Arkansa Fishing Report 3-10-11

Kevin

Senior Fisheman
Joined
Jan 10, 2009
Location
Craig, Colorado
Best Catch
12lbs
Boat
Charger
#1
Central Arkansas Lake Conway
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is dingy and is rising to normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms and red worms. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows and white Crappie Stinger jigs. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits with gold blades. White bass are biting well on small spoons. No report on any other species.
Dan at Gold Creek Marina (501-607-0590) said crappie are biting well on jigs or minnows. The crappie are staging near shallow water. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and jigs. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and livers. Bream and redear are biting well on red worms and mini jigs fished near the bottom.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and at normal level with one generator running. Trout are biting well on wax worms and marshmallows fished from the bank. Trout are also biting well on Rapala Floating Minnows fished while the water is up.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 457.17 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is rising, and the surface temperature ranges from 47 to 51 degrees. The walleye are on the move with a lot of males showing upriver and being caught on jigs tipped with minnows, Rattling Rogues and crankbaits fished very slowly. The bass bite is good on jerk baits, crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits on main lake and secondary points. The fish are moving up at different times of day to feed, so be sure to check points a few times throughout the day to catch them while they’re feeding. Some white bass and hybrids are up the rivers and are feeding. Others are still in the main lake, biting spoons, swimbaits and hair jigs with grubs. Some good places to try are Cove Creek, Salt Creek, Higden Bay and Peter Creek. Crappie are biting well in the pole timber and upriver on jigs tipped with minnows.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said Greers Ferry is currently rising. Surface temperatures range from the upper 40s to low 50s, depending on time of day and location. Recent rains should bring the reservoir up an additional foot which will help inflow and water color. Minnow-style jerk baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and swimbaits are all catching fish. Most game fish are in less than 12 feet of water on some type of woody cover.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said fishing has been extremely slow for all species.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said fishing during the day has been slow, but yo-yos and jug lines fished at night are producing well. The spawn is beginning, and fishing will pick up well. The water level in the lake has risen 18 inches since last week, but the water is still too low to trust the boat lanes for running a boat. Most of the lake is stumpy, and the lake still needs to rise before boats can safely run the lanes faster than idle speed. Lakeview Landing on Ark. Highway 95, is still the only launch available on the lake with the low water.
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water level was 8.3 feet below the spillway before Tuesday night’s rain. Water temperature is 52 degrees at the marina. Black bass are biting well on crankbaits, jigs and CC spoons in the channels, about 10 to 20 feet deep. On warm days, the bass are moving up to shallow water. The middle section of the lake and west end are producing the best. Many small spotted bass are being caught on jig heads and grubs fished around structure in 12 to 20 feet of water. White bass are excellent. The white bass are at the west end of the lake and holding in the creek channels. Limits of whites have come from the banks around the chimney area on warm days. The spring run should be starting any day. Crappie are excellent in 18 feet of water on cover near channels. The best lures are small pink minnows and small jigs with grubs. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught on cut shad and prepared bait.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the crappie are biting well on live minnows and popsicle-colored Kalin grubs in 10 to 12 feet of water. White bass are biting very well on white horsehead jigs and minnows in Maumelle Creek upstream from Lake Maumelle.
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the trout are biting well on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Catfishing is good on worms, chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are excellent on 2-inch chartreuse grubs fished in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bass are excellent on Rapala X-Raps in 4 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing is slow on chicken liver.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs. Bass are fair on crawdad-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said bass are holding outside grass in 9 to 10 feet of water and are biting well on green pumpkin worms. Catfish are still in deep water, but are biting fairly well on shad in the late afternoon. Crappie are in Point Remove Creek and the Petit Jean River in 6 to 8 feet of water and are biting fairly well on red/chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said in Maumelle River, crappie are excellent on live minnows fished from yo-yos and under slip corks. Bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on cut shad and live green sunfish. In Palarm Creek, crappie are biting well on live minnows and Tootie Fruity Strike King crappie jigs. Catfishing is fair on cut shad, stinkbait and chicken hearts. Bass are biting fairly well on black/blue jigs and chartreuse spinnerbaits with double willow-leaf blades.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is low and stained. Crappie are fair on black/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits in backwater areas.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair in the backwater on pink minnows fished under a slip cork. Bass are fair on crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Catfishing is good on trotlines.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the river below Terry Lock and Dam is stained and at normal level. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass are slow on black/blue jigs. Catfishing is slow.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and low. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits and jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is low and dingy. Fishing is extremely poor. A few catfish have been caught on minnows, but that’s it.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are slow on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows and electric chicken-colored grubs. Bass are slow on white spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on worms, chicken hearts and stinkbait.
