Arkansas Game and Fish Commission´s fishing report for July 15, 2009
Fishing Tip:
Want to trout fish with flies but don’t know how to use a fly rod? Just use an ultralight spinning rod. Use a small clip-on bobber about a foot or two above the fly to add casting weight. The bobber will double as a strike indicator.
Cast the fly just upstream of likely spots and let the fly drift through them under the bobber. The bobber doesn’t need to dip under the water to indicate a strike; it will often just stop or move sideways in the current. Reel down until the line is tight and set the hook.
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
Northwest Arkansas
Weekly Fishing Report
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» Fishing » Fishing Reports » Weekly Fishing Report
FR-draft
Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers(501)223-6406, e-mail:
rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us
July
15, 2009 Edition
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July
15, 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:
Want to trout fish with flies but don’t know how to use a fly rod? Just use an ultralight spinning rod. Use a small clip-on bobber about a foot or two above the fly to add casting weight. The bobber will double as a strike indicator.
Cast the fly just upstream of likely spots and let the fly drift through them under the bobber. The bobber doesn’t need to dip under the water to indicate a strike; it will often just stop or move sideways in the current. Reel down until the line is tight and set the hook.
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
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 fishing conditions are the same as last week. Water is stained and at a normal level. Bream are being caught on redworms, wax worms, and crickets along the bank. Crappie are biting on minnows near cypress trees and the bank in the late evening. Bass are biting well on dark-colored plastic worms and white spinnerbaits. Catfish are doing well on trotlines with minnows and bream.
Little Red River:
Lindsey’s Resort
(501-302-3139)said the fishing is good. Generators have virtually stopped running. The water is low and clear. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, marshmallows and pink Power Eggs during the morning when the water level is low. Trout Magnets (pink, gold) and Rooster Tails (black, orange) work well when the water level is higher.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Lake level is near top-power pool, and water releases have been reduced. Wade-fishing opportunities abound on almost every shoal on the Little Red River. The average dissolved oxygen in the water surging through the turbines is 8.2 parts per million with an average temperature of 53 degrees. Aquatic insect hatches are occurring sporadically almost every day. Tons of midges have been seen from Libby to Mossy Shoal on the Little Red. A few caddis were hatching downstream below Lobo Landing. If you are dry fly-fishing, tie on a foam hopper pattern (e.g. Dave’s Hopper; size 10-12). You can also use the hopper as a strike indicator; tie on a nymph dropper 12-18 inches below a hopper-dropper. Other effective dry flies include bwo (size 18-20), elk hair caddis (size 16-20; tan), Adams (size 18) or March brown (size 14). If you’re fishing below the surface, try a sow bug (size 14-16; smoky olive, tan or peacock), copper john (size 14-16; red, green or copper), zebra midge (size 16-22; red, black or copper), San Juan worm (size 14; red, worm brown or fl. cerise), red or green soft hackle (size 14-18) or woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive, brown or black).
Greers Ferry:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
461.88 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service
said the lake level has been falling. Crappie are feeding in pole timber in 15-20 feet of water; they can be caught with jigs or minnows on brush piles at the same depth. The bass fishing is good with big worms, Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits on brush piles 15-40 feet deep. If the bass aren’t biting, scale down to a shakey head worm and try fishing slowly. Bream are biting on crickets and crawlers all over the lake. Catfish are biting well on crawlers and bream fished on jugs and lines. The lake is full of catfish. White bass and hybrids are biting when water is being generated, which mostly occurs from 4-6 p.m. They are schooling during the day. Try humps and points with your electronics to find fish. If they are not feeding, get close to them with spoons, hair jigs and in-line spinners.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and normal. They had no report.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing
(501-889-2745)said fishing is slow. The water is normal and murky.
Lake Overcup:
Lakeview Landing
(501-354-1470)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie and bass fishing are slow. Catfish are biting well on goldfish and large minnows.
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on brown jigs as well as red, white and blue jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on buzzbaits and spinners. Catfish are biting well on trotlines with live bait.
Brewer Lake:
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007)said the water is clear and normal. Bream are biting well on crickets near the bank. Crappie are biting fairly well on small minnows in deep water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and plastic worms. Catfish are biting fairly well on shad and live bream.
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 stained. Bream are biting on crickets. Bass are biting well on large minnows. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and package bait. No report on crappie.
Sunset Lake:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass are slow. Catfish are biting excellently on live bait.
