caught on light-colored crankbaits and soft plastics fished around brush tops.
East Arkansas
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:
The Tackle Box
(870-534-1498) said the water is normal and murky. Bream are biting well on wax worms, redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 10-12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on June bug Rage Tail worms and Popsicle Bill Norman crankbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait and chicken liver.
White River:
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on tubes. Catfishing is good on Doc’s stinkbait.
Maddox Bay:
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is a little high and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on stinkbait. Bass are fair on crankbaits.
Island 40 Chute:
Daily’s Boat Dock
(870-739-3478)said the water is falling back to normal and is clear. No report on bream. Crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows. Bass are biting well. Catfishing is good on Doc’s stinkbait.
Horseshoe Lake:
Local angler Clyde
Gregory said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting around lily pads on crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well near piers and in deep water on black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are slow on white spinnerbaits near lily pads. Catfishing is good on blood bait.
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» Fishing » Fishing Reports » Weekly Fishing Report
Weekly Fishing Report-draft
Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers(501)223-6406, e-mail:
rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us
July
1, 2009 Edition
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July
1, 2009. 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:
Consider blade style when selecting a spinnerbait. Willow leaf blades provide more flash and less vibration; Colorado blades provide more thump and water displacement. When fishing clear water, a willow leaf is the best choice. When fishing murky water or at night, you need to help the fish locate the bait through vibration, so go with a Colorado blade.
Arkansas River Levels
are available at:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt
White River Levels
are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:
Catfish
Central Arkansas
Northeast Arkansas
Southwest Arkansas
North Arkansas
Southeast Arkansas
West-Central Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
South Central Arkansas
East Arkansas
Central Arkansas
Lake Conway:
Bates Field and Stream
(501-470-1846)said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are being caught on redworms and wax worms along the bank. Crappie are biting well on minnows in about 2 feet of water. Bass are biting well on dark-colored spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. No report on catfish.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing
said bass are hitting well on shad color rattle traps and plastic worms.
Bream are doing fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fairly slow.
Catfishing is good.
Little Red River:
Lindsey’s Resort
(501-302-3139)said the fishing is excellent. The water level varies from low in the morning hours to normal around noon when they turn on the generators. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, marshmallows and wax worms when the water is low, and spoons, Rapalas and marabou jigs when the water is high.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) increased water releases at Greers Ferry to 4000 DSF. The volume increased to 4500 DSF on June 30 and may go to 5000 DSF in the near future. Drift fishing from a boat should produce satisfying results most anywhere you care to launch. Aquatic insect hatches are always prolific this time of year. I am seeing midge, BWO, caddis, March brown, sulphur and hexes coming off most every day. The best dries to try include parachute sulphur (sizes 18-20), midge (sizes 22-32; cream), parachute Adams (size 18), March brown (size 14), blue-winged olive (sizes 18-20) and elk hair caddis (sizes 16-20; tan or black). Sub-surface offerings should include sow bug (sizes 14-16; tan, smoky olive, UV tan or UV light gray), zebra midge (sizes 16-22; red, copper or black), San Juan worm (size 14; red, worm brown or fluorescent cerise), copper john (sizes 14-16; green, copper or red), red or green butt soft hackle (sizes 14-18) or woolly bugger (sizes 8-12; olive, brown or black).
Greers Ferry:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
464.94 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service
said the water level is falling by 4-6 inches per day. Hybrid bass are going crazy, even in the heat. There’s even been schooling activity on the surface. No report on crappie. Bream are biting well from 6 inches to 8 feet as well as in 40 feet of water on crawlers and crickets. Catfish are biting well with the flatheads spawning now all over the lake. Walleye have slowed, but the bite should pick up as they get set up deeper. Bass fishing is good with the smallmouth hanging around the thermocline. Kentucky bass are holding around main lake ledges and points. Largemouths are still shallow and can be caught on frogs fished around shade-producing cover.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and a little high. Not many people are fishing because of the heat.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing
(501-889-2745)said the water is back to normal and clear. The bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on minnows and nightcrawlers. Crappie are slow.
Lake Overcup:
Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470)said the water is murky. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good on goldfish and crayfish.
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007) said the water is normal and clear. Bream were biting well on wax worms and crickets near the bank and docks. Crappie are biting fairly well on small minnows and purple/blue/white jigs in deep water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, topwaters and buzzbaits. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with live bait.