North Arkansas White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and low, with no generation. Fly fishing is decent with black, green or pink streamers and zebra midges. Spin-fishing is fair on Rogues, Rapalas, Lil’ Cleo Spoons, Panther Martin Spinners and green, brown or black Rooster Tails and jigs.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing is slow with stained, low water. Black/gold and rainbow-colored size 7 Countdowns are the lures to use this week. There is a lot of moss floating in the river right now.
Guide Davy Wotton said extended periods of low water provided great wade fishing opportunities during the last two weeks. More than a day or so of zero generation makes life difficult for those who wish to drift fish. The Bull Shoals Trophy Management Zone has been producing some nice fish on midges, sow bugs, scuds, soft hackles and streamers. When we see generated water levels (lower flow rates to 5,000 cfs) the above range of flies will serve well with the addition of San Juan, prism and dynamite worms set up as two fly rigs where legal. If the generations are above 5,000 cfs, opt for at least one fly with high-vis, here you might include eggs. Streamer fishing may well be a good option during high flows, it is the time that browns are hungry and looking for larger food source and bait fish will be on the menu. If we do see any evidence of shad then white flies will be on the cards, streamers, jigs are good choices.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said recent rains have muddied the water quite a bit. In muddy water, you can catch fish on the bottom with Power Bait or worms, but there hasn’t been much action on artificial lures. Head to Rim Shoals, Buffalo City or Wildcat Shoals, as the water is very clear and the fish are biting excellently. White River Zig Jigs are all you need in most any color and you will be happy with the results.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said water levels are as follows: Highway 7 Access – 5.05 feet and 194 cfs; Highway 65 Access – 6.25 feet and 1,440 cfs; Highway 14 Access – 4.75 feet and 1230 cfs. Water temperatures have ranged from a low of 47 degrees to a high of 54 degrees. Fishing is slow to moderate. Fish slowly to stay on the bottom. Best bets for flies will be patterns that hug the bottom, such as crawdad and darter/sculpin imitations. Patterns like the Clouser madtom, darter and minnow, crazy dads and creek crawlers and sparkle grubs should work well.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said water levels are 11.96 feet, 0.3 feet under the low-water bridge at Kelly’s Access and 129 cfs. This level is great for fishing and floating. Water temperatures are in the upper 40s to mid 50s. The warmer weather this week should get the smallmouth active. Good baits are going to be the ones that hug the bottom. Be sure to fish slow and deep.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 649.42 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water temperature has been up and down all over the lake. Snow runoff with cold rain brought the lake level up about one foot this week but brought the water temperature down, with main channel areas in the mid 40s. Bass have been biting suspending jerk baits when you can find some warmer water; look in creek arms and larger coves that face south. Some anglers have been having luck swimming grubs on 1/8- to ¼-oz. jig heads about halfway back in the creeks with water flowing in. A few walleye have been caught along with the bass, and walleye fishing should improve greatly in the next few weeks.
