Fishing Highlight of the Week: Bluegill fishing is tons of fun. These little sunfish can put up an amazing fight and they’re great for dinner, too. Worms and crickets are the baits of choice because they work. But try fly-fishing with wet or dry flies on lightweight tackle. If you’re not a fly angler, pick up a clear float, tie a fly a few feet below it and use your regular rod and reel.
Arkansas and White river levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk
For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt
For water quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality
Family and Community Fishing Ponds: Click http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingProgramsFCF.aspx for a list of program ponds. The AGFC Family and Community Fishing Program has stocked catfish in all program ponds with 10 tagged fish in each pond. Fluorescent pink tags say “Community Fishing.” Lucky anglers who catch a tagged fish should call 866-540-FISH for information on redeeming the tag for a prize package. All tags returned with a postmark of July 9 or earlier will be eligible for the grand prize drawing for a two-man fishing boat, trolling motor and battery, donated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. One entry per angler. For stocking information, call 1-866-540-FISH (3474), or check us out online at http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingProgramsFCFStock.aspx.
Central Arkansas
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water level is low and the lake is stained. Bream are excellent and can be caught with worm and crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are good with plastic worms and frogs. Catfish are good; try bream and goldfish.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) ) said the water is clear and low with no generators running in the morning. Try wax worms, marshmallows or PowerBait in the morning. In the afternoon, switch to crankbaits or try drift fishing with a spinner. Fly-fishing is good in the morning with extra crispy sow bugs, Purple Haze or midges.
Greers Ferry Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 459.3 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 461 msl).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the lake level is falling, with generation, in the afternoon. Hybrid and white bass are eating at various times throughout the day, and the catch rate is real good at times. The trick is to stay with them and be patient. Use spoons, the Arkansas Claw, in-line spinners and swim baits. Some black bass are shallow, others at mid-depth, some deeper and some are still spawning. For the deeper and suspended fish, try the Arkansas Claw, crankbaits and top-water baits. For bottom feeders, Carolina- and Texas-rigged worms will work. For shallow fish, use small crankbaits, spinner baits and wake baits. For mid-depth fish, try jighead worms and drop-shots. Bream fishing is great with crickets, night crawlers and small crankbaits. Walleye are biting better than they have lately, but they are walleye and it’s a day-to-day deal, especially in this odd-weather year. Catfish are eating well; this will be the case the rest of the hotter weather months. Try homemade bait, goldfish and bream. Crappie are sitting in the same old places, suspended in the pole timber, and over and around brush piles.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said fishing on Greers Ferry is incredibly good right now. Shad are still spawning on the main lake, creeks and rivers. To increase my catch rates, I am spending a lot of time in really small areas and not moving around much at all. Once you find a school of fish, soak the area really well for a good amount of time before you pull the plug. Game fish are beginning to school tight, getting into their summer pattern. It is a must right now to use electronics to find fish. If you are not seeing them on the graph there is no one home! Unlike during spring when fish are so spread out in vast spawning flats that you can practically catch them doing anything, these summer fish are like wolf packs, hanging in prime locations adjacent to shad and feeding at certain times of the day. These wolf packs of various species of fish are relating to the bottom and contour breaks. As spring ends and we get into summer, look for these fish to start suspending in open water. Top-waters, spinners, swim baits, big worms and live night crawlers are all producing good numbers of fish daily.
Harris Brake Lake
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream are excellent with worms and crickets. Crappie are good; try crickets around docks. Bass are fair with a variety of lures. Catfish are good on live bait, cut bait and chicken liver.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie have been biting No. 6 and 8 minnows, Slab Slay’R and Stroll’R in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad and bone white, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Catfish are taking minnows, worms and goldfish. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes. Bream are biting great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about normal and clear. Crappie are in deep water, about 15 feet; try fishing 8-10 feet deep. They are fair on pumpkin/chartreuse and chartreuse jigs, Tennessee shad Stingers and No. 6 minnows. Bream are good on crickets and red worms. Bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait and minnows.
Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting No. 6 minnows, Baby Shad, Stroll’R and Slab Slay’R in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white Baby Shad, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Bream are biting great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are hitting tequila sunrise and dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing
(501-354-9007) said bream are good around the edges on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are hitting tube jigs and No. 4 minnows around brushpiles. Bass are fair on plastics and catfish are fair on cut shad and night crawlers.
