Arkansas Wildlife Fishing Report
BY Jim Harris
ON 06-07-2017
June 7, 2017
Jim Harris
Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for June 7, 2017. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email AGFCfishingreport@outlook.com with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news.
Arkansas River and White River levels are available at:
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk
For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt
For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
The AGFC is treating alligator weed in Lake Conway using EPA-registered herbicides approved for use in aquatic systems. The AGFC strongly recommends that adjacent landowners not use lake water for irrigation of lawns or gardens through March 1, 2018. For more information please contact the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at (877)-470-3309.
(updated 6-7-2017) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream are close to the bank, and the bite has been good. Use worms or crickets. Crappie are good, and they’re in the trees in about 8-12 feet of water. Use small minnows and little bitty jigs now. Bass fishing has been good. Use the darker soft plastics or white spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting in 6-8 feet of water. Cut bait and nightcrawlers are the baits of choice.
Little Red River
(updated 6-7-2017) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service said the Little Red continues to receive 12 hours of daily generation. The generation pattern begins early morning, which provides some wadable water downstream for a few hours each day and excellent drift-fishing from a boat.For fly-fishing, we recommend sowbugs, midges, caddis pupa and streamers.Pink- and red-colored Trout Magnet bodies on chartreuse heads are recommended for spin fishing. This is Free Fishing Weekend here in Arkansas from noon Friday, June 9, through midnight Sunday, June 11. Look forward to seeing you on the Little Red. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwest Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 6-7-2017) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said the river is clear again after the rain on Saturday evening. They are running two generators from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wading is available at Winkley Shoal until about 11:30 a.m., when the new generation arrives. You can also wade at the dam from daylight until 8 a.m. Since the kid’s derby and Free Fishing Weekend are this Saturday, the dam area will probably be crowded unless you fish the catch-and-release area. Check the scheduled generation for Saturday because the water may be low until noon with the kid’s fishing derby. Drift-fishing is good by staying ahead of the new water and using sowbugs, size 16 mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa and midge pupa. The same can be used for wade fishing. Be safe and good fishing!
(updated 6-7-2017) James Dillard at Tailwater Fishing Co. said the fishing on the Little Red has been excellent. The water release from the dam has been a consistent 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Fishing has been best while fishing the falling water. The hot flies have been pink San Juan worms and copper johns. Trout Magnets have been catching fish as well.
Greers Ferry Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 470.29 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.04 msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 470.20 feet and rising from recent rains. It is 7.66 feet above normal pool of 462.54 feet. It should start falling back down with in a couple of more days from generation. All species of fish are eating it up. The walleye are not as consistent as the rest, but that is the nature of the species. Try using crawlers on harness rigs, drop-shots and jigheads on rocky flats in 12-25 feet of water; if you catch one, more will be close. The bream are bedding again with this moon coming and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwater poppers on fly rods, crawlers and crickets. The catfish are eating all over the lake on a lot of different baits and presentations. The flat heads are spawning this month, so get out and fish for the most under-fished species on the lake. The crappie are in the old brush line and in the pole timber, suspended for the most part, and around some brush piles that are the right depth, in 12-25 feet of water. Use jigs and jigs tipped with minnows for the best results. The black bass are eating up shallow out to 42 feet. Shallow fish will eat buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, frogs and small crankbaits, while the deeper fish will eat a lot of different baits on the ball and chain and a football head. The hybrid and white bass bite is going super strong, especially for big hybrids. A lot of fish in the 15-20 feet depth range are eating well. Try in-line spinners and spoons for your best catches.
Harris Brake Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said there have been many more people fishing the last few days, but nobody is “spilling the beans” on catches. Their guess is that anglers are having a lot of success now, though, so it might be the time to get to all species.
Lake Overcup
The AGFC is treating alligator weed in Lake Overcup using EPA-registered herbicides approved for use in aquatic systems. The AGFC strongly recommends that adjacent landowners not use lake water for irrigation of lawns or gardens through March 1, 2018. For more information please contact the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at (877)-470-3309.
(updated 6-7-2017) Johnny “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) said water level is up by 5 feet, but clarity is good. We have tons of shad now on surface late evening and early morning. Bass are still doing good around brush and shallow water using black plastic worm and crankbaits. Bream are still slow but are picking up a little using crickets. Crappie are doing fair out in 9 to 11 feet of water spider-rigging using jigs and minnows. Catfish are doing fair on jugs and trotlines – nothing over 6 pounds so far – using perch, shad and bass minnows. Come see us off Arkansas Highway 9 and enjoy this good weather for a change.
Brewer Lake
Larry Walters at Bones Bait Shop (501-354-9900) said
(updated 5-24-2017) Larry Walters at Bones Bait Shop (501-354-9900) said water surface temperature was ranging 72-74 degrees. The clarity is fair and the water level is high. Bream fishing has been good to excellent. Bream are around the brush piles and reacting to both worms and crickets. Crappie are good to excellent as well. The crappie are 10-20 feet deep and biting minnows and jigs. Bass also was reported to be good to excellent. The bass are in about 10-20 feet depth and are hitting spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish reports were good. Use worms or chicken livers. No reports on white bass.
