September 2, 2009 Edition

Fishing Tip: Ziploc bags are a lifesaver for anyone wading while fishing. They’ll seal out moisture, protecting valuable objects like cell phones, pocket cameras and your car’s remote on your keychain and won’t take up extra space like waterproof boxes can.

Arkansas River Levels are available at:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt

White River Levels are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml

Central Arkansas

Lake Conway:

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear, for Conway. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished under a cork near brush and stumps. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with green sunfish. Rod-and-reel anglers are also catching catfish on chicken livers, nightcrawlers and shrimp.    

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said fishing is fair for all species.   

Little Red River: 

Lindsey's Resort  (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and generators have been running in the afternoon except Tuesday, when they ran during the morning. Trout fishing has been good on yellow Power Bait and corn. Pink Trout Magnets, Rainbow Rapala Floating Minnows and marabou jigs have been working for spin fishermen.   

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said generation at the Greers Ferry facility continues with small, mid-afternoon water releases. The river water is clear and cold. The average temperature of the water coming through the dam is 56 degrees with an average dissolved oxygen content of 7.0 parts per million. The bug hatches (trout food) along the river these days remain small and daily. Blue-winged olive mayflies and midges make up the majority of the insects "coming off.” A few good dry flies to try are midge (size 22-32; cream or black), Adams (size 18-20), BWO (size 18), crackleback (size 14) or hopper patterns (size 10). If you are fishing below the surface, tie on a sow bug (size 14-16; UV tan, UV light gray or smoky olive), chronic (size 14), red butt soft hackle (size 14-18), zebra midge (size 16-22; red, black or copper), San Juan worm (size 14; red, florescent cerise or worm brown) or woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive, black or brown).   

Greers Ferry:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.13 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service  said the water level and water temperature are both falling. Many black bass are moving shallow. The shallow fish are biting well on jigs and top-water lures, while those holding deeper are still biting well on football head jigs, Texas-rigged worms and Carolina-rigged lizards. Walleye should be getting better with the colder weather; try dragging nightcrawlers in 23-27 feet of water or troll crankbaits for the suspended fish. During the first few cold fronts, it will be tough on the bite but it should get better very soon. Bream are eating crawlers and crickets anywhere from the bank to about 24 feet deep. Try tightlining a worm in deeper water instead of messing with a slip cork or bobber. Catfishing is still good; try jugs set at 15 to 20 feet deep over 30 to 40 feet of water on the sides of channels. Bream, soap and just about any prepared bait will work. Hybrids and whites are still schooling quite a bit, but the most consistent bite is deeper on points and structure with spoons and in-line spinners. The night bite is fading, but the daytime bite should get better every day.   

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Black bass are biting well. Hybrid bass and white bass are schooling at the surface around the lake. Catfishing is good.  

Harris Brake Lake:  

Coffee Creek Landing  (501-889-2745) said no one is fishing because the lake is being drawn down and will remain so until Dec. 12th.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said fishing is slow for all species because of the low water level.  

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park): 

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no report.     

Lake Overcup:  

Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water clarity is good and water level is normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and black/blue jigs fished in deep water. Bass are biting well. Catfishing is good on goldfish.    

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and 85 degrees. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and brown or salt/pepper jigs in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on 6-inch soft-plastic worms fished around grass. Catfishing is good on live bream and shad.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing   (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and 85 degrees. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished around brush. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on live bream.   

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina  had no report.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.    

Lake Valencia: 

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is clear. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, chicken hearts and Danny King Punch Bait.   

Sunset Lake: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061)  said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on live bait in 10 to 12 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on 2-inch grubs fished around brush in 15 feet of water. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and 6-inch watermelon seed lizards in 6 to 8 feet of water. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.  

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on black Rooster Tails in swift current areas. Crappie are biting well on 2-inch, Tennessee shad-colored grubs. Bass are excellent on top-water poppers and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on live bait.   

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing is excellent in 15 to 35 feet of water on whole shad. Stripers are biting well below the dam late in the evenings when the generators are turning. Most are being caught about 6 feet deep on shad drifted under a float. White bass are biting well around sand bars in the mornings; pearl-colored Model A’s are working the best. Black bass are biting fairly well around wood and grass early in the morning. Buzzbaits are working around the cover early, then Pearl-colored Rapala crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working around jetties. Bram are biting well on the back side of jetties on Mepps spinners in black. Crappie are fair on minnows fished next to wood cover in 10 to 15 feet of water out of any current.  

