April 3, 2019
Jim Harris Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
Weekly Fishing Report
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for April 3, 2019. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email AGFCfishingreport@outlook.com with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news.
Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk
For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt
For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
(updated 4-3-2019) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water clarity is clear and the level is normal. No surface temperature was reported. Bream are good on redworms or crickets. Crappie are good. Black/chartreuse jigs are working best, along with minnows. Black bass are good. Throw anything white their way for some response, but spinnerbaits will be best. Catfishing is good on trotlines with minnows and nightcrawlers.
(updated 4-3-2019) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said the Little Red River is high and rolling. The release is 9,300 cfs, which is the equivalent of two units plus another 3,100 cfs. Greg said the Army Corps of Engineers informed him that this would be the schedule for the next 12-14 days. The plan is to gradually cut back the flow when the lake level is close to normal. The gradual drop will help curtail the sluffing (bank erosion) of the river banks. After a prolonged period of high water and the recent rains, the banks are water soaked and need to dry out gradually so that they don’t slide into the river under their own weight.
The Corps voice recording and apps will state it is generating one unit but this is being supplemented by a release through the floodgates. This amount of water creates danger to boaters on the river. Please use caution and push your fishing trip back a couple of weeks. If you are on the river, please be extremely careful when approaching the upstream side of any obstacle or dock. Even a large fishing boat can be swamped or pulled under a dock with this amount of current.
(updated 4-3-2019) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service said the Corps of Engineers is releasing water through the Greers Ferry Dam spillway gates along with one unit of generation for the next couple of weeks. The total release will be 6,500 cfs or equivalent of what would be two and a half power generators. This is expected to continue until the lake falls to top seasonal power pool level of 462.04 feet msl. These river conditions are not ideal for fishing and create safety concerns for boating. If you fish these conditions, you will want to use long leaders and heavy weight using egg patterns, San Juan worms, micro jigs and sowbugs. Pounding the banks with streamers is also an effective fly-fishing method during high water conditions. For Trout Magnet fishing use long leaders and heavy weight using cotton candy and purple bodies on silver and chartreuse jigheads. Concentrate on pools along the banks. Key for both fly-fishing and Trout Magnet fishing during heavy generation is the ability to get and maintain a good presentation of the fly or Trout Magnet. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 468.49 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.04 feet msl Oct. 1-April 30; 463.04 feet msl May 1-June 1; 462.54 feet msl June 1-Sept. 30).
(updated 4-3-2019) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the lake water level is falling at a pretty good clip as the Army Corps of Engineers has six gates open and well as generators running 24/7 until the lake is down to normal pool. It is at 468.71 feet msl, or 6.67 feet above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl, and at current release will be down to normal in six days or so. The crappie are eating well before the spawn offshore and in pole timber or brush piles in 12-30 feet of water. Tommy has been spider rigging and pole fishing with jigs, minnows or crankbaits – “lots of 100 fish days,” he says. Walleye are still being caught up rivers, and now the lake fish are eating some as well, on crankbaits, grubs and live bait. Bream have been slow to respond to the water warmup, but some are being caught scattered around docks and down to 25 feet on crickets and artificial baits. Black bass are scattered from super shallow out to 30 feet and can be caught with a variety of baits as the bite is changing every hour. There has been two 10-pounders caught the last few weeks. The cold front has affected the hybrid and white bass and set them back. Some are up rivers, some in the bushes and some are still in 43 feet of water. Use spoons, grubs live bait and Alabama rigs. No reports on catfish.
Harris Brake Lake
(updated 4-3-2019) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) reported the clarity is a little murky. Surface water temperature on Tuesday morning was 60 degrees. The water level is normal. Crappie remain good and are shallower, being caught at about 4 feet on minnows or jigs. Black bass are fair. Catfishing is fair. Bream are poor.
(updated 4-3-2019) Johnny “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) said black bass are starting to pick up around brushtops and structure. Bream are slow but should start picking up any day now. Catfish are being caught on jugs and trotline with bream and minnows. “I have rice slicks available for sale. Crappie are slow at the moment, but should pick up again with the warmer days. Still catching some on yo-yos at night,” Johnny said.
Brewer Lake
(updated 4-3-2019) Larry Walters at Bones Bait Shop (501-354-9900) said the lake is clear and the water level is normal. Surface water temperature is 56 degrees. Crappie are good. They are at a depth of 12-14 feet and are favoring twister tail jigs or minnows. Black bass are good. Use a shallow crankbait. Catfishing is fair. Bream are poor. No reports on white bass.
(updated 4-3-2019) WestRock Landing (501-658-5598) on Highway 10 near Roland reports that water temperatures are in the upper 50s and low 60s. Largemouth bass are good. They are in transition and moving out of deeper water. With the temperatures falling and rising, the bass are starting to move in and are spawning while some are getting ready to spawn. Most are in 3-10 feet of water and some can still be found in depths of 16-20 feet. Try using chatterbait, crankbaits, jerkbaits, drop-shots and swimbaits. WestRock hosted its first Tuesday night bass tournament of the season (season runs through the last Tuesday in July, with the Fish-Off in September). Andrew Wooley and Cameron Nesterenko pulled in five bass totaling 12.33 pounds to win. Rusty and Jordan Gosvener landed a Big Bass of 4.06 pounds.
