September 16 , 2009 Edition

Fishing Tip: As the water begins to cool, shad and other baitfish will pull closer to creek channels and banks, and the bass will follow. A soft-plastic jerk bait, such as a Zoom Fluke is a great imitation of a wounded shad. Rig it weightless on a 3/0 offset hook and cast it on a spinning rod-and-reel combo to get the best action from the bait. Let the fluke sink out of sight and work it back to the boat with short twitches of the rod tip. The line will jump to indicate a bite.

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 bream are biting well on worms and crickets in shallow water around the bank. Crappie are biting well on medium-sized pink minnows at the mouths of creeks. Bass fishing is slow. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with goldfish, minnows and green sunfish.  

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 the river is running with one unit turning on about 3 p.m. and running for a few hours. Trout fishing is good on yellow Power Bait, wax worms and marshmallows and on pink and yellow Trout Magnets.   

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said generation at the Greers Ferry powerhouse continues in small quantities every afternoon for 2-3 hours. This "angler-friendly" protocol should continue unless the weather gets abnormally hot or if we receive a large rain. The water coming through the turbines is 53 degrees with an average dissolved oxygen content of 6.8 parts per million (ppm). The AGFC stocked 8,000 McConaughy strain rainbow trout in the Little Red from Scroncher Shoal to Zeb Shoal on Sept. 1. The plan is to revisit this two mile stretch of river once a month to monitor their growth and survival rate. Aquatic insect hatches are about the same as last week with a possible increase in sulphur mayfly activity. Right now, midges and blue winged olive mayflies are the two biggest players. If you want to try some dry fly fishing, tie on a midge (size 22-32; cream or black), Adams (size 18-20), sulphur (size 18), BWO (size 18-24), crackleback (size 14) or PMD (size 16-18). Productive sub-surface flies include sow bug (size 14-16; tan, smoky olive or peacock), chronic (size 14), zebra midge (size 16-22; red, black or copper), red butt soft hackle (size 14-18), San Juan worm (size 14; red, fluorescent cerise or worm brown), or woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive, brown or black).  

Greers Ferry:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.37 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service  said the water level is rising and the surface temperature is falling. Crappie are biting well around the pole timber in 15 feet of water. Minnows and jigs are working well. Hybrids and white bass are schooling around the lake. Smaller fish are surface feeding, but some schools of large fish can be found on top as well. Usually, you can catch bigger fish under the small ones with spoons, hair jigs and in-line spinners. For surface feeders, use top-water baits or swim a grub. Black bass are schooling all over the lake as well. Try top-water baits, spoons and jighead worms around schooling fish. Small crankbaits, flukes and spinnerbaits fished around shallow brush are working well. In deeper water, Texas-rigged worms, Carolina-rigged lizards and football head jigs are working in 15 to 25 feet. Bream are biting well on just about anything from hot dogs on down. Walleye are fair on crawlers in 12-23 feet of water. The best bite is under the hybrids and white bass on spoons.   

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) had no report.

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 there’s been some crappie activity using white stingers but overall fishing is slower than normal.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park): 

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

Lake Overcup:  

Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on pearl-colored Crappie Stingers and minnows. Bass are fair on buzzbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with minnows and goldfish.    

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is high, murky and at 82 degrees. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on brown, chartreuse/white and salt/pepper jigs in 5 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and worms along the edges of the bank. Catfishing is good on bream and shrimp.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing   (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and the surface temperature ranges from 82 to 85 degrees. Crappie are fair on white/chartreuse jigs and small minnows fished around brush. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Shad Raps. Catfishing is good on live bream and cut shad.

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina  said the water is 1.6 feet below the spillway. Largemouth bass are biting well on Gitzits, spinnerbaits and jigs in 15 to 20 feet of water during early morning and evening hours. Kentucky bass are mixed in with the largemouth and are hitting the same lures. White bass are fair; some are schooling around the east end of the lake. CC spoons, Rogues and clear Near Nuttings are working fairly well. Crappie are biting well on minnows and 1/32-oz. jigs in 19 to 25 feet of water. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets fished in 10 to 20 feet of water on rocks and the breakwater at the marina. Saugeye are fair on Rogues and jigs trolled 10 to 15 feet deep. Catfishing is good on minnows, worms and prepared bait 8 to 15 feet deep.

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

Lake Valencia: 

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said 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 biting well on crickets near the bank. Crappie are very slow. Bass are biting well on watermelon-colored worms near the bank. Catfishing is good on Catfish Charley and chicken livers.  

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is dingy and high from the rain. Bream are fair on crickets in shallow brush. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair on crayfish-colored crankbaits in very shallow water. Catfishing is slow.   

