Post by Whiskers on Jun 21, 2007 10:49:47 GMT -6
Fishing Tip: If you're up for some good fishing and a relaxing getaway, a float trip on one of Arkansas's streams may be just the ticket. Reservoir fishing during the summer can be tough once the sun comes up, but fish in small rivers will bite all day long if the current is right.
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are biting very well on chicken liver and nightcrawlers. Summer patterns are setting in, which means that fishing is best at dawn and dusk. Fishing during the middle of the day has been tough this week. Bream are good on crickets and redworms. Hybrid striped bass that were stocked last fall have turned on this week and are taking chicken liver in West Memphis, MacArthurPark, and Cabot ponds. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level and clarity. Bream are on beds in 2 to 3 feet of water and are biting anything that gets near them. Bass fishing is good on yellow Horny Toads. Catfishing is decent on live bream strung from trotlines. All other species are slow.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said fishing was good over the weekend. The water clarity is good and the river is low, wish minimal generation. Trout are biting on corn, night crawlers, and wax worms with marshmallows or Power Bait in deeper holes. Fly fishing is very productive.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said water releases from the Greers Ferry power house continue to be small and daily with around 3,200 cubic feet of water per second flow rates. The water is clear with a few spots of siltation from bank erosion. Aquatic insect hatches continue to be sparse. Caddis hatches are over, blue-winged olive mayflies have yet to begin in earnest but should hatch sometime in July lasting until October. Sulphur mayflies and pale morning dun mayflies are coming off most days, and you always have the daily midge hatch. Dry flies working the best include midges (size 22 in cream or black), Adams (size 16), PMDs (sizes 16-18) and sulphurs (sizes 16-18). Sub-surface flies are working the best and include any soft hackle emerger. The best sub-surface patterns are sow bugs (mostly tan or light gray in sizes 14-16), flashback pheasant tails (sizes 14-16), zebra midges (sizes 16-22), electric princes (sizes 14-16), San Juan worms (size 18) and olive woolly buggers (sizes 10-12).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.71 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is at normal level and clear. Crappie fishing is poor. Black Bass are biting at 10 to 15 feet against the bank in the mornings. Walleye are biting at 15 to 20 feet. Hybrids are biting around Banker's Cove. Perch are biting against the banks on wax worms and crickets.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said crappie are biting pretty well in the creek channels, in river bends and over brush piles and pole timber in 15 to 20 feet of water on jigs tipped with minnows. Bream are bedding in the shallows and can be caught with a bream killer fly or on crickets and nightcrawlers. Bass fishing is good. Many largemouths are up shallow in the grass chasing bream and out on the drops and bends. The largemouths can be caught with top-water lures, Right Bite Shaky Hookers and Rite Bite frogs, Kentucky bass and largemouths can be caught on the drops with Carolina-rigged and Texas-rigged worms and the smallmouth can be caught with Carolina-rigged Rite Bite Cinkos. Catfishing is good on floating trot lines and jugs as well as traditional trot lines baited with bream. White bass and hybrids are coming up all over the lake during low-light hours and cloudy days. When they are breaking, they can be caught on Super Spook Jrs. If they are not breaking, try swimming a grub over the tops of the areas they were schooling in. On sunny days, a jigging spoon in 43 feet of water or a buckshot inline spinner will produce. Walleye are still scattered from 8-38 feet of water. Some can be caught dragging a crawler harness.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at a normal lever, but the fishing is slow. Bream are beginning to move in. Crappie and catfishing are slow. Bass fishing is fair.
Beaverfork Lake: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is a little choppy but overall calm. Crappie are being caught on jigs. Catfish are biting on chicken liver.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is pretty green and at a normal level. Bream are biting fair on crickets and red worms. Crappie are biting well early in deep water on minnows. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish were biting well this weekend on chicken liver and large minnows.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and a normal level. Bream fishing is fair on wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. A few are biting in 10 to 12 feet of water on salt and pepper jigs or small minnows. Bass fishing is also fair. Some are biting top-water lures in the morning and Culprit worms and bubblegum flukes in the afternoon. Some catfish are being caught with night crawlers and bream.
Brewer Lake:Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets around the banks. Crappie are biting in the brush on small minnows or blue/white jigs. Bass fishing is fair with spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting chicken liver and nightcrawlers.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream fishing is fair. A few are biting redworms and crickets along the edge. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits and top-water baits. Catfish are biting on the bottom on just about anything.
Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream are biting well in pad beds on crickets and redworms. Crappie fishing is fair on live bait around cypress trees. Bass fishing is fair on smoke/red flake tubes and spinnerbaits with copper blades. Catfishing is fair to good on limb lines or trotlines with live bream.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said fishing continues to be good to excellent. Black bass are biting very well early, late and at night around 4 to 8 feet of water with spinnerbaits and top-water lures. During the day, they are biting in 10 to 14 feet of water on Carolina rigs and jig-and-pig combos. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets in 8 to 17 feet of water. White bass are biting well on CC spoons and Roostertails. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows about 10 to 18 feet deep.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is lower. Bream are bedded, and are biting worms and crickets. Crappie are poor. A few are biting at 10 to 15 feet on jigs around brush piles. Bass are biting at 10 to 12 feet on naturally colored plastic worms in the brush. Catfish are biting at 6 feet on live bait and Magic bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bream are trying to spawn and biting well. Crappie are poor. Some are biting in the brush on jigs. Bass fishing is good in deeper pools with top-water lures. Catfish are biting live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's HiddenHarbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 76,212 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 284.88 and a tailwater of 271.66. Rain to the west should cause flows to rise by the weekend. Stripers and white bass fishing are strong on pearl deep-diving crankbaits. The best fishing is across from Gala Creek on jetties, down from PettitJeanRiver on both sides of FlagLake cutoff below dams 9 and 10. Black bass are biting well around wood on blue/black jigs in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bream are biting well on beds in shady areas on crickets. Catfish are running on the back side of jetties in 3 to 6 feet of water on whole shad in the mornings and jetty tips during midmorning at 10 to 15 feet deep. Kentucky bass are going for Rooster Tails on jetties. Crappie fishing is good on jig-and-minnow combos around wood. Fishing is good 3 to 8 feet deep, use a slow retrieve.
Murray Lock and Dam: The flow from Lock and Dam 7 is 68,739 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 248.73 and a tailwater of 232.34.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is poor. Striper fishing is fair to good on white split tails and spoons. White bass are biting on twister tails.
Terry Lock and Dam: The flow from Lock and Dam 6 is 83,472 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 230.54 and a tailwater of 217.88.
McSwain SportsCenter (501-945-2471) said the water is beginning to drop. A few catfish are being caught, but the water should be good for fishing by the weekend.
Big Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream fishing is fair to good on crickets and redworms. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water on live minnows. Bass are biting well on top-water stick baits, Gilmore jumpers and spinnerbaits.
Clear Lake: McSwainSportsCenter (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting in 1 to 2 feet of water on crickets. A few crappie are being caught in 3 feet of water on blue/white jigs around trees or any kind of wood. Bass are biting early in 4 feet of water around grass on white buzzbaits.
Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream fishing is very good on crickets and redworms.
Burns Park: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said crappie are biting fair on live minnows. Bass fishing is good near the jetties.
Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream and crappie fishing are poor. Bass fishing is fair on jig-n-pig and smoke/red flake tubes. Catfish are biting well on limblines and trotlines with cut bait and chicken hearts.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream fishing is fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie and bass fishing is poor. Catfish are biting well on limblines and yo-yos baited with cut bait and chicken hearts.
Fourche Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream and catfish are biting poorly, while crappie and bass fishing are fair.
Lake Valencia in Maumelle: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said catfishing is good on worms, chicken liver, chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and going down. Bream are biting well. A few crappie are being caught in deep pockets on jigs. Bass fishing is slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 554.78 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear on the lake and river. Fly fishing is best from Cotter to Buffalo Shoals. Fly fishing is going well on scuds, wooly buggers, or midges and elk hair caddis, sulfur duns and Adams in the afternoons. Bait fishing is good in moving water on power and spinner baits. Trout are biting well. Bream are biting very well on red worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair. Bass are biting well early on top-water baits and soft plastics. Jigs and trailers are doing better in the afternoon and night. Catfishing is fair. Some are biting cut bait and worms. Walleye are biting well on night crawlers, Shad Raps, and Munchies grubs. Striper fishing is good on top-water baits in the morning and spoon as the day goes on.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low, there are no generators running at this time. The fly-fishing is excellent. Black woolly buggers are working well as are pink PowerBait and frozen shad.
McLellan's Fly Shop said fly-fishing the high water from a boat has been very productive using large strike indicators, flies and split shot as well as longer leaders and heavier tippet. For low-water conditions, nymph fishing with mayfly nymph patterns has been productive. Trout are liking the sulfur nymphs as they prepare to hatch. Classic patterns like the hare's ear and pheasant tail nymph are working well.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,121.01 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water clarity is good and at normal level. Crappie fishing is slow. A few are biting at 12 to 20 feet on Hot-n-Tots or minnows. Bass are moving into a night pattern. Some are biting on spinnerbaits, dark plastic worms and top-water baits early in the mornings. During the day they are biting grubs and Sassy shads. Bluegill are biting on crickets and red worms at 4 to 8 feet. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver, nightcrawlers and cut shad.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said there has been very little generation this week. Midge patterns are important on the Beaver tailwater. The jujubee, the poison tung, Griffith's gnat, and the zebra midge have had the trout fooled.
