11-23-2006, 04:10 AM
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report for Nov. 22, 2006. If there is a body of water you would like to see included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip: Millwood Lake Guide Service offers a tip for fishing Rat-L-Traps and other crankbaits during the fall:
Always use a good, flexible rod with a medium action when working deep-running crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Big fish can make a strong surge at the boat that can pull hooks free or break your line before you can react. A flexible rod will absorb some of this pull before it's too late.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Monday the Arkansas River stages are:
6.41 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage - 32 feet)<br />
9.62 feet at Morrilton (flood stage - 30 feet)<br />
7.25 feet at Little Rock (flood stage - 23 feet)<br />
31.42 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage - 42 feet)<br />
26.13 feet at Pendleton (flood stage - 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Monday the White River stages are:
15.02 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
28.40 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
16.24 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
8.44 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
4.68 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Program Report: Hybrid striped bass are biting on 2-inch white/green Mister Twister grubs on a 1/16-ounce jighead. White and silver Roostertails are still catching fish. Use a slow to medium retrieve with occasional pauses. Small, dark-colored crankbaits with orange bellies are also catching fish. Trout fishing has been good in Lake Atalanta, Murphy Lake, Wells Lake and Craighead Forest Youth and Senior's Pond. Bright green, yellow or hot pink PowerBait are the colors giving the most success. Corn is also working. Central Arkansas locations will be stocked with trout in early December. Call 1-866-540-FISH (3474) toll-free for stocking information.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: No report.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the generators are running for about 2 hours every morning. Trout are biting well all day long on chartreuse or pink Power Eggs. Fly-anglers are doing well on sow bugs, egg patterns, red zebra midges and red butt patterns.<br />
Mark Owner at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said cool weather the last few weeks has kept hydroelectric generation to a minimum. Flies that are working the best are: tan bead head sow bugs (#14), red or black zebra midges (#16), copper Johns (#16), pheasant tails and princes (#16), olive woolly buggers (#10-#12) and egg patterns in virtually every size from #8 to #14. BWO's (Blue-wing Olive Mayflies) and, to a lesser degree, Caddis Flies, are coming off every afternoon. You may see large male brown trout doing aerial leaps and displays. This is part of the spawning ritual and should not be
with aggressive surface feeding. You may also witness large female browns being escorted by several smaller male browns nipping at her fins as she moves toward a shoal. Look for flashes of light reflecting off the female brown trout's sides as she makes her redd (spawning area).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 457.84 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina said the water is fairly clear. Bass are biting well in 2 to 10 feet of water on top-waters in the mornings and crankbaits during the day. Hybrids and with bass are biting well on silver spoons. Walleye are in 35 feet of water and are biting decently on spoons and Lindy-rigged minnows.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges between 58 and 62 degrees. The bass are scattered from 6 inches to 60 feet deep and can be caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and jighead worms fished around shallow creek bends, and Carolina-rigged centipedes, drop-shotted finesse worms and wacky-rigged Cinkos deep, just find the bait and you will find the fish. Walleye are fair on trolled crankbaits anywhere from 15 to 60 feet deep. No report on catfish but rumor is they are still biting well. The crappie are biting in the creek and river bends. They are suspended in the pole timber about 15 feet deep and will bite jigs tipped with minnows.
Hybrid and white bass fishing is a constant battle with all the pressure on them, but stay with the bait and you can catch a few every day.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the water is cloudy. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing has been decent on live minnows. Overall the fishing is slow.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the water is clear. Bream are fair on red worms during the morning and afternoon. Crappie are biting very well on pink minnows, shiners and white Crappie Stinger jigs fished near piers. Chartreuse Crappie Stingers are working well in the mornings as well. No report on catfish or bass.
Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said flow from Lock 9 is 8,000 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 285.27 and a tailwater of 265.38. Due to deer hunting, duck hunting and paddlefish net pens, few people have been fishing. Most fisherman are trying to catch stripers and whites. Stripers are biting strong on deep-diving crankbaits (fire tiger or chartreuse) around Petit Jean Mountain near Grandma's Point and Rock Island, the coffin across from Petit Jean Mountain. Stripers are also biting on jigging spoons around the jetty tips and inside deep water pockets of the jetties. Catfishing is good using whole shad in the deep holes. Kentucky bass are fair late in the afternoon on shallow rock tops where the sun has warmed the rocks. Try using a fire tiger-colored, shallow-diving crankbait. Large drum are being caught around the jetties using fire tiger-colored crankbaits. Also, duck hunting has been fair on this part of the River.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is clearing up and at normal levels. Bream are biting fair, but the cold weather has kept anglers off the water. Crappie are biting well on shiners fished under a slip cork. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and live minnows. Catfishing is good on Catfish Charlie.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports said angling pressure is low.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's said fishing is slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Wilderness Trail said trout fishing has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, Sunrise, and pink or Chartreuse or Rainbow nuggets. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Blue Fox spinners and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. The fly-anglers have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, scuds and sow bugs. Brown trout outside of the catch-and-release areas are being caught on Flat Fish, jointed Rapalas and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 648.22 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said lake temperature is 55 degrees and the fall bite is in full swing above Lead Hill and should be starting in the mid-lake areas by Thanksgiving. Remember, the fall bite will only last while the lake temperature stays between 50 and 55 degrees, so bundle up and enjoy. Crappie are really turned on in the upper lake on brush piles and around points. They are sitting in the 15-foot range and biting tubes and crappie grubs on a 1/16-ounce head and Bobby Garland Split Tails and Baby Shad. Mid- and lower lake crappie are also on brush piles and points and on bluff walls, but they are a little deeper (18 to 20 feet) and biting live bait (crappie minnows) and Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows. Largemouth can be fooled with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early in the morning on main lake points and in the backs of creeks with some cover (blowdowns, stumps or docks). During the day, largemouth can be caught around secondary points with jigs or over deep water with spoons where you see balls of shad. Smallmouth bass are very aggressive, striking slow-rolled spinnerbaits, crankbaits and spider jigs. They are around brush piles, pea rock points and transition areas along channel swing banks both on the main lake and in the creek arms. The afternoon bite seems to be the best for smallmouth. Kentucky bass can be found off main lake points, creek arm secondary points and in the middle of main lake cuts anywhere from 6 to 60 feet deep. They are feeding on crayfish and shad, so you don't know what depth of water they are in from hour to hour. Walleye are biting but walleye anglers are not fishing. If you decide to go out, take your spoons and go to drop offs on the side of the points or at the entrance or exit of channel swings or the end of bluff walls and you will find them in 28 to 55 feet of water. The best bet for long liners is Deep Tail Dancers, Reef Runners or Bill Norman DD22's on the outside of feeding flats in 30 to 40 feet of water.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 548.34 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is dropping and the water is clear. Bream are fair. Crappie are picking up and some good slabs are being caught on crappie jigs and minnows. Bass are beginning to bite well on crayfish-colored Wiggle Warts, spinnerbaits, jigs and crayfish-imitating soft plastics. Striper anglers are doing well trolling large swim baits and pogies during the day and fishing with Rattlin' Rogues and C-10 Redfins in the mornings. Walleye are biting well in the late afternoon on jerkbaits, Hot-N-Tots and Rapala Tail Dancers.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock said two generators are running most mornings. Trout fishing is good on red worms for both rainbows and browns.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,113.06 feet MSL.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods said the water is up and is muddy in the river arms of the lake. Crappie are deep and biting fairly well on chartreuse/black tube jigs and minnows fished around mid-lake. Bass are fair around 30 feet deep and deeper on large jigs, spoons and drop-shot rigs. Catfish are poor. Stripers are biting well around mid-lake on large Road Runners and brood minnows.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said fishing pressure has been nearly nonexistent.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the water is about 6 inches above normal pool. Crappie are biting decently in 8 to 10 feet of water on crappie tubes, Roadrunners and minnows fished around the old bridge. Bass are biting fair on soft-plastic crayfish imitations. Channel cats are biting fair on chicken livers in open water around 4 to 8 feet deep.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Spring River: No report.
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground said the water is high and muddy. No anglers are visiting the water.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina said the water is high. Fishing has been slow. Most folks are headed to the woods.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine said there haven't been many anglers on the lake. A few bass have been caught on spinnerbaits, but that's about it.
Grand lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine said there haven't been many anglers on the lake. Some crappie anglers are doing well trolling a jighead tipped with a minnow.
