09-14-2007, 02:10 AM
Fishing Tip : Late summer is prime time for deep-running crankbaits. Fish will gather and hold along deep ledges and creek channels. Make long casts over these likely areas and keep moving until you catch a fish. Once you connect, go back over the area with a Carolina-rigged lizard or Texas-rigged worm. The slower presentation may catch a few more fish and lets you determine the cover attracting them.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater - 391.10 feet, Tailwater - 375.66 feet, Flow - 43,110 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater - 371.18 feet, Tailwater - 342.45 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater - 337.84 feet, Tailwater - 290.47 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater - 285.37 feet, Tailwater - 268.82 feet, Flow - 42,479 cubic feet per second
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater - 264.86 feet, Tailwater - 255.43 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater - 249.97 feet, Tailwater - 232.17 feet, Flow - 52,744 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater - 231.11 feet, Tailwater - 214.50 feet, Flow - 35,326 cubic feet per second
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater - 195.97 feet, Tailwater - 182.99 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater - 182.44 feet, Tailwater - 167.08 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 162.92 feet, Tailwater - 131.29 feet, Flow - 48,900 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
3.4 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)<br />
6.7 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
3.6 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
16.7 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
6.5 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
16.7 feet at Clarendon (flood stage - 26 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Fishing has been better this week with the cooler, overcast weather. Most ponds have refilled with the rain and fish are biting well. Catfish are taking chicken liver, stinkbait and nightcrawlers. Bream are biting crickets and jigs. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free (866) 540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Conway : Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and low. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Catfishing is great at night on live bait hung from trotlines.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and generation has been primarily during the evenings. Trout fishing is very good on wax worms with a marshmallow floater fished near the bottom or on corn fished without a sinker.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said with moderate temperatures, fewer people are running their air conditioners which makes for small water releases from the Greers Ferry Power House. Mid-afternoon releases with less than one full generator and for only an hour or two have been the norm. Large female rainbow trout have been preparing their redds for spawning in the Winkley and Libby Shoals areas. The brown trout will begin spawning in October and November and they are staging as well. A sporadic and light caddis fly hatch is occurring on the river, as is a green drake hatch. Dry flies that will work include the elk hair caddis (tan size 16-18), blue winged olive dun (size 18), sulphur (sizes 16-18 orange or yellow), parachute Adams (sizes 16-18), and CDC PMD (size 18). Any sub-surface fly that looks like a nymph will work including the lowly sow bug (sizes 14-#16). Egg patterns are also excellent with the spawn about to begin.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 457.66 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the rain has kept most anglers off the water during the last week. No report on any species.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said cool nights will start the fishing back on an upswing and should get better almost overnight. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are still deep on long tapering points in 28-35 feet of water. The best bite has been on football-head jigs and Carolina rigs, almost all of the other fish except for a few shallow fish can be caught in the pole timber on a spoon and drop-shot finesse worm. Smallmouth can be caught at times with a small Redfin on flats and spinnerbaits on cloudy windy days. Otherwise the smallmouth are in 18 to 20 feet of water and holding close to the bottom. Crappie have slowed, but can still be caught on top of some brush piles and also in the pole timber in 25 feet suspended over 60-80 feet of water. Bream are finishing a spawn and will be headed back out deep with some small ones still being caught shallow and the better ones in about 22 feet of water. Walleye have slowed, but will get better after the fall turnover for sure. Catfish are still feeding very well on cut and live bait. Whites and hybrids are hit and miss day and night they are on the move quite a bit but remember they will not move more than a couple of acres, a good graph is a must. Keep up with the bait, and the fish will be close.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well along the banks on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with shad.
Lake Overcup : Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is at normal clarity and level, and fishing is picking up. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Some crappie have been caught on minnows, and catfishing has been pretty good on live bait and nightcrawlers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said lake conditions are normal, but the water is still a little low. Bream fishing is excellent on worms. Some crappie can be caught in deep water on minnows and small tube jigs. Bass fishing is fair on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on live bait.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is high and dirty. Bream and crappie fishing are poor. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits fished on the bottom near the main channel.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are biting well around the lily pads. Crappie are fair on live minnows fished near the main channel. Bass are biting well on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with cut bait.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said fishing continues to be good. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late in the day. Once the sun comes up, the largemouths and Kentuckies are biting well on tubes fished around ledges dropping to 15 feet deep. Bream are biting excellently on crickets fished 15 feet deep. The largest bream are below the small ones, so use a little heavier weight to get to them. White bass are slow, but some are being caught early in the day. Catfishing is fair on prepared baits fished around 20 feet deep.
