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Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers 501-223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us
October 28, 2010 Edition
Fishing Tip: As cooler weather begins to set in, it’s very important to remember water safety, even if few people are on the water. Keep a towel and a change of clothes tucked away in a waterproof bag if you’re going to be boating. If you fall in the water and are miles from your launch site, staying in wet, cold clothes can sap your energy and cause hypothermia.
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/?n=whiteriverbasin
Family and Community Fishing Ponds: Catfish stockings are in full swing in program ponds. Trout stockings in the ponds will begin in December when the water is cool enough to support the trout.
Central Arkansas
North Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
Northeast Arkansas
Southeast Arkansas
Southwest Arkansas
West-Central Arkansas
South-Central Arkansas
East Arkansas
Central Arkansas Lake Conway
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets in deep water. Crappie are fair to good on pink minnows. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is slow on nightcrawlers and bass minnows.
Dan at Gold Creek Marina had no report.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water level is normal and no generation is occurring most days. Trout fishing is good on wax worms.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 455.02 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 69-74 degrees. White bass and hybrids continue on their tear of the shad all over the lake and will eat all day until the temp gets down to 60 or so. Bigger fish are beginning to show up and are being caught on spoons, topwaters, hair jigs, inline spinners and swimbaits anywhere from the shallows out to 55 feet of water. Black bass are scattered from super shallow out to 60 feet because the thermocline has disappeared. Try topwater baits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, jighead worms, spoons and Carolina rigs for all three species. Crappie are biting in pole timber suspended in 15-20 feet over 60-100 feet of water on jigs tipped with a minnow. Walleye are showing up some, but they are scattered. Bream are eating crickets up shallow. No report on catfish.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said fishing has been fair for most species. The overall number of bites has declined but we are still boating fish of all species every trip on the water. I look for an escalating bite as we get through this first cold push. Our water surface temperatures are in the upper 60s and even reaching the 70s in some locations. Once we see water temperatures in the mid to lower 60’s fishing should explode.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) had no report.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is still down and many good brush piles are being placed around the edge of the water. There was a lake clean-up last week, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement if anyone wants to help keep the lake clean. Crappie are still biting well around stumps on smoke and chartreuse pepper jigs. Bass are fair. Catfish are biting well. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said fishing has been slow, but some crappie are being caught over the brush piles on small minnows white/chartreuse jigs. Bass are slow, but some are being caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with cut shad and live bream. Bream are slow. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the lake is 8.4 feet below the spillway. Lake Maumelle has turned over, and fishing has slowed a bit. Launching a boat is still possible at Jolly Roger’s, but use caution as the concrete ramps are out of the water. Black bass are fair on jig-and-pig combos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits off the points and the edges of the channels. The west end of the lake has been most productive. White bass are schooling early and late in the day on the south side of Big Island; Spooks, Near Nuthings and trolled Rogues are working well. Crappie are biting well on 1/32-oz. red/white jigs and small minnows fished 15 to 20 feet deep. Bream are fair on crickets and worms in 10 to 20 feet of water. Catfishing is good with some large blues and flatheads being caught on cut shad and bream. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on frog-colored topwater lures. Catfishing is slow.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on white grubs. Bass are biting well on white buzzbaits when there is cloud cover. Catfishing is slow.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said not many people have been on the river this week. Some nice catfish have been taken in shallow water on whole shad. Spotted bass are following the shad in shallow water in the evenings. Use firetiger-colored Chatterbaits and jigs around jetties. Stripers are being caught below the dam and in Coppers Gap on live shad. Bream are in the back of Petit Jean River and Point Remove Creek. White bass are shallow and are following the shad. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is muddy and low. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs around brush. Bass are biting well on blue/chartreuse crankbaits and peanut butter and jelly jigs fished around rocks near the mouths of the backwaters. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low. Bream are slow. Bass are biting well in the backwater. Catfishing is fair on worms. No report on crappie.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and is the lowest it’s ever been. Crappie are slow, but a few are being caught around deep channels on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is fair on worms and stink bait. Sunday, Oct. 31 will be the last day to fish Peckerwood. It will close to fishing for the winter and will reopen February 1, 2011.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
North Arkansas White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said zero to three generators are running. Rainbow trout fishing is good on shrimp and Power Bait. Brown trout are slow.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been good using corn and worms fished upriver from the Norfork Tailwater. Rainbows are biting real good with some nice browns in the 2 to 4 pound range, too.
