02-13-2008, 09:10 PM
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report for February 13, 2008. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river.
Fishing Tip: Wind can make finding fish with slow-moving, winter lures difficult. Here's some advice from Kevin Van Dam on tackling the winter wind:
Many times, windy areas hold the warmest available water. Baitfish will usually be found there, and larger predators are going to be there, too. Run a windy bank using your graph or depth finder to see where baitfish are congregated. Try slow trolling a spinnerbait, or use a crankbait with a tight wobble to locate the fish. After you catch a few, you can switch to a jig n' pig and fish more slowly.
For more great tips, visit the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Library.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater - 391.91 feet, Tailwater - 372.68 feet, Flow - 16,634 cubic feet per second<br />
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater - 371.59 feet, Tailwater - 340.00 feet<br />
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater - 337.71 feet, Tailwater - 286.78 feet<br />
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater - 285.55 feet, Tailwater - 266.03 feet, Flow - 21,450 cubic feet per second<br />
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater - 265.29 feet, Tailwater - 251.39 feet<br />
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater - 249.14 feet, Tailwater - 231.47 feet, Flow - 28,380 cubic feet per second<br />
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater - 231.28 feet, Tailwater - 213.27 feet, Flow - 22,531 cubic feet per second<br />
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater - 196.15 feet, Tailwater - 183.02 feet<br />
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater - 182.14 feet, Tailwater - 163.24 feet<br />
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 162.10 feet, Tailwater - 122.49 feet, Flow - 11,399 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:<br />
3.3 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)<br />
6.5 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
1.9 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
14.4 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
2.9 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
13.8 feet at Clarendon (flood stage - 26 feet)
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and white/chartreuse jigs. A few bass have been caught.
Little Red River:Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and low with little generation in the mornings. Trout are still biting well on wax worms with marshmallows and nightcrawlers.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is following the same protocol as previous weeks. There have been no weekend water releases for four weeks. Monday through Friday, releases have been from 7-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Wading possibilities are somewhat limited. One good plan is to fish at Winkley Shoal from first light until the high water arrives around 9:30-10 a.m. and drive to Libby Shoal for an additional hour of fishing until the fast water hits there. After lunch you can finish the day at JFK Park. The incredible midge hatches have not diminished. Midges were hatching in the Wal-Mart parking lot the other day, for Pete's sake. We are also seeing a few caddis flies and black gnats coming off. Dry flies that are attracting trout include a midge (size 22, cream or black), Adams (sizes 18-20) and caddis (sizes 18-20, tan). Below the surface, productive flies include sow bugs (sizes 14-16, peacock, UV tan or light gray), zebra midges (sizes 16-22, red, copper or black), red butt (sizes 14-16), San Juan worms (sizes 16-18) and woolly buggers (sizes 10-12, olive or black).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 459.74 feet MSL.<br />
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature is 38-45 degrees. The fishing is tough to say the least. Walleye are poor from all the stained water coming into the creeks. The only success has been on a jighead tipped with a minnow. Hybrids and whites are biting some, but they are slow. Spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits may catch a few. The bass fishing is slow. A few have been caught on jighead worms, live minnows and on jerk baits worked with 15- to 20-second pauses between jerks.
Shiloh Marina said water conditions are normal. Walleye are fair on minnows.
Harris Brake Lake:Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said water conditions are normal and all species have been slow.<br />
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. A few crappie have been caught on white stingers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. All fishing is fair.<br />
Brewer Lake:Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. All fishing is fair.<br />
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are biting well in 18 to 20 feet of water on minnows. All other species are slow.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said trout are being caught on nightcrawlers.<br />
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is fair on Tennessee shad grubs. Bass are fair on crawdad crank baits.<br />
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high and all species are slow.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said water temperature is in the low 50s. Drum fishing is excellent on black/blue jigs at the base of jetties. Kentucky bass are doing well on jigs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Catfish are biting well in deep holes on whole shad.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said fishing has been on the slow side lately.<br />
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well in 3-10 feet of water on minnows and assorted jigs. Catfish are biting well on live and prepared bait.<br />
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are fair on yo-yos baited with minnows. Catfish are fair on live sunfish and cut bait.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfish are the best thing going on sunfish and shad fillets.<br />
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair on live pink minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with cut bait.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said fishing is slow for all species.<br />
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and a little low. Crappie are being caught around brush in 6 feet of water on pink minnows and red/chartreuse jigs.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Mountain River Fly Shop said the cold weather should mean plenty of water coming through the dam, which means the Upper End of the river will be host to a fair number of boats. Try to run up behind other fly fishers, don't drive over their drift, get in line for a drift and don't cut in. Then everyone can have some fun. Fishing has been very good on the White. The trout are definitely hungry. Red White Tails have been very popular, egg patterns continue to do well, particularly the Flashtail Mini Eggs and Unreal Eggs. Red Head Olive Woolly Buggers are working extremely well also.
