Arkansas Wildlife Fishing Report
BY Jim Harris
ON 08-22-2018
Aug. 22, 2018
Jim Harris
Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
Weekly Fishing Report
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for Aug. 22, 2018. 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
NOTICE: An irrigation restriction on Lake Conway will be in effect through March 1, 2019. The irrigation restriction will allow the AGFC to apply Environmental Protection Agency-approved aquatic herbicides to treat and reduce the spread of alligator weed, a non-native, invasive aquatic plant. Herbicides used will not cause harm to aquatic organisms, such as fish, and are not harmful to people or wildlife that may come into contact with treated vegetation or water. Herbicides that will be used have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. Therefore, the AGFC strongly recommends adjacent landowners DO NOT irrigate water from Lakes Conway for lawn or garden use during this period.
(updated 8-22-2018) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) says the lake clarity is back to being stained and is at a normal level. Bream are good on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing has been poor. Best bet for catches is to use small minnows or small jigs and fish around the cypress trees. Bass are fair. They’re biting spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits. Catfishing is good. Bait a trotline with chicken liver, cut shad or nightcrawlers.
Little Red River
(updated 8-22-2018) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service said the current generation pattern is a few hours of early afternoon and/or evening generation. This pattern provides good wading opportunities on the upper river in mornings and lower river in afternoons. For fly-fishing, Lowell recommends midges, soft hackles, sowbugs and streamers. Hot pink and cotton candy bodies on chartreuse jigheads are recommended for Trout Magnet spin fishing. Mark your calendars now for the annual Little Red River Clean-up scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8. Be safe while enjoying the Little Red River. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 8-22-2018) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said they had a heavy rain Sunday night that muddied up the river, but by Wednesday morning it was clearing, and with current generation schedule it should be clear for the weekend. Lately, midge pupa and small mayfly nymphs have been good choices when the blue-wing olive hatches occur, and sowbugs are always a good choice if no bugs are active. Greg also says, “Please remember, the river cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. We can use everyone’s help in keeping the Little Red the beautiful river that all enjoy. Plan on giving a helping hand by coming to Lobo Landing on Saturday morning and being assigned a section of the river. If you have a boat, bring it. If not, just bring yourself and help out!”
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.66 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 8-22-2018) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said Tuesday the water level at Greers Ferry was at 460.56 feet msl and rising from the recent rainfall. It is 1.98 feet below normal pool of 462.54 feet msl and looks like it will come up some more and maybe make it to full pool. The catching overall is good and getting better by the minute. There are lots of shad in the lake, it is very healthy and the fall forecast is great moving forward. Tommy says they are already seeing a lot of schooling fish on top, and lots of heavy feeding overall, and the dissolved oxygen has got to be up, he said. “I have not checked it, but with all the fresh water and the fishing eating good, looks like we will not see a drop in it as in years before.” The crappie are eating well all around the lake, especially up the rivers in and around the pole timber and brush piles. Use minnows or jigs tipped with minnows in 12-18 feet and even some down to 30 feet of water. The bass fishing is good as the cooler water temps have them feeling better and eating a lot. Try run-ins right now, and fishing moving shallow with the rising water. Up shallow use spinnerbaits, jigs, small crankbaits and topwaters. The deeper fish can be caught on A-rigs and Texas-rigged worms. Bream are eating crawlers, crickets, inline spinners and small crankbaits. As for catfishing, catching is good. Some are even eating artificial baits. Try your favorite bait for any of the three species of cats in the lake as they all seem to be working, they are feeding well. Walleye are moving shallower with the rise as well and can be caught in 15-25 feet on crawlers, spoons and crankbaits on rocky flats. Hybrids and white bass are eating off and on all day. Spoons, inline spinners, swimbaits and topwater baits are working well all over the lake in 25-55 feet of water.
(updated 8-22-2018) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said the water clarity is clear and the water level is high. No temperature was reported. Bream are fair with worms. Crappie reports are good; minnows and jigs are working. Bass are fair, and anglers have been using spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is good.
(updated 8-15-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) says Harris Brake seems to be the area hot spot, based on reports from her customers. One of her regulars at Harris Brake said that he finally got into some huge crappie using small crappie minnows and Bobby Garland 2-inch Slab Slayer in the color bone white chartreuse.
NOTICE: An irrigation restriction on Lake Overcup will be in effect through March 1, 2019. The irrigation restriction will allow the AGFC to apply Environmental Protection Agency-approved aquatic herbicides to treat and reduce the spread of alligator weed, a non-native, invasive aquatic plant. Herbicides used will not cause harm to aquatic organisms, such as fish, and are not harmful to people or wildlife that may come into contact with treated vegetation or water. Herbicides that will be used have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. Therefore, the AGFC strongly recommends adjacent landowners DO NOT irrigate water from Lakes Overcup for lawn or garden use during this period.
(updated 8-22-2018) Johnny “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) said the water level is back up and the clarity is good. Surface temperature is around 84 degrees. Bream are doing well around the banks with crickets and worms fishing about 2 feet deep. Bass are still chasing shad, and there is a lot of shad. Crappie are doing well on minnows and jigs in 8-12 feet of water. Still not catching a lot but catching some good ones. Catfish are being caught on jugs and trotline with bream minnows and nightcrawlers. “Come see us at the bait shop, off Highway 9,” Johnny says.
