Arkansas Fishing Report - Jan 13, 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 level is low. Bream fishing is slow. Crappie are good on minnows and white/chartreuse jibs. Bass are slow as are catfish.
Dan at Gold Creek Marina (501-607-0590) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is at its normal level. Trout are good on wax worms with marshmallows, Power Bait and corn.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 454.41 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Harris Brake Lake
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said work on the dam and fish habitat work have been completed. Lane marking is about 90 percent complete. The water is still low, but should refill with the spring rains. Fishing is slow, but some crappie are being caught on pink minnows and pink/white/chartreuse jigs. Bream are biting on redworms. Catfish are fair on trotlines and yo-yos baited with cut shad. Bass are slow.
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is 6 to 8 feet low and clear. Crappie have been biting fairly well on minnows and white/chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers. Bream and bass are slow.
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake is at normal level and clear. Bream are slow. Crappie are good in 15 to 18 feet of water over brushpiles. Try a two-inch grub. Catfish and bass are slow.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is clear. Bream and crappie fishing is slow right now. Bass are very good in deep holes. Try a four-inch purple grub and a black/blue jig. Walleyes are hitting five-inch pumpkin seed grubs.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo says catfish are in deep holes along with paddlefish. Use a shad and worm combo.
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 had no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) is closed to fishing for the winter and will reopen February 1, 2011.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.
North Arkansas White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is low and no generators are running. Trout fishing is slow.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.
Guide Davy Wotton said despite some wicked cold and serious winds, those who have braved the conditions have done well. Many large brown trouth have been caught, including one in the 16- to 18-pound range at the Wildcat Zone. Flows have ranged from zero to high flows, so adapting to the conditions is paramount. Water temperatures are now in the mid to low 40s, so expect the bite to be slow. The best option is to dead drift zebra, shimmer and white tail midges in deep, slow water. Gray and Tan sowbugs and olive scuds are also good bets. During periods of generation, move more toward a two-fly rig with one fly of bright color such as a red, tan or pink egg or San Juan worm. If generations are high, opt for larger 3- to 6-inch streamers into the shoreline as you drift from a boat.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing has continued to be good. Many fish are being caught on the White River Zig Jig in ginger or ginger/orange and black/gold/white No. 7 Countdown Rapalas. The numbers have been good on the entire stretch of river. Most fish have been caught close to swift water. When the water starts to drop, be sure to take a fly rod with an Olive Woolly Bugger and strip it where there a lot of rocks on the bottom and the water is 5 feet or less. Be safe on the water and pay attention to what is going on around you; the constant up and down of the generation will bring rocks into play that you did not see just a short time earlier.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 648.69 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 544.50 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
STR Outfitters said stripers have moved to their winter pattern. Look for balls of shad in 50 to 80 feet of water near or in the channels. Fish are being caught in Float, Panther, Tracy, Bidwell and Henderson Creeks. Shiners, shad, and spoons have been catching fish. The bite may occur any time during the day, the mid-afternoon bite has been the best.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the upper 40s. Look for stripers in the creeks. When you mark fish on your depth finder around 30-50 feet, drop a jigging spoon. You can also try throwing a grub and working it along the bottom. Throw suspending jerk baits over brush piles and along the bluffs for some bass. You have to remember that when the water is cold, fish slow and downsize your baits.
Highway 101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is around 48 degrees. Fishing is good this time of year for all species of fish on live bait. Jigging spoons will work as well. Spinnerbaits, stick baits and crankbaits will do well for the bass. The fish are all over the lake and moving throughout the day.
Norfork Tailwater
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report.
Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort had no report. The cold weather has kept most anglers off the water.
Fishing guide Davy Wotton said Norfork has seen a great deal of pressure during its zero generations which in turn has wised the fish up. The best choices here are long leader systems to 5 or 6x with combinations of midge and sow bugs in sizes 16 to 20. If you see fish working the surface, then go for small midge emergers such as Rs2, in black, red, gray and white.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.
