05-03-2007, 05:10 AM
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
5.30 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage 32 feet)
13.74 feet at Morrilton (flood stage 30 feet)<br />
7.29 feet at Little Rock (flood stage 23 feet)<br />
31.56 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage 42 feet)<br />
27.20 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:
10.63 feet at Georgetown (flood stage 21 feet)<br />
21.14 feet at Augusta (flood stage 26 feet)<br />
8.56 feet at Newport (flood stage 26 feet)<br />
7.60 feet at Batesville (flood stage 15 feet)<br />
3.09 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are biting very well on minnows, chicken livers and whole nightcrawlers. Many catfish are being caught in 2-3 feet of water and especially around weed edges. Evening fishing has been best so far, but some fish are being caught throughout the day at most locations. Bream fishing has really picked up in the last week, with anglers catching most fish on redworms and crickets. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is high. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Bass are beginning to pick up on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is very good on live bream.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and there is a pretty good flow from generation. Trout are biting well on wax worms and chartreuse PowerBait.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the heavy rainfall has kept water releases high all weekend. Caddis fly hatches continue with very large congregations of adults flying around at various times and places on the river. Trout are gorging themselves with the larva, pupa and adults of the Caddis and it is a lucky angler that finds himself among the hatches. Elk hair caddis dry flies in sizes 14-16 (tan with black bodies) are working wonderfully well. Some Blue Winged Olive mayflies have been spotted coming off down river near Pangburn so BWO dries (16-18) are also working. An Adams (tan 16) has been found to be irresistible to a few trout. The usual midge selection is continuing to catch fish (22 cream). Sub-surface flies that are catching trout include sow bugs (14-16 in tan or light gray), zebra midges (16-22 in red or black), pheasant tails (16 flashbacks), gold-ribbed hare's ear (16-14), princes (14) and woolly buggers in 12 and 10 (brown or olive). While I do not encourage fishing in high water (generators in operation) because of the inherent danger, there are some anglers with sufficient skills who can navigate their boat safely and catch fish at the same time. You will need about 15 feet of leader consisting of a long leader or a shorter one with tippet material attached to gain that total length to the fly. You will need lots of weight (split shot or soft weight) to get the fly down to the bottom and a shiny fly of some sort such as the Electric Prince or Flashback Pheasant Tail. A couple of dozen fish per day (caught and released) can be boated if you do it right. If you are the boat operator in this scenario, plan ahead of the boat in your thoughts a quarter of a mile or so to avoid getting into dangerous situations. The safest bet, however, is to wait for shallower water.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 462.26 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said surface temperature ranges from 67 to 72 degrees. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with live minnows and bream set in 18 to 24 feet of water near creek channels. Crappie are still spawning and are biting decently on spring craw-colored jigs tipped with a minnow. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers and crickets anywhere from 1 to 8 feet deep around docks. White bass and hybrids are chasing large gizzard shad along main lake points and creeks. Walleye are grouping up and can be caught dragging nightcrawlers around rocky flats anywhere from 15 to 40 feet deep. Bass can be caught anywhere form the shallows to 15 feet deep on Cinkos, Carolina-rigged lizards, Rite Bite Shaky Hookers and Texas-rigged lizards around woody cover.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear to dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with minnows.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is fairly clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live minnows.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the fishing is good at the lake lately. Bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and salt/pepper, pink/white or chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on white or chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on cut shad.