Lake Maumelle
(updated 6-7-2017) Jolly Rogers Marina (501-868-5558) said black bass are good to excellent. They’re biting on crankbaits, wacky rig worms, flukes and spinnerbaits. Black bass are in about 10-15 feet of water off the weeds by about 10 feet. Earlier this week, Roger said, he heard a lot of comments that the black bass were still in the weeds. “Is this wild?” he said. Garry Bryant and Quin Minton found 9.9 pounds worth of bass, including a big one of 4.58 pounds, on Tuesday night to win the weekly black bass tournament. Friday night’s winning results were similar; two pairs of anglers both hauled in nearly 10 pounds with five bass each. The Kentucky bass bite remains excellent. They’re being caught on jigs and minnows. They can be found mixed in with the black bass in shallow water. White bass are good. They are still schooling at the east end. Use Rooster Tails, CC Spoons and deep-diving Bandits and Bombers. They are staying up longer. Crappie are good, and good-size, and are being caught on crappie minnows and jigs. Use a chartreuse and white jig with a very light line. Bream reports have been excellent. They have moved off the bed and are 10-14 feet deep. Lots of redear being caught. Use crickets and live worms. Catfishing has been excellent. They are being caught in 15-25 feet of water, but some have been in shallow water. Use stink bait, small bream and chicken livers.
Sunset Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said customers tell us the catfish have been biting fair on chicken livers, minnows and nightcrawlers. Tight-lining at dusk and after dark seems to be the best method and time. Bream are biting well throughout the day on crickets and redworms fished around the docks and other cover. Bass fishing has been fair with minnows and plastic worms or lizards. Texas rig, Carolina rig or floating them either way will work. Topwater baits are working early in the mornings. The crappie bite has slowed but some are still hitting pink minnows and a few jigs early in the mornings in deep water and around the docks.
Bishop Park Ponds
(updated 6-7-2017) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said a couple of customers have been catching a few good crappie on No. 6 minnows fished 2-3 feet under a small bobber. Get out toward the middle of the ponds and let the minnow do the work. Bass have been hitting minnows, Texas rigged plastics in red or purple colors and Kalin’s grubs in a few different colors. Catfish have been biting fair on chicken livers, nightcrawlers and stink baits. Bream fishing has been good with crickets or redworms.
Saline River Access in Benton
(updated 6-7-2017) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said the rains have had the water level up and down, and that makes fishing tough. Some have been catching bass on minnows and small plastics. Crappie have been found in some backwaters and coves but no big stringers have been reported. Catfish have been the most active fish on the river lately. Some nice flatheads have been caught on trotlines baited with back salties and goldfish. Bream will almost always bite a cricket or redworm on a small hook and light line on the river.
Lake Norrell
(updated 6-7-2017) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said bream fishing has been fun for customers with crickets and redworms. Fish tight lines around deep cover for the big ones. Bass fishing has been fair during the day and better at night. Black plastic worms and lizards, black buzzbaits and topwater baits at night and watermelon seed or green pumpkin plastics during daylight hours are working well. Catfish are biting at night on minnows, goldfish and black salties fished on jugs in creek channels or on poles around docks. Crappie fishing has been tough on the lake with only a couple of customers catching a few from their docks on No. 6 minnows.
Lake Winona
(updated 6-7-2017) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie fishing is still good for some that are familiar with the lake. They report catching them 8-12 ft. deep on No. 6 and No. 12 minnows. A couple of them are using a lot of Bobby Garland Baby Shad in Cajun Cricket color. Bream are beginning to move to beds and are biting crickets and worms. Tight lining is working best if you can slowly drag or bounce your bait across the beds. Bass are biting fair on minnows, Texas or Carolina rigged plastics or floating worms. Fish from the bank back toward the boat or cast parallel to the bank if fishing from the shore. A slow retrieve with plastics and keep minnows just out of brush, rocks or whatever cover is there. Catfish seem to be biting better right before dark. Tight lining with minnows, chicken livers and night crawlers in 2-6 ft. of water. If you catch bream there in the day, the catfish will probably be there at dark.
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) had no report.
Lake Willastein
Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) had no report.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
(updated 5-31-2017) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) said river flow is still strong at 140,000 cfs and Charley has been told that it will be high for almost all of June. Please keep off the river. This a time when kayaks are a good option to use in the backwaters. Fish the flooded areas and ditches that have been flooded. Fish a mudbug or a similar bait in crawfish color in the ditches.
Arkansas River (Cadron Pool)
Professional angler Cody Kelley, owner of Best in Bass Guide Service (501-733-5282) had no report. River is flowing very fast and remains high. Cody suggests staying off the main river for the time being.
Little Maumelle River
(updated 6-7-2017) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water clarity is the same as it’s been, stained and a little bit on the low side, about a foot low. The crappie fishing has been very slow, but what’s being caught is about 5 feet deep and biting minnows. Bream are doing excellent. They are bedded up and shallow, and are biting crickets and redworms. Bass are also excellent. They are also shallow and biting just about everything thrown at them: spinnerbaits, plastic worms, etc. Catfishing is also excellent. Minnows are working best on the trotlines, while the people who are pole fishing are using chicken livers and getting lots of response.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(updated 6-7-2017) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said catfishing in the Murray Lock and Dam area remains excellent by snagging. Anglers reported that white bass there are good and some are being caught on twister tails. No reports on any other species.
(updated 6-7-2017) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) reported that the bass are really enjoying eating purple worms. Bream are spawning, so keep throwing those crickets and worms.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(updated 5-31-2017) Vince Miller from Fish ’N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the river is still high but he’s been getting some fish reports of late, most of them good. Bream are good and responding to both worms and crickets. Bass are good on crankbaits and jigs. Catfishing has been good onstink bait and nightcrawlers. No report on crappie.
(updated 6-7-2017) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said Clear Lake and the rest of the pool remained a bit muddy and the water is a little high right now. Bream reports have been good. Anglers are using worms and crickets. Catfishing has been good using cut bait or worms. Nothing to report on crappie or bass.
(updated 6-7-2017) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said that like the neighboring pool upriver, they hear the bass are really enjoying eating purple worms. Bream are spawning, so keep throwing those crickets and worms.