Guide Davy Wotton said generation levels have been erratic, which has related to the bite being up and down depending on rising or falling water. Also at this time of the year, oxygen levels close to the dam may cause the fish to stop feeding during generation. If generation is taking place, the best option will be to fish below the upper limit of the trophy zone. Bull Shoals dam zone continues to produce trophy brown and rainbow trout. From the state park downstream to Calico, fishing has been good provided you are fishing settled and clean water. This time of year, bottom vegetation dies off and leaves fall into the river, resulting in very trashy colored water; the best bet is to move because the bite will be very slow. Many brown trout are staged at spawning beds while others are still on the move upstream. Please leave the trout on the beds to spawn and continue our excellent fishery. If fishing low flow, use a small midge, sow bug, scud or PTN. If fishing shoals and water with flow, use soft hackles and small dry fly patterns. If water the water is stained, use a two-fly rig (where legal), one brightly colored fly, such as a Prism, Dynamite or San Juan worm and the other a size 14 to 16 scud or sow bug. Streamer fish may be productive if drift fishing with good flow rates or when fishing good shoal water.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing continues to be good. Two to three generators running at Bull Shoals each day has kept the White River level fairly constant. Anglers are catching more brown trout than normal, but not many large ones. Rainbows are hitting the White River Zig Jig in ginger or olive exceptionally well. In the deeper holes, the Rapala is easier and tends to catch larger fish.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said all sections of the river are very low, and no floating opportunities are available in the upper ¾ of the river. Wade fishing is good if you don’t mind walking. Fish are biting well on Clouser minnows and crawdad patterns. Spin fishermen are using soft plastics and crankbaits in brown and green shades.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the water is low and floating is difficult. Wade fishing at public access points is very good. Smallmouth are excellent on Clouser minnows, Shenk’s white streamers, crazy ‘dads and sneaky Petes. Spin fishermen are catching plenty of smallmouth on tubes, brush hogs and lizards in watermelon, green pumpkin and black. Smallmouth are also being caught on small jerkbaits and crankbaits.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 652.41 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said black bass are biting spinnerbaits and crankbaits on windy banks halfway back in the creek arms. Walleyes are biting in areas with shad, some days on the main channel points and other days back in the creek arms. Trolling crankbaits on leadcore line in 36-42 feet of water is catching some nice fish of all species. Jigging spoons are working well in 30-60 feet of water, catching a mixed bag of fish. Catfish are biting well on bluff ends and in coves. Crappie are biting jigs worked though standing timber along bluffs about 10 feet deep.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said generation is around the clock with one generator. Brown trout are staging for their spawn. Drift fishing with large streamers early and late in the day has worked well. Hopper/dropper combos and soft hackles are also working later in the day. During the day try sow bugs, scuds, copper johns and Whitlock’s squirrel tail nymph.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.11 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is 70. Watch for fish chasing shad to the surface and they will hit any topwater bait. Try throwing a grub, shallow crankbait or a small swim bait also. Look for fish suspended 30-50 feet down and fish live bait or a spoon in front of them. With the water temperature dropping, the fish will start putting on the feed bag getting ready for winter.
Highway 101 Grocery and Bait said fishing is good. The surface temperature is in the low 70s. Crappie fishing has been good using minnows and tube jigs. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Catfish have been doing well. Striped bass are spread throughout the lake. Walleye fishing has been fair on nightcrawlers and medium-sized shiners. Bass fishing is good using a variety of soft-plastics and jigs. White bass are being caught using rooster tails and jigging spoons.
Norfork Tailwater
Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort said fishing is good in early fall. The big browns will start moving in any day now and will fatten up.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been hot this week below the dam using corn, worms and bright colored Power Bait. The catch and release area has produced some nice brown trout using Rapala Countdowns during high water later in the afternoon.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,115.98 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said be on the look out for surface activity from white bass and hybrids. Small stripers are also beginning to look to the surface. Stripers are following bait as it moves back toward the river. Most stripers are being caught between 30 and 60 feet deep, relating to tapering points leading up to flats and humps. Live gizzard shad is the go to approach for trophy-size stripers. Check the following areas for stripers:
Roll Off Bluff — N36*24.699W93*50.806
Goat Island — N36*20.562W93*56.107 and N36*20.881W93*55.179.
Water Intake — 36.326241,-93.893409 and 36.336267,-93.885341
Point 6 — 36.32548,-93.906798 and 36.319879,-93.90182
Lost Bridge South — N36*23.739W93*53.362
Horn Branch — N36*22.656 W93*53.956
Walleye and crappie are in 20-25 feet of water on the shoals in Prairie Creek and from Beaver Shores to Monte-Ne. Try #11 Rapalas in black or blue back/silver fished on three-way rigs with bottom bouncers. Also try hot n tots in natural colors or chartreuse/orange combination’s. Reef runners, RipStiks and Rogues in clown or white are also catching walleye. Troll about 1.5 to 2 mph and run baits a foot off the bottom. Pay special attention to the areas around deer and bear islands. Crawler harnesses are also producing in chartreuse/orange combinations trolled on bottom bouncers at speeds less than 1.5 mph.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been hitting spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late around visible cover. During the day, fish a finesse worm on a shaky head rig off points with timber in 10 to 15 feet of water or a Texas-rigged lizard along boat docks in 10 to 20 feet of water. Crappie have been biting well. Some big fish over 2 pounds have been coming in. Fish curly tail or tube jigs on a 1/16-oz. jighead around manmade brush close to channels in 20 to 35 feet of water or fish them around pole timber close to channel drops or mouths of small coves in the same depth of water. Best colors have been yellow/white, red/white, pink white or firetiger. White bass are suspending off points 15 to 30 feet deep and will hit a Rat-L-Trap or jigging spoon. Catfish have been caught from the bank at night on liver, stink bait and worms. The best places have been Rocky Branch, Hickory Creek, 12 bridge and 412 bridge. Bluegill are taking crickets 2 to 10 feet deep around docks and pole timber.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and low. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush in 5 to 12 feet of water. Bass are slow, but a few have been caught on topwater lures early in the day. Catfishing is slow. A few walleye have been caught on spoons.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said Table Rock Lake is still in flood pool and wading opportunities are difficult in the lower reaches of the tailwater. Low water has been available between 1 and 3 p.m. Indicator nymphing has been the most reliable way to catch trout. Suggested flied include zebra midges, pheasant tails, sow bugs scuds, rainbow warrior and woolly buggers.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said the river is too low to float without a lot of dragging. Wade fishing is good at public access points. Fly anglers are doing well with minnow and crawdad imitations, such as Clouser minnows and crazy ‘dads. Spin fishermen are doing well on soft-plastics, jerkbaits, buzzbaits and crankbaits fished along deeper runs and tailouts of pools with good rock or wood cover. The best baits have been Zoom tubes and brush hogs in watermelon, green pumpkin and black, Zoom Flukes in white, Rebel crawfish crankbaits and Heddon Tiny Torpedoes.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is murky and at normal level. Fishing is slow for all species.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are slow, but a few have been taken on crickets and worms in 4 to 5 feet of water around stumps and weed beds. Crappie are slow on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, soft-plastics and crankbaits fished around weed beds and laydown logs in 3 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing is slow on cut bream and chicken liver. White bass are beginning to run.