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets in the Little Maumelle River, but biting better on redworms in the Maumelle River and Palarm Creek. Crappie are slow everywhere. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on large shad, minnows, and nightcrawlers.  

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool):  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is flowing slowly. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well around the jetties and sandbars on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on cut bait.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms around Burns Park, Fourche Creek and Murray Lock and Dam. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits near any junction of the main channel and backwater areas. Catfishing is good on cut shad and large minnows.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is flowing slowly through the dam and the water clarity is good. Fishing is slow around Terry Lock and Dam.    

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms in 4 to 5 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows fished in brush piles from 7 to 8 feet deep. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and top-water lures in 2 to 3 feet of water.  

Peckerwood Lake: 

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets fished around brush. Crappie are very slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers.   

Lake Pickthorne:

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is clear. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on pink/white jigs. Bass are biting fairly well early and late in the day on buzzbaits and top-water baits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers around the levee. 

North Arkansas

White River: 

Mountain River Fly Shop reported there have been plenty of windows of low water to wade. Trout fishing has been good on Davy’s whitetail and hothead midges, zebra midges, and tungsten WD40s in black, olive and gray. Soft hackles have been excellent lures, particularly the tailwater soft hackle in green/yellow. Hoppers continue to be very good, but don’t just be looking for big splashy risers; we have been seeing our hoppers vanish in some surprisingly small sips. Fish the current lines and seams with Rainy’s grand hoppers (yellow, brown or tan); charlie boy hoppers and rubber-legged para hopper. The parachute Adams and Rainy’s hi-vis foam ants have been good, too.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White has been for no generation in the morning and occasionally no generation at night. The flows have been moderate in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for wade fishing. The fishing in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been particularly good for the last week. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. The Narrows has fished well this past week. It got a bit crowded over the weekend. The hot fly was the black zebra midge but the olive woolly bugger came in a close second. Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger was also effective. Rim Shoals has been red hot. There were several days with wadable water. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet was the key to success. The hot fly has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen. Other flies, specifically red San Juan worms and grasshoppers accounted for some large fish. On some days there were moderate flows that were very productive. Here again the zebra midge and the grasshopper were the most effective flies. 

Sportsman’s White River Resort  (870-453-2424) said the water is running clear and low. Trout are biting excellently on Power Bait and Power Worms. Not many anglers have been out and the fish are responding well with less pressure. Fly-anglers are doing well on midge-imitations. Spin-fishermen are catching trout on small cranks and spinners.     

White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report this week.      

White River (From Norfork to Calico Rock):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report this week.    

Crooked Creek: 

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared and are fishing well. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and Barr’s meat whistles.

Bull Shoals Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.88 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.64 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).

101 Grocery and Bait  said the surface water temperature is in the mid-80s. Crappie fishing is fair in 15-20 of water around the brush piles on live bait. Striper fishing is good in the mornings, and a few are being caught in the evenings using live bait and Roadrunners. Walleye fishing has been fair using a spoon in 40-50 feet of water, some days they will have lock jaw. Bass fishing has been good for some using a spoon or jighead worm in 40 feet of water. Bream fishing is good using worms, crickets and wax worms in most coves. White bass fishing is good using Rooster Tails and small spinnerbaits, but finding them is the challenge. Catfishing has been good using worms.

Norfork Tailwater: 

Mountain River Fly Shop  said all the focus has been on the White River, but we have heard some decent reports from the North Fork, including a bunch of nice rainbows falling to streamers during weekend flow. On the lower water, soft hackles are doing very well.  

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the North Fork has fished a bit better this week. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has substantially decreased. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers also have been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator. Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sow bug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The project to enhance fishing on the creek is scheduled to begin soon. The project will include a 130-foot boardwalk to enhance fishing opportunities for handicapped anglers and substantial fish habitat structures designed by Dave Whitlock.    

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.50 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has improved with the cooler water. Try using top-water lures early and late along gravel banks with cover. During the day, try using a hula grub around docks. Crappie fishing has been good early and late with minnows fished 10 to 25 feet deep along pole timber and under docks. White bass continue to school lakewide and are hitting 1/8-oz. Kastmaster spoons. Bluegill fishing is good on crickets 2 to 6 feet deep around pole timber, docks and rocks. 

