01-03-2007, 09:10 PM
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
6.25 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage - 32 feet)<br />
10.33 feet at Morrilton (flood stage - 30 feet)<br />
7.27 feet at Little Rock (flood stage - 23 feet)<br />
31.61 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage - 42 feet)<br />
26.99 feet at Pendleton (flood stage - 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:<br />
17.55 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
29.41 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
18.08 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
9.50 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
5.55 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Trout are biting very well on PowerBait tipped with a wax worm and marshmallows in the ponds. Roostertails, small Rapalas, and olive Trout Magnets are working well in Rock Creek at Boyle Park. Fly anglers are catching trout on egg patterns, nymphs and black woolly buggers. With the warm weather, catfish have been biting in some of the ponds on chicken livers. For more information on trout stockings, call toll-free (866) 540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low and murky. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows in 18 inches of water. Catfishing is excellent on Adams Lake using minnows.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water has been high in the mornings with most generation in the a.m. hours. Trout fishing has been good in the high water on live and prepared bait such as wax worms and PowerBait. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleos and Countdown Rapalas are working well.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 464.29 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said white bass and hybrids are biting well in the Hill Creek area on spoons and a jig-and-minnow combination. All other fishing has been slow.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 45-49 degrees depending on the weather and time of day. Some walleye and catfish are being caught on jugs fished as shallow as 10 feet with live bream for bait. The rest of the walleye are shallow on cloudy days and hitting well on nightcrawlers and minnows as well as Shad Raps and Wally Divers. During sunny days, try trolling these crankbaits and Spoonbill Rebels in 34 feet of water. Some large bass are right on the bank, and are willing to hit jigs, jighead worms and Rat-L-Traps. Many bass are suspended in 30-35 feet of water and are pretty hard to catch. Some bass are on the bottom in 40-70 feet of water and can be caught on Carolina rigs and football head jigs. Crappie are slow, but some nice size fish are biting jigs and minnows in 12-25 feet of water around creek bends. White bass and hybrids are being caught up the rivers as well as the last main points at the mouths of rivers. Some are being caught shallow on curly tailed grubs fished on a steady retrieve in less than 5 feet of water. Most of the whites are suspended from 15-40 feet deep. Look for shad and you will find the whites and hybrids as well as a few other species.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is high and clear. Crappie anglers are doing well on minnows and Crappie Stinger jigs. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with live minnows and rod-and-reel angling from the bank with live or prepared baits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charlie's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 5,400 cubic feet per second with a headwater at 285.35 and a tailwater of 270.00. Few anglers have visited the river with the holiday and high water. Catfishing is good on jetty tips on whole shad. Stripers are biting well on green/white 2-ounce jigs fished around the jetty tips. White bass are on the backside of the jetties below the Petit Jean River, and Point Remove Creek. Black bass are holding on the inside bends around wood. Jigs and soft-plastic worms are working well on the largemouths and Kentucky bass.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is high from the recent rain. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on Crappie Stingers and tube jigs. The crappie bite is best on live minnows.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and low and the current is very slow. Bream are poor. Crappie are fair in 3 to 4 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished around brush. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and live minnows. Catfish are biting well on live or prepared baits near the middle of the channel.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-786-1020) said crappie fishing is good on minnows and tube jigs. Stripers are fair on large minnows near the jetties. Catfishing is good on cut shad below the dam.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said bream are fair on worms and crickets in 15 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are biting decently around brush in 12 to 15 feet of water on red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on silver spoons fished in 20 feet of water. Catfishing is poor.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high. All species are slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-786-1020) said the water is high and murky. Crappie fishing is fair on chartreuse/black tube jigs and minnows. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been taken on nightcrawlers.