04-05-2007, 12:10 AM
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
13.77 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage - 32 feet)
16.67 feet at Morrilton (flood stage - 30 feet)<br />
7.84 feet at Little Rock (flood stage - 23 feet)<br />
32.16 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage - 42 feet)<br />
26.41 feet at Pendleton (flood stage - 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
6.22 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
17.76 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
5.64 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
7.91 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
3.83 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Anglers are catching trout in the ponds on green and white PowerBait, yellow corn and Roostertails. Corn, trout magnets, silver spoons and Cooper super dupers are working well in Rock Creek. Catfish, bream and hybrid striped bass are also being caught in the ponds with the rising warmer temperatures. For more information on trout stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level. Bream are bedding up around the lily pads and biting well on brown or bumble bee Tiny Mite jigs. Crappie are biting well on white/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits and black Texas-rigged lizards. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with bream.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and running sporadically according to the rainfall. Trout fishing is good on chartreuse PowerBait and wax worms. YUM Trout Krilla is also working well on the rainbows. Fly-anglers have done well on sunny days with low water on caddis patterns.
Jed Hollan at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said Greers Ferry Lake is down to top power pool and the generators have stopped operating around the clock. The low river water is cold and clear and the fishing is great! It seems that, after several weeks of water releases, the fish are biting most everything. Tan or dark gray sow bugs in sizes 14 and 16 are working well along with gold ribbed hare's ears in size 16 and brown woolly buggers (sizes 10-12).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.51 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the white bass action slowed in the main rivers. Now the main lake fish will move into the creeks once the weather warms up. Anglers should have good luck on Rapala minnows, Roadrunners, grubs and live minnows. Hybrids have been in the bushes in parts of the lake and can be caught swimming grubs and wake baits around woody cover. The crappie are trying to spawn all over the lake around the buck brush and on top of stumps and where they can find some cover, after the cold front, the crappie will move out to cover around 7 or 8 feet and can be caught working a minnow or jig slowly around the wood. Catfishing is good as they are eating the eggs of spawning buffalo now around the marinas and that bite will do nothing but get better. Bream are up and floating around the top of the water column and moving shallower. Some bass spawned with the last full moon, but most are not even up yet. The biggest part of our bass spawn will take place between now and the next full moon. Just get out and keep your bait wet.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear. Fishing is fair for all species, but should begin to pick up with the warm weather.
Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said bream fishing is picking up on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on white stinger jigs and blue/white, pink/white and chartreuse/white tube jigs fished in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits around the grass along the banks. Catfishing is good on worms and stinkbait.
Lake Brewer: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said crappie are biting excellently on blue/white jigs and pink minnows. Catfishing is good on large minnows and chicken livers fished on the bottom. Bass are biting well on black soft-plastic worms and white spinnerbaits. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms.
Little Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is excellent using crickets and wax worms around the lily pads. Crappie fishing is excellent using live minnows along the bank lines. Bass are biting well on small crankbaits and stick baits. Catfishing is good using trotlines and yoyos baited with stink bait.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets and red worms. Crappie fishing is fair to good using live minnows around the tree tops. Bass fishing is good using black/chartreuse or black/red Gitzits. Catfishing is fair to good using trotlines, limb lines, and yoyos.
Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is good using crappie jigs and live minnows. Bass fishing is good using jig-n-pig and small crankbaits. Catfishing is good using limb lines, chicken hearts, live slicks, and minnows.
Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting on crickets, waxworms, and red worms in the center of the lake and around the stump field. Bass are spawning and biting fair to good on Gitzits and lizards. Catfish are biting in back of the levy on chicken hearts and cut bait.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting on slip-cork rigs. Bass are biting fair to good on minnows. A few catfish are being taken on worms and chicken liver.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the river is low, and fishing has not been good since last Saturday's rain.
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting fair to good from 4 to 6 feet deep on red worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fair from 4 to 6 feet deep on minnows. Bass are biting fair to good in the morning on Rattlin' Rogues and 6-inch lizards all over the lake, but bass fishing is excellent using a horsehead jig in white with a black spot. Catfishing is fair to good at night using large minnows.
