Statewide Urban Fishing Report: Anglers are catching a few trout in the ponds and Rock Creek on pink Power Eggs and Rooster Tails. Bream are biting wax worms and crickets near shore. Hybrid stripers are biting nightcrawlers and various artificial baits. Hybrids were stocked last week in Willow Beach Pond, Burns Park Pond near Cooks Landing, Camp Robinson ponds, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Pond in Pine Bluff. Catfish are being caught in the Cabot Community Pond on minnows and stinkbait.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS:
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the crappie are biting well in 1 to 2 feet of water on small pink minnows fished tight to woody structure. Bream are beginning to bed up and are biting well on crickets and red worms around woody cover. Catfish are biting well on chicken livers and prepared baits such as Magic Bait. Bass are biting well around the lily pads on white spinnerbaits.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 455.53 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina said the lake is low and clear. Crappie are biting well in 5 to 15 feet of water on 1/8th-ounce marabou jigs in white or white with a red streak. The best action has come from the buck brush and treetops. White bass and hybrids are biting well on trolled medium-diving stick baits such as Rattlin’ Rogues and Hog Sticks. White marabou jigs tipped with a minnow are also working well on the white bass. Walleye are fair in 10 to 20 feet of water on nightcrawlers drifted across the main lake points.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said bass are making their move to the spawning areas and should be on the beds. Fish Carolina-rigged lizards and Brush Hogs from the bank to around 12 to 15 feet of water. Jigs, floating worms, crawfish imitations and Rite Bite Cinkos will also pick up a few of the bedding bass in shallower water. Walleye are moving out to main lake flats about 25-35 feet deep and should be putting on the feedbag soon. Drift a crawler harness over the main lake flats and gradual slopes for a few ‘eyes. When the water is being pulled from the lake, the hybrids are busting the surface of the water, but if you’re not on top of them when it happens, it’s pretty hit-and-miss.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the lake is almost full and clear. Bream are starting to show up in the shallows, biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on white jigs and minnows. Bass fishing is fair, with white spinnerbaits and black soft-plastics working the best. Catfishing is good on stinkbait.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well in the shallows on red worms and crickets. The best action has been around brush piles along the edge of the grass. Crappie are biting well on Roadrunners, small spinnerbaits and chartreuse jigs fished tight to the banks. Catfishing is poor. Some good catches of bass have been reported on spinnerbaits and tubes fished in the shallows.
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Bates Field and Stream said the water is murky. Bream should be bedding up and the fishing has been good lately in 12 to 18 inches of water. Wax worms, crickets and red wigglers are working well around any woody cover or rock piles. Crappie are biting well in 18 inches of water on small silver or pink minnows fished close to brush. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits worked around any pads or vegetation in the backwater. Flathead, blue and channel cats are all biting well on chicken livers and Magic Bait.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the water is clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished along the bank. Bass are biting well on top-water lures fished near the edges of the grass. Catfishing has been good on live and prepared baits.
Maumelle River: Bream are biting well in 3 to 4 feet of water on crickets and red worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse jigs fished around cypress trees in 4 to 6 feet of water.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said bass are biting well and are in their spring patterns again. Spinnerbaits, top-water lures and crankbaits worked shallow are producing some largemouths, as are flipping tubes and drop-shot rigs fished along the channels and points. Kentucky bass are biting fairly well in around 15 to 20 feet of water and are going for 3-inch grubs, worms and tubes in pumpkinseed colors. The white bass bite ahs been good for around six weeks now and should continue for a couple more. They are around the chimney on the north side of the lake and near the park on the south bank. Rogues with orange bellies have been the most consistent producers. The crappie are moving to shallower water and are being caught on Road Runners, Beetle Spins and small crappie minnows. Catfishing is good and the best action has come from 20 feet deep on large minnows, Canadian nightcrawlers and chicken livers. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms in about 20 to 35 feet of water.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the lake is stained. Crappie are holding around the edge of the grass around the islands in 2 to 3 feet of water and are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair in 5 to 6 feet of water on 4-inch soft-plastic finesse worms fished near secondary points.
