08-29-2008, 11:10 AM
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report for August 27. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip:
During summer, all fish are active and must move around and eat more than during cold months. While a slowly falling lure is deadly in winter, summer fishing is more about drawing a reaction strike. Buzzbaits, heavily weighted worms and jigs, and lipless crankbaits are top-producers in warm water.
Arkansas River Levels are available at<br />
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Re...o_rvrs.txt
White River Levels are available at<br />
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/t...hite.shtml
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream slowed from recent rains, but are improving on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting fairly well on Chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps and weedless soft-plastics in the pads. Crappie are improving but are still generally slow. Catfishing is good on live bream and shiners hung from trotlines.
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on shiners.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear with little or no generation. Trout fishing is very good on wax worms with marshmallows and black or olive marabou jigs.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse is running one generator for about an hour beginning at 4 p.m. The temperature of the water passing through the turbines is 55 degrees with dissolved oxygen content averaging 6.5 mg/l. These are good numbers. All the shoals are wadeable every day. Aquatic insect hatches remain sparse with midges being the primary player. Dry flies that are catching fish include the adams (#16-18), crackleback (#12), hopper patterns (#12) and royal coachman (#16). Good sub-surface patterns include sowbug (#14-16; tan, UV tan or olive), zebra midge (#16-22; red, chartreuse or black), San Juan worm (#12-14; red or fl. cerise), pheasant tail (#16). copper john (#14-16; red or green) and woolly bugger (#8-12; olive, brown or black). The Little Red River cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, the 6th of September. If you are interested in helping clean up our world class trophy trout stream, please come to the Little Red Fly Shop around 8 a.m. that morning to get your trash bag and river area assignment. Bring your trash back to the shop at noon and the local chapter of Trout Unlimited will provide a free meal.
Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said the water is still murky from the lake releases. Fly-fishing is good in shallow, fast water and near the dam. Woolly buggers, midges and sowbugs are working. Spin fishermen are having luck with yellow Power Eggs. Crankbaits with a lot of vibration such as Rebel Wee Craws are picking up fish in the dirtier water.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.98 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature has dropped again. The bass fishing is good. Most fish have moved shallow and can be caught with spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. The bite should stay good through fall. Catfishing is good throughout the lake; all species are biting a variety of prepared baits on flats close to deep water. Some walleye are being caught on spoons, crankbaits and dragged nightcrawlers in 27-34 feet of water. Bream have finished spawning, but are still shallow. Try crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is pretty good in the standing timber in 15-20 feet of water and on brush piles in 20-25 feet of water with a jig/minnow combination or Roadrunner. White bass and hybrids are roaming and suspended. There is some surface action, but it is all over the lake. They are not holding on any structure and the cooler water should push the shad down, making them even harder to find.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and a little high. All fishing has been fair.
Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is murky and a little high. Crappie are biting well on jigs. Bass are fair on worms. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on white Beetle Spins. A few bass have been caught on worms. Catfishing is good on shad and worms.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the low 80s. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair in shallow water on minnows and dark-colored jigs. Bass are fair on worms, black spinnerbaits and black buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on noodles and live bait.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said the water temperature is 80 degrees, down from 88 degrees last week. Black bass are biting well. Kentuckies are biting very well in about 8 to 10 feet of water on 6-inch finesse worms. Largemouths are mixed with the Kentuckies and can be found about 15 feet deep as well. White bass are slow. Schooling activity has slowed, but some is around Jim's Island and the Chimney. A CC Spoon is about the best way to entice the whites right now. Crappie are fair in 20 feet of water in small jigs and minnows. Bream are excellent on small worms and jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water. Catfishing is good about 20 feet deep on live sunfish and prepared baits. North Shore and the Reese area have been good bets for catfish.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfish are the best thing going on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and a little high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass fishing is good on watermelon seed lizards. Catfish are fair on any bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are fair on crankbaits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said crappie are fair 15 to 20 feet deep on minnows. Drum are biting well near jetties on crawfish. Bream are biting well along grass lines in backwater areas on crickets. Black bass are very good early on buzzbaits and black jigs. Kentucky bass are fair near rock bluffs or any structure on crankbaits and black Spooks. Catfishing is very good early and late on cut bait and whole shad. Catfish are also doing well below dams 9 and 10 on live bait.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said the water is muddy and is dropping. Bass are fair near sandbars on crankbaits and black or red tube jigs.
