Arkansas Fishing Report 4/22/2011

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 clear and at normal level. Bream are excellent on redworms, crickets and wax worms. Crappie are biting fairly well at night on yo-yos baited with minnows. Bass are biting well on chartreuse/white spinnerbaits, chartreuse pearl grubs and watermelon candy Zoom magnum lizards. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with bream.
Dan at Gold Creek Marina (501-607-0590) had no report.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low and clear with minimal generation. Trout are excellent on wax worms, chartreuse or white Power Bait and black or brown marabou jigs.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.69 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature ranges from 60-68 degrees. The fronts and wind have hurt the catch. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged lizards, Carolina-rigged brush hogs and topwater lures. Bream are excellent on crickets. Catfish are biting well on dog food and live bream fished around points. The hybrids and whites are still biting well in the rivers. Some are biting on the main lake in creeks and around points. The best lure to use for whites and hybrids is a small grub fished near the bottom. Walleye are biting well on rocky flats, humps, points and rip-rap; use jigs and minnows, jigs and nightcrawlers and bottom-bouncer rigs with a crawler harness. Crappie are still spawning in the rivers and are beginning to move shallow in the lake. Jighead minnows, Road Runners and small crankbaits are all working on the crappie.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said fishing has been great with a couple of moderate days mixed in over the weekends. The walleye bite has been incredible for this time of year. Good numbers are coming in; most all of the fish have been in the 11-21-foot zone. The whites and hybrids are still up most of the creeks and are eating well very early and late in the day. Crappie are fair in 20-25 feet of water on brush. Good Timing seems to be critical when pursuing these fish.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. No report on any other species.
Greer’s Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is low. Crappie are biting very well on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads, Cajun Crickets and Butter Bellies in monkey milk, white, red/white and blue/white. PowerBait crappie tubes in red/chartreuse are working as well. Catfishing is fair in deep water on minnows and blood bait. Bass are biting very well on spinnerbaits, jigs and live minnows. Yo-yos are producing some good catfish and crappie.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water has come up a little, but Lakeview Landing on Ark. Highway 95 is still the only place to launch. Crappie are spawning, and are being caught in shallow water along the south bank and in the grass at the north end of the lake on black/chartreuse and orange/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass are spawning in the shallows and are being caught on top-water baits. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with large minnows. Bream are still slow but are getting better.
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said crappie are slow, but some are being caught on 2-inch white/chartreuse or black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are being caught in shallow water. Catfishing is good on trot lines and jugs.
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water is 7.3 feet below the spillway. The surface water temperature is 58 to 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are as good as they’ve been in years. Jerk baits, jigs and swimbaits are working in most shallow coves. Spotted bass are excellent on jigheads and grubs in secondary covers. The white bass run is still going on the west end of the lake in the channels and around the chimney area. Crappie are excellent on structure and secondary channels in 5 to 8 feet of water on small jigs and pink minnows. Bream are biting well about 15 feet deep in the channels. Catfish are hitting cut shad and prepared bait.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets fished under a split-shot in 6 to 8 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on blue/white or grape/white tube jigs and Roadrunner jigheads with a Tennessee shad-colored twister tail. Largemouth and spotted bass are biting well on shad-colored crankbaits and black/blue jigs fished around main lake points. White bass are fair to good on large minnows and spoons near the west end of the lake.
