Arkansas Fishing Report

Last updated Wednesday, November 26, 2008 2:15 PM CST in Outdoors

101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the 50-degree range. Crappie fishing is good using minnows on a small jig or just a plain hook and a small split-shot. Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets. Striper fishing has been slow. White bass fishing is fair. Bass fishing is good using crankbaits, spinnerbaits, stick baits and live shiners and worms. Catfishing is slow. Walleye fishing is fair; some are being caught at night using stick baits along the points and shallow banks.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water temperature is at 58 degrees. A few stripers are being caught on spoons, but overall the fishing is slow.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said there has been no generation on Norfork. Wading conditions on the upper Norfork have been excellent. With high generation on the White, the Norfork is backed up to the Ackerman access making the lower Norfork unwadable, but boating there is good. The Norfork has fished much better during the last week. The low wadable water has definitely been a welcome change from the never-ending flow. The oxygen injection system has helped make the trout more comfortable and willing to feed. The hot flies have been sowbugs, olive scuds, hot pink San Juan worms, and orange eggs. Dry Run Creek is still fishing well. It is also receiving the benefits of the oxygen injection system. Cold weather has cut down on visitors during the last week, but young anglers who fished were not disappointed. The hot lies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms, eggs and woolly buggers.

Mountain River Fly Shop said Low water is back on Norfork and its time to dig out your low-water fly boxes, your 6x tippet and your waders. Midges (#16-#20) will be very good. Camel midges, olive zebras, black/silver and black/copper zebras, ruby midges and Davy’s Super Midges all do very well. Don’t forget your sowbug and scud imitations. We will also expect soft hackles to be very good. Tailwater soft hackles in green/yellow and copper/brown were killers the last time we had low water. For dry fly and emerger addicts can we suggest the Parachute Adams, Morgan’s Para Midge, Sprout’s or Clint’s Midge Emerger.

Spring River: Spring River Fly Shop said water levels are running low and clear. There have been some great opportunities for sight fishing. This week, crackleback in a size 6 has been the go-to fly. Red San Juan worms and super buggers in brown and olive have been producing nice fish also. The leaves are done falling for the year and are no longer creating a problem.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,125.39 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said Bass have been biting crawdad-colored crankbaits along chunk rock banks and spinnerbaits in flooded brush most of the day. Crappie have been biting well near creek channels around brush piles. Crappie have been suspending over the piles 10 to 15 feet deep and hitting Shinee Hinee jigs and chartreuse curly tail grubs. White bass are tough to catch. Some have been schooled up on main-lake flats. If you can find some shad on your electronics, you should be able to find some whites. Jigging spoons have been effective. Catfish have been biting throughout the day into night along drop offs near channels. They have been biting cut bait and worms. Bluegill are still hanging under docks and can be picked off using crickets or worms 6 to 10 feet deep.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is high. Crappie are biting well on crankbaits and minnows. Bass are biting well on deep-running crankbaits, drop-shot rigs and spoons in deep water.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water was clear and at normal level.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said fishing has been slow from the windy, cold weather. Some bream have been caught on worms. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on minnows. A few catfish have been caught on live bream. Some bass have been caught on soft-plastic worms.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) had no report.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA: Judy Potts of Judy's Bait Shoppe had no report.

Lake Charles: Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) had no report.

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said all species are fair at best. No one is fishing because of the cold weather.

Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is a little murky. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair on soft-plastics. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Monticello: Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said fishing on Lake Monticello has picked up from last week. There have been several nice bass caught in the last few days. Flipping Fishboy Crawtubes in 4 to 6 feet of water has worked best. Some fish are still schooling and are biting fairly well on Baby Basshunters and Kill Gills.

Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) had no report.

Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) had no report.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.40 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said water clarity improved to 5-7 inches of visibility in the lake away from the current. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures range from 52 to 60 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Current in Little River is 388 CFS. All Corps of Engineers boat ramps and campgrounds are open. Millwood State Park has one operational boat ramp and one still under repair. Most bass continue to feed. Sub-surface schooling activities are being seen in many areas of the lake. Chunky bass from 2 to 6 pounds continue to bite excellently on Rat-L-Traps at random periods throughout the day, mostly in the heat of the afternoon, in many of the oxbow lakes upriver. Johnson silver spoons with white grub trailer, War Eagle Spinnerbaits, and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits are the go-to baits when the bass move into the vegetation and remaining lily pads. Bass were still very aggressive in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbow lakes upriver this week, chasing shad deep in the lily pads. Jigs have begun to incite a few good keeper size bass over the past couple weeks. The best jig colors so far have been peanut butter and jelly, brown/orange, and black/blue/purple. Pitching jigs to stumps near deep water is working along Little River and in the main lake. The big worm bite is slowing, but a few good fish are still being caught around cypress knees and the edge of remaining grass near drop offs. White bass were biting fair last week. Spoons, Rocket Shads, Rat-L-Traps, and grubs are working well in Little River between Highway 71 Bridge and the mouth of the Cossatot River, in Hurricane Creek, and in Little River between Pugh Slough and McIntosh Bend and Snake Creek. The Crappie bite continues improving along with the improved clarity along Little River on live shiners and jigs. Best depth over the last week with the improved water clarity is running between 7-8 feet deep over planted brush piles. Blue and channel cats remain excellent on trotlines or yo-yos along any remaining current in Little River.

Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) had no report.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky. Crappie are biting fairly well on medium and small gold shiners. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on stink bait and worms.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is low and the lake is being drawn down. Crappie are biting well. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good on worms and stinkbait.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park had no report.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was not available.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the water level is 537 msl and should stabilize soon for winter. Water temperature is hovering around the mid-50s. Crappie are still scattered but should start to stack up on wood brush piles and bamboo condos.