Northwest Arkansas Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,112.15 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said striper fishing has been slow with the cold temperatures. Beaver Lake is experiencing a shad kill. The stripers are scattered, and you will have to check multiple locations to get your fish. The stripers have also moved back toward the main lake in search of the bait that’s seeking refuge from the cold. They are holding tight to bluffs on deep holes that provide warmer water. The large rocks store warmth during the day and provide a thermal refuge. The areas between Prairie Creek and Monte-Ne are your best bet. Stripers can be caught by adding a ¼- to ½-oz. weight about 2 feet ahead of 4- to 5-inch live gizzard shad. Run your baits about 100-150 feet behind the boat with weight. If using balloons, tie the balloon on about 15 feet ahead of your bait and use no weight. Troll baits at about 1/4 to 1/2 mph. Baits need to be positioned from 8-20 feet deep. Most shad are holding in the 20-40ft depth range. Bottom fishing on points near the channel drop will come into play later this week. Stripers can also be taken with No. 11 or 13 Rapala Original Floating Minnows or Husky Jerks and/or Rogues three-way rigs trolled about 30 feet deep; use planer boards to spread your lines and cover shallow water near the bank as you troll. Move Rapalas at a speed of about 1.5-2 mph. Don’t mix live bait and trolled crankbaits in your trolling spread; each presentation requires a different speed to be effective. Fish location is greatly influenced by lake level and current flow, current in the lake from generation will generally position fish on upstream or downstream edges of structure – check the daily lake level and flow data link. The following area’s will be holding striper at different times during the day: On the mid- and lower sections, check Indian Creek (Stripers have been caught using balloons and Rapala spreads); Big Clifty Arm (Stripers are being caught near the mouth on balloons and Rapala spreads); Rocky Branch (Some fish are in the area; look in front of the marina and along the bluff towards Point 6); Copper mine (Some fish are near the bluffs). In the Upper Section check Prairie Creek (Some nice walleye and big stripers are being caught, check around the islands and in the mouth of Prairie creek.); Blackburn Creek (The area has been holding some bait and stripers); Beaver Shores (Walleye and stripers are being caught in the channel between the bluffs and the rearing pond); Horseshoe Bend (Walleye and stripers are being caught around the rocky shore line on the far side, along bluffs and near the channel on points and flats in the area. The area known as "striper alley" is hot right now with loads of striper, walleye and shad stacked up.); Hickory Creek (Walleye and stripers are being caught in the area); The mouth of the War Eagle where it meets the white (Check the flats from the mouth to the Sidewalk Hole and the marina); and Blue Springs area (Check the holes upriver from the hwy 412 bridge, including Cedar Bluff. Pay special attention to the last deep holes near Nell’s Bluff).
Most walleye will be about 20-30 feet deep. The fish are being taken off the points and on midstream humps. Check upstream and downstream edges of humps and points. Walleye are concentrated in the mouth of the War Eagle river. Three-way rigs fished with crawlers or Rapalas are producing. Use a 14-inch dropper to your sinker and a 4-foot leader to your bait. If you are familiar with lead core or wire lines, now is the time to use them in conjunction with a Rapala or Rogue. Chartreuse/orange color variations for your crawler harnesses and Rapalas in natural blue or black back combos are also producing. Try rogues in clown flash also.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting chrome, bone, clown and shad-colored suspending jerk baits on main lake points and flats as well as crawdad-colored Wiggle Warts, Fat A’s and Fat Free Shads along chunk rock banks.
Crappie have been biting tubes and Shineee Hineee jigs around manmade brush piles and pole timber close to channels in 15 to 30 feet of water. On sunny afternoons, crappie can be caught as shallow as 3 to 5 feet deep; if it’s cloudy or early, work the jig just off the bottom. Both River Arms, Piney Creek, Monte-NE and Hickory Creek have all been good. White Bass are schooled up and are suspended in the mouths of main lake coves and main lake points and flats. Once a school is located, Rat-L-Traps and jigging spoons are productive. Hickory Creek, Prairie Creek and Monte-NE have held fish. Catfishing has been fair late in the day using cut shad or liver from the bank at the 12 Bridge, 412 Bridge, Hickory Creek and Monte-NE.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and cold. Not many anglers braved the weather last week. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 9 to 11 feet of water. White bass are biting well on live shad and crankbaits around rocky points. No report on catfish or bream.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the boat dock will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 14. After Jan. 14, people can pick up their season passes for the dock. No one has been fishing in the last week.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Northeast Arkansas Lake Poinsett
Lake Poinsett State Park said Lake Poinsett is still very low. The state park boat ramp is unusable. No report.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said no one is fishing during the cold weather. No report.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park had no report. No one is fishing.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Southeast Arkansas Lake Chicot
Lake Chicot State Park had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said some crappie are coming out of the deep water along with white bass and a few smaller blacks bass. On the whole, bass fishing is very slow and few people are fishing.
Southwest Arkansas Millwood Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.85 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level dropped after the rains passed, and is 39.6 inches below normal pool, with increased current in Little River of 991 CFS. Surface temps are 43 to 47 degrees. Use extreme caution at boat ramps and navigating Millwood during the four foot drawdown in effect through Feb 2011. Most ramps were frozen and access was limited last week. Water clarity on main lake slightly worsened to 6-10 inches with increased rain and current in Little River. Before the winter blast of ice and snow Largemouth, spotted, and white bass were fair to good. Largemouth are close to creek junctions and ditches along Little River. The warmer weather last week had the bass biting very well, but that changed with the weather. The bite continues to be best during the warmest part of the day. The frigid temperatures had few anglers out on the lake. Bass remain near almost any major creek junction and points along Little River and close to deep water access. These fish are hitting Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, jigs, and War Eagle spinnerbaits. Spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or chartreuse/white are working fairly well along any remaining vegetation. Black/blue or Texas Craw jigs are working for heavy egg-laden females, worked very slow. White bass were fair to good before the ice and snow, and very large schools continue roaming Little River. Whites remain in the immediate vicinities of Hurricane Creek, White Cliffs and oxbows that connect with the Little River. Crappie were beginning to stack vertically in brush before the ice and snow, and were hitting vertically jigged jigs.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is still low and cold. Bram are slow. Crappie are biting well on jigs and shiners. Bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfishing is slow.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is cold and low. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on shiners. Bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfishing is slow.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 537.91 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and very cold. Bream and crappie fishing is slow. Bass are good on crank baits in the 5 to 8 feet of water. Catfish and walleye are slow.