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is good on chicken hearts. Trout are excellent on Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on pink minnows. Bass are excellent on watermelon-seed lizards. Catfishing is excellent on worms and minnows.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on pink minnows. Bass are biting well on watermelon-seed lizards. Catfishing is good on minnows and worms.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said black bass are moving into the backwater areas and are biting well on green pumpkin lizards in 6 to 10 feet of water. Crappie are in the creeks and are biting well on live minnows. Bream are moving into the shallow water and behind the jetties. They are biting well on black Mepps spinners and Rooster Tails as well as crickets. Catfishing is very good on whole shad in 4 to 10 feet of water. White bass are up Point Remove Creek, Petit Jean River, Flagg Lake Cutoff and Coppers Gap. Shad Raps and Countdown Rapalas in white or firetiger colors are working well.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets fished in the Little Maumelle and Maumelle rivers. Crappie are biting well on red/chartreuse or black/chartreuse tube jigs and live minnows in the Little Maumelle and Maumelle. Bass are biting well on chartreuse spinnerbaits and crawdad-colored crankbaits in Maumelle and Little Maumelle rivers. Catfishing is excellent on live green sunfish and chicken hearts.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is at normal level. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs and soft-plastic beaver baits fished around shallow stumps and other areas with a hard bottom.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is good below Murray Lock and Dam on white/chartreuse and orange/chartreuse tube jigs, white/pink horsehead jigs and white Beetle Spins. White bass are excellent below the dam on white/silk chartreuse twister tails fished on a 1/16- or 1/8-oz. jighead. Catfishing is excellent below the dam on shad, skipjack and live green sunfish. Largemouth bass are biting well on Carolina rigs, crawdad-colored crankbaits and black/red flake tube jigs fished behind jetties. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines in the main river baited with live shad and skipjack.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and the surface temperature ranges from 65 to 67 degrees. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around the backwaters. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs and shallow-running crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and worms.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and the surface temperature is 70 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse tube jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse/white spinnerbaits and black/red flake lizards. Catfishing is fair on worms.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is stained. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on wax worms, crickets and worms fished along the shoreline. Crappie are biting well on minnows and yellow/white or white/chartreuse jigs fished along the shore. Bass are biting well on topwater lures and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on worms and chicken hearts near the levee.
North Arkansas White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is low and clear with no generation. Trout are excellent on Power Worms, Power Bait, Rapala Originals and black, brown or crayfish-colored jigs.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said the recent rains have the river muddy try using brightly colored Power Bait just below gravel shoals.
Guide Davy Wotton said fishing continues to be good. There are still some moderate caddis hatches, which will bring fish to the surface to take both the emergers and the egg-laying females. Even if there is no surface activity, trout twill still be looking for the stragglers, so dry fly fishing can still be a good option. During low water flows, look for tailouts of riffles and shoals, many fish will be found here. Options for fishing include soft hackles and caddis pupae fished on a dead drift. Dry dropper rigs, with an elk hair and a caddis pupa have been good. As water temps rise, other forms of aquatic food sources become active. Many generic fly patterns such as PTNs, hare’s ears, sow bugs, scuds, prince nymphs, white tail midges and micro worms are good options. Generally generations have been zero or low, which continues to provide for good wade fishing options. Fish Bull Shoals Dam zone during zero generations with midge and sow bug patterns with a long, 6x or 7x tippet. Any generation tends to churn up moss and debris, so stay ahead of the rising water.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing has been good. Jigs, Rapalas or Power Bait fished along the bottom have worked well. Woolly buggers fished on a fly rod continue to produce. Be aware, the 1.5 inches of rain received over the weekend has raised the Buffalo several feet. It will take a day or so to hit the White and another day to spread down the river, but it will be murky at best. It will take a few days to clear but you can still catch fish.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said rain has again pushed up the levels of the river. Cold rain and overnight temperatures have dropped the water temperature down to 53 degrees. Fishing will be slower on the heavier flows and cooler temps.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the river level at Kelly’s is 12.63 feet and 184 cfs. Soft plastics such as tube baits, hula grubs and lizards are working in watermelon red, green pumpkinseed and pumpkinseed. Fly fishermen should use crawdad patterns.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.85 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said water temperatures fluctuate from the lower 50s to the upper 50s. Many walleye are up on the points at night, getting ready to spawn. The walleye bite usually gets going well at water temps of about 60 degrees. We have been catching walleyes casting stick baits late in the day and just after dark and trolling crankbaits during the day. Bass are biting stick baits on chunk rock points on windy days. White bass are biting well in the backs of creek arms and bays in very shallow water when the wind is blowing. Crappie have been biting around brush piles; some days, fishing over shallow brush works best and on other days, a jig and minnow fished on the bottom is the ticket.