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows, jigs and Hot-N-Tots fished around brush piles. Bass are fair on top-water lures, shakey head worms and Carolina rigs. Catfishing is fair on trotlines.

Beaver Tailwaters: 

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said the water level is still up due to Table Rock still being high, there is very little flow, making drifts difficult. The flies working have been small in the shallow areas. Midges are working well in sizes 18-22. In the deeper spots, larger flies (size 12-14) are best. Copper johns, sow bugs, beadhead midges and olive woolly buggers are the ticket. During water releases, bigger streamers and attractor nymphs are working. Some bigger browns are being caught on big crankbaits when the water is high and rolling. Early morning and after lunch have been the best times.   

Kings River:

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said smallmouth action is very good. Water is extremely low, but if you don't mind hiking or wet wading, there are a lot of fish holding in the deeper holes. This also means very few people on the water, so the fish are not as spooky. Watermelon-colored lizards, tubes or worms will work great. Rig the hook weedless and use a slip weight to get the lure to the bottom. Fish will be holding deep in the holes and along wooded or grassy banks. Bounce the lure along the bottom and be prepared for a few good hookups. For the fly fisherman, late August and early September is prefect for hoppers. A Dave’s hopper in the shadowy areas will produce some great panfish and also a few smallies. Black woolly buggers and crayfish patterns will get the lunkers hiding in the deep water. Sun and wind can take a lot out of your body, so be sure and stay hydrated. 

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and the temperatures are cooling. Fishing is picking up and some surface activity is being seen. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Crappie are biting well. Bass are biting well.

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are slow. Some are being caught on worms and crickets in 6 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows in 4 to 10 feet of water around logs and treetops. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics worked around stumps and logs.   

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina  ( 870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are fair. Bass are fair on top-water lures and shallow-running crankbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park  said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on nightcrawlers and crickets. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers. No other reports have come in lately.     

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said the water is low and clear. Fish have been easy to see but they have been more selective. Minnow patterns and crawdad patterns have been doing well. Cloud cover can be very important during these times. With the water so clear, direct sunlight can sometimes affect how the fish are biting. During sunny days, look for green water that indicates deeper water and cooler temps. Water temps have been running around 62 degrees. The weather is perfect and it’s time to get out and go fishing. Tight lines and good luck.  

Southeast Arkansas

Lake Chicot:

Lakeshore Motel and Marina  (870-265-9901) had no report.  

Lake Monticello: 

Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said fishing on Lake Monticello has been about the same for the last few weeks. There are still worm and jig fish to be caught in 8-16 feet of water on drops along creek channels. Dark worms and black/blue jigs seem to be the ticket. Bass are busting shad here and there. If you are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time, it’s fast and furious for a few minutes. The shallow bite is developing around the pads with a few top-water bass being reported during the last week or so.   

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.64 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service  said as of Monday, surface water temperatures are 85 to 90 degrees. Exercise extreme caution during running Little River as many river buoy markers are missing or pushed out of place. The lake is drawn down 4 feet and will remain low until February 2010. Yarborough Landing is still open, although extremely shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 is still open and gravel has been added to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation/sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps. The campground at lower Beards Bluff is closed. The feeding activity of bass continues to improve. Surface temps dropped again over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad. The best bite ranges from daylight until about 11 a.m., then slower until 6-8 p.m., when the bite improves again. However, schooling largemouths are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day. Best bass bite over the past week continues to be on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crankbaits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Transparent, Millwood Magic, and Shad Daddy colors are working for a good reaction bite. Many pods of schooling fish have been found near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. Once the sun is high and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to an 8-inch magnum lizard in Redbug or Junebug colors and pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. As of Monday, white bass continue schooling in close proximity to the black bass between Jack's Isle and White Cliffs. These schooling whites were very aggressive, hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and smoke-colored curly tail grubs on jigheads. Crappie continue to improve on live shiners and jigs with the increased water clarity and reduced current. Blakemore Roadrunners and Southern Pro Crappie Tubes are working in 12-15 feet of water close to deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps and over planted brush piles along Little River. Channel catfish continue biting well on cut shad, chicken livers, or Catfish Charlie on yo-yos hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12 feet of water, and on trotlines in Little River current.