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Jeff Guerin of www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
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 394 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 water temperature is in the low- to mid-40s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing remains fair off deep points and ledges. Fish off the steep side of points in 25 to 35 feet of water. Also try creek channel edges and sunken island ledges. Use a Texas-rigged finesse worm with a ¼- to 3/8-ounce worm weight. Fish the worm very slowly, keeping it in contact with the bottom. Also try a ½- to ¾-ounce jig with a pork or plastic trailer. When fishing deep, worm or jig color is not too important as long as it is a dark color such as green pumpkin or red shad. Sometimes the bass will school off the deep ledges and can be caught on a ¾- or 1-ounce chartreuse or white jigging spoon. Look for bass between Arlie Moore and Point Cedar. There have been several good reports from the Cox Creek area on deep-running crankbaits, but this pattern will not hold if the water gets colder. Big Hill Creek is also good for winter bass along the old creek channel. No reports on crappie. However if you can find an attractor in 18 to 20 feet, the fish will be there and biting. Look for deep attractors in the Shouse Ford/Goat Island area. Fish a Tennessee shad 2-inch grub on a 1/16-ounce jig head as close to the brush as possible and with virtually no movement. Also try a red head/chartreuse tail hair jig and add a PowerBait Crappie Nibble, it makes a big difference in cold water. Hybrids and white bass are schooling on the big flat in 20 feet of water just west of Goat Island. However catching these fish is very tough because they just don’t feed that much in this cold water. Find the schools with the sonar and throw a ½-ounce spoon, let it sink and just reel it back slowly. Do not jig or jerk the spoon. No reports on bream or catfish.
West-Central Arkansas Lake Nimrod
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 340.35 feet MSL.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no new report.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report due to lack of anglers.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said crappie have been sporadic. Once you hit a good spot you can expect to catch 10 or more easily, but you have to find them first. Many big crappie have come from Lake Ludwig and out of Pottsville. Bass seem to be picking up. Catfish have been slow, but some shad are beginning to come in, so the catfish should pick up.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.52 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 567.98 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 40 to 44 degrees and clearing. Largemouth bass are biting well on peanut butter and jelly, black/blue or green pumpkin football head jigs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are fair on spoons around brush in 20- to 25 feet of water. Stripers are biting well on live bait, soft-plastic grubs and white or gray hair jigs. No report on bream. Crappie are fair near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep on minnows or Tennessee shad colored crappie grubs. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton
Lake Hamilton has been lowered 3 feet for its annual winter drawdown. Navigation can be dangerous in some areas of the lake, as humps and points are only a few inches below the surface. Use caution while boating.
Daryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said bass and crappie are good on live bait and jigs. Larger fish are showing up with the cold weather.
Lake Catherine
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said the winter storm greatly slowed down fishing; however, rainbow trout fishing has been good to excellent at times. Water temperature is hovering in the mid 40s with clear conditions. The stocking program intensifies this month, which will tremendously improve fishing throughout the tailrace. Bank fishermen using redworms or nightcrawlers under a bobber have taken limits of trout cast around visible structure. Wax worms are also working well along with meal worms fished in the same manner. Spin fishermen casting Rooster Tails and Super Dupers in areas of current are catching rainbows in the 13- to 15-inch range, mostly during periods of generation. Trolling small shad-like crankbaits below the bridge has also produced quality trout. Fly fishermen that target moving water have done well with egg patterns in orange/white combined with a strike indicator. Small streamers in white or grey will draw strikes as area trout are feeding heavily on the threadfin shad population. Micro-jigs fished in the same mode will provide another presentation in which rainbows will attack. Walleye are being caught below the shoals on nightcrawler rigs or Carolina rigs baited with live minnows. Shad Raps in black/silver cast with the current have accounted for walleye in the 4-pound range. Crappie and white bass fishing is poor at the moment due to lack of regular generation. Stripers are few and far between; however, with the trout stocking program becoming more frequent - big stripers will be present to feed in good numbers.
Rick Sawyer at Dozhier’s Rainbow Landing (501-262-2825) had no report this week because of weather conditions.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
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 had no report.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing had no report.
East Arkansas Arkansas River at Pine Bluff
The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) had no report because of snow, cold and wind.
White River
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said fishing is slow and no anglers are on the river.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is low and clear. Crappie are biting well on jigs. Bass are fair.
Island 40 Chute
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) says crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs around stumps.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory had no report because of snow, cold and wind.