Jolly Roger's Marina said the lake level is 4 inches above the spillway. Black bass are excellent and can be caught in 2 to 4 feet of water as they begin to spawn. Spinnerbaits, floating worms and crankbaits are effective. The north side of the lake is producing best. The white bass run is still going, but should be wrapping up soon. They are at the west end of the lake and biting well on Rooster Tails, Rogues and small Roadrunners. Crappie are fair in 4 to 6 feet of water on small jigs and minnows around Reese Creek. Bream are biting well on crickets fished in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake level is normal, and the water is clear. Bream are biting fair on crickets. Crappie are biting fair on pink minnows. Bass are biting well on watermelon seed 6-inch lizards. Catfish are biting fair on stink bait.<br />
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river level is normal, and the water is clear. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie fishing is good using pink minnows. Bass are biting well on green-pumpkin lizards. Catfishing is slow.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie and bass fishing is excellent using live minnows, slip cork rigs, and minis jigs in red/chartreuse, white/chartreuse, or orange/chartreuse. Stripers are biting well on split tails. Catfishing is fair to good using fresh skip jack or chicken hearts. Also, try snagging after dark for catfish.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows. No report on bass or catfish.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is excellent on pink minnows and rosy reds. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said most of the lake is full and clear. However, the north end of the lake is dingy. Bream are on the beds in the morning hours, but bream fishing is picking up using crickets. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, pink and bubblegum along with Power Wigglers in pink. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. The fly-fishermen have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors and sow bugs. Browns are being caught on Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 654.11 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said water temperature soared into the upper 50s (58.7 degrees) with temperatures of 62 to 64 degrees in the backs of many northern creeks. The crappie have moved to the back side of brush piles and in the middle of the docks that have brush around or hanging from them. Artificial baits are now triggering more bites than live bait. Swimming minnows, tube baits, crappie grubs or Bink's crappie spoons are all working well. White Bass are in the backs of most northern creeks and pockets waiting to spawn. A number of baits will trigger some nice action - Roadrunners, Lucky Craft Pointers, Rapala Countdowns and tiny Cordell Spots are just a few. The best bite seems to be from mid-afternoon until dark. Largemouth bass are cruising the banks and the backs of the creeks and coves getting ready to spawn. Fish spinnerbaits and crankbaits on breezy days and flukes, tubes, spider jigs or Carolina rigs with lizards when the wind is down. Key on secondary points and transition areas along the banks. Most of the smallmouth are holding off secondary points and on pea rock banks feeding on crawdads and shad. Kentucky bass are using chunk rock banks to feed on before they spawn. Suspending Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers, Senkos and flukes are the best bets for suspending Kentuckies. When they are on the bottom switch to Spider Jigs, tubes and hula grubs. Walleye are spawning throughout the lake. Not all walleye will spawn at the same time, so we are now moving into that two-week period where we are catching one or two a day. Reaction baits are the best during this period. Lucky Craft Pointers, X-raps, Glass Shad Raps, Wiggle Warts and Suspending Rogues are a few of the key baits to fish. Work areas inside points that have small chunk rock on them. Night anglers should continue to work points with jerk baits.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 552.09 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets in 5 feet of water. Crappie are fair on crappie minnows and jigs fished around brush piles near the bank. Bass are biting very well on Zoom finesse worms and grubs near spawning areas and on crankbaits fished around secondary points. Walleye activity is picking up. Anglers are catching walleye on Reef Runners and Rogues trolled around sloping points. Stripers are biting well early and late in the day on Rogues and top-water lures where feeder creeks and rivers are emptying into the lake.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water releases have been between one or two generators. The early morning hours have proven very good for low water, and fly-fishing has been great. Olive and black woolly buggers and sow bugs have dominated the eating pattern. Fishing was tough when the turbines ran last week. Be patient and get your fly or bait down far enough for the trout. Don't add more weight to your line, just slow your boat's drift. Frozen shad, nightcrawlers, corn, red wigglers, Power Eggs and salmon eggs are always a good choice to use for bait.
