December 9, 2009 Edition

Fishing Tip:  Winter trout stockings are taking place at all Family and Community Fisheries ponds. All program ponds in Central Arkansas before the Christmas Holiday. For the most up-to-date information, check www.agfc.com/fishing/fish-management/trout-stocking/trout-stock-fcf.aspx or call the hotline at (866) 540-FISH. The limit for these trout is five per day, but be sure to check the regulations before going. Some ponds are for youth and senior anglers only.

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 low. No report.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) had no report.

Little Red River: 

Lindsey's Resort  (501-302-3139) said the water is extremely high and fast.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Corps of Engineers opened four of the six flood gates on Greers Ferry Dam, sending the river level up 3-5 feet (depending on where you are on the river) above the level created by two full generators in operation. There may be wadeable river water by early to mid-January if we have no large rain events in the interim. When two generators are on line along with four open flood gates, simply put, stay away from the river! I know of no guide that is accepting trips under these conditions and if guides won't go out on the river, you shouldn't either.

Greers Ferry:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 470.40 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling fast and the surface temperature is in the mid 50s. Hybrid and white bass fishing continues to be good, especially when the sun is shining. The falling water is grouping the shad and the hybrids are grouped up with them. Try spoons, inline spinners, swim baits and hair jigs under deep balls of shad. Bass fishing is slow. Spinnerbaits and jigs pitched to the outside edge of woody cover are working, but it’s a slow bite. No report on crappie, bream, walleye or catfish.

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. 12.

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows. White Crappie Stingers are working especially well.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park): 

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

Lake Overcup:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is normal and clear. Crappie are doing good in shallow water and around the banks on white Crappie Stingers and white Cubby lures. Bream are slow, but are biting redworms and crickets. Bass are fair on black plastic worms and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfish are slow on trotlines using bream and cut shad.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is normal and clear. Crappie are doing well on white/chartreuse tube jigs and small minnows. Bass are fair on white Flukes and buzzbaits. Bream are slow on redworms. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina  had no report.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said some saugeye are being caught on minnows.  

Lake Valencia: 

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is fair on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.

Sunset Lake: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is stained. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on pink/blue jigs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Bass are biting well on crayfish colored crankbaits in 10 to 15 feet of water. Catfishing is slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high and stained. Bass are biting well on dark green crankbaits in 5 to 6 feet of water.

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow has dropped and a few people are getting out on the river for catfish. Sauger are starting to move to the front of dams 9 and 10. Red and chartreuse speck rigs are working well. Stirpers are biting fairly well around dams 9 and 10 on live bait floated 4 to 6 feet under the surface. Kentucky bass are against the rock jetties and are biting fairly well in the afternoons. No report on crappie or bream.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair on small minnows in backwater areas. Catfishing is fair on large minnows and nightcrawlers. 

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool):  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said some crappie are being caught around wood in the backwater areas. Bass are fair on crankbaits fished on the downcurrent side of jetties.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair on small minnows in backwater areas. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on large minnows and nightcrawlers.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the current is back to normal. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are excellent on crankbaits and jigs fished around the jetties. Catfishing is fair on skipjack.   

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are excellent on chartreuse jigs and minnows in 5 to 6 feet of water. Bass are biting well on jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.

Peckerwood Lake: 

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the lake is closed for fishing until Jan. 31, 2010.

Lake Pickthorne:

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are biting well on pink minnows fished under a slip-cork on a red/chartreuse mini jig.

North Arkansas

White River: 

Mountain River Fly Shop had no report.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said there has been precious little wadable water, and the releases have increased. If you are fishing on the White River, carefully monitor the water level and avoid boating on it.

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the river is dangerously fast. No report.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said high water releases (20,000+ cfs) have made drift-fishing from a boat the only option. Brightly colored nymphs, San Juan worms and egg patterns are working for those that want to watch an indicator. For fly fishermen that want to be more active, a large streamer fished on a sinking or sink-tip line is working. Make sure you are casting to structure, as the trout will be holding to get away from the current.

