January 20, 2010 Edition

Fishing Tip:  Although the weather’s cold, the trout in the Family and Communities Fishing ponds are biting well. Otter Creek Park in Little Rock and Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Pine Bluff will be stocked today with 500 catchable-sized trout each. Click here for more information on the Family and Communities Fishing Program.

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 ice has begun to melt. Crappie fishing is fair on pink minnows and jigs fished in 1 to 2 feet of water in the creek channels. No report on any other species.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are beginning to bite fairly well on chartreuse jigs fished 5-7 feet deep. All other species are slow.

Little Red River: 

Lindsey's Resort  (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and generators are running all day. Trout are biting well on wax worms and marshmallows, Power Bait and glow worms drifted in the current.

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:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 466.65 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) had no report.  

Harris Brake Lake:  

Coffee Creek Landing  (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal level. No anglers are on the water lately

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said fishing is great for crappie on minnows and jigs.

Lake Overcup:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the ice has melted and the water is at normal level. Crappie are fair on chartreuse or white/pink jigs fished around docks and other cover on the bank. All other species are slow.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) had no report because of weather conditions.

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) had no report.  

Sunset Lake: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clearing and is at normal levels. Crappie are biting well on Tennessee shad-colored jigs. Bass are biting well on crayfish-colored crankbaits in 8-12 feet of water. Catfishing is slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is a little high. Crappie are biting well on Tennessee shad-colored grubs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is slow.

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.

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) had no report.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is muddy and at normal levels. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on jigs and red crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on skipjack.   

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the ice has melted and the water is at normal levels. Bream are slow on redworms. Crappie are biting well on pink minnows. Bass are fair on red and crayfish-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is poor.

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) had no report.

North Arkansas

White River: 

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been around the clock, providing no wadable water. The lack of fluctuation has allowed for reliable fishing from a drift boat. Use brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (red, pink and orange). Other effective patterns have been scuds, sow bugs, copper johns and various midge patterns. You will need a 14 foot leader combined with a lot of lead (at least an 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 banging the bank or any heavy structure 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. This strategy targets big fish, but is a lot of work. When we have high flows like this, trout will seek the comfort provided by feeder creeks to escape the heavy currents. Look in the lower stretches of Jenkins Creek or Crooked Creek to locate trout. The brutally cold temperatures and high levels of generation we have been experiencing 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 generators have been running wide open, but Bull Shoals is reaching full power pool, so there may be a decrease in generation soon. Drift fishing with pink Power Bait and pink trout worms is working well. Casting Rapalas and Rogues is also working in the heavy current.

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 658.15 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 553.76 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: 

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been around the clock, with no wadable water. Brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (peach and orange) have been the go-to flies. Long leader tippet combinations and heavy weight have been the secret to success. Work the banks and submerged weed beds. Be on the lookout for a shad kill. Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot fly has been a sow bug in size 14. Worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns also have done well. The weather has improved a bit and now is the perfect time to take your youngster to Dry Run.

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 1,127.32 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 1,120 MSL).

