|
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake clarity is not good and the water level is low. Bream are spawning along the banks in 18 to 20 inches of water. Try Dynamax Jigs, red worms or crickets for some good action in the mornings. Catfishing is good on stinkbait, magic bait and chicken livers. Bass fishing is good 30- to 40-feet away from the bank on spinnerbaits, Horny Toads and buzzbaits fished near and in the pads. The best action is early in the morning.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the river is at normal levels and is clear. Two generators are running in the afternoons, so the best fishing is in the mornings. Try chartreuse Power Eggs and nightcrawlers in the evenings. Bigger fish are being caught on Shad Raps and Rattlin’ Rogues.
Greers Ferry: Shiloh Marina said the only good fishing has been at night lately. The heat has kept the fishermen off the lake and the daytime bite extremely slow.
Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder guide service said the water level at Greers Ferry is 456.92. It is a little low for this time of year and the fishing is fair all around. The largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass are in their summer patterns, out on the drops and river bends, moving shallow in low light and at night. Fish from 20- to 40-feet deep during the daytime with Texas-rigged worms and Carolina-rigged lizards. Their are some big largemouths schooling all over the lake you just have to be in the right place at the right time for them. The hybrids are schooling some all over the lake also and it can happen at anytime of the day. Spoons and in-line spinners are working well and people are catching many white bass. The catfishing seems to be very good also with good catches coming from all over the lake. Walleye fishing is good on the flats back trolling and sitting in one place on the flats and points with live bait
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is clear and low. Bream are good on worms and crickets fished in brush piles and stumps around 4-feet deep. Bas fishing is good in the mornings and afternoons on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics fished against the stumps. Catfishing is excellent at night on minnows and worms in 6 feet of water.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are good on red worms and crickets. Bass fishing is good on buzzbaits and Torpedoes fished early in the morning. Catfishing is fair on blood bait and minnows.
Cadron Creek: Wooster Grocery said the crappie are biting well in the mornings on worms fished in less than a foot of water. Bass fishing is good in low-light hours on top-water lures.
Beaverfork Lake: Wooster Grocery said the crappie are biting well in the early mornings in 1 foot of water. Bass are also biting well in the mornings on top-water lures.
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Bates Field and Stream said bass are biting well on white bucktails.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is low and the fishing is poor. Most fishermen are staying off the water because of the heat.
Big Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s said Catfishing is fair on shad and skipjacks. Striper fishing is good on large white Twistertails and split-tail grubs.
Lake Cargile: Beeson’s Grocery said the lake is clear and low. Fishing has been extremely slow for the last few weeks.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said early and late in the day, black bass are in the weeds to 15 feet deep and are hitting top-water lures, shallow-running crankbaits and spinnerbaits. They move out close to 20 feet during the day and are hitting Carolina rigs, Gitzits and small drop-shot lures. Kentuckies are biting well and are holding 15- to 25-feet deep. They are hitting 3-inch pumpkin grubs, small worms and tubes. The white bass fishing is excellent. The whites are schooling from the marina east to Three-Fingers Cove as well as around Jim’s Island. Spooks, clear Near Nothings, Rooster Tails, and CC Spoons are all working. Catfishermen are doing well in about 25 feet of water on large minnows and prepared baits. The crappie are about 18- to 22-feet deep and are being caught on 1/32-ounce jigs and crappie minnows. The bream fishing is good with many anglers reporting good catches on crickets and worms.
Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 33,420 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 285.63 and a tailwater of 266.74. Black bass fishing has been good in early morning and late evening. With higher water levels, fish overhangs and shallow brush with buzzbaits as the sun rises. During the day, go to the deeper drops and fish Junebug-colored soft-plastic worms on a Texas rig. Kentucky bass are excellent on Zara Puppies and Tiny Torpedoes during low-light hours over the jetties. As the sun rises, switch to Gitzits and finesse worms. Catfish are good on live bait early and late in the day. Stripers are good on the jetties and dams early and late on Flukes and other soft-plastic jerkbaits. White bass are schooling on the sand bars and are being taken on Hawg Traps in shad colors early in the morning. Bream are excellent around overhangs and in the grassline on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows at Flagg Lake and Coppers Gap late at night under floating lights.
Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfishing is good on skipjack, shad and rice slicks. All other species are slow.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports in Benton said the river is running clear and at normal level. Smallmouth bass have been fair in 3 to 4 feet of water on Rebel crankbaits early in the mornings.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the water is high in the afternoons with 6 generators running and most of the wading is finished by noon. Trout fishing has been good on wax worms and corn as well as nightcrawlers. Small spoons and Gold Rapalas have caught a few fish during generation. McLellan’s Fly Shop said some days this past week have seen a few hours of low water in the early morning, with generators not coming online until eleven o’clock. In the faster riffles and runs, drift a scud, sow bug, mayfly nymph or caddis pupa under a strike indicator. The catch-and-release area immediately below the dam has been fishing especially well lately with several 3- to5-pound rainbows showing up on the business end of many anglers' nymph-rigs. Many trout are being hooked on terrestrials, and it will only get better as summer continues. Best flies have been: Zebra and Black/Olive Rubber-leg Copper John (14-18), McLellan’s Woven V-Rib Sow Bug (14-16), McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (12-16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (12-16), Rag Sculpin (6), Articulated Zoo Cougar (4), Swimming Jimmy (4), San Juan Worms (10). Wilderness Trail said fishing for trout has been good. The Berkley Power Egg bite has been good in yellow and pink or orange and Belgian red worms. Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleos, and Super Dupers are the bait of choice during generation. The fly fishermen did well on olive and black Woolly Buggers, tungsten beadhead midges, soft hackles, poppers and scuds. The brown trout are being caught on suspending Rogues, Heddon Flatfish and nightcrawlers.
North Fork River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been coming online around 2 p.m., providing plenty of wading opportunities. During low water, concentrate your nymph fishing on the faster runs and riffles; tie on a size 16 Skip Nymph or Flashback Pheasant Tail. During high-water conditions, streamer fishing has been excellent from a boat (especially on overcast days). More trout are being hooked on terrestrials, and it will only get better as summer continues. Some of
The best terrestrials are the Club Sandwich, the Grand Hopper, the Charlie Boy Hopper, Nick’s Hi-Viz Beetle, the Raider, the Big Secret Cricket, Steeve’s Attract-Ant, Chernobyl Ant and Rainy’s Ant in black and cinnamon. Best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (14-16), Flashback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (12-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph (16-20), Beadhead Hare’s Ear Nymph (14-18), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22),
Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Black Wooly Sculpin (4), Articulated Zoo Cougar
(4), and Swimming Jimmy (4).
Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said it has been an incredibly tough week with water temperatures as high as 88 degrees. Lake level is at 651.45, three feet below normal pool. Water clarity is around 16 feet and the thermocline is steady at 36 feet. The daytime bite has really slowed. White bass were pushing shad to the top in the mornings, but now the shad have gone down in the mid-20-foot range, making it spooning time for the whites. Look on your graph for schools of shad halfway back into the creek arms and there should be a few whites with them. Crappie remain scattered from the points to the deep 28-foot-deep brush piles. Crappie minnows on colored jigheads are working best early in the mornings and under floating lights at night. Catfish are also slow but a few are being caught on jugs with a 12-foot drop line throughout the night. Chicken liver, bream and nightcrawlers are the best baits. Largemouth bass can be caught from dawn until around 7:30 a.m. on top-water lures like Pop-R’s, Spit’N Images or Zara Spooks halfway back in the creeks or creek arm pockets. Once the sun is up the bite falls way off. Your best bet is to throw a Carolina-rigged lizard or Brush Hog over deep points in 30 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are suspending most of the day over deep water. Early in the morning and throughout the night they move up to feed on crawdads. Spider jigs and tubes are your best baits during their feeding period. Transition banks and chunk rock points are good places to look for smallies. Kentucky bass are now in 35 to 40 feet of water and schooling out around main lake points and in the middle of main lake cuts. Mark the Kentuckies and drop a spoon down through them or lower a drop shot rig with a finesse worm or 3-inch grub. Walleye are still above 35 feet of water. Long liners are catching a few on Reef Runners, Glass Shad and Wally Divers trolling along channel swings. Leeches and nightcrawlers on a harness rig are also triggering some walleye along transition banks in 28 to 32 feet of water. A few walleye are still being taken at night around points on X-Raps and Suspending Rogues; the best bite is around midnight.