Local Guide Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) said the fishing on the lake is on fire. If any one is thinking of fishing Bull Shoals, now is the time. White bass are very active in the backs of the major creeks. Small white jigs, Road Runners and crankbaits are all producing fish. Crappie are on brush piles and can be caught on a jig-and-minnow or small stick bait. Spotted bass are close to spawning, and are feeding on live bait in 15 to 20 feet of water. Smallmouth bass also are close to spawning and have the feed bag on. Fishing the major creek arms with tube baits is working well. Largemouth bass are excellent on jerk baits fished around windy areas or crayfish-imitating baits. Walleye are on the banks at night, but are only thinking of spawning. Very soon, a nightcrawler dragged behind a White River rig will produce during the day and a jerk bait fished along the bank will work at night.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been averaging 1 to 2 units with some brief periods of no generation. Drift fishing is excellent with 1-2 units running. Caddis and mayfly patterns are top choices. Suggested patterns include BH Z-Wing Caddis (olive and tan, sizes 12-16), BH Prince, Hot Wire Prince, Elk Hair Caddis (olive and tan), Copper Johns, BH Pheasant Tail and Parachute Sulfur all in sizes 14-18. As always, scuds, sow bugs, midges and streamers are viable options if no caddis or mayflies are active. With the recent heavy rains, the lower river can have stained to murky water conditions from run off.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.65 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing has been going strong the last several days. Striped bass, hybrid bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie have been hitting well. The crappie are moving to the banks and shallow brush piles. Live minnows are working best, but artificial jigs are holding their own. Walleye are in the same brush piles as the crappie and also can still be found on the rock bluff lines from 5-20 feet down.
STR Outfitters said stripers are in their spring run. The water temperature is 61 degrees; look for them in small bays and creek turns up the creeks. Check the Fout area between 3 and 50 feet. Use gizzard and threadfin shad on long lines, balloons and planer boards. The night bite is also beginning, wait for a couple of warm evenings, and hit the points with stick baits. The crappie have moved up and will be spawning.
Guide Steve Olomon said stripers were hitting topwater baits early, until about 8:30 a.m. They were hitting live bait, soft jerk baits and swim baits. The night bite is getting better with some walleye and the stripers hitting stick baits.
Highway 101 Grocery and Bait said fishing has been fair for the most part, due to the fluctuating weather. Crappie are hitting minnows as well as small soft-plastic jigs. A lot of small fish are being caught. Stripers and walleye are doing best at night and early in the morning. Bass are hitting jerk baits and crankbaits. White bass fishing has been off and on. As long as the weather stays nice, fishing and catching should explode for the crappie, sunfish, stripers and whites as well as the bass and walleye. Catfishing is slow.
Norfork Tailwater
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said generators are running about two hours per day at different times. There’s been a lot of pressure from anglers. San Juan worms with a scud or sow bug dropper has produced well, but the catching is slow.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been excellent in the mornings on nightcrawlers fished just off the bottom during low water.