Meanwhile, the rest of the week saw Kentucky bass reports as slow. Fewer reports came in, but the spots can likely be found deep in 12-16 feet of water. Try fishing drops and rocky banks. White bass, though, are good. Reports have come in of white moving into the creeks from the channels. Some can be found mixed in with the crappie in the flats in the afternoon hours. Try using Rooster Tails, jerkbaits and rattle-style baits. Like the white bass, the crappie are good now. They’re heading out of the deeper holes. Reports have them being found 3-8 feet as well as 12-16 feet depth, but they are still scattered and mixed in with the white bass shallow. Look for warm pockets and try using jigs and minnows. No reports of bream this week. Catfishing is slow. Try using stink bait, crayfish or worms.
(updated 4-3-2019) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie have been doing very well on No. 6 crappie minnows and pink minnows. Catfish have been biting chicken livers and bass minnows and also bait shrimp. Bass have done well on brooder minnows and spinnerbaits. Bream have been starting to bite a little since it started warming up; use crickets and redworms.
Bishop Park Ponds
(updated 4-3-2019) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said bream have been hitting crickets. Crappie are being caught off of No. 6 crappie minnows. Black bass have been good on No. 12 bass minnows. Some anglers have even been catching some of those yellow bass that are coming from Hurricane Creek and that come from Hurricane Lake. Catfish have been caught off of chicken livers and nightcrawlers, too.
Saline River Access in Benton
(updated 4-3-2019) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said the spillway has been producing a few walleye off of brooder minnows. Catfish are doing well on goldfish and black salties on rod-and-reel. A few good crappie were caught off of No. 6 crappie minnows. Bream are starting up as well on crickets. Smallmouth bass and Kentucky bass been good on brooder minnows.
As for some hot spots outside her immediate area, Lisa says more people are talking about Lake Ouachita on the crappie lately. Lots of pink minnows are going that way and they are catching some dandy crappie. A few people have been catching crappie at Cox Creek Lake down in Leola, too. Pink crappie minnows have been doing well there as well.
Lake Norrell
(updated 4-3-2019) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said more crappie have been reported in recent years than before. No. 6 crappie minnows and pink crappie minnows have done very well for several anglers that Lisa has spoken with who are going there. And these are big ones, she says, but not big numbers of them, though. Catfish have been fair on black salties and nightcrawlers. Bream are starting up. This lake has some of the biggest redear bream. Pretty soon it will be prime bream season, and lots of people catch them with crickets fishing deep. Bass have been hitting spinnerbaits and brooder and bass minnows.
Lake Valencia
(updated 4-3-2019) Hatchet Jack’s in North Little Rock (501-758-4958) says catfishing is fair. Use chicken liver, nightcrawlers.
Lake Willastein
(updated 4-3-2019) Hatchet Jack’s in North Little Rock (501-758-4958) says crappie are picking up around the piers. Reports are good. Use minnows. Bass are good, too. The bass have moved into the shallows and are favoring jigs and Texas-rigged worms.
(updated 4-3-2019) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said she’s heard a few good crappie reports off of the No. 6 crappie minnows. Catfish are being caught off of chicken livers and bait shrimp, and also on nightcrawlers. And black bass have been favoring bass minnows and some crankbaits.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
(updated 4-3-2019) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) had no report.
No report.
(updated 4-3-2019) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the clarity is clear and the level and current are normal. Crappie remain good, and they are prevalent now around the banks. Fish there with minnows or jigs. Black bass are good around the banks and are going after crankbaits. Catfishing is fair. Bream are poor.
(updated 4-3-2019) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said catfishing is good on chicken hearts and chicken liver on trotlines. Crappie are good and have been found in 5-8 feet depth. They’re biting pink minnows and regular minnows.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(updated 4-3-2019) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) says white bass are moving into Maumelle creeks and the bite is fair.
(updated 4-3-2019) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said catfishing is good on chicken hearts and chicken liver on trotlines. Crappie are good on pink and regular minnows and are being caught in 5-8 feet depth. At the Murray Lock and Dam, reports on catfish are fair, with skipjack and shad working as best baits. Also, white bass are fair near there on chartreuse and white twister tails.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(updated 4-3-2019) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) reports that the river level is still high and appears to have a lot of current but it’s not too bad. Clarity remains muddy. Surface water temperature is in the 50s. Crappie are excellent below the Murray dam. Tube jigs are your best bet, fished 8-10 feet. Black bass are excellent. Spinnerbaits and bass jigs are best baits. Fish them around rocky points. White bass are good on white twister tail grubs. No reports on catfish. Bream reports were fair. Below the Terry Lock and Dam, crappie are good on minnows and jigs and can be caught around the rocky points. Bass are good on spinnerbaits and bass jigs. White bass are good on white twister tail grubs. No reports on catfish or bream.
(updated 4-3-2019) Fish ’N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water clarity is stained but the level is now normal. Surface water temperature Tuesday morning was in the mid-60s. Crappie are good. They are in 5 feet depth and are biting black/chartreuse and red/chartreuse crappie jigs. Black bass are good. Use black/blue jigs, chatterbaits and buzzbaits for best catches. No reports on bream, and nothing reported on catfish.
(updated 4-3-2019) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the fish are doing much better in the lower end of the Little Rock pool near the Terry Lock and Dam. The clarity is murky and the water level is high. Black bass are fair around the rocky points. Catfishing is fair in this pool. No reports on crappie and nothing reported on bream.