Mississippi River: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine said there haven't been many anglers on the water. Catfishing is good on live and prepared baits along the riverbanks.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are fair on red minnows. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers and live minnows.<br />
The Tackle Box said crappie are biting well on rosy red minnows.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.42 feet MSL.<br />
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water temperatures have stabilized. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved to about 4-5 inches. The main lake clarity likewise improved to about 5-7 inches. The activity levels of bass and crappie have improved with the stable weather. Feeding periods are are fair to good early and late in the day and excellent during the warm hours. Larger bass are still venturing shallow during the heat of the day, and are fair to good on jerk baits like the Smithwick Rouge in clown colors, Redfins in gold, and Bass Assassin Shads in Baby Bass. They are still feeding on shad in relatively shallow water close to deep drops, around grass beds and vegetation. Half-ounce chrome Rat-L-Traps continue taking many small bass around creek mouths and in the creek channel. We have been throwing Cordell Big O's and Excalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel for the last couple weeks. War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover or white/chart color combinations are still working very well around the grass beds where baitfish are feeding. The jig bite continues to improve. These bass were relating to stumps, slightly deeper, and 6-10 feet away from base of cypress trees. Black/blue jigs or black/chartreuse jigs with rattles are working next to creek channels and on cypress trees. White Bass have disappeared, or gone deep, with the muddy water. Crappie, likewise, have almost entirely shut down in the last 10 days, with the high muddy rise, although with the level returning to normal, it has begun improving. Best bet for crappie this week has been on shiners in planted brush piles along Little River from 15-22 feet. Channel Cats remain very good this week, on trotlines in Little River, any location in the current, and yo-yos from cypress trees in 8-12 feet. Trotlines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 12-14 feet depths, using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the fishing has been slow, but some crappie are being caught on jigs tipped with a live minnow in cover near creek channels.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said fishing has been slow, but some crappie are being caught on jigs tipped with a live minnow in cover near creek channels.
White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said fishing has been slow.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 538.78 feet MSL.<br />
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature on Lake Greeson is dropping and the crappie are on the move. Focus on brush piles near primary and secondary channels. Jigs or live bait will catch them anywhere from 8 to 20 feet deep. Stripers are on the move in the same areas. There isn't much surface activity, but they're there. For a day-by-day report visit http://www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 397.73 feet MSL.<br />
DeGray One Stop said the water is in the low 60s and stable. Water clarity is excellent. Bream are biting poorly, but a few have been caught in 20 to 30 feet of water. Crappie are scattered around 15 to 20 feet deep and biting decently on crappie minnows and small multicolored jigs. Catfish are slow and holding in 20 to 30 feet of water. Hybrids and white bass are schooling and moving upriver. The best bite has been on Roostertails and spoons. Black bass are in 8 feet of water during the mornings and move out to 20 feet by 10. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits and deep-diving crankbaits are working the best on the bass.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods said bream fishing is slow. Crappie are biting well on red/chartreuse jigs and live minnows in 11 to 12 feet of water around major creek turns. Bass are biting well on flipping tubes and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on live shad and large trotline minnows. Stripers are biting well on white and green twin-tailed trailers below the dam when the water is running.<br />
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 385.40 feet MSL.<br />
CNC's End of the Line said no one is fishing with hunting seasons are in full swing.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the water is off-colored. Crappie are biting well below the dam on jigs tipped with a minnow. Catfishing is good below the dam on live shad and large minnows. White bass are biting well on jigs and minnows.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 572.57 feet MSL.<br />
Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said bass are biting excellently on top-water lures in the first 3 to 4 hours of the morning. They are holding in deep water around main channels where points meet the deep water. Flukes and spoons are working well on the bass in open water as well and the larger fish are near the bottom of the schools. Stripers are biting very well on spoons and spinners fished deep and top-water lures during feeding frenzies. Seagulls are back on Ouachita and if you find them circling, chances are good that the stripers will be near. Crappie are fair to slow. Fish twister tail grubs in chartreuse/white or Tennessee shad in 6 to 8 feet of water over the grass. You have to cover a lot of water to catch the crappie. No report on bream and catfish.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina said the water is murky and about 4 feet low because of the winter drawdown. Bass are biting decently on crawdad-colored crankbaits.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said the fishing is good, but it's mainly small fish. Small largemouth and Kentucky bass, white bass and stripers are all running together and can be caught on Roostertails, grubs, small spinnerbaits and spoons. Crappie are hit-and-miss. They're stacked in 8 to 12 feet of water. If you find the few spots they've congregated, you can load the boat. Otherwise, you're in for a long day. Large stripers are slow, but a few have been caught in 30 feet of water, about 10 feet deep. Catfish are fair to slow on nightcrawlers.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said not many anglers are hitting the water. Crappie and catfish are both biting well on shiners. Bass are decent on minnows.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the water is clear and the lake is full. Bluegill are biting excellently in 3 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are biting well in 4 to 8 feet of water on minnows. Catfish are biting well on live bait near the bottom. Bass are poor.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 344.74 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is high. Not many anglers are visiting the lake.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale's One Stop said fishing is slow with hunting season in full swing.
