Central Arkansas Lake Conway
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low and clear. Bream are slow on crickets. Crappie are good on jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Dan at Gold Creek Marina said bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Bream are still biting fairly well on crickets and redworms with some nice redear showing up. Crappie are starting to move up the creek channels hitting on jigs. Catfish are doing well on nightcrawlers. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low and clear with late-night generation during the week and no generation on the weekend. Trout are biting well on wax worms and Power Bait. Some good trout have been caught on tiny marabou jigs and Rooster Tails as well.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 455.13 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 water surface temperatures are in the low to mid 70s and should cool off over the next week. Minnow-style baits, spoons, spinners and topwaters are putting fish in the boat. Crappies, smallmouth, largemouth, spotted bass, walleyes, hybrids and many white bass have been excellent. As the water cools and the next full moon approaches, look for the shad to start another spawn. Focus on main lake flats, pockets and small feeder creeks with wind to harbor the most shad and game fish.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is low and murky. Crappie are fair on white jigs and minnows. Bass are fair on black soft-plastic lures and spinnerbaits. Catfishing and bream fishing are slow.
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.
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.
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.
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 low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets in 12 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on 2-inch chartreuse grubs fished in 12 to 15 feet of water. Bass are fair on white Chug Bugs. Catfishing is slow.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bream are excellent on black 1/16-ounce Rooster Tails fished in deep water. Crappie are slow. Bass are excellent on frog-colored surface lures fished in deep, swift water. 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.
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. Bass are fair on crankbaits and jigs fished around rocks. 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 and clear. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows in the backwater. Bass are fair on jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is low and clear. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair to good on liver. Peckerwood Lake will close to fishing after October 31, get out and get some crappie for the freezer now.
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 the water is clear and at normal level. Two generators are running. Trout are biting well on pink and red or bubble gum-colored Power Bait. Black/chartreuse Rooster Tails are working well in current, as are 2-inch Rapala floating minnows and countdown minnows.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been excellent with some large browns moving upriver toward the dam. Corn and brightly colored PowerBait have worked well on sunny days this week.
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. Fish are very spooky in low water levels at this time so try to avoid line splash and careless wading. Increase leader/tippet lengths to at least 12 ft, it will make a great deal of difference, as will the use of small indicators.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said water levels on the White have been lower than usual and it has improved the fishing. Anglers are catching many trout on White River Zig Jigs in Ginger or Green. Use 4-pound-test line and make sure to let the jig get close to the bottom before you start working it in. Many fish have been caught on Black/Green woolly buggers. Fish any fast, shallow water you can find if wading. From the boat cast out 90 degrees with a sinking line and strip it back to the boat.
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 river level is 10.1 feet, which is difficult for easy floating. Fishing is good at public access points on Clouser minnows and Crazy dads. Spin fishermen are catching fish on jerkbaits, Rebel Crawdad crankbaits and topwater baits like Tiny Torpedoes.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 652.87 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said walleye are biting nightcrawler rigs and split shotted nightcrawlers about 35 feet deep on main lake and creek channel points and flats. Bass are biting nightcrawlers and crawfish on drop offs and points in 30 to 50 feet of water. All species of bass are following schools of shad and are blowing up all over the lake. Grubs, crankbaits and spoons will catch a mixed bag of fish. Catfish are biting well about 30 to 50 feet deep on bluff ends, main lake flats and coves on nightcrawlers and cut bait.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said generation is around the clock with one generator. There have been brief periods of low water. Brown trout are staging for their spawn along the river. Streamers have worked well during the day, as have a hopper/dropper combination. Later in the day switch to a nymph under an indicator. Beadhead sowbugs, humpback scuds and beadhead pheasant tails.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.05 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said crappie fishing has been slow from no run off in the creeks.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the low 70s. Look for stripers suspended around 40 feet deep. Check the deep side on bluff points in creeks. White bass are 30-40 feet deep. Black bass are hitting Texas-rigged worms and jigs in 10-30 feet of water.
Guide Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters had no report.