Gaston's White River Resort said trout anglers have seen many water conditions lately. Anytime between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., two to four units are generating. Around 9 a.m. until noon, the dam will shut down and the water level drops. However, the trout are still feeding during low water periods. The bulbous bivisible is working well for fly-fishermen where creeks run into the river. We also recommend the partridge and orange soft hackle, gold ribbed hare's ear, copper john, copper zebra midge, Y2K bug, the sow bug and the draggin' egg. During high water, try peach or white egg patterns, white and pink micro jigs and San Juan worms. Nightcrawlers are doing well for the bait anglers when the water is low. Yellow Power Bait has also been effective. Some other lures being used are No. 5 silver or gold floating Rapalas and Smithwick blue-backed Rogues. Any minnow-shaped lure has potential.
Sportsman's White River Resort said water conditions are normal with heavy generation daily. Trout are biting very well on Power Bait and brown or white jigs.
McLellan's Fly Shop said water levels have been squirrelly lately, but most days you can find low water if you know when they've open and shut the gates, and you know your river mileages. Best flies have been tan or copper scuds, sow bugs, golden unreal eggs, fluorescent orange flash-tail mini-eggs, micro mayflies, triple-B flashbacks, and various zebra midges.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 652.13 feet MSL.<br />
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 548.71 feet MSL.<br />
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) had no report.
101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the low 40s. Live bait trolled slowly under planer boards has worked well on stripers, but the bite is over by 8 a.m. The fish are holding in less than 50 feet of water. Walleye fishing has been slow, but jigging spoons and ice fishing jigs are doing a good job for some. Just remember do it slow. Crappie fishing has been fair using small minnows and jigs. White bass have been fair using jigs. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been fair on deep-diving crankbaits and jigs.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low with generation in the mornings. Trout fishing has been good on Power Bait and corn.
Mountain River Fly Shop said most reports off Norfork continue to be fair at best, with many smaller fish being caught. Wading was wide open this week with the warmer weather, but generation started yesterday with the cold front pushing through.
Small scuds (olive, gray and tan), McLellan's hunchback, Davys sow bug (gray) and small Kaufmann's (brown or olive) have been doing well. Zebras and super midges have been productive, as well as WD40s.
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the generation pattern on the Norfork has been a mixed bag. We had a few days with no generation and some days with a brief period of heavy generation. This has created excellent wading conditions every day.
The Norfork has fished a bit better this week. There have been some reliable midge hatches in the afternoon. Anglers have done the best with Norfork beadheads in olive (size 18), and zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and brown with copper wire and copper beads. When the fish are keying in on the midge emergers in the film, Dan's turkey tail emerger (size 22) have been killer. To change things up, try large San Juan worms in red and worm brown and Y2Ks. They frequently tempt large trout. Dry Run Creek, as always, has been the place to take the kids fishing. The warm weekend drew out a few youngsters. Those few that showed up did exceptionally well. The hot fly was a size 14 sow bug. Other effective flies were olive woolly buggers and San Juan worms. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet and carefully pinch down those barbs.
McLellan's Fly Shop said Norfork has run water for a couple hours per day. Try eggs and small olive scuds, and be sure to bring different midge pupae and emergers. Definitely bring BWO dries and emergers (spundun baetis, bat-wing emerger, and jujubaetis).