(updated 4-3-2019) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said that at the Murray Lock and Dam, reports on catfish are fair, with skipjack and shad working as best baits. Also, white bass are fair near there on chartreuse and white twister tails.
Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool)
(updated 4-3-2018) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water level is normal and the clarity is clear. No water temperature was reported. The fish are starting to bite, and crappie are full on now. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. Bream are showing some life and the bite is fair on redworms and crickets. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and worms. Nothing reported on catfish.
Peckerwood Lake
(updated 4-3-2018) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the clarity “a little stained” while the water level is normal. No surface temperature was recorded. Crappie are excellent. Minnows or jigs will work. Black bass are excellent, it appears, but anglers didn’t reveal any baits used. Catfishing is good. Bream are poor.
White River
(updated 4-3-2019) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) says, “What can we say about fishing the White River in the north-central Arkansas Ozarks? We catch a lot of trout on a large assortment of bait and flies; we are blessed by beautiful scenery, a wide open sky and spring time colors popping out everywhere; we have a great time each and every day enjoying and employing God's great outdoors. Did I mention that we catch a lot of trout on just about anything you put at the end of your line, that is, if you're willing to keep a variety of flies and baits handy and are willing to change up your baits if needed? We've been most successful this week with sculpins for bigger fish and small jigs for fly or spin fishers (streamers didn't produce like we wanted, so returned to a smaller fly dropping it just below the surface).” The water level has continued to vary somewhat during the day: high water in the morning, dropping to minimum flow levels for a few hours, then back up to four or five units during the evening and overnight. “We've experienced a decent bite on falling water midday and usually end our fishing day on a high note with some shrimp and a peach colored egg tied on. Come test the waters and enjoy a spring day in the Ozarks. Bring some rain protection – it's April in Arkansas!”
(updated 4-3-2019) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the clarity is “on the cloudy side” and the water level is high. Eight (the maximum) generators are running from the dam. “If you have a guide, you’re in good shape,” they say. “It’s hairy right now if you want to wade or take a small boat.” The rainbow trout bite is good. Anglers are also catching a lot of nice bream now.
(updated 4-3-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said last weekend that during the past week they have had half an inch of rain, warmer temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.7 foot to rest at 0.3 foot above seasonal power pool of 659 feet msl. This is 35.7 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock remained steady at 0.7 foot above seasonal power pool and 15.3 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 1.1 feet to rest at 0.5 foot above seasonal power pool and 9.1 feet below the top of flood pool. The White had heavy generation and some wadable water. Norfork Lake fell 0.4 foot to rest at 0.6 foot above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 25.6 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork heavy generation and some wadable water. Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are inches from the top of power pool. Expect more wadable water in the near future.
The White has fished well. The hot spot has been the catch-and-release section at Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers (sizes 8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (size 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead sizes 16, 18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (John’s current favorite combination is a size 14 bead-head pheasant tail nymph with a size 12 egg pattern suspended below it. Use plenty of lead to get your flies down). There have been some shad coming through the generators at Bull Shoals Dam. John’s favorite fly for this situation has been a white mop fly suspended below an egg pattern.
Remember that the White and Norfork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John also said, “I don’t know about the rest of you but I am ready for lower water. I have been out there fishing on up to eight generators and I am tired of it. I have been catching trout but it has been hard. I have been slinging a lot of lead and throwing some really long leaders, both of which have made the casting a bit more challenging. I used 11- or 12-foot leaders with a heavily weighted egg pattern with a mop fly as a dropper (it has been imitating the shad kill). Depending on the flow I have been using several AAA split shot to get everything down to the bottom. All of this is suspended under a big strike indicator.
“The good news is that all of this heavy generation is about to come to an end. Due to the aggressive generation during the past few months, all of the lakes in the White River system are now less than a foot from the top of power pool. That means we should be ready for lower flows. Could wadable water be on the horizon? In fact, as I write this, Bull Shoals is scheduled to be off for six hours.
“I also want to remind you that my wife, Lori, and I are teaching our spring fly-fishing class at Arkansas State University Mountain Home beginning next week. We teach this class twice a year spring and fall, and the next class is in October. The class meets on four consecutive Thursday nights beginning April 4. There is a modest charge. If you are interested in learning to fly fish this is a great opportunity.”
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 659.76 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock had no recent report. Del’s video reports are available on YouTube.com
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.53 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April 552.00 feet msl; April-September, 554.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-3-2018) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said, “We continued with our evening fishing this past week on Norfork Lake. My clients who were fishing in the morning were still struggling to catch stripers, so we decided to take what the lake was offering. The night bite was fair but not as good as when we had the full moon. We had a couple of days with a south wind, but most days it stayed out of the north or northwest and was cold. By week's end the morning bite was picking up. My clients reported they were catching limits of hybrids from north of Cranfield to Biar Creek. They were fishing the bluff walls where the channel was and catching them using shiners and long free lines with only a split shot.
“On the south end of the lake we fished Friday morning but got a very late start and managed to boat two stripers on planer boards next to the shore. We had three more strikes before the rain set in. The lake temperature was near 55 degrees and I feel would have been in the low 60s if it wasn't for this cold snap we are having.
“With that said we should see some great fishing the next several weeks for stripers and crappie. I have been seeing large schools over the new brush piles the AGFC put in the lake. They will start moving towards the shore as the water continues to warm up. Overall we should have great morning, afternoon and night fishing beginning this coming weekend.”