White Oak Lake:

Local angler John Tilley said cooler weather has temporarily arrived and fishing has picked up a bit. Bass are being caught on plastic worms around the channel and nearby points early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Crappie are being caught around 17 feet deep using minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on trotlines using live bait. Bream have moved off the beds and it’s harder to find the larger ones.

Lake Greeson:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 547.77 feet MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the water level is 546.77 msl and the surface temperature is in the low 80s. All fish are making transition into a fall pattern. Black bass and white bass are schooling and surface-feeding early in the morning and late in the evening. Some crappie never left the relatively shallow water, but more are starting to stack on brush piles and bamboo condos in 15-20 feet of water.   

Cossatot River: 

Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park said USGA states the water level is 1.93 feet, with surface temperatures ranging from 70 to 75 degrees. With the water levels back to normal, conditions are great for fishing, and the weather couldn’t be better for a day on the river. Bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. The smallmouth bass are biting great on green pumpkin finesse worms, Rooster Tails and crawdad crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water.

Black Bass are biting well, with some being taken on dark-colored finesse worms and grubs fished around deep structure. Ss always, minnows are producing some limits of bass. Most any grub or finesse worm fished around structure and drops will produce good bites. The best bites for numbers of bass and green sunfish are coming from black rooster tails with gold spinners. Catfish are hit-and-miss; most are being caught at night on nightcrawlers. Many fish are being caught all across the park and as far south as the backwaters of the lake.     

DeGray Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 401.25 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the low 80s and clear. Hybrid fishing is fair with most fish coming from deep water (100 to 130 feet), with the fish positioned from 35 to 45 feet deep. The best lures have been heavy swim baits and jigging spoons. Look for the fish on your sonar and drop a bait down, just above the fish. The fish are in very small schools from DeRoche Ridge to the mouth of Brushy Creek. Early morning and very late in the evening are the best times. Very few bass reports are coming in. The best bet is in the mid-lake area around Caddo Drive and Arlie Moore. Fish main-lake points and look for breaking fish in the early morning. Try to hit these fish with a swim bait or a top-water lure. Later in the morning, go deeper with a Texas-rigged worm or spinnerbait. With the absence of vegetation, the fish are scattered so cover a lot of water. Also try around the off shore islands and humps.

Crappies are still in the brush piles. If you can find the right shelter it is no problem getting enough for a good meal. The best shelters are in the 20-foot range. Use a 1/16-ounce jighead with a 2-inch Tennessee shad Kalin's grub. Fish the grub very slowly over the brush about 12 to 15 feet down. The best area has been between Caddo Drive and Yancey Creek. Not many reports of bream catches, but this is perhaps the most abundant fish in the lake and there should be no problem to catch them on most any secondary point with a worm or cricket.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Fort Smith:  

Local anglers reported decent catches of crappie last week in the 18-20 foot depth range. Some nice slabs have come from the lake lately on the Shepard Springs side of the lake.   

Lake Nimrod:

Lake Nimrod Bait and More II (479-272-4025) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is around 80 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets fished around rocky areas. Crappie are biting well on minnows near open water. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good on worms.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie have been biting well. The best action has come on pink/white jigs with spinners trolled slowly around 10 feet deep.    

Lake Dardanelle:

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been great on the west end of Lake Dardanelle. A little bit of everything is biting and the weather is about as good as you can get for September. The water temperature is in mid 80s and the level is still a bit low. Many anglers have boasted of sizable stringers of crappie for this time of year. Crappie are biting best on crappie minnows. Catfishing is best on worms and stink bait. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon-colored soft-plastics. Bream, especially redear, have been biting well in the shade on crickets.      

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.10 feet MSL.

Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said some people are giving reports of good fishing, while others are giving reports of tough fishing.

Ozark Pool:

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is fairly clear and the flow is around 8,000 CFS. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting fairly well in the river on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on worms and minnows.     