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

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said six to seven generators are running around the clock and 8 spillway gates are open. Be careful on the water since this is more water than most folks are accustomed to. Once the fish got used to the new water they started biting on Power Bait as long as you use plenty of weight o get it to the bottom. Rogues and Rapalas fished right next to the bank have been catching an occasional good fish.

Crooked Creek: 

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are clearing, but fishing is still very slow.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said spin fishing with soft plastics is still picking up fish. The weather change has made the fish a little sluggish. Make sure you slow down the action on your lures.

Bull Shoals Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 675.96 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 564.87 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).

101 Grocery and Bait said fishing live bait is the key to hooking into a striped bass this time of year. Shiners are the hot bait. The water temperature is in the upper 50-degree range and it is getting cooler every day. If striper fishing is your thing its time to get on the water. Crappie fishing has been fair and of course live bait is the bait of choice. White bass fishing is good. Walleye fishing is fair. Largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass fishing is fair. Sunfish and catfish fishing are fair. The night bite for stripers and walleye should begin any time now using Rogues.

Norfork Tailwater: 

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said two generators and five spillway gates running continuously has the fishing slowed down considerably. Fishing will be more consistent on the White River.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said monitor the water levels on the Norfork and do not attempt boating on it until the Corps of Engineers closes the flood gates and limits flows to generation from the dam. The boat ramp at Quarry Park is flooded and closed to all traffic. The high water levels washed away all of the recently installed landscaping. Hopefully there will be no further damage to the recently resurfaced ramp parking lot.

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been high with two units running plus some release from the flood gates.

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,127.94 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 1,120 MSL).

Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service said stripers are biting well on shad all over the lake, but the best action has been in the creek arms. On the main lake, try fishing jigging spoons 20 to 30 feet deep on points 4, 5, 6 and 9. In the War Eagle Arm, try fishing shad or brood minnows 10-15 feet deep under balloons 50-100 feet behind the boat. "Free lining" shad 100-150 feet back is also taking some fish. Concentrate your efforts from the War Eagle/White River junction up War Eagle to the Sidewalk hole. White bass and hybrids can also be taken in the area. Try fishing Rooster Tails or jigging spoons in silver or gold/chartreuse. On the White River from the Highway 12 Bridge to the Highway 412 Bridge, concentrate efforts in backs of coves and shallow flats in the Horseshoe Bend. Around Lost Bridge, free-line shad or brood minnows 10-15 feet deep. In Indian Creek, fish 10-20 feet deep with shad or brood minnows. Trolled jigs, umbrella rigs(white) and crankbaits have also been producing in this area. Jigging spoons fished 10-20 feet deep on the primary points are also producing fish. Around Prarie Creek, fish 10-20 feet deep with shad or brood minnows. Trolled jigs, umbrella rigs (white) and crankbaits have also been producing fish. Jigging spoons fished 10-20 feet deep on the primary points are also working.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been fair using a jig-and-pig combo worked along docks and around sloping chunk rock banks. Crawdad-colored Wiggle Warts have been producing in similar areas. Another option is to use a ½-oz jigging spoon along standing timber in 20 to 40 feet of water. Crappie fishing has been normal for this time of year. Most fish are not too far off the bottom near brush or pole timber in 25-35 feet of water. Shineee Hineee jigs tipped with a minnow or tight lined minnows should work. White bass have been holding in main-lake channel bends close to the bank and along main-lake points. A chrome jigging spoon should do the trick. Catfishing has slowed, but a few can still be caught in the evenings from the bank using liver or nightcrawlers.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around brush and trolled crankbaits. Bass are fair on spoons and drop-shot rigs in deep water. White bass and small stripers are biting fairly well around Rocky Branch. All other species are slow.

Beaver Tailwaters: 

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said water releases have slacked off some and the Table Rock Lake level has gone down so there is much more wading access. The fish have been staying near the bottom and hitting mostly nymphs. Sow bug/scud patterns, small mayfly nymphs such as pheasant tails and copper johns and bead head midge patterns have been working best. Small olive woolly buggers fished with a sink-tip line are picking up nice fish.