Best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud, Gray and Olive (14-16), McLellan's Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Zebra Midge in Black/Copper and Olive (16-20), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Poison Tung in Gray/Blue and Black (20), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (20-22), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Cream Midge Adult (22-24), Flashtail Mini Egg (16-18).
Lake Fayetteville : Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is nice but a little dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting on crickets. Some crappie are being caught on minnows. Bass are biting plastic worms and top-water lures. Catfish are biting chicken liver. Fayetteville will be closed to fishing and boating June 13-17.
Lake Sequoyah : Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is at normal level, but a little dingy. Bream are biting well around mossy areas, logs and tree tops on worms, crickets and bream jigs. Crappie fishing is fair at 2 to 6 feet on minnows in mossy areas. Bass are biting well at 2 to 6 feet on spinnerbaits and some plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on the bottom with large worms, cut bream and chicken livers in open water.
Sugarloaf Lake : Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is clear and pretty low, at about 90 percent. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is good.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake : Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear. Bream fishing is excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs at around 12 to 15 feet deep. Bass are biting early and late in the day on top-water baits and deep divers during sunny periods. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers, large minnows and goldfish.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the river is muddy. Bass are biting very well, but is has not been reported on what. Catfish are biting very well on goldfish.
Eleven-Point River : Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water clarity is good and at a normal level. Bass and catfish are both biting well.
Spring River : Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Trout are biting well on salmon eggs and marshmallows. Bass fishing is also good. They are biting minnows.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
LakeChicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water level is low. Bream and catfish are both biting fair.
GrandLake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water level is low. Bream, Crappie and Catfish are all biting fair.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
MillwoodLake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.54 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said activity levels of bass and crappie are approaching normal summer patterns. Largemouth bass are still in early summer patterns. They're roaming and chasing post-spawn bream and shad around grass beds and lily pads. Buzz baits, top water frogs and toads, Bass Assassin Shads and Johnson silver and gold spoons and weedless spoons are catching good bass up to 7 pounds in these areas, and on points with mixtures of grass and pads. If the fish blows up on a spoon and misses, be quick to throw a 10-inch worm or 7-inch Bass Assassin where he missed. Nine times out of 10, he will hit it on the fall. Largemouths are beginning to respond to crankbaits like the Fat Free Shad and Rat-L-Traps in the larger 34-oz. size, in white and shad patterns. Crappie are remaining scattered and roaming back and forth between 6 to 20 feet deep. The most consistent bite has been on live shiners and smoke-colored Cordell grubs on a lightweight white or chartreuse jighead. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms around MillwoodState Park. Channel Cats are fair to good on trotlines with cut baits, Catfish Charlie and chicken liver. Yo-yos are still working well, using Catfish Charlie hung from low cypress limbs over 7-8 feet depths in MudLake, Horseshoe and around Jack's Isle. Bow fishing is good for Longnose or Spotted Gar.
LakeColumbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water conditions are favorable. Bream fishing is good in shallow areas against logjams on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water in the center of the lake. The fish are suspended at 8 to 10 feet. Bass fishing is good across the lake on red shad Culprit worms. Catfishing is fair on trotlines, goldfish and shiners.
LakeErling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water conditions are favorable. Bream are biting well on shiners, crickets, and worms. Crappie fishing is best over the middle to upper parts of the lake over deep-water areas. Bass are biting on tequila sunrise worms and black spinnerbaits. Catfishing is the best thing going in water 2 feet or deeper on poles or trotlines. Catfish are biting with any method.
LakeGreeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 546.88 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and the surface temperature is around 84 degrees. Bream fishing is excellent in shallow water on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting fairly well on jigs, plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait, bream and minnows.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 406.78 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said that the water clarity is good and has fallen about one and a half feet. Bream are biting well on crickets in 8 to 12 feet of water on beds. Crappie are biting slowly during the day, but better at night on minnows and jigs. Bass are holding at 15 to 25 feet during the day and moving to shallow water at night. White and hybrid bass are schooling in the mid to southeast end of the lake. Catfishing is slow. Some are biting on noodles and trotlines baited with bream
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
BlueMountainLake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 387.20 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is a little muddy, but at normal level. Catfish are the best thing going. They are biting on worms, chicken liver and shad.
