January 13, 2010 Edition

Fishing Tip:  To inform anglers about fish stockings at their favorite destinations, we have included some stocking information from the AGFC Fisheries Division’s December work with each lake listing. The stockings in this report are only a sample of the stocking work fisheries biologists conducted last month. For a complete list of stockings, visit this week’s Arkansas Outdoors newsletter.

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 much of the lake is frozen. Hardly any anglers are getting out to fish.

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

Little Red River: 

AGFC staff stocked 7,475 catchable rainbow trout in the Little Red River in December.

Lindsey's Resort  (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and high with the generators running constantly. Trout fishing was good from a boat on PowerBait and glow worms.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said generation has increased to 6,500 CFS. High-water tactics from a boat with nymphs and streamers is the best option. The best flies to use are San Juan worms (tan, pink and red), eggs (pink, orange and peach), copper johns (olive and black), bead head pheasant tails, Arkansas sow bugs (tan and gray), zebra midges (black, tan and gray) all in sizes 10-16. Flies for streamer fishing include woolly buggers, zonkers, slump busters and various sculpin patterns in sizes 4-10. Look for shad to start coming through the generators and match these baitfish with white streamers.

Greers Ferry:  

AGFC fisheries staff stocked Greers Ferry Lake with 22,536 yearling blue catfish in December.

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 467.50 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service  said the water temperature is in the low to mid 40s. White bass and hybrids will continue to eat well if the sun is shinning and the next few days will be good after all this cold weather. Look for sunny days with a little wind and use spoons in 35-55 feet of water where you mark baitfish. Keep an eye out for gulls and other shorebirds working open water, as this usually means baitfish are schooled up and larger fish are pushing them to the surface. Some bream are shallow and will bite on nightcrawlers, but fishing for them is slow. Walleye are moving uplake and are staging for the spawn. They will feed around bridge pilings, points, humps and creek mouths as they wait for the warm water and longer days of spring to make their run (usually during the second week of February). Use large live minnows on jigheads and deep-diving crankbaits, such as Wally Divers, deep-diving Rebels and Smithwick Rogues. Once the water warms to 60 degrees, use nightcrawlers on jigheads or harness rigs. No report on crappie. Bass are slow to fair on Wiggle Warts, jerk baits, jigs, and spinnerbaits in shallow water. In deeper water, Carolina-rigged lizards and football head jigs are working fairly well.

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said not many anglers are on the water. No report.  

Harris Brake Lake:  

Coffee Creek Landing  (501-889-2745) said no one is fishing with the cold and ice.

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

Lake Overcup:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the lake is frozen over and no one is able to fish.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the lake is iced-over.

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina  had no report.

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

Lake Valencia: 

AGFC staff stocked 1,000 catchable rainbow trout in Lake Valencia in December.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report due to cold weather and icy conditions.

Sunset Lake: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the cold weather and icy conditions have kept anglers off the water. No report.

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the cold weather and icy conditions have kept everyone off the water. No report.

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the weather has kept anglers off the water, but a few brave souls are venturing out. Catfish are fair in deep holes in the river. The best bait has been a combination of cut shad and nightcrawlers. A few stripers have been caught on live shad below dam 9. Sauger are fair on live minnows fished 3 to 6 feet deep under a bobber below dams 9 and 10.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report because of the cold weather and icy ramp conditions.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool):  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said most of the water is still frozen over. No report.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report because of cold weather and icy ramp conditions.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said much of the backwater was frozen last week. No report.  

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the lake was frozen over last week. No fishing report.

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 the lake is frozen.

North Arkansas

White River: 

AGFC staff stocked the following in the White River in December: 35,549 catchable rainbow trout, 146,643 fingerling brown trout, 22,130 fingerling brook trout.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been around the clock, and there has been no wadable water. Fishing from a boat can also be treacherous because of high flows and iced up boat ramps. Fishing in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed until Jan. 31, and the section between the catch-and-release area and the wing wall at the state park is catch-and-release until Jan. 31. During high water, use brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (red, pink and orange). You will need a 14-foot leader with a lot of lead (at least a AAA split shot placed 18 inches from the fly). Use at least 4X tippet and a large strike indicator to float this rig. Another effective strategy is to fish streamers. Concentrate on the bank or any heavy cover where fish might escape the current. Your best bet would be to use large articulated streamers like the zoo cougar on heavy sink-tip line. You will need at least an eight weight rod to cast this rig. Use a short piece of heavy mono (three feet of 2X fluorocarbon tippet) in lieu of a conventional leader to help get the fly down. This strategy targets big fish, but is a lot of work. The brutal cold and high generation are the perfect conditions for creating a shad kill. Threadfin shad are drawn through the dam turbines and create a feeding frenzy in the river below. Be on the lookout for gulls feeding on the shad below the dam. The most effective flies will be white shad patterns. Be sure and have both floating and sinking versions.