EAST ARKANSAS:
White River: Triangle Sports said the water is high from the rain. Crappie are biting well on shiners in deep holes of the river. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and swimming jigs and are staged below the cool water. Walleye are starting to pick up on bream and nightcrawlers.
Island 40 Chute: Daily's Boat Dock said a few people were out. Crappie were biting decently on minnows and jigs. Catfish were biting fairly well on cut bait suspended from drop hooks.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said locks three and four had crappie, stripers and catfish all holding below them. Minnows fished on a leadhead were the best bet. Island Harbor had some catfish and crappie holding in the slack-water areas as well.<br />
River City Sporting Goods said the water is very muddy from the current. Crappie are picking up in 8 to 10 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished just out of the current. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is clearing up and fishing is slow.
Bear Creek Lake: Six Rivers Sport Center said the water is clear and about 1 foot low. Crappie are fair on minnows in 12 feet of water. All other species are slow.
Arkansas Outdoors said a few crappie have been caught on minnows in 6 feet of water.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is low. Bream are up shallow, but not biting extremely well. Crappie are biting very well on minnows slow-trolled in the channels. Bas are slow. Catfishing is excellent, with a few limits being caught on nightcrawlers.
Fishing Tip: Millwood Lake Guide Service offers a tip for fishing Rat-L-Traps and other crankbaits during the fall:
Always use a good, flexible rod with a medium action when working deep-running crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Big fish can make a strong surge at the boat that can pull hooks free or break your line before you can react. A flexible rod will absorb some of this pull before it's too late.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Monday the Arkansas River stages are:
6.41 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage - 32 feet)<br />
9.62 feet at Morrilton (flood stage - 30 feet)<br />
7.25 feet at Little Rock (flood stage - 23 feet)<br />
31.42 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage - 42 feet)<br />
26.13 feet at Pendleton (flood stage - 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Monday the White River stages are:
15.02 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
28.40 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
16.24 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
8.44 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
4.68 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Program Report: Hybrid striped bass are biting on 2-inch white/green Mister Twister grubs on a 1/16-ounce jighead. White and silver Roostertails are still catching fish. Use a slow to medium retrieve with occasional pauses. Small, dark-colored crankbaits with orange bellies are also catching fish. Trout fishing has been good in Lake Atalanta, Murphy Lake, Wells Lake and Craighead Forest Youth and Senior's Pond. Bright green, yellow or hot pink PowerBait are the colors giving the most success. Corn is also working. Central Arkansas locations will be stocked with trout in early December. Call 1-866-540-FISH (3474) toll-free for stocking information.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: No report.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the generators are running for about 2 hours every morning. Trout are biting well all day long on chartreuse or pink Power Eggs. Fly-anglers are doing well on sow bugs, egg patterns, red zebra midges and red butt patterns.<br />
Mark Owner at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said cool weather the last few weeks has kept hydroelectric generation to a minimum. Flies that are working the best are: tan bead head sow bugs (#14), red or black zebra midges (#16), copper Johns (#16), pheasant tails and princes (#16), olive woolly buggers (#10-#12) and egg patterns in virtually every size from #8 to #14. BWO's (Blue-wing Olive Mayflies) and, to a lesser degree, Caddis Flies, are coming off every afternoon. You may see large male brown trout doing aerial leaps and displays. This is part of the spawning ritual and should not be
with aggressive surface feeding. You may also witness large female browns being escorted by several smaller male browns nipping at her fins as she moves toward a shoal. Look for flashes of light reflecting off the female brown trout's sides as she makes her redd (spawning area).Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 457.84 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina said the water is fairly clear. Bass are biting well in 2 to 10 feet of water on top-waters in the mornings and crankbaits during the day. Hybrids and with bass are biting well on silver spoons. Walleye are in 35 feet of water and are biting decently on spoons and Lindy-rigged minnows.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges between 58 and 62 degrees. The bass are scattered from 6 inches to 60 feet deep and can be caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and jighead worms fished around shallow creek bends, and Carolina-rigged centipedes, drop-shotted finesse worms and wacky-rigged Cinkos deep, just find the bait and you will find the fish. Walleye are fair on trolled crankbaits anywhere from 15 to 60 feet deep. No report on catfish but rumor is they are still biting well. The crappie are biting in the creek and river bends. They are suspended in the pole timber about 15 feet deep and will bite jigs tipped with minnows.