Ozark Pool:Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and at a normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets in some of the lakes. Black bass are biting on jigs and Horny Toad frogs. Catfishing is fair below the dam drifting minnows and shad.
LakeOuachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 576.78 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Marina said the water is clear and largemouth bass are biting well on U-tail worms, swim baits and grass jigs. Jighead finesse worms and Texas-rigged Brush hogs are also working well. Walleye are fair to good on spoons and jerkbaits near creek channels and main-lake points. Stripers are good on live brood minnows and gizzard shad. Top-water action is slowing, but some are being caught on C-10 Redfins and Zara spooks early or late or on cloudy days. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets and worms in 6 to 20 feet of water. Crappie fishing is fair. Some are being caught over grass in deeper water. Also try minnows or crappie grubs. Catfishing is excellent. Catfish are being caught on live bait and stinkbait in 10 to 20 feet water on jugs and trotlines.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said bass are schooling early in the mornings. Shad-colored Shad Raps produced good numbers, but it's an early bite. After 9 a.m. it's time to use a drop-shot rig and finesse worm. Walleye have slowed. Some large walleye are coming from the grass beds on Shad Raps in about 10 feet of water. Bream fishing is good on the west end of the lake and spotty on the east end. Catfishing is good on noodles baited with small bream set about 8 to 10 feet deep. Stripers are very good at night around the dam.
LakeOuachitaState Park marina said that fishing is excellent for bream, bass and catfish. Water temperature on the east side of the lake ranges from 80 to 82 degrees. Stripers are biting well early in the morning on live baits and jigging spoons. Bass fishing is good on white spinnerbaits, plastic worms and Zara puppies. Bream are biting fair with larger bluegill caught on crickets and small jigs around the deep side of the hydrilla in 15 to 20 feet water with a few large crappie being caught in the same way. Catfishing is excellent on small bream and trotlines baited with minnows. A good number of blues and the occasional flathead are being brought in. A few walleye are being caught on jigs, Shad Raps and Rat-L-Traps. There still are moving schools of white bass and small stripers schooling off main lake points. The pickerel are biting almost everything.
LakeCatherine:Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and it is a full pool. Bream are biting in beds on crickets. Crappie are biting on nightcrawlers and crickets. Bass fishing is good along the shoreline on chug bugs and brush hogs. Walleye are biting well on crankbaits in silver/blue, silver/green or chartreuse.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that fishing is good. Rainbow trout fishing is excellent. Trout are being caught on corn and nightcrawlers floated under a bobber. Redworms and wax worms are also good on the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Trout are also being caught in the current with 1/16-ounce jigs in white and yellow while trolling in channels. Small crayfish crankbaits are also working well. Fly-fishing is good with San Juan worms and woolly buggers early on shallow flats and micro jigs in black and chartreuse in the evenings. Stripers and hybrids are biting below the bridge. Large top-water baits, C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors are drawing strikes. Live shad fished under a balloon while the turbines are running is also working well.
LakeHamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing is best at night and early and late in the day. The best baits are spinnerbaits and dark-colored jigs and soft-plastics.
LakeHinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting well on shiners, plugs and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on trotlines with chicken livers and goldfish.
LakeAtkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is cloudy but clearing. Bream, bass and catfish are all picking up. Bream are biting worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfish are biting everything thrown at them.
LakeNimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 344.91 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is clear and up a little. Bream are beginning to bed. Crappie fishing is pretty good. Bass and catfish are also biting well.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water level has remained at a normal level. Bream are biting well in the bay and lake. Few crappie are being caught. Catfishing is great on nightcrawlers, live bream and crawfish in the main river channel. Trotlines and tight-lining are also catching catfish. Some bass are biting.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and a little high. Bream, bass and catfish are all biting well. Crappie fishing is slow.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and low. A few bream are biting crickets on the river.
MaddoxBay:MaddoxBay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water clarity is good and at a low level. Catfishing is pretty good on trotlines or rod and reel. Crappie and bass fishing are both slow. Bream fishing is fair.
BearCreekLake:Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream fishing is good. All other species are shut down.
Six RiversSportCenter (870-295-3236) said the water is clear and at normal level. Shellcrackers (redear sunfish) are biting pretty well. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with live bait.
HorseshoeLake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the fishing has slowed down. The water is clear and low. Bream are biting excellent on wax worms and crickets in shallow water. Crappie are biting on minnows around piers. Catfishing is excellent on stink bait and cut bait in deep water.
Island 40 Chute: Daily's Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said a few bass are being caught on chartreuse spinnerbaits on the levee side. A few catfish are also being caught.