Kings River:

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said the river has fallen to where floating is tough. Red and green soft plastics are working, but you must work the lure slowly with the cold weather.

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said fishing is slow and no anglers are visiting the lake.

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 1 to 4 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows fished around stumps in 5 feet of water. Bass are fair on small spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastics around the grass. Catfishing is fair on chicken liver, bream and goldfish.

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina ( 870-670-4496) said no one is fishing. No report.

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park  said no anglers are visiting the water. No report.  

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said it has been cold, but this is the perfect time to go fishing for big trout on the Spring River. Big fish are on the move this time of year going up and down the river. Water levels are at 450 cfs and water clarity is good with a green tint. Flies to use right now are Grandma's Brownie, Y2K Bug, snails and minnow patterns. Large Hare's Ears and Prince Nymphs do well also. Subsurface is the ticket for the best fishing. Rises are rare, so use some weight and get the lure down to the fish.  

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 had no report.

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.97 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 259.2 MSL).

Millwood Lake Guide Service said exercise extreme caution boating Little River; many river markers are pushed out of place or missing because of current and major pool fluctuations. USACE will run the 4-foot drawdown from July 2009-February 2010. Many stumps are exposed or shallow enough in the boat lanes to cause major damage to boats and injure boaters. Many boat ramps are closed because of the proposed lake level during drawdown. Yarborough and Jack's Isle are still open. River Run East and River Run West are all closed due to high water. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park are recently completed. Main lake and Little River water surface temps are 50 to 55 degrees. As of Monday, the discharge at the dam is 3,698 CFS. Main-lake visibility has increased to 9-12 inches. Bass have slowed with the colder water. The best bite is mid-day. Schooling activity has ended. Dead-sticking a Bass Assassin Shad jerk bait, Senko or trick worms on a light wire hook is working for some suspended fish. Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Big O or XCalibur Fat Free Shad Crankbaits are still working. Slow rolling spinner baits in Spot Remover, Aurora, or Hot Mouse colors are the best option inside grass and vegetation in the oxbows, in the clearest water areas available, typically in the oxbows away from the current of Little River. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads, and trick worms continue working randomly for bass, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads. Magnum tubes like the 3-4" Southern Pro Tubes are working in remaining flooded grass and stumps over the past week. Best colors we have observed working for tubes and gitzits are pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, purple smoke, or smoke/black/red flake w/ chartreuse tail. Flipping stumps, cypress trees and laydowns near deep water with a black/blue, Texas craw or chestnut/chartreuse jig is working well for good keepers. White bass disappeared with the muddier, cooler water temperatures and have not been found over the past 2 weeks or so with any consistency. Crappie have improved over the last week or so, now that the water has begun clearing. They are stacking up vertically along planted brush piles in Little River. Fish live shiners, hair jigs and white/chartreuse tubes in 13-17 feet of water for best results. Channel Cats are still biting extremely well on bulky earthworms, cut shad, chicken livers, or Catfish Charlie in the oxbows around 10-15 feet deep.

White Oak Lake:

Local angler John Tilley said there isn’t much fishing going on at White Oak because of the weather. The lake is being dropped 7 feet to make repairs to Starnes Landing ramp and the parking lot. The water should be back to normal level some time in February. No other fishing information available at this time.

Lake Greeson:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 542.15 MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Cossatot River: 

Cossatot River State Park said the water is too high and swift for fishing.