Bob Pauletti at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said spring is right around the corner, and the anglers are ready to go. The water temperature for the lower portion of the lake is around 47 to 49 degrees. The white bass are running in the backs of some creeks. White twister tails, inline spinners and small crankbaits will catch the white bass during the run. Bass can be caught on tube baits, jigs and jerk baits fished in the wind. Walleye have been few and far between, but this should change soon. Anglers should be ready by the next full moon and fish suspending jerk baits in likely spawning areas. Crappie are biting well on bluff walls with cover.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said the water temperature is in the mid 40s to low 50s. Bass are still biting well on suspending jerk baits, tube jigs and crankbaits. Some walleyes are being caught on live bait, jerk baits and jigs. White bass are fair on shad-type lures fished back in the creek arms, with the best bite being late in the day on plastics. The rain should help put some color in the lake, which usually makes the bite better.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 544.49 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
STR Outfitters said the water temperature is in the high 40s, and stripers are staging for their spring run. Look for stripers in small bays and creek turns halfway up the creeks. Long-line trolling, trolling balloons and trolling planer boards with stick baits or threadfin and gizzard shad are working well in Diamond, Panther, and Fout areas in 20 to 50 feet of water. The night bite is beginning; wait for a couple of warm evenings and hit the points with stick baits. Some guys are trolling stick baits and catching stripers.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the mid to upper 40s. Bass are hitting Wiggle Warts and suspending jerk baits around 10 to 15 feet deep, and the deeper fish are hitting jigs. Look in coves and creeks for baitfish. Some of the coves are loaded with baitfish. If you mark deep fish, drop a jigging spoon.
Highway 101 Grocery and Bait said fishing is good. With air temperatures in the 60-70 degree range and water temperatures on the rise around 56 degrees, the fish are on the move. Striped bass are being caught 10-20 feet deep on shiners and in the mornings and evenings on stick baits fished along the water’s edge. There were some 20 pounders reeled in this weekend and a monster 38 pounder using shiners. Crappie fishing is good around 4-10 feet deep on shiners and 1/32-oz. jigs. Walleye fishing is picking up on live bait in shallow water. Bass fishing has been good on ¼-oz. jig heads with 3-inch grubs. White bass and catfish have been slow. Bluegill fishing is fair using pieces of nightcrawler.
Norfork Tailwater
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the water is clear and generation has been extremely low. You can catch quite a few fish, but you will have to negotiate a large amount of boats that are there due to the muddy water on the White.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said bottom fishing with corn, nightcrawlers, or yellow or sunrise Power Bait is hot this week in the mornings. There has been no generation and low fishing pressure during the week, and many fish are holding in the deeper pools.
Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort had no report.
Just Fishing Guides said no generation last week meant unlimited wade fishing. Midges in black and gray are producing best around Quarry Park. Scuds and sow bugs are working well in the middle section down to McClellands. Add olive caddis larva/pupae and blue wing olive patterns from McClellands to the mouth of the river. Small to medium streamers in olive, black, gray, white and yellow are viable anywhere as well.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,112.58 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said striper fishing has been picking up. Water temperatures are climbing slowly. The best approach for stripers is free-lining and fishing balloons with 4-6 inch shad. Bait can still be found in the backs of coves looking for warm water flowing into the lake. Stripers also can be taken with no. 9 Rapala Original Floating Minnows and Husky jerks and Rattlin’ Rogues trolled with planer boards to spread lines and cover shallow water near the bank. Troll Rapalas and Rogues at 1.5-2 mph. During the spawning run, many stripers and hybrids are mistaken for white bass, so be sure to know your species. There is a three-fish limit on stripers and hybrids with a 20-inch minimum length on striper. In the mid- to lower section of the lake, check Indian Creek, Big Clifty and Rocky Branch for stripers preparing for the spawning run. In the upper section of the lake, look in the back of Prairie Creek, and the flats adjacent to the main river channel. There has been a lot of activity in Coose Hollow, the back of Blackburn Creek and the back of Monte-Ne. The walleye spawn is beginning to peak at War Eagle, and stripers are thick in the last deep holes as far upstream as you can get in War Eagle. Most walleye will be about 5-10 feet deep. Cast spoons, Rooster Tails and jigs in white, chartreuse, orange and silver or Shad Raps in firetiger and clown colors. Flat-line trolling over shallow bars with Rapalas in natural blue or black back combos and Rogues in clown flash is producing as well.