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow is back up with all the recent rain. Catfishing is still good below locks 9 and 10 and behind jetties on whole shad. Black bas are biting fairly well on drop-shot rigs, soft-plastic crayfish lures, buzzing toads and Rat-L-Traps in backwater areas. Kentucky bass are holding behind jetties and are biting fairly well on finesse worms and spinnerbaits. White bass are schooling around Cypress Creek, Point Remove Creek and Flagg Lake Cutoff. Bream are fair on crickets around grass. Stripers are holding around the generator on Lock 9 and are biting well on live shad fished in 4 to 6 feet of water.  

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting fairly well on crickets around lily pads in the Little Maumelle and Maumelle River arms. Crappie are fair on live minnows around cypress knees in the Maumelle, Little Maumelle and in Palarm Creek. Bass are fair to good on top-water lures and spinnerbaits in the backwaters. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with cut bait and green sunfish.  

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool):  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) had no report.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bass fishing is slow, but some are being caught around Fourche Creek on top-water lures and some are being caught on jigging spoons and chartreuse twin tails below Murray Lock and Dam. Catfishing is good on shad, skipjack and live green sunfish around Fourche Creek and the dam.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said that around Terry Lock and Dam, the water is murky with some flow. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is excellent on shad and skipjack. Bass fishing is slow.   

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high. Bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on worms.

Peckerwood Lake: 

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the bad weather has kept anglers off the water. No report.  

Lake Pickthorne:

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair on live minnows fished around dead timber. Catfishing is fair to good.

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.

Julie Raines at His Place Resort said the generation patterns, although fluctuating, have been low to medium-low for the last week, in the range of 1-2 generators, with small spikes up to 3 generators. From Wildcat Shoals to Cotter, a somewhat wider portion of the river, we’ve had fair to good wading access most days. That is also enough water to navigate by boat, although some shoals might require short portages. Fishing has been very good. For bait fishermen, soft-shelled crawdads, sculpin, shrimp, nightcrawlers and redworms have given the best results; it hasn’t really changed much from last week. Hot pink Nitro worms are still working really well, as is chartreuse Power Bait.

For those who like to fish artificials, smaller Buoyant Spoons and Size 3 and 5 Rapala Countdowns in Silver/Black and Gold/Black have been the top producers, although this week several folks have reported that the Rainbow Rapalas are doing well for them. For fly-fishing, the olive woolly bugger has also been a go-to fly. A few guests also reported that brown woolly buggers were working for them. Pink San Juan worms, beadhead midges and various Copper John-style patterns have also been effective. For up-to-the-minute flow information and explanations, visit http://www.hisplaceresort.net/River-flow.htm.  

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 clear and low, with minimal generation. Trout fishing is excellent on Power Bait. Sculpin-imitating lures and flies are catching some large brown trout.     

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

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing continues to be very steady with the low water conditions. The White River Zig Jig produces a lot of fish and has been producing some larger than usual rainbows. Some of the best fish will come from two feet of water or less, where some of the larger fish are feeding in the faster flow. In the deeper water, take your time with the jig or put on the Rapala and fish it quickly.

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 654.34 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Lake Norfork:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.27 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: 

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing is sketchy with the ups and downs of the water level. You can catch fish on a White River Zig Jig in the lower section when the water is dead, but go to 1/16- or 1/32-oz. jig to allow it to sink more slowly in the dead water.

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 1,119.47 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 1,120 MSL).

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been very good on a variety of lures. Top-water baits have produced early and late around visible structure and on crawdad-patterned crankbaits or a Texas-rigged lizard over secondary points and adjacent banks in coves. Crappie fishing has been good. Minnows or tube jigs are working well over manmade brush piles in 15 to 25 feet of water along creek channels in coves. Also a minnow or tube jig worked vertically along standing timber in coves has been producing. Night fishing has been good under lights along bluff lines with standing timber. Fish a minnow 10 to 20 feet deep for best results. White bass have been schooling along with a few spotted bass. Use small spoons and cast them directly into the schooling fish. Bluegill continue to bite well 2 to 8 feet deep around docks on crickets.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow, but a few have come on minnows or trolled Hot-N-Tots or Bandit crankbaits. Bass are fair on Carolina rigs and shaky head finesse worms. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with large minnows and goldfish. White bass are schooling and the action has been pretty good.

Beaver Tailwaters: 

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said canoe traffic has kept fish rather skittish, but they are still catchable. The weather has been very nice, mild temperatures and comfortable amounts of rainfall. Anglers using spin-cast gear should try a smaller rainbow or brown trout-colored Rebel crankbait, YUM Trout Krilla or Power Bait. The fish have been moving a lot, so don't cast to the same spot over and over. Fly-anglers should switch to fall patterns – Olive, gray, and tan scuds and sow bugs under an indicator. Also don't forget your nymph patterns – Copper Johns, Red Johns, and BWO nymphs. Take advantage of the foggy mornings. If you are canoeing, remember the catch-and-release area runs from the walk-in at the Bathouse all the way down to Parker Bottoms. This means no treble hooks, scented or moldable baits, or live baits. This fall is going to be a great season on the tailwater, so be sure and make time to enjoy it. 