Sunset Lake : Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is muddy. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are fair on 7-inch red shad soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is poor.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the rain muddied the water and kept most anglers away last weekend. No report.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said largemouth bass are being caught early and late in the day on chartreuse/white buzzbaits in 2 to 6 feet of water. Kentucky bass are biting very well on Tiny Torpedoes fished downstream from the jetties and through the cuts. Catfishing is good drifting whole shad in 15 to 25 feet of water on the front side of the dams near eddies. A 4- to 6-ounce weight is needed to keep the bait down. White bass are holding in pockets around Coppers Gap, Flagg Lake cutoff and Point Remove Creek. Pearl-colored Hawg Traps are working well on the white bass. Stripers are biting well below the dam and power plant at night on 2-ounce jigs dressed with a white twister tail. Bream are in 2 to 6 feet of water around grass and timber. Crickets and small Roostertails are working well. Crappie are biting well in Point Remove Creek and Flagg Lake cutoff on minnows in 6 to 12 feet of water.
Arkansas River at Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said bass are biting well in the Little Rock pool on Gilmore Jumpers and other topwaters in the mornings and on jigs and crankbaits fished around the rock jetties throughout the day.
Larry Hurley of Poorman's Guide Service said bass are biting well on the backside of jetties in the Maumelle pool. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chartreuse/white Sassy Shads and black/blue jigs are all working well on the bass.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie and bass are fair around Palarm Creek. Catfishing is good on trotlines and limblines baited with live bait. Bream are fair around Fourche Creek. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines and jugs.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are slow. Bass are fair. Stripers are biting well on spoons and bucktail jigs. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and rising. Bass re biting very well on Zoom Old Monster worms in green pumpkin. Catfishing is excellent below the dam on chicken livers. Stripers are slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and muddy. Bream are poor to fair on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bass are fair on top-water lures early in the day around brush piles. Catfishing is poor.
NORTH ARKANSAS<br />
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said water generation has been good for fly-fishermen in the early part of the morning. Around noon, one to three units are turned on and by mid-afternoon, the water is rolling with four to seven units. Trout can be caught on a variety of baits or lures. The most common bait is two Power Eggs or a pink rubber worm with a single yellow Power Egg set up on a White River trout rig. Fly-anglers have had excellent catches with 1/64-ounce chrome dome pink jigs under a large strike indicator. Rising trophy browns have also been known to hit Hank's Bulbous Bivisible or Hank's Quick Sight Ant. Other recommended flies are the olive woolly bugger and the red San Juan worms.
Anglers White River Resort (870-585-2226) said the water is low and clear. Flow has been low because the generators are not being run as much with the cooler weather. Trout fishing is excellent on spinners, worms and Power Bait.
Bull Shoals Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 652.00 feet MSL.
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said the surface water temperature ranges from 84 to 86 degrees. Divers are seeing a thermocline in the 30-foot range. This is a good starting point to start looking for fish, keeping the boat in 50 to 60 feet of water. Bass are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers baited on a split-shot along bluff walls. ¾-ounce Bink's spoons in silver or white are working well along the same areas. A drop-shotted 4-inch worm and Texas-rigged strawberry worms are working well. Walleye are biting well on jigging spoons and live bait. Crappie are biting decently on minnows under a slip-cork rig.
Lake Norfork : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 549.17 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear. Bream are fair, and are getting hard to find. Crappie are fair. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits. Bass are biting fairly well in 30 feet of water on soft-plastic worms and jigs. The shallow water bite is picking up on overcast days on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Stripers are biting well on trolled Berkley Pogies and Storm Swim Shads. Walleye are fair on Reef Runners and Hot and Tots trolled over deep flats. A bottom bouncer rig with a crawler harness is also working on the walleye.
