May 14, 2008 Edition

Fishing Tip:  Here’s a tip from “Mr. Crappie” Wally Marshall to help with your crappie catch during the spawn:

“Big crappie can get real spooky in the spring. So much so that certain colored lures can either turn them on or turn them off. There will be days when you can’t get a strike with a solid white jig while you’re fishing partner is catching one big crappie after another with a white/red head jig. Crappie jigs are cheap, so you’ll be smart to keep a big supply in your tackle box in a rainbow of colors. Remember that chartreuse and hot pink will often produce best in low-visibility water. If the lake is clear, smoke or clear flake seem to work best. In muddy water, try a white or chartreuse crappie spinnerbait and slow-roll it around downed and standing trees. Big crappie will nail it. But then again, you never know for sure what they will want, so be prepared to change colors.”

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 – 388.59 feet, Tailwater – 387.84 feet, Flow – 131,640 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.17 feet, Tailwater – 353.83 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.59 feet, Tailwater – 303.14 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 286.36 feet, Tailwater – 282.89 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 268.23 feet, Tailwater – 267.99 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 248.03 feet, Tailwater – 238.73 feet, Flow – 155,164
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.39 feet, Tailwater – 225.42 feet, Flow – 160,973
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 195.04 feet, Tailwater – 193.04 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 182.49 feet, Tailwater – 181.57 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 161.13 feet, Tailwater – 149.45 feet, Flow – 161,620 cubic feet per second

White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the White River stages are:

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well in the afternoon on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 6 to 9 feet of water. Bass are being caught on plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on any bait.

Dan Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream are continuing to bite well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair around cypress trees. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms and tubes. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with shiners and green sunfish.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said water conditions are great. There are one to two generators running around the clock, which makes for great fishing from a boat. Trout fishing is very good on wax worms with marshmallows, crankbaits, Shad Raps, Rogues and Countdown Rapalas.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry power house continues water releases. Until the White river drops below flood stage at Georgetown, the Corps will continue releasing 3,000 DSF (Day-Second-Feet) of water. This amounts to about one full generator over a 24 hour period but can be accomplished by discontinuing all releases, using less than the full capacity of one generator or with both generators periodically. Aquatic insect hatches continue unabated. March brown mayflies, caddis flies and midges reign the skies over the Little Red River. I am expecting to see sulphur mayfly hatches to begin any day now. The best dry flies to use include midge (#22 or smaller in cream or black), Adams (#18-#20), elk hair caddis (#14-#16 tan) or American March brown (#14-#16).  As always, dry flies work best when presented to the trout during a hatch that corresponds to the fly pattern you are using.  The caddis flies we are seeing have a green body with tan wings. On the lower river, if your boat brushes against streamside vegetation, a cloud of these little critters will take to the air. Fishing below the surface?  Tie on a sow bug (#14-#16 light gray or tan), copper john (#14-#16 copper or green), gold-ribbed hare's ear (#14-#16), flashback pheasant tail (#16), red butt soft hackle (#14-#16), zebra midge (#16-#22 red, black or chartreuse), San Juan worm (#14 peach or fluorescent orange) or woolly bugger (#4-#12 olive or black).

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is closing the boat ramp at Lobo Landing on Monday, May 12. The ramp will be renovated and should reopen within three months.

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 485.36 feet MSL.

Shiloh Marina said the water is stained and remains very high. Bass fishing is good along the edge of trees on worms and Senkos.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said water level has been falling but will rise again from Tuesday night’s rains. The surface water temperature is 62 to 70 degrees. The hybrids and white bass are on their way back downstream and where they will stop nobody knows. With the water this high, anglers after hybrids will have to do some extra looking with the electronics to pinpoint the schools. Crappie are being caught on minnows in 2½ feet of water. They’re grouped up, so when you find them you should be able to catch your limit in one small area. The catfishing is good all around the lake at all depths using rod-and-reel and jugs and trotlines baited with live and prepared baits.