Kings River:

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said the Kings has stayed fairly low, even with the rainfall. With the cooler temps and longer days, the river fish will be gearing up for fall feeding. Spin-anglers can use hard baits like crayfish, hellgrammite, and minnow patterns. Carolina-rigged tube jigs and worms work well next to structure. Darker colors in green or olive with pumpkinseed flash. Fly-anglers should break out the Clouser minnows and crawdad patterns. Also look into articulated leech patterns for getting the bigger fish off the bottom.  

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is murky and the surface temperature is high. Most fish are staying deep with the hot water temperatures. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets fished in brush 3 to 12 feet deep. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished 12 to 20 feet deep. White bass are biting well on CC Spoons fished in deep water. Catfishing is fair on chicken liver, stink bait, nightcrawlers and bluegill.

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said fishing is slow for all species. Bream are slow on worms and crickets in 2 to 6 feet of water. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on minnows and jigs in 2 to 6 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, soft-plastics and top-water plugs.  

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina ( 870-670-4496) said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are picking up and a few are being caught on top-water lures. Catfishing is good on liver.

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms around brush. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.    

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said the water is up just a little and it has a deep green tint to it. Bright patterns such as my Cotton Candy (a bright pink pattern) are doing well. Rain in the forecast this week may change things some. Black patterns like my Snail Pattern also work well in green water. I am experimenting with the Moffit Angling system on the Spring River. If you are unfamiliar with this technique feel free to stop by the shop and let me show you how it works.  

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 bass fishing patterns on Lake Monticello have not really changed over the last week or two. There are still bass offshore on the drops in 8 to 16 feet of water on worms and jigs. The jig bite actually seems a little better than the worm bite. Black/blue jigs are doing the trick as far as jigs go. Dark worms like tequila and black/red flake are catching some fish. There is some brief surface activity, if you are lucky enough to be on top of them when it happens. Catfishing is pretty good on blood bait and chicken livers. There have been some really nice catfish coming out of the lake lately. 

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 256.58 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 259.2 MSL).

Millwood Lake Guide Service said as of Monday, surface temperatures range from 82 to 88 degrees, depending on location and time of day. 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. Eight gates are open 1 foot each, discharging 1,311 CFS. Main lake visibility is 5-6 inches away from any current in Little River. The river clarity improved to 8-9 inches of visibility. During the last few weeks, several cold fronts have reduced surface temperatures, and bass have responded positively to the change. The best bite has been from daylight until 11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m., but schooling largemouth bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day. The most aggressive bite is on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crankbaits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. The best Rat-L-Trap colors are Sexy West, Millwood Magic, Transparent, or Subtle Purple Haze. 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. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these areas inside the vegetation where the traps can't be used. Siefert's buzzbaits in bubble gum, pearl green chestnut, or bleeding moccasin colors, and spinnerbaits in spot remover and hot mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. The jig bite continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Black/blue/purple or Texas Craw colors are best near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. White bass continue schooling around the Horseshoe Lake entrances, 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 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 and Catfish Charlie on yo-yos hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 10-15 feet of water, and on trotlines in Little River current.

White Oak Lake:

Local angler John Tilley said fishing slowed a bit last week. 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 546.5 feet MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the water level is just over 546msl and the surface temperature is in the low 80s and falling slowly. Crappie, bass, bream are being caught on live bait and jigs around brush and bamboo condos 8-14 feet deep in 16-24 feet of water. Some bass are starting to be caught on the rocky points using a bottom-bouncing technique. Some catfish are being caught on trotlines and juglines baited with live bait.   

Cossatot River: 

Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park said USGA states the water level is 2.0 feet, with the surface temperatures ranging from 68 degrees to 73 degrees. Water levels are up from the last rain. The water is a little bit stained, making it ideal for great fishing action. Bream are biting excellently on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting fairly well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdad crankbaits around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Small, dark-colored grubs and Rooster Tails are doing well. Black bass are good with some being taken on dark finesse worms and dark grubs fished around deep structure. 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 biting well on nightcrawlers at night. Most fish are being caught at the beginning or end of deep holes.

