Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Weekly Fishing Reports

Region- by- region information about where they’re biting around the state

AGFC Communications This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report for March 9, 2020. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov 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 listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news.

WEST-CENTRAL ARK.

• Lake Atkins — Donald Ramirez, the new owner of Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) on the southeastern end of the lake, said the clarity is clear and the level is normal. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on worms. One whie bass was caught this past week weighing 2.5 pounds. No other reports.

• Lake Catherine — Shane Goodner, owner of Catch ‘em All Guide Service, reports that both lakes Hamilton and Catherine are being refilled this week to their normal summertime pool. Each lake should be back to predrawdown levels by early this weekend. As reported last week, rising water in the Carpenter Dam tailrace creates a very slow rainbow trout bite. Thousands of trout are present but few quality fish have been caught due to this situation. A more consistent bite can be expected in the next few days after the lake has been refilled. Live minnows tend to catch larger trout that search for bigger prey.

The walleye spawn is on in the tailrace with fish spotted in the shallows at dawn and dusk. Trolling shallowrunning crankbaits against the current will draw strikes from hungry walleye guarding their beds. A Carolina rig tipped with live minnows or nightcrawlers is a proven technique in current or slack water. Vertical-jigging spoons in deeper water is often a forgotten method of catching walleye and will outperform many other efforts.

Trout will be king for the next few months, but the crappie spawn is due to begin in the next several weeks.

• Lake Dardanelle — Jason Baumgartner, park aquarist at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7495), said that Since last Tuesday (March 3) they have had several days with clear skies that were bookended with overcast skies and cool temperatures. For this week, a low-pressure system will be moving out by Wednesday. The Ozark tailwater has fallen slightly but no major changes.

Ozark has been generating power consistently this past week. Downriver, pool elevation near Lake Dardanelle State Park has finally fallen and has been near 337.6 feet msl. You may still have to duck your head under the low bridges but maybe the outboard will clear. The 1- or 2-foot drop on the lower end of Lake Dardanelle at the State Park usually means more in the middle and upper areas of the pool.

• Lake Hamilton — Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas-born-and-bred all-welded aluminum Xpress fishing boats in Hot Springs, reports lake levels rising rapidly along with the lake temperatures.

Main channel areas are right around 50 degrees and rising. The backs of pockets are up to 56 degrees and rising in the shallows. Needless to say, the bass have begun moving shallow, also. What a difference a week makes!

Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits, swimbaits and crankbaits are producing well in pockets and creek channels where the warm water is.

Silver, white, craw and bluegill-colored presentations will work and have worked best. Some bass are still on main lake points but the pre-spawn in on!

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EAST ARKANSAS

• Horseshoe Lake — Professional fishing guide Ronnie Tice (901-687-6800) had no report. Check out Ronnie’s Facebook page for photos and other information from his fishing excursions at Horseshoe Lake, an old Mississippi River oxbow not far from Hughes.

• Bear Creek Lake — Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), says they are starting to see increased activity at Bear Creek Lake. The levels are still down and the boat ramp is still closed because of levee repair work, “but our faithful folks fishing from the shoreline are seeing results,” she said.

There has been a slight increase in crappie activity. Mississippi River State Park has boats and kayaks available for rent for those who want to get out on the water. They can call (870) 295-4040 for more information. If folks have questions on the status of the lake levels they can contact the USDA Forest Service at (870) 295-5278. Storm Creek Lake has not seen any reportable increase in activity. She says they have had more anglers out the past few weeks, and are hoping to see some results soon.

Region- by- region information about where they’re biting around the state

• Greers Ferry Lake — Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 465.13 feet msl, 3.09 feet above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl. As long as they are generating, it’s staying about the same; when they stop it starts rising, as there is a lot of water in the ground.

The water temp varies and this time of year just a degree or 2 will make a big difference in catching or just fishing. Bream up the rivers are shallow and eating not so much in lake; use crawlers, beetle spins or small crankbaits. Some crappie are in the bushes, while some are not and are out still floating around in deep water; try a jig or jigs with minnows. Catfish are eating as there is word of a 60-pound fish being caught; even people trolling for other species have caught some cats.

Walleye are eating upriver on some days, males mostly. The lake walleye are not doing much as a lot of fish are still traveling at present.

• Harris Brake Lake Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says the water is clear. The water level is a little high. Overall fishing continues to be down but some catches were reported. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Black bass reports also were fair. Nothing reported on catfish or bream.

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NORTH ARKANSAS

• White River — Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Whether we're experiencing a false spring or a full-blown early, hereto- stay spring season, let's take advantage of it.

Cotter, 18 river miles from Bull Shoals Dam, is enjoying mild daytime temperatures, a week with no rain in the forecast!

And still cool but not cold at nights. Get on the river and catch some trout in an abundant fishery managed so generously by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission folks.

The recent ample brown trout bite has proven once again that February and March are great months to visit the White River, and the rainbows aren't ignoring the bait, either, they report. Minnows and sculpins are the preferred meal for a hungry brown and egg patterns (light yellow peach colored with an orange leading bead), or lemon lime-colored PowerBait drifted middepth will keep you cranking that reel and bringing in trout. • Bull Shoals Lake — Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said the lake is clear and is 4 feet above normal level. The surface temperature Tuesday afternoon was 47 degrees. Black bass are fair and found in 10-20 feet of water. Jerkbaits, jigs and swimbaits all were working. White bass are moving to spawn. The catch is fair now. Use white jigs, spinners, Rooster Tails or Alabama rigs. Walleye are actively feeding in the evening on jerkbaits fished on the long, shallow points by the bushes. No reports on crappie, bream or catfish.

View Del’s YouTube videos (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock) for the latest in what s biting and what Del is using, plus his tips on how to fish the various lures.

• Norfork Lake — Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said, “The weather for Norfork Lake has finally changed for the better and has been stable for the last several days. The long-range forecast is for continued spring like temperatures and if it holds true the fish should get energized. The warmer weather has dramatically increased the surface water temperature to almost 50 degrees at daybreak and warmer during the daylight hours. I can definitely see a change occurring in some of our fish species.”

“I have mainly been striped bass hunting and fishing for the last several days. The last 2 days has been outstanding.