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,114.19 feet MSL.<br />
JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass can be caught by using suspending jerk baits in bone or clown colors fished off points in the Clifty area. The river arms have produced a few bass on crawdad-colored jigs fished slowly along steep chunk rock banks. Crappie have been biting well up either river arm. Sidewalk hole, Blue Springs and Friendship Creek are all hot spots. Warm sunny days have been the best. Southern Pro tubes in red/chartreuse or black/chartreuse and minnows have been working best fished along timber or brush. White bass remain slow, but are biting along the deep side of main-lake points. Small jigging spoons should do the trick. Reports of striper action have been coming from Prairie Creek all the way to Point 12. Umbrella rigs with white grubs should do the trick trolled slowly behind the boat. Catfish are still biting along bluff lines. Cut shad and liver have worked well.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) reported that water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well around brush on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on large spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Stripers are being caught on large minnows.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said Beaver Tailwater remains low most days despite the cold weather. As always this time of year, carry midge pupae in various colors and also tiny cream adults. There has been some fantastic BWO action lately, so be sure to have some spundun baetis or bat-wing emergers with you. Some big brown trout have been landed recently on streamers; throw as big a fly as your rod will allow - Sheila sculpins, ziwis or sculpzillas.
Ken Richards at Justfishinguides said trout are biting on midges. Black and silver zebra midges working best. Olive/gold and gray/blue midge pupae are working also. Suspend your fly just above the bottom. A slight breeze enhances the action of these flies and the bite seems to be better.
Lake SWEPCO:JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass are biting well all over the lake on live minnows. A crawdad-pattern jig has also been working. On calm mornings try fishing top-water with a pearl-colored soft jerk bait.<br />
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said not many anglers are available for a report.<br />
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said few anglers have been on the water. No report.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on jigs and Texas-rigged lizards.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said few anglers are on the water. No report.
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) had no report.
Spring River: http://www.marksflyshop.com/ said mayfly and caddis hatches continue to grow. Stable weather will move in soon along with consistent fishing results.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) reported that water conditions are normal. Bream are excellent on wax worms. Crappie are biting well around the docks on minnows and jigs. A few bass are being caught on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is successful on about any kind of bait.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. All other species are fair.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 256.87 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 45 to 50 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Main lake clarity and visibility is at 3-5 inches with 2-5 inch visibility in Little River. Current is 3,404 cubic feet per second. Both ramps at Paraloma, both ramps at Cotton Shed, the Saratoga ramp closest to the dike, and both ramps at Beards Bluff are unusable because of the drawdown. Winter drawdown has revealed many submerged objects at or just within inches of pool surface in boat lanes and Little River. Use extreme caution in navigation, many of the boat lanes during winter pool drawdown are now only 3-10 inches in overall depth in various places. Largemouth bass are biting well along Little River and her oxbows, with the best bites still during the heat of the day. Bass are relating to structure in Little River's deeper water, and are consistent over the past few weeks. There is not much reason to leave the river in search of bass. Pitching Texas-rigged Lil' Critter Craws, 4" Southern Pro Flipping Tubes, Hog Assassins and Yum Wooly Bugs in Green Pumpkin, Watermelon/Red and Blackberry, or scumpernong-colored lizards to stumps close to deep water are drawing some strong largemouths up to 6 pounds each. Wacky-rigged Twitch Assassins and Charm Assassins, Senkos and Salty Rat Tails are taking some decent keeper bass. Rat-L-Traps, in the ¾-oz. or 1-oz. size, fished slower and deflecting on stumps along Little River are still taking keeper bass in 8-9 feet of water. The most productive colors are Red Shad, Red Chrome and Honey Bee. Stumps, cypress knees, and laydowns are the key during the day. Any points with stumps along Little River, between 10-15 feet deep seem to be the most consistent for crankbait bites. Bomber model As and Rebel Deep Wee R crankbaits in Bayou Bengal, Firetiger, or Secret Weapon colors are finding a few keepers. Schools of white bass are holding in very deep water off the river (18-28 feet), and hitting jigging spoons up Little River between Horseshoe Lake and White Cliff. Crappie almost completely shut down this week with the influx of fresh, muddy water. Channel catfish from 3-8 pounds are good on Catfish Charlie, cut baits or cut shad on trotlines and yo-yo's along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 10-15 feet water.