Sugar Loaf Harbor said crappie have been biting well on minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water. A few walleye have been picked up on spoons in deeper water.
Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the water is clear and low. Bream have moved to 10-feet deep, but are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor, with only a few fish being pulled from 20 to 25 feet of water on minnows. Bass fishing is good at night on soft-plastics and jigs fished in 10 to 15 feet of water. Catfishing is good on live bait and cut shad.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is clear and low. Bream fishing is good on crickets in the mornings. Bass have been fair at night on black spinnerbaits and crankbaits and dark-colored 10-inch plastic worms. Catfishing is good on live minnows and nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is fair around 12- to 15-feet deep under floating lights at night. Try using minnows and bucktail jigs.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the water is stained and low. Fishing has been extremely slow for all species with the summer heat setting in.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is murky and low. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows. Bass have been biting well on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing has slowed and only a few are being brought in on chicken livers.
Beaver Tailwaters: Beaver Dam Store said the hot weather has the generation consistently beginning by 1 p.m. Fishing has been decent in the earlier hours of the morning, with the better reports coming from the Parker Bottoms to Spider Creek area. Power Bait in pink/yellow teamed with wax worms has been the ticket for the bait fishermen. Teeny crawfish and husky jerks are producing well for spin fishers. Fly-fishing reports have been very good during low water on Rainbow Warriors (sizes 18 to 20); Partridge and green/yellow soft hackles (size 16); Parachute Adams (size 20); Renegades (sizes 14 to 18); and Dam Good Buggers (size 10). McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been coming on around noon most days, providing plenty of wading during the mornings. Scuds, sow bugs and midge pupa patterns have been the most productive. More trout are being hooked on terrestrials now - grasshoppers, ants and beetles - and it will only get better as summer continues. Some of the best terrestrial patterns are the Club Sandwich, the Grand Hopper, the Charlie Boy Hopper, Nick’s Hi-Viz Beetle, the Raider, the Big Secret Cricket, Steeve’s Attract-Ant, Chernobyl Ant and Rainy’s Ant in black and cinnamon. Best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Gray and Olive (14-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Red Jujubee Midge (20-22), March Brown Spider (14), Red Ass (16).
Kings River: Kings River Outfitters said river is still very low. Floaters will have to drag most shoals. The fishing has been incredible. Black/brown hula grubs worked around current breaks are taking fish. Watermelon and green pumpkin are good colors as well. Buzzbaits, Tiny Torpedoes and Pop-R’s have been the main smallmouth and rock bass takers. Sunfish are hitting small topwaters and crickets. Catfish are hitting chicken livers and nightcrawlers.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
White River: The combination of hot weather and low water has kept the fishermen off the river for the last few weeks.
Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair around the stumps and brush piles on minnows. Bass fishing is picking up in the mornings. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and rice slicks.
Black River: Powhatan Landing said the river is high and muddy. Smallmouth are biting well and are being caught on spinnerbaits with a black-and-white skirt.
Spring River: Local fisherman Gary Salard said the water is clear and at normal levels. Trout fishing has been good on rainbow-colored Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig’s Bass Tracker Marine said the bream are biting tiny tube jigs fished near the stumps, but most of the activity is early or late in the day.
Grand Lake: Koenig’s Bass Tracker Marine said crappie are fair on jigs tipped with small minnows.
