Fishing Tip: When anglers carry their fishing rods, they usually carry them the same way they use them – with a hand near the reel seat and the rod tip in front of their body. It’s a big mistake because it’s easy to trip or snag the tip and wind up with a snapped rod. It’s especially dangerous if a crank bait with a couple of treble hooks is dangling from the tip. Instead, carry the rod with the tip behind you. Same thing goes for stowing a rod in a canoe or other small boat: Point the rod toward the stern. More than one angler has been foul hooked or lost a rod because it snagged in a tree in fast water.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Tuesday morning Arkansas River stages were:
21.0 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet)
24.0 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet)
11.2 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet)
35.6 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet)
28.1 feet at Pendleton (flood stage – 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Tuesday morning White River stages were:
12.2 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
24.1 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
11.4 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
7.1 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
5.1 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Channel catfish have been stocked in all program ponds across the state. They are biting well on chicken livers, hot dogs and paste stinkbait. Early mornings and late evenings have been best for fishing. Bream are biting well on crickets, wax worms and red worms. For more bream fishing success, try fishing near submerged brush tops. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake is stained but at normal level. Crappie are biting fair 1 to 1½ feet off the bottom, with minnows and chartreuse jigs. Bream are fair in 20-25 feet of water, biting on wax worms and crickets.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is clear and there has been a little generation in the afternoons till dark. Trout fishing is good in the mornings with TroutKrilla baits. The best colors are orange and green. In the afternoons with generation, fishermen have been using cranks baits such as floating Rapalas or Buoyant spoons.
Little Red River: Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse has been generating every afternoon. The river is crystal clear and rich in oxygen but fishing has been spotty. The aquatic insect hatches continue but are tapering off. The caddis hatch is almost over. Dry flies that are working include the American March brown (sizes 14-16), elk hair caddis (sizes 16-18), Adams (size 16), sulphurs (sizes 18-20) and midges (sizes 16-22). The best wet flies are zebra midges (sizes 16-22), sow bugs (sizes 14-16), pheasant tail (size16), prince (size 16), gold-ribbed hare’s ears (sizes 14-16) and copper Johns (sizes 14-16). The best time to fish is mid-day and later from Winkley Shoal and points downstream.
Greers Ferry: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.03 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature is still a bit cool for this time of year but rising. Walleye are biting fairly well on night crawlers. Catfishing should be good until summer heat sets in. Crappie and bream are biting well around brush 15-20 feet deep.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the lake is clear, smooth and at normal level. A few crappie and bass are being caught around the brush piles on the main lake.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is rough. A few bream are being caught with crickets and worms. Bass and hybrids are in deeper water and are biting on crank baits.
Lake Beaverfork: The Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is murky and calm. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie are biting well on red, white and yellow jigs. Bass are biting well on lizards and frogs. Catfish are fair on chicken livers.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said bream are biting on crickets close to the bank. Crappie are deep and biting on minnows and jigs.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting in 10-12 feet of water on pink, white and chartreuse, white and red, and red and chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting on spinner baits and buzzbaits in buckbrush. Catfish are biting well on night crawlers, shrimp and small bream.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets. Crappie are good in buckbrush on small minnows, blue and white, red, white and chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting bubble gum Flukes.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the river is very low and clear. All species reports are poor to fair.
Little Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well in the lily pads on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are slow on live minnows. Bass are fair early in the morning and late afternoon on shallow-running crank baits and plastic worms. Catfish are good on limb lines, trotlines, and yo-yo’s baited with live minnows, live slicks and chicken livers.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting fair on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are poor. Bass are biting fair to good on buzz baits, black and red-flake Gitzits. Catfish are biting fair on cut bait and shad.
Big Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting fair to good on crickets, red worms and wax worms. Bass are biting Gitzits, top-water stick baits and willow-leaf spinner baits. Catfish are biting well in the channel on trotlines with live slicks and cut bait.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said largemouth bass are good during the day on spinners, Gitzits, and jig-and-pigs deep. White bass have been biting spoons and tail spinners well around the spillway. Crappie are fair about 15 feet deep on red and white jigs. Bream can be found with crickets fished in shallow water. Catfishing is good on large minnows.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake is at normal level and good clarity. Crappie are biting on red and chartreuse tube jigs and Tennessee shad grubs around brush piles. Bass are hitting on any color plastic worm in 12 feet of water around brush. Catfish are biting in shallow water on live baits.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is clear and normal level. Crappie are fair on live baits and orange and blue Rooster Tails around brush piles. Bass are biting yellow twisters. Catfish are moving closer and getting ready to spawn. They may be caught on live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 121,700 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 284.50 and a tailwater of 281.26. River flows are expected to stay in the 100,000-120,000 range until May 25. Copper’s Gap, Petit Jean River and Point Remove Creek and Flagg Lake cut-off are showing lots of potential for white bass using 3- to 4-inch Sassy Shads in pearl color. Black bass are in the backwater areas in 3-8 feet of water. Try buzzbaits. Kentucky bass are chasing crawfish-colored crank baits. Catfish are in the shallows and below the dam; they are hitting shad. Crappie are under overhangs and taking minnows. Stripers can be found around jetty tips and below the dam. Try using live bait in 6-12 feet of water.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said white bass and stripers are hitting on white Twister Tails. Catfish are biting on live slicks and skipjacks.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water level is high. Bass and stripers are fair on hair jigs and large minnows. Catfish are biting fair on cut shad.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the lake is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting pretty good on large night crawlers cut into pieces. Crappie are excellent on tube jigs with crappie niblets, minnows and wax worms. Bass are fair on spinner baits and 7-inch black plastic worms.
