February 3, 2010 Edition

Fishing Tip:  If you’re stuck inside and need to satisfy “fishing fever,” now is a great time to give all your reels a thorough cleaning. Cleaning most reels is a simple, 30-minute process and will do wonders to improve your casting distance, accuracy and the overall life of the reel. High-quality reels may last a lifetime if they are properly maintained.

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

Family and Community Fishing Program Ponds:
The following ponds were stocked with trout this week:

Fort Smith Area

• Wells Lake – 1,700 catchable rainbow trout

Central Arkansas

Lake Conway:

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is cold, icy and clear. Crappie are fair on jigs fished in the deepest channels of the lake. All other species are slow.

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

Little Red River: 

Lindsey's Resort  (501-302-3139) said the water is high, with two generators running all day. Trout fishing is good on Power Bait and glow worms drifted from a boat.

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:  

AAs of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.87 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 have moved out to 60 feet. Look for sunny days with a little wind and use spoons 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. 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) had no report.

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are still biting very well on Crappie Stingers in Crappie Cove. Fish in shallow water using a boat or waders.

Lake Overcup:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is murky, cold and about one foot high. Fishing is slow for all species.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is clear, but the icy conditions kept anglers off the lake last weekend. Crappie are fair on salt/pepper, orange/chartreuse and white Crappie Stinger jigs fished around piers and docks. All other species are slow.

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina  had no report.

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

Lake Valencia: 

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

Sunset Lake: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on 2-inch Tennessee shad-colored grubs in 5 to 16 feet of water. Bass are fair on watermelon seed finesse worms on a 1/8-oz. jighead in 15 to 18 feet of water. All other species are slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are fair on 2-inch grubs. Bass are fair on 1/8-oz. green pumpkin Bitsy Bug jigs and 4-inch pumpkinseed grubs on a jighead. Catfishing and bream fishing are slow.

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the weather has kept anglers off the water. Catfish are biting very well in deep holes on a mixture of shad and nightcrawlers. Sauger are biting well on minnows floated 3 to 6 feet deep under a bobber around jetty tips below dams 9 and 10 and at the mouth of cypress creek. Stripers are fair on live shad below dams 9 and 10. No report on any other species.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):

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

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool):  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said no one is fishing because of the weather.

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

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is fairly clear and is at normal levels below Terry Lock and Dam. Bream are slow on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on skipjack below the dams.   

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are slow on redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on jig-and-pig combos with red in them. Catfishing is fair on worms.

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 because of the weather.

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 seven generators are running and the current is swift. Trout are biting well on white jigs and stickbaits in the current. Some nice brown trout have been caught lately.

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said heavy generation all week has made fishing from a boat the best option. Drifting heavily-weighted nymphs under a large indicator and stripping streamers with a fast sinking line two of the better options. The best flies to try include: egg patterns(orange, pink or peach), humpback scuds, sow bugs, copper johns, zebra midges, zoo cougars, woolly buggers, slump busters, Arkansas beadheads, Davy's shad and zonkers. Look for shad to start coming through and fish a white streamer, either under an indicator or with varying retrieved with a floating or fast sinking line. For safety during extremely high water, always wear your PFD 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 there have been no opportunities to launch a boat with all the ice lately, but the ice is clearing and access is easier.

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 654.79 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 552.84 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 this week has made fishing challenging. High-water techniques from a boat are the only option. Drifting nymphs under a large indicator or fishing streamers with a fast sink-tip or full sinking line are two of the better techniques. 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 1,121.42 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 1,120 MSL).

Bailey's Beaver Lake Guide Service  (479-366-8664) said the water temperature has been in the mid-40s. Fishing has been slow but should pick up with this week’s warming trend. Most fish will be bottom-oriented and in the mid-lake section of the lake. Most stripers are 30-70 feet deep. Live bait will be the go-to approach, but some fish can be caught on jigs or jigging spoons. Bottom fishing should be productive during the coming weekend. The following areas should hold fish, however try to find the clearest water possible. This will most likely be in the Coppermine Area. Adjust your technique to the weather conditions. While they drop the lake, the dirty water will move toward the dam and your best fishing will be ahead the mud line. If you are fishing dirty water upriver, dip the tail of your shad/minnow in a chartreuse dye to make the bait more visible. On the White River from the Highway 12 Bridge to the Hickory Creek Area, concentrate efforts near the channel. Beavershores is producing. The area around Blackburn Creek and Horseshoe Bend is holding tons of bait and fish. A lot of good things could happen in this area. Look near sharp drops into the channel. Around Monte Ne, the water is dirty and fishing is slow. Look near the mouth and on the main river channel for any action. As the water level drops. The water in Hickory Creek is dirty and fishing is slow. Concentrate your effort toward the main river channel and look for deeper holes where the fish will hide during cold fronts. Prairie Creek is producing fish from the islands to Beavershores. 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. Around the Coppermine Area, points 8, 9 and 10 are producing some fish. Around Rocky Branch, look near the bluffs by the marina and at Red Bluff and the road bed extending to the island. The shad are about 10-25 feet deep (they will go deeper with the cold front) and the stripers are scattered from 30-70 feet deep. Several fish have been taken here. The fish around Lost Bridge (in the area of Fish Trap Hollow and Pine Log) are 30-70 feet deep. Around Indian Creek, the fish are 30-60 feet deep near the mouth of the creek. Around Coose Hollow, the fish are 30-60 feet deep near the mouth of the creek. On the main lake, try fishing jigging spoons 20-60ft deep around points 6, 8, 9 and 10.