Northeast Arkansas Lake Poinsett
Lake Poinsett State Park said Lake Poinsett is still down significantly, but fishing is still very good. Many anglers have had luck with bass and crappie. The boat ramp in the park is not usable as the cove is almost dry.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is 18 inches low and clear. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bass are biting well on minnows and jigs in the same area as the crappie. No report on any other species.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. All other species are slow.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running around 260 cfs and the water is clear. During early morning hours, mayfly and caddis emergers work great. Later during the day, white woolly buggers and y2ks produce fish. Late evening and early morning are the target times for numbers with the bigger fish being caught during slow fishing times with big flies. Look for green areas which are a sign of deeper water.
Southeast Arkansas Lake Chicot
Lake Chicot State Park said catfishing is still slow, but steady. Bream have been slow as well. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park said fishing at Cane Creek Lake has picked up. Crappie are biting well on minnows and curly tail jigs in about 4 to 4.5 feet of water.
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said the surface temperature hasn’t changed much in the last week or so. It is still between 68 and 71 degrees, depending on area and time of day. The bass are biting in the shallows on plastic worms and Senkos in earth-tone colors. There are a few bass being caught on crankbaits on and around points. Bass are starting to chase shad a little more than in previous days, but there still is not a consistent schooling bite. Be careful running around the woody areas of the lake. The lake is low and running is dangerous in the creeks.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.50 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level rose slightly with the recent thunderstorms, and is now 46 inches below normal pool and falling, with current in Little River of 191 CFS. Surface temperature dropped to 67 to 73 degrees. Use extreme caution at boat ramps and navigating Millwood during the 4-foot drawdown. Stumps and boat ramps are very shallow. Some cutover boat lanes through timber on the main lake have are only inches of deep. Largemouth, Kentucky (spotted), and white bass, are good to very good. Bass continue chasing shad schools at creek mouth junctions and all along Little River. These randomly schooling fish were in or close to creek channels, and chasing shad in lily pads. The best bite is during late morning to early afternoon. The schooling fish are hitting Bomber crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Shad Assassins and curly tail grubs on jig heads. Johnson chrome spoons with a white curly tail grub trailer are working inside the lily pads and vegetation. Keep a Rat-L-Trap and a curly tail grub on a ¼-oz. jighead handy for when the surface commotion begins. Throw beyond the school, count down 5 to 10 feet of depth and begin a yo-yo retrieve through the school of fish. Worms, crankbaits and jigs are also working when the surface schools along Little River subside. Texas rigged lizards, bulky worms and jigs are working along cuts in the river bank in 12-15 foot stair-step washouts. Large schools of white bass continue roaming Little River in front of Hurricane Creek, Jack’s Isle, Mud Lake’s first and second entrances, White Cliffs and the Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows. The crappie bite died with the lower water clarity and thunderstorms. The best action is along Little River in 15 to 20 feet of water on white Blakemore Roadrunners. Catfishign is consistently good on trotlines in Little River and yo-yos hung from cypress trees in 9 to 12 feet of water in the oxbows.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on worms. No report on bream.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on worms.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 537.44 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is dingy in shallow areas, but clear around deep water. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around brush in 4 to 12 feet of water. Bass are fair on crankbaits, topwater lures and soft-plastic worms fished around 4 feet of water. Catfishing is slow. Walleye are slow.
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Jeff Guerin of www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com said the next six weeks may be my favorite time of the year to fish. The March Brown hatch in the spring is pretty awesome, but mostly because of the number of fish in the river at the time. The Light Cahill hatch of autumn is just as prolific and the fish are much better quality. With the latest storm coming up from the Gulf, it’s showery and mild. Totally different from the weekend! I was out for just a little while yesterday and the fog was so thick I was getting vertigo and having a hard time spotting the water much less the fish. The fish were fairly active and I talked about a dozen into taking the new fly and landed about six of those. There are still a lot of fish hanging around Sycamore Run, but they have been just about as tough as the fish up in the Park. We’re getting into a better generation pattern; this week they backed off to just noon to 6 p.m.
Cossatot River
Cossatot River State Park said the water level is at 2.04 feet and rising slowly due to some rains and the loss of foliage around the river. The temperature has remained fairly constant. Wade fishing has produced many rock bass on black Beetle Spins. The water is very clear now and the whole river is starting to come alive with fall color. Live minnows or crawdads are always a sure thing with the smallmouth bass. Keep in mind when fishing on Cossatot River the smallmouth limit is two and the length has to be a minimum of 12 inches.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.51 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).
Due to the low water, boaters should use extreme caution when navigating DeGray. Many unmarked islands and humps are just under the surface, which can cause serious damage and harm if struck.