Arkansas River: Charley’s Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 3,000 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 285.72 and a tailwater of 265.08. The bass are spawning in the backwater areas and are biting well on floating worms in natural colors like motor oil. Top-water baits and shallow-running crankbaits are also working well during low-light hours. White bass are still up the tributaries and are biting well on black and yellow Beetle Spins. Try the backs of the tributaries during low light and the mouths of these creeks during midday. Catfish are moving around the jetties and riprap. Live bream in 8 to 15 feet of water are working well on the cats. Bream are in 2 to 6 feet of water where the riprap meets the grass. Crappie are holding to wood structure in 3 to 8 feet of water and biting well on minnows.
Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said Catfishing is good below the hydroelectric plant fishing on the bottom with cut shad and nightcrawlers.
McSwain Sports Center said Crappie are biting well along the jetties on various color jigs in 6 feet of water. White bass are biting well on tube jigs fished in 10 feet of water around the rocks. All other species are slow.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing said the water is clear in the center of the lake, but has a slight stain around its edge. Crappie are biting well and are still shallow, on the beds. Minnows and green/chartreuse tube jigs fished around brush in coves and on points are catching the majority of the crappie. Bass are biting well in shallow water, with a jig/minnow combination working well. Catfish are getting ready for their spawn, and are beginning to move to the shallows, especially at night. Chicken livers and minnows on yo-yos and limblines are catching good numbers of cats.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the water is stained and at normal level. Trout are still being caught on marshmallows and PowerBait in 5 feet of water. Crappie are fair in 6 to 8 feet of water on jigs or minnows fished under a bobber and worked alongside any cover.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s said the water is clear. Bream are fair on crickets fished near rocky areas. Crappie are biting well on tube jigs near brush piles in 2 to 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well on watermelon seed lizards in 2 to 4 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on blood bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s said the river is running fairly clear. Bream are biting well in 4 feet of water on smoke-colored grubs fished near brush piles. Crappie are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on tube jigs fished tight to stumps. Bass are biting well on green pumpkin lizards fished in 2 to 4 feet of water near brush and stumps. Catfishing is slow.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said the water is at normal levels. Crappie are biting fairly well in 6 feet of water on white 3-inch grubs fished around the rocks and jetties. White bass are hanging in 10 feet of water around the rocks and biting well on white twister-tail grubs as well. All other species are slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the lake is about one foot low. Bream are fair in 3 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair in 3 to 4 feet of water on black/white jigs fished near the grass. Bass are biting well in 2 feet of water on spinnerbaits bumped through any woody cover. Catfish are slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS:
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said there were two days of minimal generation last week. One unit was on for several hours Monday and Wednesday. The lake level is still climbing, and we received some more rain to help. Fishing has been excellent using white or yellow PowerBait with a wax worm on a No. 6 hook. If you prefer artificials, there are several Mepps lures in No. 7 or 9 sizes that work well. Also, any type of white or silver spoon, such as the Little Cleo, Rooster Tail, and Krocodile lures spoon, is excellent. Fly fishermen are enjoying the spring hatches of midges and caddis, and using sow bugs with much success. A No. 10 bead-head olive woolly bugger has been the best-selling fly all week.
Wilderness Trail said trout fishing has been very good. With low or no generation Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and Sunrise or chartreuse or rainbow nuggets have worked well along with red worms. With generation, Buoyant Spoons, Rooster Tails, Little Cleos, Panther Martins and Countdown Rapalas are the baits of choice. The fly fishermen have done extremely well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, caddis, scuds and sow bugs. The brown trout are being caught on Countdowns, Shad Raps, suspending Rogues and nightcrawlers.