Brewer Lake
(updated 8-15-2018) Larry Walters at Bones Bait Shop (501-354-9900) said the water is a little dingy looking, still. The lake remains 4 feet low as of Tuesday. The temperature, though, has fallen to 77 degrees early, rising to 84 degrees later in the day. The bream bite has fallen back to fair with worms or crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs. You’ll find them in 8-10 feet of water. Bass are fair this week, hitting topwaters and crankbaits. Catfish are good on minnows; target them in about 6-10 feet of water.
Jolly Rogers Marina (501-868-5558) had no report.
Palarm Creek
Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4958) had no report.
(updated 8-15-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said that “between the weather and the kiddos getting ready to go back to school, I must say fishing has been pretty slow around here.” A very few have still been catching some catfish using nightcrawlers and chicken livers. Some bream, too, have been biting on crickets. A few bass have been caught off of topwater baits like the scum frogs. A couple of reports of some huge crappie being caught off of bass minnows.
Bishop Park Ponds
(updated 8-15-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said fishing been slow but she did have a guy say that right off the bat the other day he caught seven fish, one after another, off of medium crappie minnows. Then they stopped. “I guess it’s just a hit and miss over there, like everywhere else. We need more rain, for all the waters around are still low,” she said.
Saline River Access in Benton
(updated 8-15-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said some catfish still being caught on trot lines with black salties and goldfish. A few crappie being caught in some of the deeper holes using pink crappie minnows and medium crappie minnows. Bass are being caught off of brooder minnows as well as off of bass minnows. Bream doing well off of crickets.
(updated 8-15-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said bream are doing well using crickets fishing on bottom. Catfish are good on bass minnows and chicken livers. Bass are good off of brooder minnows. Crappie have been few and far between. “Like I have said before, this lake has some very nice crappie but they are very hard to catch,” Lisa added. “Crazy thing, I have had customers using brooder minnows on their trotlines catch some very nice crappie on them.”
(updated 8-15-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said small crappie minnows have provided for some nice crappie lately. Catfish are good on bait shrimp and nightcrawlers. Bream are good on crickets. Bass are good off of bass minnows.
(updated 8-22-2018) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) said with rain, rain and more rainwater in the river, it’s been muddy and there’s been fair flows of water. “A few chickadee fishermen have fished here.” Black bass are on jetty points where you have large schools of shad. Use shad-colored spinnerbaits slow-rolled. Also chartreuse crankbaits will work. Reports on bass have been good. Bream are on the jetty tops. Use worms moved slowly over the bottom. Good reports on bream. Catfish are on the backside of jetties and on points. Use worms and catalpa worms. Reports have been great on catfish. White bass have moved to where the mudline and the clear water meet. Use shad-colored crankbaits.
No report.
(updated 8-22-2018) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the clarity is clear and the water level and current are normal. However, with all the rain, it’s been a slow week here with no fishing, Ray Hudson reports.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(updated 8-22-2018) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said the river is muddy and the level and current are normal. No surface temperature was recorded. Bream are good on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs. Bass are good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are good using shad.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(updated 8-22-2018) Vince Miller from Fish ’N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is muddy with water level and current ranging high to normal. Vince heard no reports this week on bream or crappie. Bass, however, are good. Anglers report bass biting in 2-8 feet depth on crankbaits. Catfishing is good; target them at a depth of 12 feet with stink baits.
(updated 8-22-2018) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said the pool is muddy and the level and current are normal. Tony hears excellent reports on bream coming from the Willow Beach area. Anglers are fishing the riprap and rocky points with worms or crickets. Crappie are fair. Try around 12 feet depth with a black tube jig. Bass are good. Anglers aiming for bass are fishing the riprap with a spinnerbait or a black and blue jig. Catfishing is good below the dam. Fish with shad. Fair reports as well coming in on white bass. White spoons were drawing them in. Similar excellent reports came in on bream below the Terry Dam with anglers using redworms. Crappie are fair there in 15 feet depth on minnows and jigs. Bass are good on spinnerbaits.
(updated 8-22-2018) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water in the area of Terry Lock and Dam is high with cloudy clarity. No temperature was reported. Bream are good on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs. Bass reports from here were poor. Catfishing is fair.
Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool)
(updated 8-22-2018) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is cloudy and the level is high. Bream are good on redworms or with crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass reports were poor. Nothing reporting on catfish.
Peckerwood Lake
(updated 8-22-2018) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) reported the water level is still low (watch for stumps). The clarity is clear. No surface temperature was recorded. Bream are fair with worms and crickets. Crappie are good; fish around the stumps with minnows or jigs. The largemouth bass are fair, with plastic worms getting the best response. Catfish are good on worms, blood bait and shad.
White River
(updated 8-22-2018) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) says the rains of the last week have brought cooler temperatures, but the fishing is still hot. The guides have been pulling in 12- to 13-inch rainbows regularly. It’s making for great action and wonderful memories. Frozen shrimp and PowerBait have been the go-to, but many guides say you can’t beat the real thing and have been taking live crawdads as their favorite bait for the morning. With the water still at minimum flow, smaller gold or silver and blue spoons have been doing well off the riverbank. Jig fishing in the deeper holes has also been very popular with olive or orange jigs pulling in the fish. “This break in the heat is a great time to get out on the river and catch some nice-sized trout!”