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the holidays and mild weather have put power demand at a minimum, so the water conditions have been low with one generator turned on for an hour or two. Trout fishing has been excellent, with a lot of trout being caught on red worms, wax worms, nightcrawlers and Berkley PowerBait. The best artificials have been gold/red Buoyant Spoons, gold or gold/red Little Cleos and floating Rapalas. Fly fishing has been excellent with the low water. Olive woolly buggers, sow bugs and tan scuds are all doing well. If a little water is running, a red San Juan worm is working great.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white along with artificial or live wax worms. Fly anglers have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, zebra midges and unreal eggs in peach or white Brown trout downriver of the catch-and-release areas are being caught on Rapala Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 654.08 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said crappie are still active in the upper lake but they have slowed down in the lower lake. Brush piles and channel drop offs are the winter holding areas. Crappie minnows will still work until the water temperature reaches the low 40-degree mark. The best artificial baits are sword-tail tubes, crappie tubes and crappie jigs. Drop down to 4-pound line and work your baits slowly. Largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass started biting on the banks last week. It seems as though the spinnerbait and crankbait bite is turning on. Largemouth bass are on the banks inside of small cuts in the creeks and along the banks at the backs of main-lake pockets and coves. You have to cover a lot of water but when you finally catch one on a bank you will catch a few more in the same area. Some largemouth are still under the shad, once you find an active school there will be largemouth under them. Drop a silver or white spoon under the shad for these fish. Smallmouth are also on the banks, but they are mostly around secondary and main-lake points. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits and Wiggle Warts in green or brown crawdad colors are working the best. Other smallies are off the drop offs of the points. Spider jigs, tubes and finesse worms on a shaky head jig are the key baits. Kentuckies seem to be in the backs with the largemouth although we have picked up a few around points. The Kentuckies are striking spinnerbaits better than crankbaits. Many Kentuckies are under balls of shad off main-lake points, along creek channel swings and in main-lake cuts. Spoons are the best bet for them, but a drop-shot rig will work great as well. Walleye are in their winter haunts, suspended over the flooded timber, along the bluff walls and on the bottom in 45 to 50 feet of water on the flats. The best fishing is by jigging Binks spoons, CC spoons and Rapala Jigging Spoons. Pulling minnow baits can produce some nice walleye during the winter months but the trolling technique is very spotty in cold water.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 552.86 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie fishing is poor. The crappie have moved deep. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and jigs. Walleye are fair on crankbaits trolled around major break lines. Hybrids are biting well on spoons and trolled crankbaits.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,120.68 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is up and at normal clarity. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished in brush piles from 8 to 12 feet deep. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. An occasional bass will come to the surface to feed in the warmest part of the day. Stripers are biting well on top-water lures and live bait.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said there has been very little generation the last few days, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. Scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive. Fall and winter are also great times to fish egg patterns as the brown trout make their annual spawning run. For the health of the fishery, avoid actively spawning fish and their spawning redds (clean oval depressions in the gravel).
SWEPCO Lake: Local guide, Brad Wiegmann (479-756-5279) said the regulations for black bass on SWEPCO changed to a 10-fish limit with only one being over 18-inches. The water is 72 degrees at the dam, in the mid-90s around the discharge and 85-degrees across from the discharge. The water is clear. The ramp conditions are still on the poor side with many anglers launching from the gravel beside the ramp. The big bass have been reluctant to bite. Anglers working the shoreline with shaky head jigs and finesse worms are catching small bass. Some schools of small baitfish were seen next to shore last week. Anglers should try drop shotting, split shot, dead sticking, or float-n-fly techniques around deep points, the discharge and dam area.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the bream fishing is good on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs, but most are running a bit on the small side. Catfishing is fair to good on live and prepared bait.
Local anglers are saying that a few nice crappies are being caught in the lake. Most fishermen report success in deeper water fishing with small jigs and minnows. Also, the catfish are biting very will on cut shad. Scale the shad, filet it into strips, and cast into deep water on cold days. Be sure to have adequate tackle for some of the big blues being caught.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said crappie anglers are picking up a few papermouths slow-trolling minnows.