Saline River Access in Benton:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is normal and clear. The bream are biting excellently on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting fairly well on plastic worms. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton:
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo
said flows are good on the river and the water is clearing. Black bass are biting around grassy points and rip rap. Try a 1/8 ounce or ¼ ounce white spinner in shad schools. Catfish can be found in 15 to 30 feet of water while drifting with whole shad. Bream are good under overhanging limbs. Crickets are working well. Crappie can be found around creek mouths and underwater structures in about 18 feet of water using minnows. White bass are schooling early and late in the day. Stripers are hitting crankbaits.
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 redworms at Fourche La Fave. Bass are biting well on pearl-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on large minnows and nightcrawlers. At Fourche Creek bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on large minnows and cut bait. At Big Maumelle Creek bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits or plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait, shad or skipjack.
McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said the water is normal and clear with hardly any flow at Terry Lock and Dam. Bream are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting poorly. Bass are biting fairly well on red shad worms. Catfish are biting on goldfish and skipjack.
Clear Lake:
McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows. Bass are biting well on bloodline worms. Catfishing is fair on catalpa worms.
Peckerwood Lake:
Herman’s Landing
(870-241-3731) said the water is falling and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are doing well on worms and liver.
Pickthorne Lake:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said the bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are slow. Catfishing is good on large minnows. Bass are biting on spinnerbaits.
North Arkansas
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid during the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows, which have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This has created challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a mixed bag this past week: some days have been excellent, others have been slow. On the higher flows, the ticket to success has been to fish brightly colored flies under an indicator. The best patterns have been hot pink or red San Juan worms and orange egg patterns. With the water this high, you need to use long tippet/ leader combinations (12 to 14 feet). Don’t forget to fish with plenty of lead; try using AAA splitshot, a heavily weighted fly and also use a heavy tippet (4X) to handle the additional weight. Note: this rig is not going to be easy to cast. Open up your loop and try to keep it away from your head. Concentrate along the banks and over any sunken islands or weed beds. Sulphur numbers are greatly diminished. We still see a few in the afternoon, but their significance to the trout is nearly over. 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 best flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and similar oversized streamers. The secret: get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines, most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods. Rim Shoals has fished particularly well this past week. The water has been lower in the morning, and the hot flies have been black zebra midges with silver wire and bead. The most productive size has been 14 to 16. The heavier flows come around 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., when it is best to switch to brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. If you must wade, there is usually some wadable water as long as generation is less than 17,000 cubic feet per second. Contact Rim Shoals Trout Dock to arrange a water taxi to shuttle you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.
Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said fishing is good. Fish can be caught on White River-rigs with Power Bait or trout worms and small lures. Fishing is good on stickbaits, Rapalas or Rogues.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185)
said Rim Shoals continues to be hot. White River Zig Jigs on spinning tackle, hot pink San Juan Worms and peach egg patterns have been successful. Norfork down to Reds Landing continues to be a little slow. Power Baits on the bottom will produce, as will Rapala cast to the bank, but the numbers have not been nearly as good compared with the Rim Shoals area.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have fished extremely well this week, particularly on Clouser minnows, Barr’s meat whistles and crawfish patterns. The water has reached a much safer level and cleared substantially. This is a reliable place to do some wade fishing.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
662.16 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
557.52 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 River has increased substantially, which has severely limited wading. With the more aggressive generation, wadable water in less than five weeks is predicted. The river has received less pressure this week. There is no more wadable water in the morning, but there is some low water at night. If you choose to fish at night, you’re advised be very careful and plan your escape—the water can rise anytime. Once generation begins around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. drift fishing from a boat is the only option. Employ classic high-water tactics. Fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator with plenty of weight. Dry Run Creek has been busy this past week; school is out and the traffic on the creek has greatly increased. It is less crowded during the week and late in the afternoon (after 4 p.m.). The main food source on the creek is sowbugs. After a rain, worm patterns are particularly effective. Other productive flies are Y2Ks and woolly buggers. Work a short line, as there is a lot of tree cover.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said fishing remains fairly slow, but there was a 39-inch Brown caught and released last week in the McClellan area on a live river shiner minnow.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
1,127.24 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 high but falling and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and shad under lights at night. Black bass are getting in the summer pattern of night fishing. White bass are biting well on top-water lures in the early evening. Other fish are biting well on big soft plastic worms, top-water lures and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good with live bait on limb lines and trotlines.