Table Rock Lake: Phillip Stone of Stone's Guide Service said bass fishing remains about the same for this week, with a few more moving up shallow. Best tactics right now are still the Wiggle Wart on chunk-rock banks and stick baits out in deeper water off the same banks. Anglers are starting to catch a few on laydown logs by flipping a jig. With the water temperature in the low 60s, it won't be long before they start moving up. The crappie bite is getting better every week. They seem to be scattered out on the spawning flats in 15-18 feet of water, but only about 5-8 feet down. Look for large schools of baitfish in the Long Creek and Cricket areas and you will find the fish. I have been drifting live minnows and fan casting swimming minnows in these areas. We have been catching 15-25 crappie a day consistently in the 12 to 14-inch range with the occasional 15-16-inch crappie during guide trips. It won't be long before they start to move up to spawning areas in the shallow water. We have also started catching some white bass in the same areas while fishing for crappie. The biggest was almost 4 lbs. on a recent guide trip.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
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Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,120.44 feet MSL.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are biting very well on worms and crickets fished shallow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well near the shallows on Zoom Flukes and floating worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and cut shad.
Local guide Brad Wiegmann said rising water temperatures have caused the largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass to move up towards spawning areas. Long points, secondary points and coves protected from strong winds should start holding bass on their way to spawn. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits will work well on these staging bass. White bass are biting well with some very nice fish being caught around the Point 12 area. White bass are schooling in the mornings and late afternoons. Stripers are smashing top-water lures around Rocky Branch, well up into the river arms. Large prop baits and Redfins are working well.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation decreased last week. During the weekends, fly anglers should look forward to some excellent wade-fishing and low water. San Juan worms, egg patterns and shad patterns like the Arkansas beadhead work well during the spring. Midge patterns like zebra midges and the jujube midge are also working well.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water has a good stain to it and fishing is picking up. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms, but have not started bedding up yet. Crappie are biting well on Roadrunner jigs in 4 to 6 feet of water. Look for the snaggiest cover and you've found the crappie. Bass are biting fairly well on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and worms.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Some nice bream have been caught lately on crickets. Crappie fishing is good with a few 2-pound fish being caught on minnows and small jigs. Bass are moving up to spawn and can be caught along the shoreline. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp said trout fishing is good using any preferred trout bait or tackle.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on minnows and worms fished on the bottom.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said crappie are biting well on grubs trolled in 8 feet of water and around shallow cover on vertically jigged tubes.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 260.07 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water surface temperature is ranging 62 to 72 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Upriver water and oxbow surface temperatures remain slightly warmer than the main lake at 72 to 74 degrees. Several buoys are out of place or up on the bank between Yarborough point and Snake Creek entrance from the high winds. We have seen a few of these along the north bank between Yarborough Landing and Jack's Isle also. Bass and crappie are in the spawning mode all over the lake, with very large bass seen either on beds, or on their way to the beds. Many pre-spawn, big female bass have been caught and released. Jigs, Bass Assassin Twitch Assassins, lizards, Cordell Red Fins and Bass Assassin Shads remain the best bet for a good bass bite. The most aggressive bite has been on Bass Assassin twitch worms (trick worms), Senkos or Shad Assassins. Early morning bass are good from daylight to 10 a.m. on buzzbaits. Bass are still hitting War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover and blue glimmer colors around any remaining vegetation and stumps, cypress trees or any standing timber on flats next to drop offs. White bass are biting very well between White Cliffs (near the old crashed car on the cliffs) and Patterson shoals this week. Small Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners like Roadrunners, Rocket Shads and Rooster Tails in white or red or chrome/blue are working the best. The crappie are beginning to move up shallow and are in spawning mode also. The best bite was in transition areas, between the brush piles along Little River in 12-13 feet depths up to the shallow cypress trees and in spawning areas. Huge carp are still spawning on shallow flats, making for some excellent opportunities for bow fishermen. Best locations are flats all around Jack's Isle, and between Bee Lake and Outlaw Trail. Channel catfish are biting well, along outer river bends of Little River on trotlines using chicken livers, homemade blood or stink bait combinations with cut shad, Charlie, or cottonseed mill cake. Longnose and spotted gar are cruising the shallows and back of creeks, making very good opportunities for bow fishermen.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are in the shallows and will bite well on any black/blue soft plastics.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on shiners in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting well on Texas-rigged soft plastics worked around shallow cover.