Local anglers are saying that the crappie are just beginning to bite. After several weeks of slow activity, the lake is starting to see some use.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels for this time of year. Crappie are biting well on minnows and white/chartreuse jigs fished 4-5 feet deep. All other species are slow.
Lake Monticello: The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the winter crappie bite has turned on with the best success coming on red shiners fished on a tight line a few feet off the bottom.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 361.77 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said surface temperature ranges from 44 to 49 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Upriver surface temperatures range from 48 to 50 degrees. Recent rains will most likely change the level and clarity again later in the week. Main lake clarity is about 3-inches of visibility, depending on location. Current in Little River is rolling. The crappie bite shut down this week with the recent 15-inch rise in lake elevation and muddy conditions. The bass bite remains fair to good in the afternoons. The best success is on bulky, black/blue jigs with rattles, 10-inch worms in purple or Carolina-rigged chartreuse pepper lizards or pumpkin/chartreuse tail lizards. Largemouth bass are roaming shallow during warmest periods of the day around cypress trees. A War Eagle spinnerbait will also work well around the cypress, but the jigs and bulky worms are the ticket around the cypress. Using an Excalibur Fat Free Shad or Bandit crankbait in a crawfish pattern (brown back/orange belly) has been working better over the past few weeks, with the bass relating to deeper areas along Little River. Channel Cats remain good with the current along outer river bends of Little River. Trotlines were taking nice-sized channel cats in the last few days using chicken liver, cut shad and homemade blood bait. Lines set in the current, between 10-15 feet, have continually taken some nice channel cats ranging from 8-10 pounds.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said bream are fair, but are stuck to the bottom. Try a cricket or red wiggler fished on a small jighead. Crappie are biting well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass fishing is slow.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said crappie are biting fairly well on a jig-and-minnow combination near major creek turns near the main lake.
White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop (870-685-2753) said crappie fishing is good near the bridge that separates the upper and lower lakes.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 545.13 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is 49 degrees and murky. Striped bass and white bass are fair. Black bass fishing has been fair on crankbaits. Bream and catfish are poor.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 403.86 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is 50 to 52 degrees. The north end of the lake is muddy, while the south end is stained. Whites and hybrids are making a move to the northern part of the lake around major creek channels. All other species are slow.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 391.92 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the bream fishing is very good on micro-jigs. Crappie are biting very well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass are biting well in deeper water on jig-and-pig combos. Catfishing is very good on minnows.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bass are slow, but a few can be caught on jigs or spoons. Catfishing is fair on live shad. White bass and crappie are fair below the dam on jigs fished under a cork in the current.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 577.86 feet MSL.
Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said the fishing is slow. Bass are on the deep side of the grass, holding tight to cover. You can still catch some quality bass, but you have to fish slowly with a jig. Some stripers are biting, but you really have to be at the right place at the right time. The shad are pushed into the small pockets next to the creek channels, so the bite may be very good very soon. No report on bream, crappie or walleye.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said many anglers are having some excellent results lately, with as many as 30 bass a day being caught. The best bite is on drop-shot rigs in 20 to 25 feet of water on finesse worms. Larger fish are being caught on crayfish-colored crankbaits and jig-and-pigs. Only a few stripers have been brought in. Crappie are biting fairly well with mixed sizes stacking up together. Use minnows on slip-bobber rigs set about 10 feet deep and look for the brush piles.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is high and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows and chartreuse jigs fished around boat docks 7 feet deep. Catfishing is excellent on live or cut shad. Bass fishing is poor.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 353.81 feet MSL.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale's One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is muddy and the current is swift. Crappie and catfish are fair on shiners.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said bream are biting fairly well on red wigglers fished on the bottom. Crappie are biting very well on red shiners. Some catfish have been caught on cut shad.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is rising. Crappie fishing is good on yo-yos baited with minnows and set 11/2-feet deep around pole timber.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water rose a foot, but is still low. Bream are biting well on worms fished around the piers. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and crankbaits trolled in the middle of the lake. Catfishing is fair. Bass fishing is poor.