Beaver Tailwaters:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid smaller sizes in flies are the choice for fly fishermen. Olive sowbugs, pink scuds, hares ear nymphs, and copper johns work in sizes 18-22. Setting these up about 6-8 feet under an indicator in the deep sections of the river is your best bet. A soft hackle slowly stripped or dead-drifted may also induce a strike. Fish seem to stay close to the bottom, so make sure those flies can get to the bottom. With conventional tackle, Rooster Tails and Power Bait are always productive. Crawfish and small baitfish hardbaits are a good bet as well. Fish tend to be schooling with the higher water, so work the channels and shady banks.
Kings River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid warm weather and less rainfall have caused the river level to drop, but this does not mean fishing has slowed. Tube jigs and finesse worms have been working well in the deep sections. The riffles and tail outs at the end of the rapids are great places to catch feeding fish. Shallow-running Rapalas and crayfish hardbaits are great options too. Fly fishermen might try terrestrials. Doing so won’t produce large bass, but fly anglers will get their fill of bluegill and sun perch. Dry flies are worth a try. Wet flies such as clousers in olive or white, crayfish, muddlers, and woolly buggers will entice low-lying bass. Try a sink tip or a very long leader and let these bounce off the bottom. A quick retrieval will excite feeding fish, but erratic action is a great way of prospecting. Most fish are off their spawning beds and move around freely, so keep your eyes open.
Lake Fayetteville:
Lake Fayetteville Boat
Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is nearly normal and murky with a surface temperature in the low 90s. Fishing is a little slow. Some bluegill are being caught on crickets. Catfishing is good on crickets.
Lake Sequoyah:
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock
(479-444-3475)said the water is dingy and about two feet above normal. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in shallow water around treetops on minnows and Roadrunners. Bass are biting fairly well in 1-3 feet of water on plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and shad in 8-10 feet of water.
Northeast Arkansas
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA:
No report this week.
Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina
(870-670-4496) said the water is normal, clear and a little too warm. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass are slow. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Frierson:
Lake Frierson State Park
said the water is normal and muddy. Catfish are doing well on chicken liver in coves.
Spring River:
Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shopsaid the Warm Fork has gotten murky, but the Spring River is clear and greenish. Fishing has been somewhat difficult in recent weeks, but great fishing is available. The trick lately has been to go where there are no people. Try fishing a large Coachman in deep water. The Brownie and Snail lures have been great producers, too. In the tougher spots a small Hare’s Ear can do the trick.
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 the lake’s surface temperature has dropped to about 90 degrees. The bass are biting worms and jigs in 8-16 feet of water. Dark-colored worms in tequila, junebug and black have been working the best. Black/red and black/blue seem to be the best colors for jig fishing. A few bass are being caught on crankbaits. Shad and chartreuse-colored flatsides like the Basshunter BH4 and Tight Kicker are doing the job. Schooling is spotty. If you are lucky enough to be around when the fish come up, a Devil’s Horse or Pop R will entice bites. The lily pads are holding some quality bass. Senkos and frogs in the pads are working. The same top-water lures mentioned above are working around the edges of the pads.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
258.9 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service
said the 4-foot drawdown has begun with a discharge of 5,101 CFS with 13 gates open 1-foot each. Main lake visibility is approximately 10-15 inches away from any remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately 15-18 inches and improving. The USACE campground at Beards Bluff is closed. Bass are in typical seasonal summer patterns on Millwood and are steadily improving their appetites early and late in the day. The best bites over the past few weeks range from sunrise until 11 a.m. and then again between 6 and 8 p.m. The best bass bite has been on weightless trick worms, wacky rigs, crankbaits, YUM Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and buzz baits. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Shad Daddy and Purple Haze colors are working well in the clearer areas of the oxbows. Medium running-depth crankbaits like Bomber or Excalibur cranks in brown, black/orange belly crawfish, white shad and citrus shad colors are taking some keeper-size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets high, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 10-inch worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut Butter ‘n Jelly, or Plum; try pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. Major or secondary points in the Little River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything; they are near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. The white bass bite is slow. Crappie are biting fairly well on Blakemore Roadrunners and Southern Pro Crappie Tubes. Live shiners are the best bait in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17- to 25-foot depths, deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or planted brush piles along the Little River. Catfish are biting well on cut shad, hot dogs, Charlie, and chicken livers on yo-yos hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12 feet of water and on trotlines in the Little River.
White Oak Lake:
Local angler John Tilley
had no report.
Lake Greeson:
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Servicehad no report.