Little Maumelle River: Josh Jeffers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (501-868-5806) said the water level is receding and the surface temperature ranges from 80 to 85 degrees. The water visibility and clarity is low. Bream are biting fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are fair, and are being caught on small top-water baits and frogs early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. Texas-rigged creature baits are working well around thick grass and vegetation in the heat of the day. Small crankbaits and jigs are producing good fish around ledges and drops. Catfish are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers and different types of stink bait around ledges and drops.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are fair near pad beds on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on limb lines and trotlines with live sunfish or cut bait.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are fair on minnows with a slip-cork rig. Stripers are fair on chartreuse twin tails. Catfishing is good on live sunfish and fresh shad.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said water conditions are normal. Catfish are the best thing going on nightcrawlers.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said all fishing is slow.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said water conditions are normal. All species are slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Sportsman's White River Resort said water conditions are normal. Trout fishing is good on wax worms, Power Bait, Little Cleos, Rattlin' Rouges and Rapalas. Bank fishing is good on grasshoppers.
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said in spite of a major rain event, the reservoir levels on the White River continue to fall slowly. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. While these flows make for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities. The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot spot for months. The better fishing is in the morning when the water flows are generally a bit lower. The hot tactic for this area has been to bang the banks with streamers fished with sink tip or full sinking lines. Some guides recommend a fast retrieve while others suggest a slow one. The best bet is to vary your retrieve until you figure out what the trout want. Sculpin and baitfish patterns are the ticket for this technique. Fishing brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator has also accounted for a lot of good fish. The section from the Narrows down to Wildcat Shoals has been red hot during the past week. Anglers have reported success on a variety of nymphs. The key to success has been to fish a brightly colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper. The color of choice for the worm has been hot pink. The most popular nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs, scuds, and bead head hares ears. Remember if you move into a Catch and Release section it is illegal to fish droppers there. Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch and Release section. The hot technique for this section has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms on long leaders (twelve to fifteen feet) with a large strike indicator and a lot of lead. The top producing colors have been red, cerise and hot pink.
Mountain River Fly Shop said there are many nice browns and some fat rainbows in the 16- to 19-inch class up and down the White. These fish have been very catchable. You will connect to some of the better fish if you work at it too, but it can be a little tough at time differentiating between the big browns and a stump on the bottom. Depth and weight is key, balancing the two to get your fly close to the bottom but not being dragged along it where it can't be found. Don't just tie on a San Juan Worm or Dynamite Worm and stick with the one color all day. Changing conditions can mean the color of choice fluctuating throughout the day, and as the water level changes. Essential are red, brown (including shades like tan in the Dynamite Worm) pink, cerise, orange and maroon. Try two flies outside the trophy zones. Eggs have been a popular choice in front of a worm, but a bright worm can be an attractor in its own right with a more neutral fly following, like a Clint's Sunday Special, scud or Sowbug. Streamers are still doing well, but darker days, courtesy of this unseasonable August rain, have been best.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 681.19 feet MSL.
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said bass are fair on 1/2 -ounce spoons fished in 28 to 32 feet of water around bluff ends and standing timber. Flukes, Spooks and other topwaters are working during low-light hours. Bass are fair on nightcrawlers and ¼-ounce white Road Runners in fished over the top of brush and standing trees in 25 to 35 feet of water. Drop-shot rigs are working in the same areas as well. White bass are fair on trolled Shad Raps and minnow-style stick baits in 25 to 35 feet of water. Some are being caught on spoons as well. Walleye have moved to the thermocline around 25 to 32 feet of water. Spoons are working well, as are nightcrawlers tightlined on a split-shot rig. Trolling shallow and medium-diving Reef Runners and Wally Divers is working around 25 feet deep. Crappie are slow and scattered. Night fishing under lights is the best way to produce some fish this time of year. Catfishing is good in shallower water on stinkbait, liver, shrimp and live sunfish.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 567.22 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait said visibility is good and the water temperature is in the mid to high 80s. Striped bass fishing is good. Walleye fishing has been fair. Bluegill fishing is good. White bass fishing is fair. Largemouth bass are biting well on topwaters in the evenings. Smallmouth are fair. Catfishing is fair. Crappie fishing is fair.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is murky and dropping. All fishing has been slow.
Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said Norfork Lake has fallen one and four tenths of a foot to rest at sixteen and one tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or eleven and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators with occasional brief periods of no generation at night. This made for some limited wading conditions at night. The Norfork is still not fishing as well as the White. There have been some night fishing wading opportunities in the last week. Be very careful and be ready to react to rising water. On high water the best strategy has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Dry Run Creek has looked abandoned. Kids are back in school and there is very little traffic there particularly during the week. Poaching continues to be a problem with adults frequently seen fishing there. If you see any illegal activity, call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's poaching hotline 1 800-482-9262. If your cell phone cannot get a signal down on the creek, the adjacent Federal trout hatchery will gladly let you use their land line.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,126.92 feet MSL.
JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been decent. Fishing at night has been effective under a black light with florescent line and Texas-rigged worms or crawdads. Rocky banks have been best. Morning fishing has been good by using a popper near the flooded trees. Crappie fishing has been good. Fish have been suspended 15 feet down above main lake brush piles. Small black/chartreuse tubes or minnows have been effective. Fish are also still holding along bluffs and under docks.
White bass are very scattered but can be found schooling with Kentucky bass in the mornings. Small top-water lures or spoons have been effective. Catfish have been taking worms or liver lake wide at night from the bank. Bluegill have been biting well 2 to 6 feet deep under docks on crickets.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 80 degrees. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are good on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and dark-colored plastics. Catfish are being caught on worms and cut bait.
Beaver Tailwater: Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said fly-fishermen have been doing very well on the water lately. Trout are biting well on small olive woolly buggers, gray scuds and midge patterns. The best midge patterns have been zebra midges in olive, gray and red/gray. The water is falling fairly quickly, offering many places to wade and fish.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. A few crappie have been caught on minnows. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and worms.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows, jigs and crappie tubes. Bass are fair on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and top-water lures. A few catfish have been caught on worms.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said water conditions are normal. All fishing has been slow.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles:Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal and the surface temperature ranges from 70 to 75 degrees. The water clarity is 10 inches. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow on minnows, jigs, worms and crickets. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are biting well on carp minnows and worms.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Catfish are fair on minnows and worms.<br />
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and a little high. Bream are the best thing going on crickets and worms.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Greg Gulledge with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said fishing on Lake Monticello hasn't changed much since last week. The deep worm bite is still slower than normal. There are still a few nice bass coming in on the big worm in 8 to 20 feet. Schooling activity seems to be improving with cooler temperatures. The schoolers average 3 to 4 lbs. on Basshunter Kill Gills and Super Spook Jrs. Hopefully the cooling temps will help the top-water fishing in the coming weeks.
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on any bait.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said fishing has been slow.
SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the river was falling as of Thursday, but more rain brought it up to 72.8 feet by Sunday the 24th (Summer normal is 65ft). As of 8 a.m. Sunday it was 71.6 feet, which is still 5.6ft above normal. It continues to fall slowly and since the lakes above us are not full we don't expect a rise unless more rain falls. These factors make fishing harder but not impossible. A few bass were caught in the river and back in BilboLake during a tournament this weekend but fishing was tough. Some bream are still being caught by bank fishermen but they are mostly small. No crappie fishing reports have come in. Some small catfish have been caught on noodles in the Bay at night.
Tri-CountyLake - Fishing is on the slow side. Bass are biting decently early in the morning on light-colored, shallow-running crankbaits. They are moving into the channels around mid-morning. No report on any other species.
Ouachita River Oxbows - Crappie finally picked up in the Ouachita River oxbows where some fishermen were limiting out on minnows fished 4 feet deep around brush. Bass are still hitting some darker top-water baits in the morning and worms in the mid-morning and evening. Bream are good around cypress trees on crickets fished about 2 feet deep.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.89 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 1 to 3 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 77 to 82 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,059 cubic feet per second. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday. The State Park has one boat ramp still under repair, but the one closer to the campgrounds is open. Bass continue to bite very well, definitely the best during early and late hours. The most consistent reaction bite is on toads, Bass Assassin Shads, white jigs with white chunk trailers, and 10- or 12-inch worms. Top-water action is the best right at daylight and dusk on Jitterbugs, Spit'n Images, buzzing toads and buzzbaits. The crankbait bite has improved. Fat Free Shads and Cordell Big O's in shad colors are working around flooded timber and laydowns. Bass Assassin Shads in blue glimmer or baby bass are best for a reaction bite in heavy lily pad stands. Wacky Worms, Salty Rat Tails and trick worms in watermelon/red, kiwi or peanut butter-and-jelly continue working. Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot deep. Most early buzzbait fish are ranging from 15-19 inches long. War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, or Aurora colors, are still working around flooded vegetation and cypress trees close to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Shad Daddy and Silver are working as well. The crappie bite slowed with the low-clarity water. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs on light-wire jigheads, and white/chartreuse hair jigs. Blue cats and channel cats improved this week on trotlines using cut shad, Charlie or chicken livers. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms around docks and cypress trees at Yarborough Landing, Jack's Isle, and Millwood State Park.
Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said USGA states that the water level is 2.11 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 75 to 80 degrees. With the water levels back to normal and the cooler temperatures, conditions are great for fishing. Bream are biting excellently on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdad crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Small, dark-colored grubs and Rooster Tails are doing well, too. Black Bass are good with some being taken on dark colored finesse worms and dark colored grubs fished around deep structure, and as always minnow-rigged setups are producing some limits of bass. Catfish are hit and miss; most are being caught at night on nightcrawlers. Many fish are being caught across the park and as far south as the backwater of the lake.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and a little high. Bream are biting well on worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on cut bait.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and worms.