Norfork Tailwater
Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort said fishing has been excellent with the cooler weather.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said the fishing has been excellent this week. Gene’s Trout Resort reported a 5½-pound rainbow, a 7¾-pound brown and a 3¾-pound cutthroat caught and released back in the river this week on corn or nightcrawlers from a boat. Large browns are moving upriver. Catching your limit of rainbows takes less than an hour if you’re fishing early in the morning after they stop generation.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,116.11 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 biting well early and late in the day on white or shad-colored buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Once the sun is up, switch to a Carolina-rigged 6-inch lizard fished along main lake points with timber or a Hula grub around banks with boulders and docks. Crappie fishing has been very good. Fish have been holding just above brush piles and standing timber in 20 to 40 feet of water. A minnow under a slip cork and a tube jig have been working well. Monte-NE, both river arms and Hickory Creek have been productive. Whites have been schooling in the morning and evening and can be caught by casting a ¼-oz. spoon or Rat-L-Trap into the surfacing school. Catfish have been hitting liver or worms fished from the bank after dark. Hickory Creek, 412 bridge, Monte-NE and 12 bridge have all been productive. Bluegill have been hitting crickets 2 to 10 feet deep around visible cover.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and low. Bream are fair on crickets around rocks. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spoons and spooks. Catfishing is slow.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said Table Rock Lake is still into flood pool and wading opportunities are difficult in the tailwater. Low water has been available from 1 to 3 p.m. Fishing a nymph under an indicator has been the most reliable presentation. Dead drifting dry flies and stripping small streamers has also worked. The best flies to try include zebra midges, beadhead pheasant tails, beadhead sow bugs, humpback scuds, woolly buggers, 56ers and renegades.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said the river is too low to float without a lot of dragging. Wade fishing at public access points is the best bet. Minnow and crawdad patterns are working well. The best flies to try are Clouser minnows, Shenk’s white streamer, Murdich minnow, KC’s slider minnow, crazy dad and Jeff’s messy craw. Spin fishermen are catching fish on small soft plastics, jerkbaits, buzzbaits and crankbaits along deeper pools and runs. Tubes and Zoom Brush Hogs are also working well.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are biting well on white Rooster Tails. Catfishing is slow.
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 the lake is still well below normal pool for this time of year, but catfish are biting fairly well. Crappie and bass are slow.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and about a foot low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on cut bait. Bream are slow.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low and murky. Bass are biting well on minnows and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, stink bait and chicken liver. No report on any other species.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 270cfs and water clarity is clear. Pre-spawn time is here and bigger trout will be moving upriver. Leaves have been coming off trees into the river, and this is a good time to use ant patterns coming off the leaves when they hit the water. With the water being so clear, a lighter tippet will work great. Mayfly emergers have been the go-to fly this week. A split shot above the fly is not needed with water levels so low.
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 says Catfish are biting on minnows and worms. Bream fishing is beginning to slow down with the cooler weather setting in. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said fall fishing is here. The surface temperature is in the upper 60s to lower 70s, depending on area and time of day. There are bass relatively shallow, biting topwaters and small earth-tone worms. There is also a crankbait bite on and around points. The jig bite is getting stronger. Black and blue jigs are producing on drops and points. Shad are bunching up in the deeper water in spots. Watch out for underwater obstructions, as the lake is very low and dangerous in and around woody areas.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.44 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said lake level continued dropping over last weekend, and is now 46 inches below normal pool and falling. Current in Little River is 191 CFS and surface temps dropped to 67 to 75 degrees. Use extreme caution at boat ramps, and navigation on Millwood during the four foot drawdown in effect through Feb 2011. Stumps and boat ramps are very shallow. Some cutover boat lanes through timber on the main lake are inaccessible during drawdown conditions. Good catches of bass continue on 5-inch Bass Assassin Shads, 6-inch Turbo Shads, Rat-L-Traps, clear Baby Torpedoes, Yum BuzzFrogs and Cordell Crazy Shads. The best bite has shifted to mid-morning. Bass are schooling randomly and can surface break at any time during these cooler days. Pay special attention inside vegetation lines and lily pad stands for shad flicking at the surface. When the bass begin schooling inside lily pads or other vegetation, a Johnson chrome spoon with white or smoke curly tail grub trailer works very well. Many schools of spotted bass and largemouths have been found at creek intersections with the river or in the creeks themselves. Large schools of white bass continue roaming Little River and are randomly breaking topwater in 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 improved recently with the improved water clarity. The best action is along Little River over planted brush in 15-20 feet on live shiners, jigs with smoke paddle-tail grubs and white Blakemore Roadrunners. Channel catfish remain consistent on trotlines and yo-yos hung from cypress tree branches in 9-12 feet of water using cut shad, Catfish Charlie, and catalpa worms.