Local angler George Graves said the surface temperature is in the high 60s and the lake is clear throughout. Very few reports are coming in due to the weather and hunting season. Bass fishing is fair. The shad are thick in the coves and creeks. The best pattern is on topwater lures early in the morning. Also some fish are coming from main lake and secondary points, offshore islands and creek ledges. Use a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard and work from 5 down to about 25 feet. The best colors for both worms and lizards has been green pumpkin, pumpkin/red flake, red shad and cotton candy. A few big fish reported taken on jigs with a plastic trailer fished in the same areas. The upper end of the lake between Edgewood and Point Cedar has been the most productive for bass. Crappie fishing has been slow. Look for deep cover in 18 to 25 feet of water. The fish are scattered so don’t spend too long on any one spot. Fish a shad pattern 2-inch grub just above the thickest part of the brush. Look for deep cover between Caddo Drive and Point Cedar. There have been very few reports on hybrids. The fish are starting to move uplake where they spend the winter. There will be very little schooling activity until late winter. There are still some fish scattered around the submerged trees in water from 60 to 90 feet. They will be positioned about 35 feet down and will hit a chartreuse or white jigging spoon. The best time is early morning around sunup. Look for fish between Iron Mountain and the mouth of Brushy Creek. No reports on bream, however they are relating to the shallow brush and with the low water it is no problem to locate the brush piles. Fish with a float and crickets or worms next to the brush. No report on catfish.
West-Central Arkansas Lake Nimrod
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 337.18 feet MSL.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no new report.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and minnows. Catfishing is fair on worms.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said largemouth bass continue to be slow. Anglers report that live bait has been the best chance to catch a bass. Popular artificial lures have been Sweet Beavers and other compact plastics. Catfish were biting extremely well over the weekend. The most popular bait choices have been shad and bass minnows. Crappie are biting well, but many small fish are being caught. It is easy to catch a limit, but keeping a limit is a different story. Crappie minnows have been the biggest seller, with gold and silver jigs still a strong second choice. The crappie are still being reported at 6-10 feet deep.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.20 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said the store is closed until spring 2011. No report.
Lake Ouachita
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 568.36 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing continues to be very good with a lot fish being caught around standing timber on jigs. Spotted bass are schooling early and late and topwaters such as Boy Howdys are catching a lot of those fish.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 68-74 degrees and is clear. Largemouth bass are very good on topwater baits and jigs. Try Zara spooks, Pop-R’s and buzzbaits over main lake and secondary points. Walleye are still excellent and being caught on spoons fished 20-25 feet deep around brush. Stripers are still fair with live bait and down-rigged hair jigs. Bream are fair on worms or crickets in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still excellent near brush 20 to 30 feet deep on minnows or Tennessee shad colored crappie grubs. Catfish are still good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton
Darryl Morris from Family Fishing Trips said the fall feeding frenzy is getting started on Lake Hamilton. Crappie are good to excellent and should improve this week. A few stripers are being caught around shad schools as well.
Lake Catherine
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said Entergy continues to run water below Carpenter Dam only for a few hours in the evening to maintain lake levels. The annual drawdown for both Lake Hamiltion and Catherine begins Nov. 6 and will be complete by Nov. 12. Rainbow trout stocking is also scheduled to begin again in mid-November, which will bring quality trout fishing back into the tailrace. White and hybrid bass fishing has kept quality angling alive below the dam for last several months. Walleye fishing has tailed off some in the last two weeks, but good numbers of bass are still being caught during periods of current. Trolling small crankbaits against the current in the main channel has been the most effective method of hooking fish as the schools of bass move around chasing shad. Brightly colored jerkbaits also work well when cast into topwater feeding frenzies. This action is sporadic and short-lived so fishermen need to have rods ready to cast when bass feed on top. Stripers have been taken below the dam and bridge with gizzard or brood shad used with a balloon rig. Action is hit and miss, but some stripers in the 15 pound class have been caught. The good news for fishermen who frequent Carpenter Dam is that Dozier’s Rainbow Landing is open again after being closed for years. This old time bait shop was a mainstay for anglers looking to catch fish on Lake Catherine.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the crappie have been biting well for the last two weeks. Most of the boat fishermen have been catching their limits in deeper water, but the crappie have moved into the coves and the banks, so the bank fishermen are starting to catch their limits. They are using jigs and minnows. Some nice bream are being caught right now using crawlers and crickets. The catfish are slow off the bank, but are good on trotlines and yo-yos baited with bass minnows. Small bass are hitting anything you throw at them. The lake is down about 2 to 3 feet and is a little murky after the rain, with water temperature averaging 70 degrees.
South-Central Arkansas Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the Ouachita River is at 64.50 feet (Normal low is 65 feet). Bream are slow on worms and crickets. Catfish are fair on worms. Crappie are fair on small tube jigs. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Ouachita River Oxbows
Jaret Rushing said most of oxbows have gone completely stagnant and the only action is coming from bowfin, pickerel, gar and other rough fish.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing said the lake is about 3 feet lower than usual, which exposed a lot of the stumps in the middle of the lake. Crappie and bass are fair on those stumps.
East Arkansas Arkansas River at Pine Bluff
The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is low and murky. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on green worms fished around the river channel. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
White River
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 3 to 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is slow.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on jigs fished around stumps on the island side of the chute in about 18 inches of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Few anglers are fishing for catfish, but those that are fishing for them are catching plenty.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around the cypress trees and lily pads. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs at the edge of the lily pads. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished around lily pads. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut bait fished in deep water.