Lake Cargile
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report this week.
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina had no report this week.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair on minnows and jigs tipped with minnows. Bass are fair; try jerk baits and PB&J jigs. Catfish are good with night crawlers; try trotlines baited with slicks. No report on bream.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are in coves and brush piles on Baby Shad and Slab Slay’R in red/chartreuse, bone white and pearl, and orange/chartreuse, as well as No. 6 minnows and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. White bass are biting in the river channel on Rooster Tails and Baby Shad in salt and pepper. Bream are great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are hitting tequila sunrise and other dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said channel catfish are good with night crawlers and chicken liver. No reports on other species.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake is clear and at normal level. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie and bass are poor. Catfish are good with chicken liver.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is clear and low. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are fair; try small Rebel crankbaits. No report this week on catfish.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Opello said white bass are very good on Fat Raps; cast on top of jetty, crank down and bump jetty top and let it come back up. White bass and stripers are moving to some tips of jetties; use CC Spoon, 15-25 feet deep. Kentucky bass also are being caught on the Fat Rap. Largemouths are very good in grass on plastic worms. Bream are very good with crickets in grass or in willow beds on sandbars. Catfishing is good with whole shad on front side of jetties. No report on crappie. The Game and Fish Commission stocked 27,000 largemouth last week.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had this report from Little Maumelle River and Maumelle River: Bream are good with crickets and red worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are good late in the day with buzz baits and top-water baits.
No report from the main river channel.
Palarm Creek: Crappie have been fair with the old standbys – minnows and jigs. Bass are good on spinners and deep-diving crankbaits. Worms are working fairly well on catfish.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the river is stained and the level is normal. Bream are good with crickets and worms. No report this week on crappie. Bass are good in the main river on crankbaits and jigs. Catfish have been good with night crawlers and cut shad.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had this report from Burns Park and the main channel: Bream have been poor, although crappie are fair with minnows fished deep. Bass are good on square-billed crankbaits (black/chartreuse) and creature baits rigged Texas style. Catfish are good with cut skipjacks, worms and slicks.
Fourche Creek: No report this week.
Murray Lock and Dam: No report on bream. Crappie have been poor, although bass are reported fair with jigs. Catfish are good on skipjacks. Some good snagging reports have come in.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the river is clear and normal. No report on bream and crappie, although bass have been good, especially with swim baits. Catfish are good on goldfish and cut bait.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the lake was clear and normal. Bream fishing is good with crickets. Crappie are good with minnows. No report this week on bass or catfish.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and the level is normal. Bream and crappie reports have been poor. Bass have been fair; try a variety of lures. Catfish are good with worms, liver and artificial baits.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report from the lake this week.
Lake Willastein
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are fair on red worms. Crappie reports are good, especially deep with minnows and jigs. Bass are good on top-water baits and Texas-rigged creature baits late in the day. Catfish are good; try worms and minnows.
North Arkansas
White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and low. Trout fishing is excellent, especially with PowerBait or PowerWorms. Small spinners, spoons, Little Rogues and Rapalas (1-2 inches) are working. Fly-fishermen are having good results with Zebra Midges, Copper Johns and grasshoppers.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) had this report for Buffalo City to Red’s Landing: Water levels continue to be erratic but mostly low. This allows the Zig Jig to continue producing. Large numbers of fish caught on a daily basis. When the water is very low, go to a sixteenth-ounce jig or even a thirty-second ounce. It allows the jig to drop slower in shallow water and gives the fish a chance to see it. As usual, PowerBait in most any color will produce. Drift and drag or cast them out like a plastic worm presentation and work it back in.