North Fork River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said for the last few weeks, one generator has been coming online usually between 5 and 6 in the morning, but then only running for a couple of hours, then coming online again in the evening. However, there has still been plenty of low water during the middle of the day to provide some very productive wade fishing. On the upper river, the usual McLellan’s Hunchback Scuds and Woven Sow Bugs are still hooking plenty of trout, but on the lower river, it’s time to switch to caddis patterns like the Z-Wing Caddis and the Graphic Caddis. Also, as more adults start to hatch in the late afternoon/evening, be sure to have plenty of Elk Hair Caddis and Web-Wing Caddis for some fun dry fly action. During a caddis hatch is also a good time to swing soft hackles across the river. New soft hackle patterns like the Swing Caddis, Swing Nymph, Submarine Soft hackle, and Wired Red Ass have all been hooking plenty of trout this spring. Best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (14-16), Flashback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (12-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Rojo Midge (22), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Red Jujubee Midge (20-22), Johnny Flash (20-24), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Graphic Caddis Tan and Olive (14-18), Z-Wing Caddis (14-16), Caddis Larva (14-16), Submarine Soft Hackle (16), Swing Caddis (16), Swing Nymph (16), Web Wing Caddis (14-20), Candy Caddis (16-18), Elk Hair Caddis (and variations) (14-18), E-Z Caddis (14-18).
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said some good brown trout are being caught in the early mornings on Power Eggs, Zig Jigs and sculpin imitations. Fly anglers are doing well on Y2K bugs, sow bugs, caddis patterns and woolly buggers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 647.55 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said the cold front pushed the water temperatures back down again and postponed the spawn for a few more days. Lake temperature as of Sunday was 52.8 degrees with a degree or two warmer up lake and in the Theodosia arm. The backs of some creeks are at 56 degrees and with the predicted warm week ahead we should be back on track soon. Crappie were active this week in about 8 to 12 feet of water inside the brush piles and toward the back of the pockets. Live minnows are the choice for many anglers but this week Bobby Garland’s Swimming Minnows have outshined the live bait. White Bass are in position in the back of the creeks and should spawn by the weekend. Small spoons, inline spinners and Roadrunners are the best baits for the spawn. Largemouth bass are positioning themselves in spawning areas, but we need 6 to 8 degrees more in lake temperature before they will get to business. Staging bass sometimes become spooky and this year we have very clear water, so you need to downsize your line size (8-pound test is a good choice) and make long casts with jigs, tubes, trick worms and soft stick baits. Fish are around docks, blowdowns and rocky banks or points toward the back of the creeks and pockets. Smallmouth bass are staging on pea rock pints, pea rock banks and banks that have ledges down in 8 to 10 feet of water. They should start spawning near the end of the week. Pockets in the main lake and major creeks are holding nice smallies. Hot baits have been tubes, spider jigs, centipedes and lizards. Fish the lizard and centipede on Mojo rigs with 6-pound test line and a 3-foot leader. On breezy days, fish Wiggle Warts or spinnerbaits with gold and silver willow blades. Kentucky bass are also up on the banks staging along chunk rock in 12 to 18 feet of water. Centipedes and lizards in watermelon or watermelon candy have been the best colors. Look for areas that have transition changes on the banks, both on the main lake and in the creeks. Walleye are spotty. After talking with Walleye Guide Heath Holman, the walleye in the upper lake are spawned out and the walleye from mid-lake to the dam are just days away from spawn. So if you are fishing up lake your walleye are in post spawn and if you are mid to lower lake your walleye are pre-spawn. Either way it is tough. Jerk baits are your best bet for the next week to ten days. Suspending Rogues, X-Raps or Lucky Craft Pointer 78’s are the best baits.