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are biting very well on chicken liver and nightcrawlers. Summer patterns are setting in, which means that fishing is best at dawn and dusk. Fishing during the middle of the day has been tough this week. Bream are good on crickets and redworms. Hybrid striped bass that were stocked last fall have turned on this week and are taking chicken liver in West Memphis, MacArthurPark, and Cabot ponds. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level and clarity. Bream are on beds in 2 to 3 feet of water and are biting anything that gets near them. Bass fishing is good on yellow Horny Toads. Catfishing is decent on live bream strung from trotlines. All other species are slow.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said fishing was good over the weekend. The water clarity is good and the river is low, wish minimal generation. Trout are biting on corn, night crawlers, and wax worms with marshmallows or Power Bait in deeper holes. Fly fishing is very productive.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said water releases from the Greers Ferry power house continue to be small and daily with around 3,200 cubic feet of water per second flow rates. The water is clear with a few spots of siltation from bank erosion. Aquatic insect hatches continue to be sparse. Caddis hatches are over, blue-winged olive mayflies have yet to begin in earnest but should hatch sometime in July lasting until October. Sulphur mayflies and pale morning dun mayflies are coming off most days, and you always have the daily midge hatch. Dry flies working the best include midges (size 22 in cream or black), Adams (size 16), PMDs (sizes 16-18) and sulphurs (sizes 16-18). Sub-surface flies are working the best and include any soft hackle emerger. The best sub-surface patterns are sow bugs (mostly tan or light gray in sizes 14-16), flashback pheasant tails (sizes 14-16), zebra midges (sizes 16-22), electric princes (sizes 14-16), San Juan worms (size 18) and olive woolly buggers (sizes 10-12).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.71 feet MSL.
Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is at normal level and clear. Crappie fishing is poor. Black Bass are biting at 10 to 15 feet against the bank in the mornings. Walleye are biting at 15 to 20 feet. Hybrids are biting around Banker's Cove. Perch are biting against the banks on wax worms and crickets.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said crappie are biting pretty well in the creek channels, in river bends and over brush piles and pole timber in 15 to 20 feet of water on jigs tipped with minnows. Bream are bedding in the shallows and can be caught with a bream killer fly or on crickets and nightcrawlers. Bass fishing is good. Many largemouths are up shallow in the grass chasing bream and out on the drops and bends. The largemouths can be caught with top-water lures, Right Bite Shaky Hookers and Rite Bite frogs, Kentucky bass and largemouths can be caught on the drops with Carolina-rigged and Texas-rigged worms and the smallmouth can be caught with Carolina-rigged Rite Bite Cinkos. Catfishing is good on floating trot lines and jugs as well as traditional trot lines baited with bream. White bass and hybrids are coming up all over the lake during low-light hours and cloudy days. When they are breaking, they can be caught on Super Spook Jrs. If they are not breaking, try swimming a grub over the tops of the areas they were schooling in. On sunny days, a jigging spoon in 43 feet of water or a buckshot inline spinner will produce. Walleye are still scattered from 8-38 feet of water. Some can be caught dragging a crawler harness.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at a normal lever, but the fishing is slow. Bream are beginning to move in. Crappie and catfishing are slow. Bass fishing is fair.
Beaverfork Lake: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is a little choppy but overall calm. Crappie are being caught on jigs. Catfish are biting on chicken liver.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is pretty green and at a normal level. Bream are biting fair on crickets and red worms. Crappie are biting well early in deep water on minnows. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish were biting well this weekend on chicken liver and large minnows.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and a normal level. Bream fishing is fair on wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. A few are biting in 10 to 12 feet of water on salt and pepper jigs or small minnows. Bass fishing is also fair. Some are biting top-water lures in the morning and Culprit worms and bubblegum flukes in the afternoon. Some catfish are being caught with night crawlers and bream.
Brewer Lake:Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets around the banks. Crappie are biting in the brush on small minnows or blue/white jigs. Bass fishing is fair with spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting chicken liver and nightcrawlers.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream fishing is fair. A few are biting redworms and crickets along the edge. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits and top-water baits. Catfish are biting on the bottom on just about anything.
Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream are biting well in pad beds on crickets and redworms. Crappie fishing is fair on live bait around cypress trees. Bass fishing is fair on smoke/red flake tubes and spinnerbaits with copper blades. Catfishing is fair to good on limb lines or trotlines with live bream.
Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger's Marina said fishing continues to be good to excellent. Black bass are biting very well early, late and at night around 4 to 8 feet of water with spinnerbaits and top-water lures. During the day, they are biting in 10 to 14 feet of water on Carolina rigs and jig-and-pig combos. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets in 8 to 17 feet of water. White bass are biting well on CC spoons and Roostertails. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows about 10 to 18 feet deep.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is lower. Bream are bedded, and are biting worms and crickets. Crappie are poor. A few are biting at 10 to 15 feet on jigs around brush piles. Bass are biting at 10 to 12 feet on naturally colored plastic worms in the brush. Catfish are biting at 6 feet on live bait and Magic bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is low and clear. Bream are trying to spawn and biting well. Crappie are poor. Some are biting in the brush on jigs. Bass fishing is good in deeper pools with top-water lures. Catfish are biting live bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's HiddenHarbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 76,212 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 284.88 and a tailwater of 271.66. Rain to the west should cause flows to rise by the weekend. Stripers and white bass fishing are strong on pearl deep-diving crankbaits. The best fishing is across from Gala Creek on jetties, down from PettitJeanRiver on both sides of FlagLake cutoff below dams 9 and 10. Black bass are biting well around wood on blue/black jigs in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bream are biting well on beds in shady areas on crickets. Catfish are running on the back side of jetties in 3 to 6 feet of water on whole shad in the mornings and jetty tips during midmorning at 10 to 15 feet deep. Kentucky bass are going for Rooster Tails on jetties. Crappie fishing is good on jig-and-minnow combos around wood. Fishing is good 3 to 8 feet deep, use a slow retrieve.
Murray Lock and Dam: The flow from Lock and Dam 7 is 68,739 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 248.73 and a tailwater of 232.34.
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie fishing is poor. Striper fishing is fair to good on white split tails and spoons. White bass are biting on twister tails.
Terry Lock and Dam: The flow from Lock and Dam 6 is 83,472 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 230.54 and a tailwater of 217.88.
McSwain SportsCenter (501-945-2471) said the water is beginning to drop. A few catfish are being caught, but the water should be good for fishing by the weekend.
Big Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream fishing is fair to good on crickets and redworms. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water on live minnows. Bass are biting well on top-water stick baits, Gilmore jumpers and spinnerbaits.
Clear Lake: McSwainSportsCenter (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting in 1 to 2 feet of water on crickets. A few crappie are being caught in 3 feet of water on blue/white jigs around trees or any kind of wood. Bass are biting early in 4 feet of water around grass on white buzzbaits.
Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream fishing is very good on crickets and redworms.
Burns Park: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said crappie are biting fair on live minnows. Bass fishing is good near the jetties.
Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream and crappie fishing are poor. Bass fishing is fair on jig-n-pig and smoke/red flake tubes. Catfish are biting well on limblines and trotlines with cut bait and chicken hearts.
Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream fishing is fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie and bass fishing is poor. Catfish are biting well on limblines and yo-yos baited with cut bait and chicken hearts.
Fourche Creek: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said bream and catfish are biting poorly, while crappie and bass fishing are fair.
Lake Valencia in Maumelle: Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop said catfishing is good on worms, chicken liver, chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and going down. Bream are biting well. A few crappie are being caught in deep pockets on jigs. Bass fishing is slow.
NORTH ARKANSAS
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 554.78 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear on the lake and river. Fly fishing is best from Cotter to Buffalo Shoals. Fly fishing is going well on scuds, wooly buggers, or midges and elk hair caddis, sulfur duns and Adams in the afternoons. Bait fishing is good in moving water on power and spinner baits. Trout are biting well. Bream are biting very well on red worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair. Bass are biting well early on top-water baits and soft plastics. Jigs and trailers are doing better in the afternoon and night. Catfishing is fair. Some are biting cut bait and worms. Walleye are biting well on night crawlers, Shad Raps, and Munchies grubs. Striper fishing is good on top-water baits in the morning and spoon as the day goes on.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low, there are no generators running at this time. The fly-fishing is excellent. Black woolly buggers are working well as are pink PowerBait and frozen shad.
McLellan's Fly Shop said fly-fishing the high water from a boat has been very productive using large strike indicators, flies and split shot as well as longer leaders and heavier tippet. For low-water conditions, nymph fishing with mayfly nymph patterns has been productive. Trout are liking the sulfur nymphs as they prepare to hatch. Classic patterns like the hare's ear and pheasant tail nymph are working well.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,121.01 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water clarity is good and at normal level. Crappie fishing is slow. A few are biting at 12 to 20 feet on Hot-n-Tots or minnows. Bass are moving into a night pattern. Some are biting on spinnerbaits, dark plastic worms and top-water baits early in the mornings. During the day they are biting grubs and Sassy shads. Bluegill are biting on crickets and red worms at 4 to 8 feet. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver, nightcrawlers and cut shad.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said there has been very little generation this week. Midge patterns are important on the Beaver tailwater. The jujubee, the poison tung, Griffith's gnat, and the zebra midge have had the trout fooled.