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is rising, temperature is lower and clarity is murky. Bream are hitting worms and crickets very well. Catfishing is good on minnows. Bass and crappie are slow.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 544.41 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery said the water is murky and high. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Bass are schooling early and late on top-water lures. Bass are also being caught in shallow water on worms. A few stripers have been caught near the dam on shad. Catfish are fair on minnows and worms.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 401.35 feet MSL.
Charles at Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina said the water temperature is 83 degrees. Largemouth bass are schooling early and late in the day. Tiny Torpedoes, Zara Spooks and Rooster Tails are working well on the schoolers. During mid-day, bass are biting well on watermelon-colored jigs, 11-inch Red Bug, Cherry Seed, Tequila Green or Bloodline worms. Night fishing is still very good for bass. Kentucky bass are biting well on live crayfish 20-26 feet deep on points and drop offs. Hybrids are excellent on live shad fished 35-45 feet deep around the Dam and Caddo Bend areas. Some are schooling early and late and can be caught on topwaters and jigging spoons. Crappie are good on Tennessee shad grubs and live minnows fished around brush piles and moss points in 18-22 feet of water. Catfishing is good on trotlines and jugs baited with cut shad or live minnows. Bream are great on worms and crickets in 8-16 feet of water.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said this Saturday Lake Dardanelle State Park will host the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Benefit Tournament. Current lake temperature is 87 degrees. The river flow through Dardanelle is 40,000 cubic feet per second. Bass fishermen are reporting most fish being caught being under 15 inches long. Some larger bass are concentrated on brush piles in deeper water and are biting fairly well on brightly colored Texas-rigged worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Bream have been fair on crickets, worms and small jigs. Catfish have been biting well on liver, worms, cut shad and prepared baits. Anglers are reporting catching their limit of catfish setting out noodles and jugs.
Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Bass are scattered, but a few are being caught on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on shad and stink bait.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is murky and a little high. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Stripers are biting well on jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait, nightcrawlers and shad.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 574.63 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said the bite has been good with good breaking action in the mornings and bass and stripers running together chasing shad. Topwaters have produced, but the best bite has been on shallow-running crankbaits and jigging spoons. After the morning bite is over, fish a 10-inch worm on a 3/8-oz. weight and target the outside edge of the grass in 25 feet of water.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing up and surface temperatures are 86 to 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms and jighead worms. Walleye are biting well on spoons and spinner rigs with a crawler harness fished over main-lake points. Stripers are still very good on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. White ½-oz. jigs and ¾-oz. spoons are working as well. Try around Brady Mountain and Bird Island. Bream are still very good with crickets or worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still slow and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Catfish are very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said bass fishing is very good at night using 10-inch Berkley worms with small weights 12 to 18 feet deep.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that before the heavy rains set in Entergy ran the turbines for 12-hour periods. This is a normal summertime pattern and provides Hot Springs with electricity as the need arises. August through November are very slow months for trout fishing at Carpenter Dam. Many of the fish have been caught or eaten by this time. Some trout are still being caught, but as reported, the numbers are low and inconsistent. Restocking begins again in late November. Striper and hybrid activity has been fair with most of the good fishing happening in the early morning hours just after the turbines are started. This sudden movement of water causes the threadfin shad to move away from the banks and out into open water where they are easy prey. Topwater action can be fierce at times but does not continue for long periods. Fishermen need to be in position when feeding is taking place and capitalize on the small window of opportunity. Many of these stripers are in the 20-pound range and can be caught on white ¼-ounce jigs and 6 to 8-inch soft plastics fished weightless. Live bait rigs have caught the most fish. Brood and gizzard shad work better than goldfish or bream at Carpenter Dam. Some quality hybrids have been taken on 1/8-ounce jigs in shad or white colors. These fish tend to stay on the outside of the feeding striper schools where competition for food is lower.
Diamond Head Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is muddy and at normal level with water temperatures in the low 70s. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in deep water on minnows. Bass are doing well early and late on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish have been caught on worms and nightcrawlers.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Crappie are fair deep on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is very good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish are excellent on prepared bait.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is murky and a little low. Bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on top-water lures, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and cut bait.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and still high. A few crappie have been caught on jigs. Bass are fair on plastic worms.
Maddox Bay:Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on crankbaits. Catfish are fair on worms.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is dingy and high. All fishing is slow.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said water conditions are normal. Some crappie have been caught deep on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
Fishing Tip:
During summer, all fish are active and must move around and eat more than during cold months. While a slowly falling lure is deadly in winter, summer fishing is more about drawing a reaction strike. Buzzbaits, heavily weighted worms and jigs, and lipless crankbaits are top-producers in warm water.