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting suspending jerk baits off main lake points and in the mouths of small coves with timber. Bass also have been biting slow-rolled spinnerbaits later in the day close to the bank around visible cover. Crappie have been biting Shineee Hineee jigs and black/chartreuse, red/chartreuse jigs under a cork, fished 2 to 5 feet deep around pole timber and blown down trees close to the channel in 15 to 30 feet of water. A minnow will also work on cooler days. White bass have begun moving into the rivers and can be caught as far as 3 miles upstream on warmer afternoons. They have been holding around timber close to the channel and can be caught on chartreuse curly tailed grubs, chartreuse/orange Shineee Hineee jigs and small Rat-L-Traps. Catfishing has been slow, but some can be taken from the bank using packaged shad or liver. The Highway 412 bridge, Highway 12 bridge and Hickory Creek should all be good.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and the surface temperature is 40 degrees. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on MegaBass 110 Series jerk baits. Walleye are beginning their spawning run in the river.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said plenty of low water has allowed excellent fishing for wading anglers. Midge fishing continues to be the more consistent method for both numbers and size of fish. Scuds, sow bugs and small olive streamers are producing well.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said water levels are 4.43 feet and 863 cfs at the Grandview bridge. Water temperatures have been averaging in the low 50s. Best bets for flies will be patterns that hug the bottom, such as crawdad and darter/sculpin imitations. Patterns like the Clouser madtom, darter and minnow, crazy dads and creek crawlers and sparkle grubs should work well. In the lower river, walleye and white bass should begin to stage for the spawn. Minnows and crawdads will be the best baits.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Crappie are fair on blue jigs, but they’re all small. Black bass are fair on jerk baits. No report on any other species.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and 54 degrees. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs in 4 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers and worms.
Northeast Arkansas Lake Charles
Lake Charles State Park said crappie have started to bite on live bait. There have been several reports of bass being caught on crankbaits. The water temperature ranges from the upper 40s to the low 50s. Slow down your presentation for better results on bass and crappie.
Lake Poinsett
Lake Poinsett State Park said bass fishing is picking up steadily. No report on any other species, but the crappie should be picking up, too.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on live minnows. Bass are biting well on jerk baits.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low and muddy. A few catfish have been caught on nightcrawlers. No report on any other species.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said rain has brought river levels back up to normal. Water clarity has been clear. Over the last week, the AGFC stocked some really nice rainbow trout. Float trips have been producing big trout. At least a 3x fluorocarbon tippet is recommended. Mayfly emergers are the hot fly this week. Overcast days are still the best. Bead head flies are still the way to go and split shot has not been needed to keep the flies down in the water. Rock bass are being caught below falls this time of year. The go-to lure for them has been a Golden Nuggets (a twin spin jig). Now is the time for walleye in the Spring. Minnows are catching some very nice walleye, especially on cloudy, rainy days.
Spring River Fly Shop said despite the recent winds, trout fishing has been very good. The rain helped turn some fish on, and the anglers that braved the weather were rewarded. Y2K’s, woolly mammoths and mad guy olives worked very well for fly anglers, while bait anglers had their best success on shrimp and salmon eggs.
Southeast Arkansas Lake Chicot
Lake Chicot State Park said bream fishing has been fair on crickets. Crappie fishing has been good on minnows. Catfish are biting well on crickets and cold worms. Bass are biting slowly on black plastic worms.
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park said colder weather and rain have kept some anglers away, but look for crappie to start biting well in a week or two with warmer weather on the way. Minnows will be the best bet.