(updated 8-22-2018) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the river clarity is fair and the water level is up and down with the generation – 6-8 generators are running each day. The trout bite is good, though things can be a bit slow, for both browns and rainbows.
(updated 8-22-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said late last week that during the previous week, they saw several rain events that combined for an inch of rainfall at Cotter, hot temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.3 feet to rest at 3.5 feet below seasonal power pool of 661 feet msl. This is 37.5 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose 0.2 feet to rest at 3.4 feet below seasonal power pool and 17.4 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.3 feet to rest at 1.8 feet below seasonal power pool and 10.4 feet below the top of flood pool. The White saw less generation with wadable water every day. Norfork Lake fell 0.4 feet to rest at 3.4 feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet msl and 27.6 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork had less generation and wadable water every day. With warmer weather and increased power demand for air conditioning, expect more generation in the afternoons but there is a possibility of wadable water in the cooler mornings. The White has fished well. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. There are a few sulphurs still coming off. 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 Copper John with a size 18 ruby midge suspended below it). Use lead to get your flies down.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 657.51 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-15-2018) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said the lake water is starting to cool off, which is helping the fishing. They have 84-degree temperatures as of Wednesday. Del says, “I’d say the biggest bite for the lake has been the walleye. The walleye have been really good this past week.” Anglers are bottom-bouncing from 28-36 feet around main lake points and secondary points. “Everybody seems to be catching them.” As far as the largemouth bass fishing goes, pretty much the early morning topwater bite seems to be on the “moving” baits rather than on poppers or the walk-the-dog style baits. Del says buzzbaits and the Whopper Plopper are working. Some of the shad have migrated into the creeks. He notes that threadfin shad appear headed about halfway to three-quarters back. “I think it’s the rains we’ve gotten that have pulled them back there, and (the Army Corps of Engineers) haven’t been running a bunch of water (at Bull Shoals Dam). The Corps has it at minimum flow.” The Kentucky bass seem to be around the channel swing banks or suspending over trees. There are tons of trees in Bull Shoals Lake, he says. Del adds that “you can never go wrong with a half-ounce football head jig on Bull Shoals Lake. Big worms are also working. Anything with red in it will work.” Crappie are mostly random these days. There are a couple of regular crappie anglers that Del seems often, but he said he hasn’t seen them going out lately.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.38 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April 552.00 feet msl; April-September, 554.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-22-2018) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Norfork Lake is still in its summer fishing pattern. This typically lasts until around mid-September, when the striped bass will then scatter and head to the cooler water northward. The lake currently has a thermocline that has set up around 25-30 feet. There is warm water down to the thermocline, then the water temperature drops drastically below the line. Many of the fish species hang out right around the thermocline, so fishing in 20-35 feet of water will produce some nice fish. “Overall fishing has stayed fairly consistent since my last report,” Lou says. “The biggest change has been with the striped bass. They are going deeper; at least I am finding the larger fish on the bottom in around 60-70 feet of water. This is not to say you will not find striped bass shallower.
“One of our guests at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort was jigging a half-ounce chrome Kastmaster in 35 feet of water the other day and landed a nice 15-pound fish. I am marking fish from 35 feet down to the bottom. My fishing time typically is from around 5:30 a.m. until about 9:30 a.m. In the dark I have been using live shad set at 35 and 45 feet deep. I have found large schools of fish cruising around in the dark. As the sun comes up they do tend to go deeper. When they go deeper, I switch to a spoon and start to vertical-jig at the depth where I find the fish. When I find a large school I also cast out a large Rooster Tail-type spinning bait. Cast the bait out and let it sink to the bottom, then reel up though the fish and hang on.
“The striped bass are being very aggressive at this time and are hammering the baits and are giving a great fight. One major item to remember is that most of the striped bass you catch at this time will die if you release them, due to the temperature of the water. So when you catch a fish you should keep it and when you get your limit, switch your fishing tactics and fish for other species. Catch and release is not a good idea for striped bass at this time. Trolling is also picking up some good fish. You will need to get your baits down to below 35 feet to catch some decent fish. I have been fishing points from a little south of Point 2 down to the dam and a little east of the dam up toward Jordan area.”
Lou says walleye fishing has also been good, but they are at all depths. He says he has caught walleye in 50 feet of water as well as at 20-30 feet of water. A crawler harness with bottom-bouncing weights is working well, as well as deep-diving crankbaits, as long as you can get them very close to the bottom. Brush piles in 30-40 feet of water are also holding some nice fish. Bass fishing has been fair. Lou says he has picked up some nice spotted bass, as well as largemouth bass, in 25-35 feet of water by vertical-jigging a spoon. Brush piles are also holding some fish. Early and late in the day you can also get a few nice bass on topwater back in the creeks and coves. Norfork Lake is holding fairly stable on water depth. Currently the lake depth is 552.41 feet msl. The main lake is clear and some of the creeks and coves are stained. The current surface water temperature is in the mid-80s.