Outside Links Approved: BB
Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers 501-223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us
October 28, 2010 Edition
Fishing Tip: As cooler weather begins to set in, it’s very important to remember water safety, even if few people are on the water. Keep a towel and a change of clothes tucked away in a waterproof bag if you’re going to be boating. If you fall in the water and are miles from your launch site, staying in wet, cold clothes can sap your energy and cause hypothermia.
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/?n=whiteriverbasin
Family and Community Fishing Ponds: Catfish stockings are in full swing in program ponds. Trout stockings in the ponds will begin in December when the water is cool enough to support the trout.
Central Arkansas
North Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
Northeast Arkansas
Southeast Arkansas
Southwest Arkansas
West-Central Arkansas
South-Central Arkansas
East Arkansas
Central Arkansas Lake Conway
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets in deep water. Crappie are fair to good on pink minnows. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is slow on nightcrawlers and bass minnows.
Dan at Gold Creek Marina had no report.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water level is normal and no generation is occurring most days. Trout fishing is good on wax worms.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 455.02 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 69-74 degrees. White bass and hybrids continue on their tear of the shad all over the lake and will eat all day until the temp gets down to 60 or so. Bigger fish are beginning to show up and are being caught on spoons, topwaters, hair jigs, inline spinners and swimbaits anywhere from the shallows out to 55 feet of water. Black bass are scattered from super shallow out to 60 feet because the thermocline has disappeared. Try topwater baits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, jighead worms, spoons and Carolina rigs for all three species. Crappie are biting in pole timber suspended in 15-20 feet over 60-100 feet of water on jigs tipped with a minnow. Walleye are showing up some, but they are scattered. Bream are eating crickets up shallow. No report on catfish.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said fishing has been fair for most species. The overall number of bites has declined but we are still boating fish of all species every trip on the water. I look for an escalating bite as we get through this first cold push. Our water surface temperatures are in the upper 60s and even reaching the 70s in some locations. Once we see water temperatures in the mid to lower 60’s fishing should explode.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) had no report.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is still down and many good brush piles are being placed around the edge of the water. There was a lake clean-up last week, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement if anyone wants to help keep the lake clean. Crappie are still biting well around stumps on smoke and chartreuse pepper jigs. Bass are fair. Catfish are biting well. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said fishing has been slow, but some crappie are being caught over the brush piles on small minnows white/chartreuse jigs. Bass are slow, but some are being caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with cut shad and live bream. Bream are slow. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the lake is 8.4 feet below the spillway. Lake Maumelle has turned over, and fishing has slowed a bit. Launching a boat is still possible at Jolly Roger’s, but use caution as the concrete ramps are out of the water. Black bass are fair on jig-and-pig combos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits off the points and the edges of the channels. The west end of the lake has been most productive. White bass are schooling early and late in the day on the south side of Big Island; Spooks, Near Nuthings and trolled Rogues are working well. Crappie are biting well on 1/32-oz. red/white jigs and small minnows fished 15 to 20 feet deep. Bream are fair on crickets and worms in 10 to 20 feet of water. Catfishing is good with some large blues and flatheads being caught on cut shad and bream. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on frog-colored topwater lures. Catfishing is slow.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on white grubs. Bass are biting well on white buzzbaits when there is cloud cover. Catfishing is slow.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said not many people have been on the river this week. Some nice catfish have been taken in shallow water on whole shad. Spotted bass are following the shad in shallow water in the evenings. Use firetiger-colored Chatterbaits and jigs around jetties. Stripers are being caught below the dam and in Coppers Gap on live shad. Bream are in the back of Petit Jean River and Point Remove Creek. White bass are shallow and are following the shad. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is muddy and low. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs around brush. Bass are biting well on blue/chartreuse crankbaits and peanut butter and jelly jigs fished around rocks near the mouths of the backwaters. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low. Bream are slow. Bass are biting well in the backwater. Catfishing is fair on worms. No report on crappie.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and is the lowest it’s ever been. Crappie are slow, but a few are being caught around deep channels on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is fair on worms and stink bait. Sunday, Oct. 31 will be the last day to fish Peckerwood. It will close to fishing for the winter and will reopen February 1, 2011.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
North Arkansas White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said zero to three generators are running. Rainbow trout fishing is good on shrimp and Power Bait. Brown trout are slow.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been good using corn and worms fished upriver from the Norfork Tailwater. Rainbows are biting real good with some nice browns in the 2 to 4 pound range, too.