For more current reports and information on river flow, visit the Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service website.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said fishing has been tough because of the weather and drawdown. Bass can be caught by fishing suspending jerk baits down 10 to 20 feet deep over and along main lake and secondary points. Crappie can be caught just off the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water around brush piles and standing timber close to channel bends and drops. The best lure has been a chartreuse Shineee Hineee tipped with a minnow. White bass have been bunching up off main lake points and mouths of coves. Best lures have been Rat-L-Traps and jigging spoons. Look for schooling or dying shad.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is cold and slightly stained. Bream are slow. Crappie are poor to fair on minnows fished around brush in 12 to 16 feet of water. Bass are slow on spoons and jigs. Catfishing is slow.

Beaver Tailwaters: 

Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said the drawdown of Beaver Lake is in full swing. Generation has been around 8,500 cfs 24 hours a day. Wade fishing is extremely dangerous, and is not recommended. Boat fishing is producing some nice fish. With waters this high and fast, a full sinking fly line or a very long leader/tippet are the answer. Flies or line must be weighted to get down to where the fish are feeding. This is prime streamer fishing, so lead-eyed woolly buggers and cone-head zonkers will produce fish. Pound the banks and around any structure. Fish will be holding in the slack water around these areas. San Juan worms, soft hackles, and weighted eggs are doing well under an indicator. Again, some split shot will need to be added to get the flies down to the feeding lanes. For safety during extremely high water, always wear your PFD and maintain control of your boat at all times.

Kings River:

Just Fishing Guides  said the Kings is at a great level for floating, but runoff and future precipitation could make the water dangerous. Water temps are still very low, so smallmouth will be holding deeper in the pools and close to structure. The banks will be very wet from the previous snow storm, so be wary of strainers and log jams.

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) had no report.

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water was clear before the storm, but iced-over conditions prevented much fishing over the weekend. Bream were fair on worms and crickets around woody cover. Crappie were slow on minnows in 4 feet of water. Bass were fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics fished in 1 to 4 feet of water. Catfish were fair on cut shad and chicken liver in 5 to 8 feet of water.

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina  ( 870-670-4496) said the water is a little high. No one is fishing because of the weather.

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park  said few people are fishing, and those that are aren’t catching many fish.  

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said the snow is off the roads and the river is looking good. The river levels are running around 460 cfs, and the water is clear with a green tint. Peeping Caddis has been the most consistent fly pattern. Grandma’s Brownie and Y2K bugs are doing well also. Fishing pressure is low, and it’s a great time to get on the water for a relaxing outdoors experience. Check out www.springriverflyshop.com for daily updates.

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

Millwood Lake Guide Service  said main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures range from 46 to 50 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light as there are still many river markers pushed out of place or missing. Crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits, Rat-L-Traps, heavy thumping spinnerbaits, tubes and jigs have been the go-to baits for bass. The best bite is occurring during mid-day. Slow-moving spinnerbaits, large 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Big O or XCalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits are still working. Carolina Rigs were improving along the washouts and creek channel mouths intersecting with Little River. Magnum flipping tubes with rattles continue working in remaining flooded grass and stumps. The best colors have been pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, black/blue tail, or black neon. 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 are beginning to improve, but the muddy current in Little River has them deep and out of the main river channel. The upriver, oxbow bite along Little River away from current is the best on live shiners fished over planted brush, for the past couple weeks. Crappie were suspending in planted brush 12-16 feet deep. Channel catfish are loving the increased current. Blues and channel cats are biting well along Little River on cut shad, Catfish Charlie and homemade dough balls along the increased current in Little River between Jack's Isle and Mud Lake or on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 9-12 feet of water.