(updated 8-15-2018) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the Norfork Lake striper bite has been very good this past week. “We fished every day and had limits each day up to Sunday. Sunday, the wind was strong and from the east and the schools we have been seeing did not show up. Between my son and I we did catch 11 stripers but that’s the lowest number caught this past week. Fishing is awesome right now. My son and I are catching limits both morning and evening. Everybody has been catching stripers using live and artificial, trolling and spooning.” Tom says the best bite is using live bait. If you can get our before light – say, 5 a.m. – and hit points with slopping flats around 35 to 40 feet like Koso, Thumb, Point 1, and Dam Cove, you should catch your limit of hybrids and stripers before light or shortly thereafter. Once the sun comes up the fish move to deeper water but are still catchable. Tom says they are catching stripers from 70-130 feet. “The striper schools are roaming, and when you hit them you will have three or four rods down like we had today. There is nothing like having seven rods out and four of the seven are on the floor with fish and others have no bait on them.” He says the stripers continue to move toward the dam. Do not be afraid to fish the channel from the dam north, Tom adds. You will find roaming fish out ready to take your bait. The white bass and small largemouths are feeding all over the lake. The problem is they are only around 10 feet and stay up feeding for only a few seconds then move another 50 yards. It’s very hard to stay on them. Your best bet is find a large cove where they are feeding and watch how they are moving; the fish will move in a big circle. After the first two feeds you should be able to figure out there direction and be in position to catch them.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 8-22-2018) 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 feet to rest at 3.4 feet below seasonal power pool of 555.75 feet msl and 27.6 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork had less generation and wadable water every day. With warmer weather and increased power demand for air conditioning, expect more generation in the afternoons but there is a possibility of wadable water in the cooler mornings. The water here has fished very well. There have been some nice midge and sporadic sulphur hatches that have provided some limited topwater action. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during flooding in the past year. 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 bead-headed nymph (zebra midge, Copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). The fishing is better in the morning. John’s favorite rig has been a red fox squirrel nymph with a ruby midge dropper. Dry Run Creek is fishing much better. 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). 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 related: “This past weekend my wife sister, Terri, came over from Memphis to visit. Terri likes to fish, so we all went to the Norfork for a morning of fly-fishing. I had gone earlier with my neighbor Mike, and my wife, Lori, and Terri came an hour or so later.
“It was a cool morning with a forecast high of 90 degrees. I expected to be home before it got too warm. There was a heavy fog on the river that soon burned off. The sky was clear and there was little wind. The river was on the bottom and was gin clear. I walked far into the catch-and-release section. Mike followed and found a spot to fish on the way up. I was fishing a Copper John No. 14 with a ruby midge No. 18. I tried one spot for an hour with no luck, so I moved upstream to another spot. I fished it for a while and landed a 20-inch rainbow. I fished a bit longer and landed a 19-inch Bonneville cutthroat as Lori walked up.
“Lori had rigged Terri with a Woolly Bugger and put her in a likely spot on the way up. I told Lori to take my spot. She soon landed a fat 21-inch rainbow. I decided to walk downstream and check on Terri. She had broken off a good fish and needed some lead to repair her rig. I fixed it and went back upstream.
I moved into a spot near Lori and I hooked and landed a fat 20-inch rainbow. The spot where I had hooked the trout was near the middle of the river in very heavy water. I had to wade out of the spot in order to land the trout. It was treacherous! Terri walked up as I was releasing the fish.
“She had broken off a couple of nice trout. Her leader was wrecked and not worth saving. I figured that the leader and tippet she was using was too old and had deteriorated, causing her to break off all of the trout she had hooked. I attached a new leader and tippet. I rigged her the same way as I was.
“It was getting warm and was about time to head back home. I wanted her to catch a trout before the day was over. I put her into the spot where I had just hooked a good fish. It was tricky wading in but once we got there it was good fishing. She hooked a trout on the second cast but lost it in the heavy current. I waded to the bank but stayed close.
“About a couple of minutes later I looked up and saw that her rod was bent. Terri had a big trout on. Lori was fishing nearby and told Terri that she would be unable to land the trout there and needed to wade out to quieter water. Lori cranked in her line and got out of Terri’s way.
“I waded out and helped Terri wade to the bank. She concentrated on keeping steady pressure on the trout and at the same time she let the trout run when he wanted to. It was an epic battle, but Terri prevailed. She had landed a stout 24-inch hook-jawed male rainbow. We took some quick photos and released the trout. Terri had landed the biggest fish of the day, a trophy rainbow.
“Old tippet had kept Terri from landing trout. Once she was properly rigged with a fresh leader and tippet, she was able to land a good fish.”
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 8-22-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are a bit higher. The smallmouths are active. John’s favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.84 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,121.00 msl).
(updated 8-22-2018) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148 said the lake enjoyed a fair week of fishing. The clarity is clear and the lake is a little low. No surface temperature was reported. Bream ranged from poor to fair. Worms or crickets were used. Crappie reports were fair. Anglers are trolling in 10-foot-plus depth with crankbaits around the brush piles. Bass are fair early in the day and then late in the evening. Spinnerbaits and plastic worms were working best. Catfish reports were fair.
