Ouachita River Sweep this Weekend: Make plans to help out the AGFC Arkansas Stream Team this Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Ouachita River Sweep. The sweep is an effort to clean and beautify the Ouachita River from Malvern to El Dorado. Volunteers are encouraged to join at any of five clean-up locations at 9 a.m. Saturday morning:
The Grigsby Ford Access at Malvern
The Highway 7 Ouachita River Park Access in Arkadelphia
The Sandy Beach Park Access at Camden
Moro Bay State Park
Crossett Harbor.
Free lunch and T-shirts will be given to all volunteers. Spend a day on the Ouachita River with family, friends and neighbors pitching in to keep Arkansas clean and green. Bring a boat, canoe or just your shoes; we’ll supply the litter bags. Contact Andy Turner, AGFC Stream Team coordinator, (501) 539-0903) for more information.
Arkansas River Levels are available at:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt
White River Levels are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml
Central Arkansas
Lake Conway:
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms, crickets and wax worms fished close to the banks. Crappie are biting well on minnows around any shady spots. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on trotlines, but not many anglers are pursuing them.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said fishing is fair for all species.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is good and one generator is running in the afternoons. Trout are biting well on green or white Power Eggs, pink Trout Magnets and marabou jigs.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said generation at the Greers Ferry powerhouse is releasing small amounts of lake water every afternoon. Releases are beginning around 3 p.m., lasting for 3-4 hours, but using less than one full generator. The river is open to wade fishing almost everywhere most of the day. Aquatic and terrestrial insect activity continues. Midges, mayflies, grasshoppers, crickets and their brethren continue to provide sustenance for our trout. For the dry fly fishermen out there, try a midge (size 22-32; cream), para Adams (size 18), blue-winged olive (size 18-20), hopper or cricket patterns (size 10) and crackleback (size 14). Productive sub-surface flies include sow bug (size 14-16; tan, smoky olive or peacock), chronic (size 14), red butt soft hackle (size 14-18), zebra midge (size 16-22; red, black or copper), San Juan worm (size 14; red, fl. cerise or hot pink) or woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive, brown or black).
Greers Ferry:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.19 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling with generation and the surface temperature ranges from 77- 81 degrees. White and hybrid bass are still going strong, schooling and chasing shad on the surface as well as below the surface. They can be caught with top-water baits, jigging spoons and hair jigs. Try Cove Creek, Sugarloaf and The Orchard. Walleye are biting well on nightcrawlers fished on a jighead. They also are being caught under the whites and hybrids on spoons in-line spinners. Crappie have shut down some with the cooler weather, but should stabilize soon. Bream are biting anything from hot dogs to crickets. The last spawn probably has just finished, but a lot of them will hang around the bank with the cooler water. Bass fishing is good. They’re biting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, flukes and top-water lures around the banks. Out deeper, try football-head jigs, Texas rigged worms and Carolina rigs fished from 12-40 feet of water.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Black bass are biting well. Hybrid bass and white bass are schooling at the surface around the lake. Catfishing is good.
Harris Brake Lake:
Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said no one is fishing because the lake is being drawn down and will remain so until Dec. 12th
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said there’s been some crappie activity using white stingers but overall fishing is slower than normal.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park):
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no report.
Lake Overcup:
Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms along the bank. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished in deep water. No report on bass. Catfishing is excellent on shad and goldfish.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is murky and at 82 degrees. Bream are slow, but a few have been caught in 18 inches of water. Crappie are biting well on brown and pumpkinseed jigs in 18 inches of water. Bass are fair on redworms in brush. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and bream.
Brewer Lake:
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is 82 degrees. Bream are slow on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair on small minnows. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
Lake Maumelle:
Jolly Roger’s Marina had no report.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said fishing was slow for all species.
Lake Valencia:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is clear. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, chicken hearts and Danny King Punch Bait.