Lake Ouachita:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 571.87 feet MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is in the low 80s. The water is clear and falling. Top-water lures around points seem to work well. A Texas-rigged worm in brush in 10 to 12 feet of water is working well. The moss is not growing, and fish are relating to brush. Bluegill are biting well; try crickets in the backs of pockets. Stripers are biting live bait early in the morning.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said striper fishing is excellent. Bass fishing is good with some nice fish being caught on the deep edge of the grass on Texas-rigged Senkos.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the surface temperature ranges from 84-88 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well and can be caught on large Texas-rigged worms fished in brush piles 18 to 25 feet deep. Watermelon/red, bloodline and red shad paddle worms and Zoom Old Monsters are still the best baits. Largemouths, spots and whites are still breaking and can be caught on white Rooster Tails or top-water baits. Walleye are very good and being caught on bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses around main-lake points or humps near deep water 16 to 24 feet deep. Jigging spoons are working well on suspended fish in the same depths. Stripers are fair on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. Main-lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. The east end of the lake, from point 3 to the dam, seems to be the best area. Bream are still very good with worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still slow and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep and moss flats 20 to 25 feet deep. Minnows and crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines. Rod-and-reel fishing with stink bait or crickets has been very good in 15 to 20 feet of water.

Lake Hamilton: 

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports  said the water temperature is in the low 80s and the water color is clear. There is still a lot of water flowing through the lake, so it is clearer and cooler than normal. A top-water lure or a buzzbait is working well. Also people are finding schooling fish in the mouths of most major creeks. After dark a Texas-rigged worm is best in the brush. Also try a black spider in brush as well. Bluegill are easy to catch in the back of most pockets.    

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said water temperatures remain in the low 60s in the tailrace as unusually mild temperatures continue in Arkansas. Generation times are on a regular basis, which is responsible for keeping water temperatures low. Visibility is good from the bridge to the dam with no fog. Rainbow trout are very slow and widely scattered. Anglers should stay with proven techniques for trout for any chance of success. Nightcrawlers and redworms fished just off the bottom with marshmallows or wax worms under a bobber have accounted for the trout caught as of late. Striper and hybrid activity is on the rise with the return of large numbers of threadfin shad. Some top-water action is occurring with more sure to happen as September weather sets in. Most of the feeding takes place during generation, so fishermen should time their efforts accordingly. Large white or grey jigs in ¼-ounce sizes have hooked the largest fish this week. Salt injected plastics from 5 to 7 inch lengths are excellent choices when the fish refuse the hard -sided lures. There are a good numbers of white bass in the area and are feeding on shad in the main channels. Jigs in 1/16 and 1/8 ounce weights have done the most damage as these fish are numerous and healthy. Rather than white or grey - fishermen using brightly colored jigs have caught larger white bass and this trend should continue for the next few weeks. Freshwater drum numbers have increased as they also chase the shad schools into the tailrace and can be caught around shoals and visible structure.

Lake Hinkle:  

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets around rocky points. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms and blood bait.   

Lake Atkins:

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is around 80 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around brush. Bass are biting well on Rat-L-Traps anywhere you can find the shad. Catfishing is good on cut shad.  

South Central Arkansas

Moro Bay: 

Moro Bay State Park  at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the river is at normal level (65 feet above sea level). Crappie fishing is beginning to pick up. The word on the boat ramp is that chartreuse jigs are working best when fished in treetops in the lake and the bay. Bream fishing has been fair. Crickets and worms are working best. Most of the bank fishermen report catching some bream but most are saying they aren’t big ones. Little has been said for bass and catfish but that’s most likely because few are fishing especially for them right now. The weather has been wonderful and fishing is expected to pick up this fall.   

Tri-County Lake:

With dove and squirrel seasons opening this weekend, no one is on the water.  

Ouachita River Oxbows: 

No report because everyone’s getting ready for the dove opener.

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:  

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and the current is good. Bream are biting well on redworms, wax worms and crickets around shallow cover. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around deep structure. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic worms and top-water lures in 3 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is good on shad, stink bait, blood bait and worms in the deeper sections of the river.     

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said fishing is poor for all species.      

Maddox Bay: 

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is low and clear. Shellcrackers (redeared sunfish) are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished from 18-inches to 2 feet deep. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on stink bait.  

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said crappie fishing is good in 3 to 4 feet of water on minnows and jigs fished near stumps. Bass are slow; they seem to be stuck deep on the levee side of the chute and biting black soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair to good on stink bait and chicken liver.  

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory had no report this week.