Walleye have slowed some with the last of the lake walleye just finishing their spawn. Try dragging crawlers and crankbaits over any rocky flat you can find in 15-32 feet of water. Some of the bass have spawned and some have not, but they’re still in the bushes. Try spinnerbaits, shaky hookers, and Carolina rigs as well as top-water frogs and twitch baits.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said the water is still very high and the current is very strong, so anglers would be well advised to stay out of the main channel. Black bass are biting very well in backwater areas with grass on top-water toads with a small pinch-weight on the hook. When the toad clears the grass, let it drop and you should get more hits. Bream are in the grass and biting very well on crickets. Catfish are spawning in the backwater and behind jetties. Nightcrawlers are working fairly well as are whole shad fished from the bank below dams. Stripers are biting well below the dams on whole live shad fished from the bank. Some 8 to 15-pound stripers are being caught. White bass are being caught around Flagg Lake Cutoff and Point Remove Creek on Shad Raps and Rattle Traps.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is stained and high. Bream fishing is fair on crickets and worms. Catfish are biting well on trotlines with minnows.

Lake Beaverfork: City of Conway Parks and Recreation said the water is choppy and high. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting along the shorelines on artificial baits.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and shad.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well near the banks on crickets and wax worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and salt-and-pepper jigs around brush or stumps. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits. Catfish are fair on trotlines and yo-yos baited with minnows.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is good on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair in 10 to 15 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits and worms. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers and stink bait.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair in shallow water on live bait. Crappie are fair in brush piles on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair in deeper brush on plastic lizards. Catfish are fair on live bait.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on worms, crickets and small Rooster Tails. Crappie fishing is good on yellow Road Runners. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are being caught on live bait.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said the lake level is 0.3 feet above the spillway. Largemouth and Kentucky bass are biting well just outside the weed line in 6 to 8 feet of water. The best lures have been Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits. White bass are fair and have moved back into the main lake. Trolling crankbaits and white jigs in 15 feet of water seems to be the best method for the white bass. Bream are excellent in the shallow water on crickets. Crappie are biting well in 15 feet of water on small jigs and minnows. Catfishing is good in shallow water. They are beginning to spawn and are hitting minnows and prepared baits.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are fair in 14 to 18 feet of water on crickets. Catfish are fair on live slicks on main lake points.

Little Maumelle River: Josh Jeffers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (501-868-5806) said the water level is receding and the surface temperature ranges from 65 to 70. The water clarity is low. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting fairly well on shiners and black/chartreuse 1/8-oz. crappie jigs. Bass are biting fairly well on small chartreuse and white spinnerbaits, shaky head finesse worms, and small top-water baits. Catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and different types of stink bait. Pinnacle Mountain State Park will be hosting a kid’s fishing derby on Saturday, May 31, at the Environmental Education Pond. There will be how-to-fish clinics, casting contests, free snacks and lots of prizes. The contest is for kids 15 and under, and admission is free.  For more information, please call Pinnacle Mountain State Park at (501) 868-5806.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well around lily pads on wax worms. Crappie are good on minnows and white or chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are biting well on silver or chartreuse jigs and minnows with a slip-cork rig. Catfish are good on cut bait and chicken hearts.

Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are being caught on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are good on minnows and red or chartreuse jigs. White bass are fair on silk chartreuse twister tails. Stripers are biting well on CC spoons. Catfish are being caught in the backwaters on sunfish and cut shad.

Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are good on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Bass are biting well on Zoom brush hogs. Catfishing is good on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is still rough and not many people have been out fishing on it.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are good in 3 to 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are decent in 5 to 6 feet of water on pink minnows. Black bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits. Catfish are good on the bottom using nightcrawlers.

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is dingy and a little high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and liver.

