This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for June 21, 2006. If there is a body of water you would like to see included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip: As grass and lily pads begin to pile up at the water’s surface, it’s a perfect time to throw a frog, fluke or soft-plastic stickbait that won’t get snagged on the retrieve. But when you set the hook, sometimes the fish gets bogged down in the salad. Don’t panic and put steady pressure on the fish while you move to it using your trolling motor. Braided line cuts through the vegetation better than monofilament, but sometimes there’s no way around going and getting your fish by hand.
Statewide Urban Fishing Report: Catfish are still being caught on chicken livers and worms. Fishing has been really good all day on overcast days or at dawn and dusk on sunny days. A few of the trophy blue catfish the AGFC stocked were caught last week, but there are a few still in central Arkansas ponds. One of the big blues was caught on a cricket. Anglers are catching bream in shallow water on crickets and redworms in all of the Community and Family Fishing Program ponds.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs near deep brush piles. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic baits. Blue and channel catfish are biting well on dip bait. Flathead catfish are biting on rice slicks, minnows and trotlines.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the water is very clear and one generator has been running every afternoon. Trout are biting well on wax worms with marshmallows, PowerBait, marabou jigs, Rooster Tails, and pink or chartreuse Trout Magnets or eggs.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.69 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is 461.69 and falling. Whites and hybrid bass are in their summer patterns and schooling during the day. Try fishing early or late in the day with top-water baits, spoons, and the new bandit in-line spinnerbait. Crappie are suspended in the pole timber and brush piles 15 to 25 feet deep. Bream are biting well around docks and brush piles 15 to 25 feet deep. Bass are around shallow ledges early and late in the day. During the day, bass are moving to deep brush piles, river bends and points. Try c-rigged finesse worms, dropshot worms, football heads, and Texas rigged worms in grasshopper, crabapple and red with gold flake 15 to 45 feet deep. Catfishing is good using trotlines, jugs, rod-and-reel and noodling.
Shiloh Marina said the fish have gone on vacation! Overall fishing is slow, but some fish are biting at night on minnows 20 feet deep. Walleye are biting during the day on nightcrawlers 30 feet deep.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s said the lake level is at 2.5 feet below the spillway. Saugeye are still biting fairly well in 15 to 20 feet of water on trolled crankbaits. Many in the 21/2 to 3 pound range are being caught. Largemouth bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in the backs of coves early and out on ledges and points near shallow water later in the day. Kentucky bass are biting well in 15 to 25 feet of water on pumpkin-colored grubs, worms and tubes. White bass are schooling on the east end of the lake and being caught on CC Spoons, Near Nuthins and Rogues with orange bellies. Crappie are biting well around brush and rocky areas in 10 to 20 feet of water. Kalin’s grubs in chartreuse and Tennessee shad have worked well, as have small minnows. Catfish are in the shallow water and biting well on large minnows, Canadian nightcrawlers and chicken livers. Bream are biting excellently on crickets fished in water 10 to 15 feet deep.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is clearing and is at its normal level. Bream are biting very well on worms and crickets close to the banks. Crappie are biting fairly well on jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and black plastic worms. Catfish are biting very well on trotlines baited with minnows and slicks.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the water is clear and at its normal level. Bream are biting very well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in deep water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and minnows.
Beaverfork Lake: TAGS said crappie are biting well on crickets and minnows.
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Bates Field and Stream said the water and the fishing are slow.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and assorted worms. Crappie and bass aren’t biting much. Catfish are biting well at the bottom of the river.
Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 3,000 CFS with a headwater of 285.34 and a tailwater of 264.70. This part of the river is slow. Black bass are biting well early and late in the day on black Jitterbugs. Once the sun is up, try Horny Toads fished around timber. In the heat of the day, try black tubes with red flake. Kentucky bass are biting well early in the morning on buzzbaits, Devil’s Horses and Tiny Torpedoes over jetty tops near banks. Later in the day, try baby bass shallow-diving crankbaits around deep jetties. Bream are biting very well on crickets around jetties and riprap and on black and yellow beetle spinnerbaits around banks. Crappie are biting on live minnows around timber 6 to 10 feet deep. White bass are biting well on white and pearl Zara Spooks. Also try 3-inch pearl Sassy Shads. Stripers are biting well early and late in the day on white Rooster Tails around jetties 25 feet deep. Catfish are biting on skipjack herring 15 feet deep in the main river.
Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bass are biting fairly well on buzzbaits around grassy jetties and on finesse worms and shallow crankbaits around jetty points with a little current. Catfish are biting well at the edge of the current on jugs and trotlines baited with shad, rice slicks or chicken hearts.