Sugar Loaf Harbor said the water clarity is poor and the lake is at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse and blue tube jigs and swimming minnows in 15 feet of water just off the banks. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and Carolina-rigged lizards fished around the shallows. Bream and catfish are poor.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 544.20 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is clear and still low. Bream are biting well in 10 to 15 feet of water around brush and stumps. Red worms and crickets are catching the majority of the bream. Crappie are biting well on Zig Jigs, NorFork Jigs and Bobby Garland’s Swimming Minnow in 2 to 10 feet of water around brush and rocks. Bass are biting well on flukes, tubes, lizards and crankbaits fished in 3 to 15 feet of water. Stripers are biting well on Jerkbaits, Reef Runners and flukes in the river arms during low light. Walleye are biting well on Rogues, Rapala Shad Raps and Rapala X Raps in shallow water during the evenings.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,107.59 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is low and clear. Crappie are spawning and biting well in 10 to 12 feet of water on tube jigs, minnows and Shiny Heinie jigs fished over gravel banks. Black bass are also starting to spawn and are biting well on soft-plastic creature baits fished on a Carolina rig and on finesse worms fished on a jighead. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. White bass are in the river arms and biting extremely well around wind-swept points in 1 to 10 feet of water. Jerkbaits and shad-style soft plastics such as Sassy Shads are working well.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the lake is in great condition and the fishing is picking up. Bream are biting fairly well on small jigs and panfish worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass action has picked up on flukes, with the majority of the bass staging, looking for areas to bed. White bas are biting well on silver spoons and Roadrunner jigs.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the water is muddy. Crappie are in the shallows and biting well on worms and minnows fished around woody cover 2 to 3 feet deep. Bass are fair on soft-plastic creature baits fished in 3 to 10 feet deep. Catfishing and bream fishing are both poor.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation for the last few days, providing plenty of wading opportunities. Scuds, sow bugs and midge pupa patterns have been very productive; however, cream midge adult patterns have hooked several trout over the past week. Spring is a good time to swing soft hackles across the river. New soft hackle patterns like the Swing Nymph, Submarine Soft hackle, and Wired Red Ass have all been hooking plenty of trout this spring.
Best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Gray and Olive (14-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Lightning Bug (16), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Rojo Midge (22), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Red Jujubee Midge (20-22), Johnny Flash (20-24), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Cream Midge Adult (22-24), Swing Nymph (16), Submarine Soft Hackle (16), Wired Red Ass (16).
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is stained and about 5 to 6 feet below normal. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets around the banks. Any structure you can find is producing a few fish. Crappie are getting ready to spawn and are biting well on minnows and jigs in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting fairly well on Zoom soft-plastic worms fished around isolated stumps.
Lake Poinsett: Bill’s Fresh Market Express said the crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp said the water is clear and running at normal levels for this time of year. Fishing is excellent, with trout and rock bass biting well on spinners and minnows.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Lake Chicot State Park said the bream are biting fairly well on wax worms. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows fished near piers. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Lake Monticello: Outdoor Super Store said the water is a little high and has 4 feet of visibility. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are on the edges of deep water and biting fairly well on minnows and jigs. The bass are biting well, and the top-water bite is beginning to improve.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.26 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water temps continue improving and activity levels of bass and crappie are very good. The river and oxbows have again improved stain from the last few weeks, and the main lake has begun clearing from recent high winds. Largemouth bass and crappie are again moving shallow, with some female bass having already sat on her bed. Bass remain good on pumpkinseed/white buzz baits, pumpkinseed/orange Rat-L-Traps, and lizards in blue flash, blue smoke or black grape in the clearer areas of water clarity. Trick or twitch worms in merthiolate fished around stumps on the west end of the pipeline are still working. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover color with hologram blades are drawing solid bass. Cordell Red Fins and Smithwick Rouges in clown or green perch continue working in shallow flats on warmer days around stumps and any new vegetation such as the dollar pad stems and blooms. Texas-rigged Brush Hogs and lizards in blue flash, smoke blue, candy bug, or camo in clearer oxbows are working well. Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes are still taking keepers on trees and stumps, close to deep drop-offs. The Rat-L-Traps in spring bream, crappie or pumpkin-orange colors are working well on points. Blue Cats are biting well on cottonseed mill cakes and cut shad on trot lines in 14-20 feet depth in Little River
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the lake is 4 inches low. Bass moved back to slightly deeper water with the cold front and are fair on deep-running crankbaits fished near stickups in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing has been good on trotlines and limblines baited with stinkbait.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is stained and at normal levels. Last weekend’s front pushed the fish a little deeper, but they should be back to the shallows soon. Black bass are fair in 6 to 10 feet of water on deep-running crankbaits and Carolina-rigged lizards.