Brewer Lake:
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007)said the water is clear and at normal levels. The bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows near brush tops in 15-20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on black plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait and chicken liver.
Lake Maumelle:
Jolly Roger’s Marina
had no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said the water is back to normal and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. There is no report on crappie. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged plastic worms during the day. Catfish are biting well on live bream and cut bait.
Lake Valencia:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting on crickets. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and package bait.
Sunset Lake:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting excellently on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting in the morning and late evening on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on cheese-flavored Magic Bait in 8-10 feet of water.
Saline River Access in Benton:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is low and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting excellently on small top-water lures. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton:
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo
said the river flow has dropped all the way to 2,100 cfs on some days and the water is clearing. The best fishing has been early and late in the day. Catfishing is good below dams on skipjack and shad strips fished in 15 feet of water. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms fished around grassy areas near riprap and around cover on sandbars. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits fished under overhangs early in the morning and firetiger-colored chatterbaits fished around wood on secondary drops just outside the river channel. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 3 to 8 feet of water early in the day. White bass are biting well, but are focusing on schools of shad. Find the shad balls with your electronics and you should find the white bass.
Arkansas River at Little Rock:
Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff(501-834-5733) had no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets in Fourche Creek, the Maumelle River, the Little Maumelle River and Palarm Creek. Bass are slow on pearl crankbaits, chartreuse spinnerbaits and buzzbaits at the openings of all the backwater areas. Catfishing is good on large minnows, and cut shad.
McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said at Terry Lock and Dam, the water is a little murky. Bream are biting fair on redworms and crickets. Bass are biting well on red shad worms. Catfish are biting well on goldfish, skipjack and shad.
Clear Lake:
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms in shallow water, crappie are biting poorly in deep water on minnows. The bass are biting well on buzzbaits and frogs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake:
Herman’s Landing
(870-241-3731) said the water is at normal levels and clear. The bream are biting poorly along the outer edges of timber on crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on trolled jigs and minnows. Catfish are biting well on noodles with liver or minnows.
Pickthorne Lake:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are slow. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut shad. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and spinnerbaits.
North Arkansas
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid the pattern on the White was for around-the-clock generation of varied flows (3,000 CFS to 12,000 CFS) with lower flows at night and in the morning. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and some limited wade fishing. If possible, fish early in the morning to avoid the heat. The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been productive. Anglers reported success on midge larva patterns. The most effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were 14-16. Copper Johns and pheasant tails also have been productive. During higher flows, the hot patterns have been hot pink San Juan worms and eggs. The sulphurs are still in the upper river. They were sighted from the Dam to the Narrows in numbers but were thinning a bit in the Rim Shoals to Cotter area. This is our major mayfly hatch of the year. They are yellow/orange insects. The best way to fish them is with copper John or pheasant tail nymphs before the hatch begins, when the nymphs are more active. When the nymphs rise to the surface and begin to emerge, switch to partridge and orange or pheasant tail soft hackles. When the trout begin keying in on the adults, switch to sulphur parachute dry flies. The section from White Hole to Cotter has been very popular for float trips. The preferred technique in this section is to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. Most anglers use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. Rim Shoals has fished particularly well. The sulphur hatch is still coming off most days, but is diminished.
Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said fishing has been great with 2 to 4 generators running around the clock. Fly-fishermen are using woolly buggers, San Juan worms and copper johns. The boat fishermen are boing very well with silver and gold Lil’ Cleos. Thomas Spoons in red/gold and rainbow colors are working as well.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said Rim Shoals to Crooked Creek continues to be hot. The average size has been much better in the last two weeks. White River Zig Jigs and Power Bait above and below the catch-and-release zone have been working exceptionally well. Shipps Ferry to Norfork will produce fish, but not as many and not as large as upstream. From the Norfork down to Reds Landing has been slower than usual.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have fished extremely well, particularly on Clouser minnows. The water has reached a much safer level and has cleared substantially.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
667.92 feet MSL.
Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) with Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dockhad no report.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
561.33 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait
said the water temperature is in the mid- to upper 80s. Bluegill fishing is good using crickets, worms and small minnows. Crappie fishing has been fair fishing around 20-30 deep. Minnows have been the bait of choice for the crappie. Catfishing has been fair. Walleye fishing has been fair 20-25 feet deep on night crawlers. Bass fishing has been fair. White bass fishing has been fair. Striper fishing has been slow. Stripers are still being caught in the upper part of the lake north of Bidwell Point.
Norfork Tailwater:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid generation on the Norfork has been limited, which has created some excellent wading. The flows are heavier in the afternoon, during peak power demand. The river received a lot of pressure last week. There was great wadable water every morning and a lot of anglers took advantage of it. The most productive flies have been small black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads and red micro San Juan worms. On higher water, fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Olive woolly buggers accounted for several nice trout. Remember that the water rise happens very fast here. At the earliest hint of rising water, get out. Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well. The hot fly has been the sow bug. Use heavy tippet (4X) and work a short line. This is a great place to escape the heat. The creek is in a tight little valley with lots of tree cover and deceptively cold water.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said fishing is slow, and the fish being caught are small.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
1,128.21 feet MSL.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service
(479-640-3980) said bass fishing is going to be best at night for quite some time. Try dark spinnerbaits or 6-inch lizards worked close to flooded cover along gravel banks. During the day, try a Texas rigged lizard or a hula grub on a football jig head and work them under shaded docks or bluff lines. Crappie fishing has been best early and late. Try trolling the main lake channel south of Hickory creek with small deep-diving crankbaits in white or firetiger, Also try fishing minnows along bluff lines 20 to 35 feet deep next to standing timber. White bass have been schooling the main lake flats early and late and can be caught on a variety of shad-imitating baits. Night fishing remains good along bluff lines and the Highway 12 Bridge under lights using minnows or shad.
Southtown Sporting Goods
(479-443-7148)said the water is 8-10 feet high and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in the brush and trolled crankbaits in deep water. Bass are biting well on big crankbaits, Carolina-rigged plastics and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on live minnows and nightcrawlers.
Beaver Tailwaters:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid fishing and boating on the tailwater has been very active. Hot weather and Cloudless skies usually dictate good morning and evening fishing. Fish are very picky and can be spooky. For the fly fisherman, smaller sizes in flies are the choice. Olive sow bugs, pink scuds, hare’s ear nymphs and copper johns in sizes 18-20 about 6-8 inches under an indicator in deep sections of the river is your best bet. A soft hackle slowly stripped or dead drifted will induce a strike as well. With conventional tackle, Rooster Tails and Power Bait are always very productive. Fish tend to be schooling with the higher water, so work the channels and shady banks.
Kings River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid some great smallmouth bass have come from the Kings this spring. Higher water during the spring made for great spawning and plenty of food. This goes the same for panfish. Tube jigs and finesse worms have been working well in the deep sections. Riffles and tailouts at the end of the rapids are great places to catch feeding fish. Shallow-running Rapalas and crayfish crankbaits excellent choices. Fly anglers will get their fill of bream on terrestrials such as ants, beetles and hopper patterns. Most fish are off their spawning beds and will be moving around freely, so keep your eyes open.
Lake Fayetteville:
Lake Fayetteville Boat
Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is low and murky. The fishing is slow. The only thing to report is that bass are biting in the early morning on top-water lures before the sun is up.
Lake Sequoyah:
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock
(479-444-3475)had no report.
Northeast Arkansas
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA:
Judy Potts of Judy’s Bait
Shoppe at the North entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane
Lake WMA said fishing is still good on all lakes. Bream are doing very well on crickets and redworms, mostly in the mornings and late evenings. A few crappie are being caught at Big Bell Lake and Hurricane Lake. The road to Hurricane Lake is open. Anglers report catching hand-size bream from the bank. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and minnows. The campsites are all dry and ready for the 4th of July weekend. All camping is free in the WMA and is primitive camping only, so don’t expect electric and sewer connections. Fresh water is available across the road from the headquarters going into the WMA. For more information, call Judy’s Bait Shoppe, (501) 428-8726. Our last day of business at this location will be July 8.
Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina
(870-670-4496) said the water is normal and clear. The bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and stinkbait.
Lake Frierson:
Lake Frierson State Park
said the water is high and muddy. There is no report on bass or crappie. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver. Bream are biting well on crickets.
Spring River:
Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shophad no report.