Sunset Lake:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting excellently on crickets in 15 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on jigs in 12 to 13 feet of water. Bass are excellent on top-water lures at daybreak and nightfall. Catfishing is slow.
Saline River Access in Benton:
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on black Rooster Tails around shoals near swift water. Crappie are slow. Bass are excellent on top-water lures, such as Chug Bugs. Catfishing is good on live bait in pools with 6-8 feet of water.
Arkansas River at Morrilton:
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing is excellent in 15 to 35 feet of water on whole shad. Stripers are biting well below the dam late in the evenings when the generators are turning. Most are being caught about 6 feet deep on shad drifted under a float. White bass are biting well around sand bars in the mornings; pearl-colored Model A’s are working the best. Black bass are biting fairly well around wood and grass early in the morning. Buzzbaits are working around the cover early, then Pearl-colored Rapala crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working around jetties. Bram are biting well on the back side of jetties on Mepps spinners in black. Crappie are fair on minnows fished next to wood cover in 10 to 15 feet of water out of any current.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets in the Little Maumelle River, but biting better on redworms in the Maumelle River and Palarm Creek. Crappie are slow everywhere. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on large shad, minnows, and nightcrawlers.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool):
Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the river is slow. Bass fishing is slow, but an occasional largemouth is being caught on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on cut bait.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms around Burns Park, Fourche Creek and Murray Lock and Dam. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits near any junction of the main channel and backwater areas. Catfishing is good on cut shad and large minnows.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is as clear as it can get for the river. Bream are fair on crickets fished around rocks. Crappie are slow, but a few have come on live minnows fished around brush. Catfishing is good on stink bait. Bass fishing is slow.
Clear Lake:
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and rocky points. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake:
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in open water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Most bass seem to be in open water outside of woody cover. Catfishing is fair on worms.
Lake Pickthorne:
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is clear. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on pink/white jigs. Bass are biting fairly well early and late in the day on buzzbaits and top-water baits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers around the levee.
North Arkansas
White River: Mountain River Fly Shop reported there have been plenty of windows of low water to wade. Trout fishing has been good on Davy’s whitetail and hothead midges, zebra midges, and tungsten WD40s in black, olive and gray. Soft hackles have been excellent lures, particularly the tailwater soft hackle in green/yellow. Hoppers continue to be very good, but don’t just be looking for big splashy risers; we have been seeing our hoppers vanish in some surprisingly small sips. Fish the current lines and seams with Rainy’s grand hoppers (yellow, brown or tan); Charlie boy hoppers and rubber-legged para hopper. The parachute Adams and Rainy’s hi-vis foam ants have been good, too.
Julie Raines at His Place Resort said the generation patterns, although fluctuating, have been low to medium-low for the last week, in the range of 1-2 generators, with small spikes up to 3 generators. From Wildcat Shoals to Cotter, a somewhat wider portion of the river, we’ve had fair to good wading access most days. That is also enough water to navigate by boat, although some shoals might require short portages. Fishing has been very good. For bait fishermen, soft-shelled crawdads, sculpin, shrimp, nightcrawlers and redworms have given the best results; it hasn’t really changed much from last week. Hot pink Nitro worms are still working really well, as is chartreuse Power Bait.
For those who like to fish artificials, smaller Buoyant Spoons and Size 3 and 5 Rapala Countdowns in Silver/Black and Gold/Black have been the top producers, although this week several folks have reported that the Rainbow Rapalas are doing well for them. For fly-fishing, the olive woolly bugger has also been a go-to fly. A few guests also reported that brown woolly buggers were working for them. Pink San Juan worms, beadhead midges and various Copper John-style patterns have also been effective. For up-to-the-minute flow information and explanations, visit http://www.hisplaceresort.net/River-flow.htm.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White has been for no generation in the morning and occasionally no generation at night. The flows have been moderate in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for wade fishing. The fishing in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been particularly good for the last week. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. The Narrows has fished well this past week. It got a bit crowded over the weekend. The hot fly was the black zebra midge but the olive woolly bugger came in a close second. Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger was also effective. Rim Shoals has been red hot. There were several days with wadable water. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet was the key to success. The hot fly has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen. Other flies, specifically red San Juan worms and grasshoppers accounted for some large fish. On some days there were moderate flows that were very productive. Here again the zebra midge and the grasshopper were the most effective flies.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and at normal level. Two generators were running nonstop this weekend. Drift fishing was fair to good. Power Bait, red or pink Power Trout Worms and small lures worked well. The river was a bit crowed this weekend.
