Arkansas Statewide Report Fishing Report

Thursday - April 2nd, 2009

Posted By: lowrider

Weekly Fishing Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us

April 1, 2009 Edition

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for April 1, 2009. 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: While most anglers use the heaviest line they can get away with, the diameter of the line can impact how deep your lure runs. Most crankbaits will run 4 to 5 feet deeper on 10-lb.-test line than they will on 20-lb. test. Any lures you cast and retrieve will run truer and deeper when you downsize your line. If the drag is set properly on the reel, you shouldn’t have any problem with fish breaking 10-lb. test.

Arkansas River Levels are available at :
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt

White River Levels are available at :
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml

Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are in Community fishing ponds statewide. The last trout stockings until next winter are complete, but anglers may still catch a few trout for the next few weeks. For the best action, try Power Bait or nightcrawlers fished just off the bottom on a slip cork or on bottom with a bell sinker. For more stocking information, call the Hotline at 1-866-540-FISH (3474) toll-free.

Central Arkansas Northeast Arkansas Southwest Arkansas
North Arkansas Southeast Arkansas West-Central Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas South Central Arkansas East Arkansas

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Conway:

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is muddy and high. Catfishing is fair on worms and blood bait. Yo-yos baited with minnows are also working. All other species are slow.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said the water is high and muddy. Crappie and bass are fairly slow. Bream are fair. Catfishing is good on shiners, nightcrawlers and livers.

Little Red River:

Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is running all day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drift fishing with gold in-line spinners, and Power Bait is working well. Casting spoons and Rapalas is also working.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Powerhouse should have increased flows this week to drop the lake level a bit after the low flows during last week’s river cleanup, which was an astounding success. Aquatic insect hatches continue with midges, blue-winged olives, March browns and caddis coming off most days. Effective dry flies to try include midge (sizes 22-28; cream), para Adams (sizes 18-20), elk hair caddis (sizes 16-20; tan), American March brown (sizes 14-16), blue-winged olive (size 18) and crackleback (size 14). Flies for sub-surface fishing include sowbug (sizes 14-16; UV tan, olive, peacock, UV light gray), chronic (size 14), zebra midge (sizes 16-22; red, black or copper), green butt soft hackle (size 16), copper john (sizes 14-16; green or red), egg patterns (sizes 12-14; roe or salmon), pheasant tail (size 16) or woolly bugger (sizes 8-12; olive, brown or black).

Greers Ferry:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 463.51 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water temperature is 52 to 60 degrees. White bass and hybrid bass are on and off. You can still catch some upriver but not many. They are not grouped up in the lake either. Roadrunners, grubs, in-line spinners and jerkbaits will work, but the fish are scattered. Large shad are spawning up in the rivers. The bass bite is off somewhat as they are on the move. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, football head jigs and Carolina rigs are accounting for a lot of fish. The walleye in the lake are biting and will improve after this rain. Crappie are biting well in the buckbrush. Many limits have been recorded on grubs and minnows. Some crappie are still in the pole timber as well. Catfishing is good for blues on trotlines placed near points. No report on bream.

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is fairly clear. Crappie fishing is good on minnows fished close to brush. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics fished in brush piles. Walleye are biting well on minnows.

Harris Brake Lake:

Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on crappie jigs. Bass are biting well on live minnows. Catfishing is slow.

Lake Overcup:

Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is muddy from the wind. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on live crayfish.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about 18 inches high and dingy. Bream are slow. Crappie are spawning and are biting well on minnows and white/red, white/chartreuse and black/chartreuse crappie tubes. Bass are spawning and biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. On warm days, some fish are even being caught on buzzbaits. Catfishing is good at night on minnows.

Brewer Lake:

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is dingy and 2 feet high. All species are fair after the cold front hit.

Lake Maumelle:

Jolly Roger’s Marina had no report.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is muddy from the rain and wind. Fishing is slow for all species except bass. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits worked along shoreline cover.

Lake Valencia:

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is muddy. Fishing is slow for bream and bass. Catfish are fair on live and prepared baits.

Sunset Lake:

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is fairly clear. Bream are biting well on crickets fished 6 to 8 feet deep. Crappie are fair on minnows fished 6 to 8 feet deep. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished around brush in 3 feet of water. Catfishing is slow.

Saline River Access in Benton:

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets fished near brush in 4 feet of water. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Crappie are biting well on jigs fished under a bobber in 4 feet of water. Catfish are slow.