White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop (870-685-2753) said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting pretty well on crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic lizards and floating worms. Catfishing is fair at night on cold worms.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 544.44 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the crappie spawn is in full swing. The recent rains we've had are exactly what we needed to keep the water from warming too fast and have added a little color to the water. Crappie and Black Bass can be caught plentifully in 1 to 12 feet of water. Jigs and minnows on long poles have been the best producers, but casting a curly tail grub is also effective. Catfish are moving out of the deeper water and the white bass and stripers should be running up the river.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 407.64 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the warm weather has all the fish moving up and getting active. Bass angling is excellent on Zoom trick worms and flukes fished weightless and on Carolina-rigged lizards and brush hogs. Crappie are staging on woody cover near spawning flats and can be caught on pink/white jigs and minnows.
Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Flyfishing said before the rains, the fishing was great on tan bead head midges and A&W emergers. As more cold water begins to flow into the river, more trout will congregate in the catch-and-release area and should make some great opportunities for some fast action.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said crappie are moving up along the rocky areas near creek channels. Bass fishing is on fire all over the lake. The bass have moved up shallow and are being caught on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and top-water lures. White bass are biting excellently on grubs fished below the dam. Catfishing is good on shad and large minnows below the dam and on stinkbait and worms on the main lake.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 386.52 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is low and murky. Crappie are biting well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics fished near shallow water. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers fished on a slip-sinker rig.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water has risen and muddied the water, slowing the bite. Fishing is fair for all species but should improve with some stable weather.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 577.52 feet MSL.
Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said it's spring and anglers need to get out and enjoy the hot bite. Bass are excellent. You can fish your favorite baits from Trick Worms to tubes and jigs. Fish pockets and use 8- to 10-pound-test line for the best bite. Stripers are fair on gray hair jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Lake Ouachita State Park marina reports fishing is good. The water temperature is between 58 and 61 degrees. The lake level is gradually dropping. Anglers have reported decent catches of crappie around the hydrilla lines and drop-offs on Kalin's Tennessee shad jigs and John Deere colors. Striper fishing is good 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 excellent on the traditional baits such as finesse worms, spinnerbaits and live bait. There has been evening success on the bass on top water lures as well. The walleye fishing has tapered off, but a few have been caught on bass minnows in 30-foot depths. The bream fishing is good, and they have been caught in the shallows and off the hydrilla lines on small jigs, spinners and crickets.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is at normal level. Bream are slow, but a few are being caught on nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and light-colored jigs fished around brush and stumps in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well near the shorelines on a variety of soft-plastic lures.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said bass fishing is very good with some bass already on the beds. White tube baits and pink Zoom Trick Worms are catching fish right now. Crappie are fair on Tennessee shad-colored grubs and white/chartreuse grubs.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets. Some good crappie have been caught on both minnows and tube jigs in chartreuse/white and pink/white. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live minnows.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clearing. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are scattered, but a few have been taken on minnows. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with cut shad.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 345.29 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the weekend weather kept many anglers off the water, but the crappie fishing is hot on Nimrod. The crappie are staging along the first drop to deep water and holding close to any cover they can find. Many limits are being taken.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale's One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is rising, but anglers are still catching some nice bass in the shallows. The best bet is on Zoom Flukes and Horny Toads fished from the bank out.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said bream are biting well on redworms, wax worms, and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting on crank baits, buzz baits and lizards. Catfish are biting well on worms, chicken liver, skip jack, and cut shad.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said overall, fishing is good. Bream are biting on crickets in warm water. The crappie have moved up the river to spawn and are biting well on minnows and red/white or chartreuse/ white jigs. Bass are biting well on minnows, green-pumpkin lizards, and watermelon-red finesse worms. Walleye are biting well on large minnows.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water clarity is good. Fishing has been slow with the recent rain. A few crappie have been caught on minnows.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the lake is clear. Bream are biting on live crickets and plastic crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows and chartreuse/black jigs. Bass are biting on plastic worms and buzz baits.
Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the lake is clear and full. Bream fishing is picking up with some nice size fish being taken on crickets. Crappie are biting near the bank using yoyos at night.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is low and fairly clear. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs fished near timber and piers and on jigs trolled in deeper water. Bass were slow, but are moving into the shallows. Catfishing is excellent, with most of the catfish being caught on cut shad.