White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing has been excellent! Whether you enjoy fly fishing or spin fishing the fish have been cooperating. The water levels have been low, making the fish easier to find. Sow bugs and 1/80-ounce pink and ginger jigs under indicators have been working well. Also green Wooly Buggers anywhere you can find a small run with good current have been producing larger fish. On the spinning rod, White River Zig Jigs have really been producing.
White River (From Norfork to Calico Rock):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report this week.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared and are fishing well. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and Barr’s meat whistles.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.90 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.36 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).
101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the mid-80s. Crappie fishing is fair in 15-20 of water around the brush piles on live bait. Striper fishing is good in the mornings, and a few are being caught in the evenings using live bait and Roadrunners. Walleye fishing has been fair using a spoon in 40-50 feet of water, some days they will have lock jaw. Bass fishing has been good for some using a spoon or jighead worm in 40 feet of water. Bream fishing is good using worms, crickets and wax worms in most coves. White bass fishing is good using Rooster Tails and small spinnerbaits, but finding them is the challenge. Catfishing has been good using worms.
Norfork Tailwater:
Mountain River Fly Shop said all the focus has been on the White River, but we have heard some decent reports from the North Fork, including a bunch of nice rainbows falling to streamers during weekend flow. On the lower water, soft hackles are doing very well.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the North Fork has fished a bit better this week. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has substantially decreased. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers also have been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator. Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sow bug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The project to enhance fishing on the creek is scheduled to begin soon. The project will include a 130-foot boardwalk to enhance fishing opportunities for handicapped anglers and substantial fish habitat structures designed by Dave Whitlock.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.49 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 1120 MSL).
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good early and late. A variety of top-water baits fished around cover close to the bank has been most productive. Later in the day, try a Carolina-rigged worm along secondary points and flats.
Crappie have been biting well around manmade brush piles in 15 to 30 feet of water. Try working a minnow or a tube jig around cover for best results. White bass continue to feed at the surface lake-wide early and late and can be caught on a variety of shad-imitating baits. Bluegill also continue to do well under docks and around standing timber 2 to 8 feet deep on crickets.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around brush. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and top-water lures near brush.
Beaver Tailwaters:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said canoe traffic has kept fish rather skittish, but they are still catchable. The weather has been very nice, mild temperatures and comfortable amounts of rainfall. Anglers using spin-cast gear should try a smaller rainbow or brown trout-colored Rebel crankbait, YUM Trout Krilla or Power Bait. The fish have been moving a lot, so don't cast to the same spot over and over. Fly-anglers should switch to fall patterns – Olive, gray, and tan scuds and sow bugs under an indicator. Also don't forget your nymph patterns – Copper Johns, Red Johns, and BWO nymphs. Take advantage of the foggy mornings. If you are canoeing, remember the catch-and-release area runs from the walk-in at the Bathouse all the way down to Parker Bottoms. This means no treble hooks, scented or moldable baits, or live baits. This fall is going to be a great season on the tailwater, so be sure and make time to enjoy it.
Kings River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said the Kings has stayed fairly low, even with the rainfall. With the cooler temps and longer days, the river fish will be gearing up for fall feeding. Spin-anglers can use hard baits like crayfish, hellgrammite, and minnow patterns. Carolina-rigged tube jigs and worms work well next to structure. Darker colors in green or olive with pumpkinseed flash. Fly-anglers should break out the Clouser minnows and crawdad patterns. Also look into articulated leech patterns for getting the bigger fish off the bottom.