Norfork Tailwater: Mountain River Fly Shop said fishing has been good floating the river. Several good fish have been caught on deer hair hoppers and tan hunchback scuds size 16. Copper midges and San Juan worms are working well near access points. Please be careful when releasing fish as we are approaching the season for low oxygen levels.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,116.31 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is very clear. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crankbaits trolled during the middle of the day and minnows fished in 10 to 15 feet of water in the mornings. Bass are biting well on Carolina rigs and shaky head finesse worms during the day and on black spinnerbaits, soft plastics and jigs at night. Catfishing is good on liver and prepared baits.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake is up a little from last week.Bream fishing is fair in 4-8 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie can be caught in 4-10 feet of water on minnows and jigs around rocky points and logs. Some bass have been caught around rocky points on plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. There are few reports of catfish, but some have been caught on goldfish, chicken liver and worms.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on live bait. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished around deep cover. Bass are beginning to pick up during overcast days on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live minnows.
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water level is perfect for fishing and floating. Bass fishing is good on jigs with white grub trailers and white-skirted bass jigs.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at good level. Trout are biting well on live bait. Bass are biting well on minnows and worms. Walleye are poor, but a few have been caught on minnows.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
No report this week.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.94 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said activity levels of bass and crappie are improved. With the recent cool days and nights, a few largemouths and white bass are trying to school along the river late in the mornings. The most consistent bass bite has been on swimming jigheads with Bass Assassin Curly Shad trailers, Rat-L-Traps, and bulky worms, early in the morning. The schoolers are hitting Little Georges, Rocket Shads, hammered spoons with bucktails, clear Baby Torpedoes and Roadrunners. The surface temperature has been ranging from 79 to 85 degrees, which is extremely cool for this time of year. Main lake clarity is around 3 to 5 inches with 5 to 8 inches of visibility in Little River. For last couple weeks, the best jig bite has been on peanut butter and jelly color with a black/blue pork or plastic chunk fished along the stumps. Firecracker and hot mouse are the best colors in War Eagle spinnerbaits over the past week or so. Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper or black shad colors, and Rat-L-Traps in chrome/blue back or chrome/black back colors, are catching good bass from 1 to 6 pounds along creek channel mouth intersection areas of Little River. The crappie bite is fair along Little River on live shiners and grubs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Channel catfish are biting well on gold fish, livers and cut bait fished on trotlines and noodles.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 539.42 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and dropping. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Bass are being caught in about 10 feet of water on plastic worms around brush piles. Catfishing is excellent on stink bait, jugs and live bait.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service saidLake Greeson's water level is holding steady and its water temperature is falling slowly. The daytime surface temperature is in the low 80s. The crappie are starting to move back into brush piles along primary creek channels and can be caught 18 to 22 feet deep. All other species are slow, but should pick up with the cooler temperatures.
Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said the generation has been pulsing to keep the water oxygen rich and cool. Light Cahills and Smidges were working extremely well and the trout are in excellent shape. Quite a few biting flies have shown up on the river, so anglers need to be prepared with some lightweight long-sleeved shirts.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 396.22 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop said the level is dropping and the water is extremely clear. Bream are biting well in 15-20 feet of water on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair on live bait. Bass and catfish slow.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and worms fished near deeper ledges and on frogs fished close to vegetation. Catfishing is good on the main lake.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 385.18 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is muddy and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on small worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with large minnows or on rod-and-reel lines baited with worms or chicken livers.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the river is muddy from the rain. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 12 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits early in the day and crankbaits and spinnerbaits later in the day. Stripers are biting well on jigs and minnows near the dam. Catfishing is fair on worms and cut bait.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 569.63 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing has been tough this week. Bass are beginning to move into the matted grass and can be caught on ¾- to 1-ounce jigs in green/orange and black/blue color combinations. Stripers are biting fair on spoons in 20 to 30 feet of water over main river channels. Catfishing is fair on jugs baited with goldfish. No report on bream or walleye.