Guide Davy Wotton said generation levels have been erratic, which has related to the bite being up and down depending on rising or falling water. Also at this time of the year, oxygen levels close to the dam may cause the fish to stop feeding during generation. If generation is taking place, the best option will be to fish below the upper limit of the trophy zone. Bull Shoals dam zone continues to produce trophy brown and rainbow trout. From the state park downstream to Calico, fishing has been good provided you are fishing settled and clean water. This time of year, bottom vegetation dies off and leaves fall into the river, resulting in very trashy colored water; the best bet is to move because the bite will be very slow. Many brown trout are staged at spawning beds while others are still on the move upstream. Please leave the trout on the beds to spawn and continue our excellent fishery. If fishing low flow, use a small midge, sow bug, scud or PTN. If fishing shoals and water with flow, use soft hackles and small dry fly patterns. If water the water is stained, use a two-fly rig (where legal), one brightly colored fly, such as a Prism, Dynamite or San Juan worm and the other a size 14 to 16 scud or sow bug. Streamer fish may be productive if drift fishing with good flow rates or when fishing good shoal water.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing continues to be good. Two to three generators running at Bull Shoals each day has kept the White River level fairly constant. Anglers are catching more brown trout than normal, but not many large ones. Rainbows are hitting the White River Zig Jig in ginger or olive exceptionally well. In the deeper holes, the Rapala is easier and tends to catch larger fish.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said all sections of the river are very low, and no floating opportunities are available in the upper ¾ of the river. Wade fishing is good if you don’t mind walking. Fish are biting well on Clouser minnows and crawdad patterns. Spin fishermen are using soft plastics and crankbaits in brown and green shades.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the water is low and floating is difficult. Wade fishing at public access points is very good. Smallmouth are excellent on Clouser minnows, Shenk’s white streamers, crazy ‘dads and sneaky Petes. Spin fishermen are catching plenty of smallmouth on tubes, brush hogs and lizards in watermelon, green pumpkin and black. Smallmouth are also being caught on small jerkbaits and crankbaits.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 652.41 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said black bass are biting spinnerbaits and crankbaits on windy banks halfway back in the creek arms. Walleyes are biting in areas with shad, some days on the main channel points and other days back in the creek arms. Trolling crankbaits on leadcore line in 36-42 feet of water is catching some nice fish of all species. Jigging spoons are working well in 30-60 feet of water, catching a mixed bag of fish. Catfish are biting well on bluff ends and in coves. Crappie are biting jigs worked though standing timber along bluffs about 10 feet deep.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said generation is around the clock with one generator. Brown trout are staging for their spawn. Drift fishing with large streamers early and late in the day has worked well. Hopper/dropper combos and soft hackles are also working later in the day. During the day try sow bugs, scuds, copper johns and Whitlock’s squirrel tail nymph.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.11 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is 70. Watch for fish chasing shad to the surface and they will hit any topwater bait. Try throwing a grub, shallow crankbait or a small swim bait also. Look for fish suspended 30-50 feet down and fish live bait or a spoon in front of them. With the water temperature dropping, the fish will start putting on the feed bag getting ready for winter.
Highway 101 Grocery and Bait said fishing is good. The surface temperature is in the low 70s. Crappie fishing has been good using minnows and tube jigs. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Catfish have been doing well. Striped bass are spread throughout the lake. Walleye fishing has been fair on nightcrawlers and medium-sized shiners. Bass fishing is good using a variety of soft-plastics and jigs. White bass are being caught using rooster tails and jigging spoons.
Norfork Tailwater
Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort said fishing is good in early fall. The big browns will start moving in any day now and will fatten up.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been hot this week below the dam using corn, worms and bright colored Power Bait. The catch and release area has produced some nice brown trout using Rapala Countdowns during high water later in the afternoon.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,115.98 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said be on the look out for surface activity from white bass and hybrids. Small stripers are also beginning to look to the surface. Stripers are following bait as it moves back toward the river. Most stripers are being caught between 30 and 60 feet deep, relating to tapering points leading up to flats and humps. Live gizzard shad is the go to approach for trophy-size stripers. Check the following areas for stripers:
Roll Off Bluff — N36*24.699W93*50.806
Goat Island — N36*20.562W93*56.107 and N36*20.881W93*55.179.
Water Intake — 36.326241,-93.893409 and 36.336267,-93.885341
Point 6 — 36.32548,-93.906798 and 36.319879,-93.90182
Lost Bridge South — N36*23.739W93*53.362
Horn Branch — N36*22.656 W93*53.956
Walleye and crappie are in 20-25 feet of water on the shoals in Prairie Creek and from Beaver Shores to Monte-Ne. Try #11 Rapalas in black or blue back/silver fished on three-way rigs with bottom bouncers. Also try hot n tots in natural colors or chartreuse/orange combination’s. Reef runners, RipStiks and Rogues in clown or white are also catching walleye. Troll about 1.5 to 2 mph and run baits a foot off the bottom. Pay special attention to the areas around deer and bear islands. Crawler harnesses are also producing in chartreuse/orange combinations trolled on bottom bouncers at speeds less than 1.5 mph.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been hitting spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late around visible cover. During the day, fish a finesse worm on a shaky head rig off points with timber in 10 to 15 feet of water or a Texas-rigged lizard along boat docks in 10 to 20 feet of water. Crappie have been biting well. Some big fish over 2 pounds have been coming in. Fish curly tail or tube jigs on a 1/16-oz. jighead around manmade brush close to channels in 20 to 35 feet of water or fish them around pole timber close to channel drops or mouths of small coves in the same depth of water. Best colors have been yellow/white, red/white, pink white or firetiger. White bass are suspending off points 15 to 30 feet deep and will hit a Rat-L-Trap or jigging spoon. Catfish have been caught from the bank at night on liver, stink bait and worms. The best places have been Rocky Branch, Hickory Creek, 12 bridge and 412 bridge. Bluegill are taking crickets 2 to 10 feet deep around docks and pole timber.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and low. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush in 5 to 12 feet of water. Bass are slow, but a few have been caught on topwater lures early in the day. Catfishing is slow. A few walleye have been caught on spoons.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said Table Rock Lake is still in flood pool and wading opportunities are difficult in the lower reaches of the tailwater. Low water has been available between 1 and 3 p.m. Indicator nymphing has been the most reliable way to catch trout. Suggested flied include zebra midges, pheasant tails, sow bugs scuds, rainbow warrior and woolly buggers.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said the river is too low to float without a lot of dragging. Wade fishing is good at public access points. Fly anglers are doing well with minnow and crawdad imitations, such as Clouser minnows and crazy ‘dads. Spin fishermen are doing well on soft-plastics, jerkbaits, buzzbaits and crankbaits fished along deeper runs and tailouts of pools with good rock or wood cover. The best baits have been Zoom tubes and brush hogs in watermelon, green pumpkin and black, Zoom Flukes in white, Rebel crawfish crankbaits and Heddon Tiny Torpedoes.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is murky and at normal level. Fishing is slow for all species.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are slow, but a few have been taken on crickets and worms in 4 to 5 feet of water around stumps and weed beds. Crappie are slow on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, soft-plastics and crankbaits fished around weed beds and laydown logs in 3 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing is slow on cut bream and chicken liver. White bass are beginning to run.