White Oak Lake: Charlie’s One Stop said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are fair around brush and stumps with crickets being the best bait. Crappie are biting well and they are bedded up. Minnows and red wigglers are catching the slabs around brush and stumps. Bass are fair around brushy areas on soft plastics. Catfishing is poor.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.64 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said trout are just below the dam and biting well on salmon eggs. The rising water has shut down a lot of the fishing, but as the water clears and stabilizes, anglers should start having some luck on the typical spring patterns.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.65 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop said the lake is murky on the north end and clear on the south end. The water temperature is in the 60s throughout the lake. Bream are poor, but a few have been taken in 25 feet of water on red worms and crickets around mossy areas. Crappie are moving on the beds and are biting well on minnows and jigs fished in 8 to 12 feet of water. Many anglers had success pitching small jig spinners over grassy flats in 12 feet of water. Bass are going into spawning mode and are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Carolina rigs in 8 to 12 feet of water. Catfish are fair on chicken livers and bass minnows fished on jugs and trotlines in 8 to 25 feet of water. Hybrids are holding around Point Cedar and schooling mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Trolled crankbaits are catching quite a few hybrids.
Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Flyfishing said the thunderstorms last week made fishing a hit-or-miss proposition, but some good fish could be caught fishing smidges and A&W Emergers in deeper pools. The fish that were stocked earlier this year are really starting to put on some weight and making for some good fights on the Little Mo.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the water is cloudy and high. Bream are biting well in 4 to 5 feet of water on red worms, nightcrawlers and crickets. The bream seem to be trying to bed up. Crappie are biting well in the grass beds, some as shallow as 4 inches deep. Jigs and minnows are working the best on these shallow fish. White bass are spawning in the creeks and are biting well on white and chartreuse jigs and spoons worked off the bottom near any schooling activity. Largemouth bass are on the beds and are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft plastics worked right over their nests in 3 to 4 feet of water.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 387.00 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line said the lake is muddy and at normal levels. Crappie are biting well in 12 to 16 inches of water on minnows and chartreuse jigs fished around brush piles and stumps. Catfish are coming up to the shallows in the evenings, and fishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart said the river is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting fairly well in the backwater on crickets and nightcrawlers fished 4 feet deep. Crappie are biting well in 3 to 4 feet of water on minnows and jigs below the dam. White bass are biting well on jigs and minnows drifted under a bobber in the tailwater. Stripers are fair on white hair jigs and spoons when the generators are running. Black bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits, jigs and chatter baits run through the shallows. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait, minnows and nightcrawlers.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.91 feet MSL.
Local angler Jim Campbell said Ouachita is red hot for bass, crappie and walleye. Floating trick worms in watermelon with orange or red flake or C-rigged 6" lizards in the same colors are killing the bass dragging them from as shallow as 2 feet to around 12 feet deep at the old edge of hydrilla. Best spots are still windswept ridges and points near deep water. Males are fanning beds around Joplin, but the bigger female fish should be moving up soon. The surface temp averages 68 with some warmer water over muddy flats. Stripers are working the baitfish along with bass, taking Bomber Long-As and other top-water jerkbaits. Night fishing is getting really good with black 1/4 oz spinnerbaits with Colorado blade, or a ¾-oz. black jig with dark craw dragged over shallow rocks and gravel. Crappie are biting well on a 1/16-oz. jig with red head and red hook tipped with a 2-inch Kalin’s swim grub in Tennessee Shad and Acid Rain color.