Peckerwood Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish reports were good, but no word on baits. No reports on bass.
White River
(updated 6-7-2017) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) says: “Night crawlers. That’s what the browns are hitting today.” Words from one of the guides on Tuesday. Drifting a live worm (Belgium reds or nightcrawlers) on the White River in the Cotter area has been attracting both browns, rainbows and the occasional cutthroat. Add enough weight to your river rig to reach mid-depth and move with the current. The Army Corps of Engineers has dropped the water level to approximate five generators, about 2-3 feet lower than we’ve seen for a few weeks. Still more than enough water to keep the trout growing strong, and less warm water coming in from the top of the lake since the flood gates have been closed. That’s great news for all of us on the river. Almost time to return to dangling some shrimp on the hook and seeing an increase in the rainbow bite. Give the fish a day or two to acclimate to the dropped river level and you’ll see more action than in the last week or two. Experiment with the spinners; a 1/4-ounce gold Vibrax might be about right for this water. See you at the river!
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said
(updated 5-31-2017) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is “tremendously high,” and there have been 10 generators running. Fishing is difficult at best, and anglers are advised to be extra careful.
(updated 6-7-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-435-2169) said that during the past week, they have had a rain event (about a half-inch in Cotter), warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 1.3 feet to rest 29.3 feet above seasonal power pool of 662 feet. This is 3.7 feet below the top of flood pool. The Army Corps of Engineers has opened 17 flood gates to release 14,600 cfs to augment generation and lower the lake. Upstream, Table Rock fell 1.7 feet to rest at 9.2 feet above seasonal power pool and 4.8 feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.5 feet to rest at 7.2 feet above seasonal power pool and 1.4 feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had no wadable water with high generation.
Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now below the top of flood pool. We should expect a lot of generation with little if any wadable water in the near future. On the White, the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo has cleared up. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (sizes 8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (sizes 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead sizes 16, 18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (John’s current favorite is a size 14 hare and copper nymph with a size 18 ruby midge suspended below it). Use lots of lead and long leaders to get your flies down
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 689.91 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659.00 feet msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said last Saturday that the lake was at 691 feet msl and the water temperature was 76 degrees, up to 84 degrees depending on where you’re fishing. The water is getting warm pretty quick and the fish are in post-spawn mode. Lots of these fish have moved out of the spawning pockets and are staging up on the points. Down by the dam the water is really clear. Even in the creeks the water has gotten pretty clear. The channel bite had gotten a little challenging unless you’ve got wind or a little dirty water. Some of those creeks where there’s no flow, the fishing is real slow back in there. You want to avoid those if you can. The water level is coming down and as the temperature keeps coming up the fish are going to be moving out a little bit deeper. A lot of the offshore stuff is beginning to pick up a little bit. Most guys Del sees, he says, are fishing with their boats on top of the fish. What you want to do is get in the old shoreline anywhere from 25-30 feet off the shore and cast in. On any given day you could throw a Carolina rig, you could throw a Ned rig. Tubes are working. Del said he likes to draw a jig through the old brush; not necessarily dragging it but hopping it along, keeping it tight the whole time. There a ton of crawdads in the lake and the fish are eating on them. A green pumpkin with orange is the best color to match. Del uses a ½-ounce jig with a Jackall craw bait, you can use whatever one you want, he says. Highlight it if you have a marker. As for the topwater bite, seems like the creeks that do have a little bit of flow, if you don’t go into the very back, you can catch a few throwing a Whopper Plopper, a buzzbait, but conditions have to be right for it. If it’s bright and sunny, and the water is flat, Del says he wouldn’t go to the back and start power fishing. Also throwing the Walk the Dog-style baits will catch some fish but it’s still dependent on conditions. If you’re fishing from here on out, have a topwater ready to fire out there. If you can get up close to the shoreline along those steeper banks, the fish are on those channel swing banks. If it gets really, really windy and you’ve got some clouds, the spinnerbait bite is still working. The biggest thing is to fish the conditions. If you get on a pattern now you can figure them out. If it lays real flat for you, it seems like those hot days when it lays flat, you’re going to have to back out into the main lake, catch them on the drop-shot with a shad pattern, and a worm is working, too. Anywhere in the 30-40 feet depth seems to be holding the fish when the sun is up, it’s calm and nice and hot. Del is still catching a few in the back on the squarebill. He uses a Lucky Craft and swims it through submerged bushes, banging it across something, clashing it into a bush or coming across a log under the water. He says if you’re fishing an area closer to the main lake and catching smallmouth, sneak up closer on the points, look for the old road beds or walking paths that people have used to get down to the lake. There’s a lot of largemouth up in the areas up in the same areas that the smallmouths are, just a little bit shallower. Don’t be afraid to go up there on any given day. If you’re catching smallmouths on a point in 30 feet of water, after you’ve fished that, go back in and fish it shallow for the black bass. Drag a jig around, throw a tube around.
(updated 6-7-2017) K Dock Marina said the general public must access the marina from the lake only during this high water situation. No boat rentals at this time. They have no fishing reports.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.62 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April, 552.00 msl, April-September, 554.00 msl).
(updated 5-31-2017) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters says the rain continues but not every day as it was. The Norfork Lake level is being maintained at 3 feet under the top of the flood pool. Tom said the hope is, once they get into their hotter period, the lake can be lowered. Striper fishing is outstanding right now in the mid-lake and down to the dam and east to Big Creek. Almost every point is holding fish. The shad continue to stay in the brush on the points and the stripers are staying right with them. In the last week they have seen a lot of topwater action around Point 1 and out in the main lake. The only problem is its not consistent and you never know when the stripers will come up. If you can get out before sunrise you should be able to catch stripers throwing swimbaits into the brush on any point in the southern part of the lake. You should also try a topwater lure off the points even if you see no surface action. The stripers are there, just not chasing surface baits. If you want to try live bait and cannot get shad, use shiners. They are working. Try long-lining them behind your boat, pitching them into the brush, and downlines set 28 feet.