(updated 4-3-2019) Steve Olomon of Steve’s Guide Service said the Norfork Lake level is normal and the water temp is in the low 50s in the main lake to the upper 50s up in the creeks. The water clarity is clear main lake and stained up in the creeks. The upper end of the lake is a little warmer. There are a few white bass coming up chasing bait along with some black bass. “You can catch the topwater fish on just about any topwater bait. I like to use a Zara Spook,” he said. The bass are hitting jerk baits, crankbaits and swimbaits. The whites are hitting swimbaits as well. “I haven't seen any surface activity for hybrids or stripers, but it will happen soon when the water warms a little more and the weather gets more stable. There are some stripers hitting at night. The bite is only going to get better as we move into April.”
(updated 3-27-2019) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said had a fun Tuesday night fishing and says the bite for largemouth bass and striped bass has
been very good on Norfork Lake and it’s starting to get exciting. “My guests and I have found topwater action for largemouth, white bass and striped/hybrid bass over the last couple of days. The lake temperature is rising and the fish are starting to get active and are starting to feed heavily. This is not say you can find the active fish everywhere, but you need to look around and when you find them, the fun begins!”
Lou says he has been doing a lot of searching on Norfork Lake waters from the mid-lake major creeks up to the Bennett's area and also upriver to Missouri waters. “The best locations I have found are back in the bigger creeks and also in a few of the smaller creeks. I have also found the best bite is in the early morning until the sun gets above the tree line and then again in the late afternoon, starting around 4 p.m. until after dark.” This is not to say you cannot catch fish during midday, he adds The fish tend to move out of the shallow water into a little deeper water as the sun comes up. Tuesday this week was a great day for him, Lou said. “I fished both early morning and late afternoon to see if the night bite for striped bass was happening. I found striped bass, hybrid bass and white bass in shallow water early in the morning as well as at sundown. My best baits for striped bass have been a 6-inch swimbait with a 3/8-ounce jighead, a half-ounce silver Kastmaster (blade bait) and then after dark a suspending jerkbait. At around 7 p.m. I saw swirls of big fish right on the surface. The stripers and hybrids were feeding. I landed the first hybrid on the swimbait. A lot of fish were farther from me so I switched to my Kastmaster since I can cast it farther. And the game was on after my bait switch. I would see a swirl, cast out my bait and after one little twitch of the rod tip, my rod would double over and the fight began. This action lasted until it became too dark to see. Once it was dark I switched to a suspending jerkbait. I found that a white or bone-color jerkbait worked the best. I moved up closer to the shoreline and slow-rolled the bait back to the boat, occasionally letting it sit still.”
Lou says he ended up landing nine stripers and hybrid bass with most coming from the topwater action, but the fish did move in tight to the shore after dark following the baitfish to continue feeding. Lou says he landed a nice fat 11-pound striper and a big hybrid after dark on a jerkbait. While I was into fish in one area, several of his guests got into topwater action along a deep bluff line about 2 miles away from where Lou was. “My guests were actually heading up to me when they found their topwater action. We all had a good time. The largemouth bass bite continues to be good. There has been good topwater action for this species early in the morning just as the sun is rising. The best locations have been towards the back of smaller creeks in shallow water, 5-20 feet deep. Just about anything you cast out will catch a fish when they begin feeding like this. My guests have gotten into this action for the last two mornings and have had a blast. Crank baits, Alabama rigs, topwater lures, jerkbaits and Rat-L-Traps have all been catching fish in deeper water and on the banks.
“My 6-inch swimbait is starting to catch some nice largemouth in the deeper water. You need to work the swimbait close to the bottom. If you don't find topwater, the fish will be up tight on the shallow banks out to 20 feet deep. (Tuesday) night when I moved from my first point after dark, I headed in towards a typical main lake point to see if striped bass were feeding along the bank. No stripers on these points, but I did find some really nice-size largemouth right next to the sunken buckbrush. I was casting a suspending jerkbait working it very slowly.”
Norfork Lake’s conditions have become fairly stable over the last several days, Lou reports, with the lake only dropping about an inch a day. The current depth is 554.5 feet msl. “I really do like stable water for fishing. The surface water temperature is rising slowing and has reached the mid-50s. The main lake is clearing nicely and some of the creeks and coves are stained a great fishing color.”
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 4-3-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said last weekend that over the previous week Norfork Lake fell 0.4 foot to rest at 0.6 foot above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 25.6 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork heavy generation and some wadable water. Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are inches from the top of power pool. Expect more wadable water in the near future. The Norfork has fished well. Navigate this stream with caution as there has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (sizes 14, 16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small Y2K suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). The fishing is better in the morning. Dry Run Creek is fishing well. With spring, it has been a bit crowded. Begin early to avoid the crowds. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10).
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 4-3-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. The smallmouths are much less active with the cold conditions. John’s favorite fly here is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.64 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,121.00 msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) says Beaver Lake is still above normal level. The Army Corps of Engineers is trying its best to bring it down. Last week, fishing was starting to get really good, then the bottom fell out when storms hit Saturday, he said. The temps and water coming in to the lake put a stop to that and turned waters to a milk chocolate color on White and War Eagle arms. Temps on the north end were mid 40s to 50 and clear. Mid-lake it was stained and mid-40s, and river ends went from near 57 to a drop to 47 and put on the brakes to some good fishing. Bass are staging and pulled back with water and drop in temperature. “We are really close for bass and crappie coming up on banks and committing to the spawn,” Jon said. “Meanwhile, drop back some and you will find fish. Greg Robinson, a guide friend of mine, reports the bigger crappie are suspended in 15 feet of water. As I said last week, this is a transitionary place to look for the bigger crappie until they commit to the banks.” Walleye have, for the most part, spawned. “All walleye we have caught last week were done, but I have seen some pics with fat females, and what that means is they will still be in the river.”