NORTH ARKANSAS

White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said fishing on the White has improved during the last week. With fluctuating levels, the key to success has been to fish rising water. This requires that you carefully study the variances in flow and position yourself to be on the water when the water rises on a particular stretch of water and fish the rise. The upper river from the Catch-and-Release section at the base of Bull Shoals Dam to Cane Island Shoals has been fishing well. Since the lower flows have been at night and this section is just below the dam, virtually all the fishing here is at higher flows. The hot flies here have been brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. Be sure and weight the leader heavily and use a large indicator to float all of this. Another section that has been very productive has been the section from Rim Shoals to Buffalo Shoals. The lower flows and rising water hit here during the day and that has been the best time to fish here. On the lower water, midge nymphs in a bit larger size than you would use for wade fishing (size 14 and 16) have been the ticket. Caddis pupa and copper johns have also been quite productive. Be sure and fish the power lines and the rough hole carefully because they have been producing extremely well. Caution should be used when using the ramp at Ranchette. It has silted in quite a bit and it is not recommended that you try to use it at this time unless you have four-wheel drive.

  Mountain River Fly Shop said the great reports off the White continue with plenty of 18-22-inch fish caught and landed during the last week, even in the blustery conditions of late last week.  The water flows have fluctuated during the last week on the White from seven units to three. Since generally rising water is good and falling water is bad, knowing where to hit the best section of river and which way to run during the day is another part of the smarts of White River guides. On the water San Juan's remain dominant. The best color is a subject of debate, red, brown, hot pink or hot orange are most common but cerise worms have some serious devotees. Try Davy Wotton's Dynamite Worms as well in hot pink, hot orange, dark and light tan and red. Davy again has been whacking trout with this pattern on both the White and Norfork. From Cotter upstream there are caddis on the water, but with even moderate flows there doesn't appear to be too many fish taking the adults. But certainly green-hued caddis pupa patterns are working well from Cotter to the Narrows and perhaps above. The Journal fished Psycho Rhyco Caddis patterns ahead of a Clint's Sunday Special for good results on Tuesday.

Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is clear with three generators running. Trout are biting well on small spinnerbaits or jigs and red or orange plastic worms on a river rig.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 693.49 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 578.16 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are biting well on the banks on minnows. Stripers are being caught in 25 to 30 feet of water on flukes and Stump Jumpers. A few catfish have been caught on jugs with minnows.

101 Grocery and Bait said the water clarity is ranging from 4 to 5 feet and the surface temperature is 63-71 degrees. Most of the debris is gone, but there are a few large logs under the surface, so be careful boating. Largemouth bass fishing has been good on top-water lures and shallow crankbaits in the flooded trees and grass. Striper fishing is good free lining live bait or your favorite stick bait. Catfish are still hitting live bait fished from rod-and-reel and limb lines. Walleye fishing is fair, most walleye anglers are using spoons or live bait. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs, but finding them is the challenge. Bream are beginning to hit worms and crickets.

Norfork Tailwater: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said with lower water conditions and greatly improved fishing on the White, the crowding has eased quite a bit on the Norfork. The heavy pressure from previous weeks has put the fish down and anglers are not catching as many. The best time to fish has been early morning to catch the rise. On lower water, nymphs like olive scuds, zebra midges and copper johns have been the hot flies. Once the rise is over, the ticket has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns.

Mountain River Fly Shop said  Clint's Sunday Special has been working well on Norfork, where some small tan caddis have been coming off, and try some Hot Wire Prince's in Green Yellow size 14.  The water is very clear and no units were running Sunday morning, however the generators and river level rose quickly at midday. The river has changed but the bottom is very clean.  I saw a few midges in the air and some adult caddis. The river around Charlie's island has changed considerably but there are some very nice runs and deep water against the left bank  

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,128.79 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good on the muddy reservoir. Try spinnerbaits fished in the flooded timber all over the lake. Some sight fishing has been reported near the dam in some of the clearer coves and creeks. Crappie fishing remains slow, minnows fished shallow under a cork near flooded timber, lay downs and logjams seems to be the best method. Very few fish have been caught though. Upstream in the rivers seem to be best. White bass are scattered. A few are still coming from upstream in the rivers, but most have moved into the lake. Stripers are also scattered and in the main lake. Indian Creek has been a good place to look. Try live shad under a float 10 to 20 feet deep. Catfish remain the hot fish and can be caught all over the lake on a variety of baits.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and tube jigs. Bass are biting well on flukes, finesse worms and spinnerbaits.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) had no report.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass are being caught on spinnerbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is very good on worms, liver and nightcrawlers.

Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Catfishing is good on blood bait.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Charles: Brenda Mans at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said that the catfish are spawning and are in the shallows. Bream are hitting on worms, and small crappie are biting well in shallow water. The water is still about 6 inches high and is slightly muddy after the recent rains. 

Spring River: Mark’s Fly Shop said fishing has been great. The river has finally returned to normal level. Brown super buggers continue to be the top fly. In the evening and morning hours, elk hair caddis and mayfly emergers are great.  

Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and topwaters. Catfish are being caught on liver and nightcrawlers.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot : Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is pretty clear and still high. Bream fishing is fair on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and silver jigs. Catfish are being caught on soap. 

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.73 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said As of Monday 12 May, Largemouth Bass improved again.  Decreased current in Little River from last week has Millwood falling and closer to normal this week than it has been in quite some time.  The main lake and Little River's water surface temperature ranged from 63 to 75 degrees. Main-lake water clarity and visibility is 6 to 9 inches away from current. Current in Little River and discharge at the dam is 5,100 CFS as of Monday. Many river buoys have been replaced, but some loose grass and vegetation mats are still present. All USACE boat ramps and campgrounds are open again. Last week was good for bass on Millwood. Some largemouths have already spawned out, as beds have been seen upriver at various locations. Many males and fat females have been seen & caught up to 10.5 pounds each, in bedding area flats adjacent to deep water drops and creek channels.  The most aggressive bite remains on jigs in black/blue, black/red, Bass Assassin Shads in salt and pepper silver phantom, Trick Worms and Senkos in watermelon/red, Topwater Toads, and big bulky Rat-L-Traps. Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes (with rattles) in black-red flake are still working in off-colored water, and purple smoke in the clearer water.  10-inch worms or bulky lizards in black/blue, junebug/red, red shad or pumpkinseed/chart; Hog Assassins in black emerald and green pumpkin are working well. Siefert's Buzz Baits in Hot Firecracker or bubble gum/black are working very well on big fish near newly emerging lily pads, in the clearest water you can find. White Bass were caught adjacent to creek mouths dumping into Little River, just inside the current breaks, between White Cliffs and McGuire this week. Try Cordell hammered spoons with white bucktails and Little Cleos or Little Georges. The crappie bite continues to improve. Slab Crappie have been caught under cypress trees on live shiners, red/white or smoke Cordell Grubs on jig heads, over the past couple weeks. Blue catfish continue to hit well on trotlines near the current in Little River. Channel catfish are good on dog food, cut shad or Charlie, on trot lines and yo-yo's along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 9-11 feet of water, near river current. Bream are biting well along the banks on crickets and redworms. White/chartreuse or white/yellow popping bugs on fly rods are catching nice Redear and Mason Bream.

Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870) 385-2201 said The surface temperature ranges from 60 to 65 degrees and the water is a bit stained. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets in 3 to 4 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting fairly well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdad-colored Crain baits around cover in deeper pools around 4 to 5 feet deep. Largemouth bass are slow, but a few have been taken on dark-colored finesse worms and grubs fished slowly through deep cover. Catfishing is slow with some catfish being taken on live perch. Most of the catfish are being caught just above the Highway 278 bridge south to Gillham Lake. To experience the fishing on the Cossatot at its best, make a call to Cossatot River State Park Visitor Center and schedule a fishing kayak tour.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Bass can be caught on shiners and artificial bait. Catfishing is good on trotlines.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said catfish are the best thing going on trotlines.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is stable and the surface temperature is warming. The water clarity is good. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Catfish are biting extremely well on minnows hung from trotlines. Bass are slow.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.76 feet MSL.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the surface temperature is in the upper 60s in the mornings, warming to the mid-70s by afternoon. Nice slab crappies up to 16-inches are being caught on rosy reds, shiners and jigs fished 10 to 18-feet deep over brush piles in 14 to 28 feet of water. Other species like catfish, bream and bass are being caught in the same places by the same methods.