Tom added, “Frank from Lakeview schedule a trip for his family who had never striper fished on Norfork Lake. It was rather cold and overcast with a slight miss in the air. I started in Diamond Bay and had no bites the first hour so moved to another spot and started to have some success. We caught a couple and loss a couple, then the fish got active and we could not keep up with the action. I had eight lines out and at different times we had three and four bites and fish on the line. We ended up catching 11 and keeping nine. It was very hectic, but for their first time striper fishing, it was quite an experience they will not soon forget.”
(updated 5-31-2017) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Norfork Lake fishing has been good over the last couple of weeks, but this year’s high-water event has made it a challenge. Last week Lou concentrated hi fishing from the Diamond Bay area down to Hudson Point. He found all the bass species in all his normal late spring/early summer haunts. Main lake points such as Tick Point, Point 2, Thumb Point, Point 1 and Hudson Point are examples of areas holding fish. All species of fish are inside of or very near the sunken brush and trees. The fish will remain near the sunken brush as long as the shad stay inside the brush. This will more than likely change once the lake warms enough to create a thermocline. The early morning bite has been the best. Lou said he hasn’t been out fishing in the afternoon for quite some time.
Lou added, “I am getting back out on the lake after the holiday weekend and this week I am concentrating my fishing areas to the mid-lake area. Yesterday morning I fished the major creeks in the mid lake area and caught stripers and largemouth bass, but all were on the short side. Today I stayed out on the main lake and fished points that have a lot of sunken trees out in the lake. At around 6:30 a.m. I found a point where the shad was flipping all over the place. I was fishing with live shad (large shiners will also work) and started flipping the shad between the trees. For the next two hours it was pretty much nonstop action. All the bass species were feeding in 2-20 feet of water. I ended up landing six stripers, three hybrids, numerous whites, a couple nice largemouth bass and a 5-pound channel cat. The biggest challenge I have in fishing inside of the brush is that the brush tends to keep a lot of my fish after I get them hooked up. I went through 20-plus hooks this morning, but it sure was fun. The stripers up in my area are starting to feed again and fatten up. I caught no skinny fish this morning all fat and healthy looking.”
Lou said there is still good topwater action down off the points in the dam area. He saw very few fish coming up this week in the mid-lake area. Live bait appears to be the best method for catching all species of fish now, but some artificial baits are working. Swimbaits of all sizes are working, spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits for largemouth, and spooks for topwater action. Vertical jigging with a spoon is starting to work out in 40 feet of water once the shad moves away from the brush. The fish have been below the shad. Lou said he had a guest last week that likes to troll umbrellas rigs as well as swimbaits. He had success in all parts of the lake keeping his baits around 20-25 feet deep.
The Norfork Lake level was at 577.08 at midweek and was dropping about 2-3 inches per day with both generators running full time. The main lake, creeks and coves north of the Robinson area are stained to a light brown color, but the brown is falling out steadily. The lake is stained down to the dam and is clear east of the dam. Thursday morning the lake surface water temperature was in the low to mid 70s. Last week there was very little floating debris, but as of yesterday there was lots of floating timber west of the Highway 101 bridge to Robinson area. Lou said he’s had no problem out on the lake, but as always you need to be extremely vigilante when on the water and slow down when you notice floating debris. Remember to be safe and always wear your life vest.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 6-7-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Norfork Lake fell 1 foot to rest at 19.7 feet above seasonal power pool of 556.75 feet and 3.5 feet below the top of flood pool. The Corps of Engineers has closed the flood gates and returned the dam to normal generation. On the Norfork, we had no wadable water. On the Norfork there was flooding but the river is back in its banks and the flood gates have been closed. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during the recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (#18, #20, #22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (#14, #16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended eighteen inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise #10). The fishing is better in the morning. My favorite rig has been a hare and copper nymph with a ruby midge dropper. Dry Run Creek has been affected by the flooding but has returned to its banks. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10). While you are at the creek you should visit the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. It is fascinating. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.
Berry fished Dry Run Creek over the Memorial Day weekend. He said, “I had a guide trip last on the Saturday of the three-day weekend. I had a brother and sister accompanied by mom, dad, grandma, granddad, two cousins and two in-laws. The general idea was for me to guide brother and sister and for granddad to work with the two cousins (both teen age girls). I have a saying, the more people you have, the slower you move. I tried to get everyone moving early because I was concerned that Dry Run Creek would be crowded on a holiday weekend. It was like herding cats.
“I was greatly relieved when we arrived at the hatchery and noted just a couple of cars, in the parking lot. I already had a couple of rods rigged up and we headed toward the creek. The going early was a bit slow. It had rained the night before and the creek was a bit off-color. After a while, we began picking up trout. The hot fly was a brown San Juan worm. I always like to fish San Juan worms after a rain storm. Other anglers began arriving and we began working our way upstream to find new water. They had taped off the trail near the hatchery from the second set of stairs all the way to the end of the facility. Therefore to access the stream further upstream you needed to walk along the creek.
“We began having more success. The 8-year-old sister landed a nice 25-inch rainbow. It came in amazingly quickly for a fish that size. Brother was struggling. He hooked up several trophies but lost them. He had a tendency to grip the line tightly. When you have a big one on, you have to let them run. If you clamp down on the line or grip the reel handle the fish can slip the hook or break off. I worked with him on it and he eventually caught a good rainbow. Sister’s was still a bit longer.