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been light or off all week. Low water has given anglers ample opportunity to get out and enjoy warm spring weather and fish dry flies for trout. Caddis are either hatching or laying eggs from below Gene’s pool to the handicap access. Size 14 elk hair caddis with a soft hackle or pupae in olive green is working well when caddis are on the water and fish are looking up. Midges, scuds and sow bugs are working if caddis aren’t present. Zebra midges in black and gray, Ozark swimming scud and humpback scud in olive, gray or tan and Ozark tailwater sow bug are a few patterns to try.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,116.92 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said striper fishing has been slow in the wake of the cold fronts but should pick up with the rain. Stripers are in their usual spring pattern. They are being caught on free lines and balloons fished 15 feet deep with most action on free lines. Bait can still be found in the backs of coves looking for warm water flowing in. Stripers are holding on main lake structure near any cove that is holding shad. Stripers can also be taken with no. 9 Rapala original’s or Husky Jerks and/or Rattling Rogues 3-5inches long trolled with planer boards to spread lines giving and cover shallow water near the bank as you troll. Move Rapalas at a speed of about 2-2.5mph. On the mid and lower sections check out Indian creek (free line the flats.), Big Clifty arm (some surface activity from stripes and whites; fish flats with free lines.), and Rocky Branch (Try Larue cove and striper island near Larue as well as the flat across from the water intake that is in Doc’s Cabin area). In the Upper section, try Prairie creek (Fish the area around the islands with free lines.), Coose Hollow (Some fish still being taken on the adjacent flats), Ventris (Some fish still being taken on the adjacent flats), Blackburn creek (Look in the back of Blackburn for large schools of shad and free line the cove for striper.), Horseshoe bend (Check Escalapia Hollow), Monte-Ne (Look in the back of Monte-Ne for large schools of shad and free line the cove for striper. Check the mouth paying close attention to the flats at Point 11), Hickory creek (Check hickory creek cove and the flat across from the marina.), and War Eagle (white bass are in the area as far up river as you can get your boat. Striper are being caught in large numbers from the junction of the white river as far as you can go upstream. Old man Goss’ place is excellent.) Most walleye will be about 5-10 feet deep off points and mid-stream humps. Check upstream and downstream edges of humps and points. Troll Rapala tail dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back colors near flats adjacent to the channel. Also try jigging spoons near brush or rock piles on these flats.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass can be caught close to the bank lakewide on crawdad-colored crankbaits, split shot-rigged finesse worms and spinnerbaits. Fish have been holding close to timber, brush and lay downs. Crappie have been mixed between the bank and deeper water. For the suspended crappie over deeper water, try a curly tail grub on a 1/16-oz. jig head and fish it around timber close to channel bends or in the mouths of coves. For crappie close to the bank, try a Shineee Hineee jig under a float 2 to 5 feet deep around visible cover. White bass have been holding in the river arms in channel bends and deeper pools. A small Rat-L-Trap or Shineee Hineee jig should do the trick once a school has been located. Catfish have been biting well from the bank using worms or liver. Highway 12 and 412 bridges have been good places to fish.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and high. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse tube jigs. Black bass are starting to spawn, and can be caught on green pumpkin and crawdad-colored crankbaits, shad-colored spinnerbaits and green pumpkin or watermelon jigs. White bass and hybrids are being caught on minnows and shad/black back Little Fishies swimbaits. Catfishing is slow. Walleye are biting well on ¼-oz. fluorescent colored marabou jigs tipped with a minnow.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said there has been very little if any generation the last several weeks. There is a very heavy Didymo bloom. Be sure to wash all equipment so to not transport the algae to other waters. Midges, midges, midges are the key on the tailwater. Zebra midges in gray/silver, wine/copper and olive/gold in sizes 16-20 dead drifted under an indicator with light tippets are providing good numbers of fish. A size 18 copper bead pheasant tail has also been working. Small streamers sizes 10-14 are working on days when the fish are more aggressive. The water is very clear except in areas where habitat work is being done. There are evening hatches of midges and some mayflies from the lake are also being seen on the river. The Spider Creek area is fishing well with good numbers of fish to 16 inches. Sow bug patterns are fishing best, followed by scud and midge patterns. Small streamers sized 8-12 are working well for the more aggressive fish. If you have a boat, white bass are showing up between the Houseman access and Highway 62 Bridge. Fish sink-tips with Clouser minnows, jiggies and zonkers in white, olive, gray and chartreuse.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said water levels are 5.75 feet and 2230 cfs at Grandview Bridge. The water is high and slightly muddy from the rain. Fly fishing is tough with the high water, but spin fishing is good with soft plastics. Water temperatures have ranged from 52 to 59 degrees.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. White bass are biting very well on jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on Rat-L-Traps and shallow-diving crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is stained. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished in less than 2 feet of water near the bank. Bass are fair on minnows. Catfishing is fair.
Northeast Arkansas Lake Charles
Lake Charles State Park said the surface water temperature is around 62 degrees and rising. Water clarity is about 12 inches. Bream are biting well on live crickets and wax worms. Crappie are biting well on live bait. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfish are biting on chicken liver, worms and live minnows.