Lake Brewer: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is in good shape. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows fished around the brush. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and flukes. Catfishing is fair.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is low and dingy. All species are slow.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said the water is 6 inches above the spillway and the surface temperature ranges from 64 to 69 degrees. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are biting well in the shallow water on Gitzit tubes, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. White bass are excellent on Rooster Tails and CC Spoons from the chimney all the way to the spillway. Bream are biting well on crickets in 10 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on red/white jigs and minnows. Catfishing is good on minnows in the shallows.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfills Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms in the shallows. Crappie are fair on red/chartreuse tube jigs around deep brush piles. Bass are excellent on orange trick worms. Catfishing is good on Magic Bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfills Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on brightly colored Rooster Tails. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are excellent on small chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfishing is poor.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charleys Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 5376 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 284.49 and a tailwater of 271.10. Catfish are moving into the shallow water to spawn. Nightcrawlers are working well in 4 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows fished in 10 to 15 feet of water around creek mouths. Largemouth bass are holding close to woody cover near secondary drops. Chartreuse and white spinnerbaits are working well in 4 to 10 feet of water. Stripers are holding around jetty tips and below the dam on whole live shad. White bass are spread out under schools of shad. Find the shad and youll find a good white bass bite.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and muddy. Bream are biting well on crickets. Catfishing is excellent on cut shad.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are excellent on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake: Hermans Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are bedded up and biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on minnows.
NORTH ARKANSAS<br />
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 654.92 feet MSL.
We are
dened to say that Rick Culver of Wilderness Trail passed away Friday, April 27. Rick was always happy to see anglers visiting Bull Shoals and went out of his way to help visitors get on the fish. Rick will be missed. We will continue the fishing report for Bull Shoals next week.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 552.95 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are excellent on redworms in 12 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around stumps and brush in 8 to 20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic lures anywhere from 5 to 20 feet deep. Stripers are biting well in the mornings and evenings on flukes and top-water lures. Walleye are biting well on nightcrawlers or small minnows.
Norfork Tailwater: Genes Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low. One or two generators are running off and on throughout the day. Trout fishing is good on red Power Eggs and on green woolly buggers. Frozen shad are also working well on larger trout.
Mountain River Fly Shop said things are pretty much the same as last week. The caddis hatch is back in full force. Fishing continues to be good on the Norfork. Start out fishing Zebra Midges in the morning and go to Anna''K" soft hackles and e/c caddis dries in the afternoon.
Table Rock Lake: Phillip Stone of Stones Guide Service said bass fishing is picking up since the recent warm weather. Most fish have been around spawning areas in 8-12 feet of water using a brown/purple jig. Work the bait slowly on the bottom, especially around any cover. On windy days, try throwing a spinnerbait on the same banks. Most of the bass are starting, or restarting to spawn after the recent cold front passed through. Crappie are really starting to turn back on after the cold front. Most are holding just off spawning banks in 5-10 feet of water, especially around any cover. I am still catching most of them by drift fishing with live minnows on spawning flats. The bigger females are holding on any cover and can be caught with swimming minnows.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 1,121.14 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is murky on the upper end and the surface temperature is in the high 60s. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and Shinneee Hinneee jigs in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft-plastics and Little Fishie minnows. Catfishing is fair on jugs and trotlines baited with chicken livers, shad and small bream. Bream fishing is slow.
Brad Wiegmann of Wiegmanns Guide Service said the rising water has put spawning fish deeper than last week. The bite will be tough, but anglers can find the fish on spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and buzzbaits. Spawning bass can be caught soft-plastics flipped into their bedding areas. White bass are poor. Stripers are hit-and-miss along the mud line on large top-water lures.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. No report on bass.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is a little high and clear. Bream fishing is poor on crickets and worms in 2 to 5 feet of water. Crappie fishing is good on Roadrunners and tube jigs in 2 to 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics in 2 to 6 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on worms, chicken livers and cut bream in 4 to 10 feet of water.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is dingy and at normal levels. Bream are picking up on crickets. Crappie are biting well on a jig and minnows combination. Bass are biting excellently on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on stinkbait.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. No report on any other species.
Eleven-Point River: Woodys Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said fishing has been good for all species.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Trout are biting well on PowerBait and small in-line spinners.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Local anglers report a fair number of crappie and bream being caught close to cypress trees and docks on a jig-and-minnow combination. Catfish and crappie are being caught at night on yo-yos baited with live minnows.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse/black jigs. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits.