6.25 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage - 32 feet)<br />
10.33 feet at Morrilton (flood stage - 30 feet)<br />
7.27 feet at Little Rock (flood stage - 23 feet)<br />
31.61 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage - 42 feet)<br />
26.99 feet at Pendleton (flood stage - 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:<br />
17.55 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
29.41 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
18.08 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
9.50 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
5.55 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Trout are biting very well on PowerBait tipped with a wax worm and marshmallows in the ponds. Roostertails, small Rapalas, and olive Trout Magnets are working well in Rock Creek at Boyle Park. Fly anglers are catching trout on egg patterns, nymphs and black woolly buggers. With the warm weather, catfish have been biting in some of the ponds on chicken livers. For more information on trout stockings, call toll-free (866) 540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low and murky. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows in 18 inches of water. Catfishing is excellent on Adams Lake using minnows.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water has been high in the mornings with most generation in the a.m. hours. Trout fishing has been good in the high water on live and prepared bait such as wax worms and PowerBait. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleos and Countdown Rapalas are working well.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 464.29 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said white bass and hybrids are biting well in the Hill Creek area on spoons and a jig-and-minnow combination. All other fishing has been slow.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 45-49 degrees depending on the weather and time of day. Some walleye and catfish are being caught on jugs fished as shallow as 10 feet with live bream for bait. The rest of the walleye are shallow on cloudy days and hitting well on nightcrawlers and minnows as well as Shad Raps and Wally Divers. During sunny days, try trolling these crankbaits and Spoonbill Rebels in 34 feet of water. Some large bass are right on the bank, and are willing to hit jigs, jighead worms and Rat-L-Traps. Many bass are suspended in 30-35 feet of water and are pretty hard to catch. Some bass are on the bottom in 40-70 feet of water and can be caught on Carolina rigs and football head jigs. Crappie are slow, but some nice size fish are biting jigs and minnows in 12-25 feet of water around creek bends. White bass and hybrids are being caught up the rivers as well as the last main points at the mouths of rivers. Some are being caught shallow on curly tailed grubs fished on a steady retrieve in less than 5 feet of water. Most of the whites are suspended from 15-40 feet deep. Look for shad and you will find the whites and hybrids as well as a few other species.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is high and clear. Crappie anglers are doing well on minnows and Crappie Stinger jigs. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with live minnows and rod-and-reel angling from the bank with live or prepared baits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charlie's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 5,400 cubic feet per second with a headwater at 285.35 and a tailwater of 270.00. Few anglers have visited the river with the holiday and high water. Catfishing is good on jetty tips on whole shad. Stripers are biting well on green/white 2-ounce jigs fished around the jetty tips. White bass are on the backside of the jetties below the Petit Jean River, and Point Remove Creek. Black bass are holding on the inside bends around wood. Jigs and soft-plastic worms are working well on the largemouths and Kentucky bass.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is high from the recent rain. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on Crappie Stingers and tube jigs. The crappie bite is best on live minnows.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and low and the current is very slow. Bream are poor. Crappie are fair in 3 to 4 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished around brush. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and live minnows. Catfish are biting well on live or prepared baits near the middle of the channel.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-786-1020) said crappie fishing is good on minnows and tube jigs. Stripers are fair on large minnows near the jetties. Catfishing is good on cut shad below the dam.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said bream are fair on worms and crickets in 15 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are biting decently around brush in 12 to 15 feet of water on red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on silver spoons fished in 20 feet of water. Catfishing is poor.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high. All species are slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-786-1020) said the water is high and murky. Crappie fishing is fair on chartreuse/black tube jigs and minnows. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been taken on nightcrawlers.