Lake Poinsett
Lake Poinsett State Park said more crappie are being caught lately. There still aren’t any limits coming in, but the size of the fish is very good. Bass are biting well on jigs and on minnows by crappie anglers.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on small redworms. Crappie are biting well on crappie minnows and red rosy minnows. Bass are biting well on watermelon-seed colored soft-plastics. Bass are on their spawning beds. Catfishing is slow.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are excellent on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting well on chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on large shiners. Catfishing is good on redworms and chicken livers.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said the current is about 350 cfs, and the water clarity is good. Storms over the last week have slid by the area and there has been no flooding. Trout have been hitting mayfly emergers and woolly buggers well. On slow days, steamer fishing has been very productive with big woolly buggers stripped back quickly. Trout magnets in pink and orange are hot with a dead drift. Smallmouth are biting on streamers as well.
Spring River Fly Shop had no report.
Southeast Arkansas Lake Chicot
Lake Chicot State Park said the surface water temperature is around 60 degrees. The water clarity is around 10 inches. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver.
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park said Cane Creek Lake is still very low, making some areas hard to get to. Bass are still doing well, especially on soft-plastic worms and lizards. Live minnows also are working well. Catfish are biting well on trotlines and limblines using live bait.
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said spring is here and the fishing is picking up. Bass are hanging out in the shallows, and many are still cruising and bedding. Soft plastics have been the best bet for cruising and bedding fish in deeper water. Sight fishing is still working well, but finding spawners is a bit more difficult than usual. There is a live bait bite with shiners and black salties.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.31 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said surface temps continue rising, and are currently ranging 67 to 76 degrees. The water is 14 inches above normal. Total discharge at the dam is 3,232 cubic feet/second. Visibility has worsened, and is currently ranging 3-6 inches at best in the River depending on location. The bass bite continues a slow improving trend daily with the warmer days around cold frontal passages over the past two weeks. The fish are mostly post-spawn upriver, and various degrees of spawning activity on main lake pockets and coves along the west bank of the lake. The bass bite varies from early to mid morning, then again later in the day, in early and mid afternoon with increased daytime heating. The best baits have been jigs, Southern Pro Magnum Gitzits, lizards and deadsticked Bass Assassin Shads and trick worms. Lily pads have begun opening and blooming over the past couple weeks, and the frog bite should be in full swing in relatively short order. These new pad fields are producing good solid keeper size bass on Bass Assassins, Salty Rat Tails, spinnerbaits, worms, and Rat-L-Traps. White bass disappeared over the past few days. Last known locations were creek mouths near Hurricane Creek, McGuire Lake, White Cliffs, and Cossatot River inflow ditch. Longnose gar are spawning and making good opportunities for bow fishermen, relatively shallow in good numbers and size. Crappie are trying to move up and spawn around cypress trees. The best bite is mid or late morning. Try Southern Pro tubes in white, chartreuse or hot pink or small Rocket Shads and Roadrunners. The channel and blue catfish bite is good, and nice size 3-7 pound blues were brought in over the past few days on trot lines, yo-yos, and noodles along Little River. Blues and channel cats were biting well on red worms, Catfish Charlie and chicken livers in 13-18 feet of water on outer break lines in current or with the yo-yos tied underneath cypress trees with live shiners in 9-10 feet of water.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low and dingy. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on shiners. Bass are biting well on small spinnerbaits and soft-plastic lizards.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is low and dingy. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on shiners and the occasional cricket or worm from a bream fisherman. Bass are biting well on purple soft-plastic lizards and HandH spinnerbaits.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 542.13 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is stained and high, and the surface temperature is 68 degrees. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and Tennessee Shad colored jigs in 8 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits and topwater lures. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver toward the river. No report on walleye.
