State Fishing Report

Last updated Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:43 PM CST in Outdoors

By The Arkansas Game And Fish Commission

March is the start of the major caddis season on the White River, so be sure to have plenty of caddis pupa, as well as dries, in your fly box.

North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been cut back significantly, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities.

After two months of high water, the trout are in good shape. During low water, concentrate your nymph fishing on the faster runs and riffles with a no. 16 scud or sow bug.

During high-water, streamer fishing has also been excellent.

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said crappie continue to suspend over the tops of crappie cribs and brush piles 12 to 18 feet deep.

Crappie minnows on a small slip bobber have worked well. Some white bass are still showing up from time to time in the back of the northern creeks.

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said crappie are biting minnows and crappie jigs.

In dingy water, try fishing for crappie from 5 to 12 feet deep. In clear water, try fishing from 10 to 20 feet deep.

Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jigs and jerkbaits.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake is stained and the level is fluctuating. Crappie fishing is good from 1 to 3 feet deep using minnows.

Bass fishing is good with plastic lizards and jigs.

Catfishing is fair using cut or whole shad on the bottom.

Ozark Pool, Arkansas: Lakeside Food Mart said crappie fishing is fair about 4 feet deep using minnows and jigs near brush piles.

Bass and catfish are slow.

Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said largemouth bass are hitting red Rat-L-Traps, gray jigs and white spinner baits.

Stripers are fair on live bait, hair jigs or silver spoons.

Lake Catherine: Dozhier's Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said trout fishing is excellent. Trout are now beginning to concentrate below the dam and for a couple of miles downstream.

Power Bait, wax worms and marshmallow, red worms and small shad like crank bait or silver spoons are taking trout.

Lake Hamilton: Dozhier's Bait Shop and Rainbow Landing said white bass are hitting spoons and minnows in the creek arms.

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait and More said crappie are biting 5 to 17 feet and around brush on minnows or black/chartreuse jigs.

Blue Mountain Lake: The Tackle Box said crappie fishing is excellent using jigs and minnows from 2 to 20 feet deep.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said largemouth bass fishing is good on red or orange Rat-L-Traps.

A 10.8-pound largemouth bass was caught last week. Many 7- to 9-pound fish have been boated the last two weeks.

Crappie are taking minnows and jigs fished 12 to 15 feet deep around planted brush piles.

Blue catfish are good in the current of Little River on trotlines baited with cut shad and chicken livers.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets.

White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said crappie and bass fishing is fair using minnows and jigs.

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait Shop said crappie are biting well from 8- to 10-feet deep on minnows and jigs fished around brush piles.

DeGray Lake: Point Cedar Bait Shop said crappie are biting well from 5 to 6 feet deep on jigs and live bait off the bank.

Crappie have moved into shallow water and are biting well on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said bluegill are biting wax worms and jigs fished on the bottom.

Crappie are hitting yo-yos baited with minnows or chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on spinner baits and top-water lures.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Rainbow Resort said the river clarity is good and the water level is normal.

Trout are taking wax worms with marshmallows or Power Bait, nightcrawlers, chartreuse marabou jigs or Trout Magnets.

Greers Ferry: Local fishing guide Tommy Cauley said crappie are around deep brush piles. Fishing is fair on minnows or jigs.

White bass and hybrid stripers can be caught with a number of baits, such as spoons, in-line spinners, grubs and Roostertails.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said black bass are hitting dark-colored crankbaits or spinner baits.

White bass are bunched up in the channels as the fronts come through. Try Roostertails, CC Spoons, Sassy Shads and Rogues with orange bellies.

Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said white bass are hitting below the dam. Black bass are mixed in with the whites.

Catfish are biting well on the jetty tips and on the backside of the jetties. Try floating whole shad from 6- to 8-feet deep.

Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair to good from 3- to 5-feet deep using minnows in the middle of the lake around brush piles and stumps.

EAST ARKANSAS

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said crappie are biting fair on minnows fished in deep water near stumps.

Spring River: Local fisherman Gary Salard said smallmouth bass are biting well on minnows in the deep holes along the bottom.

Trout fishing is still slow, but yellow Power Baits is producing a few fish.

Lake Chicot: Koenig's Bass Tracker Marine said bluegill ream are biting fair from 4- to 5 feet deep on wax worms over brush piles.

Crappie are biting fair from 8 to 10 feet deep on jigs.

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