“At the same time the cousins were struggling. Granddad had never fished Dry Run Creek. It looks easy but it can be challenging. I gave him a few pointers but they still had limited success. I began coaching them on where to cast and achieve a good drift. I made sure that they were properly rigged and were in the right spot. They also began to pick up fish. They both caught a 20-inch-or-better trout.
“Near noon I looked around and noticed that the creek was getting crowded. We had the stream to ourselves, for most of the morning and were able, to fish, wherever we wanted to. I don’t normally like to work with so many clients at a time because it limits the individual attention that can give to each one of them. Kids fly fishing for the first time need a lot, of individual attention, in order to learn the proper way to do it. Somehow it all worked out and everyone had a great time.”
Buffalo National River
(updated 6-7-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo National River is navigable but high. With the warmer weather the smallmouths should be more active. Berry’s favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
Crooked Creek
(updated 6-7-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek is navigable but high. With the warmer weather the smallmouths should be more active. Berry’s favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
Beaver Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,129.01 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,121.00 feet msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are good in 3-6 feet deep water and are biting worms and crickets. The bluegill are “really good” right now. Try redworms as well as the crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. The crappie are off in deeper water from the bream, in 10-20 feet of depth. Bass are good. They are biting spinnerbaits, crankbaits and any plastics thrown at them. Catfishing is excellent. Throw anything at them and get a response.
(updated 6-7-2017) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said water temperatures are in the mid- to high 70s, and striper activity forecast for the week is good. They are on the feed with most stripers using 20-100 feet of water. The mud line is clearing nicely. Some stripers are using gravel bars, points, humps, treetops and cuts in the bank to corner bait. Fishing free lines and lightly weighted downlines will get you some fish. Night fishing has also been productive in these areas. There has been some topwater activity from striper and white bass. Beaver lake striper fishing will be good with striper taken on live shad fished on free lines and downlines from the surface down to about 50 feet deep; also try trolling small umbrella rigs with white grubs or chartreuse for stained water, as well as plugs like Rapala No. 14 husky jerks in black back or purple back colors and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in 5-6-inch model on plane boards with snap weights to get some depth and stagger your presentation. Jerk baits like flukes, swimbaits and jigs will also produce. Topwaters like 7-inch Redfins, Spooks and Pencil Poppers need to be tied on and ready.Fish location is greatly influenced by lake level and current flow; current in the lake from generation will generally position fish on upstream or downstream edges of structure. Check the daily lake level and flow data link on Mike’s website linked above.
On the mid and lower sections check out these hot spots: Indian Creek, Lost Bridge North, Big Clifty, points 5 and 6, Rambo Creek Arm, Rocky Branch, Ford and Cedar creeks and Larue.
Horseshoe bend has white bass surfacing, while walleye being caught in numbers as well. Walleye continue making their way back to the main lake in numbers in late spring/summer migration mode and can be found scattered throughout the lake and are on the feed. Walleye can be found from 10-30 feet deep depending on areas you fish. Three-way rigging Rapalas in natural colors for clear water or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in areas of stained water.
Try Rapala Tail Dancers, Bagley Rumble B’s, Flicker Shad, Bandit 300 Series in colors that include orange and chartreuse. Also give slow death rigs and spinner rigs on bottom bouncers in orange/chartreuse a try. Bink Pro Scale 1-ounce jigging spoons in white or white/chartreuse combo and a variety of jigs are also producing walleye.
Beaver Tailwaters
(updated 5-24-2017) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said that well, once again the flood gates were opened this week during a fishing trip nonetheless. A day before, fishing actually started to pick up in the tailwaters with the trout. Austin says he hates to say it but if we keep getting rain and the flood gates continue to be opened, fishing in the tailwaters is going to be a little difficult. He said that when he was catching fish, he was using light terminal tackle with various PowerBaits. Pulling a Rapala also produced a few fish. Water temperatures are in the mid-50s and staying there due to the releases. Fish are scattered all throughout the tailwaters, so pinpointing them to a certain area will be difficult. Most bank fishing locations are under water, so if you have access to a boat, use it. In the meantime, good luck and stay safe.
(updated 6-7-2017) Beaver Dam Store reported Saturday that the flood gates are open at Beaver Dam. The campgrounds below Beaver Dam are open. Break out the snagging poles, the spoonbills are here. Game fish may be snagged from the bank below Beaver Dam, from the Army Corps of Engineers “No fishing beyond this point” sign, downstream to the first Corps of Engineers boat ramp on the left descending bank through June 15th ONLY. It also looks like Table Rock Dam and Bull Shoals are releasing water as well. Good lures in this area are gold and silver Colorado Spoons, red and gold Bouyant Spoons, and Flicker Shad in Pro Series No. 4 and 5. Good PowerBait colors are white, red, orange, yellow, chartreuse and peach. Good flies are pheasant tails, midges in blue dun, black and olive; hare’s ear; tungsten copper John’s, WD40s, Trout Magnets and San Juan worms.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat (479-871-6305) reports that as of Sunday, May 1, he has closed the shop and has retired.
Lake Fayetteville
(updated 5-24-2017) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reported the water is murky and surface temperature was 73 degrees. The level is normal. Bream are good on redworms and crickets. Crappie are fair but are showing some response to Bobby Garland Itty Bit jigs and minnows. Bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are good and are biting on everything.
Lake Sequoyah
(updated 6-7-2017) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report.
Lake Poinsett
(updated 6-7-2017) Ome Coleman at Lake Poinsett State Park said you will find some of the best tasting fish at Lake Poinsett. Since there is no limit is size or number the fishermen are out there. We have been selling a lot of bait. Minnows and crickets are what is requested most. Although the redworms, nightcrawlers, rice slicks and goldfish are in high demand, too.