Arkansas River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said catfishing is fair on rice slicks.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 88 to 91 degrees with the water level 6 inches above normal and a discharge at the dam of 782 cubic feet per second. Largemouth bass remain good, early and late on top-water soft plastics like Bass Assassin Shads, Zoom Horny Toads, and soft-plastic rats and frogs. Johnson spoons in gold (on cloudy days) and chrome (on sunny days) with white grub trailers are taking nice keepers on pad edges, coontail moss and hydrilla close to deep drops along Little River. Big Bass are deep and hard to come by on a regular basis this time of year. During heat of the day, switch to 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps or medium-diving cranks like a Cordell Big O, in shad patterns or white, and work them slowly along the deep river ledges, vegetation and lily pad lines. Ten-inch Zoom Old Monster Worms or Berkley Power Worms, in Junebug or red shad, are working in the creek mouths around 8 to 11 feet of water. Carolina Rigs are also working in Little River along the creek mouths, cuts, washouts and current-cut steps from 10-12 feet deep. With recent improvement in water clarity, try French fries in green pumpkin or watermelon/red flake colors in these areas. Gitzits are still working in the cypress trees around 8 to 10 feet deep and close to deeper drops. Early and late in the day, and even between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in this heat, the bass are still feeding and chasing shad schools near top water. Spot remover colored buzz baits, spinnerbaits and clear Baby Torpedoes are working well during the feeding frenzy. Kentucky bass are fair in Mud and Horseshoe Lake up Little River, on trick worms or wacky worms. Best colors are bruised banana and lime. Crappie fishermen were catching 2-pound crappie on live shiners, early, 12- to 16-feet deep. The best bite is before 10 a.m. The nighttime catfish bite remains fair on blood bait and Catfish Charlie on yo-yos under cypress trees around 9- to 10-feet deep.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake is stained and low. Crappie are biting fair in 10 to 12 feet of water on shiners and silver crankbaits. Bass fishing is good in 6 to 8 feet of water on tequila sunrise and Junebug colored soft-plastics. Bream are good in 3 to 4 feet on crickets and red wigglers. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers fished in 5 to 6 feet of water.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is low and fishing is extremely slow. Catfish are fair on chicken livers.
White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop said bream are still biting well at White Oak. The low water level and hot weather are keeping the bass in 6 to 10 feet of water. Some good catches have been reported on top-water lures, spinnerbaits and soft-plastics fished near the trees. Catfish are good on chicken liver and live bait fished in creek turns.
Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait Shop said the water is clear and low. Bream are fair on red worms and crickets fished on deeper ledges. Bass have been fair on top-water lures early and late in the day. Mountain Harbor Resort said black bass are off the points and hitting plastic worms and crankbaits fished near the brush piles. Crappie are holding in brush piles around 10 to 25 feet of water and are hitting minnows and jigs. Stripers and whites are deep and can caught on live shad. Catfish are shallow after dark and are hitting chicken livers, live bait and stinkbait.
DeGray Lake: Point Cedar Bait Shop said the lake is low and murky. Bream are good on worms and crickets. Bass have been good early in the mornings. Catfish are fair.
DeGray One Stop said the lake is still dropping with temperatures in the mid-90s. Crappie fishing has been good at night on minnows suspended around channel bends and rocky points. Bass are fair on floating worms, spinnerbaits and top-water lures fished around the moss beds. Catfish are fair on live bait in 8 to 18 feet of water. Hybrids and white bass are schooling early and late and are being caught on Rooster Tails, spoons and Near Nothings.
Little Missouri River: The generator work is scheduled to be complete in late August. Unfortunately with the summer heat, most of the trout have disappeared. Stockings won’t resume until the generator work is completed.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake is at normal level. Bream are good on worms and crickets in the mornings. Crappie fishing has been almost nonexistent. Bass fishing is fair at night in the shallower water. Catfish are good on stinkbait, shad and live bait. Cross Creek said bream are biting well in the shallows on crickets. Bass fishing is fair on rocky points and in the main lake. Fish deep during the daytime. Catfishing is good on stinkbait, live bait and chicken livers.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river is clear and low. Bream are fair on red wigglers and crickets in the overhangs. Catfishing is good, and they aren’t showing much preference to one bait over the other. Bass are good on top-water lures early and late in the day.
Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature ranges from 84 to 88 degrees and the lake level is 571.71. Largemouth bass are still fair early and late in the day. They are being caught on Texas-rigged Zoom Old Monsters, U-tails and Speed Worms. The best colors are strawberry, watermelon/red flake and redbug. Top-water action is fair on Boy Howdies, Zara Spooks and white Rooster Tails kept at the surface. Try main lake points and large bay pockets near creek channels in 12 to 20 feet of water. Walleye are fair with some fish being caught in brush piles on main lake points in 10 to 25 feet of water. Silver spoons, 3-inch grubs and silver Rat-L-Traps are the most effective. Stripers have been very good on live bait and hair jigs. The eastern end of the lake has been producing the best. Areas around Brady Mountain, Spillway and Yorktown Bay are best early and late. Bream are very good on crickets and worms in 12 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are good over brush piles and moss flats on feather jigs, 2-inch grubs and minnows. Try main lake points and large moss flats 15- to 35-feet deep. Catfish are good and being caught on live and cut bait from 10- to 20-feet deep.