Lakeside Grocery said the water is stained at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in 10 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are being caught on crankbaits, topwaters, and plastic baits. Catfish are fair on shad and bream.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.94 feet MSL.

DeGray Lake State Park said the black bass are being seen paired up in the shallows. Bream is starting to move in, with some starting to hit crickets, but they’re still on the small side. The catfish are starting to come in a big way from the bank to 15 feet of water, including a 37-pound flathead caught on a noodle. The hybrids are breaking more now than they have in the last three years; they are coming up and staying longer while schooling the shad. The water temperature is 62 degrees, down 5 degrees from last week, but warming in the shallows. Clarity is dingy from the high water but clearing slowly.

DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is clearing up and at normal level with temperature in the low 70s. Bream are moving to beds and can be caught on redworms and crickets. Crappie are scattered and are being caught on minnows and jigs. Black bass and Kentucky bass are being caught on Rooster Tails and Spooks. Whites and hybrids are being caught in the mid-section of the lake on Rooster Tails. Catfishing is fair in 30 feet of water on live bait. 

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy and high. Bass are good in shallow water on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and topwaters. Catfish are biting well on stink bait, shad and nightcrawlers.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 406.37 feet MSL.

CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is murky and high. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish are being caught on worms, minnows and chicken liver.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and 10 feet high. Bream are fair on crickets. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.86 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said walleye fishing continues to be very good. The walleye are on top of the grass and feeding on many different lures, from jerk baits to jigs, this should run for the next four weeks with better numbers in the next two weeks. Bass are still in post-spawn mode and are a little fickle. Concentrate on grassy points near the creeks and work slowly and you should be able to catch a few. The stripers are trying to break in the mouths of the creeks heading back to the main lake.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474) said the water is calming and clearing very well. Some surface action is picking up with some small stripers and large black bass breaking sporadically. Some larger stripers are being caught, but they are few and far between. We’re starting to see larger schools of small fish (8-12 pounds) showing up in clusters. Redfins in trout patterns over points and Rat-L-Traps in shad colors in the same areas are starting to produce. Make sure the points you fish are close to deep water. Freelined 9-10 inch shad are working in the schools as well.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service , reports that Entergy is running a minimum generation schedule for the next few weeks which has created a very good fishing environment below Carpenter Dam. Rainbow trout fishing remains excellent as these fish feed on threadfin shad that are migrating towards the dam. Water temperature is holding at 56 degrees. The vast majority of trout are in the 13 to 15-inch range with fish over 17 inches caught. Fly-fishermen can still wade to areas that hold fish during periods of no generation. Streamers and micro-jigs in white or grey are the baits of choice. Egg patterns will also work well. Spin-fishermen casting Rooster Tails and Super Dupers in areas of current have recorded limits of quality trout almost daily. Bank fishermen consistently catch limits by using nightcrawlers and redworms floated under a bobber. Small shiners also work well but are not as effective as the warmer weather approaches. Boaters trolling the channels are catching the largest fish as they concentrate their efforts on the deeper water around the bridge pilings and powerhouse areas. Very large stripers have been spotted prowling the tailrace in search of trout and shad. Fish in the 30-pound range have been seen in the last several days. Warmer weather always signals the movement of the striper schools toward the dam as they follow the shad migration. The walleye and crappie spawn is over, but the white bass are still present in good numbers and can be caught readily by using live minnows and small jigs. Freshwater drum are in the middle of their spawning run with females from 20 to 40 pounds being caught.

Diamond Head Marina reported that water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair along the shore on artificial baits. Catfish are fair on stink bait and nightcrawlers.

Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing slowed considerably last week, with mostly small fish being caught. Carolina rigs and crankbaits fished over flats near spawning areas are still producing, but the size just isn’t there like it was two weeks ago.

Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) had no report.

EAST ARKANSAS

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is murky and high. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are good on lizards. Catfishing is excellent on worms, cut bait and shrimp.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said water conditions are getting back to normal. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on any bait.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said water conditions are normal. Bream are picking up along the shorelines on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on jigs and trolled minnows.