Hybrid and white bass fishing is a constant battle with all the pressure on them, but stay with the bait and you can catch a few every day.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the water is cloudy. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing has been decent on live minnows. Overall the fishing is slow.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the water is clear. Bream are fair on red worms during the morning and afternoon. Crappie are biting very well on pink minnows, shiners and white Crappie Stinger jigs fished near piers. Chartreuse Crappie Stingers are working well in the mornings as well. No report on catfish or bass.
Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said flow from Lock 9 is 8,000 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 285.27 and a tailwater of 265.38. Due to deer hunting, duck hunting and paddlefish net pens, few people have been fishing. Most fisherman are trying to catch stripers and whites. Stripers are biting strong on deep-diving crankbaits (fire tiger or chartreuse) around Petit Jean Mountain near Grandma's Point and Rock Island, the coffin across from Petit Jean Mountain. Stripers are also biting on jigging spoons around the jetty tips and inside deep water pockets of the jetties. Catfishing is good using whole shad in the deep holes. Kentucky bass are fair late in the afternoon on shallow rock tops where the sun has warmed the rocks. Try using a fire tiger-colored, shallow-diving crankbait. Large drum are being caught around the jetties using fire tiger-colored crankbaits. Also, duck hunting has been fair on this part of the River.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is clearing up and at normal levels. Bream are biting fair, but the cold weather has kept anglers off the water. Crappie are biting well on shiners fished under a slip cork. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and live minnows. Catfishing is good on Catfish Charlie.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports said angling pressure is low.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's said fishing is slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Wilderness Trail said trout fishing has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, Sunrise, and pink or Chartreuse or Rainbow nuggets. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Blue Fox spinners and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. The fly-anglers have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, scuds and sow bugs. Brown trout outside of the catch-and-release areas are being caught on Flat Fish, jointed Rapalas and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 648.22 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said lake temperature is 55 degrees and the fall bite is in full swing above Lead Hill and should be starting in the mid-lake areas by Thanksgiving. Remember, the fall bite will only last while the lake temperature stays between 50 and 55 degrees, so bundle up and enjoy. Crappie are really turned on in the upper lake on brush piles and around points. They are sitting in the 15-foot range and biting tubes and crappie grubs on a 1/16-ounce head and Bobby Garland Split Tails and Baby Shad. Mid- and lower lake crappie are also on brush piles and points and on bluff walls, but they are a little deeper (18 to 20 feet) and biting live bait (crappie minnows) and Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows. Largemouth can be fooled with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early in the morning on main lake points and in the backs of creeks with some cover (blowdowns, stumps or docks). During the day, largemouth can be caught around secondary points with jigs or over deep water with spoons where you see balls of shad. Smallmouth bass are very aggressive, striking slow-rolled spinnerbaits, crankbaits and spider jigs. They are around brush piles, pea rock points and transition areas along channel swing banks both on the main lake and in the creek arms. The afternoon bite seems to be the best for smallmouth. Kentucky bass can be found off main lake points, creek arm secondary points and in the middle of main lake cuts anywhere from 6 to 60 feet deep. They are feeding on crayfish and shad, so you don't know what depth of water they are in from hour to hour. Walleye are biting but walleye anglers are not fishing. If you decide to go out, take your spoons and go to drop offs on the side of the points or at the entrance or exit of channel swings or the end of bluff walls and you will find them in 28 to 55 feet of water. The best bet for long liners is Deep Tail Dancers, Reef Runners or Bill Norman DD22's on the outside of feeding flats in 30 to 40 feet of water.