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the holidays and mild weather have put power demand at a minimum, so the water conditions have been low with one generator turned on for an hour or two. Trout fishing has been excellent, with a lot of trout being caught on red worms, wax worms, nightcrawlers and Berkley PowerBait. The best artificials have been gold/red Buoyant Spoons, gold or gold/red Little Cleos and floating Rapalas. Fly fishing has been excellent with the low water. Olive woolly buggers, sow bugs and tan scuds are all doing well. If a little water is running, a red San Juan worm is working great.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white along with artificial or live wax worms. Fly anglers have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, zebra midges and unreal eggs in peach or white Brown trout downriver of the catch-and-release areas are being caught on Rapala Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 654.08 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said crappie are still active in the upper lake but they have slowed down in the lower lake. Brush piles and channel drop offs are the winter holding areas. Crappie minnows will still work until the water temperature reaches the low 40-degree mark. The best artificial baits are sword-tail tubes, crappie tubes and crappie jigs. Drop down to 4-pound line and work your baits slowly. Largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass started biting on the banks last week. It seems as though the spinnerbait and crankbait bite is turning on. Largemouth bass are on the banks inside of small cuts in the creeks and along the banks at the backs of main-lake pockets and coves. You have to cover a lot of water but when you finally catch one on a bank you will catch a few more in the same area. Some largemouth are still under the shad, once you find an active school there will be largemouth under them. Drop a silver or white spoon under the shad for these fish. Smallmouth are also on the banks, but they are mostly around secondary and main-lake points. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits and Wiggle Warts in green or brown crawdad colors are working the best. Other smallies are off the drop offs of the points. Spider jigs, tubes and finesse worms on a shaky head jig are the key baits. Kentuckies seem to be in the backs with the largemouth although we have picked up a few around points. The Kentuckies are striking spinnerbaits better than crankbaits. Many Kentuckies are under balls of shad off main-lake points, along creek channel swings and in main-lake cuts. Spoons are the best bet for them, but a drop-shot rig will work great as well. Walleye are in their winter haunts, suspended over the flooded timber, along the bluff walls and on the bottom in 45 to 50 feet of water on the flats. The best fishing is by jigging Binks spoons, CC spoons and Rapala Jigging Spoons. Pulling minnow baits can produce some nice walleye during the winter months but the trolling technique is very spotty in cold water.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 552.86 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie fishing is poor. The crappie have moved deep. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and jigs. Walleye are fair on crankbaits trolled around major break lines. Hybrids are biting well on spoons and trolled crankbaits.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,120.68 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is up and at normal clarity. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished in brush piles from 8 to 12 feet deep. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. An occasional bass will come to the surface to feed in the warmest part of the day. Stripers are biting well on top-water lures and live bait.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said there has been very little generation the last few days, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. Scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive. Fall and winter are also great times to fish egg patterns as the brown trout make their annual spawning run. For the health of the fishery, avoid actively spawning fish and their spawning redds (clean oval depressions in the gravel).
SWEPCO Lake: Local guide, Brad Wiegmann (479-756-5279) said the regulations for black bass on SWEPCO changed to a 10-fish limit with only one being over 18-inches. The water is 72 degrees at the dam, in the mid-90s around the discharge and 85-degrees across from the discharge. The water is clear. The ramp conditions are still on the poor side with many anglers launching from the gravel beside the ramp. The big bass have been reluctant to bite. Anglers working the shoreline with shaky head jigs and finesse worms are catching small bass. Some schools of small baitfish were seen next to shore last week. Anglers should try drop shotting, split shot, dead sticking, or float-n-fly techniques around deep points, the discharge and dam area.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the bream fishing is good on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs, but most are running a bit on the small side. Catfishing is fair to good on live and prepared bait.
Local anglers are saying that a few nice crappies are being caught in the lake. Most fishermen report success in deeper water fishing with small jigs and minnows. Also, the catfish are biting very will on cut shad. Scale the shad, filet it into strips, and cast into deep water on cold days. Be sure to have adequate tackle for some of the big blues being caught.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said crappie anglers are picking up a few papermouths slow-trolling minnows.