(updated 8-22-2018) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) says the striper activity for this week is good. Stripers are still scattered throughout the lake. They are using mouths of coves, bluffs and tree lines adjacent to the channel and are beginning to move toward fall locations. That means secondary points and deep coves. For you diehard live baiters, fishing using weighted lines, balloons and downlines between about 20-40 feet deep during daylight hours should get you some stripers. For the artificial baits you can try trolling umbrella rigs with white or chartreuse jigs/grubs or plugs like Rapala No. 14 husky jerks in black back or purple back colors, and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in the 5-6-inch model on planer boards to stagger your presentation. Down-rigging those baits will be effective, too. Make sure you do not keep striper under 20 inches and not more than three striper, hybrid or combination of the two. There is no limit on white bass. Fish location is greatly influenced by lake level and current flow. Current in the lake from generation will generally position fish on upstream or downstream edges of structure. Check the daily lake level and flow data link on Mike Bailey’s website linked above. Live bait as always is the go-to approach on Beaver Lake when fishing for trophy stripers. Water surface temperatures are in the low 80s. Mike suggest checking out these hot spots in the mid- and upper sections, checking the main lake points and humps: Dry Creek and Point 3 (check back of coves and Honey Creek), Lost Bridge South, Point 4, Big Clifty, points 5 and 6, Rambo Creek Arm, Rocky Branch, Ford and Cedar creeks (check main lake points and humps. Pay attention to where tree line intersects channel) and Larue (check the main channel bends and cuts).
(updated 8-22-2018) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said, “It looks like generation has resumed – what a relief! The water levels are still considerably low, but at least we are getting cold water flowing again.” He says the trout have been biting between Spider Creek and Parkers. Quarter-ounce spoons and Rooster Tails have produced some nice fish. Fishing with light terminal tackle with various PowerBaits have also produced nice fish. The hot spot has been Parker Bottoms this past week. The bite was about every 5 minutes throwing Rooster Tails. “I did not get a chance to do bass fishing this past week, so nothing new to report there; however, the bite has been pretty consistent, so I would imagine the same technique could be applied this week while fishing in the previously mentioned locations. Hope you all enjoy the cool weather and catch plenty of fish, good luck and be safe.”
(updated 8-18-2018) Beaver Dam Store said the trout have been biting on light terminal tackle, fished with various PowerBaits. Spoons and Rapalas have also been a hit as well, due to the amount of baitfish in the tailwaters. Fly-fisherman are still catch good numbers on the water as well as the bait fishermen. Temperature on the river is starting to climb with the little water they are letting out from the generator. The pocket is holding good enough to hold the trout in the upper part of the river. Always be attentive to rising water conditions. For fly-fishing, nymphs and midges are working well along with white or olive PJ Jigs. Good lures here are gold and silver Colorado Spoons, red and gold Bouyant Spoons, Flicker Shad in Pro Series No. 4s and 5s. Good baits are white, sunrise, orange or yellow PowerBait tipped with waxworms, while nightcrawlers are selling like hot cakes (that’s an indication that they are working well. Good flies are pheasant tails; midges in blue dun, black, olive, hare’s ear; tungsten Copper Johns; WD 40’s; and San Juan worms.
(updated 8-22-2018) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the lake is stained. The water level is high. No surface temperature was recorded. The bream bite is fair on worms or crickets. Crappie are fair. Anglers are trolling with crankbaits and also fishing minnows and jigs. Bass reports have been good. Crankbaits and plastic worms are getting good response. Catfish reports were fair.
(updated 8-22-2018) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) reports that the water is muddy but is at a normal level. No temperature was reported. Bream reports are poor, but some will bite a redworm. No reports on crappie. Bass were ranging poor to fair. Try a spinnerbait or plastic worm. Catfishing is good using chicken liver or shad.
(updated 8-22-2018) Ome Coleman at Lake Poinsett State Park said that for those of you who have been praying for rain, you prayers have been answered; plus a bonus of cooler weather. “The fishermen I have seen are very happy,” Ome says. “We intend to keep them happy by keeping plenty of fishing supplies in stock as well as live bait. Lake Poinsett State Park is here to serve you.” While Lake Poinsett is closed for extended repairs, there are other lakes in the immediate area for anglers to check out, including Lake Hogue and Lake Charles. Also, the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program is now stocking the pond at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
(updated 8-22-2018) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and is about 2 feet low. No temperature was recorded. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets. Bass bites range from poor to fair, but your best bet is getting out early in the day or late in the evening. They’re biting spinnerbaits mostly. Catfishing is fair on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. No reports on crappie.
(updated 8-15-2018) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running at 270 cfs at the spring, 350 average, and water clarity has been clear. There are still a bunch of small trout in the river. Size 6 Woollies have been working well for bigger trout. It has been really good on overcast days. Hot pink and chartreuse have been the go-to colors for Trout Magnets. So far the heavy rains have missed this area. Stay tuned to Mark’s blog on his website (click link above) for any changes on river conditions.
(updated 8-22-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is navigable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. With canoe season there are many boats on the river. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
(updated 8-15-2018) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water clarity has been pretty steady of late, good for fishing. The surface temperature ranges 68-73 degrees. The river is a little low, they report. Bass are all that were reported this week. The catches have been excellent. Crankbaits are working best, but some anglers having good success with frogs. The White River Classic last Saturday drew 53 boats, with 103 bass caught.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pool 2)
No report.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
(updated 8-15-2018) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team said water temperatures are in the upper 80s to low 90s by end of day. Water visibility is between 1-2 feet. Very light flow on the main channel, but barely noticeable. The cooler air temperatures and periodic rainfall have helped perk the fish up lately. Black bass are still slow during the middle of the day but numbers can be caught in the morning, evening and around periods of rainfall. Reaction lures like buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and swimjigs worked along shoreline vegetation or jetties on the main channel can get bites during the active times. Finesse Worms on shaky heads and light Texas rigs can get bites from offshore brush piles in Lake Langhofer during the inactive times but you must be patient. Best bet for right now is to cover water very quickly in the mornings and evenings to encounter as many active fish as possible before they go inactive from bright sunlight. If you continue fishing in the middle of the day, slow down and deliberately work through deeper woody cover with finesse gear.