13.77 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage - 32 feet)
16.67 feet at Morrilton (flood stage - 30 feet)<br />
7.84 feet at Little Rock (flood stage - 23 feet)<br />
32.16 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage - 42 feet)<br />
26.41 feet at Pendleton (flood stage - 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
6.22 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
17.76 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
5.64 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
7.91 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
3.83 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Anglers are catching trout in the ponds on green and white PowerBait, yellow corn and Roostertails. Corn, trout magnets, silver spoons and Cooper super dupers are working well in Rock Creek. Catfish, bream and hybrid striped bass are also being caught in the ponds with the rising warmer temperatures. For more information on trout stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level. Bream are bedding up around the lily pads and biting well on brown or bumble bee Tiny Mite jigs. Crappie are biting well on white/chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits and black Texas-rigged lizards. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with bream.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and running sporadically according to the rainfall. Trout fishing is good on chartreuse PowerBait and wax worms. YUM Trout Krilla is also working well on the rainbows. Fly-anglers have done well on sunny days with low water on caddis patterns.
Jed Hollan at The Little Red Fly Shop in Heber Springs said Greers Ferry Lake is down to top power pool and the generators have stopped operating around the clock. The low river water is cold and clear and the fishing is great! It seems that, after several weeks of water releases, the fish are biting most everything. Tan or dark gray sow bugs in sizes 14 and 16 are working well along with gold ribbed hare's ears in size 16 and brown woolly buggers (sizes 10-12).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.51 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the white bass action slowed in the main rivers. Now the main lake fish will move into the creeks once the weather warms up. Anglers should have good luck on Rapala minnows, Roadrunners, grubs and live minnows. Hybrids have been in the bushes in parts of the lake and can be caught swimming grubs and wake baits around woody cover. The crappie are trying to spawn all over the lake around the buck brush and on top of stumps and where they can find some cover, after the cold front, the crappie will move out to cover around 7 or 8 feet and can be caught working a minnow or jig slowly around the wood. Catfishing is good as they are eating the eggs of spawning buffalo now around the marinas and that bite will do nothing but get better. Bream are up and floating around the top of the water column and moving shallower. Some bass spawned with the last full moon, but most are not even up yet. The biggest part of our bass spawn will take place between now and the next full moon. Just get out and keep your bait wet.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear. Fishing is fair for all species, but should begin to pick up with the warm weather.
Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said bream fishing is picking up on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on white stinger jigs and blue/white, pink/white and chartreuse/white tube jigs fished in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits around the grass along the banks. Catfishing is good on worms and stinkbait.
Lake Brewer: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said crappie are biting excellently on blue/white jigs and pink minnows. Catfishing is good on large minnows and chicken livers fished on the bottom. Bass are biting well on black soft-plastic worms and white spinnerbaits. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms.
Little Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream fishing is excellent using crickets and wax worms around the lily pads. Crappie fishing is excellent using live minnows along the bank lines. Bass are biting well on small crankbaits and stick baits. Catfishing is good using trotlines and yoyos baited with stink bait.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets and red worms. Crappie fishing is fair to good using live minnows around the tree tops. Bass fishing is good using black/chartreuse or black/red Gitzits. Catfishing is fair to good using trotlines, limb lines, and yoyos.
Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie fishing is good using crappie jigs and live minnows. Bass fishing is good using jig-n-pig and small crankbaits. Catfishing is good using limb lines, chicken hearts, live slicks, and minnows.
Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting on crickets, waxworms, and red worms in the center of the lake and around the stump field. Bass are spawning and biting fair to good on Gitzits and lizards. Catfish are biting in back of the levy on chicken hearts and cut bait.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting on slip-cork rigs. Bass are biting fair to good on minnows. A few catfish are being taken on worms and chicken liver.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the river is low, and fishing has not been good since last Saturday's rain.
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting fair to good from 4 to 6 feet deep on red worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fair from 4 to 6 feet deep on minnows. Bass are biting fair to good in the morning on Rattlin' Rogues and 6-inch lizards all over the lake, but bass fishing is excellent using a horsehead jig in white with a black spot. Catfishing is fair to good at night using large minnows.