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is clear and low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair with minnows. Bass are fair with crankbaits, assorted lures, as well as Senkos, grubs and Gitzits. Some catfish and rough fish have been snagged below the dam.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said as of Wednesday, Ponca was very low at 1.5 feet, Pruitt was very low at 3.3 feet, Tyler Bend was low at 3.5 feet and Buffalo Point was low at 2.8 feet. Water temperature was averaging in the upper 70s. The river level is extremely low for floating; the water is clear. Water temperatures are very good for smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing deep holes on warm, sunny days. Some good fish have been caught. With the warmer temperatures continuing, fishing is really picking up. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics in watermelon red and green pumpkinseed, or crawdad pattern flies. Stealth is needed.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelley’s Slab was reading 10 ft and 166 cfs Wednesday. Low but floatable. Water temperatures have been averaging 76 degrees. Make sure you are fishing deep holes on warm, sunny days. Some good fish have been caught. With the warmer temperatures continuing, fishing is really picking up. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics in watermelon red and green pumpkinseed, or crawdad pattern flies. Stealth is needed.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the water temperature is 80 degrees. Walleye and bass are biting night crawlers fished on bottom bouncers about 15 feet deep. Crankbaits are working at that depth, too. White bass are biting anything that looks like a shad. Catfish are in shallow water (5-20 feet) and are biting cut bait and night crawlers. Night fishing is good for walleyes by casting crankbaits on main lake points and bass, using jigs and plastic worms.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said drift fishing has been excellent with a variety of patterns and presentations. Streamers, nymphs, dry flies and terrestrials are all working at different times and areas during the day.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 552 msl, April-September – 554 msl).
STR Outfitters Tom Reynolds said striped bass are off the points in the main lake. Fish the points from Diamond Bay to the dam and up to Brushy and Big creeks. Stripers are scattered; the ones I’m catching are on down lines, 25-40 deep. They are feeding on shad and crawdads. There are some schools in 35-40 feet of water. I start fishing when I see one or two fish, and keep weaving between deep and shallow water.
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said spring fishing on Norfork Lake has been good. The best bite, in my opinion, on Norfork Lake is largemouth and spotted (Kentucky) bass. Second is striped bass fishing. Bluegills, crappie, walleye, white bass and catfish are coming in on a regular basis. I have seen many 2.5- to 5-pound largemouth bass and very large Kentuckys coming into the dock. Live bait, either large shiners or shad, is the best bait to use to get numbers of fish, but artificial baits are working. I have been finding black bass in 2-27 feet of water on main lake points. At sunrise and sunset, you will see some top-water action, so keep your favorite top-water bait ready for action at all times. My favorite color lure is a white body and a chartreuse head in the Zara Spook Jr. size. Clear and bone colors also work very well. Other baits that have been working are jig and pigs, plastic worms and crawdads, spinner baits on windier days, and some crankbaits. Bass are feeding heavily on crawdads, so this should help on your color selection. Things have not changed much on the striped bass fishing. Fish are being found on main lake points in 25-40 feet of water. In the very early part of the mornings, you may find them right on the bank. The problem is that one day the fish are on a point but the next day they are gone. You do have to do a lot of moving around until you find fish. Catfishing with jugs and trotlines is producing many nice fish. Every morning I see jugs bobbing up and down all over the lake. Crappie are being caught over brush piles in 20-30 feet of water. Fish will be suspended, so keep changing your depths until you find the feeding level. Live minnows and jigs tipped with a minnow are working well.
Guide Steve Olomon said the top-water bite for hybrids and stripers is pretty much over with. There were still a few coming up in recent weeks but it didn’t last long at all. If you were fortunate enough to be close to them, you usually had one chance to get a cast to them. Bass are coming up on points and back in the creeks. After the top-water bite is over, try throwing a deep-diving crankbait or a swim bait and reel it real slow. Look for suspended fish and drop a jigging spoon. This works better if you mark a lot of fish rather than one or two. They should start to school in deeper water as the water temperature gets warmer. said the top-water bite for hybrids and stripers is pretty much over with. There were still a few coming up in recent weeks but it didn’t last long at all. If you were fortunate enough to be close to them, you usually had one chance to get a cast to them. Bass are coming up on points and back in the creeks. After the top-water bite is over, try throwing a deep-diving crankbait or a swim bait and reel it real slow. Look for suspended fish and drop a jigging spoon. This works better if you mark a lot of fish rather than one or two. They should start to school in deeper water as the water temperature gets warmer.
Campground News: Jordan Campground on Norfork Lake is open April 1-Oct. 1 and managed by Jordan Marina. Formerly run by the Army Corps of Engineers, Jordan Campground is a favorite of families camping on the south end of Norfork Lake and is the gateway to Sand Island and Jordan area beaches. This area also is a favorite of scuba divers, with 30 dive sites within 2 miles of the campground. Jordan Campground has 41 RV and tent sites; sites with 50-amp service and 30-amp service are available for $20 per night. The campground, adjacent to Jordan Marina, also features a swimming beach, picnic pavilion, boat launch and two restrooms. For more information, call (870) 499-7223 or Jordan Marina at (870) 499-7348.