Crown Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water has remained clear for the second week in a row and the level is normal. Water temperature Tuesday was 75 degrees. Bream fishing is good on crickets. Crappie are in shallow water and the fishing has been good using minnows. The bass may be starting to move into deeper areas as the surface begins to warm. The bite is best early in the day and late in afternoon/evening. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers.
Spring River
(updated 6-7-2017) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels have been running at 488 cfs at the spring with partly cloudy water. The trout have been biting great. Rain over each weekend has kept water levels up and off color. It hasn’t really affected the bite. Bead-head Woollies in olive, brown or black have been great. It has been harder to get the fly down on the main river. Versa leaders have been great for helping get down deep. Hoping for a dry spell soon to get water low and clear again.
(updated 6-7-2017) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is fishing well. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. Canoe season is on and there many boats on the river. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
White River
(updated 5-31-2017) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) reported the water level is still high, but there has been some decent fishing. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie reports have been fair on both minnows and jigs. Bass anglers are using spinnerbaits and crankbaits and getting fair results. No reports on catfish and no reports on walleye.
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff
(updated 6-7-2017) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team reported that water temperatures are in the mid- to low 80s and visibility is less than 1 foot in most places; some protected back waters have around 1 foot of visibility. The river continues to flow at dangerously high rates. Additionally, the higher water level has barely submerged many of the wing dams in the northern part of the Pine Bluff pool, making boating outside of the marked navigation channel extremely dangerous. It is our advice to stay within Lake Langhofer until the river slows and returns to normal level. Black bass are biting fairly well within Lake Langhofer and in protected backwaters off of the river. Fishing pressure in the protected areas has made these fish difficult to catch, but they can still be caught using dark-colored soft-plastic creature baits and jigs either swam or worked through flooded vegetation and woody cover. Multiple casts to likely spots may be needed to get them to bite, so be diligent in your approach.
Cane Creek Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Jennifer Albertson, park interpreter at Cane Creek State Park, said bream are hitting at Cane Creek Lake! They are biting on crickets, and they are coming in all sizes. Small bream are often successful when used as bait for bigger fish, like catfish. Bass are fair and biting on minnows or shad-style lures. No reports on crappie, but the standing timber in the middle of the lake is usually a great place to try for crappie. The weather has been very rainy, with the land still soaked through. The water is muddy right now from lots of rain draining into the lake during recent local storms. The rain is due to stop now, so the waters should clear up this week. Temperatures have been pleasantly warm in the mornings, followed by hot, muggy afternoons.
Lake Chicot
(updated 5-31-2017) Brandy Oliver at Lake Chicot State Park (870-265-9705) said the catfish are biting on everything, especially nightcrawlers and stink bait. The best catfish catching is fishing on the bottom. Bream are biting on waxworms and crickets. Anglers are recommended to try Ditch Bayou for the best chances at bream. People are also starting have luck fishing with topwater baits for bass.
Lake Monticello
(updated 5-31-2017) Angler Chris Van Duren at Lucky’s of Monticello said the lake has good clarity and is at a normal level. Bass are fair. The fish are in 10-15 feet depth and are hitting plastic worms. Catfishing is good on worms and soft plastics. White bass are schooling in the morning and in the evening. No reports on bream. No reports on crappie.
Millwood Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.47 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 259.20 feet msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level Monday was about 11 inches above normal conservation pool and steady, while there was reduced current in Little River with the gates releasing around 1,300 cfs. Recent thunderstorms and high winds muddied up the main lake, and clarity and visibility remain heavy stained and muddy depending on location. Largemouth bass are good early, moving deeper into creek channels and ditches later in the day. White bass remain are deep Little River. Crappie have improved upriver, out of any remaining current. Surface temps as of Monday ranged 73-80 degrees. As of Monday the tailwater level was near 229 feet msl. Clarity further up Little River is beginning to settle out and clear up much better than main lake, with the reduced inflow and current. The oxbow’s clarity continues to improve. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity and visibility ranges about 3-8 inches. Little River’s visibility ranges 5-10 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow’s clarity is ranging 20-30 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, or thunderstorms.
Mike adds that largemouth bass are feeding well early. Dawn and early morning, up to around 10 a.m., the topwater activity continues to be a good bite. The most consistent bite from 3- to 5-pound-class bass are feeding across flats, with stumps, vegetation and pads adjacent to creek channels. Buzzbaits, soft-body plastic frogs, Bass Assassin Shads and Chugbugs or Ken-Pops continue working around lily pads, stumps on flats and vegetation from 1-5 feet depth. As the sun rises, switching over to big bulky 10-inch worms, chatterbaits, War Eagle spinnerbaits and shallow-depth squarebill crankbaits will get a reaction from the bass in the creek channels. War Eagle spinnerbaits are working on windy days, and best around stumps, cypress trees, and vegetation near deeper drops of ditches and creek channels. They are seeing the bass holding near points and ditches to allow quick access to deeper water drops in Little River during the day when the sun gets high. Best colors over the past week or so for buzzbaits are firecracker, white/chartreuse or bull bream. Bass Assassin Shads in Salt and Pepper Phantom, Black Glitter Shad, Bad to the Bone and Panhandle Moon colors have been working around lily pads and vegetation over the past week. Big, bulky, Magnum lizards, or Berkley 10-inch Power Worms continue working. Rat-L-Trap 1.75 Echo Squarebill crankbaits are beginning to get good reactions, with the best colors over the past week being Gizzard Shad, Ghost Minnow and Millwood Magic. Medium-running Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits in Citruse or Citrus Shad are catching a few largemouths in the oxbows and clearer water color in 5-9 feet depths near cypress trees and creek channel swings. Rat-L-Trap Stuttersteps are getting good reactions at the surface on flats and over creek channels early in the morning low-light hours upriver in the oxbows with best colors being Ayu, Pro Blue and Ghost Shad.