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)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Cossatot River
Cossatot River State Park said the dogwoods are fully in bloom and it’s time to bring your fishing pole to the Cossatot. The water level is at 3.28 feet and falling after a pretty good rain a few nights ago. The water had been unseasonably low for April and is still far behind for the year. With the water temperatures remaining cool, stay with slow-moving soft plastics. Pumpkin seed is one of the best colors for the river.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 396.70 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 mid- to upper 60s and the lake is clear up to Point 15. Bass fishing is very good with many nice catches reported. The fish are on shallow points in the creeks and major coves between 5 and 10 feet deep. The half-submerged fish attractors in the coves are excellent places to look. Look for any surface activity in the morning and evening, and throw a topwater lure or swim bait. Later in the day, try a jerk bait, jig with a plastic trailer, a Texas-rigged 6-inch worm or Carolina-rigged lizard. Many spotted bass are being caught on shaky head rigs with a finesse worm along rocky shorelines and points in 10 to 20 feet of water. The best areas for bass have been between Edgewood and Point Cedar. The Lenox Marcus area has been very productive. Crappie fishing is slowing, but there are still plenty of fish being caught. The crappie are on brush at 12 to 15 feet deep and shallow brush in the coves. On the deeper brush, use a 1/16-ounce jighead and a Tennessee shad grub or a smoke glitter tube. Throw the lure over the brush and count it down to just above the cover and slowly reel it back. Most bites will happen as the jig is falling, so watch your line as the lure drops. In the coves on the shallow cover use a float with the same jig and just work it around the exposed brush. Most crappie are being caught between point 15 and Point Cedar. Hybrid fishing is good between point 15 and Shouse Ford. Most fish are being taken by slow trolling a 1/4-ounce green/ chartreuse jig head with a 2- or 3-inch Tennessee shad or white curly tail grub. Troll very slowly, about 1 mile per hour, and on a long line about 100 feet back. The fish are along the river and creek channels suspended at about 15 feet down in 30 to 50 feet of water. A few breaking fish early in the morning have been taken on surface lures and spoons. Bream fishing is fair with the fish moving to the shallow cover in coves. Use redworms and crickets.
West-Central Arkansas Lake Nimrod
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 346.70 feet MSL.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said the water is at normal level. Crappie and catfish are biting excellently on minnows. Catfish are also biting very well on worms, stink bait and PowerBait.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting excellently on crickets and worms. Catfishing is fair on worms and minnows.
Fourche La Fave River
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said yo-yos and trotlines are producing catfish on minnows and stink bait. Strike King jugs baited with live bait also are catching some good catfish. Crappie are biting well on minnows.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) said the water is low and clear. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/white or pink/white jigs. Bass are biting well on yellow or white spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on shiners, chicken livers and worms.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said white bass are biting excellently, with most of the action in Spadra Creek and Cabin Creek. White Rooster Tails seem to be the most popular choice, but worms are working as well. Largemouth bass are biting well in Spadra, and many large fish have been caught near the Marina. Sweet Beavers, Booyah jigs and spinnerbaits have all taken some good fish. Crappie are moving shallow again, and they are starting to be caught on chartreuse and silver jigs and minnows.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 388.56 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said the water is stained. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
Lake Ouachita
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 571.49 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is excellent. Bass are in all stages of the spawn. Swim baits fished around creek channel points are working well for post-spawn fish, while white lizards are producing fish from spawning beds. Stripers are fair on shad and spoons.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is in the upper 50s to the low 60s. The lake level is very low and the water is clear on the main lake and stained in the creeks. Bass are being caught on jerk baits and jighead worms over moss. The best moss is on the northeast side of the lake, from Rabbit to Blakley’s. Also try a crankbait in the timber. Crappie are biting on jigs and minnows in 5 to 8 feet of water at the edge of moss or timber lines.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature ranges from 52 to 68 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Largemouth bass are biting very well on Carolina-rigged lizards and floating worms (watermelon seed, green pumpkin and watermelon candy are the best colors). Jerk baits fished over main lake points and humps are still getting good results. Walleye are biting well on fluorescent jigs and watermelon seed plastics fished 12 to 15 feet deep around brush in the river channels. Stripers are biting very well on live bait, soft-plastic grubs and white or gray hair jigs. Reports of top water action are starting to come in to the marina. Bream are still good and being caught on crickets or worms 15 to 25 feet deep near brush. Crappie are excellent and being caught near and over brush in water 8 to 12 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad, albino shad and rainbow trout are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are good and are 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 upper 50s to low 60s, and the water is clear. The lake is full and warming quickly. Bass are being caught in creeks on a jigworm in the guts of pockets. Also, try a crankbait on rocks with sun shining on them or a Rat-L-Trap on sunny flats in the afternoon. After rains, concentrate in the creeks with a spinnerbait. Crappie are being caught in 5 to 8 feet of water on jigs or minnows.