Local angler Dane Goodwin said the whites are beginning to get good. The water is extremely low and launching a boat in Little River at the Hwy. 59 landing is treacherous.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs and shiners.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
White Oak Lake:White Oak Lake State Park said fishing has been slow for catfish and bass. Crappie are biting both live and artificial baits. The lake is extremely clear but lake levels are stable.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 542.25 feet MSL.<br />
Lakeside Grocery reported bass are biting well in 8 to 10 feet of water on crankbaits.
Little Missouri River:Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 401.26 feet MSL.<br />
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) reported that water conditions are about normal. Bream are being caught in 20 to 30 feet of water around points on red wigglers and nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is good in 15 to 25 feet of water around brush and grassy points on jigs and live bait. Black and Kentucky bass are being caught on crankbaits and jigs with pork trailers. Catfish are slow, but can be caught in deeper water on live bait.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Bill's Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) reported that the water is a little muddy and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair around shorelines on top-water lures. Black bass are being caught on spoons and jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait and shad.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 387.38 feet MSL.<br />
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. A few catfish are being caught on liver.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is a little dingy and at a normal level. Crappie can be caught deep on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation was 573.13 feet MSL.<br />
Lake Ouachita State Park reports that fishing has picked up. Water temperature is in the high 40s. Stripers are being caught on top-water lures such as Spook Jrs., spooning with CC spoons and trolling with crankbaits. Bass fishing is fair on finesse worms and spinnerbaits near structure. A few bream and crappie can be found in various areas.
Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said last weekend's tournament at Lake Ouachita was very successful. Anglers did well on jigs, Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits around main-lake points.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and at 42-48 degrees. Largemouth bass are good and can be caught with Deep Little N's and lipless crankbaits on main-lake points and secondary points. Walleye are slow on spoons over humps and main-lake points with brush. Stripers are very good on live brood minnows and gizzard shad. Smoke or pearl-colored grubs are working as well. Crappie are good and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 15 to 25 feet deep.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said bass fishing has been good on deep trees near the edges of drop-offs. Working a black/blue or green pumpkin ½ to 3/4-oz. jig through treetops has produced well. Large Rat-L-Traps and ¾-oz. shad-colored spinnerbaits worked slowly around the timber are also picking up some fish.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that rainbow trout fishing below Carpenter Dam remains excellent. Water temperature is holding at 45 degrees in the tailrace, but drops as much as 5 degrees as you approach the dam. Guided trips are the safest way to navigate the area and are still catching more than 50 fish an outing with numbers over 100 not unusual. Bank fishermen are quickly recording limits of trout on corn and redworms floated under a bobber. Also these baits can be fished on the bottom with marshmallows to float them toward the surface. Spin fishermen are catching larger trout by casting Rooster Tails and Super Dupers during generation. Artificial baits are highly effective when the turbines are turning as the trout are feeding heavily on threadfin shad. When generation stops fishermen should concentrate on areas with some visible current. Fly fishermen always stick to this technique and consistently catch fish. Woolly buggers, micro-jigs and San Juan worms fished in current will all draw strikes regardless of weather conditions. Striper and hybrid activity has been adversely effected by the on and off winter conditions but some fish have been caught on 1"4-oz. jigs in the main river channel below the bridge. The walleye run has begun as numbers of male walleye arrive to prepare for females.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing good with some decent fish being caught on crayfish-colored crankbaits in 10-15 feet of water around brush piles. Vertically jigging a ½-oz. spoon will catch a variety of fish in 20-30 feet of water. Crappie, walleye, Kentucky bass, white bass and yellow bass are all gathered up together on mid-lake humps and ridges.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is murky and a little high. Crappie fishing is good in 12 to 14 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is very muddy since the tornado hit, and fishing has been slow.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water is clear and dropping. Crappie can be caught around docks in the bay on minnows and jigs.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on crankbaits and top-water lures. Catfish can be caught on worms, nightcrawlers and cut shad.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) reported that water conditions are normal. No fishing report.<br />
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said water conditions are excellent. Bream fishing is good in shallow water on worms and crickets. Crappie are being caught around piers on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.
