FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

Crappie – “horrible” Bream – “decent on worms and crickets at 15-20 feet off docks and over brush Catfish – No report. And when there’s no news, when it comes to fishing, that usually means bad news.

“Most game fish are suspended right now in 20plus feet depths and have no interest in eating,” said Greeson. “Fish are mostly lethargic due to low oxygen levels. Not just Hamilton is bad, all surrounding lakes are not doing well at all. This coming week will be even worse with high temps in the 70s and blue bird skies.”

Elsewhere in South Arkansas:

•

— Donald Ramirez at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water this week has been calm and clear. Water level is low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets.

Crappie are fair; use minnows or jigs. Black bass are fair; use worms. Catfish are biting well. Bait a yoyo with live bait such as black salties or small perch.

•

— Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 65 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace.

Lake Ouachita remains just below flood pool, which has enabled Entergy to greatly reduce flow from all area dams. Entergy is running a minimum flow pattern flow below Carpenter Dam and lake conditions are stable.

Rainbow trout fishing will return in mid-November when the AGFC’s stocking program begins again for the winter. Trout are normally

the week before the Thanksgiving holiday or earlier, depending on fish availability. The beginning of fall finds white and hybrid bass still living in the tailrace and feeding on shad. Boaters trolling shallow- running crankbaits that imitate minnows or crawfish have caught these fish in decent numbers this week. Size ranges from 1 to 2 pounds with some hybrid catches over 4 pounds. Topwater action has been observed in the early morning below the bridge. Walleye still remain in the tailrace and have been caught on minnows tightlined in deep water.

The closer to the dam you fish during the fall, the more likely you are to catch walleye. The deepest areas consistently hold walleye that live and feed in the tailrace. A few catfish have been taken on stink baits around rock structure close to the dam.

No striper activity has been reported this week, but these predator fish migrate in and out of the area frequently.

Anyone navigating the Carpenter Dam tailrace should always wear a life jacket and must observe all park rules. Mask wearing and social distancing should be observed by everyone visiting the Carpenter Dam area. Until the trout stocking program begins again, the fishing report will remain consistent from week to week.

The infusion of trout always shocks the system into action with more and diverse species of fish migrating into the area to live and feed.

•

— Jason Baumgartner, park aquarist at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7495), said the weather has been great, but the bass fishing FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

has been tough for all of them. The water is cooling off and there is not much river flow to speak of.

Anglers have been weighing several 3- and 4-pound bass, but many have not been catching a five-bass limit.

He says the past week featured sunshine and cool temperatures before turning somewhat cloudy and humid. The National Weather Service is monitoring a front that is setting over the state from Texarkana to Memphis.

Temperatures are expected to begin the period above normal until a possible cold front arrives early next week. Slight rain chances are expected this weekend as this front waffles over the area.

The water clarity remains somewhat turbid and visibility was little more than a foot or 2. Surface water temperature is 68 degrees.

The Corps of Engineers said Tuesday that Ozark Lock and Dam was not releasing much water.

Ozark has been releasing water to generate for a short time in the evening or overnight if at all. River flow there has been fluctuating between nothing and 27,000 cfs over the past couple of weeks. The Ozark tailwater had been consistently near 337 feet msl since last report. River flow at Dardanelle Lock and Dam was nil and has fluctuated to 28,000 cfs.

Dardanelle tailwater level has fluctuated between 4 and 7 feet. The pool elevation near the State Park has been just above 337 feet msl.

“For details or any questions contact our visitor center at (479) 967-5516.

Be safe while on the river and take time to put a line in the water!”

•

— Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) says the clarity has cleared up quite a bit. Water level is low. Bream are fair. They are not bedded up, but they’re being caught in shallow water. Use redworks

are good and are being caught 4-6 feet deep. Focus on the brushpiles and use minnows or jigs. Black bass are good. The best catches are coming on topwater lures and Alabama rigs. Catfishing is good trolling on Bandits, Road Runners, perch and black salties.

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are being caught on Bobby Garland Jigs in popsicle, shiney hiney, glimmer blue, bbq chicken, cajun crickets, blue ice, shimmer, monkey milk, crystal, bone, gumdrop, pennyback baby shad, slab slay’r and 1.25-inch Itty Bit Swim’r and minnows.

Catfish are biting on minnows and worms. Bream are being caught on crickets, worms and Rock Hopper. Black bass are hitting worms, lizards and Brush Hogs.

•

— As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Blakely Dam was 577.75 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).

Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-8672191/800-832-2276 out of state) reports that black bass are good. The topwater bite is better, and spotted bass are schooled up chasing baitfish. Try a small 3/8-ounce spoon in submerged schools and your favorite topwater bait in those same areas. Major creek mouths and up the rivers have had the best reports.No reports on walleye. Stripers are fair. These fish are being caught on live bait. Bream are fair with crickets or worms in 15-25 feet of water.

Crappie are fair to good.