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said the water surface temperature is on the way up. Even on cooler, cloudy days, we have temperatures in the low- to mid-50s in the coves. Some bass are being caught on soft plastics, crankbaits and jerk baits. Lake Monticello is on the verge of turning on. Be careful on the lake. The lake is down and boaters are keeping Mac at Harrison Fiberglass Repair busy. There are stumps just under the water that are usually several feet under the water.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.20 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water is 9 inches above normal pool and rising, with reduced current in Little River of 245 CFS. The water temperature is 57 to 65 degrees. Visibility is currently 12-15 inches around the river. The bass bite continues improving with the warm days. The spawn is just a week or so away, offering better action for feeding largemouth. The bass bite continues to be best during heat of the day. Bass continue to prowl spawning areas, and can be caught on jigs, Rat-L-Traps, lizards and gitzits. Larger, female bass are still staging in slightly deeper water, adjacent to spawning flats. A ¾- to 1-oz. Rat-L-Trap, magnum lizard, magnum tube or War Eagle spinnerbait fished slowly along the ledges to deep water near spawning flats are all working well. Bass Assassin trick worms, Senkos and Salty Rat Tails are beginning to take some keeper bass by dead sticking them on a light-wire hook. White bass continue roaming Little River. The whites are concentrating near White Cliffs, McGuire and the Arkansas Highway 71 bridge. The spawning run is underway, and white bass are easy to catch on Rocket Shads, Bomber Fat Free Shads, Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Gay Blades, Cordell CC Spoons, grubs on lead head jigs, Little Georges and white/red Rooster Tails. Crappie are biting well on vertically jigged tube jigs and grubs fished over planted brush piles along the channel of Little River. The best area has been Little River above White Cliffs Campground. Catfishing has been good on tightlines and trotlines fished along Little River in 15 to 18 feet of water. The best catfish baits have been cut shad, Catfish Charlie and chicken livers.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is 41/2 feet low and South Shore Landing is the only place to launch a boat. Bream are slow. Crappie are slow on minnows in 7 feet of water, but should pick up when the water temperature warms up. Bass are biting well on Zoom Brush Hogs. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait in 10 feet of water.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low and clear. Bream are slow on crickets. Crappie were biting well, but the cold fronts have delayed the spawn. Bass are biting well on Brush Hogs. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 541.89 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and 50 degrees. Crappie are fair on minnows fished in brush from 4 to 15 feet deep. Bass are fair on crankbaits soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is slow. Walleye are fair on crankbaits fished near the river.
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 had no report.
Cossatot River
Cossatot River State Park had no report.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 396.64 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 surface water temperature is in the mid-50s, and the lake is clear up to Point 14 and slightly discolored in the upper end. Bass fishing is fair. The bass are moving to shallow cover on main lake and secondary creek points. Look for fish in 5 to 10 feet of water and throw a shallow-running crankbait or jerk bait in the morning. Switch to a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard later in the day. Some decent catches have been reported on jig and plastic trailers or Zoom Baby Brush Hogs fished around exposed fish attractors in 5 to 10 feet of water. Be on the lookout for bass chasing shad in the coves and pockets; a ¼-ounce Rat-L-Trap works well for these fish. The most productive areas have been between Arlie Moore and Point Cedar. Crappie fishing is very good with many catches reported, and with a few fish pushing 3 pounds. The fish are moving to the shallower brush, (attractors) in 10 to 15 feet of water, but there are still plenty of fish on deeper attractors. On deeper attractors, use a 2-inch Tennessee shad grub, tube or minnow on a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce jig head, and fish the lure vertically just above the brush. On shallower brush, use the same lure, except throw to the edge of the brush and reel the jig back slowly. The best areas for crappie have been the main river between Point 14 and Point Cedar, Beaton Creek and Point Cedar Creek. Bream fishing is fair with quite a few small fish on shallow attractors. Fish a redworm or cricket around the edges of the attractors. Hybrids are really scattered, and there’s no report of any catches. Many trotlines are out, but anglers aren’t doing well, yet.
West-Central Arkansas Lake Nimrod
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 345.63 feet MSL.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no report.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said catfishing has been very good lately. Cut or whole shad have both been working well, and shad are easy to catch in the creeks. Crappie have been hit-or-miss. Minnow fishing in deeper water has produced some nice ones, while jigs in shallow water have produced more, but smaller fish. Popular jig colors have been red/white and chartreuse. Largemouth bass are beginning to pick up, but the weekend tournaments did not fare well. Black/blue jigs are about all the locals are using right now for bass. Bream have started to bite a little, but the bigger bream aren’t up in the shallow water yet.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.28 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said the store is open and anglers are coming to the lake, but there haven’t been many reports coming in yet.