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 on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and chicken liver. No report on any other species.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 537.34 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is murky and low. White bass are schooling early to mid morning and are biting well on topwaters and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished in brush 4 to 10 feet deep. Catfishing is fair on minnows and nightcrawlers in 5 to 10 feet of water. Walleye are fair on crankbaits fished around the creek channels.
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 has risen very slightly to 1.88 feet. The temperature has remained fairly constant. Wade fishing is very good. Quite a few black crappie and a few smallmouth have been caught on Beetle Spins and chrome casting spoons. Live minnows or crawdads are always a sure thing with the smallmouth. Be very cautious negotiating rocky areas while wading and keep a lookout for snakes.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.71 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 water temperature is in the low 70s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is fair. Best patterns have been fishing the breaking fish in the shad schools in the morning and late evening. Look in the back of major creeks and coves for shad and the bass will be close by. Use a surface lure such as a Sammy, Zara Spook, Pop R or a Rapala Minnow. Also try a swim bait or Fluke thrown directly to where the fish breaks and let it sink. Some bass are being caught on Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms and jigs. Look for long points with either wood or rock cover and fish from 5 to 20 feet down. Best worm colors are green pumpkin/red flake, red shad and cotton candy. Be sure to put a pork or plastic trailer on the jig, as it slows the fall. The best areas for bass have been between Edgewood and Shouse Ford. Crappie fishing is only fair with the fish scattered. With the low water, a lot of tree tops are within 25 feet of the surface and a lot of crappies are suspended over those tops, making it very difficult to locate them. Best pattern has been to target attractors in 18 to 25 feet of water with a 1/16-ounce jighead with a 2 inch shad pattern grub. Hybrid fishing has slowed but is still fair. The fish are still in the deep water suspended in the submerged timber. Look for fish about 35 feet down in water depths from 70 to 90 feet. Use the sonar to locate the fish and drop a jigging spoon to just above them. The best areas for hybrids have been between Iron Mountain and the mouth of Brushy Creek. Bream fishing is fair around all the brush that is now exposed. 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 337.22 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 for a scheduled drawdown. No report.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been pretty good the last few days. Some nice crappie have been caught on minnows and gold sparkle and silver sparkle jigs in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good on live bait, with the largest catfish coming from shallow water in the afternoon (about 2 to 5 p.m.). Bass are slow, but white shallow-diving crankbaits are taking a few.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.30 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 568.42 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good with many fish being caught from shallow to deep on spinnerbaits and crankbaits worked around points in the morning. Stripers are starting to school early and late with swimbaits and large Zara Spooks producing well.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and the surface temperature is 70 to 74 degrees. Largemouth bass are still good on topwater baits, such as Zara Spooks, Pop-R’s and buzzbaits over main lake and secondary points. Walleye are excellent on spoons fished 20-25 feet deep around brush. Stripers are fair on live bait and hair jigs. Bream are still fair on worms or crickets in water 15 to 25 feet deep. Crappie are excellent near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep on minnows and Tennessee shad colored crappie grubs. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait fished from 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 is only running water below Carpenter Dam for a few hours each day to maintain lake levels. Water temperature in the tailrace stays at 68 degrees in times of slack water, but falls into the upper 50s during generation. Clarity is good despite lack of current. Rainbow trout stocking begins in mid - November which will bring quality trout fishing back to Lake Catherine. Walleye continue to be caught below the dam and bridge as these fish chase shad and crawfish in the shallow water. Trolling the main channel has produced catches in the 3 to 5 pound range using crankbaits in bright colors. Carolina rigs used with nightcrawlers or minnows work well in current or slack water. Jigs tipped with minnows cast around the bridge pilings is a good pattern to use when other techniques fail to produce. White and hybrid bass are following the shad schools in and out of the tailrace. Small white or gray jigs, jerkbaits in black or silver and spoons have all taken bass. The best action occurs when the turbines are turning in the late evening. Stripers have been taken several miles below the bridge and also right next to the dam on brood or gizzard shad fished under a balloon rig.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.
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.
Ouachita River Oxbows
Jaret Rushing had no report.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing said fishing is slow.
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 low. Bream are slow on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 3 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits around docks.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is low and muddy. Fishing is slow. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on worms and crickets around lily pads. Crappie are biting well near the lily pads. Bass are fair on topwaters fished around vegetation. Catfishing is good on cut bait near the channel in deep water.