Best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud, Gray and Olive (14-16), McLellan's Woven Sow Bug (14-16), Zebra Midge in Black/Copper and Olive (16-20), Mercury Brassie (18-20), Poison Tung in Gray/Blue and Black (20), Mercury Blood Midge (20-22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (20-22), Mercury Black Beauty (20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (20-22), Cream Midge Adult (22-24), Flashtail Mini Egg (16-18).
Lake Fayetteville : Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is nice but a little dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting on crickets. Some crappie are being caught on minnows. Bass are biting plastic worms and top-water lures. Catfish are biting chicken liver. Fayetteville will be closed to fishing and boating June 13-17.
Lake Sequoyah : Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is at normal level, but a little dingy. Bream are biting well around mossy areas, logs and tree tops on worms, crickets and bream jigs. Crappie fishing is fair at 2 to 6 feet on minnows in mossy areas. Bass are biting well at 2 to 6 feet on spinnerbaits and some plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on the bottom with large worms, cut bream and chicken livers in open water.
Sugarloaf Lake : Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is clear and pretty low, at about 90 percent. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is good.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake : Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear. Bream fishing is excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs at around 12 to 15 feet deep. Bass are biting early and late in the day on top-water baits and deep divers during sunny periods. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers, large minnows and goldfish.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the river is muddy. Bass are biting very well, but is has not been reported on what. Catfish are biting very well on goldfish.
Eleven-Point River : Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water clarity is good and at a normal level. Bass and catfish are both biting well.
Spring River : Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Trout are biting well on salmon eggs and marshmallows. Bass fishing is also good. They are biting minnows.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
LakeChicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water level is low. Bream and catfish are both biting fair.
GrandLake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water level is low. Bream, Crappie and Catfish are all biting fair.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
MillwoodLake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.54 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said activity levels of bass and crappie are approaching normal summer patterns. Largemouth bass are still in early summer patterns. They're roaming and chasing post-spawn bream and shad around grass beds and lily pads. Buzz baits, top water frogs and toads, Bass Assassin Shads and Johnson silver and gold spoons and weedless spoons are catching good bass up to 7 pounds in these areas, and on points with mixtures of grass and pads. If the fish blows up on a spoon and misses, be quick to throw a 10-inch worm or 7-inch Bass Assassin where he missed. Nine times out of 10, he will hit it on the fall. Largemouths are beginning to respond to crankbaits like the Fat Free Shad and Rat-L-Traps in the larger 34-oz. size, in white and shad patterns. Crappie are remaining scattered and roaming back and forth between 6 to 20 feet deep. The most consistent bite has been on live shiners and smoke-colored Cordell grubs on a lightweight white or chartreuse jighead. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms around MillwoodState Park. Channel Cats are fair to good on trotlines with cut baits, Catfish Charlie and chicken liver. Yo-yos are still working well, using Catfish Charlie hung from low cypress limbs over 7-8 feet depths in MudLake, Horseshoe and around Jack's Isle. Bow fishing is good for Longnose or Spotted Gar.
LakeColumbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water conditions are favorable. Bream fishing is good in shallow areas against logjams on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water in the center of the lake. The fish are suspended at 8 to 10 feet. Bass fishing is good across the lake on red shad Culprit worms. Catfishing is fair on trotlines, goldfish and shiners.
LakeErling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water conditions are favorable. Bream are biting well on shiners, crickets, and worms. Crappie fishing is best over the middle to upper parts of the lake over deep-water areas. Bass are biting on tequila sunrise worms and black spinnerbaits. Catfishing is the best thing going in water 2 feet or deeper on poles or trotlines. Catfish are biting with any method.
LakeGreeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 546.88 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and the surface temperature is around 84 degrees. Bream fishing is excellent in shallow water on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting fairly well on jigs, plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait, bream and minnows.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 406.78 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said that the water clarity is good and has fallen about one and a half feet. Bream are biting well on crickets in 8 to 12 feet of water on beds. Crappie are biting slowly during the day, but better at night on minnows and jigs. Bass are holding at 15 to 25 feet during the day and moving to shallow water at night. White and hybrid bass are schooling in the mid to southeast end of the lake. Catfishing is slow. Some are biting on noodles and trotlines baited with bream
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
BlueMountainLake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 387.20 feet MSL.
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is a little muddy, but at normal level. Catfish are the best thing going. They are biting on worms, chicken liver and shad.