Cossatot River:
Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park said USGA states the water level is at 1.93 feet, and the surface temperature ranges from 80 degrees to 85 degrees. Fishing is a little slow but productive early and late in the day. Good numbers of bass have been caught on green pumpkin finesse worms and gray or brown grub worms. Both worms work well on 1/8 ounce jig heads fished like a Texas-rigged worm around drops. Perch have been biting well on worms and crickets. Some fishermen have been having luck with catfish at night with worms in the deeper pools.
DeGray Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
403.4 feet MSL.
Local angler George
Graves said the water is clear with a surface temperature in the high 80s. Hybrid fishing is good, especially at the lower end of the lake; the area between the state park and dam has been the best. Try looking for any breaking fish, then search for the schools with your sonar – the fish will be 20-25 feet down. Throw a good-sized, (3/4 to 1 ounce) jigging spoon or a big in-line spinner into the schools. The best time to fish for hybrids is at sunrise and very late in the evening. Bass fishing has been fair with a few reports coming from around the state park and Iron Mountain area. Look for breaking fish early, and use a top-water lure or swim bait. If the fish are not breaking, try a Texas-rigged worm on main lake points next to deep water. Crappies are biting fairly well on the deep brush piles; Try Caddo Drive to Edgewood lures. The best lures are either a 2-inch grub in Tennessee shad on a 1/ 16-ounce jighead, or live minnows. Trying fishing about 15 feet deep directly over the brush. Bream fishing has been good with almost any shallow secondary point producing. Try fishing in water about 5-15 feet deep. Big fish will be near the bottom. Use either worms or crickets.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Nimrod:
Lake Nimrod Bait and More
II (479-272-4025) had no report this week.
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 a little high and clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows and worms. Catfishing is slow. Bass are biting well on minnows.
Ozark Pool:
Lakeside Food Mart
(479-667-5155) said the water is low and getting clearer. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting minnows in about 12 feet of water. Catfishing is good on shad and nightcrawlers, especially when drift-fishing below the dam. Black bass are biting on soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Black bass are biting on 10-inch worms.
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 temperature fluctuates between 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 fished in brush piles in 18-25 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 are also effective. Stripers are very good on live shad or trot line minnows. Main lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Bream are still excellent with worms or crickets in 18-25 feet of water. Crappie are good and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20-30 feet deep and moss flats 10-20 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 trot lines.
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,
reported that water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 59 degrees in the main channel. The temperature will rise only a few degrees throughout the day, which doesn’t adversely affect the fish. Rainbow trout are present in good numbers from the bridge to the dam. Most trout are feeding at night and are extremely hard to catch during the day. Anglers must be patient and stick with proven techniques in order to be successful. Wax and meal worms fished just off the bottom with marshmallows or under a bobber will produce strikes when cast around visible structure and sand bars. Redworms and nightcrawlers used in the same manner also work. Power Bait is another proven presentation. Fly fishermen have taken some quality rainbows casting San Juan worms and woolly buggers over shallow water close to the dam. Threadfin shad schools are moving in and out of the tailrace, indicating that stripers and hybrids are cruising the channels. Rainbow trout-colored baits are the best bet for top-water lures, as these huge predators chase trout on a daily basis. Gizzard shad is favored over brood shad with live-bait rigs. Most of the striper action occurs when the turbines are running in the late evening.
Lake Hinkle:
Bill’s Bait Shop
(479-637-4719)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and plugs. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, goldfish and shiners.
Lake Atkins:
Lucky Landing
(479-641-7615)said fishing conditions are the same as last week. The water is normal and clear. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is slow, but they can be caught in deep water on crankbaits and jigs. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, minnows, nightcrawlers and crickets.
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:
Fishing has hit a plateau. Crappie are hitting minnows and light-colored jigs outside tree lines and around brush tops when fished about 3 feet deep. Bass are biting well in the morning on slow top-water plugs, but they don’t bite as well later in the day. Bream are biting very well on crickets about 4 feet from the banks. Spotted bass are biting on spinnerbaits in places of the Ouchita River with swirling water.
East Arkansas
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:
The Tackle Box
(870-534-1498) said the water is stained and high. Bream are doing well on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow but biting on minnows in deep water. Bass are biting excellently on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and frogs. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
White River:
Triangle Sports
(870-793-7122) had no report.
Maddox Bay:
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is a little high and falling, but clear. Bream are biting excellently on crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting Doc’s stinkbait. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and plastic worms.
Bear Creek Lake:
Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) had no report.
Island 40 Chute:
Daily’s Boat Dock
(870-739-3478)said the water is normal and clear. Fishing is good. Crappie are biting on chartreuse jigs and many other lures.