As for white bass, Mike says the best reaction bite they could find over the past week was locating large schools of whites or hybrids holding in 12-16 feet depth of Little River. Cordell or Kastmaster jigging spoons were able to jig up a few whites. Crappie appear to be improving in planted brush between 9-12 feet of depth on white/chartreuse jigs or white/red jigs. No reports for the blues or channel cats.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.81 feet msl (Flood pool: 548.00 feet msl).
No reports.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Cossatot River
Cossatot River State Park had no report this week.
DeGray Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.86 feet msl (flood pool: 408.00 feet msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the upper 70s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is good, especially up shallow around the shoreline cover. Some good morning action on surface lures such as Zara Spooks and buzzbaits. Throw the lures next to the emergent weeds on long secondary points. Also work these points a bit deeper with medium running crank baits both lipped and lipless. A few bigger fish reported coming on spinner baits fished in the coves around standing timber. Look for fish most anywhere in the lake with the upper end being the most productive. Crappie fishing is good especially at mid lake between Edgewood and Arlie Moore. Look for brush at the mouth of the spawning coves in 15 to 20 feet of water. Best lure has been the Kalin’s 2-inch grub in Tennessee shad and Arkansas shad on a 1/16-ounce jighead. On the deeper attractors, just drop the jig down to about 15 feet and work around the attractor. On the shallow attractors, throw the lure over the brush, count it down to about 10 feet and slowly retrieve. Early morning around sunup is the best time in the summer. Hybrids are still hard to come by due to very little schooling activity. Best bet is to cover lots of water by trolling the small umbrella loaded with 4-inch white swimbaits. Look for fish between the State Park and Edgewood. Early morning is best, around sunup. Bream fishing is very good with lots of nice catches reported on both bluegills and redears. Look for fish on humps in 5-15 feet of water. Use a float in shallow water and just tight line near the bottom in deeper water. Try crickets and redworms. Try around the islands just west of Edgewood on the north side.
(updated 6-7-2017) John Duncan of YoYoGuideService.com at Iron Mountain Marina said lake levels stabilized and are about normal. The lake level Tuesday was 407.84 feet msl. Water is clear throughout. Temperature is mid-70s throughout. No report of black bass this week. Bream are still doing good. Good reports from Arlie Moore Area. Fish the beds in 6-7 feet of water. The trick is to use your electronics to locate beds at these depths and back off and throw drop-shot, or fish near the bottom with bobbers for fish. Crappie are in the brush piles in water 5-15 feet deep. Fish have really fattened up and are biting well. Minnows are producing better than jigs now that spring is over. Drop-shooting minnows in the brush piles gets the better fish. They are everywhere from Brushy to mid-lake and even the Shouse Ford area. There have been lots of habitat structure put out this year. Check the AGFC active map and get your way points for the search. Hybrids are breaking near the Arkansas Highway 7 levee and Caddo Drive/Arlie Moore Area. Pop-Rs and other topwaters are working well. You can crank down some crankbaits under the schools and pick up some black bass.
(updated 6-7-2017) Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said crappie are still biting on live bait 8-12 feet deep in 15-20 feet of water. Hybrids and whites are showing signs of morning surface feeding but still best on live bait fished 40-60 feet deep over submerged timber.
Felsenthal
(updated 6-7-2017) Sportsman’s One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) saidthe river is almost normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass being caught on topwater (frogs, buzzbait). Crappie are slow. A few catfish being caught on live bait.
Lake Columbia
(updated 6-7-2017) Sportsman’s One Stop (870-863-7248) said a few bass being caught on stick worm and flukes. Some nice crappie are being caught at night. No report on bream or catfish
Mike Knoedl Tri-County Lake
No report.
Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park, at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.
White Oak Lake
White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) had no report.
Lake Atkins
(updated 6-7-2017) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is up about 2 feet earlier in the week. Bream are good and biting crickets. Crappie appear to be picking up out in the lake around the stumps and are fair. Bass are picking up as well on crankbaits and worms and rate fair. Catfishing is fair; no report on baits used.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park)
Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no report.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(updated 6-7-2017) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below Carpenter Dam has risen to 64 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. The lake is now at normal summertime pool with Entergy opening flood gates for 3 hour periods each day to help maintain lake levels. Boaters and anglers should use caution approaching the dam when the flow is at its highest peak. Fast currents created by open flood gates are dangerous and keeping the proper distance from the area is vital for safety. Life jackets should be worn at all times. Rainbow trout fishing is winding down which is the norm for this time of year. Numbers of fish are caught are much lower than earlier in the season, but size is the main attraction at present. Four and five pound rainbows have been caught and released in the last several days by area guides. The bite is very slow and patience is key regardless of the techniques used. Live bait presentations are best presented under a bobber or just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Redworms, nightcrawlers, wax or meal worms are an excellent choice along with live minnows and crickets. Artificial lures are non-productive as hundreds of thousands of threadfin shad have migrated into the area to spawn. June trout fishing requires stealth and patience as the fish are extremely wary and the bite lasts for only a few hours. White bass are in the tailrace and are being caught on live minnows tight-lined over deep water below the bridge. In periods of current flow, jerkbaits in a black/silver pattern has worked well over rock structure and sand bars. These fish are spawning and should be present from the bridge to the dam until late July. Stripers have migrated into the tailrace to feed on the shad migration that occurs every May and June. Fish in the twenty pound class have been observed feeding below the bridge in the late evening while the flood gates are open. Feeding on small shad, anglers should downsize their techniques to match the forage. Smaller Alabama rigs and jigs are much more effective now than earlier in the spring. Casting weightless soft plastics perfectly match the injured shad drawn thru the open gate flow. Strong lines and rods are highly recommended as many of these large predator fish are in excess of twenty pounds and are ferocious fighters when hooked. Anyone navigating the Carpenter Dam tailrace is urged to be aware of the generation schedules and always follow all park and lake regulations.