Outdoor Super Store said there is little flow on the river. Bream are biting well on crickets around rocky points 2 to 6 feet deep. Bass are biting fairly well on plastic worms and top-water baits. Catfish are biting well on stink bait and chicken livers.
Pickthorne Lake: Outdoor Super Store said the water looks muddy. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets around rocky points and brush piles 2 feet deep. Crappie are biting some on minnows in deep water. Bass are biting fairly well on plastic worms and buzzbaits early and late in the day. Catfish are biting well on stinkbait and chicken livers.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Bass are biting fairly well early and late in the day on top-water baits. Catfish are biting well after dark on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with nightcrawlers and chicken hearts.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports said the lake is lower than normal. Bream are biting well on crickets 6 feet deep. Crappie are biting on 2-inch chartreuse grubs 10 feet deep. Bass are biting fairly well on top-water baits around banks and rocks. Catfish are biting well on chicken livers and hearts.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s said the water looks stained and is lower than normal. Bream are biting well on crickets 4 feet deep. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows 5 feet deep. Bass are biting very well on baby Chug Bugs and Tiny Torpedoes. Catfish are biting well on chicken livers and hearts and trotlines 5 to 6 feet deep.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said bass are biting 15 to 18 feet deep. Catfish are biting fairly well on cut shad fished on the bottom.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the lake is at its normal level and may get muddy from the rain. Bream are biting on crickets around stumps and structures 3 feet deep. Crappie aren’t biting much. Bass are biting well early and late in the day on white spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting fairly well in the evenings on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing said the lake is lower than normal. Bream and crappie fishing is slow. Bass and catfish are biting well.
Murray Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said catfish are biting fairly well on cut shad fished at the bottom of the main channel.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream and crappie aren’t biting much. Catfish are biting fairly well on shad filets and rice slicks. Stripers are biting early and late in the day on white spinnerbaits and white quarter-ounce Bang Tails.
Little Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well on crickets and worms around lily pads. Crappie aren’t biting much. Bass are biting fairly well on top-water baits such as Gilmore Jumpers. Catfish are biting on rice slicks and cut bait.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie aren’t biting much. Bass are biting fairly well on tubes and finesse worms. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with chicken hearts or cut bait.
Big Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting fairly well on crickets and redworms around flats. Crappie aren’t biting much. Bass are biting fairly well early and late in the day on top-water baits, stick baits, Yum Frogs and Horny Toads.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Wilderness Trail said trout fishing on the White River has been doing well. With low or no generation Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, Sunrise and pink have worked well along with red worms. During generation Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleos and Countdown Rapalas are the baits of choice. The fly fishermen have done extremely well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, pheasant tails, zebra midges and sow bugs. Brown trout are being caught on jointed Rapalas, Shad Raps, suspending Rogues and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.41 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said the water temperature is 79 to 80 degrees with mid-80s in the backs of some creeks. The thermocline has set up at 28 feet with a 5 degree temperature change from 28 feet to 32 feet. The shad have moved to the top of the thermocline and so have the walleye, bass, and white bass. White bass are holding in the creeks over the old creek channels suspended at 34 to 40 feet down. There is some top-water action early in the mornings and at sundown but the best bite is on spoons fished vertically down through the schools. Crappie are now on the bluff walls around pole trees and brush piles. Crappie minnows on a split-shot rig works well beside the pole trees and Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows, tubes and grubs are catching the crappie in the brush piles. Largemouth bass are still active in the mornings on top water along the bluff ends and along the channel swings in the creek arms and pockets. Buzzbaits, Spooks and Chug Bugs are key lures in the mornings, and if there is wind blowing try a Bandit 200 series crankbait. When the sun is up the largemouth are moving into the thermocline on drop offs holding in 28 to 32 feet of water. Carolina rigs with lizards, baby Brush Hogs or Trick Worms are the key baits during the day. Smallmouth bass have moved back onto pea rock flats and are spending the day out in 28 to 32 feet of water. Tubes and Carolina rigged Brush Hogs and YUM Wooly Hawgtails are working well. If you are trying to catch a big smallie instead of numbers, move to the main lake elongated points and fish football jigs in 35 to 38 feet of water. You won’t catch a bunch but you will have a chance to bag a 4 or 5-pounder. Kentucky bass have not yet changed from last week. They are still swimming with the food source (shad) and frenzy feeding in the morning, but you have to be in the right place at the right time to get in on the action. Bluff ends, pocket cuts, and creek secondary points are holding Kentuckies. Spoons or a drop shot with a finesse worm in the schools and Mojo rigs with a centipede or baby Brush Hog will work. Walleye are now in the thermocline. As long as you keep your bait in the walleye zone (28 to 32 feet of water), you will catch some. Bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses or leech harnesses are key techniques. Leadcore trolling has been great using glass Shad, Hot’N Tots and Deep Little N crankbaits. Remember you can troll in 60 feet of water looking for feeding walleye but they are going to be suspended between 28 and 32 feet as they move straight out from the bank.