(updated 8-15-2018) Park Interpreter Austin Davidson at Cane Creek State Park said hot weather hasn’t slowed down the bream in Cane Creek Lake. Fishing a cricket in shallow areas among lily pads will get result in enough fish to make a meal! Catfish are still biting in depths of 5-10 feet during the cooler hours of the day, like dawn and dusk. If you wait until about 10 a.m., when the temperature begins to rise, you will begin to catch catfish moving into the deeper pockets around the lake. As they escape the heat and feed on sediment that is moving with the current, they will be apt to bite pieces of chicken liver they find sitting in their way. Crappie are still technically biting in deeper water, over structure. But you have to know exactly where to look to find them. Fish deep pockets with shiners, and if you catch one, stay put! Many locals are also kind enough to point you in the right direction if you are brave enough to ask. Bass are tricky during this time of year. While out on the lake you see them jumping all over the place, but you may not get a single bite. They are being affected heavily by the temperature, and the cooler the air the better your chances of landing a fish. Fish in the early morning or late evening. Look for shad balls that are common around the lake during this time of year and fish white spinnerbaits, shad-colored cranks (lipped or lipless) and save a topwater for when the sun is almost down to draw them in with noise.
No report.
No report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 257.87 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 259.20 msl).
(updated 8-22-2018) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said that Monday the lake level was currently falling at about 15 inches below normal conservation pool, at 257.9 feet msl; the discharge was near 1,200 cfs for Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The tailwater below the dam and gates as of Monday came up some, with gate released, to about 227 feet msl with six gates releasing near 1050 cfs. Water temps have jumped over the past week, as surface temps Monday ranging near 88 degrees early to 95 degrees later under full sun, depending on location. 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 while the Corps of Engineers drawdown is in effect. This 24-inch reduction of normal pool elevation is bringing stumps and broken timber to and very near surface pool. Use extreme caution in navigation during ongoing drawdown conditions on Millwood. Clarity and visibility continue improving over the past week but remain stained in places, especially upriver. Mike says there has not been a lot of change in the largemouth bass bite over the past couple of weeks – it’s HOT and a lot of the bass are feeding at night, he says. Cooler temps at night have been observed as much as 8 degrees cooler without blazing sun. The largemouth bass and Kentucky bass continue randomly surface-schooling on shad in Little River and the oxbows of McGuire and Mud Lakes along Little River for the past couple weeks. The surfacing is random in nature, and near midmorning, over deep water from 15-20 feet and at mouths of creeks dumping into Little River on points between 12-18 feet. Bass remain active at daylight up to 2 or 3 pounds. Feeding activity levels taper off except for the schooling fish much after daylight’s first couple hours. Best baits at early morning over the past couple weeks are slow-rolling buzzbaits, soft plastic frogs, Cordell Crazy Shads, Baby Torpedoes, StutterSteps and Bass Assassin Shads thrown near pads and vegetation. Buzzbait colors drawing best reactions continue to be Cotton Candy Lime or Hot FirecrackerCandy. The best buzzbait bite continues to be across deeper flats near creek channel swings, with stumps and laydowns, and around lily pads. Cordell Crazy Shads, Arbogast Jitterbugs, Baby Torpedoes and Bass Assassin Shads are working in or near the vegetation and lily pads. Quarter-ounce to half-ounce Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Ghost, Holographic Transparent Shad, Livin Chrome and most any shad pattern are catching the midmorning schoolers breaking surface on shad, along with Little Georges, Hammered Cordell Spoons, Kastmaster Casting Spoons, Rooster Tails and H&H single spin spinnerbaits for the surface breaking fish. The majority of these surface breakers are appearing to be younger buck bass, adolescents and juveniles 1-2.5 pounds in size. These surface feeders are a huge time to get kids interested in fishing, getting them while the action is hot. When you see these surface breakers inside the vegetation and lily pads, throw an H&H Spinnerbait, Bass Assassin Shad or Johnson Chrome Spoon with a white grub trailer on the back. “We are getting great reactions to those baits inside the vegetation where crankbaits would normally hang up in the slop,” Mike says.