DeGray Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 400.24 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves was out this week. Last week he said the surface temperature is in the low 80s and the water is clear. Bass fishing is picking up with the cooler water. Some surface activity was reported in the Caddo Bend and Arlie Moore areas. Shad are starting to school shallow and the bass will be with them. Look for any activity on both main lake and secondary points. Try to hit the fish with a swim bait, curly tailed grub or a shallow-running crankbait. Shad colors work best. Look for fish early in the morning – by 8 a.m., it is all over. During the day, fish deeper on points with Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms. Hybrids are scattered between Iron Mountain and the mouth of Brushy Creek. The fish are coming off their deep water summer pattern and are up in the bait schools. Some surface activity has been reported along the state park from the Marina to Caddo Bend. Throw a spoon into the breaking fish and bring it up through the fish. Since the fish are scattered, trolling is a pretty good bet. Deep-diving crankbaits in shad colors work best. Look for shad schools and troll that area. Best fishing has been from first light to 9 a.m. Crappie fishing is improving with some decent catches reported coming off brush in 20 to 25 feet. The best areas have been Brushy Creek, Alpine Ridge and around Island 38. Fish directly over the brush and use a 1/16-ounce jig head with a 2-inch shad-colored grub. Fish the lure just above the brush, about 15 feet down, with very little movement.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Fort Smith:  

Local anglers reported crappie were biting well in from 16 to 20 feet of water at night under submersible lights. The better size fish were coming from 20 feet. No success has been reported during the day.   

Lake Nimrod:

Lake Nimrod Bait and More II (479-272-4025) had no report.  

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 catfish seem to be doing best on cut bream, worms and bass minnows between rains. Bass fishing has been slow. Long-time local fisherman, Homer Qualls, reports, "If you can hit them in the head and make them mad enough, you should be able to do just fine this time of year." Crappie are biting well in 18 feet of water, on jigs and minnows fished 6 to 8 feet deep near the river channel.  

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.90 feet MSL.

Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said not many anglers are visiting the water now. No report.

Ozark Pool:

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is stained and the flow is increasing. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 6-8 inches of water. Bass are biting well on jigs and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on shad and nightcrawlers.   

Lake Ouachita:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 571.91 feet MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said stripers are excellent around deep holes in the main lake. Once you find the fish, catching them is easy. Largemouth bass fishing is very good with a lot of schooling action in the creeks. Topwaters and spinnerbaits are working very well.

Mountain Harbor Resort had no new report.

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said fishing is good for stripers, but the fish are very deep. Most are coming from 50 to 70 feet near the main channel. Work along treelines. You may need to hit a few places before you find a school willing to work, but once you do, you can catch quite a few. Please remember that if you’re pulling a fish up from deeper than 30 feet or so, they may not survive the return trip to the depths. At that point, you’re better off keeping the fish and enjoying a tasty meal.

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.    

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said Lake Hamilton is producing small fish, but they’re plentiful in the (4 to 6 pound range). White bass are breaking most mornings and afternoons from the 270 bridge all the way to the 7 bridge. Most stripers and whites are in 20 to 30 feet of water. Small shad are the best bait, but jigging spoons will catch a few as well.

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said that water temperatures in the tailrace have remained in the mid- to low 60s all summer, which has helped the fish population stay healthy. Rainbow trout fishing is extremely slow with most of the fish having left the dam area. There are some hold-over trout in the area which are over 16 inches in length. Anglers using nightcrawlers and redworms have taken some, but action is slow to non-existent. With the limited number of fish present, any aggressive techniques used to catch rainbows are useless. Restocking beings again in late November and quality trout fishing should be back by Christmas week. Male walleye in the 2-pound range have been taken this past week on live minnows and grey jigs around the bridge pilings during generation. White bass are mixed in with the walleye and are being caught on jigs and Rooster Tails. Striper and hybrid activity is still hit-or-miss. One day the fish are in the tailrace actively feeding and the next day no fish are present. Although erratic, big stripers are in the main channels and can be caught by diligent anglers. Most of the top-water action occurs while the turbines are turning and often late in the evening. Brood and gizzard shad fished under a balloon are the best bet for large stripers. White jigs in the 1/4 ounce size will also draw strikes when fished around visible cover.

Lake Hinkle:  

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said bream are fair on crickets. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good.   

Lake Atkins:

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good, with several limits being caught lately on bass minnows.

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:

No report.  

Ouachita River Oxbows: 

No report.

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:  

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are excellent on watermelon-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is slow on skipjack.     

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said no anglers are on the water. No report.    

Maddox Bay: 

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on slow-trolled minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits.

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said bream are fair on wax worms and crickets. Crappie are slow on minnows and chartreuse jigs around stumps at the edge of the river end in 3 to 4 feet of water. Bass are slow, but a few have been caught on motor oil-colored soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is slow. Fishing should pick up in October. Asian carp are still a hazard to boaters as they jump from the water at the sound of the outboard.

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said fishing is on the slow side. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets around cypress trees. Crappie are fair around piers. Catfish are fair on cut bait out toward the main channel.