Ozark Pool:Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and at a normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets in some of the lakes. Black bass are biting on jigs and Horny Toad frogs. Catfishing is fair below the dam drifting minnows and shad.
LakeOuachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 576.78 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Marina said the water is clear and largemouth bass are biting well on U-tail worms, swim baits and grass jigs. Jighead finesse worms and Texas-rigged Brush hogs are also working well. Walleye are fair to good on spoons and jerkbaits near creek channels and main-lake points. Stripers are good on live brood minnows and gizzard shad. Top-water action is slowing, but some are being caught on C-10 Redfins and Zara spooks early or late or on cloudy days. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets and worms in 6 to 20 feet of water. Crappie fishing is fair. Some are being caught over grass in deeper water. Also try minnows or crappie grubs. Catfishing is excellent. Catfish are being caught on live bait and stinkbait in 10 to 20 feet water on jugs and trotlines.
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said bass are schooling early in the mornings. Shad-colored Shad Raps produced good numbers, but it's an early bite. After 9 a.m. it's time to use a drop-shot rig and finesse worm. Walleye have slowed. Some large walleye are coming from the grass beds on Shad Raps in about 10 feet of water. Bream fishing is good on the west end of the lake and spotty on the east end. Catfishing is good on noodles baited with small bream set about 8 to 10 feet deep. Stripers are very good at night around the dam.
LakeOuachitaState Park marina said that fishing is excellent for bream, bass and catfish. Water temperature on the east side of the lake ranges from 80 to 82 degrees. Stripers are biting well early in the morning on live baits and jigging spoons. Bass fishing is good on white spinnerbaits, plastic worms and Zara puppies. Bream are biting fair with larger bluegill caught on crickets and small jigs around the deep side of the hydrilla in 15 to 20 feet water with a few large crappie being caught in the same way. Catfishing is excellent on small bream and trotlines baited with minnows. A good number of blues and the occasional flathead are being brought in. A few walleye are being caught on jigs, Shad Raps and Rat-L-Traps. There still are moving schools of white bass and small stripers schooling off main lake points. The pickerel are biting almost everything.
LakeCatherine:Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and it is a full pool. Bream are biting in beds on crickets. Crappie are biting on nightcrawlers and crickets. Bass fishing is good along the shoreline on chug bugs and brush hogs. Walleye are biting well on crankbaits in silver/blue, silver/green or chartreuse.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that fishing is good. Rainbow trout fishing is excellent. Trout are being caught on corn and nightcrawlers floated under a bobber. Redworms and wax worms are also good on the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Trout are also being caught in the current with 1/16-ounce jigs in white and yellow while trolling in channels. Small crayfish crankbaits are also working well. Fly-fishing is good with San Juan worms and woolly buggers early on shallow flats and micro jigs in black and chartreuse in the evenings. Stripers and hybrids are biting below the bridge. Large top-water baits, C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors are drawing strikes. Live shad fished under a balloon while the turbines are running is also working well.
LakeHamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing is best at night and early and late in the day. The best baits are spinnerbaits and dark-colored jigs and soft-plastics.
LakeHinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting well on shiners, plugs and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on trotlines with chicken livers and goldfish.
LakeAtkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is cloudy but clearing. Bream, bass and catfish are all picking up. Bream are biting worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfish are biting everything thrown at them.
LakeNimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 344.91 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is clear and up a little. Bream are beginning to bed. Crappie fishing is pretty good. Bass and catfish are also biting well.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay: Moro Bay State Park said the water level has remained at a normal level. Bream are biting well in the bay and lake. Few crappie are being caught. Catfishing is great on nightcrawlers, live bream and crawfish in the main river channel. Trotlines and tight-lining are also catching catfish. Some bass are biting.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and a little high. Bream, bass and catfish are all biting well. Crappie fishing is slow.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and low. A few bream are biting crickets on the river.
MaddoxBay:MaddoxBay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water clarity is good and at a low level. Catfishing is pretty good on trotlines or rod and reel. Crappie and bass fishing are both slow. Bream fishing is fair.
BearCreekLake:Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream fishing is good. All other species are shut down.
Six RiversSportCenter (870-295-3236) said the water is clear and at normal level. Shellcrackers (redear sunfish) are biting pretty well. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with live bait.
HorseshoeLake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the fishing has slowed down. The water is clear and low. Bream are biting excellent on wax worms and crickets in shallow water. Crappie are biting on minnows around piers. Catfishing is excellent on stink bait and cut bait in deep water.
Island 40 Chute: Daily's Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said a few bass are being caught on chartreuse spinnerbaits on the levee side. A few catfish are also being caught.