Lake Catherine:Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that the rainbow trout bite has slowed considerably in the last 10 days. Water temperature at the loading docks rises to over 70 degrees by mid-day which has driven the remaining trout downriver. This migration of trout occurs every year with September marking the end of the trout bite. While trout can still be caught directly below the dam, the fishing is very slow and unproductive. Restocking begins again in mid November. Striper and hybrid activity is also slow even though huge schools of shad continue to inhabit the tailrace area. The hit-and-miss pattern continues as these fish migrate in and out of the area searching for shad. Throwing large top-water baits such as the Magnum Super Spook and C-10 Redfin will produce strikes as these predator fish actively look for forage.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service (501-609-0465) said bass fishing is picking up on jighead worms, particularly hand-poured oxycraw-colored Magic Worms fished around boat docks in 12 feet of water. Spoons are producing around bridge pilings near river channels. Keep an eye on your graph for clouds of baitfish with schools of actively feeding fish below and drop a spoon to them.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is fairly clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and red wigglers. Some nice-size crappie are biting well on minnows in deeper water. Bass are schooling early and late in the day and hitting spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on worms, chicken liver and cut sunfish.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clearing and low. Bream are fair, but are staying deep. Crappie are picking up slowly. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 342.93 feet MSL.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the weather is cooling and the fishing has been as good as it gets. Bream are biting everywhere around the shoreline as mayflies are in abundance. It is easy to catch an ice chest full of bluegills and redears, but hardly anyone is fishing. Perhaps it's the rainy weather that has them indoors or maybe they are too busy squirrel hunting. Whatever the distraction, crappie are also biting on black/chartreuse jigs in the bay and catfish are hitting bream on trotlines in the river channel.
EAST ARKANSAS<br />
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows fished near deep water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jigs and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on worms, chicken livers and cut bait.
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is stained and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets fished around 2 to 4 feet deep near wood cover. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and red shad or junebug-colored ribbon tail worms. Catfishing is fair in 30 to 40 feet of water on cut shad and skipjack.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is at normal levels and has a dark stain to it. Bream and crappie fishing are slow. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms.
Horseshoe Lake : Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is at a good level, but fishing has been a little slow. Bream are biting fairly well on wax worms and crickets around piers. Crappie are poor, but a few small ones have been caught near piers. Bass are fair in the grass on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is very good on worms and cut bait fished in deep water.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater - 391.10 feet, Tailwater - 375.66 feet, Flow - 43,110 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater - 371.18 feet, Tailwater - 342.45 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater - 337.84 feet, Tailwater - 290.47 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater - 285.37 feet, Tailwater - 268.82 feet, Flow - 42,479 cubic feet per second
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater - 264.86 feet, Tailwater - 255.43 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater - 249.97 feet, Tailwater - 232.17 feet, Flow - 52,744 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater - 231.11 feet, Tailwater - 214.50 feet, Flow - 35,326 cubic feet per second
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater - 195.97 feet, Tailwater - 182.99 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater - 182.44 feet, Tailwater - 167.08 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 162.92 feet, Tailwater - 131.29 feet, Flow - 48,900 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
3.4 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)<br />
6.7 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
3.6 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
16.7 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
6.5 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
16.7 feet at Clarendon (flood stage - 26 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Fishing has been better this week with the cooler, overcast weather. Most ponds have refilled with the rain and fish are biting well. Catfish are taking chicken liver, stinkbait and nightcrawlers. Bream are biting crickets and jigs. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free (866) 540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Conway : Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and low. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Catfishing is great at night on live bait hung from trotlines.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and generation has been primarily during the evenings. Trout fishing is very good on wax worms with a marshmallow floater fished near the bottom or on corn fished without a sinker.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said with moderate temperatures, fewer people are running their air conditioners which makes for small water releases from the Greers Ferry Power House. Mid-afternoon releases with less than one full generator and for only an hour or two have been the norm. Large female rainbow trout have been preparing their redds for spawning in the Winkley and Libby Shoals areas. The brown trout will begin spawning in October and November and they are staging as well. A sporadic and light caddis fly hatch is occurring on the river, as is a green drake hatch. Dry flies that will work include the elk hair caddis (tan size 16-18), blue winged olive dun (size 18), sulphur (sizes 16-18 orange or yellow), parachute Adams (sizes 16-18), and CDC PMD (size 18). Any sub-surface fly that looks like a nymph will work including the lowly sow bug (sizes 14-#16). Egg patterns are also excellent with the spawn about to begin.