Sugar Loaf Harbor said the lake is fair and a little lower than normal. Bream are biting well on worms and bottom bouncers 20 to 24 feet deep. Crappie are biting well 20 to 22 feet deep. Bass are biting well on top-water baits. Catfish are biting well on jugs baited with live shad and minnows.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.14 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows 25 feet deep. Bass are biting well on jigs during the day and on jigs and plastic worms at night. Stripers are biting well on 1-inch spoons. Spooning and trolling has been successful for walleye. Catfish are biting fairly well on trotlines baited with live shad or sunfish.
Norfork Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation was sporadic last week, but with plenty of low water for wading during the morning. On the upper river, the usual scuds, sow bugs, and midges are still hooking plenty of trout, but on the lower river, it’s time to switch to Sulfur nymphs such as Pheasant Tails and Skip Nymphs. Also, as more and more adults start to hatch in the middle of the day, be sure to have plenty of adult Sulfur patters ready for some fun dry fly action.
Gene’s Trout Dock said the generators have been on and off. Fishing has been exceptional. One 10 pound, 8 pound and 6 ½ pound trout were caught during the weekend. The largest were released.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,113.61 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods said bream aren’t biting much. Crappie and whites are biting fairly well on minnows and small shad at night under lights. Whites are also biting on Hot-N-Tots around bluff lines 10 to 15 feet deep. Bass are in their summer pattern and are biting fairly well during the day on finesse worms and small baits. At night, bass are biting on big worms and black spinnerbaits in brush piles 20 to 25 feet deep. Stripers are in deep waters. Catfish are biting well on goldfish, live baits, trotlines and jugs.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said they will be closed to fishing and boating from Tuesday, June 20th through Sunday, June 25th. They’ll be looking for you again on Monday morning. The lake is murky and at its normal level. Fishing is fair.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said bream and catfish are biting well. Crappie are biting well on minnows and artificial baits. Bass are biting very well.
Beaver Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generators have been running an hour or two in the middle of the afternoon, leaving most of the day and late evening for wading. Scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive; however, small cream midge adult patterns have hooked several trout, too.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina said the lake looks good. Bream fishing is excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and colored jig heads fished 10 to 12 feet deep. Bass are biting well on deep-diving crankbaits in orange or blue. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and blood baits.
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground said the river is low. Goggle eye and bass are biting well on artificial baits and minnows. Walleye and catfish aren’t biting much.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Fowler’s said bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits fished around docks. Catfish are biting well on goldfish.
Cane Creek Lake: Cane Creek State Park said the lake looks good. Bream and catfish are good.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.48 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water temperature ranges from 80 to 90 degrees. Water clarity is diminished from last week. The lake is 3.4 inches above normal and falling slowly. Several river markers are missing on the main lake and Little River. Current in Little River is 790 cubic feet per second. The AGFC stocked around 147,000 Florida-strain bass in Millwood the last three weeks, bringing the total Florida bass stockings to just under 2,000,000 since the program began. Some of the Florida bass in last week’s group have fluorescent tags with unique ID numbers. If caught, they are worth a free 1-year Arkansas fishing license.
Fish are biting best early and late in the day. Bass are biting well on poppers in chrome/purple, Salty Rat Tails, Senkos and Z-Nails in watermelon/red, black/blue fleck and green pumpkin, Bass Assassin Shads in crystal shad, Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs and War Eagle spinnerbaits in gold shiner, cole slaw and firetiger. Zoom Horny Toads and Heddon Zara Mice are working well mid-day fished in the backs of pad fields where hydrilla or grass meet the pads. Zoom Baby Brush Hogs in Junebug or Zoom Magnum Lizards in cotton candy work well. Southern Pro Fatbutt tubes in pumpkin/chartreuse and black neon are catching fish on cypress trees. The Bass Assassin Shads in Texas red, Tennessee shad and bubble gum and trick worms in baitfish, blue and grey work best around vegetation in creek channels. Crappie are biting well on shiners and jigs in the Little River at 15 to 19 feet deep in planted treetops. Channel cats and blue catfish are biting well on trotlines 17 to 20 feet deep baited with cut shad, chicken liver and Catfish Charlie fished in Little River current. Catfish are also biting yo-yos baited with chicken liver, Catfish Charlie and homemade blood bait at night. Fish around Jack’s Isle and Mud Lake and hang yo-yos from cypress tree limbs 7 to 11 feet deep.