Southeast Arkansas
Lake Chicot:
Lakeshore Motel and Marina
(870-265-9901) had no report.
Lake Monticello:
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.comsaid boat traffic on the lake has dropped, but bass fishing is picking up. Early and late still seem to be key times for catching. Bass are coming out of 9 to 14 feet of water on drops. Worms in natural colors like watermelon, watermelon/red and tequila sunrise are working well. Fishing should get better as temperatures push the fish to their normal summertime haunts.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
259.39 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service
said Millwood Lake will be drawn down beginning July 13 to control unwanted vegetation and make scheduled repairs. The lake will be drawn to 255.2, 4 feet below normal pool, until February 2010. Boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas will begin to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. As of Monday, June 29, surface water temperature was 87 to 92 degrees. The discharge at the dam was 779 cubic feet per second with two gates open 1 foot each. Main lake visibility is 6-10 inches away from any remaining current in Little River. The USACE campground at Beards Bluff is closed. Bass are in typical seasonal summer routines. The best bite during the last few weeks ranged from daylight until 11 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. until dark. The best bite has been on weightless trick worms or wacky rigs in June bug, grasshopper or kiwi colors. Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and buzz baits, in the clearest water you can find has worked well. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Gold Tennessee Shad and Spring Bream colors are working for a good reaction bite as well. Medium-diving crankbaits like the Deep Little N’s and Bomber crankbaits in brown back/orange belly crawfish or citrus shad colors are taking keeper size bass. Once the sun gets high, switch to a 10-inch worm in black, blue fleck, peanut butter ‘n jelly, or plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. White bass are slow. Crappie improved with the water clarity. Blackmore Roadrunners and live shiners are the best bait during the last few weeks, especially around cypress trees in 17-25 feet of water near deep creek channels and Little River. Channel catfish are biting well on cut shad and chicken livers hung from yo-yos and trotlines in 8 to 12 feet of water.
White Oak Lake:
Local angler John Tilley said the hot weather has really put a damper on fishing. Bass fishing has been slow with very few reports of good catches. Bream have also slowed with only small numbers being reported. A few still remain on the beds but smaller bream have moved into the beds now that the larger males have been caught. Fish a little deeper water near the beds for better size bream. Catfishing is also spotty with a few being caught on jugs and trotlines using live bait. Best times for any fishing has been early morning and late afternoon right at sundown.
Lake Greeson:
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Servicesaid the lake level is 546.24msl and the surface temperature is 91 degrees. The oxygen content of the water below 15 feet is still low. Crappie, black bass, white bass and small catfish are being caught on live bait 6-12 feet deep on brush piles and bamboo condos. Bream are good on crickets. Stripers are slow.
DeGray Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
404.18 feet MSL.
Local angler George
Graves said the surface water temperature is in the high 80s. The temperature is in the upper 60s 20-feet deep. Hybrid fishing is good with many reports coming from all over the lower lake. The best areas have been Spillway Cove, main-lake points at Iron Mountain, lake points 2 and 3 and all along the state park from DeRoche Ridge to Caddo Bend. Look for the few breaking fish and use the fish finder to locate the school (about 20 to 30 feet deep). Large jigging spoons and in-line spinners are working well between first light and 7:30 a.m. Bass fishing is fair. A few breaking fish have been reported off points along the south side of the State Park. A Texas-rigged worm fished in 15 to 20 feet of water is working well on bass that aren’t breaking. Crappie fishing is fair on brush piles in 20 to 25 feet of water between Caddo Drive and Alpine Ridge. Bream fishing is still good on just about any main or secondary lake point, 5 to 15 feet deep.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Winona:
Local angler Steve Warren
said bass are biting well on Devil’s Horses worked across the flats early in the morning. Later in the day, switch to a Texas-rigged bloodline worm or slow-roll a spinnerbait for a bigger bite. Crappie are slow, but the south end of the lake is producing a few.
Lake Dardanelle:
Regina Olson at Spadra Marinasaid fishing has slowed from last week. The best bet for action is to get a tube of crickets and fish for bream. The water level has been stable and near normal. Catfish are still doing well on cut shad and stinkbait. Crappie are biting for about 2 hours a day some time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Largemouth bass are starting to become more active; they are chasing black/blue and white spinners. Bass fishermen are also beginning to do well on frogs early in the mornings.