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said a few more anglers are getting on the water with the recent warm weather. Catfishing is very good near the deep holes just off the main river jetties and riprap below locks 9 and 10. Live shad fished in the eddies near current breaks are catching some good catfish. Crappie are biting well in Point Remove Creek, Galla Creek, Petit Jean River and Flagg Lake Cutoff. Minnows fished under a slip cork in 4 to 6 feet of water are working the best along the edge of the vegetation. Bream are biting in the creeks and on the shallow backside of main-river jetties. Kentucky bass are biting around the riprap and rock jetties on jig-and-pig combos in crayfish colors. Stripers and white bass are around the rock jetties nearest the creek mouths. They are staging, getting ready to spawn. Medium-diving crankbaits in pearl are the best bet.

Arkansas River in Little Rock:

Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is high and muddy. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished in brush 2 to 5 feet deep. Bass are fair around woody cover in shallow water.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the crappie bite is slow around the main river, but in Palarm Creek, the Little Maumelle River and the Big Maumelle River, the fishing is better. Bream are fair to good in the same creeks. Bass are fair on soft-plastics. Catfishing is good below the dams.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no report.

Clear Lake:

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no report.

Peckerwood Lake:

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is fairly stained and at normal level. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets fished around brush and stumps. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around stumps. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished near brush around the bank.

Pickthorne Lake:

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said fishing is good for catfish on prepared baits. All other species are fair.

NORTH ARKANSAS
White River:

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the generation pattern on the White last week was low levels throughout the day with the occasional spike of heavy current during midday. Remember, there is a new size limit on brown trout. All browns shorter than 24 inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and Norfork Rivers. Only one brown trout longer than 24 inches may be kept in the daily limit of five trout. The upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam catch-and-release area downstream to Cain Island has been hot. Low flows were perfect for drift fishing. Effective patterns were zebra midges, San Juan worms and egg patterns. When you are fishing this area, do not drag chains or walk through the redds. Disturbing them could destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. Rim Shoals has been another hot spot. During low flows, anglers have been doing well with size 14 black zebra midges. During high flows, the go-to flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (hot pink, cerise and red). The most productive pattern has been the Y2K in yellow and orange. We will begin having our major insect hatches very soon. The first is our rhyancophilia caddis. They have an insect green body and are large (size 14) at the beginning of the hatch. As it goes on, they will get progressively smaller, down to size 18. Green elk hair caddis work well for this hatch. Before the hatch, fish a size 14 pulsating nymph and you should hook up on some good subsurface strikes.

Mountain River Fly Shop said several days of low water over the sowbug weekend are triggering massive caddis hatches from Buffalo Shoal up past Wildcat Shoal. The fishing was tremendous on sub-surface and dry flies. This week the higher flows, carrying a lot of river trash, have swung things back towards deep fished eggs and worms; the Pink Lady is very good for these flows. Try Dynamite and San Juan Worms, plus clown eggs and fluorescent orange eggs, veiled eggs and Y2ks as attractors. Streamers also have been working well.

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is running high and clear. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, white jigs and shad drifted in the current from a boat.

White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said last week the fish were biting well from Buffalo Shoals down to the Norfork tailwater. Late in the week, they slowed considerably and have become difficult to take on artificial lures. You can still go to the bottom and do decent in some places, but not everywhere. Crankbaits and jigs have produced the most fish on artificials. Power Bait is producing the best on the bottom. The White is still fairly stained from the rains but should clear enough to catch fish any day.

Crooked Creek:

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek still is not fishing well. The water is low and clear but still a bit cold for the smallmouth to be active. As the weather warms and the water temperature reaches 55 degrees, we can expect the smallmouth action to improve.

Bull Shoals Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.61 feet MSL.

Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) with Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said fishing has been fair this week with water temperatures in the 50-52 degree range in the backs of creeks and 49-50 degrees on the main lake. Quality largemouth are being caught on steeper banks in the creek arms using stick baits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits with a little wind. If it’s calm, slow down with a Carolina or mojo rig with a 4-inch worm, lizard or gitzit. Spotted bass and smallmouth have been active on the same baits; look for these fish further back in the creek arms. Crappies up to 2½ pounds are being brought in to the dock, work live bait or small jigs over brush piles for these fish. White bass are being caught on Road Runners, Beetle Spins, and minnow baits. Look for these fish in the backs of major creek arms. Walleye have been far and few.