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and high, with seven generators running. Trout are biting well on Rogues, spinners and spoons. Last week was too cold to launch a boat with the ramps iced over.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said heavy generation with flows averaging 22,000 CFS all week has made fishing from a boat the best option. High-water techniques with nymphs drifted under a large indicator and split shot or stripping streamers with a fast sinking line are two of the better options. The best flies have been eggs (orange, pink or peach), humpback scuds, sow bugs, copper johns, zebra midges, zoo cougars, woolly buggers, slump busters, Arkansas bead heads, Davy's shads and zonkers. Look for shad to start coming through and fish a white streamer, either under an indicator or with varying retrieves with a floating or fast-sinking line. Always wear your life jacket and maintain control of your boat at all times.

White River (From Shipp’s Ferry to Red’s Landing):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the weather finally taken a turn for the better, and you can get out on the water. There have been no anglers on the water for a couple of weeks, so the fish are feeling no pressure. Seven generators are running at Bull Shoals. With all the high water, use plenty of weight to get your Power Baits to the bottom and cast your artificial baits right to the bank. Fishing is pretty good and the fish are running a little larger than usual. Be very careful if you decide to fish. The high water makes the river more dangerous than usual.

Buffalo River: 

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said water levels are very good in the middle section for fishing. Water temperatures are in the low 40s. Lures fished slowly on the bottom should pick up some smallmouth. Water flows are just a tad high for fly-fishing in the mid- and lower sections.

Crooked Creek: 

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said water levels are a little high for fly-fishing, but spin-fishing should be good. Water temps are in the low 40s and the slightly warmer and sunny days will make the fish more active. Soft plastics and jigs fished slowly on the bottom should pick up some good fish.

Bull Shoals Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 659.67 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 554.70 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).

101 Grocery and Bait  said cold weather has kept some anglers off the water, but fishing has been good for those who have managed to get out. Live bait and jigging spoons are catching fish well. The surface water temp is in the mid-30s depending on the area of the lake you are in.

Norfork Tailwater: 

AGFC fisheries staff stocked the Norfork Tailwater with the following in December: 13,022 fingerling brown trout, 21,420 fingerling brook trout, 2,026 catchable rainbow trout.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been around the clock, with no wadable water. Effective January 1, the catch-and-release section on the Norfork River was increased. The new upper boundary is the bottom of Long Hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman Access. The new regulations also allow for multiple hook points in catch-and-release section, but all hook points must be barbless. During high water, brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (peach and orange) are the go-to flies. Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot fly has been a size 14 sow bug. Worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns have also done well. The few young anglers that have braved the cold have been rewarded.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said heavy generation with flows averaging 6,600 CFS has made fishing a challenge. High-water techniques from a boat are the only options. Drifting nymphs under a large indicator and split shot or fishing streamers with a fast sink-tip or full sinking line are two of the better techniques. The best flies to try are egg (orange, pink or peach), San Juan worm (tan, pink or red), copper john, red fox squirrel nymph, humpback scud, sow bug and zebra midge all in sizes 10-16. Flies for streamer fishing include zoo cougars, wooly buggers, slump busters, Arkansas bead heads, Davy's shads and zonkers in sizes 4-10. Keep an eye out for shad to start coming through the generators and fish white streamers, either under an indicator or with various retrieves on a floating or fast-sinking line. For safety, always wear your life jacket during high water and maintain control of your boat at all times.

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,127.37 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 1,120 MSL).