Lake Ouachita State Park Marina said fishing has slowed some from last week, but is still good. The pollen is added a yellow tint to the water color. The water temp is ranging from 60 to 63 degrees. Anglers have reported decent catches of crappie around the hydrilla lines and drop-offs on Kalin’s grubs in Tennessee shad and John Deer colors. Striper fishing is fair in areas where the shad are located and have been caught on gray flukes, spoons and crankbaits imitating the shad. Brood minnows have worked on stripers as well. Bass fishing has been fair on the traditional baits such as finesse worms, and spinner baits. Bream fishing is good and they have been caught in the shallows and off the hydrilla lines on small jigs and spinners. Catfishing is good on small bream and trotlines baited with minnows.
Lake Catherine: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said the water is at normal pool and the fishing is picking up with the warmer weather. Bream and crappie are biting well in 5 feet of water around brush piles. The bream are going for worms and crickets, while the crappie are biting the best on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is excellent on floating worms fished around the many docks on the lake. Catfishing is good on live minnows fished on the bottom where the creeks and coves meet the main channel.
Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill’s Sport Shop said the water is slightly stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well in 5 feet of water. Red worms and crickets are working well around planted brush piles and stumps. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows fished in 5 feet of water around brush piles. Bass are biting excellently on floating worms fished near the boat docks. Catfishing is good on minnows fished in the creek channel.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are biting excellently on minnows and jigs fished around brush and stumps in 3 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics, minnows and topwaters in 5 feet of water. Catfish are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers and chicken livers. All other species are slow.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting excellently on red worms and crickets fished under a cork in 3 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and small white jigs fished next to stumps on the coves of the lake. Bass are biting extremely well on soft-plastic stick baits such as a Senko or Yum Dinger and spinnerbaits next to the cypress trees. Catfish are fair on worms and live minnows around 5 feet deep.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 345.45 feet MSL.
Lake Nimrod Bait ‘n’ More II said the crappie are moving into the shallows to spawn and are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bream are biting fairly well and are moving up to the shallows as well. Small panfish worms are the best bet for the bream. Catfish are biting well on Danny King Punch Bait and goldfish. Bass are fair.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Benson’s Grocery and Bait said the water has been rising and falling fairly rapidly, so fishing has been a little off. Bream are beginning to pick up on crickets and should be looking for their beds soon. Catfish anglers are doing well on crawfish and shiners fished on the bottom.
EAST ARKANSAS:
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods said the water is stained. Bream are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on crickets fished tight to stumps in the backwater. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse jigs and crappie minnows fished in 1 to 3 feet of water around brush. Bass fishing is excellent on lizards and Yum Dingers fished in 1 to 3 feet of water near the bank. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers in 30 to 40 feet of water.
The Tackle Box said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting excellently around the rocks near the Corps of Engineers Office. The bream are holding in 4 to 5 feet of water and biting wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in the harbor and on Lake Pine Bluff near the old dump around sand and gravel bars. Minnows and jigs in 3 feet of water are working well. Catfish are biting fairly well in the river and well in Lake Pine Bluff.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are biting well in 1 to 2 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished close to the bank. Catfish are fair on Sonny’s Stinkbait. Bass are fair on jigs and soft-plastics worked through their beds.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors said the lake is clear and at normal pool. Crappie fishing is slow, but a few crappie have been caught along the banks on minnows and tube jigs. All other species are poor.
Six Rivers Sport Center said bream are biting fairly well on crickets just off the bank. Crappie are holding close to the bank and biting well on black/chartreuse jigs and minnows under a slip-cork rig. Bass are hanging in the shallows, holding around points. White spinnerbaits have worked well on the bass. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with bream and shad.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water conditions are good, but the lake is still a little low. Bream are biting well on crickets, red worms and wax worms in the shallows; some especially nice bream have been caught on the wax worms. Crappie are holding around 4 to 6 feet deep near the piers. Blue and chartreuse jigs are catching some good slabs, and minnows are great for numbers of fish. Bass are biting well around 2 to 3 feet deep on white spinnerbaits fished around lily pads and bumped off of cypress trees. Catfishing is nothing short of excellent, with blood bait and stinkbait pulling in the cats in stump fields and around piers.