Arkansas River Levels are available at<br />
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Re...o_rvrs.txt
White River Levels are available at<br />
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/t...hite.shtml
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream slowed from recent rains, but are improving on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting fairly well on Chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps and weedless soft-plastics in the pads. Crappie are improving but are still generally slow. Catfishing is good on live bream and shiners hung from trotlines.
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on shiners.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear with little or no generation. Trout fishing is very good on wax worms with marshmallows and black or olive marabou jigs.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse is running one generator for about an hour beginning at 4 p.m. The temperature of the water passing through the turbines is 55 degrees with dissolved oxygen content averaging 6.5 mg/l. These are good numbers. All the shoals are wadeable every day. Aquatic insect hatches remain sparse with midges being the primary player. Dry flies that are catching fish include the adams (#16-18), crackleback (#12), hopper patterns (#12) and royal coachman (#16). Good sub-surface patterns include sowbug (#14-16; tan, UV tan or olive), zebra midge (#16-22; red, chartreuse or black), San Juan worm (#12-14; red or fl. cerise), pheasant tail (#16). copper john (#14-16; red or green) and woolly bugger (#8-12; olive, brown or black). The Little Red River cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, the 6th of September. If you are interested in helping clean up our world class trophy trout stream, please come to the Little Red Fly Shop around 8 a.m. that morning to get your trash bag and river area assignment. Bring your trash back to the shop at noon and the local chapter of Trout Unlimited will provide a free meal.
Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said the water is still murky from the lake releases. Fly-fishing is good in shallow, fast water and near the dam. Woolly buggers, midges and sowbugs are working. Spin fishermen are having luck with yellow Power Eggs. Crankbaits with a lot of vibration such as Rebel Wee Craws are picking up fish in the dirtier water.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.98 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature has dropped again. The bass fishing is good. Most fish have moved shallow and can be caught with spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. The bite should stay good through fall. Catfishing is good throughout the lake; all species are biting a variety of prepared baits on flats close to deep water. Some walleye are being caught on spoons, crankbaits and dragged nightcrawlers in 27-34 feet of water. Bream have finished spawning, but are still shallow. Try crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is pretty good in the standing timber in 15-20 feet of water and on brush piles in 20-25 feet of water with a jig/minnow combination or Roadrunner. White bass and hybrids are roaming and suspended. There is some surface action, but it is all over the lake. They are not holding on any structure and the cooler water should push the shad down, making them even harder to find.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and a little high. All fishing has been fair.
Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is murky and a little high. Crappie are biting well on jigs. Bass are fair on worms. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on white Beetle Spins. A few bass have been caught on worms. Catfishing is good on shad and worms.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the low 80s. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair in shallow water on minnows and dark-colored jigs. Bass are fair on worms, black spinnerbaits and black buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on noodles and live bait.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said the water temperature is 80 degrees, down from 88 degrees last week. Black bass are biting well. Kentuckies are biting very well in about 8 to 10 feet of water on 6-inch finesse worms. Largemouths are mixed with the Kentuckies and can be found about 15 feet deep as well. White bass are slow. Schooling activity has slowed, but some is around Jim's Island and the Chimney. A CC Spoon is about the best way to entice the whites right now. Crappie are fair in 20 feet of water in small jigs and minnows. Bream are excellent on small worms and jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water. Catfishing is good about 20 feet deep on live sunfish and prepared baits. North Shore and the Reese area have been good bets for catfish.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfish are the best thing going on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and a little high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass fishing is good on watermelon seed lizards. Catfish are fair on any bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are fair on crankbaits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said crappie are fair 15 to 20 feet deep on minnows. Drum are biting well near jetties on crawfish. Bream are biting well along grass lines in backwater areas on crickets. Black bass are very good early on buzzbaits and black jigs. Kentucky bass are fair near rock bluffs or any structure on crankbaits and black Spooks. Catfishing is very good early and late on cut bait and whole shad. Catfish are also doing well below dams 9 and 10 on live bait.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said the water is muddy and is dropping. Bass are fair near sandbars on crankbaits and black or red tube jigs.
Little Maumelle River: Josh Jeffers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (501-868-5806) said the water level is receding and the surface temperature ranges from 80 to 85 degrees. The water visibility and clarity is low. Bream are biting fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are fair, and are being caught on small top-water baits and frogs early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. Texas-rigged creature baits are working well around thick grass and vegetation in the heat of the day. Small crankbaits and jigs are producing good fish around ledges and drops. Catfish are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers and different types of stink bait around ledges and drops.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are fair near pad beds on crickets and wax worms. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on limb lines and trotlines with live sunfish or cut bait.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are fair on minnows with a slip-cork rig. Stripers are fair on chartreuse twin tails. Catfishing is good on live sunfish and fresh shad.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said water conditions are normal. Catfish are the best thing going on nightcrawlers.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said all fishing is slow.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said water conditions are normal. All species are slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Sportsman's White River Resort said water conditions are normal. Trout fishing is good on wax worms, Power Bait, Little Cleos, Rattlin' Rouges and Rapalas. Bank fishing is good on grasshoppers.