DeGray Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.35 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the water temperature is in the mid 50s and the water is clear throughout the lake. Bass fishing is fair, but the fish are scattered. Most are being caught on points and ledges 25 to 40 feet deep with heavy jigs with trailers and Texas-rigged finesse worms. Green pumpkin, brown and red shad are the best colors. The sudden drop in water temperature schooled up the shad deep. Don't waste too much time on any spot, because the fish are really scattered. Main-lake points, ledges and humps between Caddo Drive and Point Cedar are producing the best. Crappie fishing has slowed considerably. Some big fish are being taken from main lake brush/cane attractors. The best bet is fishing attractors in 28 to 30 feet of water. The fish are buried in the thickest part so be sure to stay right over the shelter. A 1/16-ounce jighead with a 2-inch Tennessee shad grub is still working well between Caddo Drive and Point 14. Bream fishing is good around fish shelters. Fish the same shelters you would for crappie with redworms and crickets. Some hybrids are starting to show on the big flat between Point Cedar and Shouse Ford. The fish are scattered and reluctant to bite. However in the next few weeks the fish will school in this area and the bite will be on. Look for fish on the bottom in about 30 feet and drop a jigging spoon. A ½-ounce Hopkins Smoothie with chartreuse foil tape works well.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Fort Smith:  

No report.   

Lake Nimrod:

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

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

Lake Dardanelle:

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina had no report.

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.12 feet MSL.

Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) had no report.

Ozark Pool:

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is cold, but clearing a little with reduced flow. Crappie are biting fairly well below the dam on minnows and jigs. White bass and stripers are fair on spoons and minnows below the dam. Catfishing is fair on live or cut minnows.  

Lake Ouachita:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.33 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said some grass is still growing and the bass are relating to it. Jigs and pegged Texas-rigged creature baits are working well punched in the grass.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the water is 50-55 degrees and stained. Largemouth bass are still good and these fish can be caught with jigs fished in brush piles on points or humps in 18 to 25 feet of water. Deep-running crankbaits are working near drop-offs and ledges. Walleye are fair and being caught on jigging spoons or fluorescent jigs tipped with minnows on main-lake points or humps near deep water in depths of 20 to 30 feet. Stripers are still fair on live shad or trotline minnows. Main-lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Crappie are biting well near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and Arkansas shad are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures had no report.

Lake Hamilton: 

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no new report.

Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature is in the mid-50s. Crappie fishing is excellent on points and humps near deep water. Bass fishing is fair.

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said the water temperature is 52 degrees below the dam and will drop down in the high 40s as cold winter nights set in. Rainbow trout fishing remains fair with a few limits being caught. These fish are still scattered. Rooster Tails in white or brown have proven to be the best artificial lure as trout are chasing shad. Casting around sand bars and visible structure is the key to getting strikes. Super Dupers in gold or silver will draw hits from active trout. Bank fishermen using nightcrawlers or redworms are catching the most fish despite the non-stop current flow. These baits floated just off the bottom with marshmallows are a mainstay for rainbow trout. Micro jigs in white or black paired with a strike indicator have hooked some quality rainbows in the shoal areas. Trout over 15 inches have been caught despite the limited number of fish present. Egg patterns should always be handy for serious fly enthusiasts. White and hybrid bass are the most catchable fish in the tailrace as their numbers are very good with feeding times more predictable. Most of these fish are from 1 to 2 pounds. Jigs, spinners and top-water presentations will all catch fish. Try to match the size of the shad present. No striper activity has been observed and no large fish have been hooked. As the trout stocking schedule becomes more regular, big stripers will cruise the shallow waters looking for an easy meal.

Lake Hinkle:  

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said no one is fishing.

Lake Atkins:

Ken Vinson at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is very clear and getting colder. Larger crappie are beginning to move shallow. Last week, the fishing was slow, but it seems to be picking up. Some large redear and bream are hitting jigs. Bass are still slow and on the small side. The gates were closed last week, and fishing should get better with more stable water levels.

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 80 feet above sea level (15 feet above normal). Fishing is slow for all recreational anglers.

Tri-County Lake:

Flooding has kept most anglers off the water.  

Ouachita River Oxbows: 

Flooding has kept most anglers off the water.

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is a little high and muddy. Bream are biting well on medium-sized worm and crickets around rocks. Crappie are biting well on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting excellently around rocky points and jetties on spinnerbaits fished 10 to 14 feet deep. Catfishing is good on large worms and cut bait.

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is running too swiftly for fishing and safe boating.

Maddox Bay: 

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report.

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) had no report.

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said not many people are fishing and the action is slow. Some crappie are being caught around piers in 10 to 12 feet of water on minnows and jigs.