Mike adds that after the topwater activity diminishes, a fairly good bite can be had by medium-depth-running (5-9 feet deep) Fat Free Shad crankbaits or square-bill crankbaits, 2.0 & 3.0 & S-cranks and Echo 1.75s. You’ll draw a few good random reactions by deflecting and banging/deflecting them off stumps from 8-10 feet deep in creek channels and points. Bass around 12-15 inches in length are randomly responding to crankbaits in shad and bream colors. Increasing size up to a ¾-ounce Rat-L-Trap, fished much slower and deeper, will draw a few random hits during late mornings in creek channels and across points converging with Little River. Best colors of Traps over the past week or so have been Millwood Magic and White Smoke. The square bills, S-cranks and Echo 1.75 cranks and shallow-running crankbaits in bream, Bluegill Ghost, and Fat Free Shads, Fat Free Guppys, and Fat Free Frys in Tennessee Shad and Tennessee Special colors are working near creek mouths and points extending into Little River. Working the cranks in a stop-and-go, slow retrieve will draw a better reaction than fast retrieves. The drawdown currently in process has pulled largemouths to creek mouths and points in junction with Little River. White bass have been randomly surface-feeding on schools of shad in Mud Lake, Horseshoe Lake and McGuire oxbow lakes with the Kentucky bass. Crappie have improved over the past week with live shiners, minnows and jigs catching some nice slabs early in 10-14 feet depth. Catfish continue to bite well at night on yo-yos hung from cypress trees in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes up Little River, baited with cut bait and rough fish. Channel cats from 3-7 pounds were biting over the past week upriver.
Lake Columbia
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 544.33 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-15-2018) Jason Lenderman of JL Guide Service (870-490-0804) says the lake level on Tuesday was 4.5 feet below full pool of 548 feet msl and has risen some with the recent rains. Water temps have made it to the mid- to upper 80s. The bass have are in their summertime patterns and have slowed down considerably. Super Spook Jr’s, Zara Puppies, Booyah Hard Knockers, and small swimbaits are seeing some action on main lake points early and late with some schooling action from spotted bass taking place. Shaky head rigged Yum Finesse Worms and drop-shots rigged with Yum Kill Shots or Sharpshooters are working OK on main lake points around brush, too. Night fishing has been decent lately using black Booyah Spinnerbaits or Yum Ribbontail Worms. Crappie are slowing down, but still good. They can be caught in 15- to 30-foot brush with minnows.
DeGray Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 399.48 feet msl (flood pool: 408.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-15-2018) John Duncan of yoyoguideservice.com at Iron Mountain Marina said the big story on fishing is the schooling fish. Reports are that they are surfacing pretty well throughout the lake. From Point Cedar to mid-lake toward Iron Mountain. White bass, largemouths, Kentucky bass and hybrids are surfacing. If you can find calm water, that is the trick. Baits that are producing are spoons, topwater shad-colored baits and rooster-tailed jigs. With these cloudy days you can expect extended morning fishing opportunities. Midmorning after the morning schooling you can troll Shad Raps or 2-ounce spoons. Color seems to be critical. Change you spoon colors till you find what works. Chartreuse, white and purple are good colors. Bream are being caught fishing in pretty deep water around 16 feet. Worms fished on the bottom are the best producer. Crappie are slow. Try fishing brush piles at least 16 feet deep. Upper lake around Shouse Ford seems to be better for them. Use minnow and fish about 16 inches off the bottom. Crappie are spread out. When you find them in a brush pile at the right depth, you can pick up several. Rain is coming and that will change everything. Be early and stay late.
(updated 8-15-2018) Local angler George Graves said bass fishing is getting better, with quite a few nice catches reported the past few days. Look for schooling fish on the south side between points 2 and 6. Throw most any topwater plug in a natural shad pattern. Be sure to hit as close to the “break” as possible. Also try soft plastics such as 3-inch grubs, swimbaits and Flukes. Schooling fish are also reported all along the state park between Caddo Bend and the marina. Look for fish in the big coves and use the topwater lures. Early morning is best time, even before sunup. A few crappie are starting to show on the deeper brush piles at 20-25 feet. Fish a Kalin’s 2-inch grub on a 1/16-ounce jighead vertically at about 15 feet or to the top of the cover. Tennessee Shad is best in clear water and black chartreuse when the water is discolored. Look for attractors in the upper end at Shouse Ford and on the main lake. A few hybrids are being caught on jigging spoons in the DeRoche Ridge area in deep water and suspended at about 45 feet down. There is no schooling activity with the fish mostly singles. These fish are very hard to catch, so don’t expect any big catches. Lots of white bass showing at DeRoche and around the State Park Marina, also in the big coves at points 2 and 4. Throw smaller spoons, inline spinners and 3-inch curly tail grubs. Bream fishing is good most anywhere on the lake in coves with some wood or rock cover. Use red worms or crickets.
(updated 8-15-2018) Capt. Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said white bass are still schooling early in the morning. Casting spoons or trolling Alabama rigs will produce. Crappie are biting live bait on brush piles fished 15 feet deep.
De Queen Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 437.49 feet msl (flood pool: 437.00 feet msl).
No reports.
Dierks Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 526.63 feet msl (flood pool: 526.00 feet msl).
No reports.
White Oak Lake
No report.
Felsenthal
(updated 8-8-2018) Sportsman’s One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) said a few bream and catfish being caught. Bass and crappie are slow.
(updated 8-22-2018) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) reported the lake has a slight stain and it’s high by about a half-foot. Surface temperature was 80 degrees. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are poor; anglers were only landing a few and this was with jigs. Bass, though, are good. Throw a crankbait or plastic worm. Catfishing is slow, with poor results. Nothing to report on white bass.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
No report.