He adds, “White bass are spawning. I have watched as waves bust the shoals. Something to watch but sometimes hard to catch. When they’re done, they will bite really well. Catfishing is getting good in usual spots. Red buds starting to boom, and you know what that means!”
(updated 4-3-2019) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and at a normal level. They say fishing overall is good. Crappie are starting to bite real well, they report. Reports this week were fair, but the crappie are in pre-spawn and actively biting and feeding. Use small plastic jigs or minnows. Black bass are fair. Small crankbaits are getting their attention, as well as jigs. You’re best going with chartreuse colors. Catfishing reports were poor. And bream also were poor. White bass, though, are excellent. Walleye are in the river arms.
Beaver Tailwater
(updated 4-3-2019) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) had no report.
Lake Fayetteville
(updated 4-3-2019) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reports that the lake is clear and at a normal level. Surface temperature was 53 degrees Monday morning. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good, and they report that the bass are biting on anything now. Catfishing is poor, and bream reports were poor.
Lake Fort Smith
(updated 4-3-2019) Ralph F. Donnangelo, Park Superintendent III at Lake Fort Smith State Park, reports that fishing fell off the past week. The water surface temperature as of Sunday was 54 degrees and the clarity and visibility was 3 feet. The best reports were that crappie action was poor, with a little response on minnows or jigs around brush piles and rocky points. Bass reports also were poor, but what action there was could be had by throwing a jig/minnow combination. No reports on bream, on catfish or on white bass.
(updated 4-3-2019) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) reported the lake clarity is cloudy/muddy and the level is normal. No surface temperature was reported. Fishing was mostly a struggle for anglers this week. Crappie are fair on minnows. Black bass were poor. Catfish reports were poor, and bream also remained poor. “Everything is pretty slow,” they said.
Lake Charles
(updated 4-3-2019) Shelly Jeffries at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) says fishing really slowed down this week, and anglers are looking forward to warmer temperatures. The clarity at Lake Charles still is murky, and surface water temperature on Sunday morning was 41 degrees, with the 5-degree drop from a week ago taking its toll on the fishing. Water level continues to be high. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms or chatterbaits. Fish around brush or rocky points. Catfish were fair using blood bait or worms. There were no reports on bream, crappie or white bass. Warm weather should turn that around, however.
(updated 4-3-2019) Ome Coleman at Lake Poinsett State Park said, “Lake Poinsett State Park is happy to serve. Even without a lake for now, we are keeping the fishermen supplied with minnows, nightcrawlers and redworms. We expect to have crickets before long. We also have some frozen bait and a large supply of other fishing supplies. Just got a big order in. Happy fishing!” Lake Poinsett is closed to anglers until 2020 for the AGFC’s renovation of the lake, other area lakes such as Lake Hogue and Lake Charles are good destinations. Stop in for your bait supplies on the way there.
Crown Lake
(updated 4-3-2019) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Surface water temperature was 55 degrees Tuesday morning. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass are good, but no baits were mentioned this week. Last week they were actively hitting jigs and jerkbaits. Catfishing produced no reports. However, bream became active with fair results this week. Use redworms or crickets.
(updated 4-3-2019) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running at 430 cfs at the spring (350 cfs is average), and water clarity has been clear. Weekly rains have kept river levels up a bit. The catching has been great. It does take extra work to get the fly down on sunny days. Nymphs and Woollies have been hot. White and olive have been the best colors. Take care wading the river is flowing strong. For spin fishing, orange has been the hot color for Trout Magnets. Just got to bounce it off the bottom.
(updated 4-3-2019) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is a bit high. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
White River
(updated 4-3-2018) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) reported that no one is fishing due to the high water and cold temperatures recently. Water level has been high for a while. Clarity is cloudy.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
(updated 4-3-2019) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no report.
Arkansas River (Pool 2)
No report.
(updated 4-3-2019) Austin Davidson, park interpreter at Cane Creek State Park, After a snap of cold weather, Cane Creek Lake is once again trying to catch up. As the weather stabilizes, and warmer weather makes its way in, the temperature of the lake will stabilize and warm as well. Crappie have reacted the most to the fluctuating water temperature. When the weather stays on the cooler side, the crappie will stay in 3 to 6 feet of water. Recent reports have stated that minnows are the most effective bait at the moment. Some are having luck with smaller Rat-L-Trap and square-billed cranks that are in chrome, gray, or shad colors as well. Coincidentally, Bass are also biting on similar baits. Fish in the shallower waters, near lily-pad nubs, as well as under cover near the banks. It seems the bass are moving into areas consistent with a pre-spawn pattern, but are still biting winter baits. As the water warms, throw in darker-colored baits with a crawfish pattern, as the crawfish will be moving from the shallow streams into the deeper water of the lake. Catfish are still biting well on chicken livers, although the warming weather will make smells travel better, so hot-dogs soaked in a kool-aid and garlic mixture will soon make an appearance as a favored bait. Be sure to stop in at the Cane Creek State Park visitor center with your catch. Your picture might end up in the next fishing report!