Lake Norfork:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.55 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the upper 50s. The water is clear to stained in the upper parts of the lake from the rain. Striper fishing has been fair at night using stick baits. Walleye fishing has been fair at night using stick baits fished along the shore. Crappie fishing has been fair this past week using minnows and tube baits. Bluegills are starting to hit crickets and worms. Bass fishing has been good. White bass fishing has been fair.

Norfork Tailwater:

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said there has been limited generation on the Norfork with several days of no generation. This has created some excellent wading. With many anglers in town for the Sowbug Roundup, the Norfork has been packed. If you plan on fishing there, be sure and take your own rock so you will have a place to stand. The better fishing has been on the lower river just below the Ackerman Access. The fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam. The catch-and-release section has been particularly crowded. Several anglers have been walking up to McClellan’s. Be very careful! This is a long walk and, if the water comes up, it is a dangerous wade out in rising water. It would be much safer to launch a personal watercraft at the dam; float down to McClellan’s and exit at the confluence. Rose’s Trout Dock will arrange a shuttle for a nominal fee. Dry Run Creek, as always, has fished particularly well. There have been a few more young anglers on the creek particularly on the weekends. Hot flies have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said from the Long Hole downriver continues to be very slow. The water color is good and the water level very acceptable, but the fish have been extremely difficult to take.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Lake Fort Smith:

Crappie are biting fairly well on black/chartreuse and white/blue jigs fished deep. The crappie should begin to move to the shallow water soon if the weather warms up the water.

Beaver Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,121.54 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass are biting well along gravel banks with lay down trees on chartreuse spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged lizards. Crappie are biting well on either a minnow or a tube jig fished 3 feet below a bobber over and around visible cover such as lay down trees and planted brush piles. The action is good all over the lake. Bluegill are biting crickets and small plastic baits fished below a bobber 2 to 4 feet deep around docks. White bass are moving up the river arms and can be caught on anything that resembles a minnow. A silver or chartreuse Shineee Hineee has been a good choice.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are fair on minnows in 2 to 12 feet of water. Bass are fair on jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits, all worked close to the bottom. Catfishing and bream fishing are fair.

Beaver Tailwaters:

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said fishing has been a little slow. Trout are biting near the surface on midge emerger patterns. Soft hackle flies have been working as well. Midge pupae, sowbugs and scuds are working well under a strike indicator. When all else fails, tie on a woolly bugger in olive and black and work it along the bottom.

Lake Fayetteville:

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Crappie are fair on jigs fished around stumps in 5 feet of water. Bass are fair on soft plastics and spinnerbaits fished in 4 to 5 feet of water. Catfishing and bream fishing are slow.

Lake Sequoyah:

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA:

Judy Potts of Judy's Bait Shoppe at the North entrance to Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA reports The White and Little Red Rivers have been rising since Friday due to the rains last week up north of the WMA. As of Monday morning, the White River was at 28.2 with a height of 29.3 predicted by Tuesday evening. With this in mind, the crappie, bass and bream fishing has slowed in the lakes, but around the edges they are still being caught. Bream and bass are being caught around several of the open flood gates. On Saturday, daily limits of bass were being caught at first bridge at the entrance to the WMA on crankbaits and spinners. Catfishing has been really good on Glaise Creek on trotlines baited with cut bait, stink bait and large minnows. Judy’s Bait Shoppe had to postpone their tournament until April 11, because of weather. Purchase some type of live bait at the shop between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and sign-in. The heaviest total weight of crappie, bass and bream brought back by 6 p.m. will win $50.

Lake Charles:

Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) had no report.

Crown Lake:

Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is 55 degrees and dingy. Bream are fair on redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished near deep drops. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jigs. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers.

Lake Frierson:

Lake Frierson State Park will be closed until the end of March because of ice damage.

Spring River:

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said rain raised water levels slightly, and the water clarity has decreased. The best flies for trout have been Cotton Candy and White woolly buggers. Erratic weather has made fishing a hit-or-miss proposition. Warm weather is just around the corner and should stabilize the bite.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Chicot:

Lakeshore Motel and Marina (870-265-9901) said the crappie are trying to spawn, and many big slabs have been caught in the bayous and the lake. Bream have been biting well on crickets. Catfishing is good on blood bait and minnows. No report on bass.