Fourche La Fave River : Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting crickets and red worms. Crappie are biting fair on live minnows. Catfish are poor to fair on trotlines with cut bait.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the lake is clear and full. Catfish are biting on blood bait. Fishermen also are catching catfish on limb lines with cut bait. Bream are picking up and improving daily. Some good-size bass are being caught on blood baits.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Gaston’s White River Resort said Mepps, Buoyant spoons (red and gold) and spinners work well during periods of low water. Yellow PowerBait and orange PowerBait with wax worms are attracting fish, too. Night crawlers are working well in low water; red worms are working when generation starts. Red butt soft hackle, orange soft hackle, olive woolly buggers and red San Juan worms have worked for fly-fishers lately.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 657.35 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.89 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the lake is up and clear. Crappie are biting very good in 15 to 20 feet of water on minnows in brush piles. Bream are excellent on crickets and Belgium red worms. Bass are biting excellently on top-water baits, soft plastics and lizards. Stripers are very good early and late on top-water baits. A few catfish have been caught with jugs baited with cut shad or night crawlers. Walleye reports are picking up by trolling bottom-bouncers, night crawlers or Reef Runners. They also are being caught in 15 to 25 feet of water using stick baits over brush.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Fishing Resort (870-499-5381) saidwater releases at Norfork Dam this week have been low during morning and afternoon. The horn blows late afternoon and water runs about one generator. Trout tend to wait for even flows. Be patient and work the riffles, banks, tree limbs and shallows. Get your bait down to the tips of the moss. Bait fishing is best on night crawlers, red worms, Power Eggs and salmon eggs fished on green line smaller than 6-pound-test. Husky Jerks, Little Cleos, Blue Foxes and Original Rapalas are working well for spin-fishing. Fly-anglers are doing best on green or black woolly buggers, sow bugs, zebra midges or orange glow balls.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,121.19 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the lake is normal and clear. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bream are biting very well in shallow water on worms and crickets. Bass are fair on top-water baits early in the morning and during the day with jig-head worms in any shade of green. Zara Spooks and Flukes are working, too. Catfish are biting prepared baits and chicken livers.
Brad Wiegmann of Wiegmann’s Guide Service said bass have been pounded by professional anglers from the FLW Tour. Fishing has been on the slow side with all the pressure. The mid-lake and dam end of the lake have been the most productive. White bass are schooling around Arkansas Highway 12 and coves in the mid-lake area. Small top-water lures have been best when the fish are breaking. Stripers are around the dam and mid-lake area and are biting only during early morning or late in the day.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said wade fishing has been going well during recent low water. Midge patterns such as Jujubee, Poison Tung, and zebras have been working.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said strong winds have kept fishermen off the lake.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake looks great. Bream and crappie are biting well. Bream are hitting worms, and crappie are hitting jigs. There have been a few reports of bass caught with buzz baits. Catfish are fair with worms and chicken livers.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Mini Mart (479-639-9467) said the lake is clear and about normal level. Bream and catfish are biting worms.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal and clear. Bream are biting very well on red worms and crickets. Crappie and bass are fair, and catfish are biting very well on chicken livers and large minnows.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the lake is muddy and has dropped a few inches. Catfish are biting really well on goldfish.
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said water conditions are perfect. Bass are biting really well on assorted lures.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the river is clear and at a good level. Trout are biting yellow PowerBait.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the lake is a little low. Bream, bass and catfish are biting well. A few crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said it’s been really windy on the lake. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are being caught by trolling, and with minnows and jigs.
Lake Wilson: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said fishing is slow, but a few bream are being caught with worms and crickets.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.15 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the main lake and Little River surface temperature ranges from 72 to 80 degrees. Main lake clarity and visibility is poor – about 3 inches. Current has decreased to 168 cubic feet per second. Bass and crappie have the postspawn blues and are being very picky. Crappie are scattered from shallow water all the way to 18 feet deep. Largemouth bass are in their summer transition. The good bite on top-water lures and Bass Assassin shads has all but turned off. The jig and worm bite are the only dependable ways to find some good keepers this week. The best bite has been on large junebug Power Worms and on black, blue or purple jigs with black neon, soft-plastic chunks. The location of the fish varies from 6 inches to 14 feet. Channel catfish are fair on trotlines baited with cut shad, dog food and chicken livers. Longnose and spotted gar are cruising shallow flats in the backs of creeks and are very good opportunities for bowfishing.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the bream are biting well in 3 to 6 feet of water on red worms and crickets. Crappie have slowed down, but a few have been caught with silver shiners. Bass are hitting black worms with blue tails and pumpkin seed lizards.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bream are biting on worms and crickets.