(updated 4-3-2019) Brian Whitson, park interpreter at Lake Chicot State Park (870-265-5480), says weather is a bit cooler now, but temperatures are expected to warm up. Thunderstorms predicted for Thursday and some precipitation on throughout the weekend, so conditions may change but as of now fish are definitely biting on Lake Chicot.
Lake Monticello
(updated 4-3-2019) The lake was drawn down about 6-7 feet while the AGFC completed vegetation and fish cover work on the shoreline through last September. The lake is rising with rainfall that will cover the new anchoring of cut gum trees and other vegetation that is good for fish habitat on the shallow shoreline areas. During the drawdown, tree stumps were showing in the coves toward the east and northeast of the lake; those are good areas to target now for the bass. This spring should be a great time to check out this fishery.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.36 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 259.20 msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said Monday that Millwood Lake pool is almost normal. Lake elevation is now only about 3 inches above normal pool. The Army Corps of Engineers made gate changes at the dam Monday and were releasing around 1,831 cfs on Tuesday. The tailwater below the dam is also falling, and as of Monday with gates release at the dam it was around 229 feet msl. Water temps rose over the past week, and by Monday they were ranging 61 degrees early to 67 under full sun. Be sure and check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide service’s website linked above, or at the Army Corps of Engineers website, for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels and conditions. Watch for sudden gate changes and debris, which will increase with current in Little River. Navigation is normal this week, and little bits of debris are still visible. Clarity and visibility conditions are beginning to improve in flats and creeks away from Little River curren, over the past week. It is moderate stain and ranging 8-10 inches. Little River is improving, and visibility ranges 6-8 inches, slight stained conditions, depending on location and current. The oxbows’ clarity slightly improved with most recent lake level stabilizing, but stain is obvious in the mouths of the oxbows, and clarity ranges 24-36 inches depth of visibility.
Despite late-arriving cold fronts, the bite for largemouth bass over the past two has been excellent. “We continue to see activity improvement, still best during the midday hours in the oxbows and pockets, away from river current,” Mike said. “ Numerous largemouths are in full-blown spawning mode, and we are seeing strong numbers of from 4-8 pounds in bed-making, bed-tending activities, in most all the oxbows along Little River.” Bass Assassin Shads, Bang XX FAT JOBS, Trick Worms, large bulky Hogs, chatterbaits and lizards, all getting excellent responses. The bite frequency and patterns improved again with increased surface temps this week. The best locations have been in the back of the oxbows and pockets along main lake, where water conditions and clarity are best. Best bite continues during afternoon's warmest periods of the day, from noon to 4 p.m., along flats adjacent to wide creek wings, away from Little River muddy current, where stumps and fresh lily pad shoots are blooming. We continue to see very good bass reactions with Bass Assassin Shads, on the flats and in the creeks between 3-8 feet of depth this week. More white bass are being caught upriver on Rocket Shads, Bomber Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps up between Ashley's Camp and Patterson Shoals over the past week. The white bass continue migration in preparation for their annual spawning runs up the Little River to Patterson Shoals headwaters above U.S. Highway 71 bridge. Fishermen caught between 40-60 in just a few hours over the past few days near Cossatot inflow ditch and Ashley Camp. Crappie continue biting well in the oxbows. Find the clearest water (2-3 feet clarity) you can, near cypress trees and knees being the highest activity areas. They’re hitting minnows and jigs from 2-4 feet of depth around cypress trees. Best colors of jigs over the past couple weeks or so have been white/chartreuse, red/white or blue/chartreuse. Blue catfish and channel cats were hitting Kings Punch Bait, chicken livers, Charlie and Ivory soap on noodles, trotlines and yo-yos this week in the oxbows from 4-10 feet of depth.
Lake Columbia
(updated 4-3-2019) Sportsman’s One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) had no report.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Lake Greeson
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 545.47 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) Jason Lenderman of JL Guide Service (870-490-0804) said the lake level is 2.5 feet below full pool of 548 feet msl. Water temps have made it the upper 50s to lower 60s. The black bass are moving into their spring patterns and looking to spawn. Shaky head rigged Yum Finesse Worms working OK on main lake and secondary points leading into spawning areas. Carolina-rigged Christie Critters or lizards in watermelon candy or green pumpkin are also working well on points adjacent to spawning areas. Wacky rigged YUM Dingers are starting to pick up some, especially in the afternoons. The crankbait bite is still good using crawfish-colored Bandit crankbaits. The Yumbrella is still working OK over deeper brush using the small YUM Pulse swimbaits. Crappie are really good lately. They can be caught in 15-30 feet brush with minnows or Kalin’s grubs close to spawning flats.