Lake Chicot State Park said bass are biting well on spinnerbaits fished around lily pads. Crappie are slow on minnows. Catfish are biting well on yo-yos at night. Bream are fair on wax worms.

Lake Monticello:

Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said the last cold snap doesn’t seem to have hurt the fishing. Several bass have been caught in 2 to 8 feet of water on Senkos, flukes, tubes, and live bait. There are more fish coming to the shallows every day. Several bass in the 9-pound class have been caught lately. Most of our big bass have come from 6 to 9 feet of water.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.64 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service said multiple cold fronts shut down the bite last week. Surface water temps are back in the upper 50s. The best bite is during mid-day. Rat-L-Traps, lizards, War Eagle spinnerbaits and large worms and jigs are still the go-to baits. Many buoys are missing and the Corps of Engineers must wait on near normal water levels to replace them. Extreme caution is needed when boating. Main lake and Little River water surface temperature is 55-61 degrees. Current increased to 4,783 cubic feet per second on Monday. Main lake visibility is 3-6 inches away from any remaining current in Little River. Largemouth bass were making drastic improvements and were well on their way to spawning before the last cold front hit. Many male largemouths are conducting bedding activities upriver. The big Bass bite is still prespawn with the large females staging. The best bite is still on slow, ¾-ounce Rat-L-Traps and slow-rolled spinnerbaits in the stained or muddy water and bulky 10-inch worms. The best Rat-L-Trap colors are Toledo Gold, Millwood Magic and Red Shad in clearer water and Firetiger and Red Coach Dog in muddy sections. The best spinnerbait bite is on Spot Remover, Hot mouse and white/chartreuse War Eagle spinnerbaits fished very slowly. Soft-plastic Bass Assassin Shads are beginning to take a few 14-18-inch largemouths around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed. Dead-sticking a trick worm or Senko is also working. White bass returned upriver near the Highway 71 bridge and creek mouths until the cold front, then disappeared. They should come back with some warmer weather. Use ½-ounce Rat-L=Traps in Millwood Magic or Diamond Dust for the best results. Crappie almost totally shut down with the increase of current and muddy water in Little River. The bite should improve on Blakemore Roadrunners in McGuire and Horseshoe oxbows if the surface temps climb late this week. Channel catfish are still feeding very well near current along Little River on trotlines and yo-yos hung under cypress trees with cut bait, Charlie and chicken livers.

White Oak Lake:

Local angler John Tilley said water temperature dropped with the rains and cold front, giving the fish lock-jaw at times. However, some nice limits were caught during the warmer spells. Those fish were mostly caught on Rattling Rogues and black/blue plastic worms. Bass were close to vegetation at the water’s edge. A few crappie have been caught off the CR15 bridge. Bream and catfishing are still slow. Those that were caught were on crickets and redworms in 2 to 3 feet of water. The water clarity is very good considering the amount of rainfall. Temperature is slowly rising, which should make for some excellent fishing.

Lake Greeson:

Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water level is 546 msl and the surface temperature is in the upper 50s. Crappie are scattered from staging areas to spawning areas.

DeGray Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 408.31 feet MSL.

Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the low 60s. The water is high and clear in the lower lake. The water is stained upriver of point 14. Crappie anglers are out in force and the spawn is in full swing. Some anglers are doing very well and others are wondering where the fish are. The secret is to get out of the coves and fish the points next to the coves. Try the points in 12 to 16 feet of water. Look for secondary points in larger coves with standing timber. Fish a Kalin's 2-inch Tennessee shad grub on a 1/16-ounce jighead. Count the jig down to about 10 feet and reel it back very slowly. Minnows fished under a slip float are also working well. The best area is between Caddo Drive and Shouse Ford. The high water and warm weather has helped the bass fishing as well. Try a floating worm in the brush in the backs of creeks and coves. Spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged lizards fished on windy secondary points are also producing. A few reports of white bass and hybrids are coming in from above Amity. The best lure has been a dark-colored 3-inch twister tail grub fished right next to the bank. Bream fishing is picking up with the warmer water. Use redworms or crickets on secondary points.

DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) had no report.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle:

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said catfish seem to be the best bet. They’re biting best on bass minnows and live shad. Crappie are still staying 2-4 feet deep. Not many limits are coming in, but some nice slabs have been caught. Bass tournaments were a wash out last weekend with the weather and the current. White bass seem to be starting their run.

Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic tubes fished in shallow water. Catfishing is good below the dam. Crappie and bream are slow.