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said in spite of a major rain event, the reservoir levels on the White River continue to fall slowly. The pattern on the White has been to run all eight generators around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. While these flows make for excellent boating, there have been few safe wading opportunities. The upper river from Bull Shoals Dam, through the State Park down to Cane Island Shoals has been a perpetual hot spot for months. The better fishing is in the morning when the water flows are generally a bit lower. The hot tactic for this area has been to bang the banks with streamers fished with sink tip or full sinking lines. Some guides recommend a fast retrieve while others suggest a slow one. The best bet is to vary your retrieve until you figure out what the trout want. Sculpin and baitfish patterns are the ticket for this technique. Fishing brightly colored San Juan worms under a strike indicator has also accounted for a lot of good fish. The section from the Narrows down to Wildcat Shoals has been red hot during the past week. Anglers have reported success on a variety of nymphs. The key to success has been to fish a brightly colored San Juan worm with a nymph on a dropper. The color of choice for the worm has been hot pink. The most popular nymphs have been zebra midges, trout crack, sowbugs, scuds, and bead head hares ears. Remember if you move into a Catch and Release section it is illegal to fish droppers there. Another hot spot has been the Rim Shoals Catch and Release section. The hot technique for this section has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms on long leaders (twelve to fifteen feet) with a large strike indicator and a lot of lead. The top producing colors have been red, cerise and hot pink.
Mountain River Fly Shop said there are many nice browns and some fat rainbows in the 16- to 19-inch class up and down the White. These fish have been very catchable. You will connect to some of the better fish if you work at it too, but it can be a little tough at time differentiating between the big browns and a stump on the bottom. Depth and weight is key, balancing the two to get your fly close to the bottom but not being dragged along it where it can't be found. Don't just tie on a San Juan Worm or Dynamite Worm and stick with the one color all day. Changing conditions can mean the color of choice fluctuating throughout the day, and as the water level changes. Essential are red, brown (including shades like tan in the Dynamite Worm) pink, cerise, orange and maroon. Try two flies outside the trophy zones. Eggs have been a popular choice in front of a worm, but a bright worm can be an attractor in its own right with a more neutral fly following, like a Clint's Sunday Special, scud or Sowbug. Streamers are still doing well, but darker days, courtesy of this unseasonable August rain, have been best.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 681.19 feet MSL.
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said bass are fair on 1/2 -ounce spoons fished in 28 to 32 feet of water around bluff ends and standing timber. Flukes, Spooks and other topwaters are working during low-light hours. Bass are fair on nightcrawlers and ¼-ounce white Road Runners in fished over the top of brush and standing trees in 25 to 35 feet of water. Drop-shot rigs are working in the same areas as well. White bass are fair on trolled Shad Raps and minnow-style stick baits in 25 to 35 feet of water. Some are being caught on spoons as well. Walleye have moved to the thermocline around 25 to 32 feet of water. Spoons are working well, as are nightcrawlers tightlined on a split-shot rig. Trolling shallow and medium-diving Reef Runners and Wally Divers is working around 25 feet deep. Crappie are slow and scattered. Night fishing under lights is the best way to produce some fish this time of year. Catfishing is good in shallower water on stinkbait, liver, shrimp and live sunfish.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 567.22 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait said visibility is good and the water temperature is in the mid to high 80s. Striped bass fishing is good. Walleye fishing has been fair. Bluegill fishing is good. White bass fishing is fair. Largemouth bass are biting well on topwaters in the evenings. Smallmouth are fair. Catfishing is fair. Crappie fishing is fair.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is murky and dropping. All fishing has been slow.
Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said Norfork Lake has fallen one and four tenths of a foot to rest at sixteen and one tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or eleven and nine tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. The pattern has been to run two generators with occasional brief periods of no generation at night. This made for some limited wading conditions at night. The Norfork is still not fishing as well as the White. There have been some night fishing wading opportunities in the last week. Be very careful and be ready to react to rising water. On high water the best strategy has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Dry Run Creek has looked abandoned. Kids are back in school and there is very little traffic there particularly during the week. Poaching continues to be a problem with adults frequently seen fishing there. If you see any illegal activity, call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's poaching hotline 1 800-482-9262. If your cell phone cannot get a signal down on the creek, the adjacent Federal trout hatchery will gladly let you use their land line.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,126.92 feet MSL.
JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been decent. Fishing at night has been effective under a black light with florescent line and Texas-rigged worms or crawdads. Rocky banks have been best. Morning fishing has been good by using a popper near the flooded trees. Crappie fishing has been good. Fish have been suspended 15 feet down above main lake brush piles. Small black/chartreuse tubes or minnows have been effective. Fish are also still holding along bluffs and under docks.
White bass are very scattered but can be found schooling with Kentucky bass in the mornings. Small top-water lures or spoons have been effective. Catfish have been taking worms or liver lake wide at night from the bank. Bluegill have been biting well 2 to 6 feet deep under docks on crickets.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 80 degrees. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are good on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and dark-colored plastics. Catfish are being caught on worms and cut bait.
Beaver Tailwater: Ken Richards at justfishinguides.com said fly-fishermen have been doing very well on the water lately. Trout are biting well on small olive woolly buggers, gray scuds and midge patterns. The best midge patterns have been zebra midges in olive, gray and red/gray. The water is falling fairly quickly, offering many places to wade and fish.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. A few crappie have been caught on minnows. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and worms.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows, jigs and crappie tubes. Bass are fair on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and top-water lures. A few catfish have been caught on worms.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said water conditions are normal. All fishing has been slow.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles:Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal and the surface temperature ranges from 70 to 75 degrees. The water clarity is 10 inches. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow on minnows, jigs, worms and crickets. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are biting well on carp minnows and worms.
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Catfish are fair on minnows and worms.<br />
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and a little high. Bream are the best thing going on crickets and worms.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Monticello: Greg Gulledge with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said fishing on Lake Monticello hasn't changed much since last week. The deep worm bite is still slower than normal. There are still a few nice bass coming in on the big worm in 8 to 20 feet. Schooling activity seems to be improving with cooler temperatures. The schoolers average 3 to 4 lbs. on Basshunter Kill Gills and Super Spook Jrs. Hopefully the cooling temps will help the top-water fishing in the coming weeks.
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on any bait.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said fishing has been slow.
SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the river was falling as of Thursday, but more rain brought it up to 72.8 feet by Sunday the 24th (Summer normal is 65ft). As of 8 a.m. Sunday it was 71.6 feet, which is still 5.6ft above normal. It continues to fall slowly and since the lakes above us are not full we don't expect a rise unless more rain falls. These factors make fishing harder but not impossible. A few bass were caught in the river and back in BilboLake during a tournament this weekend but fishing was tough. Some bream are still being caught by bank fishermen but they are mostly small. No crappie fishing reports have come in. Some small catfish have been caught on noodles in the Bay at night.
Tri-CountyLake - Fishing is on the slow side. Bass are biting decently early in the morning on light-colored, shallow-running crankbaits. They are moving into the channels around mid-morning. No report on any other species.
Ouachita River Oxbows - Crappie finally picked up in the Ouachita River oxbows where some fishermen were limiting out on minnows fished 4 feet deep around brush. Bass are still hitting some darker top-water baits in the morning and worms in the mid-morning and evening. Bream are good around cypress trees on crickets fished about 2 feet deep.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.89 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 1 to 3 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 77 to 82 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,059 cubic feet per second. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open, as of Monday. The State Park has one boat ramp still under repair, but the one closer to the campgrounds is open. Bass continue to bite very well, definitely the best during early and late hours. The most consistent reaction bite is on toads, Bass Assassin Shads, white jigs with white chunk trailers, and 10- or 12-inch worms. Top-water action is the best right at daylight and dusk on Jitterbugs, Spit'n Images, buzzing toads and buzzbaits. The crankbait bite has improved. Fat Free Shads and Cordell Big O's in shad colors are working around flooded timber and laydowns. Bass Assassin Shads in blue glimmer or baby bass are best for a reaction bite in heavy lily pad stands. Wacky Worms, Salty Rat Tails and trick worms in watermelon/red, kiwi or peanut butter-and-jelly continue working. Siefert's Buzz Baits continue to draw good bites around pads and Primrose grass from 1-6 foot deep. Most early buzzbait fish are ranging from 15-19 inches long. War Eagle spinnerbaits, in Firecracker, Hot Mouse, or Aurora colors, are still working around flooded vegetation and cypress trees close to deep water. Rat-L-Traps in Sexy Shad, Shad Daddy and Silver are working as well. The crappie bite slowed with the low-clarity water. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, grubs on light-wire jigheads, and white/chartreuse hair jigs. Blue cats and channel cats improved this week on trotlines using cut shad, Charlie or chicken livers. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms around docks and cypress trees at Yarborough Landing, Jack's Isle, and Millwood State Park.
Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said USGA states that the water level is 2.11 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 75 to 80 degrees. With the water levels back to normal and the cooler temperatures, conditions are great for fishing. Bream are biting excellently on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdad crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Small, dark-colored grubs and Rooster Tails are doing well, too. Black Bass are good with some being taken on dark colored finesse worms and dark colored grubs fished around deep structure, and as always minnow-rigged setups are producing some limits of bass. Catfish are hit and miss; most are being caught at night on nightcrawlers. Many fish are being caught across the park and as far south as the backwater of the lake.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and a little high. Bream are biting well on worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on cut bait.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and worms.
White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is rising, temperature is lower and clarity is murky. Bream are hitting worms and crickets very well. Catfishing is good on minnows. Bass and crappie are slow.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 544.41 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery said the water is murky and high. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Bass are schooling early and late on top-water lures. Bass are also being caught in shallow water on worms. A few stripers have been caught near the dam on shad. Catfish are fair on minnows and worms.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 401.35 feet MSL.
Charles at Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina said the water temperature is 83 degrees. Largemouth bass are schooling early and late in the day. Tiny Torpedoes, Zara Spooks and Rooster Tails are working well on the schoolers. During mid-day, bass are biting well on watermelon-colored jigs, 11-inch Red Bug, Cherry Seed, Tequila Green or Bloodline worms. Night fishing is still very good for bass. Kentucky bass are biting well on live crayfish 20-26 feet deep on points and drop offs. Hybrids are excellent on live shad fished 35-45 feet deep around the Dam and Caddo Bend areas. Some are schooling early and late and can be caught on topwaters and jigging spoons. Crappie are good on Tennessee shad grubs and live minnows fished around brush piles and moss points in 18-22 feet of water. Catfishing is good on trotlines and jugs baited with cut shad or live minnows. Bream are great on worms and crickets in 8-16 feet of water.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said this Saturday Lake Dardanelle State Park will host the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Benefit Tournament. Current lake temperature is 87 degrees. The river flow through Dardanelle is 40,000 cubic feet per second. Bass fishermen are reporting most fish being caught being under 15 inches long. Some larger bass are concentrated on brush piles in deeper water and are biting fairly well on brightly colored Texas-rigged worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Bream have been fair on crickets, worms and small jigs. Catfish have been biting well on liver, worms, cut shad and prepared baits. Anglers are reporting catching their limit of catfish setting out noodles and jugs.
Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Bass are scattered, but a few are being caught on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on shad and stink bait.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is murky and a little high. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Stripers are biting well on jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait, nightcrawlers and shad.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 574.63 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said the bite has been good with good breaking action in the mornings and bass and stripers running together chasing shad. Topwaters have produced, but the best bite has been on shallow-running crankbaits and jigging spoons. After the morning bite is over, fish a 10-inch worm on a 3/8-oz. weight and target the outside edge of the grass in 25 feet of water.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing up and surface temperatures are 86 to 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms and jighead worms. Walleye are biting well on spoons and spinner rigs with a crawler harness fished over main-lake points. Stripers are still very good on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. White ½-oz. jigs and ¾-oz. spoons are working as well. Try around Brady Mountain and Bird Island. Bream are still very good with crickets or worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still slow and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Catfish are very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said bass fishing is very good at night using 10-inch Berkley worms with small weights 12 to 18 feet deep.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that before the heavy rains set in Entergy ran the turbines for 12-hour periods. This is a normal summertime pattern and provides Hot Springs with electricity as the need arises. August through November are very slow months for trout fishing at Carpenter Dam. Many of the fish have been caught or eaten by this time. Some trout are still being caught, but as reported, the numbers are low and inconsistent. Restocking begins again in late November. Striper and hybrid activity has been fair with most of the good fishing happening in the early morning hours just after the turbines are started. This sudden movement of water causes the threadfin shad to move away from the banks and out into open water where they are easy prey. Topwater action can be fierce at times but does not continue for long periods. Fishermen need to be in position when feeding is taking place and capitalize on the small window of opportunity. Many of these stripers are in the 20-pound range and can be caught on white ¼-ounce jigs and 6 to 8-inch soft plastics fished weightless. Live bait rigs have caught the most fish. Brood and gizzard shad work better than goldfish or bream at Carpenter Dam. Some quality hybrids have been taken on 1/8-ounce jigs in shad or white colors. These fish tend to stay on the outside of the feeding striper schools where competition for food is lower.
Diamond Head Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is muddy and at normal level with water temperatures in the low 70s. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in deep water on minnows. Bass are doing well early and late on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish have been caught on worms and nightcrawlers.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Crappie are fair deep on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is very good on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish are excellent on prepared bait.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is murky and a little low. Bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on top-water lures, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and cut bait.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and still high. A few crappie have been caught on jigs. Bass are fair on plastic worms.
Maddox Bay:Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on crankbaits. Catfish are fair on worms.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is dingy and high. All fishing is slow.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said water conditions are normal. Some crappie have been caught deep on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.