Jolly Roger's Marina said the lake level is 4 inches above the spillway. Black bass are excellent and can be caught in 2 to 4 feet of water as they begin to spawn. Spinnerbaits, floating worms and crankbaits are effective. The north side of the lake is producing best. The white bass run is still going, but should be wrapping up soon. They are at the west end of the lake and biting well on Rooster Tails, Rogues and small Roadrunners. Crappie are fair in 4 to 6 feet of water on small jigs and minnows around Reese Creek. Bream are biting well on crickets fished in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake level is normal, and the water is clear. Bream are biting fair on crickets. Crappie are biting fair on pink minnows. Bass are biting well on watermelon seed 6-inch lizards. Catfish are biting fair on stink bait.<br />
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river level is normal, and the water is clear. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie fishing is good using pink minnows. Bass are biting well on green-pumpkin lizards. Catfishing is slow.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie and bass fishing is excellent using live minnows, slip cork rigs, and minis jigs in red/chartreuse, white/chartreuse, or orange/chartreuse. Stripers are biting well on split tails. Catfishing is fair to good using fresh skip jack or chicken hearts. Also, try snagging after dark for catfish.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows. No report on bass or catfish.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is excellent on pink minnows and rosy reds. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said most of the lake is full and clear. However, the north end of the lake is dingy. Bream are on the beds in the morning hours, but bream fishing is picking up using crickets. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, pink and bubblegum along with Power Wigglers in pink. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. The fly-fishermen have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors and sow bugs. Browns are being caught on Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 654.11 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said water temperature soared into the upper 50s (58.7 degrees) with temperatures of 62 to 64 degrees in the backs of many northern creeks. The crappie have moved to the back side of brush piles and in the middle of the docks that have brush around or hanging from them. Artificial baits are now triggering more bites than live bait. Swimming minnows, tube baits, crappie grubs or Bink's crappie spoons are all working well. White Bass are in the backs of most northern creeks and pockets waiting to spawn. A number of baits will trigger some nice action - Roadrunners, Lucky Craft Pointers, Rapala Countdowns and tiny Cordell Spots are just a few. The best bite seems to be from mid-afternoon until dark. Largemouth bass are cruising the banks and the backs of the creeks and coves getting ready to spawn. Fish spinnerbaits and crankbaits on breezy days and flukes, tubes, spider jigs or Carolina rigs with lizards when the wind is down. Key on secondary points and transition areas along the banks. Most of the smallmouth are holding off secondary points and on pea rock banks feeding on crawdads and shad. Kentucky bass are using chunk rock banks to feed on before they spawn. Suspending Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers, Senkos and flukes are the best bets for suspending Kentuckies. When they are on the bottom switch to Spider Jigs, tubes and hula grubs. Walleye are spawning throughout the lake. Not all walleye will spawn at the same time, so we are now moving into that two-week period where we are catching one or two a day. Reaction baits are the best during this period. Lucky Craft Pointers, X-raps, Glass Shad Raps, Wiggle Warts and Suspending Rogues are a few of the key baits to fish. Work areas inside points that have small chunk rock on them. Night anglers should continue to work points with jerk baits.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 552.09 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets in 5 feet of water. Crappie are fair on crappie minnows and jigs fished around brush piles near the bank. Bass are biting very well on Zoom finesse worms and grubs near spawning areas and on crankbaits fished around secondary points. Walleye activity is picking up. Anglers are catching walleye on Reef Runners and Rogues trolled around sloping points. Stripers are biting well early and late in the day on Rogues and top-water lures where feeder creeks and rivers are emptying into the lake.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water releases have been between one or two generators. The early morning hours have proven very good for low water, and fly-fishing has been great. Olive and black woolly buggers and sow bugs have dominated the eating pattern. Fishing was tough when the turbines ran last week. Be patient and get your fly or bait down far enough for the trout. Don't add more weight to your line, just slow your boat's drift. Frozen shad, nightcrawlers, corn, red wigglers, Power Eggs and salmon eggs are always a good choice to use for bait.