Fishing Tip: Wind can make finding fish with slow-moving, winter lures difficult. Here's some advice from Kevin Van Dam on tackling the winter wind:
Many times, windy areas hold the warmest available water. Baitfish will usually be found there, and larger predators are going to be there, too. Run a windy bank using your graph or depth finder to see where baitfish are congregated. Try slow trolling a spinnerbait, or use a crankbait with a tight wobble to locate the fish. After you catch a few, you can switch to a jig n' pig and fish more slowly.
For more great tips, visit the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Library.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater - 391.91 feet, Tailwater - 372.68 feet, Flow - 16,634 cubic feet per second<br />
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater - 371.59 feet, Tailwater - 340.00 feet<br />
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater - 337.71 feet, Tailwater - 286.78 feet<br />
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater - 285.55 feet, Tailwater - 266.03 feet, Flow - 21,450 cubic feet per second<br />
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater - 265.29 feet, Tailwater - 251.39 feet<br />
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater - 249.14 feet, Tailwater - 231.47 feet, Flow - 28,380 cubic feet per second<br />
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater - 231.28 feet, Tailwater - 213.27 feet, Flow - 22,531 cubic feet per second<br />
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater - 196.15 feet, Tailwater - 183.02 feet<br />
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater - 182.14 feet, Tailwater - 163.24 feet<br />
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 162.10 feet, Tailwater - 122.49 feet, Flow - 11,399 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:<br />
3.3 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)<br />
6.5 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
1.9 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
14.4 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
2.9 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
13.8 feet at Clarendon (flood stage - 26 feet)
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and white/chartreuse jigs. A few bass have been caught.
Little Red River:Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and low with little generation in the mornings. Trout are still biting well on wax worms with marshmallows and nightcrawlers.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is following the same protocol as previous weeks. There have been no weekend water releases for four weeks. Monday through Friday, releases have been from 7-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Wading possibilities are somewhat limited. One good plan is to fish at Winkley Shoal from first light until the high water arrives around 9:30-10 a.m. and drive to Libby Shoal for an additional hour of fishing until the fast water hits there. After lunch you can finish the day at JFK Park. The incredible midge hatches have not diminished. Midges were hatching in the Wal-Mart parking lot the other day, for Pete's sake. We are also seeing a few caddis flies and black gnats coming off. Dry flies that are attracting trout include a midge (size 22, cream or black), Adams (sizes 18-20) and caddis (sizes 18-20, tan). Below the surface, productive flies include sow bugs (sizes 14-16, peacock, UV tan or light gray), zebra midges (sizes 16-22, red, copper or black), red butt (sizes 14-16), San Juan worms (sizes 16-18) and woolly buggers (sizes 10-12, olive or black).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 459.74 feet MSL.<br />
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature is 38-45 degrees. The fishing is tough to say the least. Walleye are poor from all the stained water coming into the creeks. The only success has been on a jighead tipped with a minnow. Hybrids and whites are biting some, but they are slow. Spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits may catch a few. The bass fishing is slow. A few have been caught on jighead worms, live minnows and on jerk baits worked with 15- to 20-second pauses between jerks.
Shiloh Marina said water conditions are normal. Walleye are fair on minnows.
Harris Brake Lake:Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said water conditions are normal and all species have been slow.<br />
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. A few crappie have been caught on white stingers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. All fishing is fair.<br />
Brewer Lake:Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. All fishing is fair.<br />
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are biting well in 18 to 20 feet of water on minnows. All other species are slow.
Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said trout are being caught on nightcrawlers.<br />
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is fair on Tennessee shad grubs. Bass are fair on crawdad crank baits.<br />
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high and all species are slow.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said water temperature is in the low 50s. Drum fishing is excellent on black/blue jigs at the base of jetties. Kentucky bass are doing well on jigs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Catfish are biting well in deep holes on whole shad.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said fishing has been on the slow side lately.<br />
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well in 3-10 feet of water on minnows and assorted jigs. Catfish are biting well on live and prepared bait.<br />
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are fair on yo-yos baited with minnows. Catfish are fair on live sunfish and cut bait.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfish are the best thing going on sunfish and shad fillets.<br />
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair on live pink minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with cut bait.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said fishing is slow for all species.<br />
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and a little low. Crappie are being caught around brush in 6 feet of water on pink minnows and red/chartreuse jigs.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Mountain River Fly Shop said the cold weather should mean plenty of water coming through the dam, which means the Upper End of the river will be host to a fair number of boats. Try to run up behind other fly fishers, don't drive over their drift, get in line for a drift and don't cut in. Then everyone can have some fun. Fishing has been very good on the White. The trout are definitely hungry. Red White Tails have been very popular, egg patterns continue to do well, particularly the Flashtail Mini Eggs and Unreal Eggs. Red Head Olive Woolly Buggers are working extremely well also.
Gaston's White River Resort said trout anglers have seen many water conditions lately. Anytime between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., two to four units are generating. Around 9 a.m. until noon, the dam will shut down and the water level drops. However, the trout are still feeding during low water periods. The bulbous bivisible is working well for fly-fishermen where creeks run into the river. We also recommend the partridge and orange soft hackle, gold ribbed hare's ear, copper john, copper zebra midge, Y2K bug, the sow bug and the draggin' egg. During high water, try peach or white egg patterns, white and pink micro jigs and San Juan worms. Nightcrawlers are doing well for the bait anglers when the water is low. Yellow Power Bait has also been effective. Some other lures being used are No. 5 silver or gold floating Rapalas and Smithwick blue-backed Rogues. Any minnow-shaped lure has potential.
Sportsman's White River Resort said water conditions are normal with heavy generation daily. Trout are biting very well on Power Bait and brown or white jigs.
McLellan's Fly Shop said water levels have been squirrelly lately, but most days you can find low water if you know when they've open and shut the gates, and you know your river mileages. Best flies have been tan or copper scuds, sow bugs, golden unreal eggs, fluorescent orange flash-tail mini-eggs, micro mayflies, triple-B flashbacks, and various zebra midges.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 652.13 feet MSL.<br />
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 548.71 feet MSL.<br />
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) had no report.
101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the low 40s. Live bait trolled slowly under planer boards has worked well on stripers, but the bite is over by 8 a.m. The fish are holding in less than 50 feet of water. Walleye fishing has been slow, but jigging spoons and ice fishing jigs are doing a good job for some. Just remember do it slow. Crappie fishing has been fair using small minnows and jigs. White bass have been fair using jigs. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been fair on deep-diving crankbaits and jigs.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low with generation in the mornings. Trout fishing has been good on Power Bait and corn.
Mountain River Fly Shop said most reports off Norfork continue to be fair at best, with many smaller fish being caught. Wading was wide open this week with the warmer weather, but generation started yesterday with the cold front pushing through.
Small scuds (olive, gray and tan), McLellan's hunchback, Davys sow bug (gray) and small Kaufmann's (brown or olive) have been doing well. Zebras and super midges have been productive, as well as WD40s.
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the generation pattern on the Norfork has been a mixed bag. We had a few days with no generation and some days with a brief period of heavy generation. This has created excellent wading conditions every day.
The Norfork has fished a bit better this week. There have been some reliable midge hatches in the afternoon. Anglers have done the best with Norfork beadheads in olive (size 18), and zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and brown with copper wire and copper beads. When the fish are keying in on the midge emergers in the film, Dan's turkey tail emerger (size 22) have been killer. To change things up, try large San Juan worms in red and worm brown and Y2Ks. They frequently tempt large trout. Dry Run Creek, as always, has been the place to take the kids fishing. The warm weekend drew out a few youngsters. Those few that showed up did exceptionally well. The hot fly was a size 14 sow bug. Other effective flies were olive woolly buggers and San Juan worms. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet and carefully pinch down those barbs.
McLellan's Fly Shop said Norfork has run water for a couple hours per day. Try eggs and small olive scuds, and be sure to bring different midge pupae and emergers. Definitely bring BWO dries and emergers (spundun baetis, bat-wing emerger, and jujubaetis).