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low and clear. Bream are slow on crickets. Crappie are good on jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Dan at Gold Creek Marina said bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Bream are still biting fairly well on crickets and redworms with some nice redear showing up. Crappie are starting to move up the creek channels hitting on jigs. Catfish are doing well on nightcrawlers. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low and clear with late-night generation during the week and no generation on the weekend. Trout are biting well on wax worms and Power Bait. Some good trout have been caught on tiny marabou jigs and Rooster Tails as well.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 455.13 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 water surface temperatures are in the low to mid 70s and should cool off over the next week. Minnow-style baits, spoons, spinners and topwaters are putting fish in the boat. Crappies, smallmouth, largemouth, spotted bass, walleyes, hybrids and many white bass have been excellent. As the water cools and the next full moon approaches, look for the shad to start another spawn. Focus on main lake flats, pockets and small feeder creeks with wind to harbor the most shad and game fish.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is low and murky. Crappie are fair on white jigs and minnows. Bass are fair on black soft-plastic lures and spinnerbaits. Catfishing and bream fishing are slow.
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.
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.
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.
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 low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets in 12 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on 2-inch chartreuse grubs fished in 12 to 15 feet of water. Bass are fair on white Chug Bugs. Catfishing is slow.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bream are excellent on black 1/16-ounce Rooster Tails fished in deep water. Crappie are slow. Bass are excellent on frog-colored surface lures fished in deep, swift water. 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.
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. Bass are fair on crankbaits and jigs fished around rocks. 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 and clear. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows in the backwater. Bass are fair on jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is low and clear. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair to good on liver. Peckerwood Lake will close to fishing after October 31, get out and get some crappie for the freezer now.
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 the water is clear and at normal level. Two generators are running. Trout are biting well on pink and red or bubble gum-colored Power Bait. Black/chartreuse Rooster Tails are working well in current, as are 2-inch Rapala floating minnows and countdown minnows.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been excellent with some large browns moving upriver toward the dam. Corn and brightly colored PowerBait have worked well on sunny days this week.
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. Fish are very spooky in low water levels at this time so try to avoid line splash and careless wading. Increase leader/tippet lengths to at least 12 ft, it will make a great deal of difference, as will the use of small indicators.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said water levels on the White have been lower than usual and it has improved the fishing. Anglers are catching many trout on White River Zig Jigs in Ginger or Green. Use 4-pound-test line and make sure to let the jig get close to the bottom before you start working it in. Many fish have been caught on Black/Green woolly buggers. Fish any fast, shallow water you can find if wading. From the boat cast out 90 degrees with a sinking line and strip it back to the boat.
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 river level is 10.1 feet, which is difficult for easy floating. Fishing is good at public access points on Clouser minnows and Crazy dads. Spin fishermen are catching fish on jerkbaits, Rebel Crawdad crankbaits and topwater baits like Tiny Torpedoes.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 652.87 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said walleye are biting nightcrawler rigs and split shotted nightcrawlers about 35 feet deep on main lake and creek channel points and flats. Bass are biting nightcrawlers and crawfish on drop offs and points in 30 to 50 feet of water. All species of bass are following schools of shad and are blowing up all over the lake. Grubs, crankbaits and spoons will catch a mixed bag of fish. Catfish are biting well about 30 to 50 feet deep on bluff ends, main lake flats and coves on nightcrawlers and cut bait.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said generation is around the clock with one generator. There have been brief periods of low water. Brown trout are staging for their spawn along the river. Streamers have worked well during the day, as have a hopper/dropper combination. Later in the day switch to a nymph under an indicator. Beadhead sowbugs, humpback scuds and beadhead pheasant tails.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.05 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said crappie fishing has been slow from no run off in the creeks.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the low 70s. Look for stripers suspended around 40 feet deep. Check the deep side on bluff points in creeks. White bass are 30-40 feet deep. Black bass are hitting Texas-rigged worms and jigs in 10-30 feet of water.
Guide Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters had no report.