White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop said the lake looks good. Bream and crappie are biting well on crickets and wax worms fished 10 feet deep. Bass are biting fairly well on artificial baits. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and wax worms fished at night.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the fish aren’t biting much.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said catfish are biting well on jugs and trotlines. Red ear and bream are biting some.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.60 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said all species are fair.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.18 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop said the lake is clear and slightly high. Water temperatures are in the 80s. Bream are coming off beds and moving deeper. They’re biting well on red worms and crickets fished 15 to 25 feet deep. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows fished off bluffs. They’re biting best at night on live bait. Black and Kentucky bass are in shallow waters in the morning and biting on top-water baits and jerkbaits. They move deeper in the afternoons and bite best on Texas-rigged worms and Carolina-rigged worms. Hybrids and white bass are biting well on Rooster Tails, CC Spoons, Boy Howdies and top-water baits. Catfish are biting fairly well on trotlines and noodles baited with live bait and minnows fished 15 to 25 feet deep. Set noodles at 8 feet deep.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said bream are biting well on crickets and red worms 1 to 2 feet deep. Crappie aren’t biting much. Bass are biting well early in the morning around grass in shallow water. Later in the day, bass are biting on large worms around drops and brush tops 8 to 10 feet deep. Catfish are biting well on liver, sunfish and cut shad.
Blue Mountain Lake: CNC’s End of the Line said the lake looks good. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on minnows and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on worms and liver.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the water is clear, current is slow and levels are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs fished deep. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are biting fairly well on Sassy Shads. Catfishing is good below the dam and best during generation.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 576.29 feet MSL.
Lake Ouachita State Park Marina said the water temperature on the east side of the lake has been 78 to 80 degrees. Stripers are biting well early in the morning on live baits and jigging spoons. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits, plastic worms and Zara Puppies. Bream are biting very well on crickets and small jigs. Catfish are biting very well on small bream and trotlines baited with minnows. Walleye are biting on jigs, Shad Raps and Rat-L-Traps.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman’s Tackle and Guide Service said the lake is at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets 12 feet deep. Crappie are biting fairly well on chartreuse and white jigs around brush piles. Bass are biting well in the early morning on top-water baits and CC spoons. Later in the day, try small finesse worms.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said crappie are biting well on minnows in deep water. Bass and catfish are biting well. Bream aren’t biting much.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is slightly stained and at normal pool. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are biting excellently on worms and minnows fished along the bottom.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 345.02 feet MSL.
Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More II said the lake looks good. Crappie are biting well in deep water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures such as Gilmore Jumpers. Catfish are good.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale’s One Stop said the river is high and murky but clearing. Bream and crappie are poor. Bass and catfish are biting excellently.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said the river is clear, low and slow. Bream are biting excellently on wax worms, red worms and crickets fished in the shallows along the shore. Crappie are biting excellently on minnows and jigs fished 8 to 15 feet deep around structure. Bass are biting well on top-water baits fished 4 to 6 feet deep around trees and brush and worms fished along the bottom. Catfish are biting excellently on stink bait, crawfish, liver and large minnows fished in the shallows along the shoreline.
River City Sporting Goods said the river looks good. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms fished 3 feet deep around wood. Crappie are poor. Striped bass are biting well on ½-ounce bucktail jigs fished around the lock and dam. Bass are biting well on top-water baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well 30 to 40 feet deep.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water looks good. Bream and catfish are fair. Crappie and bass are poor.
Six Rivers Sport Center said the lake is murky and at normal levels. All species are poor.
Bear Creek Lake: Six Rivers Sport Center said the water is clear and full. Bream are biting well on crickets 3 feet deep. Crappie are biting on black and chartreuse jigs around structure.
Horseshoe Lake: Bond’s said the lake is clear and low. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished around piers. Crappie and bass are fair. Bass are biting well on top-water baits and jigs. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers.
Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock said the water level is lower than normal. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting around stumps 4 to 5 feet deep. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits in deep water around the levee. Catfish are biting very well on stink bait, nightcrawlers and chicken livers.