Horseshoe Lake:
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and normal. Fishing is slow. Bream are being caught on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on minnows and jigs, especially around lily pads. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
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» Fishing » Fishing Reports » Weekly Fishing Report
FR-draft
Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers(501)223-6406, e-mail:
rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us
July
15, 2009 Edition
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July
15, 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:
Want to trout fish with flies but don’t know how to use a fly rod? Just use an ultralight spinning rod. Use a small clip-on bobber about a foot or two above the fly to add casting weight. The bobber will double as a strike indicator.
Cast the fly just upstream of likely spots and let the fly drift through them under the bobber. The bobber doesn’t need to dip under the water to indicate a strike; it will often just stop or move sideways in the current. Reel down until the line is tight and set the hook.
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
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 fishing conditions are the same as last week. Water is stained and at a normal level. Bream are being caught on redworms, wax worms, and crickets along the bank. Crappie are biting on minnows near cypress trees and the bank in the late evening. Bass are biting well on dark-colored plastic worms and white spinnerbaits. Catfish are doing well on trotlines with minnows and bream.
Little Red River:
Lindsey’s Resort
(501-302-3139)said the fishing is good. Generators have virtually stopped running. The water is low and clear. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, marshmallows and pink Power Eggs during the morning when the water level is low. Trout Magnets (pink, gold) and Rooster Tails (black, orange) work well when the water level is higher.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Lake level is near top-power pool, and water releases have been reduced. Wade-fishing opportunities abound on almost every shoal on the Little Red River. The average dissolved oxygen in the water surging through the turbines is 8.2 parts per million with an average temperature of 53 degrees. Aquatic insect hatches are occurring sporadically almost every day. Tons of midges have been seen from Libby to Mossy Shoal on the Little Red. A few caddis were hatching downstream below Lobo Landing. If you are dry fly-fishing, tie on a foam hopper pattern (e.g. Dave’s Hopper; size 10-12). You can also use the hopper as a strike indicator; tie on a nymph dropper 12-18 inches below a hopper-dropper. Other effective dry flies include bwo (size 18-20), elk hair caddis (size 16-20; tan), Adams (size 18) or March brown (size 14). If you’re fishing below the surface, try a sow bug (size 14-16; smoky olive, tan or peacock), copper john (size 14-16; red, green or copper), zebra midge (size 16-22; red, black or copper), San Juan worm (size 14; red, worm brown or fl. cerise), red or green soft hackle (size 14-18) or woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive, brown or black).
Greers Ferry:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
461.88 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service
said the lake level has been falling. Crappie are feeding in pole timber in 15-20 feet of water; they can be caught with jigs or minnows on brush piles at the same depth. The bass fishing is good with big worms, Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits on brush piles 15-40 feet deep. If the bass aren’t biting, scale down to a shakey head worm and try fishing slowly. Bream are biting on crickets and crawlers all over the lake. Catfish are biting well on crawlers and bream fished on jugs and lines. The lake is full of catfish. White bass and hybrids are biting when water is being generated, which mostly occurs from 4-6 p.m. They are schooling during the day. Try humps and points with your electronics to find fish. If they are not feeding, get close to them with spoons, hair jigs and in-line spinners.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear and normal. They had no report.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing
(501-889-2745)said fishing is slow. The water is normal and murky.
Lake Overcup:
Lakeview Landing
(501-354-1470)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie and bass fishing are slow. Catfish are biting well on goldfish and large minnows.
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on brown jigs as well as red, white and blue jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on buzzbaits and spinners. Catfish are biting well on trotlines with live bait.
Brewer Lake:
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007)said the water is clear and normal. Bream are biting well on crickets near the bank. Crappie are biting fairly well on small minnows in deep water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and plastic worms. Catfish are biting fairly well on shad and live bream.
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 stained. Bream are biting on crickets. Bass are biting well on large minnows. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and package bait. No report on crappie.
Sunset Lake:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass are slow. Catfish are biting excellently on live bait.
Saline River Access in Benton:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor
Sports (501-315-3061)said the water is normal and clear. The bream are biting excellently on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting fairly well on plastic worms. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton:
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo
said flows are good on the river and the water is clearing. Black bass are biting around grassy points and rip rap. Try a 1/8 ounce or ¼ ounce white spinner in shad schools. Catfish can be found in 15 to 30 feet of water while drifting with whole shad. Bream are good under overhanging limbs. Crickets are working well. Crappie can be found around creek mouths and underwater structures in about 18 feet of water using minnows. White bass are schooling early and late in the day. Stripers are hitting crankbaits.