Lake Catherine (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(updated 8-22-2018) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said rainbow trout fishing is extremely slow. June is traditionally the last month for quality fishing below Carpenter Dam as the summer season kicks in. Anglers will experience short feeding times and a finicky bite as wary trout feed on insect hatches and injured baitfish. Patience is key as the remaining trout numbers are actively feeding in the late evening as the sun sets over the top of the dam. Trout from 12-21 inches are present in the tailrace, but numbers are few. Bank fishermen have had some success using waxworms and mealworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Nightcrawlers and redworms will also work presented in the same manner. As the month of August kicks in, few rainbow trout will be seen feeding and smaller numbers caught. By mid-August, trout fishing will be over and good numbers of fish won’t be caught again until the stocking program beings again in November, when the water temperature is suitable for trout again. Walleye are also present in the area and are feeding on shad. The majority of fish are being caught by trolling shallow-running stick baits that imitate small minnows or crawfish. Carolina rigs tipped with nightcrawlers have taken the largest fish at night. White bass are present in the tailrace with numbers being taken from the bank by anglers casting flukes and Rapala jerkbaits in a black/silver combination. Crappie have long finished their spawning run and but some fish are still being caught on small jigs and live minnows around rock structure and sand bars close to the main river channel. Little striper activity has been observed lately, but huge numbers of shad are present and these predators can appear at any time of day to feed. Anyone navigating the Carpenter Dam tailrace should be aware of the generation schedules and must always follow all park and boating regulations.
Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945) had no reports.
(updated 8-22-2018) Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas born-and-bred Xpress fishing boat in Hot Springs, reports that the water temperatures are steadily dropping. The temps are currently in the mid-80s but this should change throughout the coming weeks. Bass are still hanging on to deeper water in the 20-feet range and mainly on structure like brush piles and rocks or drop-offs and shoals adjacent to deep water. HOWEVER, with the fall-like patterns starting to take effect, the fish on or near rocky points should start to light up the report. For now the go-to is the finesse worm or ribbontailed worm on a Texas rig or drop-shot. Work it slowly (just like winter) – watermelon seed, black and plum are good colors, but don’t forget about the bubble gum and white in stained or muddy water. At some point in the near future the shad or chrome-colored Rat-L-Trap and KVD medium crankbaits are going to dominate schooling fish on points. The slaying season is upon us, friends! Enjoy the weather and good luck!
(updated 8-15-2018) Capt. Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said spoons and swimbaits are catching the white bass, black bass and hybrid bass in the creek arms. Use sonar for the large concentrations of shad, you’ll find the feeding fish early in the morning.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 344.08 feet msl (full pool: 342.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-22-2018) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said the water is a murky-stained clarity. Surface temperature is 83 degrees and the lake level is normal. Bream are biting well. Worms or crickets will work. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass are good with anglers using spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater plugs. Catfishing was poor, but worms and stink bait will get some response. There have been some extra large ones caught here lately.
(updated 8-15-2018) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) reported that in their area, “nobody is fishing because it’s too hot.” The water temperature the past week was too warm, though no specific reading was recorded. The lake level there was down just slightly. They did report that catfishing is fair, but heard no other details.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 573.02 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 8-22-2018) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out of state) says black bass are fair. Texas-rigged worms and drop-shot finesse worms are best at this time. Walleye are good. Try using a CC Spoon near brush for these fish or drop-shotting a nightcrawler. Stripers are still good on live bait. Major creek mouths and main lake points on the eastern part of the lake are the best for these fish. Bream are good and being caught on crickets and worms in 15-25 feet water near brush. No report on crappie. Catfish are good. Cut bait, live bait and stink bait are all producing good bags. Water temperature is ranging 84-88 degrees. Water clarity is clear. Contact the Mountain Harbor guides – Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717; Chris Darby, 870-867-7822; and Jerry Bean, 501-282-6104 – for more information.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 394.18 feet msl (full pool: 384.00 feet msl).
No reports.
Cook’s Lake
(updated 8-22-2018) The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Conservation Education Center (870-241-3373) said the weather is hot and so is the fishing. The recent rains have muddied the water and the lake is on the rise. Anglers are still reporting black bass to be hitting Texas-rigged green pumpkin Baby Brush Hogs and green pumpkin or black and blue jigs in the center of dead cypress trees. Black and chartreuse square-bill crankbaits are also producing. Several anglers are catching 4- to 6-pound bass. The bluegill have slowed down. Crappie fishing has picked up with a few slabs being caught in submerged brush on black and chartreuse tubes.
Cook’s Lake is a 2.5-mile-long oxbow off the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility-impaired fishing. The scenic lake is full of slab crappie, giant bluegills, largemouth bass and catfish of all species. Cook’s Lake will be open to fishing on Saturday, Sept. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be open the first and third Saturdays of every month through October, water level pending. Cook’s Lake is open to fishing for youth under 16 or mobility-impaired, and up to two helpers (who may also fish). Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat, but we ask for trolling motors only (outboard motor may be used for loading and unloading or in case of emergency). Before launching, please check in at the Conservation Education Center and report back before leaving. For information or unscheduled closures, please contact the center at 870-241-3373.
No report.
(updated 8-22-2018) Natalie Faughn, ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), says the cooler weather has been making our Bear Creek bass happy – anglers report higher activity in the cooler mornings and early afternoon hours since Sunday. Looks like they’re biting on artificial bait and some smaller jigs. We’re hoping this weather decides to stick around and encourages them to come out some more.
(updated 8-22-2018) Natalie Faughn, ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), said Storm Creek Lake has about the same activity level that it’s had for weeks. Bass activity has seen a slight increase, but nothing else of note to report.
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