Ozark Pool:

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is high and muddy. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished near stumps. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and jigs fished in 2 to 4 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on cut bait.

Lake Ouachita:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 576.60 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are moving very shallow. Use trick worms and lizards in just about any color (watermelon/red is the best). Crappie have moved to the beds and they are a close second to the bass for fun.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 55 to 58 degrees and clear. Largemouth bass are excellent and can be caught on Rat-L-Traps and white spinnerbaits fished along the outside edge of the moss. Carolina-rigged lizards and speed craws are hot fished on main and secondary points. Yum dingers and floating worms are effective right now fished in coves. Walleye are biting well on crankbaits and jerkbaits up the river channels. These fish are finishing spawning. Stripers are very good on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. Wild eye shad baits and gray hair jigs are working well. Top-water action is just starting to pick up. Bream are good with worms or crickets in 18-25 feet of water. Crappie are still very good and being caught over brush. Try brush in water 15-30 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are working best. These fish are beginning to move up on the moss to spawn. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are still fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the lake is 5 feet below the roots of the buckbrush. The surface temperature is in the upper 50s with some pockets and creek runoffs holding 60-degree water. Most of the lake is clear, but most of the creeks are stained due to the fresh rain. The trick is to find new growth, green moss. A lot of the lake has old brown moss that the fish are not in. Look for green moss in the middle section of the lake. It is holding more and better fish. A spinnerbait fished in the backs of creeks is working as well. The warmest pockets on the north side of the lake are producing some good fish on floating worms.

Lake Hamilton:

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the lake is full and warming slowly through the upper 50s. With a warm week it could be in the low 60's by Sunday. The water color is clear in some areas and muddy in others. The surface is cluttered with leaves, sticks and other debris. Spinnerbaits are working well around the trash. Also try a ½-ounce Rat-L-Trap on the flats in the afternoons when the sun warms them. A floating worm is getting better as the water warms. White bass are staging and running up all creeks.

Lake Catherine:

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the lake is clear and cold with water temperature holding in the high 40s. Rainbow trout fishing remains very good with most good fish being taken when the generators aren’t running. Bank fishermen are doing well using wax worms and meal worms fished under a bobber. Pieces of nightcrawlers and whole redworms also produce strikes when floated off the bottom with marshmallows. Corn is always a good presentation since it imitates a fish egg. Fly fishermen casting small white streamers in areas of current have taken trout over 17 inches this past week despite the cold front and rain. San Juan worms in bright colors continue to hook good numbers of fish along with micro-jigs in white or grey under a strike indicator. Boaters anchoring around rock structure and sand bars are catching many trout on Rooster Tails and Super Dupers in silver and white. The crappie spawn got off to a slow start, but the females are now present and are being caught on minnows and jigs in the deeper pockets next to visible rock structure. Walleye are nearing the end of the spawn, but will remain in the tailrace and feed in preparation for the return to the main lake. White bass are also spawning and can be found on sand bars and the main channel routes. Trolling with crankbaits that imitate threadfin shad work well during periods of generation. Striper activity has been slow, but will increase as the warmer weather approaches in April.

Lake Hinkle:

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and the surface temperature ranges from 50 to 55 degrees. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bass are fair on minnows in 2 to 3 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on bass minnows.

Lake Atkins:

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished off the bottom. Crappie are fair on minnows fished 10 to 12 feet deep around brush. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics fished around brush in 5 to 7 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on bass minnows.

SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS

MoroBay:

Moro Bay State Park had no report.

Tri-CountyLake:

No report.

Ouachita River Oxbows:

Water is over the banks and fishing is dead slow.

EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is high and muddy. Bass are biting fairly well in 2 feet of water on spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms and live shad. Bream and crappie are slow.

White River:

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is muddy and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished in backwater brush piles 2 to 5 feet deep. Walleye are biting well in 3 to 8 feet deep on minnow fished around current breaks in the main river.

Maddox Bay:

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is muddy. Bream are fair on crickets fished right next to stumps. Crappie are fair on minnows fished in brush. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished around cover in 2 to 7 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on yo-yos.

Bear Creek Lake:

Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows in 5 feet of water. Bass and catfish are slow.

Island 40 Chute:

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) had no report.

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms and worms fished around brush and stumps. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 10 to 20 feet of water near piers. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits worked around brush. Catfishing is excellent on blood bait