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 redworms at Fourche La Fave. Bass are biting well on pearl-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on large minnows and nightcrawlers. At Fourche Creek bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on large minnows and cut bait. At Big Maumelle Creek bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits or plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait, shad or skipjack.
McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said the water is normal and clear with hardly any flow at Terry Lock and Dam. Bream are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting poorly. Bass are biting fairly well on red shad worms. Catfish are biting on goldfish and skipjack.
Clear Lake:
McSwain Sports Center
(501-945-2471) said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows. Bass are biting well on bloodline worms. Catfishing is fair on catalpa worms.
Peckerwood Lake:
Herman’s Landing
(870-241-3731) said the water is falling and clear. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are doing well on worms and liver.
Pickthorne Lake:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop
(501-758-4958) said the bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are slow. Catfishing is good on large minnows. Bass are biting on spinnerbaits.
North Arkansas
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid during the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows, which have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This has created challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing.
The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a mixed bag this past week: some days have been excellent, others have been slow. On the higher flows, the ticket to success has been to fish brightly colored flies under an indicator. The best patterns have been hot pink or red San Juan worms and orange egg patterns. With the water this high, you need to use long tippet/ leader combinations (12 to 14 feet). Don’t forget to fish with plenty of lead; try using AAA splitshot, a heavily weighted fly and also use a heavy tippet (4X) to handle the additional weight. Note: this rig is not going to be easy to cast. Open up your loop and try to keep it away from your head. Concentrate along the banks and over any sunken islands or weed beds. Sulphur numbers are greatly diminished. We still see a few in the afternoon, but their significance to the trout is nearly over. 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 best flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and similar oversized streamers. The secret: get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines, most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods. Rim Shoals has fished particularly well this past week. The water has been lower in the morning, and the hot flies have been black zebra midges with silver wire and bead. The most productive size has been 14 to 16. The heavier flows come around 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., when it is best to switch to brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. If you must wade, there is usually some wadable water as long as generation is less than 17,000 cubic feet per second. Contact Rim Shoals Trout Dock to arrange a water taxi to shuttle you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to go.
Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said fishing is good. Fish can be caught on White River-rigs with Power Bait or trout worms and small lures. Fishing is good on stickbaits, Rapalas or Rogues.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185)
said Rim Shoals continues to be hot. White River Zig Jigs on spinning tackle, hot pink San Juan Worms and peach egg patterns have been successful. Norfork down to Reds Landing continues to be a little slow. Power Baits on the bottom will produce, as will Rapala cast to the bank, but the numbers have not been nearly as good compared with the Rim Shoals area.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Servicesaid Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have fished extremely well this week, particularly on Clouser minnows, Barr’s meat whistles and crawfish patterns. The water has reached a much safer level and cleared substantially. This is a reliable place to do some wade fishing.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
662.16 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
557.52 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 River has increased substantially, which has severely limited wading. With the more aggressive generation, wadable water in less than five weeks is predicted. The river has received less pressure this week. There is no more wadable water in the morning, but there is some low water at night. If you choose to fish at night, you’re advised be very careful and plan your escape—the water can rise anytime. Once generation begins around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. drift fishing from a boat is the only option. Employ classic high-water tactics. Fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator with plenty of weight. Dry Run Creek has been busy this past week; school is out and the traffic on the creek has greatly increased. It is less crowded during the week and late in the afternoon (after 4 p.m.). The main food source on the creek is sowbugs. After a rain, worm patterns are particularly effective. Other productive flies are Y2Ks and woolly buggers. Work a short line, as there is a lot of tree cover.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said fishing remains fairly slow, but there was a 39-inch Brown caught and released last week in the McClellan area on a live river shiner minnow.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
1,127.24 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 high but falling and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and shad under lights at night. Black bass are getting in the summer pattern of night fishing. White bass are biting well on top-water lures in the early evening. Other fish are biting well on big soft plastic worms, top-water lures and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good with live bait on limb lines and trotlines.
Beaver Tailwaters:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid smaller sizes in flies are the choice for fly fishermen. Olive sowbugs, pink scuds, hares ear nymphs, and copper johns work in sizes 18-22. Setting these up about 6-8 feet under an indicator in the deep sections of the river is your best bet. A soft hackle slowly stripped or dead-drifted may also induce a strike. Fish seem to stay close to the bottom, so make sure those flies can get to the bottom. With conventional tackle, Rooster Tails and Power Bait are always productive. Crawfish and small baitfish hardbaits are a good bet as well. Fish tend to be schooling with the higher water, so work the channels and shady banks.
