East Arkansas Fishing Reports

From the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

www.agfc.com

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— Professional fishing guide Ronnie Tice (901-687-6800) had no new reports.

Check out Ronnie’s Facebook page for the latest information and recent photos of his and clients’ catches on the old Mississippi River oxbow not far from Hughes.

• Cook’s Lake — The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Conservation Education Center (870-241-3373) says things are still closed down at Cook's Lake due to Covid-19, high water and downed trees.

“Hopefully by the time the river recedes from the parking lot, we will be able to reopen,” he says. “I have been fishing some other water bodies around the region mainly in search of bedding bream but have not graphed many. We should start seeing more beds this week with the warmer weather we have experienced and the full moon.”

• Lake Charles — Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said flathead and channel catfish are biting on minnows. Goldfish will also work. Anglers report good catches. Crappie are good on minnows, jigs and worms, but they have been small. No reports on black bass or bream. Shelly says best moon times for this month will come May 19-25. Surface water temperature early Sunday was 53 degrees. Water remains murky and high.

• Lake Poinsett — The lake at Lake Poinsett State Park has been undergoing a renovation with plans to refill it later this year and for fishing to resume at levels far better than in recent years, thanks to improved fish habitat and new underwater structures.

The water control structure was also repaired.

• Spring River — Mark Crawford of Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are at 520 cfs (350 cfs average) and water clarity has been green tinted.

All of the rain lately has kept river levels up for several months now. Water flow has been strong in the main river channel; extra care is needed when wading.

Hot flies have been olive Woollies on overcast days and Y2Ks on sunny days.

An extra split-shot sinker about a foot above the fly to get down can be very useful in the fast water.

Mark says, “The (AGFC) trout management plan is still being created, and work on rebuilding Jim Hinkle/Spring River Fish Hatchery has not started yet. These are two key things that will help the Spring River go to the next level as a great place to flyfish. Once completed, the Spring River will be a much better fishery. Jim Hinkle has been stocking 12-inch rainbows weekly.