(updated 4-3-2019) Tamara Lunsford, park superintendent at Daisy State Park near Kirby, said Monday that Lake Greeson surface water temperature was 60 degrees with stained or murky clarity. At 546.03 feet msl, Greeson was 2 feet below normal pool level and dropping slowly. The bream remained good this week. They were shallower, depth of 2-5 feet and are biting worms mostly around brush piles and stumps. Crappie fishing also remains good, and they’ve also moved up in the water to about 5-10 feet depth. Minnows and jigs are both working around brush piles, stumps and rocky points. Bass are good. They are edging upward in the water to a depth of 10-15 feet. Fish with spinnerbaits, crankbaits or plastic worms and focus around the brush or rocky points. Catfish are fair on worms blood bait and chicken liver. White bass reports continue to improve, with good catches this week. Your best bet is purple jigs or minnows fished in shallow water near the shoreline
DeGray Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 406.58 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) John Duncan of yoyoguideservice.com at Iron Mountain Marina, said, “Hey Folks, Glad to be back. Thej level is at 406.57, stable. It is definitely fishing time. Water from Island 35 up river has some tint to it (warms faster!). Water temperature is around 65 degrees.” He adds, “Reports are black bass on floating worms is hot right now. Work the buck brush. White bass and hybrids hitting the trail. Fishing is good up around Amity. Whites and hybrid baits run from spoons to various covered jigs but white keeps coming to the top.” John adds that reports are showing many whites being caught with an occasion big hybrid. Hybrids and whites are being caught in coves on Rooster Tail jigs, spoons and even trolling.
Crappie being picked up trolling throughout. Double-down jigs in coves where baitfish are. “The crappie are being caught trolling as described above. They can also be found over shallow brush piles staging. They should be on the bank as we speak. Fish the shallows. Jigs or minnows both work. Or locate bedding area and stand off and cast 1/32-ounce jigs over beds with slow retrieve just above beds. Get fishing; rain is coming.”
(updated 4-3-2019) Capt. Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips says that due to dropping lake levels last week and dropping water temperature the last several days, the crappie and black bass have pulled back from the banks a little and staging on shallow brush piles. As the water temp rises back into the 60s, they will finish their spawn.
De Queen Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 437.50 feet msl (full pool: 437.00 feet msl).
No reports.
Dierks Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 536.05 feet msl (full pool: 526.00 feet msl).
No reports.
White Oak Lake
No report.
Felsenthal
(updated 3-20-2019) Sportsman’s One Stop (870-863-7248) in El Dorado had no report.
(updated 4-3-2019) Sharon at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) says clarity is clear and the level is just a little low. Surface temperature Tuesday morning was 59 degrees. She says conditions and fishing have been constant now for about three weeks. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing are poor, and bream remain poor.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(updated 4-3-2019) Steve Donahou at Lake Catherine State Park (501-844-4176) said the water is clearing and has a surface temperature of 55 degrees. The level is normal. Steve relates that Tosha Walker, manager of the Lake Catherine State Park Marina, reports bream are good. Worms are being used. Bream are around the brush piles and stumps. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around brush piles and stumps. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is fair with worms and chicken liver. White bass are good on crankbaits. Chuck Emrick of “Fishing with Chuck” guide service on Lake Catherine reports, “The temperature of the lake has dropped 3 degrees in the last week. When the weather warms action will improve.”
Lake Catherine (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(updated 4-3-2019) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports that Lake Catherine is now at normal summertime pool until early November. Lake Ouachita has been in the flood pool for weeks which forced Entergy to run around the clock generation in order to pass the excess waters. The big lake finally fell below flood pool early this week and continues to fall as area dam flows continue. This process has been ongoing for months and has adversely affected trout fishing in the Carpenter Dam tailrace since the beginning of the year. Rainbow trout stockings have continued on a regular basis and thousands of quality fish are present and thriving below the dam to the bridge. These fish have had several weeks to acclimate themselves to the higher levels of water and should begin feeding on much more consistent basis. Water temperature varies from 50 degrees below the dam to 56 degrees around the bridge. Clear conditions are the norm. Rainbow trout will bite PowerBait, waxworms and mealworms, nightcrawlers and corn presented under a bobber or fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Shoreline anglers can cast to areas holding trout with these presentations and have success primarily in times of slack water. Basic baits like these are best when the bite is tough and patience is necessary. Spin fishermen casting Rooster Tails in white or brown when the turbines are running can catch trout that key on injured shad drawn through the turbines. Rapalas in a black/silver combination will also work well in these same conditions. Trolling shallow running crankbaits against the current will also produce results in the early morning or late evening. Crappie have begun their spawning migration toward the dam as smaller males have been caught close to the bank dodging the current flow. Live minnows fished under a bobber or tightlined from a boat will catch crappie that are preparing the spawning beds. Small jigs in gray or white are also effective especially in shallow water. April is a hot month for crappie as the females join the males and the spawn shifts into full swing. Walleye continue to inhabit the tailrace with males and females present in good numbers. Trolling crankbaits that run close to the bottom have accounted for some decent catches of fish in the 3- or 5-pound class. Carolina rigs tipped with nightcrawlers or live minnows rival trolling numbers caught and will catch walleye in slack or current situations. White bass have also been taken below the dam, but numbers are low and fish are small. The main push of whites will arrive in mid-April and early May. Anyone navigating the lake below Carpenter Dam is urged to be aware of the generation schedules and always wear a life jacket.
(updated 4-3-2019) Jason Baumgartner, park aquarist at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7495) said the past week had sunshine most days with some mild wilds. Saturday brought AM morning rain and gusty winds to mix the surface up. Conditions have been sunny and calm as the next front approaches mid-week. As for clarity, at the lower end, the river has cleaned up and the first few feet are visible. The Big Piney and Illinois Bayou rivers continue to clear up as well. Surface temperature is 60 degrees. The pool elevation has held consistent at the lower end but has dropped 3-4 feet on the upper end. Upriver, release at Ozark L&D 12 slowed to 34,000 cfs last Thursday then climbed to 55,000 cfs over the weekend before coming back down to 40,000 cfs on Tuesday. They have been generating all day and spillway release has remained steady. Downriver, release at Dardanelle L&D 10 ran around 28,000 cfs last Thursday and approached 60,000 cfs over the weekend before falling to 36,000 cfs on Monday. It is currently around 49,000 cfs. They have held somewhat steady through the spillway but did close the spillway on Thursday. They have also been generating all day.