Lake Wilson: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are biting fairly well on chartreuse jigs with a black head. Bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Bream are fair on crickets. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek Lake State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels. No report on any fishing activity.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 259.99 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water surface temperature ranges from 68 to 73 degrees. Main lake clarity and visibility is about 2-3 inches. Current is increased at 20,486 cfs. Navigation along Little River is extremely difficult due to high water, heavy current and debris flowing downstream. Several buoys from high winds are out of place or up on the bank between Yarborough point, Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle. Bass and crappie are in post-spawn stages. The bite has almost completely shut off over the last three or four days of muddy, high water. Largemouth bass are decent on buzzbaits bumped against stumps in water with decent clarity. Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs are still working around lily pads and vegetation in the backs of creeks and sloughs, as far from the current of Little River as you can find. Black, purple or black/red or junebug color combinations on lizards, jigs and 10-inch worms are also working. Mid day Bass are fair on Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes in black-neon, or pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail colors with loud rattles, around stumps in vegetation, cypress tree bases, close to deep water. White bass are dead slow with the high current and muddy water. Crappie shut down from the muddy water as well. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with blood bait and Catfish Charlie near the current.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and some worms. Crappie are fair on a jig-and-minnow combination. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and stinkbait.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Catfishing is good on stinkbait, worms and chicken livers. Crappie and bass are poor.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 547.87 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and murky. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished along shallow brush and stumps. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and floating worms. Catfishing is fair on minnows.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 408.26 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is high and clarity is good. Water surface temperatures range from 65 to 68 degrees. The Corps of Engineers is pulling water out of the lake pretty fast to prepare for more rain. Bream are still staging around 20 feet deep in pre-spawn mode. Crickets and worms are catching a few deep. Crappie are in post-spawn mode, holding on the outer edge of the moss beds. Minnows and Tennessee shad jigs are working well. Catfishing is decent on live bream and trotlines baited with worms in 15 to 20 feet of water. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are in post-spawn mode and are biting fairly well in 15 to 20 feet of water. There is some surface action in the early mornings, but deep water is better during the heat of the day. Hybrids are schooling on top in the mornings and afternoons on top-water lures, spoons and Roostertails.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Dardanelle: Murphys Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water in the main channel is muddy and a little high, but the bays are clear. Crappie are biting well and moving toward the banks. Minnows and jigs are working well. Bass fishing is good on lizards, spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, minnows, cut shad and stinkbait. Stripers are below the dam and biting well on shad, minnows and Roostertails.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 387.64 feet MSL.
CNCs End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the fishing has been very good lately. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting very well on minnows and small tube jigs. Catfishing is good on chicken livers. Bass are biting well on crankbaits.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers. Stripers are biting well below the dam on jigs and minnows.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 580.02 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poormans Guide Service said bass fishing is good. Its not great, but there is a steady bite all day. Concentrate on the flooded buck brush with spinnerbaits and jighead worms. You can also catch some top-water fish early and late in the day over the grass. Bream are roaming the shallows, but have not bedded up yet. Stripers are fair to slow. White bass are breaking close to main lake points and the mouths of creeks. A few walleye are being caught on trick worms fished halfway back in the pockets.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and there is a lot of current. Bream are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on crickets in 4 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well along the shoreline on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair around the docks on nightcrawlers. Walleye are fair on minnows.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catchem All Guide Service, reports that the heavy rainfall last week raised Lake Ouachita to flood pool. This has caused nonstop generation at all the dams in an effort to pass the excess water. This generation will likely occur for several days, possibly weeks, until normal pool has been restored. The scenario has created extremely tough trout fishing at Carpenter Dam. While there are some trout being caught, the generation adversely affects the trout feeding patterns and this tough bite will continue until periods of calm water return. The white bass run is in full swing and these spawning fish are everywhere. They can be caught using minnows, jigs, crankbaits and by trolling the channels with lures that imitate threadfin shad. The crappie spawn is over and the fish are gone along with the remaining walleye. May always begins the time when large stripers show themselves as they begin feeding on the threadfin shad schools. Fishermen using large top-water baits such as trout colored Zara Spooks and C10 Redfins will draw strikes from these massive predators. Bring your heavy tackle as these fish are powerful fighters and look to feed heavily in the cooler water.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poormans Guide Service said the bream are beginning to bed up and are biting well on crickets and small nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair, but a few can be caught on brush sitting in 12 feet of water and topping out at 6 feet deep. Tennessee shad-colored grubs are working the best on the crappie. Stripers are hit-and-miss, but a few are schooling and can be caught on large top-water lures and swimbaits. Black bass are schooling around mid-lake and biting very well on clear Zara Puppies, spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged watermelon/red or bubblegum worms.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastic floating worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and stinkbait.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged soft-plastics. Catfishing is good.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 345.95 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water has come up, but the lake is not at full pool yet. Crappie are biting very well on minnows slowly trolled in 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on floating worms, Texas-rigged worms and buzzbaits. Bream are picking up and moving into the shallows.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Felsenthal: Hales One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is high from the rain. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is clear to murky. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and multicolored jigs. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and Texas-rigged lizards. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers, skipjack, cut shad and shrimp.