Norfork Tailwater
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903)
Just Fishing Guides said midges are best close to the dam and in the park. Caddis and mayfly patterns are working mid-river on down. Also, try scud, sow bug and small streamers when hatches aren’t taking place.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,118.1 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said striper fishing is good. Fish can be found from Prairie Creek to the dam. Stripers can be taken on live shad fished on down lines and lightly weighted balloon lines trolled 50-100 feet back, 20-35 feet deep, at speeds from 0.5-3 mph. Downriggers are producing with artificials. Stripers will be found in areas holding bait near the main channel. You may have to hit several spots to get your fish. Water surface temperatures are in the mid to high 70s. Check out these hot spots: the back of Indian creek past the power lines; Dry Creek and the mouth of this arm; Point 5; Doc’s Cabin and the island between points 5 and 6, as well as the channel bend near the shallow gravel bar on the opposite bank; Copper Mine; Ventris, and Prairie Creek. Walleye are making their way back toward the big water. Fish clear water for best results. Most walleye are 6-8 feet deep; fish are being taken off area flats near the channel. Try trolling the flats with a slow-death rig at less than 1 mph. Areas around the islands at Prairie Creek and near points 12, 9, 8 and 7 have been producing walleye. Flat-line troll with Hot ’N Tots, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripsticks in natural blue, black/back combos or chartreuse/orange and clown colors. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles is also producing.
Jason Piper JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good early and late in the day using top-water plugs and buzz baits along banks with flooded cover. During the day, 4-inch Curly Tail grubs on an Alabama rig, a Finesse worm or lizard Carolina-rigged or drop-shotted have been effective fished over main lake flats and points. Crappie fishing has been very good early in the day. Fish have been holding tight to cover just off the bottom along bluff lines and in the mouths of small pockets adjacent to bluff lines. Yellow/white, black/chartreuse, pink/white or gray tubes on sixteenth-ounce jigheads fished from the bottom up in 20-40 feet of water have been most effective. Eden Bluff, Horseshoe Bend, Hickory Creek and the bluffs just upstream from War Eagle Marina have been good places to fish both early and at night under lights. White bass fishing has been best at night under lights using live shad or minnows 10-20 feet deep. Arkansas Highway 12 bridge, bluffs just east of Rocky Branch, Eden Bluff and Horseshoe Bend have been good places to night fish. Catfishing has been great at night from the bank using liver or worms. The U.S. Highway 412 and Arkansas Highway 12 bridge accesses have been good places to fish.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream have been good with crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows around brush piles, and trolling Hot ’N Tots and crankbaits. Bass are fair on top-waters early in the morning and at dusk. They’re also going for Carolina rigs, jigs and crankbaits deep during the day. Catfish are good on trotlines with live and prepared bait.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said low, clear water conditions mean long leaders and stealthy presentations. Sight casting to visible fish instead of blind casting will spook fewer fish and improve hook-ups. Generation has been off in the mornings until 11 a.m. recently. Fish streamers early, then midges late morning. Recommended patterns include Woolly Bugger, Slump Buster, Squirrely Tukass, .56er, Sparrow, Zebra Midge, BH Simple Sow, Humpback Scud, BH Pheasant Tail and BH Hare’s Ear.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the lake is a bit low, but the water clarity is normal. Bass have been slow but the plastic worm seems to work best during the sunny part of the day. Use a top-water bait (frog, popper or buzz bait early and late). Crappie and bass have been turned off by upper-level disturbances. One day they’re hot; next day they’re not.
Bluegill and redear are not bothered as much with these fronts, and can be caught on red worms or crickets fished 3 feet deep. Non-spawning crappie can be caught 6 feet deep with minnows, in 14-16 feet of water. Spawnning crappie are being caught at 2½ feet, with minnows fished in 4-5 feet of water under a bobber. Tube jigs (red/chartreuse) with a slow retrieve produced 50 keeper-size crappie one night. Yo-yos with live bluegill for bait failed to produce anything on the same night. Go figure!