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 457.66 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the rain has kept most anglers off the water during the last week. No report on any species.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said cool nights will start the fishing back on an upswing and should get better almost overnight. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are still deep on long tapering points in 28-35 feet of water. The best bite has been on football-head jigs and Carolina rigs, almost all of the other fish except for a few shallow fish can be caught in the pole timber on a spoon and drop-shot finesse worm. Smallmouth can be caught at times with a small Redfin on flats and spinnerbaits on cloudy windy days. Otherwise the smallmouth are in 18 to 20 feet of water and holding close to the bottom. Crappie have slowed, but can still be caught on top of some brush piles and also in the pole timber in 25 feet suspended over 60-80 feet of water. Bream are finishing a spawn and will be headed back out deep with some small ones still being caught shallow and the better ones in about 22 feet of water. Walleye have slowed, but will get better after the fall turnover for sure. Catfish are still feeding very well on cut and live bait. Whites and hybrids are hit and miss day and night they are on the move quite a bit but remember they will not move more than a couple of acres, a good graph is a must. Keep up with the bait, and the fish will be close.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well along the banks on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with shad.
Lake Overcup : Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is at normal clarity and level, and fishing is picking up. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Some crappie have been caught on minnows, and catfishing has been pretty good on live bait and nightcrawlers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said lake conditions are normal, but the water is still a little low. Bream fishing is excellent on worms. Some crappie can be caught in deep water on minnows and small tube jigs. Bass fishing is fair on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on live bait.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is high and dirty. Bream and crappie fishing are poor. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits fished on the bottom near the main channel.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are biting well around the lily pads. Crappie are fair on live minnows fished near the main channel. Bass are biting well on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with cut bait.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said fishing continues to be good. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late in the day. Once the sun comes up, the largemouths and Kentuckies are biting well on tubes fished around ledges dropping to 15 feet deep. Bream are biting excellently on crickets fished 15 feet deep. The largest bream are below the small ones, so use a little heavier weight to get to them. White bass are slow, but some are being caught early in the day. Catfishing is fair on prepared baits fished around 20 feet deep.
Sunset Lake : Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is muddy. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are fair on 7-inch red shad soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is poor.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the rain muddied the water and kept most anglers away last weekend. No report.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said largemouth bass are being caught early and late in the day on chartreuse/white buzzbaits in 2 to 6 feet of water. Kentucky bass are biting very well on Tiny Torpedoes fished downstream from the jetties and through the cuts. Catfishing is good drifting whole shad in 15 to 25 feet of water on the front side of the dams near eddies. A 4- to 6-ounce weight is needed to keep the bait down. White bass are holding in pockets around Coppers Gap, Flagg Lake cutoff and Point Remove Creek. Pearl-colored Hawg Traps are working well on the white bass. Stripers are biting well below the dam and power plant at night on 2-ounce jigs dressed with a white twister tail. Bream are in 2 to 6 feet of water around grass and timber. Crickets and small Roostertails are working well. Crappie are biting well in Point Remove Creek and Flagg Lake cutoff on minnows in 6 to 12 feet of water.
Arkansas River at Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish "˜N Stuff said bass are biting well in the Little Rock pool on Gilmore Jumpers and other topwaters in the mornings and on jigs and crankbaits fished around the rock jetties throughout the day.
Larry Hurley of Poorman's Guide Service said bass are biting well on the backside of jetties in the Maumelle pool. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chartreuse/white Sassy Shads and black/blue jigs are all working well on the bass.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie and bass are fair around Palarm Creek. Catfishing is good on trotlines and limblines baited with live bait. Bream are fair around Fourche Creek. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines and jugs.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are slow. Bass are fair. Stripers are biting well on spoons and bucktail jigs. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and rising. Bass re biting very well on Zoom Old Monster worms in green pumpkin. Catfishing is excellent below the dam on chicken livers. Stripers are slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and muddy. Bream are poor to fair on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows in 4 to 5 feet of water. Bass are fair on top-water lures early in the day around brush piles. Catfishing is poor.