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is muddy. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 2 feet of water. The bream seem to be bedding up. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in the shallows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.
Island 40 Chute: Dailys Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and falling. Bream and crappie are beginning to pick up and should be biting well by the weekend on small minnows and tiny jigs. Catfishing is good on stinkbait, worms and chicken livers along the edge of the woods.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are fair on white tubes. Bass are biting well on watermelon/red soft plastics. Catfish and bream are poor.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high and clear. Fishing has been very poor for all species lately.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is very clear and up to the spillway. Bream are excellent on worms, crickets and small, realistic plastic-bug lures. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished along the banks. Bass and catfish are poor.
Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well in 18 inches of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on black/chartreuse jigs fished in 8 feet of water. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on cut shad.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the bream are in the shallows and fishing is picking up on crickets. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse jigs and minnows fished around piers or slowly trolled near the middle of the lake. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits around the piers. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.
5.30 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage 32 feet)
13.74 feet at Morrilton (flood stage 30 feet)<br />
7.29 feet at Little Rock (flood stage 23 feet)<br />
31.56 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage 42 feet)<br />
27.20 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:
10.63 feet at Georgetown (flood stage 21 feet)<br />
21.14 feet at Augusta (flood stage 26 feet)<br />
8.56 feet at Newport (flood stage 26 feet)<br />
7.60 feet at Batesville (flood stage 15 feet)<br />
3.09 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are biting very well on minnows, chicken livers and whole nightcrawlers. Many catfish are being caught in 2-3 feet of water and especially around weed edges. Evening fishing has been best so far, but some fish are being caught throughout the day at most locations. Bream fishing has really picked up in the last week, with anglers catching most fish on redworms and crickets. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is high. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Bass are beginning to pick up on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is very good on live bream.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and there is a pretty good flow from generation. Trout are biting well on wax worms and chartreuse PowerBait.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the heavy rainfall has kept water releases high all weekend. Caddis fly hatches continue with very large congregations of adults flying around at various times and places on the river. Trout are gorging themselves with the larva, pupa and adults of the Caddis and it is a lucky angler that finds himself among the hatches. Elk hair caddis dry flies in sizes 14-16 (tan with black bodies) are working wonderfully well. Some Blue Winged Olive mayflies have been spotted coming off down river near Pangburn so BWO dries (16-18) are also working. An Adams (tan 16) has been found to be irresistible to a few trout. The usual midge selection is continuing to catch fish (22 cream). Sub-surface flies that are catching trout include sow bugs (14-16 in tan or light gray), zebra midges (16-22 in red or black), pheasant tails (16 flashbacks), gold-ribbed hare's ear (16-14), princes (14) and woolly buggers in 12 and 10 (brown or olive). While I do not encourage fishing in high water (generators in operation) because of the inherent danger, there are some anglers with sufficient skills who can navigate their boat safely and catch fish at the same time. You will need about 15 feet of leader consisting of a long leader or a shorter one with tippet material attached to gain that total length to the fly. You will need lots of weight (split shot or soft weight) to get the fly down to the bottom and a shiny fly of some sort such as the Electric Prince or Flashback Pheasant Tail. A couple of dozen fish per day (caught and released) can be boated if you do it right. If you are the boat operator in this scenario, plan ahead of the boat in your thoughts a quarter of a mile or so to avoid getting into dangerous situations. The safest bet, however, is to wait for shallower water.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 462.26 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said surface temperature ranges from 67 to 72 degrees. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with live minnows and bream set in 18 to 24 feet of water near creek channels. Crappie are still spawning and are biting decently on spring craw-colored jigs tipped with a minnow. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers and crickets anywhere from 1 to 8 feet deep around docks. White bass and hybrids are chasing large gizzard shad along main lake points and creeks. Walleye are grouping up and can be caught dragging nightcrawlers around rocky flats anywhere from 15 to 40 feet deep. Bass can be caught anywhere form the shallows to 15 feet deep on Cinkos, Carolina-rigged lizards, Rite Bite Shaky Hookers and Texas-rigged lizards around woody cover.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear to dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with minnows.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is fairly clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live minnows.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the fishing is good at the lake lately. Bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and salt/pepper, pink/white or chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on white or chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on cut shad.
Lake Brewer: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is in good shape. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows fished around the brush. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and flukes. Catfishing is fair.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is low and dingy. All species are slow.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said the water is 6 inches above the spillway and the surface temperature ranges from 64 to 69 degrees. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are biting well in the shallow water on Gitzit tubes, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. White bass are excellent on Rooster Tails and CC Spoons from the chimney all the way to the spillway. Bream are biting well on crickets in 10 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on red/white jigs and minnows. Catfishing is good on minnows in the shallows.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfills Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms in the shallows. Crappie are fair on red/chartreuse tube jigs around deep brush piles. Bass are excellent on orange trick worms. Catfishing is good on Magic Bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfills Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on brightly colored Rooster Tails. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are excellent on small chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfishing is poor.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charleys Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 5376 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 284.49 and a tailwater of 271.10. Catfish are moving into the shallow water to spawn. Nightcrawlers are working well in 4 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows fished in 10 to 15 feet of water around creek mouths. Largemouth bass are holding close to woody cover near secondary drops. Chartreuse and white spinnerbaits are working well in 4 to 10 feet of water. Stripers are holding around jetty tips and below the dam on whole live shad. White bass are spread out under schools of shad. Find the shad and youll find a good white bass bite.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and muddy. Bream are biting well on crickets. Catfishing is excellent on cut shad.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are excellent on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake: Hermans Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are bedded up and biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on minnows.
NORTH ARKANSAS<br />
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 654.92 feet MSL.
We are
dened to say that Rick Culver of Wilderness Trail passed away Friday, April 27. Rick was always happy to see anglers visiting Bull Shoals and went out of his way to help visitors get on the fish. Rick will be missed. We will continue the fishing report for Bull Shoals next week.Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 552.95 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are excellent on redworms in 12 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around stumps and brush in 8 to 20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic lures anywhere from 5 to 20 feet deep. Stripers are biting well in the mornings and evenings on flukes and top-water lures. Walleye are biting well on nightcrawlers or small minnows.
Norfork Tailwater: Genes Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low. One or two generators are running off and on throughout the day. Trout fishing is good on red Power Eggs and on green woolly buggers. Frozen shad are also working well on larger trout.
Mountain River Fly Shop said things are pretty much the same as last week. The caddis hatch is back in full force. Fishing continues to be good on the Norfork. Start out fishing Zebra Midges in the morning and go to Anna''K" soft hackles and e/c caddis dries in the afternoon.