Local anglers are saying that the crappie are just beginning to bite. After several weeks of slow activity, the lake is starting to see some use.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels for this time of year. Crappie are biting well on minnows and white/chartreuse jigs fished 4-5 feet deep. All other species are slow.
Lake Monticello: The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the winter crappie bite has turned on with the best success coming on red shiners fished on a tight line a few feet off the bottom.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 361.77 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said surface temperature ranges from 44 to 49 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Upriver surface temperatures range from 48 to 50 degrees. Recent rains will most likely change the level and clarity again later in the week. Main lake clarity is about 3-inches of visibility, depending on location. Current in Little River is rolling. The crappie bite shut down this week with the recent 15-inch rise in lake elevation and muddy conditions. The bass bite remains fair to good in the afternoons. The best success is on bulky, black/blue jigs with rattles, 10-inch worms in purple or Carolina-rigged chartreuse pepper lizards or pumpkin/chartreuse tail lizards. Largemouth bass are roaming shallow during warmest periods of the day around cypress trees. A War Eagle spinnerbait will also work well around the cypress, but the jigs and bulky worms are the ticket around the cypress. Using an Excalibur Fat Free Shad or Bandit crankbait in a crawfish pattern (brown back/orange belly) has been working better over the past few weeks, with the bass relating to deeper areas along Little River. Channel Cats remain good with the current along outer river bends of Little River. Trotlines were taking nice-sized channel cats in the last few days using chicken liver, cut shad and homemade blood bait. Lines set in the current, between 10-15 feet, have continually taken some nice channel cats ranging from 8-10 pounds.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said bream are fair, but are stuck to the bottom. Try a cricket or red wiggler fished on a small jighead. Crappie are biting well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass fishing is slow.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said crappie are biting fairly well on a jig-and-minnow combination near major creek turns near the main lake.
White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop (870-685-2753) said crappie fishing is good near the bridge that separates the upper and lower lakes.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 545.13 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is 49 degrees and murky. Striped bass and white bass are fair. Black bass fishing has been fair on crankbaits. Bream and catfish are poor.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 403.86 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is 50 to 52 degrees. The north end of the lake is muddy, while the south end is stained. Whites and hybrids are making a move to the northern part of the lake around major creek channels. All other species are slow.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 391.92 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the bream fishing is very good on micro-jigs. Crappie are biting very well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass are biting well in deeper water on jig-and-pig combos. Catfishing is very good on minnows.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bass are slow, but a few can be caught on jigs or spoons. Catfishing is fair on live shad. White bass and crappie are fair below the dam on jigs fished under a cork in the current.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 577.86 feet MSL.
Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said the fishing is slow. Bass are on the deep side of the grass, holding tight to cover. You can still catch some quality bass, but you have to fish slowly with a jig. Some stripers are biting, but you really have to be at the right place at the right time. The shad are pushed into the small pockets next to the creek channels, so the bite may be very good very soon. No report on bream, crappie or walleye.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said many anglers are having some excellent results lately, with as many as 30 bass a day being caught. The best bite is on drop-shot rigs in 20 to 25 feet of water on finesse worms. Larger fish are being caught on crayfish-colored crankbaits and jig-and-pigs. Only a few stripers have been brought in. Crappie are biting fairly well with mixed sizes stacking up together. Use minnows on slip-bobber rigs set about 10 feet deep and look for the brush piles.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is high and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows and chartreuse jigs fished around boat docks 7 feet deep. Catfishing is excellent on live or cut shad. Bass fishing is poor.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 353.81 feet MSL.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale's One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is muddy and the current is swift. Crappie and catfish are fair on shiners.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said bream are biting fairly well on red wigglers fished on the bottom. Crappie are biting very well on red shiners. Some catfish have been caught on cut shad.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is rising. Crappie fishing is good on yo-yos baited with minnows and set 11/2-feet deep around pole timber.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water rose a foot, but is still low. Bream are biting well on worms fished around the piers. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and crankbaits trolled in the middle of the lake. Catfishing is fair. Bass fishing is poor.