Lake Ouachita
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 570.73 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is good on the west side of the lake. Bass are hitting black/brown jigs with green pumpkin trailers in brush piles 15 to 20 feet deep. Jerk baits are working well in creek channels around standing timber. Use lighter line to get your jerk bait deeper, where the fish are.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is in the low 40s. The lake level is very low and the water is clear. Bass are being caught on jerk baits fished very slowly. Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are working over grass. Slow your retrieve and cover water until you find a grass bed, then fish the lure through the bed slowly. Crappie are biting on jigs and minnows in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is stained and is 46 to 50 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting very well on red crankbaits, red Rat-L-Traps and peanut butter and jelly, black/blue or green pumpkin football jigs in water 15 to 25 feet deep. Jerk baits fished over main lake points and humps are getting good results. Walleye are fair on spoons fished around brush 20 to 25 feet deep. Walleye are staging in the rivers for their spawning run. Stripers are biting well on live bait, soft plastic grubs and white or gray hair jigs. Crappie are still very good and being caught near brush in water 15 to 20 feet deep on minnows or Tennessee shad crappie grubs. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is in the low 40s and the water color is clear. The lake is still down 3 feet. Bass are being caught on slow-moving lures, like jigs and jerk baits. Also try a spoon in the guts of creeks in 20 to 30 feet of water. With this week’s warm weather, try a crawfish-colored crankbait on points at the mouths of short feeder creeks. Crappie are being caught in 10 to 12 feet of water on jigs or minnows fished very slowly under floats.
For a daily fishing report from Darryl Morris, visit Family Fishing Trips.
Lake Catherine
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 43 degrees with clear conditions from the dam to the bridge and for several miles downstream. The lake is rising to normal pool and will be completely refilled on March 15. Boaters should use caution when navigating the area, since many hazardous areas still remain until water levels return to normal. Rainbow trout fishing is smoking hot. Bank anglers are using wax worms and redworms under a bobber or floated off the bottom with marshmallows in the main channel. Spin fishermen casting Super Dupers in silver or white during generation have caught the largest trout. Boaters trolling below the bridge have taken quality limits of rainbows on shallow-running crankbaits that imitate shad or crawfish. Walleye are in mid-spawn and are all over the tailrace. Brightly colored crankbaits work well in the current, but live bait fished on a Carolina rig will produce better. Crappie are slowly moving into the tailrace with the spawn only a week or two away. White bass are on the move with small males being caught on small jigs and in-line spinners, such as a Rooster Tails or Mepps Killers.
Rick Sawyer at Dozhier’s Rainbow Landing (501-262-2825) said trout fishing is excellent. Many walleye are being caught below the bridge at night, as well.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said fishing is picking up. Bass from 8 to 12 pounds have been caught on crankbaits. Some nice white bass have been caught as well. Bream are biting on redworms or crawlers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is fair on trotlines and yo-yos.
South-Central Arkansas Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay had no report.
Ouachita River Oxbows
Jaret Rushing said fishing picked up a little this weekend. Some of the shallower waters on the Ouachita River Oxbows started warming up and anglers were catching male bass on ¼-oz. spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Some good crappie have been caught on yo-yos baited with minnows in 3 to 4 feet of water.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing said hardly any anglers are on Tri-County Lake. The bass should be moving into the shallower waters and getting ready for spawn. One thing to remember on these bass is that it is unlikely to find one on the bed in the murkier water. The best bet to catch a big one is to use a lizard or brush hog on a Carolina rig to drag across possible bedding areas.
East Arkansas Arkansas River at Pine Bluff
The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) had no report.
White River
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and high. Fishing has been tough for all species with the high, cold, muddy water.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is dingy and high with the rain. As the water level settles and the water clears up, the fishing should be good.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is very high from the Mississippi river. Part of the boat dock is underwater. No report.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is high and clear. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around piers. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is slow.