Table Rock Lake: Phillip Stone of Stone's Guide Service said bass fishing remains about the same for this week, with a few more moving up shallow. Best tactics right now are still the Wiggle Wart on chunk-rock banks and stick baits out in deeper water off the same banks. Anglers are starting to catch a few on laydown logs by flipping a jig. With the water temperature in the low 60s, it won't be long before they start moving up. The crappie bite is getting better every week. They seem to be scattered out on the spawning flats in 15-18 feet of water, but only about 5-8 feet down. Look for large schools of baitfish in the Long Creek and Cricket areas and you will find the fish. I have been drifting live minnows and fan casting swimming minnows in these areas. We have been catching 15-25 crappie a day consistently in the 12 to 14-inch range with the occasional 15-16-inch crappie during guide trips. It won't be long before they start to move up to spawning areas in the shallow water. We have also started catching some white bass in the same areas while fishing for crappie. The biggest was almost 4 lbs. on a recent guide trip.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
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Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,120.44 feet MSL.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are biting very well on worms and crickets fished shallow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well near the shallows on Zoom Flukes and floating worms. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and cut shad.
Local guide Brad Wiegmann said rising water temperatures have caused the largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass to move up towards spawning areas. Long points, secondary points and coves protected from strong winds should start holding bass on their way to spawn. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits will work well on these staging bass. White bass are biting well with some very nice fish being caught around the Point 12 area. White bass are schooling in the mornings and late afternoons. Stripers are smashing top-water lures around Rocky Branch, well up into the river arms. Large prop baits and Redfins are working well.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation decreased last week. During the weekends, fly anglers should look forward to some excellent wade-fishing and low water. San Juan worms, egg patterns and shad patterns like the Arkansas beadhead work well during the spring. Midge patterns like zebra midges and the jujube midge are also working well.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water has a good stain to it and fishing is picking up. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms, but have not started bedding up yet. Crappie are biting well on Roadrunner jigs in 4 to 6 feet of water. Look for the snaggiest cover and you've found the crappie. Bass are biting fairly well on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and worms.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Some nice bream have been caught lately on crickets. Crappie fishing is good with a few 2-pound fish being caught on minnows and small jigs. Bass are moving up to spawn and can be caught along the shoreline. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp said trout fishing is good using any preferred trout bait or tackle.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on minnows and worms fished on the bottom.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said crappie are biting well on grubs trolled in 8 feet of water and around shallow cover on vertically jigged tubes.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 260.07 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said water surface temperature is ranging 62 to 72 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Upriver water and oxbow surface temperatures remain slightly warmer than the main lake at 72 to 74 degrees. Several buoys are out of place or up on the bank between Yarborough point and Snake Creek entrance from the high winds. We have seen a few of these along the north bank between Yarborough Landing and Jack's Isle also. Bass and crappie are in the spawning mode all over the lake, with very large bass seen either on beds, or on their way to the beds. Many pre-spawn, big female bass have been caught and released. Jigs, Bass Assassin Twitch Assassins, lizards, Cordell Red Fins and Bass Assassin Shads remain the best bet for a good bass bite. The most aggressive bite has been on Bass Assassin twitch worms (trick worms), Senkos or Shad Assassins. Early morning bass are good from daylight to 10 a.m. on buzzbaits. Bass are still hitting War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover and blue glimmer colors around any remaining vegetation and stumps, cypress trees or any standing timber on flats next to drop offs. White bass are biting very well between White Cliffs (near the old crashed car on the cliffs) and Patterson shoals this week. Small Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners like Roadrunners, Rocket Shads and Rooster Tails in white or red or chrome/blue are working the best. The crappie are beginning to move up shallow and are in spawning mode also. The best bite was in transition areas, between the brush piles along Little River in 12-13 feet depths up to the shallow cypress trees and in spawning areas. Huge carp are still spawning on shallow flats, making for some excellent opportunities for bow fishermen. Best locations are flats all around Jack's Isle, and between Bee Lake and Outlaw Trail. Channel catfish are biting well, along outer river bends of Little River on trotlines using chicken livers, homemade blood or stink bait combinations with cut shad, Charlie, or cottonseed mill cake. Longnose and spotted gar are cruising the shallows and back of creeks, making very good opportunities for bow fishermen.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are in the shallows and will bite well on any black/blue soft plastics.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on shiners in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting well on Texas-rigged soft plastics worked around shallow cover.