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said the river gauge near Grandview was reading 2.7 feet and 22 cfs Wednesday. Low level for floating and fishing and very clear. Water temperatures are hitting 75-82 degrees in the afternoon and averaging 78 degrees. Fish are biting on watermelon red and white soft plastics. Flyfishing is good with Tequeely streamers, Rabbit Strip Divers in white or chartreuse, and Crazy Dads in olive. Sunfish are good with poppers.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and the level is normal. Bream fishing is fair with crickets or worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs; white bass are going for these, too. Bass are fair with crankbaits, small Finesse worms and other artificials. Catfish are good with worms and chicken liver.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake was clear and low about 2 inches. Bream are good close to shore; use worms and crickets. Crappie are fair with minnow and jigs in 4-6 feet of water. Bass are good on spinners, crankbaits, top-water lures and a variety of other lures. Catfish are good with chicken liver and shad.
Upper White River (Twin Bridges area)
Just Fishing Guides had no report this week.
Northeast Arkansas
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) had no report this week.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the lake was murky and just below normal level. Bream are fair to good on red worms and crickets. No report on crappie or saugeye. Bass are fair with artificials and minnows. Catfish are good with jugs at night on a variety of baits.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water is running at 330 cfs at the spring and water has been clear. Low and clear water has made for some great wade fishing over the last week. Caddis nymphs and guppies are working great. Hot pink Trout Magnets have been hot also. With the temperature being so warm, wet wading has been the way to go.
Southeast Arkansas
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park had no report.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.4 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said largemouth bass continue feeding the best at dawn through mid-morning, then the heat is driving them deep to sulk majority of mid-day through late afternoon, then another good flurry of bites after daytime heating subsides in late afternoon. Little River’s oxbows over the past week have much improved water clarity. Surface temperatures as of Monday were 79-87 degrees. Discharge rate as of Monday was 484 cfs. Clarity and visibility on main lake structure improved, although stained somewhat in the river; currently ranging 14-20 inches in the river. The oxbows’ clarity is better. The AGFC recently stocked 125,000 Florida bass in Millwood Lake. A 12-year-old caught a 9-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass on a buzz bait last week and took it to the Army Corps of Engineers office to weigh it. Numerous techniques are catching bass, including buzz baits, soft plastic Bass Assassin shad jerk baits, and soft plastic frogs and toads are starting to turn on. Creature baits, worms, spinner baits, and jigs around stumps, grass, new lily pad growth, and wood laydowns in the oxbows, away from river current, are working. For oxbows, where the water is much clearer, diablo craw, black/blue or pumpkin/chartreuse-colored StrikeWorks jigs around stumps, laydowns and in lily pad stems were taking 17- to 19-inch bass. Dead-sticking Bass Assassin shads and trick worms on a light wire hook have been catching good bass in the 3- to 4-pound range, worked extremely slowly around new blooming lily pads. White bass are scattered along Little River and the oxbows in loose and broken schools, but can be found by trolling crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps. Several broken schools were busting shad at the surface in McGuire and Horseshoe oxbow lakes up Little River last week. Crappie have moved over planted brush piles and can be found with electronics in 12- to 17-foot depths on jigs and grubs on light wire jigheads in brush piles and standing timber. Catfish remain good this week on trotlines, yo-yos, tight lines, along current and break lines in the outer bends of Little River. Blues and channel cats continue biting best on cut bait, shad and chicken livers in 14-18 feet of Little River on the outer break lines in current or on yo-yos along the river or 8-10 feet deep in the oxbows.
Lake Greeson
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.3 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and water level is high. Bream are biting well, mainly on crickets and worms in shallow water. Catfish are good on jugs and trotlines baited with chicken livers, shad and bream in 8-12 feet of water. No report on crappie, bass or walleye.