Lake Fayetteville:
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is murky and the surface temperature is high. Most fish are staying deep with the hot water temperatures. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets fished in brush 3 to 12 feet deep. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished 12 to 20 feet deep. White bass are biting well on CC Spoons fished in deep water. Catfishing is fair on chicken liver, stink bait, nightcrawlers and bluegill.
Lake Sequoyah:
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said fishing is very slow and not many anglers were on the water with the opening of dove and squirrel last weekend
Northeast Arkansas
Crown Lake:
Boxhound Marina ( 870-670-4496) said the water is high and clear. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows. Bass are fair on soft-plastics. Catfishing is fair on chicken liver. A lot of bait is being sold, but not many large catches have been reported lately.
Lake Frierson:
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is a little clearer than normal, but that’s still pretty dingy. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers in brush piles around 2 feet deep. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, chicken liver and stink bait.
Spring River:
Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said recent rain raised water levels. The water is clear and there have been many bugs hatching the last couple of weeks. Not many fish have been rising to catch the bugs as they hatch, but emerger patterns, Brownies and minnow patterns are all working well.
Southeast Arkansas
Lake Chicot:
Lakeshore Motel and Marina (870-265-9901) had no report.
Lake Monticello:
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com had no report.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.57 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 259.2 MSL).
Millwood Lake Guide Service said as of Monday, surface temperatures range from 81 to 86 degrees, depending on location and time of day. The lake is drawn down 4 feet and will remain low until February 2010. Yarborough Landing is still open, although extremely shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 is still open and gravel has been added to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation/sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps. The campground at lower Beards Bluff is closed. Eight gates are open 1 foot each, discharging 632 CFS. Main lake visibility is 8-10 inches away from any current in Little River. The river clarity improved to 12-15 inches of visibility. During the last few weeks, several cold fronts have reduced surface temperatures, and bass have responded positively to the change. The best bite has been from daylight until 11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m., but schooling largemouth bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day. The most aggressive bite is on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crankbaits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. The best Rat-L-Trap colors are Sexy West, Millwood Magic, Transparent, or Subtle Purple Haze. Many pods of schooling fish have been found near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these areas inside the vegetation where the traps can't be used. Siefert's buzzbaits in bubble gum, pearl green chestnut, or bleeding moccasin colors, and spinnerbaits in spot remover and hot mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. The jig bite continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Black/blue/purple or Texas Craw colors are best near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. White bass continue schooling around the Horseshoe Lake entrances, and White Cliffs. These schooling Whites were very aggressive hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and smoke-colored curly tail grubs on jigheads. Crappie continue to improve on live shiners and jigs in 15-17 feet of water close to deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps and over planted brush piles along Little River. Channel catfish continue biting well on cut shad, chicken livers and Catfish Charlie on yo-yos hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12 feet of water, and on trotlines in Little River current.
White Oak Lake:
Local angler John Tilley said fishing slowed a bit last week. Bass are being caught on plastic worms around the channel and nearby points early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Crappie are being caught around 17 feet deep using minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on trotlines using live bait. Bream have moved off the beds and it’s harder to find the larger ones.
Lake Greeson:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.5 feet MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the surface temperature is in the low 80s and the water level is 546.5 MSL. Crappie, bream and bass are all being caught on live minnows fished 8 to 12 feet deep in 16-24 feet of water.
Cossatot River:
Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park said USGA states the water level is 2.0 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 68 degrees to 73 degrees. Water levels are up from the last rain. The water is a little bit stained, making it ideal for great fishing action. Bream are biting excellently on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting fairly 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. Black bass are good with some being taken on dark finesse worms and dark grubs fished around deep structure. Most any grub or finesse worm fished around structure and drops will produce good bites. The best bites for numbers of bass and green sunfish are coming from black rooster tails with gold spinners. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers at night. Most fish are being caught at the beginning or end of deep holes.