Lake Greeson: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.71 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water level is just below full pool and the surface temperature is in the mid-70s. Most crappie have finished spawning. Crappie, bream, catfish and a few walleye have been caught on minnows and jigs fished 8 to 12 feet deep around brush and laydowns in 18 to 22 feet of water. Schools of white bass and stripers have been breaking briefly in the morning around the main channel between Point 6 and Point 11.
DeGray Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.70 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is clear. Catfish are biting well on live bait fished 12 to 20 feet deep. Bream are biting on crickets and red worms around beds. Bass are biting well on spinner baits and top-water baits. Crappie are fair around brush with minnows and tube jigs.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy with lots of current. Crappie are poor. Bream are pretty good with crickets. Bass are biting well in shallow water with spinners and top-water baits. Catfish are excellent on night crawlers and stink baits.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 387.20 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the lake is at normal level and good clarity. Bream are biting worms and crickets. Fishermen are catching crappie on minnows and jigs. Bass are hitting minnows and assorted lures. Catfish are good on worms and chicken livers.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the current is strong and at normal level. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are being caught in 12 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. Fishermen occasionally are catching white bass using spinners and crank baits. Catfish bite is good using chicken livers and minnows.
Lake Ouachita: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 577.66 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Marina said water temperature is 74-78 degrees and the water is clear. Largemouth bass continue to hit U-tail worms, swim baits and grass jigs. Jig-head finesse worms and Texas-rigged brush hogs are working well. Postspawn fish are good on top with Zara Spooks and Boy Howdys. Walleye are very good on spoons and jerk baits near creek channels and main lake points. Stripers are very good on live bait; brood minnows and gizzard shad are the baits of choice. Top-water action is still good. Try C10 Redfins and Zara Spooks early and late, or on cloudy days. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms in 6 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are still very good and being caught over grass in shallow water. Try large moss flats in water 10 to 18 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Arkansas shad, Tennessee shad and white are still the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are excellent on live bait and stinkbait on jugs and trotlines in water 10 to 20 feet deep.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are fair, particularly around brush and grass. Flukes and jig-head worms are working well. Stripers are fair on live shad when they’re found around timber. Crappie are slow. Bream are beginning to spawn.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said rainbow trout fishing continues to be excellent. Trout are in great shape and are providing anglers with wonderful fishing opportunities. Bank anglers are catching limits of trout on night crawlers, wax worms, and corn. Boaters are doing well on Super Dupers, Rooster Tails, Little Cleos and small crawdad crank baits. Most of the good fishing is while the turbines are not running. Live minnows fished under a bobber will catch trout, as well as red worms and night crawler rigs. Moss growth makes fishing on the bottom almost impossible in many areas in the current. The white bass spawn is almost over and most of the larger fish have migrated downstream. However, many postspawn fish are holding over to rest and feed. Trolling the channels with small crank baits that imitate shad will draw strikes from these fish. Smaller jigs in the 1/16- to 1/8-ounce range are catching whites as they hide behind structure and ambush threadfin shad. Threadfins continue to flow in from the main body of the lake, seeking cooler water to spawn in. This migration has drawn large stripers and hybrid bass to the tailrace water. These fish can be caught using large top-water baits and live bait such as gizzard shad. The water is 60 to 62 degrees and holding.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the lake is in good shape. Lots of bream have been caught on worms and crickets. Crappie are pretty good on minnows and jigs. Bass are great using plastic worms, minnows or jigs. Catfish bite is good.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the lake is clearing. Crappie are scattered. Bream are deep and biting good on worms and crickets. Bass are really good on spinner baits and plastic worms. Catfish also are biting well.
Lake Nimrod: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 345.30 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the bream are bedding and biting on crickets and worms. Crappie are starting to pick up again on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on noodles using chicken livers, worms and stink bait.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water level is 2 feet above normal and continues to fall slowly. Bream have started biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Crappie can be caught early in the morning in treetops in the lake or in the bay. A few Kentucky bass have been caught but for the most part, the bass are hard to catch. Catfishing is fair to good with the best action in the main river channel. The best bream fishing has been around trees along the bay near the park entrance and from the lake by the campground.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the river is up and murky. The bream bite is excellent with red worms, wax worms and crickets. Crappie have slowed down a bit. Bass are biting plastic worms and top-water baits. Catfish are excellent with worms and chicken livers.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is clear and low. Bream are biting fair on crickets. Bass are biting fairly well on plastic worms and Gitzits.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said water is high and muddy and not many fishermen are on the water.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the lake is dingy. Bream are good on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are poor.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is very low and clear. Catfish are biting really well on night crawlers and chicken livers. Crappie are still biting good in 4 feet of water around piers on minnows and chartreuse and white jigs. Bream are biting on wax worms and crickets.