Kings River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guidessaid warm weather and less rainfall have caused the river level to drop, but this does not mean fishing has slowed. Tube jigs and finesse worms have been working well in the deep sections. The riffles and tail outs at the end of the rapids are great places to catch feeding fish. Shallow-running Rapalas and crayfish hardbaits are great options too. Fly fishermen might try terrestrials. Doing so won’t produce large bass, but fly anglers will get their fill of bluegill and sun perch. Dry flies are worth a try. Wet flies such as clousers in olive or white, crayfish, muddlers, and woolly buggers will entice low-lying bass. Try a sink tip or a very long leader and let these bounce off the bottom. A quick retrieval will excite feeding fish, but erratic action is a great way of prospecting. Most fish are off their spawning beds and move around freely, so keep your eyes open.
Lake Fayetteville:
Lake Fayetteville Boat
Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is nearly normal and murky with a surface temperature in the low 90s. Fishing is a little slow. Some bluegill are being caught on crickets. Catfishing is good on crickets.
Lake Sequoyah:
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock
(479-444-3475)said the water is dingy and about two feet above normal. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in shallow water around treetops on minnows and Roadrunners. Bass are biting fairly well in 1-3 feet of water on plastic worms and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and shad in 8-10 feet of water.
Northeast Arkansas
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA:
No report this week.
Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina
(870-670-4496) said the water is normal, clear and a little too warm. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass are slow. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Frierson:
Lake Frierson State Park
said the water is normal and muddy. Catfish are doing well on chicken liver in coves.
Spring River:
Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shopsaid the Warm Fork has gotten murky, but the Spring River is clear and greenish. Fishing has been somewhat difficult in recent weeks, but great fishing is available. The trick lately has been to go where there are no people. Try fishing a large Coachman in deep water. The Brownie and Snail lures have been great producers, too. In the tougher spots a small Hare’s Ear can do the trick.
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 the lake’s surface temperature has dropped to about 90 degrees. The bass are biting worms and jigs in 8-16 feet of water. Dark-colored worms in tequila, junebug and black have been working the best. Black/red and black/blue seem to be the best colors for jig fishing. A few bass are being caught on crankbaits. Shad and chartreuse-colored flatsides like the Basshunter BH4 and Tight Kicker are doing the job. Schooling is spotty. If you are lucky enough to be around when the fish come up, a Devil’s Horse or Pop R will entice bites. The lily pads are holding some quality bass. Senkos and frogs in the pads are working. The same top-water lures mentioned above are working around the edges of the pads.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
258.9 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service
said the 4-foot drawdown has begun with a discharge of 5,101 CFS with 13 gates open 1-foot each. Main lake visibility is approximately 10-15 inches away from any remaining current in Little River. The river clarity is approximately 15-18 inches and improving. The USACE campground at Beards Bluff is closed. Bass are in typical seasonal summer patterns on Millwood and are steadily improving their appetites early and late in the day. The best bites over the past few weeks range from sunrise until 11 a.m. and then again between 6 and 8 p.m. The best bass bite has been on weightless trick worms, wacky rigs, crankbaits, YUM Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and buzz baits. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Shad Daddy and Purple Haze colors are working well in the clearer areas of the oxbows. Medium running-depth crankbaits like Bomber or Excalibur cranks in brown, black/orange belly crawfish, white shad and citrus shad colors are taking some keeper-size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets high, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 10-inch worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut Butter ‘n Jelly, or Plum; try pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. Major or secondary points in the Little River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything; they are near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. The white bass bite is slow. Crappie are biting fairly well on Blakemore Roadrunners and Southern Pro Crappie Tubes. Live shiners are the best bait in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17- to 25-foot depths, deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or planted brush piles along the Little River. Catfish are biting well on cut shad, hot dogs, Charlie, and chicken livers on yo-yos hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12 feet of water and on trotlines in the Little River.
White Oak Lake:
Local angler John Tilley
had no report.
Lake Greeson:
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Servicehad no report.
Cossatot River:
Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park said USGA states the water level is at 1.93 feet, and the surface temperature ranges from 80 degrees to 85 degrees. Fishing is a little slow but productive early and late in the day. Good numbers of bass have been caught on green pumpkin finesse worms and gray or brown grub worms. Both worms work well on 1/8 ounce jig heads fished like a Texas-rigged worm around drops. Perch have been biting well on worms and crickets. Some fishermen have been having luck with catfish at night with worms in the deeper pools.