NORTH ARKANSAS<br />
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said water generation has been good for fly-fishermen in the early part of the morning. Around noon, one to three units are turned on and by mid-afternoon, the water is rolling with four to seven units. Trout can be caught on a variety of baits or lures. The most common bait is two Power Eggs or a pink rubber worm with a single yellow Power Egg set up on a White River trout rig. Fly-anglers have had excellent catches with 1/64-ounce chrome dome pink jigs under a large strike indicator. Rising trophy browns have also been known to hit Hank's Bulbous Bivisible or Hank's Quick Sight Ant. Other recommended flies are the olive woolly bugger and the red San Juan worms.
Anglers White River Resort (870-585-2226) said the water is low and clear. Flow has been low because the generators are not being run as much with the cooler weather. Trout fishing is excellent on spinners, worms and Power Bait.
Bull Shoals Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 652.00 feet MSL.
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said the surface water temperature ranges from 84 to 86 degrees. Divers are seeing a thermocline in the 30-foot range. This is a good starting point to start looking for fish, keeping the boat in 50 to 60 feet of water. Bass are biting fairly well on nightcrawlers baited on a split-shot along bluff walls. ¾-ounce Bink's spoons in silver or white are working well along the same areas. A drop-shotted 4-inch worm and Texas-rigged strawberry worms are working well. Walleye are biting well on jigging spoons and live bait. Crappie are biting decently on minnows under a slip-cork rig.
Lake Norfork : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 549.17 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear. Bream are fair, and are getting hard to find. Crappie are fair. Catfishing is fair on live and prepared baits. Bass are biting fairly well in 30 feet of water on soft-plastic worms and jigs. The shallow water bite is picking up on overcast days on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Stripers are biting well on trolled Berkley Pogies and Storm Swim Shads. Walleye are fair on Reef Runners and Hot and Tots trolled over deep flats. A bottom bouncer rig with a crawler harness is also working on the walleye.
Norfork Tailwater: Mountain River Fly Shop said fishing has been good floating the river. Several good fish have been caught on deer hair hoppers and tan hunchback scuds size 16. Copper midges and San Juan worms are working well near access points. Please be careful when releasing fish as we are approaching the season for low oxygen levels.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,116.31 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is very clear. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crankbaits trolled during the middle of the day and minnows fished in 10 to 15 feet of water in the mornings. Bass are biting well on Carolina rigs and shaky head finesse worms during the day and on black spinnerbaits, soft plastics and jigs at night. Catfishing is good on liver and prepared baits.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the lake is up a little from last week.Bream fishing is fair in 4-8 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie can be caught in 4-10 feet of water on minnows and jigs around rocky points and logs. Some bass have been caught around rocky points on plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. There are few reports of catfish, but some have been caught on goldfish, chicken liver and worms.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on live bait. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished around deep cover. Bass are beginning to pick up during overcast days on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on live bait.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live minnows.
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water level is perfect for fishing and floating. Bass fishing is good on jigs with white grub trailers and white-skirted bass jigs.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at good level. Trout are biting well on live bait. Bass are biting well on minnows and worms. Walleye are poor, but a few have been caught on minnows.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS<br />
No report this week.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.94 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said activity levels of bass and crappie are improved. With the recent cool days and nights, a few largemouths and white bass are trying to school along the river late in the mornings. The most consistent bass bite has been on swimming jigheads with Bass Assassin Curly Shad trailers, Rat-L-Traps, and bulky worms, early in the morning. The schoolers are hitting Little Georges, Rocket Shads, hammered spoons with bucktails, clear Baby Torpedoes and Roadrunners. The surface temperature has been ranging from 79 to 85 degrees, which is extremely cool for this time of year. Main lake clarity is around 3 to 5 inches with 5 to 8 inches of visibility in Little River. For last couple weeks, the best jig bite has been on peanut butter and jelly color with a black/blue pork or plastic chunk fished along the stumps. Firecracker and hot mouse are the best colors in War Eagle spinnerbaits over the past week or so. Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper or black shad colors, and Rat-L-Traps in chrome/blue back or chrome/black back colors, are catching good bass from 1 to 6 pounds along creek channel mouth intersection areas of Little River. The crappie bite is fair along Little River on live shiners and grubs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Channel catfish are biting well on gold fish, livers and cut bait fished on trotlines and noodles.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 539.42 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and dropping. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Bass are being caught in about 10 feet of water on plastic worms around brush piles. Catfishing is excellent on stink bait, jugs and live bait.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service saidLake Greeson's water level is holding steady and its water temperature is falling slowly. The daytime surface temperature is in the low 80s. The crappie are starting to move back into brush piles along primary creek channels and can be caught 18 to 22 feet deep. All other species are slow, but should pick up with the cooler temperatures.
Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said the generation has been pulsing to keep the water oxygen rich and cool. Light Cahills and Smidges were working extremely well and the trout are in excellent shape. Quite a few biting flies have shown up on the river, so anglers need to be prepared with some lightweight long-sleeved shirts.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 396.22 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop said the level is dropping and the water is extremely clear. Bream are biting well in 15-20 feet of water on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair on live bait. Bass and catfish slow.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and worms fished near deeper ledges and on frogs fished close to vegetation. Catfishing is good on the main lake.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 385.18 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is muddy and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on small worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with large minnows or on rod-and-reel lines baited with worms or chicken livers.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the river is muddy from the rain. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 12 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits early in the day and crankbaits and spinnerbaits later in the day. Stripers are biting well on jigs and minnows near the dam. Catfishing is fair on worms and cut bait.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 569.63 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing has been tough this week. Bass are beginning to move into the matted grass and can be caught on ¾- to 1-ounce jigs in green/orange and black/blue color combinations. Stripers are biting fair on spoons in 20 to 30 feet of water over main river channels. Catfishing is fair on jugs baited with goldfish. No report on bream or walleye.
Lake Catherine:Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that the rainbow trout bite has slowed considerably in the last 10 days. Water temperature at the loading docks rises to over 70 degrees by mid-day which has driven the remaining trout downriver. This migration of trout occurs every year with September marking the end of the trout bite. While trout can still be caught directly below the dam, the fishing is very slow and unproductive. Restocking begins again in mid November. Striper and hybrid activity is also slow even though huge schools of shad continue to inhabit the tailrace area. The hit-and-miss pattern continues as these fish migrate in and out of the area searching for shad. Throwing large top-water baits such as the Magnum Super Spook and C-10 Redfin will produce strikes as these predator fish actively look for forage.
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service (501-609-0465) said bass fishing is picking up on jighead worms, particularly hand-poured oxycraw-colored Magic Worms fished around boat docks in 12 feet of water. Spoons are producing around bridge pilings near river channels. Keep an eye on your graph for clouds of baitfish with schools of actively feeding fish below and drop a spoon to them.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is fairly clear. Bream are biting well on crickets and red wigglers. Some nice-size crappie are biting well on minnows in deeper water. Bass are schooling early and late in the day and hitting spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on worms, chicken liver and cut sunfish.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clearing and low. Bream are fair, but are staying deep. Crappie are picking up slowly. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 342.93 feet MSL.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the weather is cooling and the fishing has been as good as it gets. Bream are biting everywhere around the shoreline as mayflies are in abundance. It is easy to catch an ice chest full of bluegills and redears, but hardly anyone is fishing. Perhaps it's the rainy weather that has them indoors or maybe they are too busy squirrel hunting. Whatever the distraction, crappie are also biting on black/chartreuse jigs in the bay and catfish are hitting bream on trotlines in the river channel.
EAST ARKANSAS<br />
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows fished near deep water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jigs and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on worms, chicken livers and cut bait.
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is stained and at normal levels. Bream are fair on crickets fished around 2 to 4 feet deep near wood cover. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and red shad or junebug-colored ribbon tail worms. Catfishing is fair in 30 to 40 feet of water on cut shad and skipjack.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is at normal levels and has a dark stain to it. Bream and crappie fishing are slow. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms.
Horseshoe Lake : Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is at a good level, but fishing has been a little slow. Bream are biting fairly well on wax worms and crickets around piers. Crappie are poor, but a few small ones have been caught near piers. Bass are fair in the grass on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is very good on worms and cut bait fished in deep water.