Bailey's Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said stripers are scattered and are hitting shad all over the lake. The hottest action is on shad and brood minnows fished under balloons 10-20 feet deep 50-100 feet behind the boat. (Stagger your balloons so you don't tangle.) On windy days, fish the coves that the wind is blowing into, on still days, fish deeper near the main channel. The Corps of Engineers has postponed dropping Beaver Lake until Jan. 19. The following areas will hold fish, but you must find the clearest water possible because of runoff from melting ice and snow. This will most likely be in the Copper Mine Area. More information on Beaver Lake’s level and flow is available at www.beaversafari.com. With the warming trend predicted, shad and stripers will be found near the surface. Free lining a large shad or minnow may be a good option once the stripers have eaten all the dead shad on the bottom from the last cold spell. On the White River from the Highway 12 Bridge to the Highway 412 Bridge, concentrate efforts in backs of coves and shallow flats near the river/creek channel. In Hickory Creek, try the main river channel and the Hickory Creek arm. Around Horseshoe Bend, the Striper Alley Area is producing fish on the flats near the main river channel. Joe Creek also is producing. The Monte Ne Area has been producing fish. Look near the mouth and on the flats near the main river channel. Some fish have been caught as far back as the boat ramp. In War Eagle, concentrate efforts from the War Eagle/White River junction up War Eagle to the Sidewalk Hole. Some fish are being taken near the power lines at the lower end near the white river. White bass and hybrids can also be taken in the area all the way up to the mill. Try fishing Rooster Tails or jigging spoons in silver or gold/chartreuse. Around Lost Bridge, most fish are being caught on the bottom near Fish Trap Hollow and Pine Log. Prairie Creek is producing fish from the islands to Beaver Shores. Pay special attention to the gravel bar south of Highway 12 Bridge. Look near the steepest drop on the north end of this gravel bar. On the main lake try fishing jigging spoons and live bait on the bottom, around 20-30 feet deep on rocky points 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) had no report.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said there is a lot of ice in the lake and on the boat ramps. No report.

Beaver Tailwaters: 

AGFC staff stocked 2,500 catchable rainbow trout in the Beaver Tailwater in December.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said morning and evening generation has allowed for some wading between generation periods. During low-water periods, fishing nymphs under indicators will provide the most consistent action. Try scuds, sow bugs, pheasant tails, copper johns and zebra midges in sizes 16-20. Also, try swinging soft hackles (sizes 16-20) or stripping streamers (sizes 8-12). Recent trips have observed trout sipping midges most of the day. Small dry flies or soft hackles (sizes 20-24) in gray or creamy tan were the most productive. Drifting with any kind of indicator seems to alert the fish.

Kings River:

Just Fishing Guides  said water levels are very good for floating and fishing. Water temperatures are in the low 40s. Any fishing you do will have to be very slow as the temperatures have cooled the water. The warmer and sunny upcoming days should cause a little activity. Soft plastics and jigs are the best bet this time of year. Fly-fishing will be tough unless you have a sinking line and heavy flies.

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the lake is frozen over. No report.

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report.

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina  ( 870-670-4496) said there was a lot of ice last week, and fishing was impossible.

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park  said the lake was frozen last week, and no anglers are visiting. No report.  

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said water levels are below 440 cfs, which is perfect for wading. Water clarity is good, but a little milky. Anglers at the fly shop have been doing very well with mayfly nymphs, Brownies and Cotton Candy flies. Rod eyes have been freezing up this week, but warmer air is in the forecast. Just remember to watch your step and keep that line tight.

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 257.02 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 259.2 MSL).

Millwood Lake Guide Service  said repeated cold fronts have dropped the water surface temps another few degrees within the last several weeks. Not many anglers were out last week because of repeated cold fronts, freezing rain and light snow. The lake level continues falling, and currently is 2.1 feet below normal lake pool with stumps exposed & drastically increased current in Little River. All ramps are usable due to increase in lake pool, but with the drawdown, Yarborough and Jack's Isle will be the only sure bets. Main lake and Little River water surface temperatures are 39 to 42 degrees. Discharge at the dam is 15,473. Main lake visibility is very low with the increased current. The oxbows’ clarity dropped to 10-11 inches, at best. The best largemouth bite has been mid-day, and the bass are concentrating at creek mouth junctions with Little River. The best bass bite over the past week has been on crankbaits, dead-sticked Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits, Senkos, and trick worms, and slow-rolled heavy spinnerbaits. Large, 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps (red coach dog, firetiger and chartreuse shad), Cordell Big Os (brown back/orange belly) or XCalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits have produced well. Carolina-rigging washouts and creek channel dumps into Little River was taking some keeper-sized bass before the current increased. Magnum flipping tubes (pumpkinseed/chartreuse and black neon) are working in the remaining flooded grass and stumps. Flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water is producing some good fish. White bass are scattered and slow. Crappie shut down with the muddy water and current. Blue catfish and channel catfish are excellent on cut shad, Catfish Charlie and home-made dough baits fished from trotlines and yo-yos near the increased current in water 5 to 9 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. There is no ramp currently in the water, so boat access is extremely limited.