Table Rock Lake: Phillip Stone of Stones Guide Service said bass fishing is picking up since the recent warm weather. Most fish have been around spawning areas in 8-12 feet of water using a brown/purple jig. Work the bait slowly on the bottom, especially around any cover. On windy days, try throwing a spinnerbait on the same banks. Most of the bass are starting, or restarting to spawn after the recent cold front passed through. Crappie are really starting to turn back on after the cold front. Most are holding just off spawning banks in 5-10 feet of water, especially around any cover. I am still catching most of them by drift fishing with live minnows on spawning flats. The bigger females are holding on any cover and can be caught with swimming minnows.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 1,121.14 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is murky on the upper end and the surface temperature is in the high 60s. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and Shinneee Hinneee jigs in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft-plastics and Little Fishie minnows. Catfishing is fair on jugs and trotlines baited with chicken livers, shad and small bream. Bream fishing is slow.
Brad Wiegmann of Wiegmanns Guide Service said the rising water has put spawning fish deeper than last week. The bite will be tough, but anglers can find the fish on spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and buzzbaits. Spawning bass can be caught soft-plastics flipped into their bedding areas. White bass are poor. Stripers are hit-and-miss along the mud line on large top-water lures.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. No report on bass.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is a little high and clear. Bream fishing is poor on crickets and worms in 2 to 5 feet of water. Crappie fishing is good on Roadrunners and tube jigs in 2 to 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics in 2 to 6 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on worms, chicken livers and cut bream in 4 to 10 feet of water.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is dingy and at normal levels. Bream are picking up on crickets. Crappie are biting well on a jig and minnows combination. Bass are biting excellently on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on stinkbait.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. No report on any other species.
Eleven-Point River: Woodys Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said fishing has been good for all species.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Trout are biting well on PowerBait and small in-line spinners.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Local anglers report a fair number of crappie and bream being caught close to cypress trees and docks on a jig-and-minnow combination. Catfish and crappie are being caught at night on yo-yos baited with live minnows.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse/black jigs. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits.
Lake Wilson: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are biting fairly well on chartreuse jigs with a black head. Bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Bream are fair on crickets. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek Lake State Park said the water is clear and at normal levels. No report on any fishing activity.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 259.99 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water surface temperature ranges from 68 to 73 degrees. Main lake clarity and visibility is about 2-3 inches. Current is increased at 20,486 cfs. Navigation along Little River is extremely difficult due to high water, heavy current and debris flowing downstream. Several buoys from high winds are out of place or up on the bank between Yarborough point, Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle. Bass and crappie are in post-spawn stages. The bite has almost completely shut off over the last three or four days of muddy, high water. Largemouth bass are decent on buzzbaits bumped against stumps in water with decent clarity. Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs are still working around lily pads and vegetation in the backs of creeks and sloughs, as far from the current of Little River as you can find. Black, purple or black/red or junebug color combinations on lizards, jigs and 10-inch worms are also working. Mid day Bass are fair on Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes in black-neon, or pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail colors with loud rattles, around stumps in vegetation, cypress tree bases, close to deep water. White bass are dead slow with the high current and muddy water. Crappie shut down from the muddy water as well. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with blood bait and Catfish Charlie near the current.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and some worms. Crappie are fair on a jig-and-minnow combination. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and stinkbait.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Catfishing is good on stinkbait, worms and chicken livers. Crappie and bass are poor.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 547.87 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and murky. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished along shallow brush and stumps. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and floating worms. Catfishing is fair on minnows.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 408.26 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is high and clarity is good. Water surface temperatures range from 65 to 68 degrees. The Corps of Engineers is pulling water out of the lake pretty fast to prepare for more rain. Bream are still staging around 20 feet deep in pre-spawn mode. Crickets and worms are catching a few deep. Crappie are in post-spawn mode, holding on the outer edge of the moss beds. Minnows and Tennessee shad jigs are working well. Catfishing is decent on live bream and trotlines baited with worms in 15 to 20 feet of water. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are in post-spawn mode and are biting fairly well in 15 to 20 feet of water. There is some surface action in the early mornings, but deep water is better during the heat of the day. Hybrids are schooling on top in the mornings and afternoons on top-water lures, spoons and Roostertails.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Dardanelle: Murphys Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water in the main channel is muddy and a little high, but the bays are clear. Crappie are biting well and moving toward the banks. Minnows and jigs are working well. Bass fishing is good on lizards, spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, minnows, cut shad and stinkbait. Stripers are below the dam and biting well on shad, minnows and Roostertails.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 387.64 feet MSL.
