Spotlight on Central Arkansas

AGFC Regional Fishing Reports

AGFC Communications

• Bishop Park Ponds — Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie and bass have been biting No. 6 and No. 12 minnows, Kalin’s Grubs and Zoom Trick Worms.

Catfish have been hitting minnows, nightcrawlers and bait shrimp. Bream fishing has been good with crickets and red worms.

Katie Specht (photo on right) caught this nice catfish at Bishop Park recently.

• Lake Conway Reservoir — Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake has its normal stain and is at a normal level.

Bream have been biting well this past week.

Redworms, crickets and bream jigs are working.

Crappie are good. Use minnows or jigs (try a hand-tie jig for best results). Black bass reports are good.

Anglers are using a variety of baits successfully: cranks, plastic worms, topwater plugs, frogs and bass minnows. Catfishing is good. Goldfish, dough bait, bream and nightcrawlers all have the catfishes’ attention.

• Little Red River — Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) says the Greers Ferry Lake level is still above seasonal pool.

“Right now the generation pattern is unpredictable, but we are seeing a few days that have lower water,” he said. 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 (swlwc. usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see the forecasted generation schedule.

For fly-fishing, Lowell recommends San Juan worms, egg, hares ear, sowbugs and streamers. Hot pink and white bodies on chartreuse jigheads are recommended for Trout Magnet spin fishing. “Be safe while enjoying the river,” Lowell says.

• Greers Ferry Lake — Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said, “The lake has maintained a pretty good level for the spawn, which will be done with most species by the end of month.” Speaking of the spawn, bream appear like they had a very good hatch, so future catching looks good. As for now use crawlers and crickets in and around bushes, and out in front of the bushes, from super shallow out to 15 feet of water. As for walleye, most of them other than the resident fish have vacated to the rivers, and they will eat along with lake fish, plus ones that have gotten back to the lake from rivers. Focus on pea gravel points, and humps good are also good. Try crawlers and crankbaits in 12-25 feet of water. Catfish are eating well in places, and when water warms more they will really be on the prowl.

Use most of the regular methods to catch them.

Crappie are still spawning upriver and a lot downlake in selected areas; use jigs and minnows around bushes. Black bass are eating, spawning and guarding fry all over the lake and rivers. A large variety of baits are working from super-super shallow out to 20 feet, and wolf packs are roaming the shallows as well. Hybrid and white bass are feeling their oats, so to speak – some good catches are coming in, and a lot of 100-fish days are being seen right now with the shad spawn going on.

• Harris Brake Lake — Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says the clarity is muddy. The water is calm and at a normal level as of Tuesday afternoon. Bream are biting in the morning on redworms and crickets. Anglers report good catches. Crappie are good. They are being caught in 5-6 feet depth on minnows, jigs (pink jigheads in particular) and other jig-style lures.