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
DeGray Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 405.4 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
Local angler George Graves said he hasn’t seen many hummingbirds this year and he has two feeders out. “Anyone seeing many hummers?” he asks. The surface water temperature is in the low 80s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is fair with the heat slowing the daytime fishing. Several good catches were reported in the early morning on top-water lures such as Zara Spooks, Sammys, Flukes, swim baits and the Alabama rig. Look for breaking fish on long, main lake points and try to get the lure as close to the fish as possible. You have to be there early, even before sunrise. Best areas to try are the big coves between Point 28 and Edgewood, the points and coves between the state park lodge and Caddo Bend. Also try the big coves on the south side of the lake between points 2 and 4. If you have to fish during the day, try a Texas-rigged worm or lizard in green pumpkin or red shad off the deep side of main lake points in 10-20 feet of water. Now is the start of night fishing for bass. Use a black double-blade spinner bait and fish main lake points. After midnight is the best time. Crappie fishing is pretty good on the deep attractors, (20-25 feet). Best bet is a sixteenth-ounce jighead with a Tennessee Shad 2-inch grub or tube. Another favorite is Garland’s 2-inch Baby Shad in clear sparkle. Fish the lures vertically over the thickest part of the brush with very little movement. If fish refuse the jig, try rosy red minnows fished under a slip float set to about 15 feet and move slowly around the attractor. Early morning is the best time, even before sunrise. Look for attractors between Arlie Moore and Iron Mountain. Not much action from the Shrouse Ford/Point Cedar area. Hybrid fishing remains good with the fish spread throughout the lake. Shouse Ford is still good, but there are now plenty of fish between Arlie Moore and the state park. Very little surface activity, so you are going to have to use the sonar to find fish. Look off the deep edges of points and humps. Fish will be suspended 15-20 feet down. Best pattern is to slow troll either a five-arm umbrella rig with 3-inch Curly Tail grubs or crankbaits such as a Fat Free Shad, with the umbrella rig the better lure. If surface activity is found, throw a spoon or big in-line spinner over the fish. The best bite is between sunrise and 9 a.m. Bream fishing is good and will be even better with the full moon. Look for beds in 5-8 feet of water; they look like big craters. Best areas are in coves with sandy bottoms and some rock or woody cover nearby. Use red worms or crickets and a float. Catfish are fair with everything being caught at night and on noodles or trotlines. Set the noodles at about 20 feet and drop off long points or coves. Best baits are stink baits, Catfish Charlie, dried blood and hot dogs with soap. Soak you hot dogs in strawberry Kool-Aid. Be sure to identify your noodles and trotline end floats.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Nimrod
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 345 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting around brush piles and the upper Fourche River on No. 6 and 8 minnows, Baby Shad, Slab Slay’R and Stroll’R in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white shad, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Bream are biting night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are going for tequila sunrise and dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are biting great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Catfish are biting worms, minnows and goldfish. Bass are good on dark-colored worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Fourche La Fave River
Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said the river is stained. Crappie are fair on minnows and, in run-off areas, white/salt and pepper and red/chartreuse Baby Shad, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Catfish are biting stink bait, livers and goldfish in the river. Bass are going for tequila sunrise and dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.
Lake Hamilton
For a daily fishing report from Darryl Morris, visit Family Fishing Trips.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie have been fair, especially with minnows and jigs fished deeper than normal. Bass are good; try spinners, crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are good on worms, chicken liver, and trotlines baited with shiners.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 386.9 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
Lake Ouachita
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 575.5 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
Shane Goodner, reports water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 69 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Cooler day and night temperatures have allowed lake temperature to drop several degrees. With longer generation times scheduled for this week, temperatures will fall into the low 60s which is much more suitable for the rainbow trout population. Trout fishing remains good as high-quality rainbows are caught daily. Artificial lures are often ignored in slack-water conditions so anglers must select live bait presentations for success. Wax worms and redworms combined with a marshmallow floater is a consistent pattern whether fished under a bobber or on the bottom. Small live minnows also work well used in the same manner. Corn (which resembles a fish egg) has accounted for limits of trout fished with a bobber. Crickets also have caught trout as insects are hatching and moving in and around the water. Night crawlers cut in half offer anglers another good live bait presentation as hungry trout actively search for food. May and June fishing demands patience since the bite is much slower than in earlier months. Location is critical with the majority of fish holding in key areas. Drum continue to spawn and thrive below the dam. Live shad and crawfish are the most effective baits around sandbars with heavy lines. White bass continue to spawn in the tailrace and are being caught on live minnows and small white or yellow jigs. The best fishing occurs during periods of generation. These fish will be active below the dam through June. Some walleye fishing is being done with 3- to 5-pound fish being caught at night on night crawler rigs or live shad. Striper activity is hit-and-miss with a few breaking fish spotted below the bridge in the main channel. Gizzard or brood shad fished under a balloon rig have been the most effective techniques to find and catch these fish as they migrate in and out of the tailrace chasing shad.
East Arkansas
Bear Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park had no report this week.
Storm Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park had no report this week.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and low. Bream are good, especially with crickets. Crappie reports have been fair with minnows and jigs. Bass are good on crankbaits. Catfish have been poor.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are good in cypress trees with worms and crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are fair with plastic worms, especially in lily pads. Catfish are good with yo-yos or limblines with cut bait or night crawlers around cypress trees.