Weekend tournaments are taking place on the lake. The Get5Bass tournament weighed 5.81-, 5.72- and 5.68-pound bass at Lake Dardanelle State Park on Saturday. Nearly all anglers weighed fish and almost half the field weighed the five-fish limit. Bass anglers reported using soft plastics and vibrating jigs. The bass are in pre-spawn as the females have eggs but I have not seen any signs that the males are building nests. Crappie fishing is heating up. As the water temperature is in the lower 60s the crappie can be found in shallower waters. No report on how the catfish are biting but the baitfish spawn is approaching and the catfish will be hungry.
(updated 4-3-2019) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945) had no report.
Lake Hamilton
(updated 4-3-2019) Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas born-and-bred Xpress all-welded aluminum fishing boats in Hot Springs, reports lake levels normal with clarity in most areas of 5 feet or more. Water temps are hanging around 60 degrees in the main channels and warmer in the pockets and shallows. Bass have begun the spawn and fish are in as little as 6 inches of water. Many bass are still in the pre-spawn and are located on secondary points above and under water. It seems to roll on with the trend, that if you can get out early just as light enters the sky, the bass are at their most aggressive levels and the bites are plentiful. Action really drops off as the sun gets high so plan accordingly. Carolina rigs with creature baits are doing very well along with suspending jerkbaits in shad colors. Crappie reports are good with fish hanging around 15 feet and over the tops of brush piles and even into shallower water. “Good luck and GoGreeson!”
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 346.70 feet msl (full pool: 342.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said the clarity is a clear and the lake level is normal. Fishing are “jumping on the bank,” they say. Crappie are excellent around the shoreline and are biting black/chartreuse jigs as well as minnows. Black bass are excellent. Best success has been with swimbaits, chatterbaits and minnows. Catfishing is good for yo-yos. Bream are fair and are biting redworms and crickets.
(updated 4-3-2019) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.55 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-3-2019) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out of state) said black bass are still very good. Jerkbaits, crankbaits and float. Walleye are very good and moving back into the lake from spawning run. Small minnow-colored crankbaits, smoke-colored grubs and gray hair jigs have been producing good stringers. Stripers are very good. Most of these fish are up the rivers and being caught on shad colored lipless crank baits, C-10 Redfins and live bait. Bream are fair with reports of fish being caught with grubs and worms in 20-25 feet of water near brush. Crappie are good and being caught with jigs or minnows in 15-18 feet of water near brush. Catfish are fair but some anglers are having luck with limb lines and trot lines using live bait. Water temperatures are ranging 56-60 degrees. The water clarity is clearing. The lake level earlier this week was 577.87 feet msl, just slightly below normal pool. Contact the Mountain Harbor guides – Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717; Chris Darby, 870-867-7822; and Jerry Bean, 501-282-6104 – for more information.
(updated 3-20-2019) Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas born and bred, all-welded, aluminum Xpress fishing boats in Hot Springs, reports Lake Ouachita at normal levels with temperatures in the low 50s in the main channels and mid-50s in the backs of pockets. Water clarity is in most areas 6-8 feet. “We are in that weird transition time for bass, where some are moving in closer to the secondary points of the lake with many fish still on main points. Preferably rocky ones.” Suspending jerkbaits and crawfish colored crankbaits are taking some good fish. It is imperative to get out early. Right as the sun breaks in the morning seems to be when the binge feeding is going on. Most fish are being taken in good numbers on the warmer southern end of the lake. Planning ahead to the lull between morning and evening is crucial on bait selections. Drop-shot rigs, jigs and Carolina rigs are the best ways to cover water during the day right now when the fish get inactive. Natural colors like green pumpkin and light craw colors are best with the fantastic water clarity. Crappie are good on brush piles near shallow pockets and preferably near some current in 25 feet of water. For you striper folks out there; it’s on right now! Fish are moving toward main lake feeding channels and it is not uncommon to accidentally catch one while bass fishing. “Good Luck and GoGreeson!”
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.60 feet msl (full pool: 384.00 feet msl).
No reports.
(updated 3-27-2019) Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), says Bear Creek Lake has seen a sharp uptick in crappie activity. Anglers have had good luck with live bait (minnows and worms). Bass have been biting on chartreuse and bright jigs in cove water. “Remember, Mississippi River State Park can meet all of your bait needs. We carry crickets, worms, shad, and a variety of artificial bait,” she said.
(updated 3-27-2019) Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), says Storm Creek Lake has been producing some nice-size catfish this week; anglers are bringing their own bait and fishing in the early afternoons.
Cook’s Lake
(updated 4-3-2019) Wil Hafner, education program specialist at the Potlatch Education Center at Cook’s Lake, said plans were for the lake to reopen for youth and mobility-impaired fishing this month, but due to White River flooding and the parking lot still being flooded this week, the opening has been rescheduled. Check back in this space or call the center at 870-241-3373. Cook’s Lake, when it reopens, will make fishing available on the 2-mile-long oxbow off the White River to youth under age 16 and to mobility-impaired anglers on the first and third Saturdays of each month, through October. Anglers can be accompanied by a helper who may fish.
No report.