Cross Creek said largemouths are biting in the large bay pockets from 12- to 20-feet deep on Zoom Old Monsters and Speed Worms.
Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said bass fishing has been good on top-water lures like the Zara Spook in the mornings and on Texas-rigged soft-plastics at night. Most of the bass are holding in 15 feet of water. Stripers are picking up in the early morning on live bait. Most of the striper action is finished by 7:30 or 8 a.m. Bream are good in the moss beds on crickets.
Lake Catherine: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are good in 5 feet of water on crickets and red wigglers. Bass fishing is good on the lower end of the lake on Texas-rigged worms fished in brush piles in 10 feet of water. 1/8-ounce buzzbaits are also working over the rocks.
Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said a few bass are being caught on the lower end of the lake using Texas-rigged strawberry worms in 10 feet of water. Early in the morning, try a 1/8-ounce buzzbait near rock piles and docks. Most of the good bite is over by 9 a.m.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs fished in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bass are good and can be found schooling in the mornings. Buzzbaits and worms are working well. Bream are good on crickets fished 4- to 5-feet deep. Trotliners are catching a few catfish on live bait.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is clear and at normal level. Bream are good on crickets around 6-feet deep. Bass fishing is good on soft-plastics in brush piles around 10-feet deep. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers and live bait fished on the bottom.
Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More II said the bream fishing has been good on worms and crickets. Catfishing has also been good on stinkbait, turkey livers and large minnows early and late in the day. Yo-yos baited with goldfish are also working well during the evenings. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows, Bandit crankbaits and black-and-chartreuse jigs fished in 18 to 24 feet of water. Most of the fishing action is over by noon.
Arkansas River: Cross Creek said Pools 9 and 7 were stocked with stripers recently. The river is low and the water is stained. Crappie are good on the stumps from 15- to 20-feet deep. Black bass are good on Zara puppies fished near the grassline. Catfishing is good on live minnows and shad drifted with the current.
Tackle Box said the river is clear. Bream and crappie have been poor in the last week. Catfishing has been good on trotlines baited with goldfish below the dam. Largemouth bass have been decent on deep-diving crankbaits fished off the deeper points and in brush piles 10- to 15-feet deep.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Benson’s Grocery and Bait said the lake is clear and low. Bream are biting fair on red wigglers and crickets.
Saline River: Sanders Pawn & Bait said the water is dark and low. Bream, crappie and bass are poor. Catfish are fair using rice slicks and large minnows.
Cox Creek Lake: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the lake is low and the water is murky. Fishing has been poor for all species.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Old Town Lake: Old Town Fish Camp said the lake is low and the water is clear. Bream are biting on wax worms and crickets around the cypress trees. Bass are fair on buzzbaits and top-water lures fished next to the bank. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with minnows and set in 12 feet of water. Crappie are fair around cypress trees.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods said the fishing has been slow for all species because of the heat. Bass are fair in early mornings, but not many fishermen are out during the daytime.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is clear and low. Bream fishing is excellent on red worms, crickets or popping bugs with Bream Killers dangling underneath. The best action is in 1 to 11/2 feet of water. The crappie bite is good in 6 feet of water on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass fishing is fair on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms fished in 2 to 6 feet of water. Catfishing is excellent with stinkbait in the swift-water areas.
Midway Lake: Ed’s Boat Camp said Midway is clear, but the level is low. Bass are fair from 1 to 2 feet on spinnerbaits bounced off cypress trees. Catfish are fair on minnows fished in the deeper drops. Bream are fair in the shallows on crickets.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said fishing has been dead in the last few weeks. The water is low and clear. Six Rivers Sport Center said the lake is clear. Bream have been good in the low-light hours on crickets. Crappie have moved to around 10-feet deep and are fair on minnows. Catfishing is fair on jugs baited with blood bait.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is clear and at normal levels. Bream fishing is good on wax worms and crickets fished in the cypress trees and lily pads from 2 to 3 feet deep. Crappie fishing has been poor. Bass are good in 1 foot of water on soft-plastics early in the morning. Catfishing is excellent on stinkbait and nightcrawlers.
White River Refuge Lakes: Ed’s Bait Shop said the water level is low and the only reports have been on catfish. The catfish are only fair with a few being taken on stinkbait.
|