Northeast Arkansas Lake Poinsett
Lake Poinsett State Park said Lake Poinsett is still down significantly, but fishing is still very good. Many anglers have had luck with bass and crappie. The boat ramp in the park is not usable as the cove is almost dry.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is 18 inches low and clear. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bass are biting well on minnows and jigs in the same area as the crappie. No report on any other species.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. All other species are slow.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running around 260 cfs and the water is clear. During early morning hours, mayfly and caddis emergers work great. Later during the day, white woolly buggers and y2ks produce fish. Late evening and early morning are the target times for numbers with the bigger fish being caught during slow fishing times with big flies. Look for green areas which are a sign of deeper water.
Southeast Arkansas Lake Chicot
Lake Chicot State Park said catfishing is still slow, but steady. Bream have been slow as well. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park said fishing at Cane Creek Lake has picked up. Crappie are biting well on minnows and curly tail jigs in about 4 to 4.5 feet of water.
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said the surface temperature hasn’t changed much in the last week or so. It is still between 68 and 71 degrees, depending on area and time of day. The bass are biting in the shallows on plastic worms and Senkos in earth-tone colors. There are a few bass being caught on crankbaits on and around points. Bass are starting to chase shad a little more than in previous days, but there still is not a consistent schooling bite. Be careful running around the woody areas of the lake. The lake is low and running is dangerous in the creeks.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.50 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level rose slightly with the recent thunderstorms, and is now 46 inches below normal pool and falling, with current in Little River of 191 CFS. Surface temperature dropped to 67 to 73 degrees. Use extreme caution at boat ramps and navigating Millwood during the 4-foot drawdown. Stumps and boat ramps are very shallow. Some cutover boat lanes through timber on the main lake have are only inches of deep. Largemouth, Kentucky (spotted), and white bass, are good to very good. Bass continue chasing shad schools at creek mouth junctions and all along Little River. These randomly schooling fish were in or close to creek channels, and chasing shad in lily pads. The best bite is during late morning to early afternoon. The schooling fish are hitting Bomber crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Shad Assassins and curly tail grubs on jig heads. Johnson chrome spoons with a white curly tail grub trailer are working inside the lily pads and vegetation. Keep a Rat-L-Trap and a curly tail grub on a ¼-oz. jighead handy for when the surface commotion begins. Throw beyond the school, count down 5 to 10 feet of depth and begin a yo-yo retrieve through the school of fish. Worms, crankbaits and jigs are also working when the surface schools along Little River subside. Texas rigged lizards, bulky worms and jigs are working along cuts in the river bank in 12-15 foot stair-step washouts. Large schools of white bass continue roaming Little River in front of Hurricane Creek, Jack’s Isle, Mud Lake’s first and second entrances, White Cliffs and the Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows. The crappie bite died with the lower water clarity and thunderstorms. The best action is along Little River in 15 to 20 feet of water on white Blakemore Roadrunners. Catfishign is consistently good on trotlines in Little River and yo-yos hung from cypress trees in 9 to 12 feet of water in the oxbows.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair on worms. No report on bream.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on worms.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 537.44 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is dingy in shallow areas, but clear around deep water. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around brush in 4 to 12 feet of water. Bass are fair on crankbaits, topwater lures and soft-plastic worms fished around 4 feet of water. Catfishing is slow. Walleye are slow.
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Jeff Guerin of www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com said the next six weeks may be my favorite time of the year to fish. The March Brown hatch in the spring is pretty awesome, but mostly because of the number of fish in the river at the time. The Light Cahill hatch of autumn is just as prolific and the fish are much better quality. With the latest storm coming up from the Gulf, it’s showery and mild. Totally different from the weekend! I was out for just a little while yesterday and the fog was so thick I was getting vertigo and having a hard time spotting the water much less the fish. The fish were fairly active and I talked about a dozen into taking the new fly and landed about six of those. There are still a lot of fish hanging around Sycamore Run, but they have been just about as tough as the fish up in the Park. We’re getting into a better generation pattern; this week they backed off to just noon to 6 p.m.
Cossatot River
Cossatot River State Park said the water level is at 2.04 feet and rising slowly due to some rains and the loss of foliage around the river. The temperature has remained fairly constant. Wade fishing has produced many rock bass on black Beetle Spins. The water is very clear now and the whole river is starting to come alive with fall color. Live minnows or crawdads are always a sure thing with the smallmouth bass. Keep in mind when fishing on Cossatot River the smallmouth limit is two and the length has to be a minimum of 12 inches.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.51 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).
Due to the low water, boaters should use extreme caution when navigating DeGray. Many unmarked islands and humps are just under the surface, which can cause serious damage and harm if struck.