Lake Dardanelle
(updated 6-7-2017) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945)said water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water clarity in the river is poor, with some clear creeks. Some creeks are dingy, and some creeks are muddy, with little clear backwater. Bass fishing has been good on jigs and Bamboozies (black and blue), spinnerbaits, white vibrating jigs and frogs. Crappie have been slow but can be caught on white jigs and minnows in 7-10 feet of water on brush piles and treetops. White bass and stripers have been excellent on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, inline spinners and topwater Chug Bug baits. Bream have been excellent around beds and trees with mayflies. Catfishing has been good on cut bait, worms and stink bait.
Lake Hamilton
(updated 6-7-2017) Phillip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said onUS97 thatwe are basically sitting on a full moon this week, the end of it, and he was suggesting anglers definitely needed to go at night midweek. A little more light in the water will help those efforts. The second thing as far as night fishing goes, the moss on Lake Hamilton is not there this year. A lot of the brush piles had it growing last year; they don’t have it this year. Three weeks ago a huge rain event put a lot of silt in the water and his guess is it choked all the moss it. From the bridges up, there is not as much growing the pockets as last year. What that all means is, that’s going to play in the hands of brush pile fishermen more. A Texas rigged worm on Hamilton seems to be working well right now. Also, Kastner noted, the bream bite is still incredible on all the area lakes. Trader Bill’s was selling boxes of crickets anglers, indicating so many bream being caught. And, clues from the Hot Springs Fishing Challenge have revealed that the $15,000 tagged “Big Al” fish is a largemouth bass that is swimming somewhere in Lake Hamilton. The challenge ends on June 30.
(updated 5-24-2017) Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said crappie are still on the brush piles. Fish 8-12 feet deep in 15-24 feet of water. Both jigs and minnows are getting the job done. Every trip has yielded at least two 16- to 17-inch fat girls.
Lake Nimrod
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 352.63 feet msl (flood pool: 342.00 feet msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) reported that redear and bluegill are slow, but anglers are catching some fish, so come on down for the Free Fishing Weekend throughout Arkansas June 9-10. Water conditions are dingy because of the recent rainfall. Surface temperature ranged 68-70 degrees. Water was low but on the rise after the rain. Crappie are fair. Use minnows and jigs. Anglers are fishing about 20 feet off the shore and looking for them in 8 feet of depth.
(updated 5-31-2017) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the lake is very high at its location and reports have been slow. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good using worms and stink bait. No reports on bass. No reports on bream.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 576.79 feet msl (flood pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 6-7-2017) Phillip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said onUS97 radiothat he talked to some guys who were trolling in the middle of the lake around some flats and humps with moss on them, and they were basically going after stripers but were catching some decent blacks along the same places they were catching stripers. So, they quit trolling, turned around and started, for lack of a better word, “slow-rolling” a swimbait, just long-casting a swimbait as hard and far as you can, counting it down to about 10 feet and just slowly turning the handle and bringing it back to the boat. They caught a lot of good black bass doing that. Caught a couple of walleye, not to mention a couple of stripers – kind of a garbage collection thing. You can catch just about anything doing that. Lot of humps in the middle of the lake have moss on them, and they were swimming the swimbaits around the edges of those humps with moss.
(updated 5-31-2017) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out of state) said water temperature is ranging 76-80 degrees. The clarity is clear. Black bass are still good and being caught with frog-style baits, Texas rigged plastics and black spinnerbaits fished late evening and night. Main lake and secondary points have been the most productive. Walleye are good and being caught on small crankbaits, spoons and green soft plastics on main lake and secondary points. Stripers are still good on Alabama rigs and live bait. The central part of the lake is the best area for these fish. Bream are excellent in water 10-15 feet deep on crickets and worms. Crappie are good. Try using minnows or crappie jigs at depths around 20-25 feet deep fished near brush. Catfish are very good on live bait and cut bait. Try depths of 10-20 feet. Call the Mountain Harbor guides – Mike Wurm (501-622-7717), Chris Darby (870-867-7822) or Jerry Bean (501-282-6104) – for more information.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.44 feet msl (flood pool: 384.00 feet msl).
No reports.
EAST ARKANSAS
Bear Creek Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Natalie Faughn, ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), said they had good this week reports on Bear Creek. Bream activity is still high on the beds at moderate depths, using live bait (mainly crickets). Crappie activity was good over the weekend – anglers were using mainly minnows and fishing at moderate to deep levels. Some activity with jigs as well. No reports on bass and catfish. Don’t forget to swing by and purchase your bait at the Mississippi River State Park Visitor Center. Also, come on out and join them for their Lee County (Ranger Pond) and Phillips County (Storm Creek) Youth Fishing Derby this Saturday, June 10. Registration starts at 7 a.m.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) has closed.
Storm Creek Lake
(updated 6-7-2017) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said activity at Storm Creek is still low. Bream seem to be picking up from the bank, but no more than a half-dozen bites in any given sitting. Fewer anglers have been out on Storm Creek, so less to report compared with Bear Creek. A Youth Fishing Derby will be held at Storm Creek on Saturday, June 10, with registration at 7 a.m.
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