Norfork Tailwater
Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort said fishing has been excellent with the cooler weather.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said the fishing has been excellent this week. Gene’s Trout Resort reported a 5½-pound rainbow, a 7¾-pound brown and a 3¾-pound cutthroat caught and released back in the river this week on corn or nightcrawlers from a boat. Large browns are moving upriver. Catching your limit of rainbows takes less than an hour if you’re fishing early in the morning after they stop generation.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,116.11 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 biting well early and late in the day on white or shad-colored buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Once the sun is up, switch to a Carolina-rigged 6-inch lizard fished along main lake points with timber or a Hula grub around banks with boulders and docks. Crappie fishing has been very good. Fish have been holding just above brush piles and standing timber in 20 to 40 feet of water. A minnow under a slip cork and a tube jig have been working well. Monte-NE, both river arms and Hickory Creek have been productive. Whites have been schooling in the morning and evening and can be caught by casting a ¼-oz. spoon or Rat-L-Trap into the surfacing school. Catfish have been hitting liver or worms fished from the bank after dark. Hickory Creek, 412 bridge, Monte-NE and 12 bridge have all been productive. Bluegill have been hitting crickets 2 to 10 feet deep around visible cover.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and low. Bream are fair on crickets around rocks. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spoons and spooks. Catfishing is slow.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said Table Rock Lake is still into flood pool and wading opportunities are difficult in the tailwater. Low water has been available from 1 to 3 p.m. Fishing a nymph under an indicator has been the most reliable presentation. Dead drifting dry flies and stripping small streamers has also worked. The best flies to try include zebra midges, beadhead pheasant tails, beadhead sow bugs, humpback scuds, woolly buggers, 56ers and renegades.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said the river is too low to float without a lot of dragging. Wade fishing at public access points is the best bet. Minnow and crawdad patterns are working well. The best flies to try are Clouser minnows, Shenk’s white streamer, Murdich minnow, KC’s slider minnow, crazy dad and Jeff’s messy craw. Spin fishermen are catching fish on small soft plastics, jerkbaits, buzzbaits and crankbaits along deeper pools and runs. Tubes and Zoom Brush Hogs are also working well.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are biting well on white Rooster Tails. Catfishing is slow.
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 the lake is still well below normal pool for this time of year, but catfish are biting fairly well. Crappie and bass are slow.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and about a foot low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on cut bait. Bream are slow.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low and murky. Bass are biting well on minnows and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, stink bait and chicken liver. No report on any other species.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 270cfs and water clarity is clear. Pre-spawn time is here and bigger trout will be moving upriver. Leaves have been coming off trees into the river, and this is a good time to use ant patterns coming off the leaves when they hit the water. With the water being so clear, a lighter tippet will work great. Mayfly emergers have been the go-to fly this week. A split shot above the fly is not needed with water levels so low.
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 says Catfish are biting on minnows and worms. Bream fishing is beginning to slow down with the cooler weather setting in. (Updated 10/6/2010)
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said fall fishing is here. The surface temperature is in the upper 60s to lower 70s, depending on area and time of day. There are bass relatively shallow, biting topwaters and small earth-tone worms. There is also a crankbait bite on and around points. The jig bite is getting stronger. Black and blue jigs are producing on drops and points. Shad are bunching up in the deeper water in spots. Watch out for underwater obstructions, as the lake is very low and dangerous in and around woody areas.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.44 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said lake level continued dropping over last weekend, and is now 46 inches below normal pool and falling. Current in Little River is 191 CFS and surface temps dropped to 67 to 75 degrees. Use extreme caution at boat ramps, and navigation on Millwood during the four foot drawdown in effect through Feb 2011. Stumps and boat ramps are very shallow. Some cutover boat lanes through timber on the main lake are inaccessible during drawdown conditions. Good catches of bass continue on 5-inch Bass Assassin Shads, 6-inch Turbo Shads, Rat-L-Traps, clear Baby Torpedoes, Yum BuzzFrogs and Cordell Crazy Shads. The best bite has shifted to mid-morning. Bass are schooling randomly and can surface break at any time during these cooler days. Pay special attention inside vegetation lines and lily pad stands for shad flicking at the surface. When the bass begin schooling inside lily pads or other vegetation, a Johnson chrome spoon with white or smoke curly tail grub trailer works very well. Many schools of spotted bass and largemouths have been found at creek intersections with the river or in the creeks themselves. Large schools of white bass continue roaming Little River and are randomly breaking topwater in 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 improved recently with the improved water clarity. The best action is along Little River over planted brush in 15-20 feet on live shiners, jigs with smoke paddle-tail grubs and white Blakemore Roadrunners. Channel catfish remain consistent on trotlines and yo-yos hung from cypress tree branches in 9-12 feet of water using cut shad, Catfish Charlie, and catalpa worms.