Bailey's Beaver Lake Guide Service  (479-366-8664) said fishing has been slow, but there are fish to be caught. Most fish will be bottom-oriented and in the mid lake section of the lake. Find the clearest water possible. This will most likely be in the Coppermine area. As they drop the lake, the dirty water will move toward the dam and your best fishing will be ahead the mud line. With the warming trend that is predicted for this week the shad and the stripers will be found near the surface. Try free-lining shad and be on the lookout for near surface action. Small fish have been seen chasing bait near the surface in the Van Hollow area. If you are fishing upriver, where the water is dirty, try dipping the tail of your shad and minnows in a chartreuse dye. Ice is still in the lake from Hickory Creek up to the Sidewalk area. Use extreme caution in this area. On the White River from the Highway 12 bridge, concentrate efforts in backs of coves and shallow flats near the river/creek channel. In Horseshoe Bend, the water is dirty and fishing is slow. Look near the flats with sharp drops into the channel. Around Monte Ne, the water is dirty and fishing is slow. Look near the mouth of the creek. Some fish have been caught around Lost Bridge 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 the Highway 12 bridge. Look near the steepest drop on the north end of this gravel bar. In the Coppermine area, points 8, 9 and 10 are producing some fish. Try umbrella rigs or bait fished 10-20 feet deep. Use white jigs in the clearer water and chartreuse in the stained water. On the main lake, try fishing jigging spoons 10-30 feet deep around points 5, 6, 8 and 9.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said the water is in the mid 40-degree range downstream from the highway 12 bridge, and that seems to be where the action is. For bass try suspending jerk baits on main-lake and secondary points around 10 to 20 feet deep. For crappie try working channel ledges and the brush piles and pole timber that is closest to them. Crappie have been just off the bottom in 20 to 40 feet of water. A small black/chartreuse tube tipped with a minnow will work. White bass have been elusive but can be found off main-lake points and channel bends feeding on dying shad. Small Rat-L-Traps or spoons should work once a school has been found. Catfishing has been slow, but with the warmer weather, some can be caught from the bank at Prairie Creek, Monte-NE and the highway 12 bridge using liver or stink bait.

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

Beaver Tailwaters: 

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) said the water is clear, but fishing is very slow for all species.

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 ice is thawing, but very few anglers have visited the lake in the last week.  

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said the water is running low (around 420 cfs) and the surface temperature is 56.9 degrees. The water has a green tint, but is still very clear. Winter float trips have been excellent. Y2Ks and Brownies are the hottest flies. This week emerging San Juans (a crazy pattern by Mark Crawford) have been doing well. Many caddis and mayflies have been hatching out with the warmer water. For a daily update on fishing conditions, check out www.springriverflyshop.com.

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 the ice has thawed, but not many anglers are on the lake. Fishing is slow for bass. Some crappie and white bass are being caught deep, but it’s slow as well.

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 256.43 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 259.2 MSL).

Millwood Lake Guide Service  said current has increased in Little River. Main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures range from 41-45 degrees. Bass have become more typical of winter patterns, but are slow because of repeated cold fronts, increased current and incoming muddy water. Bass are concentrating at creek mouth junctions, primary and secondary points with stumps exposed and sweeping bends of Little River. The best bass bite continues to be on crankbaits, dead-sticked Senkos and trick worms on a light wire hook, suspending hard jerk baits and slow-rolled spinnerbaits. Slow moving, large 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Big O or XCalibur Fat Free Shad Crank baits were still working, but the lure must be retrieved very slowly. Carolina Rigs were improving along the washouts and creek channel dumps into Little River. The best Rat-L-Trap or crankbait colors for the extremely muddy water are red coach dog, firetiger, brown craw/orange belly and chartreuse shad. Slow rolling, 3/4 ounce heavy spinner baits in chartreuse and white, or spot remover are the best options for spinnerbaits in the muddy water along flooded creek channel swings and stumps. Search out the clearest water available, typically upriver oxbows away from the current of Little River. Magnum flipping tubes are working in the remaining flooded grass. The best bet is pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, black neon and black/blue tail tubes loaded with loud rattles to attract the fish. Flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water at creek mouths and deeper sections of creek channel swings, are the best bets with tubes or jigs. White bass are scattered and slow. Crappie shut down last week with the increased current and muddy water. Channel catfish are excellent on cut shad, Catfish Charlie and dough bait fished along the current in the river between Jack’s Isle and Mud Lake in 5 to 9 feet of water.

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 is high. Bream are slow. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on prepared baits in pre-baited holes. Crappie are fair in the deepest parts of the creek on shiners and jigs fished near cover.

Lake Erling:  

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water level is still high. Crappie are fair on shiners and jigs fished close to cover.