Local angler George Graves said the surface temperature is in the high 60s and the lake is clear throughout. Very few reports are coming in due to the weather and hunting season. Bass fishing is fair. The shad are thick in the coves and creeks. The best pattern is on topwater lures early in the morning. Also some fish are coming from main lake and secondary points, offshore islands and creek ledges. Use a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard and work from 5 down to about 25 feet. The best colors for both worms and lizards has been green pumpkin, pumpkin/red flake, red shad and cotton candy. A few big fish reported taken on jigs with a plastic trailer fished in the same areas. The upper end of the lake between Edgewood and Point Cedar has been the most productive for bass. Crappie fishing has been slow. Look for deep cover in 18 to 25 feet of water. The fish are scattered so don’t spend too long on any one spot. Fish a shad pattern 2-inch grub just above the thickest part of the brush. Look for deep cover between Caddo Drive and Point Cedar. There have been very few reports on hybrids. The fish are starting to move uplake where they spend the winter. There will be very little schooling activity until late winter. There are still some fish scattered around the submerged trees in water from 60 to 90 feet. They will be positioned about 35 feet down and will hit a chartreuse or white jigging spoon. The best time is early morning around sunup. Look for fish between Iron Mountain and the mouth of Brushy Creek. No reports on bream, however they are relating to the shallow brush and with the low water it is no problem to locate the brush piles. Fish with a float and crickets or worms next to the brush. No report on catfish.
West-Central Arkansas Lake Nimrod
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 337.18 feet MSL.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no new report.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and minnows. Catfishing is fair on worms.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said largemouth bass continue to be slow. Anglers report that live bait has been the best chance to catch a bass. Popular artificial lures have been Sweet Beavers and other compact plastics. Catfish were biting extremely well over the weekend. The most popular bait choices have been shad and bass minnows. Crappie are biting well, but many small fish are being caught. It is easy to catch a limit, but keeping a limit is a different story. Crappie minnows have been the biggest seller, with gold and silver jigs still a strong second choice. The crappie are still being reported at 6-10 feet deep.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.20 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said the store is closed until spring 2011. No report.
Lake Ouachita
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 568.36 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing continues to be very good with a lot fish being caught around standing timber on jigs. Spotted bass are schooling early and late and topwaters such as Boy Howdys are catching a lot of those fish.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 68-74 degrees and is clear. Largemouth bass are very good on topwater baits and jigs. Try Zara spooks, Pop-R’s and buzzbaits over main lake and secondary points. Walleye are still excellent and being caught on spoons fished 20-25 feet deep around brush. Stripers are still fair with live bait and down-rigged hair jigs. Bream are fair on worms or crickets in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still excellent near brush 20 to 30 feet deep on minnows or Tennessee shad colored crappie grubs. Catfish are still good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton
Darryl Morris from Family Fishing Trips said the fall feeding frenzy is getting started on Lake Hamilton. Crappie are good to excellent and should improve this week. A few stripers are being caught around shad schools as well.
Lake Catherine
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said Entergy continues to run water below Carpenter Dam only for a few hours in the evening to maintain lake levels. The annual drawdown for both Lake Hamiltion and Catherine begins Nov. 6 and will be complete by Nov. 12. Rainbow trout stocking is also scheduled to begin again in mid-November, which will bring quality trout fishing back into the tailrace. White and hybrid bass fishing has kept quality angling alive below the dam for last several months. Walleye fishing has tailed off some in the last two weeks, but good numbers of bass are still being caught during periods of current. Trolling small crankbaits against the current in the main channel has been the most effective method of hooking fish as the schools of bass move around chasing shad. Brightly colored jerkbaits also work well when cast into topwater feeding frenzies. This action is sporadic and short-lived so fishermen need to have rods ready to cast when bass feed on top. Stripers have been taken below the dam and bridge with gizzard or brood shad used with a balloon rig. Action is hit and miss, but some stripers in the 15 pound class have been caught. The good news for fishermen who frequent Carpenter Dam is that Dozier’s Rainbow Landing is open again after being closed for years. This old time bait shop was a mainstay for anglers looking to catch fish on Lake Catherine.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the crappie have been biting well for the last two weeks. Most of the boat fishermen have been catching their limits in deeper water, but the crappie have moved into the coves and the banks, so the bank fishermen are starting to catch their limits. They are using jigs and minnows. Some nice bream are being caught right now using crawlers and crickets. The catfish are slow off the bank, but are good on trotlines and yo-yos baited with bass minnows. Small bass are hitting anything you throw at them. The lake is down about 2 to 3 feet and is a little murky after the rain, with water temperature averaging 70 degrees.
South-Central Arkansas Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the Ouachita River is at 64.50 feet (Normal low is 65 feet). Bream are slow on worms and crickets. Catfish are fair on worms. Crappie are fair on small tube jigs. (Updated 10/20/2010)
Ouachita River Oxbows
Jaret Rushing said most of oxbows have gone completely stagnant and the only action is coming from bowfin, pickerel, gar and other rough fish.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing said the lake is about 3 feet lower than usual, which exposed a lot of the stumps in the middle of the lake. Crappie and bass are fair on those stumps.
East Arkansas Arkansas River at Pine Bluff
The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is low and murky. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on green worms fished around the river channel. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
White River
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 3 to 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is slow.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on jigs fished around stumps on the island side of the chute in about 18 inches of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Few anglers are fishing for catfish, but those that are fishing for them are catching plenty.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around the cypress trees and lily pads. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs at the edge of the lily pads. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished around lily pads. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut bait fished in deep water.
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