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,114.19 feet MSL.<br />
JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass can be caught by using suspending jerk baits in bone or clown colors fished off points in the Clifty area. The river arms have produced a few bass on crawdad-colored jigs fished slowly along steep chunk rock banks. Crappie have been biting well up either river arm. Sidewalk hole, Blue Springs and Friendship Creek are all hot spots. Warm sunny days have been the best. Southern Pro tubes in red/chartreuse or black/chartreuse and minnows have been working best fished along timber or brush. White bass remain slow, but are biting along the deep side of main-lake points. Small jigging spoons should do the trick. Reports of striper action have been coming from Prairie Creek all the way to Point 12. Umbrella rigs with white grubs should do the trick trolled slowly behind the boat. Catfish are still biting along bluff lines. Cut shad and liver have worked well.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) reported that water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well around brush on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on large spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Stripers are being caught on large minnows.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said Beaver Tailwater remains low most days despite the cold weather. As always this time of year, carry midge pupae in various colors and also tiny cream adults. There has been some fantastic BWO action lately, so be sure to have some spundun baetis or bat-wing emergers with you. Some big brown trout have been landed recently on streamers; throw as big a fly as your rod will allow - Sheila sculpins, ziwis or sculpzillas.
Ken Richards at Justfishinguides said trout are biting on midges. Black and silver zebra midges working best. Olive/gold and gray/blue midge pupae are working also. Suspend your fly just above the bottom. A slight breeze enhances the action of these flies and the bite seems to be better.
Lake SWEPCO:JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass are biting well all over the lake on live minnows. A crawdad-pattern jig has also been working. On calm mornings try fishing top-water with a pearl-colored soft jerk bait.<br />
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said not many anglers are available for a report.<br />
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said few anglers have been on the water. No report.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on jigs and Texas-rigged lizards.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said few anglers are on the water. No report.
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) had no report.
Spring River: http://www.marksflyshop.com/ said mayfly and caddis hatches continue to grow. Stable weather will move in soon along with consistent fishing results.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) reported that water conditions are normal. Bream are excellent on wax worms. Crappie are biting well around the docks on minnows and jigs. A few bass are being caught on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is successful on about any kind of bait.
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. All other species are fair.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 256.87 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 45 to 50 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Main lake clarity and visibility is at 3-5 inches with 2-5 inch visibility in Little River. Current is 3,404 cubic feet per second. Both ramps at Paraloma, both ramps at Cotton Shed, the Saratoga ramp closest to the dike, and both ramps at Beards Bluff are unusable because of the drawdown. Winter drawdown has revealed many submerged objects at or just within inches of pool surface in boat lanes and Little River. Use extreme caution in navigation, many of the boat lanes during winter pool drawdown are now only 3-10 inches in overall depth in various places. Largemouth bass are biting well along Little River and her oxbows, with the best bites still during the heat of the day. Bass are relating to structure in Little River's deeper water, and are consistent over the past few weeks. There is not much reason to leave the river in search of bass. Pitching Texas-rigged Lil' Critter Craws, 4" Southern Pro Flipping Tubes, Hog Assassins and Yum Wooly Bugs in Green Pumpkin, Watermelon/Red and Blackberry, or scumpernong-colored lizards to stumps close to deep water are drawing some strong largemouths up to 6 pounds each. Wacky-rigged Twitch Assassins and Charm Assassins, Senkos and Salty Rat Tails are taking some decent keeper bass. Rat-L-Traps, in the ¾-oz. or 1-oz. size, fished slower and deflecting on stumps along Little River are still taking keeper bass in 8-9 feet of water. The most productive colors are Red Shad, Red Chrome and Honey Bee. Stumps, cypress knees, and laydowns are the key during the day. Any points with stumps along Little River, between 10-15 feet deep seem to be the most consistent for crankbait bites. Bomber model As and Rebel Deep Wee R crankbaits in Bayou Bengal, Firetiger, or Secret Weapon colors are finding a few keepers. Schools of white bass are holding in very deep water off the river (18-28 feet), and hitting jigging spoons up Little River between Horseshoe Lake and White Cliff. Crappie almost completely shut down this week with the influx of fresh, muddy water. Channel catfish from 3-8 pounds are good on Catfish Charlie, cut baits or cut shad on trotlines and yo-yo's along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 10-15 feet water.
