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| Weekly Fishing Report Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us |
| March 26, 2008 Edition |
| This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report for March 26. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please call or e-mail us with information on possible sources for that lake or river. |
| Fishing Tip: With the spawn almost upon us, here are a few tips for finding river crappie from Wally Marshall:
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| Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the Arkansas River stages are: Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater – 389.21 feet, Tailwater – 387.75 feet, Flow – 128,495 cubic feet per second Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.61 feet, Tailwater – 353.45 feet Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.11 feet, Tailwater – 302.37 feet Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 285.46 feet, Tailwater – 284.79 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 271.99 feet, Tailwater – 270.92 feet Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 247.09 feet, Tailwater – 242.15 feet, Flow – 193,710 Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.87 feet, Tailwater – 229.67 feet, Flow – 192,750 cubic feet per second Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 197.41 feet, Tailwater – 196.99 feet Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 185.25 feet, Tailwater – 184.20 feet Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 160.76 feet, Tailwater – 153.20 feet, Flow – 197,634 cubic feet per second White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are: 7.4 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet) Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Anglers are catching trout in the ponds on green and white Power Bait, yellow corn and Roostertails. Corn, Trout Magnets, silver spoons and Cooper Super Dupers are working well in Rock Creek. Catfish will be available in selected ponds by the first week of April. For more information on stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474) 9.8 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet) 29.5 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet) 36.2 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet) 29.7 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet) 31.7 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet) |
CENTRAL ARKANSAS |
| Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is normal with little generation. Trout fishing is excellent on Buoyant spoons, Crankbaits, Power Eggs, spinners with glow worms and Power Eggs, and nightcrawlers. Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said since March 18, the Corps of Engineers has been releasing water intermittently at Greers Ferry. Releases of less than the capacity of one full generator have been occurring around 6 a.m. and continuing until 8 p.m. This protocol leaves a wade-fishing opportunity every morning at Cow Shoals (5 river miles below the dam), Winkley Shoal (10 river miles below the dam) and Libby Shoal (15 river miles below the dam). At Winkley, you can arrive at 6:30 a.m. or so, don your fishing apparel and wade into the pristine waters of the Little Red about 7ish. High water should arrive about 11 a.m. You can then go further downstream to Libby Shoal and continue fishing until the high water gets there about 1 p.m. March brown mayflies have joined the incredible midge and caddis hatches. The dry flies of choice should include March browns (size 14), midge (size 22 or smaller in cream or black), Adams (size 20), caddis (size 16-18; tan) and Griffith's gnat (size 16-18). If you are fishing below the surface, try a sowbug (size 14-16; UV tan or light gray), zebra midge (size 16-22; chartreuse, red or black), red butt soft hackle emerger (size 14-16), green butt soft hackle emerger (size 14-16), copper john (size 16 green or copper), pheasant tail (size 16) or woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive or brown). Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 474.99 feet MSL. Shiloh Marina said the water is still high. Bass are being caught in the creeks on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. A few walleye have been caught on minnows. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said some bass are up on the bank and can be caught with a spinnerbait and a Right Bite Shaky Hooker. Some can be caught in deeper water on a Carolina rig and football head jig in 30 feet fished along the old brush lines. Flukes and tubes fished in the flooded briars are also catching some fish. Walleye are slow, but should be moving to rocky flats to feed soon. The white bass run is beginning, with some already upriver. A few crappie are being caught around brush with shiners. Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is murky and high. Crappie are fair on minnows, all other species are slow. Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on worms. Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is dingy and a little high. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around the banks. Bass are being caught on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on yo-yos with minnows and nightcrawlers. Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is high and muddy. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on a jig and minnow combination fished around vegetation near the banks. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits bumped off cover in shallow water. Catfish are biting well on yo-yos with minnows and nightcrawlers. Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said white bass are good on white Beetle Spins. Jolly Rogers Marina said the water is about 1 foot above the spillway. White bass are excellent. The whites have moved into the channel at the west end of the lake and are on both sides of the west Highway 10 bridge. White Vibric Rooster Tails and Storm Wildeye Shad are working well in the channel and on the windy banks. Largemouth bass are biting well on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs in 5 to 10 feet of water on the northern banks. Crappie are fair on minnows and small red/white jigs in the shallows. Bream are beginning to move shallow and are biting fairly well on crickets. Catfishing is fair on prepared baits in 15 to 20 feet of water. Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are almost back to normal. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on Kalins grubs, minnows, and jigs. Bass are biting well on watermelon seed lizards. Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said bream are fair on crickets. A few bass have been caught on jerk baits. Arkansas River at Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish N' Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is still very high and no anglers are on the water. Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is clear and low. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and assorted jigs in 3 to 8 feet of water. Catfishing is good on trotlines. Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are fair on minnows and bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said catfish are good snagging. Bass are fair on twister tail grubs. Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is extremely muddy and high. All species are slow. Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is extremely muddy and high. All species are slow. Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing said water is normal and it is very windy. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on worms and nightcrawlers. |
NORTH ARKANSAS |
| White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the upper White near Bull Shoals is fishable. As the water clears, there will be more places to fish downstream. The fishing has been good on San Juan worms, Y2Ks and soft hackles. In addition, the Rhyancophilia caddis has begun to hatch. This is our big hatch of the year. They are size 14 and have a bright green body. The best way to fish them is to use soft hackles like the green butt (I developed this fly for this hatch) and the partridge and green when they are keying in on the emergers (this is when you see the trout feeding just below the surface and there are no adult insects present). When they begin keying in on the adults, switch over to a size 14 elk hair caddis. Cast your fly about 18 inches above the feeding trout and let the fly drift over the fish in a perfect drag free float. When the trout takes the fly, you should set the hook after allowing it to close its mouth. When there is no top water activity, fish with nymphs like the fluttering caddis. This hatch is just beginning. It should last through the end of April. Angler's White River Resort said the water is very muddy and high. Fishing is very slow. Mountain River Fly Shop said get into the low-water conditions while you can. We aren't quite sure when we will get some more. The huge volume of water pouring in from every tributary, particularly the Buffalo means flows from Bull Shoals Dam are limited to prevent downstream flooding. Bull Shoals Lake itself has risen 7 feet since yesterday morning with a lot of runoff still coming. The fishing should still be decent near the dam, but the farther downstream you travel the heavier the influence of every little creek, stream and river. The best flies have been black/silver midges, sowbugs, scuds and San Juan worms. Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 673.00 feet MSL. Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 571.54 feet MSL. 101 Grocery and Bait said the lake is still rising. Most of the lake is muddy, but there is clear water in the creek arms and some coves. Water temperatures range from the mid 40s to upper 50s. Fishing has been slow for all species, but a few nice stripers were weighed in lately. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is very high and stained with temperatures in the low 50s. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jigs. Stripers are biting on shiners and shad. Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water conditions are normal. Trout fishing is good on Power Eggs, corn, and frozen shad. Fly-anglers are doing fairly well on black woolly buggers. Mountain River Fly Shop said the dam may not be generating but the Norfork Tailwater is totally submerged, due to backfill off the White river. The picnic area and boat ramp at the upper end of the river is totally under water. Fishing is slow. |
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS |
| Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,129.14 feet MSL. JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good in the newly flooded timber and brush on spinnerbaits. Crappie fishing has been decent, with the best action up either river arm where the water is clearest. The best bait has been minnows fished under a cork 3 to 8 feet deep around isolated stumps and trees. White bass are biting very well up either river as far as you can go. Any lure resembling a minnow will work. Stripers have been hit-and-miss with the best action up the river arms where the water clears. Live minnows and shad have produced best. Catfishing is excellent across the lake on liver and cut bait. Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clearing up, but is still high. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs around brush. Bass are fair around brush on spinnerbaits, flukes, Rapalas, and Road Runners. Lake SWEPCO: JT's Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said . Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report. Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are good on small minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on bass minnows. |
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS |
| Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is stained and high. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Catfish are biting well on liver and nightcrawlers. Spring River: Mark's Fly Shop said the river is still rolling heavily. Fishing is poor for all species. |
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS |
| Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all species are slow. Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all species are slow. Lake Monticello: Bass have moved shallow and many bed fish are being caught. Some good fish are also coming casting to sparse lily pads with soft-plastics and jigs. The water temperature is in the low 60s. |
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS |
| Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 264.81 feet MSL. Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 57 to 68 degrees. Water clarity is minimal because of all the runoff. Current is 25,785 cubic feet per second. Be extremely careful navigating because of all the debris floating throughout the lake. Cottonshed North Ramp and Okay Landing are the only usable boat ramps. All the other Corps ramps are flooded. Largemouth Bass are fair at best. Muddy, fast rising water has shut off most of the fish. The bass are definitely pre spawn over the last 2 weeks, and are fattening up for a fast on the beds. Ten- to 12-inch worms, jigs, Rat-L-Traps and Colorado-bladed spinnerbaits will catch a few bass, but the key is to be persistent. White bass were upstream in Little River between the Highway 71 bridge and Patterson Shoals, but have disappeared with the muddy water. Crappie are slow because of the muddy water conditions. Channel catfish are excellent on trotlines and yo-yos baited with cottonseed meal cakes, cut bait and chicken liver set near the main channel. Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on shiners. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers. Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on shiners. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers. White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said fishing is excellent. During the weekend, crappies and large bream were caught on both jigs and minnows. Catfish are biting live and artificial bait well. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits fished around cover. Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 551.52 feet MSL. Darryl Morris from Family Fishing Trips said the fishing is great, but the catching is a little slow right now. The water is heavily stained but slowly clearing. Water surface temperature was 55 degrees in the main lake. All species are slow. DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 408.97 feet MSL. DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said water conditions are normal with temperatures in the mid 50s. Bream are biting well in deep water on nightcrawlers and red wigglers. Crappie are picking up on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on trotlines and yo-yos. |
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS |
| Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is very high and muddy with a dangerous current. The Corps of Engineers urges everyone to stay off the water. Bill's Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) said the water is still very high and swift. The only fishing is in the backwater areas. Bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie can be caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on jigs and crankbaits. Catfish are biting well on worms, shad and punch bait. Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 418.96 feet MSL. CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on large minnows. Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair below the dam on worms and nightcrawlers. Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 581.73 feet MSL. Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures said the muddy runoff is still present in the west end of the lake in the rivers. Some stripers are being caught from Shangri-La Resort to Point 17 on free-lined hair jigs and small-to medium-sized shad. From Point 19 and the surrounding bay some stripers are being caught on medium to large shad. The Avant area is hit-and-miss working the points with free-lined shad. From Point 35 to the east, shallow points off deep water are producing well on smaller live bait sinkered down and free-lined large shad. Big Blakely is producing well, but it's sporadic with very few breaking fish. The dam is not producing much at all lately. The State Park area is hit-or-miss and most of the stripers being caught here are smaller than the west end of the lake. Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said the high water has scattered the fish, but they are pulling shallow in preparation for the spawn. Flipping jigs and lizards to the backside of the brush is producing good numbers of fish, as is a weightless Zoom Trick Worm. Berkley Swimbaits in gizzard shad color fished over the deep grass is catching larger fish. Spinnerbaits are working well on the inside edge of the grass on windy days. Stripers are a little slow. Crappie are extremely tough with the high water. Some white bass are beginning to run up the creeks. A few bream are beginning to bite well around boat docks in the Crystal Springs area. Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that even though the weather is ideal for fishing, the very heavy rainfall has taken its toll on the state. Lake Ouachita is currently at flood stage so Entergy is running full load generation at Carpenter Dam in order to bring down the flood waters. The tailrace waters are extremely swift and muddy and very dangerous to navigate. Anyone attempting to fish the area by boat should use caution until the situation settles down to normal in the coming weeks. Wade fishing is out of the question. Catch'em All Guide Service has canceled all trips until the dangerous conditions subside. Diamond Head Marina reported that the water is clearing up and is still high. Largemouth bass are biting on white spinnerbaits. Walleye are being caught on silver artificial baits. Stripers are fair on yellow artificial baits. Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said white bass are running up in the creeks. The flats in the backs of the creeks are producing many white bass on twister-tail grubs and Rooster Tails. Spotted bass are moving up on the flats and can be caught on jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits. Main-lake points and creek bends with brush in 12 to 15 feet of water are producing some good largemouth bass on large jigs and worms. Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is murky and high. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair on shiners. Catfish can be caught on worms and large minnows. Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows. Catfishing is good on large minnows. |
EAST ARKANSAS |
| Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said the water is still high. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on cut bait. White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said water is very high. No report. Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is still high. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with minnows and liver. Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is very high and all species are slow. Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is murky and high. Bream are fair around the piers on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on black/chartreuse jigs and trolling in deep water. Catfish are biting very well on worms, cut bait and nightcrawlers in the middle of the lake. |
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Check & Clear 6
LOC: 38-54-14.60N / 097-14-09.07W
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