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 on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and chicken liver. No report on any other species.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 537.34 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is murky and low. White bass are schooling early to mid morning and are biting well on topwaters and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished in brush 4 to 10 feet deep. Catfishing is fair on minnows and nightcrawlers in 5 to 10 feet of water. Walleye are fair on crankbaits fished around the creek channels.
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 has risen very slightly to 1.88 feet. The temperature has remained fairly constant. Wade fishing is very good. Quite a few black crappie and a few smallmouth have been caught on Beetle Spins and chrome casting spoons. Live minnows or crawdads are always a sure thing with the smallmouth. Be very cautious negotiating rocky areas while wading and keep a lookout for snakes.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.71 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 water temperature is in the low 70s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is fair. Best patterns have been fishing the breaking fish in the shad schools in the morning and late evening. Look in the back of major creeks and coves for shad and the bass will be close by. Use a surface lure such as a Sammy, Zara Spook, Pop R or a Rapala Minnow. Also try a swim bait or Fluke thrown directly to where the fish breaks and let it sink. Some bass are being caught on Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms and jigs. Look for long points with either wood or rock cover and fish from 5 to 20 feet down. Best worm colors are green pumpkin/red flake, red shad and cotton candy. Be sure to put a pork or plastic trailer on the jig, as it slows the fall. The best areas for bass have been between Edgewood and Shouse Ford. Crappie fishing is only fair with the fish scattered. With the low water, a lot of tree tops are within 25 feet of the surface and a lot of crappies are suspended over those tops, making it very difficult to locate them. Best pattern has been to target attractors in 18 to 25 feet of water with a 1/16-ounce jighead with a 2 inch shad pattern grub. Hybrid fishing has slowed but is still fair. The fish are still in the deep water suspended in the submerged timber. Look for fish about 35 feet down in water depths from 70 to 90 feet. Use the sonar to locate the fish and drop a jigging spoon to just above them. The best areas for hybrids have been between Iron Mountain and the mouth of Brushy Creek. Bream fishing is fair around all the brush that is now exposed. 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 337.22 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 for a scheduled drawdown. No report.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been pretty good the last few days. Some nice crappie have been caught on minnows and gold sparkle and silver sparkle jigs in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good on live bait, with the largest catfish coming from shallow water in the afternoon (about 2 to 5 p.m.). Bass are slow, but white shallow-diving crankbaits are taking a few.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.30 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 568.42 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good with many fish being caught from shallow to deep on spinnerbaits and crankbaits worked around points in the morning. Stripers are starting to school early and late with swimbaits and large Zara Spooks producing well.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and the surface temperature is 70 to 74 degrees. Largemouth bass are still good on topwater baits, such as Zara Spooks, Pop-R’s and buzzbaits over main lake and secondary points. Walleye are excellent on spoons fished 20-25 feet deep around brush. Stripers are fair on live bait and hair jigs. Bream are still fair on worms or crickets in water 15 to 25 feet deep. Crappie are excellent near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep on minnows and Tennessee shad colored crappie grubs. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait fished from 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 is only running water below Carpenter Dam for a few hours each day to maintain lake levels. Water temperature in the tailrace stays at 68 degrees in times of slack water, but falls into the upper 50s during generation. Clarity is good despite lack of current. Rainbow trout stocking begins in mid - November which will bring quality trout fishing back to Lake Catherine. Walleye continue to be caught below the dam and bridge as these fish chase shad and crawfish in the shallow water. Trolling the main channel has produced catches in the 3 to 5 pound range using crankbaits in bright colors. Carolina rigs used with nightcrawlers or minnows work well in current or slack water. Jigs tipped with minnows cast around the bridge pilings is a good pattern to use when other techniques fail to produce. White and hybrid bass are following the shad schools in and out of the tailrace. Small white or gray jigs, jerkbaits in black or silver and spoons have all taken bass. The best action occurs when the turbines are turning in the late evening. Stripers have been taken several miles below the bridge and also right next to the dam on brood or gizzard shad fished under a balloon rig.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.
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.
Ouachita River Oxbows
Jaret Rushing had no report.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing said fishing is slow.
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 low. Bream are slow on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 3 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits around docks.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is low and muddy. Fishing is slow. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on worms and crickets around lily pads. Crappie are biting well near the lily pads. Bass are fair on topwaters fished around vegetation. Catfishing is good on cut bait near the channel in deep water.