Local angler Dane Goodwin said the whites are beginning to get good. The water is extremely low and launching a boat in Little River at the Hwy. 59 landing is treacherous.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs and shiners.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
White Oak Lake:White Oak Lake State Park said fishing has been slow for catfish and bass. Crappie are biting both live and artificial baits. The lake is extremely clear but lake levels are stable.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 542.25 feet MSL.<br />
Lakeside Grocery reported bass are biting well in 8 to 10 feet of water on crankbaits.
Little Missouri River:Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 401.26 feet MSL.<br />
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) reported that water conditions are about normal. Bream are being caught in 20 to 30 feet of water around points on red wigglers and nightcrawlers. Crappie fishing is good in 15 to 25 feet of water around brush and grassy points on jigs and live bait. Black and Kentucky bass are being caught on crankbaits and jigs with pork trailers. Catfish are slow, but can be caught in deeper water on live bait.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Bill's Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) reported that the water is a little muddy and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair around shorelines on top-water lures. Black bass are being caught on spoons and jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait and shad.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 387.38 feet MSL.<br />
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. A few catfish are being caught on liver.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is a little dingy and at a normal level. Crappie can be caught deep on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation was 573.13 feet MSL.<br />
Lake Ouachita State Park reports that fishing has picked up. Water temperature is in the high 40s. Stripers are being caught on top-water lures such as Spook Jrs., spooning with CC spoons and trolling with crankbaits. Bass fishing is fair on finesse worms and spinnerbaits near structure. A few bream and crappie can be found in various areas.
Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said last weekend's tournament at Lake Ouachita was very successful. Anglers did well on jigs, Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits around main-lake points.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and at 42-48 degrees. Largemouth bass are good and can be caught with Deep Little N's and lipless crankbaits on main-lake points and secondary points. Walleye are slow on spoons over humps and main-lake points with brush. Stripers are very good on live brood minnows and gizzard shad. Smoke or pearl-colored grubs are working as well. Crappie are good and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 15 to 25 feet deep.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said bass fishing has been good on deep trees near the edges of drop-offs. Working a black/blue or green pumpkin ½ to 3/4-oz. jig through treetops has produced well. Large Rat-L-Traps and ¾-oz. shad-colored spinnerbaits worked slowly around the timber are also picking up some fish.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that rainbow trout fishing below Carpenter Dam remains excellent. Water temperature is holding at 45 degrees in the tailrace, but drops as much as 5 degrees as you approach the dam. Guided trips are the safest way to navigate the area and are still catching more than 50 fish an outing with numbers over 100 not unusual. Bank fishermen are quickly recording limits of trout on corn and redworms floated under a bobber. Also these baits can be fished on the bottom with marshmallows to float them toward the surface. Spin fishermen are catching larger trout by casting Rooster Tails and Super Dupers during generation. Artificial baits are highly effective when the turbines are turning as the trout are feeding heavily on threadfin shad. When generation stops fishermen should concentrate on areas with some visible current. Fly fishermen always stick to this technique and consistently catch fish. Woolly buggers, micro-jigs and San Juan worms fished in current will all draw strikes regardless of weather conditions. Striper and hybrid activity has been adversely effected by the on and off winter conditions but some fish have been caught on 1"4-oz. jigs in the main river channel below the bridge. The walleye run has begun as numbers of male walleye arrive to prepare for females.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing good with some decent fish being caught on crayfish-colored crankbaits in 10-15 feet of water around brush piles. Vertically jigging a ½-oz. spoon will catch a variety of fish in 20-30 feet of water. Crappie, walleye, Kentucky bass, white bass and yellow bass are all gathered up together on mid-lake humps and ridges.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is murky and a little high. Crappie fishing is good in 12 to 14 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is very muddy since the tornado hit, and fishing has been slow.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water is clear and dropping. Crappie can be caught around docks in the bay on minnows and jigs.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on crankbaits and top-water lures. Catfish can be caught on worms, nightcrawlers and cut shad.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) reported that water conditions are normal. No fishing report.<br />
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said water conditions are excellent. Bream fishing is good in shallow water on worms and crickets. Crappie are being caught around piers on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.