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 548.34 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is dropping and the water is clear. Bream are fair. Crappie are picking up and some good slabs are being caught on crappie jigs and minnows. Bass are beginning to bite well on crayfish-colored Wiggle Warts, spinnerbaits, jigs and crayfish-imitating soft plastics. Striper anglers are doing well trolling large swim baits and pogies during the day and fishing with Rattlin' Rogues and C-10 Redfins in the mornings. Walleye are biting well in the late afternoon on jerkbaits, Hot-N-Tots and Rapala Tail Dancers.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock said two generators are running most mornings. Trout fishing is good on red worms for both rainbows and browns.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,113.06 feet MSL.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods said the water is up and is muddy in the river arms of the lake. Crappie are deep and biting fairly well on chartreuse/black tube jigs and minnows fished around mid-lake. Bass are fair around 30 feet deep and deeper on large jigs, spoons and drop-shot rigs. Catfish are poor. Stripers are biting well around mid-lake on large Road Runners and brood minnows.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said fishing pressure has been nearly nonexistent.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the water is about 6 inches above normal pool. Crappie are biting decently in 8 to 10 feet of water on crappie tubes, Roadrunners and minnows fished around the old bridge. Bass are biting fair on soft-plastic crayfish imitations. Channel cats are biting fair on chicken livers in open water around 4 to 8 feet deep.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Spring River: No report.
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground said the water is high and muddy. No anglers are visiting the water.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina said the water is high. Fishing has been slow. Most folks are headed to the woods.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine said there haven't been many anglers on the lake. A few bass have been caught on spinnerbaits, but that's about it.
Grand lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine said there haven't been many anglers on the lake. Some crappie anglers are doing well trolling a jighead tipped with a minnow.
Mississippi River: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine said there haven't been many anglers on the water. Catfishing is good on live and prepared baits along the riverbanks.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are fair on red minnows. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers and live minnows.<br />
The Tackle Box said crappie are biting well on rosy red minnows.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.42 feet MSL.<br />
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water temperatures have stabilized. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved to about 4-5 inches. The main lake clarity likewise improved to about 5-7 inches. The activity levels of bass and crappie have improved with the stable weather. Feeding periods are are fair to good early and late in the day and excellent during the warm hours. Larger bass are still venturing shallow during the heat of the day, and are fair to good on jerk baits like the Smithwick Rouge in clown colors, Redfins in gold, and Bass Assassin Shads in Baby Bass. They are still feeding on shad in relatively shallow water close to deep drops, around grass beds and vegetation. Half-ounce chrome Rat-L-Traps continue taking many small bass around creek mouths and in the creek channel. We have been throwing Cordell Big O's and Excalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel for the last couple weeks. War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover or white/chart color combinations are still working very well around the grass beds where baitfish are feeding. The jig bite continues to improve. These bass were relating to stumps, slightly deeper, and 6-10 feet away from base of cypress trees. Black/blue jigs or black/chartreuse jigs with rattles are working next to creek channels and on cypress trees. White Bass have disappeared, or gone deep, with the muddy water. Crappie, likewise, have almost entirely shut down in the last 10 days, with the high muddy rise, although with the level returning to normal, it has begun improving. Best bet for crappie this week has been on shiners in planted brush piles along Little River from 15-22 feet. Channel Cats remain very good this week, on trotlines in Little River, any location in the current, and yo-yos from cypress trees in 8-12 feet. Trotlines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 12-14 feet depths, using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the fishing has been slow, but some crappie are being caught on jigs tipped with a live minnow in cover near creek channels.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said fishing has been slow, but some crappie are being caught on jigs tipped with a live minnow in cover near creek channels.