Lakeside Grocery (870-398-5304) said the water is murky and at normal level. The surface temperature is 54 degrees. Bass fishing has been excellent on small plastic worms and crankbaits in 2 to 10 feet of water. Stripers are biting well in the morning on topwaters, crankbaits and spoons. Walleye are biting well on crankbaits. All other species are slow.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.55 feet MSL.

Local angler Charles Graves said the water is clear and at 58 degrees. Fishing has been slow except for crappies. Crappies are biting well in brush piles in 20 to 25 feet of water. The fish are suspended about 15 feet down. Use a 1/16-oz. crappie jig in red/chartreuse/white or chartreuse/white and line no heavier than 6-pound test. Bream are also around the brush piles and are near the bottom. Use worms or crickets. The best brush piles are between Caddo Drive and the river. Look for brush piles around secondary points and coves. Bass are slow with the absence of vegetation. A few have been caught on Texas-rigged worms and jigs fished on deep points and ledges in 15-20 feet of water. Fish the main lake between Edgewood and Shouse Ford. Hybrids and white bass have been very slow with no schooling activity.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park had no report.

Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) had no report.

Spadra Marina reports daily limits of crappie and catfish are pretty regular right now. Crappie are biting best on pink/white Panfish Assassins and blue/pearl jigs. Bass minnows are finding bigger crappie, averaging at least 1* pounds. Most of the crappie are 18 inches to 4 feet deep. Catfish are biting best on cut shad. Good honey holes are producing limits in less than two hours. We have seen bigger bass lately than we have seen in a couple of months. Customers are reporting two to three keepers a trip.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on crankbaits. White bass are biting fairly well on crappie jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and minnows. Bream are slow.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.20 feet MSL.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 60 to 65 degrees and clear. Largemouth bass are still biting well on spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits fished over any grass in main-lake pockets. Spoons are catching some fish around main-lake humps and points in 20 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are being taken on the spoons as well. Stripers are still good on live shad or trotline minnows. White *-oz. jigs and *-oz. spoons are still working as well. Bream are fair with crickets or worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are very good and being caught over brush and moss beds. Try brush in water 15 to 20 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing is a little slow. Stripers were active on colder mornings and would hit clear Zara Spooks and big swim baits. Bass are relating to the grass in the back of creeks and are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and jigs.

Dave Lindhag at Striped Bass Adventures said fishing is tough. The fish have moved up into the creeks and rivers. There are a lot of scattered fish right now. Smaller shad are working, but the occasional topwater is working around points near 25-50 feet of water. Freelined or weighted shad are producing the best, but it’s not stellar. Most fish are 10 to 12 pounds. The schools are holding around 30 feet deep but will come up to 10 to feed.

Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said Lake Hamilton is one of the hottest lakes in the state right now. Throw crankbaits and spinnerbaits in windy main-lake pockets and points for some good action. Beaver baits pitched to brush piles and boat docks are producing good limits of bass as well.

Trader Bill’s in Hot Springs said bass fishing has been excellent since the drawdown. Once in a while, an angler comes in with a bad report, but almost everyone is catching plenty of bass in the shallow water. Monday’s rain should add some color to the water and keep the bite going strong for Thanksgiving weekend.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said that work at Blakely Dam has slowed the drawdown. A 3-foot drop is planned but could take another week or so for the lake to reach scheduled levels. As winter temperatures set in, the threadfin shad population has migrated away from the dam toward warm water. However, freezing temperatures shock shad in Lake Hamilton which are then pulled through the turbines, making an easy meal for trout. The November stocking is complete, so anglers are now catching trout casting Rooster Tails and Super Dupers in areas where current is slower than the main channel. The fish are scattered and establishing a solid pattern is difficult until the stocking program moves into late December. Big stripers are still present and have been observed feeding on rainbow trout. White bass and hybrid fishing has slowed considerably as the food source migrates downstream. Trout fishing will continue to improve as the year progresses and fishermen can look forward to a great year at Carpenter Dam.

Diamondhead Marina had no report.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said no anglers have been to the lake lately because of cold weather and hunting season.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are moving to coves and are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are slowing down, but are biting well on soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live shad.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said recent rains have brought the river up a couple feet above its normal level. Crappie were biting well, but cooler temperatures and rain have thinned out the anglers. However, it safe to assume that since the water has cleared up and remained mostly steady in the last 24 hours, crappie will be biting again. Submerged trees in the lake and bay are the best places this time of year. White and chartreuse jigs work well. Shiners are also good but are hard to find, area so buy them before you come. A few bream have been caught on worms buy those seeking crappie. Nothing has been said recently of bass or catfish. Don’t forget to dress warm and wear some orange.

Lower Ouachita River: No report.

Tri-County Lake: No report.

EAST ARKANSAS:

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870) 534-1948 said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are excellent on shiners and jigs fished around 12 feet deep near the channel. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished in 12 feet of water. Catfishing is excellent on cut shad and worms.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is high and no one is fishing. No report.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Kentucky and largemouth bass are biting well on crankbaits and finesse worms. No report on catfish or bream.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal level. No anglers are visiting the lake.

Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are still biting well on wax worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Bass fishing is extremely slow. Catfishing is good on cut bait and stinkbait.

I-40 Chute: James Sample at Daily’s Boat Dock said no one is fishing, but quite a few duck hunters have been around for opening weekend.

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