White Oak Lake:

Local angler John Tilley said there hasn’t been much fishing activity. A few crappie have been caught from the County Road 15 bridge using jigs. No reports on bass or catfish. The lake is still being lowered. Water clarity is extremely muddy due to recent rains.

Lake Columbia:  

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on worms. No report on any other species.

Lake Erling:  

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.

Lake Greeson:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 545.04 MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said fishing is slow for all species. A few walleye have been caught on minnows and crankbaits, but it’s very 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 406.32 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the mid to upper 40s. The water is clear from the dam to Point 14 and moderately muddy to Cox Creek. Fish are still in their deep winter pattern. Crappie fishing is fair with some reports of fish being taken from the deep brush. The best brush piles have been in water from 30 to 35 feet deep. A red head/chartreuse body, 1/16-ounce marabou jig with either a minnow or crappie nibble has been the most productive. Fish the jig very slowly just above the cover on main lake or major creek attractors between Arlie Moore and Yancey Creek. Bass fishing is fairly good but the fish are still deep, (25 to 35 feet). Look for bass on main-lake points, bluffs, ledges and steep humps. Heavy jigs with a pork or plastic trailer have been working best, but Texas- and Carolina-rigged worms are working, too. Try to find some wood or rock cover. Some nice bass have been reported by those fishing for crappies so try the jig or worm around the fish shelters. The best areas for bass have been between Caddo Drive and Point 15. Bream fishing has been fair with some nice-sized fish reported around the same shelters that hold crappies. Use either worms or crickets and fish just above the cover. Sometimes bream will hold on the edge of the cover and not necessarily in it. No report on hybrids.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 346.43 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 crappie are biting best on crappie minnows about 8 inches from bottom. Some are being caught on red/white glitter and tomato seed jigs. Not many limits are coming in, but the fishing is decent. Catfish are still biting very well on whole fresh shad. Bass are still slow.

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.64 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 577.48 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing is picking up. Stripers are hit-and-miss; look for the birds. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs in brush piles 30 to 35 feet deep.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the water is 42-46 degrees and clearing. Largemouth bass are biting well on jigs fished in brush piles on points or humps in 18 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are still slow and being caught on jigging spoons or fluorescent jigs tipped with minnows on main-lake points or humps in river channels in depths of 20 to 30 feet. Stripers are fair on live shad and 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 good and being caught near brush in water 12 to 20 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and Arkansas shad are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are slow and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Lake Hamilton: 

Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature is fluctuating from the upper 40s to the low 50s, depending upon weather conditions. Recent rains have stained the water in the backs of all the major creek arms. Crappie and bass are fair around cover in and near deeper channels.

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, (501-624-8757) said water temperature has fallen to 41 degrees below Carpenter Dam. Higher flows accompanied the colder water as Entergy works toward maintaining lake levels. Rainbow trout fishing is excellent below the dam with thousands of healthy trout inhabiting the tailrace. Fly-anglers casting small white streamers have caught the largest fish as trout continue to target injured threadfin shad. Egg patterns will consistently draw strikes when all other presentations fail. Woolly buggers in black or olive fished under a strike indicator are working well along with black/chartreuse micro jigs. Boaters are taking limits of trout casting 1/16-ounce jigs around visible cover. Spinners such as Rooster Tails and Mepps perfectly imitate an injured shad and are working well. Bank fishermen that can find areas protected from heavy current are catching rainbows on Power Bait, corn and marshmallows, and nightcrawlers. These basic presentations are responsible for the majority of trout caught below the dam and will work under any situation. Walleye will begin their spawning run this month and the males will begin to show up in the next couple of weeks. Stripers have been schooling below the bridge with fish in the 10- to 15-pound range being caught. C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors have worked best.

Lake Hinkle:  

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said freezing conditions kept everyone off the water. No report.

Lake Atkins:

Ken Vinson at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the lake is a little high with melting snow clearing. Fishing is picking up a bit this week. Some nice crappie were taken 5 to 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are starting to show up a bit more in the coves and around the banks. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits may catch one or two. Things are slow, but looking up.

South Central Arkansas

Moro Bay: 

Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said the Ouachita River is at 80.50 feet msl. Fishing is slow.

Ouachita River Oxbows: 

No report.

Tri-County Lake:

A few crappie anglers were out this week, but no success was reported.

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and at normal levels. Bream are slow on wax worms. Crappie are biting fairly well on wax worms, minnows and pink jigs. Bass are biting well on chartreuse crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good.

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said freezing conditions had fishing at a standstill during the weekend.

Maddox Bay: 

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

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the river is high and freezing temperatures kept most anglers off the water last weekend.

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal levels. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs fished close to the bottom. No report on any other species because of the weather.