White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said fishing has been slow.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 538.78 feet MSL.<br />
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature on Lake Greeson is dropping and the crappie are on the move. Focus on brush piles near primary and secondary channels. Jigs or live bait will catch them anywhere from 8 to 20 feet deep. Stripers are on the move in the same areas. There isn't much surface activity, but they're there. For a day-by-day report visit http://www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 397.73 feet MSL.<br />
DeGray One Stop said the water is in the low 60s and stable. Water clarity is excellent. Bream are biting poorly, but a few have been caught in 20 to 30 feet of water. Crappie are scattered around 15 to 20 feet deep and biting decently on crappie minnows and small multicolored jigs. Catfish are slow and holding in 20 to 30 feet of water. Hybrids and white bass are schooling and moving upriver. The best bite has been on Roostertails and spoons. Black bass are in 8 feet of water during the mornings and move out to 20 feet by 10. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits and deep-diving crankbaits are working the best on the bass.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods said bream fishing is slow. Crappie are biting well on red/chartreuse jigs and live minnows in 11 to 12 feet of water around major creek turns. Bass are biting well on flipping tubes and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on live shad and large trotline minnows. Stripers are biting well on white and green twin-tailed trailers below the dam when the water is running.<br />
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 385.40 feet MSL.<br />
CNC's End of the Line said no one is fishing with hunting seasons are in full swing.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the water is off-colored. Crappie are biting well below the dam on jigs tipped with a minnow. Catfishing is good below the dam on live shad and large minnows. White bass are biting well on jigs and minnows.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 572.57 feet MSL.<br />
Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said bass are biting excellently on top-water lures in the first 3 to 4 hours of the morning. They are holding in deep water around main channels where points meet the deep water. Flukes and spoons are working well on the bass in open water as well and the larger fish are near the bottom of the schools. Stripers are biting very well on spoons and spinners fished deep and top-water lures during feeding frenzies. Seagulls are back on Ouachita and if you find them circling, chances are good that the stripers will be near. Crappie are fair to slow. Fish twister tail grubs in chartreuse/white or Tennessee shad in 6 to 8 feet of water over the grass. You have to cover a lot of water to catch the crappie. No report on bream and catfish.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina said the water is murky and about 4 feet low because of the winter drawdown. Bass are biting decently on crawdad-colored crankbaits.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said the fishing is good, but it's mainly small fish. Small largemouth and Kentucky bass, white bass and stripers are all running together and can be caught on Roostertails, grubs, small spinnerbaits and spoons. Crappie are hit-and-miss. They're stacked in 8 to 12 feet of water. If you find the few spots they've congregated, you can load the boat. Otherwise, you're in for a long day. Large stripers are slow, but a few have been caught in 30 feet of water, about 10 feet deep. Catfish are fair to slow on nightcrawlers.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said not many anglers are hitting the water. Crappie and catfish are both biting well on shiners. Bass are decent on minnows.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the water is clear and the lake is full. Bluegill are biting excellently in 3 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are biting well in 4 to 8 feet of water on minnows. Catfish are biting well on live bait near the bottom. Bass are poor.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 344.74 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is high. Not many anglers are visiting the lake.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale's One Stop said fishing is slow with hunting season in full swing.
EAST ARKANSAS:
White River: Triangle Sports said the water is high from the rain. Crappie are biting well on shiners in deep holes of the river. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and swimming jigs and are staged below the cool water. Walleye are starting to pick up on bream and nightcrawlers.
Island 40 Chute: Daily's Boat Dock said a few people were out. Crappie were biting decently on minnows and jigs. Catfish were biting fairly well on cut bait suspended from drop hooks.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said locks three and four had crappie, stripers and catfish all holding below them. Minnows fished on a leadhead were the best bet. Island Harbor had some catfish and crappie holding in the slack-water areas as well.<br />
River City Sporting Goods said the water is very muddy from the current. Crappie are picking up in 8 to 10 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished just out of the current. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is clearing up and fishing is slow.
Bear Creek Lake: Six Rivers Sport Center said the water is clear and about 1 foot low. Crappie are fair on minnows in 12 feet of water. All other species are slow.
Arkansas Outdoors said a few crappie have been caught on minnows in 6 feet of water.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is low. Bream are up shallow, but not biting extremely well. Crappie are biting very well on minnows slow-trolled in the channels. Bas are slow. Catfishing is excellent, with a few limits being caught on nightcrawlers.