Lake Greeson:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 543.88 MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and dingy and the surface temperature is at 50 degrees. Walleye are fair in the river on spoons and crankbaits fished anywhere from 2 to 20 feet of water. The spawn should start soon, and the walleye have moved upriver. Bass, crappie and bream fishing are all slow.

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 405.61 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the surface temperature is in the mid-40s and the water is moderately muddy between Point Cedar and Point 14. The water is dingy around Arlie Moore and clear in the downstream area of the lake. Crappie are fair around fish shelters in deep water (30 feet deep) between Caddo Drive and Shouse Ford. Fish a minnow or a 1/16-oz. hair jig tipped with a Berkley Crappie Nibble over the thickest part of the cover. Bream are mixed in with the crappie, and will bite worms and crickets in the same areas. Bass fishing is slow, but some nice fish are coming from stained water between Arlie Moore and Point Cedar on jigs, Texas-rigged worms and Carolina rigs. The best bite is coming anywhere from the bank to 10 to 15 feet of water.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 342.93 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 fishing is good around the open water. Catfishing is good on shad in the main river. Many limits of crappie have come from deep water on live minnows and white or tomato seed jigs fished near the bottom. Bass have been slow, but with the ice thawing and the water warming, more bass anglers should be on the water soon.

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.96 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 576.44 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is good on large spinnerbaits worked over submerged treetops. Some large bass are being caught on black/blue jigs worked in the deep standing timber. Stripers are beginning to move to shallower water and are biting fairly well on spoons and swimbaits.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the water is clear and the surface temperature ranges from 44 to 48 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs fished in brush piles on points or humps in 18 to 25 feet of water. Deep-diving crankbaits also are working well fished near drop-offs and ledges. Walleye are still slow. A few have been caught on jigging spoons or fluorescent jigs tipped with minnows on main-lake points or humps in 20 to 30 feet of water near deep drop offs. Stripers are 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 on Tennessee shad-colored crappie grubs and minnows near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Catfish are still fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Lake Hamilton: 

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports  said fishing is very slow. Some bass have been caught in clear water on jigs and jerk baits.

Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature has warmed to 47 degrees and the water is fairly clear. All fish are scattered, but a few can be caught 12-24 feet deep on main channel points. Fish slowly, downsize your lures and watch for the light bite.

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, (501-624-8757) said that water temperature in the tailrace below Carpenter Dam is 43 degrees. Water clarity is excellent. The rainbow trout season is well underway. Around-the-clock generation has made bank fishing difficult and guided trips remain the best way for anglers to access areas that hold quality trout. Nightcrawlers and redworms fished just off the bottom or under a bobber are a deadly technique to use in the current or slack water. Rooster Tails and Super Dupers in silver and white are working well as trout key in on injured shad. Gray or white jigs in 1/16- and 1/8-ounce sizes will catch fish around visible structure. With the 5-foot drawdown, trolling lanes are very short, but trout can be caught above and beyond the bridge on small crankbaits that imitate shad or crayfish. Fly-fishermen are concentrating on the shoal areas as trout are holding and migrating up and down the channel. San Juan worms in pink or red are hooking trout, as are micro-jigs in white and black used with a strike indicator. Egg patterns should be a mainstay in the arsenal of the fly angler as rainbow trout are born egg eaters. Striper, white bass and hybrid activity is hit-or-miss at best.

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 ice has thawed and crappie are beginning to bite well. Some large crappie are moving into the coves around the lake and are biting on minnows. A few crappie also are being caught on jigs.

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 currently at 80.20 feet msl. No one has reported catching anything.

Ouachita River Oxbows: 

No report.

Tri-County Lake:

No report.  

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are biting fairly well on worms. Crappie are biting fairly well on pink/white jigs and minnows. Bass are fair on the backside of rock jetties. Catfishing is good on shad, worms and skipjack.

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said fishing is still very slow. Some walleye have been caught, but it’s very slow.

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 the water is clear and low. Crappie are fair on jigs. Very few anglers were out, but those that fished were rewarded.

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the lake has been frozen, but has thawed out.