CNCs End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the fishing has been very good lately. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting very well on minnows and small tube jigs. Catfishing is good on chicken livers. Bass are biting well on crankbaits.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers. Stripers are biting well below the dam on jigs and minnows.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 580.02 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poormans Guide Service said bass fishing is good. Its not great, but there is a steady bite all day. Concentrate on the flooded buck brush with spinnerbaits and jighead worms. You can also catch some top-water fish early and late in the day over the grass. Bream are roaming the shallows, but have not bedded up yet. Stripers are fair to slow. White bass are breaking close to main lake points and the mouths of creeks. A few walleye are being caught on trick worms fished halfway back in the pockets.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and there is a lot of current. Bream are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on crickets in 4 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well along the shoreline on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair around the docks on nightcrawlers. Walleye are fair on minnows.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catchem All Guide Service, reports that the heavy rainfall last week raised Lake Ouachita to flood pool. This has caused nonstop generation at all the dams in an effort to pass the excess water. This generation will likely occur for several days, possibly weeks, until normal pool has been restored. The scenario has created extremely tough trout fishing at Carpenter Dam. While there are some trout being caught, the generation adversely affects the trout feeding patterns and this tough bite will continue until periods of calm water return. The white bass run is in full swing and these spawning fish are everywhere. They can be caught using minnows, jigs, crankbaits and by trolling the channels with lures that imitate threadfin shad. The crappie spawn is over and the fish are gone along with the remaining walleye. May always begins the time when large stripers show themselves as they begin feeding on the threadfin shad schools. Fishermen using large top-water baits such as trout colored Zara Spooks and C10 Redfins will draw strikes from these massive predators. Bring your heavy tackle as these fish are powerful fighters and look to feed heavily in the cooler water.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poormans Guide Service said the bream are beginning to bed up and are biting well on crickets and small nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair, but a few can be caught on brush sitting in 12 feet of water and topping out at 6 feet deep. Tennessee shad-colored grubs are working the best on the crappie. Stripers are hit-and-miss, but a few are schooling and can be caught on large top-water lures and swimbaits. Black bass are schooling around mid-lake and biting very well on clear Zara Puppies, spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged watermelon/red or bubblegum worms.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastic floating worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and stinkbait.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged soft-plastics. Catfishing is good.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 345.95 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water has come up, but the lake is not at full pool yet. Crappie are biting very well on minnows slowly trolled in 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on floating worms, Texas-rigged worms and buzzbaits. Bream are picking up and moving into the shallows.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Felsenthal: Hales One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is high from the rain. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is clear to murky. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and multicolored jigs. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and Texas-rigged lizards. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers, skipjack, cut shad and shrimp.
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is muddy. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 2 feet of water. The bream seem to be bedding up. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in the shallows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.
Island 40 Chute: Dailys Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and falling. Bream and crappie are beginning to pick up and should be biting well by the weekend on small minnows and tiny jigs. Catfishing is good on stinkbait, worms and chicken livers along the edge of the woods.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are fair on white tubes. Bass are biting well on watermelon/red soft plastics. Catfish and bream are poor.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high and clear. Fishing has been very poor for all species lately.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is very clear and up to the spillway. Bream are excellent on worms, crickets and small, realistic plastic-bug lures. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished along the banks. Bass and catfish are poor.
Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well in 18 inches of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on black/chartreuse jigs fished in 8 feet of water. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on cut shad.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the bream are in the shallows and fishing is picking up on crickets. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse jigs and minnows fished around piers or slowly trolled near the middle of the lake. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits around the piers. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.