East Arkansas Fishing Report

From the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

www.agfc.com

Professional fishing guide Ronnie Tice (901-6876800) said Tuesday that the lake remains clear and the water level is about 1 foot high. The bream bite is good as of Monday, he said, but it has slowed down some. Use redworms or crickets. The crappie bite has really slowed down, even under the piers, he said. Black bass reports were poor. Catfish catches have been good, with stink bait, shrimp and shad working best for bait.

Check out Ronnie’s Facebook page for the latest information and photos of his excursions with clients. ***

• Bear Creek Lake/ Storm Creek Lake — Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-2954040), said there’s not a whole lot to report these days – fishing activity on both Bear Creek and Storm Creek has slowed way down with the looming deer season approaching.

Some anglers are still having luck catching small bass and some catfish back in the shady coves, but nothing of magnitude to report.

***

• Cook’s Lake — The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Conservation Education Center (870241-3373) said the fishing is still improving. Black bass are being caught flipping creature baits in green pumpkin or black and blue as well as jigs in those same colors. Success has come from targeting hollow cypress trees. Now is also a good time to use square-bills and buzzbaits around the trees. Bluegill are being caught 2-4 feet deep around cypress trees using crickets; they will be moving off before long.

Crappie are being picked off of brushtops using jigs.

Action should pick up as the water continues to fall and the crappie move into their fall pattern.

Cook’s Lake will be open to fishing during normal business hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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.

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.

***

• Lake Charles — Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) says they are gearing up at Lake Charles for a beautiful cool Labor Day weekend. She says to stop by the Visitors Center; they have nightcrawlers and crickets “and a great selection of artificial bait.” Catfish and crappie should be in the shallow shoreline enjoying the sunshine and feeing.

Catfish are biting worms on the bottom and the reports are good. Crappie are around brushpiles. The best fishing days are Aug. 27Sept. 1 based on the moon.

Bream are good and in shallow water. Fish around the brushpiles with worms or crickets. No reports came in on black bass.

***

• Lake Poinsett — Seth Boone at Lake Poinsett State Park said there is not much to report. Bait sales at Lake Poinsett have slowed down quite a bit.

Anglers are coming in for a few pieces of bait here and there, but nothing major.

While Lake Poinsett is closed for repairs through early 2020, check out other neighboring lakes such as Walcott Lake, Lake Charles and Lake Hogue, as well as the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program pond at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

***

• Crown Lake — Boxhound Marina (870-6704496) said the water temperature is in the high 80s and the clarity is clear.

Water level is normal.

Anglers are catching big bream, they report. Excellent catches of bream in the past week on crickets. No reports on crappie. Black bass are biting well late in the evening, mostly. Good reports for anglers targeting 20 feet depth. Catfish are good on chicken livers.

***

• Spring River — John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is a high and off-color. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. Canoe season is here and the river can be crowded especially on the weekends. 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).

***

• Lake Chicot — Brian Whitson, park interpreter at Lake Chicot State Park (870-265-5480), says the fish do appear to still be biting, but access to the lake is getting more difficult as the drawdown continues, so reports are getting less. Creel limits during the drawdown are cut in half. All the docks in Lake Chicot State Park are out of the water, and this appears to be the same case all around Lake Chicot.

***

• Lake Monticello — The lake is being drawn down for repairs, so there are no limits on game fish.