Blue Mountain Lake:
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop
(479-947-2178) said the water is high and muddy. Catfishing is fair. Crappie are excellent on minnows. No report on bass or bream.
Ozark Pool:
Lakeside Food Mart
(479-667-5155) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on bass minnows, cut shad and nightcrawlers. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics and crankbaits.
Lake Ouachita:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had no elevation available.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Servicesaid bass fishing is fair with some schooling action early. Fishing a Texas-rigged 10-inch worm has worked the best during the day. Concentrate on woody cover at the outer edge of the weed line. Striper fishing is excellent. Many big fish have been caught on spoons and swim baits.
Mountain Harbor Resort
said the water level is 577.37 and clear. The surface temperature is 80-86 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair to good on shad-imitating baits and flukes fished on main and secondary points. Top-water action is still good early and late. Large Texas-rigged worms are effective in brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water. Watermelon red, bloodline and red shad are the best colors. Walleye are still good and being caught on bottom bouncers and Lindy rigs on main-lake points near brush. Bream-colored crankbaits also are working. Stripers are very good on live shad or trotline minnows. Main-lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Bream are still excellent on worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are good and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep and moss flats 10 to 20 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports
had no new report.
Lake Hamilton:
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports
had no new report.
Lake Catherine:
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature has risen into the low 60s with the intense heat of the past few weeks. Entergy has been running water continuously during the daylight hours and shutting down only for a few hours after midnight. Starting this week - the turbines won’t be started until around 10 a.m. which will enable trout fishermen to take advantage of still water conditions that are much more suitable for most trout presentations. Rainbow trout move around in small schools during the summer months in still water and actively search for food. Moss is now a problem in the tailrace, so float fishing a nightcrawler or wax worm is the best bet. Power Bait also works well. Trolling the channels with small crayfish crankbaits can be effective. Many white bass are chasing the shad schools below the dam and are being caught on white jigs and spinnerbaits during generation. Large stripers are cruising the shallows feeding on trout and shad. Large top-water baits like C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks offer anglers a good chance to hook these fish when they are feeding on top.
Lake Hinkle:
Bill’s Bait Shop
(479-637-4719)said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in deep water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
Lake Atkins:
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615)said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on jigs and minnows. Bass are slow, but can be caught on crankbaits and jigs in deep water. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, minnows and nightcrawlers. There will be a bream tournament this weekend for kids 12 and under and a fireworks show.
South Central Arkansas
Moro Bay:
Moro Bay State Park
at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the river is at 73.20 feet above sea level (8 feet above normal). It is dropping steadily and fishing has been good. Bank fisherman and boaters are catching bream on worms and crickets. Some catfish are being caught on worms while tight-lining on the bottom. Several bass fishermen have been out lately, but few reports have been given. The Perch Jerk Classic fishing tournament was held June 20 and many good crappie and bream were weighed in. The fishing seems to get better as the water level recedes.
Tri-County Lake:
The water is beginning to drop. Some anglers have made it to the water and are doing well on bass. Fishing is slow at first, but picks up at around mid-morning. Shallow crankbaits, finesse worms and top-water frogs are working well around any growing moss.
Ouachita River Oxbows:
Things are starting to come around. The Ouachita is still high and at flood stage in places, but people are starting to catch crappie on minnows around submerged tops. Catfish are good in channels with running water on trotlines. Bass seem to be hit-or-miss. A few have been caught on light-colored crankbaits and soft plastics fished around brush tops.
East Arkansas
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:
The Tackle Box
(870-534-1498) said the water is normal and murky. Bream are biting well on wax worms, redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 10-12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on June bug Rage Tail worms and Popsicle Bill Norman crankbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait and chicken liver.
White River:
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on tubes. Catfishing is good on Doc’s stinkbait.
Maddox Bay:
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is a little high and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on stinkbait. Bass are fair on crankbaits.
Island 40 Chute:
Daily’s Boat Dock
(870-739-3478)said the water is falling back to normal and is clear. No report on bream. Crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows. Bass are biting well. Catfishing is good on Doc’s stinkbait.
Horseshoe Lake:
Local angler Clyde
Gregory said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting around lily pads on crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well near piers and in deep water on black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are slow on white spinnerbaits near lily pads. Catfishing is good on blood bait.
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