Local angler George Graves said the surface temperature is in the low 80s and the water is clear. Bass fishing is picking up with the cooler water. Some surface activity was reported in the Caddo Bend and Arlie Moore areas. Shad are starting to school shallow and the bass will be with them. Look for any activity on both main lake and secondary points. Try to hit the fish with a swim bait, curly tailed grub or a shallow-running crankbait. Shad colors work best. Look for fish early in the morning – by 8 a.m., it is all over. During the day, fish deeper on points with Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms. Hybrids are scattered between Iron Mountain and the mouth of Brushy Creek. The fish are coming off their deep water summer pattern and are up in the bait schools. Some surface activity has been reported along the state park from the Marina to Caddo Bend. Throw a spoon into the breaking fish and bring it up through the fish. Since the fish are scattered, trolling is a pretty good bet. Deep-diving crankbaits in shad colors work best. Look for shad schools and troll that area. Best fishing has been from first light to 9 a.m. Crappie fishing is improving with some decent catches reported coming off brush in 20 to 25 feet. The best areas have been Brushy Creek, Alpine Ridge and around Island 38. Fish directly over the brush and use a 1/16-ounce jig head with a 2-inch shad-colored grub. Fish the lure just above the brush, about 15 feet down, with very little movement.
DeGray Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 401.25 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).
Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the low 80s and clear. Hybrid fishing is fair with most fish coming from deep water (100 to 130 feet), with the fish positioned from 35 to 45 feet deep. The best lures have been heavy swim baits and jigging spoons. Look for the fish on your sonar and drop a bait down, just above the fish. The fish are in very small schools from DeRoche Ridge to the mouth of Brushy Creek. Early morning and very late in the evening are the best times. Very few bass reports are coming in. The best bet is in the mid-lake area around Caddo Drive and Arlie Moore. Fish main-lake points and look for breaking fish in the early morning. Try to hit these fish with a swim bait or a top-water lure. Later in the morning, go deeper with a Texas-rigged worm or spinnerbait. With the absence of vegetation, the fish are scattered so cover a lot of water. Also try around the off shore islands and humps.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Fort Smith:
Local anglers reported crappie were biting well in from 16 to 20 feet of water at night under submersible lights. The better size fish were coming from 20 feet. No success has been reported during the day.
Lake Nimrod:
Lake Nimrod Bait and More II (479-272-4025) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is around 80 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets fished around rocky areas. Crappie are biting well on minnows near open water. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good on worms.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie have been biting well. The best action has come on pink/white jigs with spinners trolled slowly around 10 feet deep.
Lake Dardanelle:
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been great on the west end of Lake Dardanelle. A little bit of everything is biting and the weather is about as good as you can get for September. The water temperature is in mid 80s and the level is still a bit low. Many anglers have boasted of sizable stringers of crappie for this time of year. Crappie are biting best on crappie minnows. Catfishing is best on worms and stink bait. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon-colored soft-plastics. Bream, especially redear, have been biting well in the shade on crickets.
Blue Mountain Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.04 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said bream fishing is good on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on worms
Ozark Pool:
Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is low and the clarity is good. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are excellent on minnows fished 6-8 feet deep in the creek turns. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and shad.
Lake Ouachita:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 571.87 feet MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is in the low 80s. The water is clear and falling. Top-water lures around points seem to work well. A Texas-rigged worm in brush in 10 to 12 feet of water is working well. The moss is not growing, and fish are relating to brush. Bluegill are biting well; try crickets in the backs of pockets. Stripers are biting live bait early in the morning.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the surface temperature ranges from 84-88 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well and can be caught on large Texas-rigged worms fished in brush piles 18 to 25 feet deep. Watermelon/red, bloodline and red shad paddle worms and Zoom Old Monsters are still the best baits. Largemouths, spots and whites are still breaking and can be caught on white Rooster Tails or top-water baits. Walleye are very good and being caught on bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses around main-lake points or humps near deep water 16 to 24 feet deep. Jigging spoons are working well on suspended fish in the same depths. Stripers are fair on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. Main-lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. The east end of the lake, from point 3 to the dam, seems to be the best area. Bream are still very good with worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still slow and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep and moss flats 20 to 25 feet deep. Minnows and crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines. Rod-and-reel fishing with stink bait or crickets has been very good in 15 to 20 feet of water.
Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said fishing is good for stripers, but the fish are very deep. Most are coming from 50 to 70 feet near the main channel. Work along treelines. You may need to hit a few places before you find a school willing to work, but once you do, you can catch quite a few. Please remember that if you’re pulling a fish up from deeper than 30 feet or so, they may not survive the return trip to the depths. At that point, you’re better off keeping the fish and enjoying a tasty meal.
Lake Hamilton:
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is in the low 80s and the water color is clear. There is still a lot of water flowing through the lake, so it is clearer and cooler than normal. A top-water lure or a buzzbait is working well. Also people are finding schooling fish in the mouths of most major creeks. After dark a Texas-rigged worm is best in the brush. Also try a black spider in brush as well. Bluegill are easy to catch in the back of most pockets.
Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said Lake Hamilton is producing small fish, but they’re plentiful in the (4 to 6 pound range). White bass are breaking most mornings and afternoons from the 270 bridge all the way to the 7 bridge. Most stripers and whites are in 20 to 30 feet of water. Small shad are the best bait, but jigging spoons will catch a few as well.
Lake Catherine:
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said water temperatures in the tailrace remain in the low 60s with good clarity from the bridge to the dam. Entergy consistently generates water in 8- to 10-hour periods, which keeps water levels normal and temperatures low. Rainbow trout fishing is extremely slow which is the norm for this time of year. The vast majority of trout have either been eaten by predators or caught by anglers, so quality fishing won't return to Carpenter Dam until November when the stocking program begins again. With schools of threadfin shad in and out of the area, several species of fish are feeding around the dam. White bass are being caught in the main channel by trolling small crankbaits that imitate shad or crawfish. Walleye in the 2- to 4-pound range have been taken around the bridge pilings during periods of generation on jigs and live minnows. Stripers are feeding on top for brief periods in the early morning and have been hooked on large top-water baits such as C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks. Most of the action for these fish takes place while the turbines are running so angler's need to plan their trips during these times.
Lake Hinkle:
Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets around rocky points. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms and blood bait.
Lake Atkins:
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on bass minnows.
South Central Arkansas
Moro Bay:
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the river is at normal level (65 feet above sea level). Crappie fishing is beginning to pick up. The word on the boat ramp is that chartreuse jigs are working best when fished in treetops in the lake and the bay. Bream fishing has been fair. Crickets and worms are working best. Most of the bank fishermen report catching some bream but most are saying they aren’t big ones. Little has been said for bass and catfish but that’s most likely because few are fishing especially for them right now. The weather has been wonderful and fishing is expected to pick up this fall.
Tri-County Lake:
With dove and squirrel seasons opening this weekend, no one is on the water.
Ouachita River Oxbows:
No report because everyone’s getting ready for the dove opener.
East Arkansas
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:
The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows in 12-18 feet of water. Bass are fair on watermelon-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is fair.
White River:
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said fishing is poor for all species. The river is very low.
Maddox Bay:
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is low and clear. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits fished near trees and docks. Catfishing is slow.
Island 40 Chute:
Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is low. Bream are fair on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse jigs around stumps at the edge of the river end in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass are slow, but a few have been caught on motor oil-colored soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is slow. Fishing should pick up in October. Asian carp are still a hazard to boaters as they jump from the water at the sound of the outboard.
Horseshoe Lake:
Local angler Clyde Gregory said fishing is very slow for all species.