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 has risen to 54 degrees in the tailrace as much warmer weather has moved into the state. Moss growth is on the increase, but hasn’t been a big problem, so far. Rainbow trout fishing still dominates the area with trout over 16 inches caught and released every week. This is an exceptionally good year for rainbow trout with most fish staying within a few hundred yards of Carpenter Dam. Many fly fishermen stop coming to the dam to fish after the water has risen back to normal summertime pool, but there are several areas still accessible for wade fishing and are holding good numbers of rainbows. Egg patterns in white or orange with a strike indicator has been the fly of choice. Small white streamers and micro-jigs work best during generation over sand bars and shallow flats. Bank fishermen are recording limits of quality fish everyday using wax worms and meal worms floated off the bottom with marshmallows. Boaters trolling the main channel with small crankbaits that imitate shad or crawfish are catching the biggest trout when the turbines are running. Spin fishermen casting crankbaits, Rooster Tails and Super Dupers also are doing well. Crappie and white bass are present and in the middle of the spawn, but fishing has been slow. The bite picks up in the late evening when the turbines are running. Jigs in 1/16- and 1/8-ounce sizes in white or yellow and live minnows under a bobber are working. Striper activity is spotty with most of the short-lived action below the bridge in the main channel. C-10 Redfins in trout colors or Super Spooks have gotten vicious strikes.
Rick Sawyer at Dozhier’s Rainbow Landing (501-262-2825) said trout fishing continues to be excellent. They are hitting a wide variety of baits, but you can count on wax worms and green Power Bait. Some nice stringers of crappie are being caught in the Diamondhead area. Bluegills and drum were being caught below the dam. White bass are biting well on no. 12 shiners trolled slowly along the bank near the landing.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said fishing is good. Bream, redear and white bass are plentiful and easy to catch anywhere along the banks. Slab crappie are being caught in about 8 or 9 feet of water. The best crappie are coming away from the bank by boat anglers. Some are being caught off the banks, but it’s slow. Bass are picking up some.
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 has slowed a bit. The oxbows are still producing a lot of bass, but the big ones are few and far between. Folks seem to be catching them on spinnerbaits around the edges of moss banks. A few fish have been caught on topwater lures lately as well.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing said bass are moving to the rock banks and the inlets. Folks are still catching a few crappie in the channels around tops and stumps. No report as to what they are catching them on, though.
East Arkansas Bear Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park said fishing on Bear Creek Lake has been a little slow due to windy conditions. The water level is up. Bass and crappie are slow, but what is being caught is in shallow water. Things should start picking up as the temperature continues to rise. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets.
Storm Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park said fishing is slow. A few bream have been caught on worms and crickets.
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 too low to launch a boat and the water has become extremely muddy.
Adam Mount, avid fisherman and guide, said the water conditions between lock 1 and 2 are excellent. The river is at a real nice boating level and the black bass and crappie are starting to spawn. Fishing is excellent on shiners, green sunfish and worms fished with a float set 2 feet deep. White bass are biting well on shiners drifted around rocks and flats. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse/pink jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is fair on stink bait.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is high. No report on any species.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms fished around shallow lily pads. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs fished around piers. Bass are fair on white spinnerbaits fished around cypress trees and lily pads. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut shad and on yo-yos baited with live bait hung from cypress limbs.