DeGray Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at
403.4 feet MSL.
Local angler George
Graves said the water is clear with a surface temperature in the high 80s. Hybrid fishing is good, especially at the lower end of the lake; the area between the state park and dam has been the best. Try looking for any breaking fish, then search for the schools with your sonar – the fish will be 20-25 feet down. Throw a good-sized, (3/4 to 1 ounce) jigging spoon or a big in-line spinner into the schools. The best time to fish for hybrids is at sunrise and very late in the evening. Bass fishing has been fair with a few reports coming from around the state park and Iron Mountain area. Look for breaking fish early, and use a top-water lure or swim bait. If the fish are not breaking, try a Texas-rigged worm on main lake points next to deep water. Crappies are biting fairly well on the deep brush piles; Try Caddo Drive to Edgewood lures. The best lures are either a 2-inch grub in Tennessee shad on a 1/ 16-ounce jighead, or live minnows. Trying fishing about 15 feet deep directly over the brush. Bream fishing has been good with almost any shallow secondary point producing. Try fishing in water about 5-15 feet deep. Big fish will be near the bottom. Use either worms or crickets.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Nimrod:
Lake Nimrod Bait and More
II (479-272-4025) had no report this week.
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 a little high and clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows and worms. Catfishing is slow. Bass are biting well on minnows.
Ozark Pool:
Lakeside Food Mart
(479-667-5155) said the water is low and getting clearer. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting minnows in about 12 feet of water. Catfishing is good on shad and nightcrawlers, especially when drift-fishing below the dam. Black bass are biting on soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Black bass are biting on 10-inch worms.
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 temperature fluctuates between 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 fished in brush piles in 18-25 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 are also effective. Stripers are very good on live shad or trot line minnows. Main lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Bream are still excellent with worms or crickets in 18-25 feet of water. Crappie are good and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20-30 feet deep and moss flats 10-20 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 trot lines.
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,
reported that water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 59 degrees in the main channel. The temperature will rise only a few degrees throughout the day, which doesn’t adversely affect the fish. Rainbow trout are present in good numbers from the bridge to the dam. Most trout are feeding at night and are extremely hard to catch during the day. Anglers must be patient and stick with proven techniques in order to be successful. Wax and meal worms fished just off the bottom with marshmallows or under a bobber will produce strikes when cast around visible structure and sand bars. Redworms and nightcrawlers used in the same manner also work. Power Bait is another proven presentation. Fly fishermen have taken some quality rainbows casting San Juan worms and woolly buggers over shallow water close to the dam. Threadfin shad schools are moving in and out of the tailrace, indicating that stripers and hybrids are cruising the channels. Rainbow trout-colored baits are the best bet for top-water lures, as these huge predators chase trout on a daily basis. Gizzard shad is favored over brood shad with live-bait rigs. Most of the striper action occurs when the turbines are running in the late evening.
Lake Hinkle:
Bill’s Bait Shop
(479-637-4719)said the water is normal and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and plugs. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, goldfish and shiners.
Lake Atkins:
Lucky Landing
(479-641-7615)said fishing conditions are the same as last week. The water is normal and clear. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is slow, but they can be caught in deep water on crankbaits and jigs. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, minnows, nightcrawlers and crickets.
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:
Fishing has hit a plateau. Crappie are hitting minnows and light-colored jigs outside tree lines and around brush tops when fished about 3 feet deep. Bass are biting well in the morning on slow top-water plugs, but they don’t bite as well later in the day. Bream are biting very well on crickets about 4 feet from the banks. Spotted bass are biting on spinnerbaits in places of the Ouchita River with swirling water.
East Arkansas
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:
The Tackle Box
(870-534-1498) said the water is stained and high. Bream are doing well on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow but biting on minnows in deep water. Bass are biting excellently on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and frogs. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
White River:
Triangle Sports
(870-793-7122) had no report.
Maddox Bay:
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is a little high and falling, but clear. Bream are biting excellently on crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting Doc’s stinkbait. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and plastic worms.
Bear Creek Lake:
Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) had no report.
Island 40 Chute:
Daily’s Boat Dock
(870-739-3478)said the water is normal and clear. Fishing is good. Crappie are biting on chartreuse jigs and many other lures.
Horseshoe Lake:
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and normal. Fishing is slow. Bream are being caught on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on minnows and jigs, especially around lily pads. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
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