Lake Columbia:  

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water level is high. Crappie fishing is good, but anglers haven’t given any details on lure selection. No report on any other species.

Lake Erling:  

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water level is still high, but is beginning to drop. Crappie fishing is good. Most crappie are being caught around 12 feet deep on jigs and shiners. No report on any other species.

Lake Greeson:  

AGFC staff stocked 8,120 catchable rainbow trout below Narrows Dam in December.

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 544.89 MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said bass fishing is pretty good on warmer days. The best bet has been to fish a No. 5, crayfish-patterned Shad Rap in shallow water.

Cossatot River: 

Cossatot River State Park  had no report.

DeGray Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 405.15 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the water temperature is in the low 40s in the lower lake, upper 30s above Point 15 and almost solid ice between Cox Creek and Amity Landing. The water is slightly dingy in the lower lake, muddy above point 28 and clear between Cox Creek and Amity. No report because of cold weather and lack of anglers. With warmer weather, look for bass on the deep points and ledges, crappie around deep fish shelters and hybrids between Shouse Ford and Point Cedar.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 342.51 feet MSL.

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 said some anglers have been breaking through the ice and catching crappie on the west end of Lake Dardanelle. The crappie are deep and being caught on minnows in the afternoons.

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.26 feet MSL.

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

Ozark Pool:

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) had no report.  

Lake Ouachita:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 576.77 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service had no new report because of weather.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the water is 38-42 degrees and clear.largemouth bass are still good and can be caught with jigs fished in brush piles on points or humps in 18 to 25 feet of water. Deep-running crankbaits are still working well fished near drop-offs and ledges. Walleye are slow 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. Jigging spoons are working for these fish in 30 to 40 feet of water. Crappie are fair and being caught near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Minnows are working best. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Lake Hamilton: 

AGFC staff stocked 4,520 catchable rainbow trout below Blakely Dam in December.

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports  had no new report.

Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said cold weather and icy boat ramp conditions have kept most anglers off the lake.

Lake Catherine: 

AGFC staff stocked 4,135 catchable rainbow trout below Carpenter Dam and 900 catchable rainbow trout below Remmel Dam in December.

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, (501-624-8757) said the water temperature in the tailrace below Carpenter Dam is 43 degrees. Heavy generation was needed for power during the extreme cold, but the flow will be greatly reduced with the warming trend. Rainbow trout fishing has improved dramatically in the past several days as the heavily stained water has begun to clear. Thousands of injured threadfin shad have been flushed into the area. Guided trips are the best way to get to the fish, as bank fishermen are having trouble with the swift currents. Rooster Tails cast around rocks and sandbars have taken limits of trout. Silver and gold Super Dupers perfectly match an injured baitfish and are working well. Small jigs in grey or white also will draw strikes consistently in the current. Fly-fishermen are beginning to record limits of fish using olive woolly buggers fished under a strike indicator. San Juan worms in hot pink give trout a vivid target in the still stained water. White and hybrid bass action has been spotty but should improve with all the baitfish in the area. Big stripers will move into the area as the trout stocking program forges ahead.

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 lake has been iced over, but should begin to melt with some warmer weather. A lot of shad died during the freeze, which may make for good fishing, as larger fish will be looking harder for food. Minnows should produce best when the water opens up. Some jigs may work, but the fish will just bump the bait and it will be harder to feel them.

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 82.5 feet msl and is slowly dropping. No anglers are on the water.

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 high and murky. Bass are fair around rocky areas on chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is good on worms, minnows and stink bait. Crappie are biting well on pink/white and chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bream are biting fairly well on worms fished around rocks and anything else that will hold heat.

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is high and stained. No many anglers are on the water, but the walleye are biting well. The best bet for walleye has been fishing minnows on a jighead in 5 to 8 feet of water below Lock 1

Maddox Bay: 

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the cold weather has kept everyone off the water. No report.

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said much of the water was frozen last week. No report.

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and cold. Bream are fair on redworms fished near the bottom around the piers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished near the bottom and trolled in open water. No report on any other species.