White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop (870-685-2753) said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting pretty well on crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic lizards and floating worms. Catfishing is fair at night on cold worms.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 544.44 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the crappie spawn is in full swing. The recent rains we've had are exactly what we needed to keep the water from warming too fast and have added a little color to the water. Crappie and Black Bass can be caught plentifully in 1 to 12 feet of water. Jigs and minnows on long poles have been the best producers, but casting a curly tail grub is also effective. Catfish are moving out of the deeper water and the white bass and stripers should be running up the river.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 407.64 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the warm weather has all the fish moving up and getting active. Bass angling is excellent on Zoom trick worms and flukes fished weightless and on Carolina-rigged lizards and brush hogs. Crappie are staging on woody cover near spawning flats and can be caught on pink/white jigs and minnows.
Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Flyfishing said before the rains, the fishing was great on tan bead head midges and A&W emergers. As more cold water begins to flow into the river, more trout will congregate in the catch-and-release area and should make some great opportunities for some fast action.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said crappie are moving up along the rocky areas near creek channels. Bass fishing is on fire all over the lake. The bass have moved up shallow and are being caught on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and top-water lures. White bass are biting excellently on grubs fished below the dam. Catfishing is good on shad and large minnows below the dam and on stinkbait and worms on the main lake.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 386.52 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is low and murky. Crappie are biting well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics fished near shallow water. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers fished on a slip-sinker rig.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water has risen and muddied the water, slowing the bite. Fishing is fair for all species but should improve with some stable weather.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 577.52 feet MSL.
Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said it's spring and anglers need to get out and enjoy the hot bite. Bass are excellent. You can fish your favorite baits from Trick Worms to tubes and jigs. Fish pockets and use 8- to 10-pound-test line for the best bite. Stripers are fair on gray hair jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Lake Ouachita State Park marina reports fishing is good. The water temperature is between 58 and 61 degrees. The lake level is gradually dropping. Anglers have reported decent catches of crappie around the hydrilla lines and drop-offs on Kalin's Tennessee shad jigs and John Deere colors. Striper fishing is good 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 excellent on the traditional baits such as finesse worms, spinnerbaits and live bait. There has been evening success on the bass on top water lures as well. The walleye fishing has tapered off, but a few have been caught on bass minnows in 30-foot depths. The bream fishing is good, and they have been caught in the shallows and off the hydrilla lines on small jigs, spinners and crickets.
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is at normal level. Bream are slow, but a few are being caught on nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and light-colored jigs fished around brush and stumps in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well near the shorelines on a variety of soft-plastic lures.
Lake Hamilton: Poorman's Tackle and Guide Service said bass fishing is very good with some bass already on the beds. White tube baits and pink Zoom Trick Worms are catching fish right now. Crappie are fair on Tennessee shad-colored grubs and white/chartreuse grubs.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets. Some good crappie have been caught on both minnows and tube jigs in chartreuse/white and pink/white. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live minnows.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clearing. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are scattered, but a few have been taken on minnows. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with cut shad.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 345.29 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the weekend weather kept many anglers off the water, but the crappie fishing is hot on Nimrod. The crappie are staging along the first drop to deep water and holding close to any cover they can find. Many limits are being taken.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Felsenthal: Hale's One Stop (870-943-2683) said the water is rising, but anglers are still catching some nice bass in the shallows. The best bet is on Zoom Flukes and Horny Toads fished from the bank out.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said bream are biting well on redworms, wax worms, and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting on crank baits, buzz baits and lizards. Catfish are biting well on worms, chicken liver, skip jack, and cut shad.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said overall, fishing is good. Bream are biting on crickets in warm water. The crappie have moved up the river to spawn and are biting well on minnows and red/white or chartreuse/ white jigs. Bass are biting well on minnows, green-pumpkin lizards, and watermelon-red finesse worms. Walleye are biting well on large minnows.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water clarity is good. Fishing has been slow with the recent rain. A few crappie have been caught on minnows.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the lake is clear. Bream are biting on live crickets and plastic crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows and chartreuse/black jigs. Bass are biting on plastic worms and buzz baits.
Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the lake is clear and full. Bream fishing is picking up with some nice size fish being taken on crickets. Crappie are biting near the bank using yoyos at night.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is low and fairly clear. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs fished near timber and piers and on jigs trolled in deeper water. Bass were slow, but are moving into the shallows. Catfishing is excellent, with most of the catfish being caught on cut shad.