AGFC Weekly Regional Fishing Reports

Fish are biting all across the Natural State

Arkansas Wildlife Editor This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report for Aug. 5, 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.

• DeGray Lake — John Duncan of yoyoguideservice. com at Iron Mountain Marina said there was not much to report in changes on the bite. Lake level is 403.12 feet msl, down some. Fishing has the summer slowdown. Bream should be on the beds with the full moon happening.

Crappie are slow in brushpiles; fish the ones that are just out of the thermocline and fish near the bottom.

Try drop-shotting. Trolling is showing little success.

Brushpiles are full of fish – it’s just that they are full of little bream and bass about 3-inches long, too.

Some surface activity is being reported from Brushy to Shouse Ford. Find the calm water. Hybrids are slow. Little surface activity. Black bass are in their summer pattern. “Sorry there is no better news.

Need a weather change,” John says. “Be safe and remember social distancing.”

• White Oak Lake — Curtis Willingham of River Rat Bait (870-231-3831) said he’s been in the river with the river finally at normal level. The catfish are good on Sonny’s Stink Bait, nightcrawlers and cold worms. Bream will bite well on crickets and worms in the oxbows. He reports that maintenance is being done on Upper White Oak Lake with a drawdown for habitat work. Water is a little murky and at a normal level.

• Lake Catherine — For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.

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.

Entergy has scheduled an 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. generation pattern that has included an open floodgate at times below Carpenter Dam, which has created a dangerous flow. Boaters are cautioned to remain a safe distance from the dam during this time. The rainbow trout season is over with the majority of the year ruined by constant flooding. The stocking program will begin again in late November. Hopefully the upcoming year will be much better than the last two seasons. While the white bass spawn is over, good numbers of fish remain in the tailrace and are feeding on shad. The size is running small but these fish are actively feed-

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Photos courtesy of AGFC FISHING REPORT (cont.)

ing and are being caught on jigs, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and live minnows. Walleye are also present from the bridge to the dam and being taken on the same presentations. The hot weather draws these fish to the tailrace to feed on shad and crayfish. The hot summer weather has drawn big numbers of freshwater drum into the tailrace. These fish range from 2 pounds to 20 pounds and larger. These fish feed on shad and crawfish and are also caught on nightcrawlers. The strikes are hard and fast and bank fishermen are cautioned not to leave rods unattended.

Tackle is easily jerked into the lake by drum that are actively feeding. Little topwater action has been observed around the dam this week which normally marks the feeding patterns of big stripers that migrate in and out of the area to rest and feed. Hybrid bass often accompany these predator fish and both species can be hooked by casting Super Spooks and weightless jigs in a rainbow trout color. Flow discharges can change rapidly and anyone navigating the Carpenter Dam tailrace is urged to stay alert and always wear a life jacket when on the water.

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— Jason Baumgartner, park aquarist at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7495), said that in the past week the area has experienced very comfortable temperatures with a break from summer humidity. The lowpressure system from the northwest brought some rain throughout the area late last week and a reprieve from the muggy weather. The National Weather Service forecast discussion expects hot and humid conditions for our upcoming weather forecast. Upper level flow in the atmosphere will become stagnant again and heat indices over 100 degrees may return for the weekend.

With less rains and slower river flow the water has cleared up near the surface and visibility reaches a few feet. The surface temperature is 87 degrees.

As of Tuesday the Corps of Engineers reported river flow at Ozark Lock and Dam increased to 34,000 cfs. The Ozark tailwater had risen to 339 feet msl.

River flow at Dardanelle Lock and Dam was near 19,000 cfs Tuesday morning. Dardanelle tailwater level had briefly risen to 7 feet late Monday night but has since fallen to below 6 feet. The pool elevation near the State Park has been relatively low and is just below 338 feet msl.

River flow at both Ozark and Dardanelle has been slow with the exception of runoff from the recent rains and most, if not all, of the flow has been through the powerhouses, which have been generating most days.

No fishing tournaments were hosted at Lake Dardanelle State Park this past weekend. Lake Dardanelle State Park continues to comply with State and Federal guidelines and directives for social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The status of our facilities continues to be evaluated. In accordance with our governor’s directive, tournament officials are required to submit an event plan and permit application to the AR Department of Health prior to their event.

Tournament officials are also required to present their ADH permit and event plan to Lake Dardanelle State Park and agree to our tournament regulations regarding COVID-19. For details or 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!

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— Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas-born-and-bred Xpress all-welded aluminum fishing boats in Hot Springs, reports Lake

Photos courtesy of AGFC FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

Hamilton’s temperatures in the mid-80s in most parts of the lake with exception to the river channel. Bass have been doing pretty well lately! Largemouths are biting in the early morning and evening and even doing well at night.

Dragging or dropping big black worms and lizards in shaded areas are getting strikes. With that said don’t forget about topwater!

Shaded areas hold bass all day long. Spotted bass (God love ’em!) are hungry all the time and will eagerly take drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs and wacky rigs all day long on main points, piers and under boat docks.

Colors are simple green, watermelon seed and black and blue. Spots can also be caught on topwater baits when they do their feeding frenzy throughout the day.

Crappie are hit or miss lately. Skipping or shooting shaded boat docks in the 10-15 foot range has been working if you are patient enough to find the dock that they have congregated on! Shad imitations and minnows are the go-to here.

Catfish are good everywhere and easily caught after dark anywhere in the 20-foot-depth range near or in current. “My favorite is cheddar cheese hunks. The less expensive the better!

Just throw it out on a weighted line and enjoy the evening tight lining. Good luck, and Go Greeson!

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surface temperature of 89 degrees. Water level is normal. Bream fishing remains good. Bream are being caught in 3-5 feet depth on the points and the beaches using redworms or crickets (Andrews just received a new shipment of crickets).

Crappie are excellent. In a crappie tournament there last week, Brandon Smith caught seven crappie weighing a total of 14 pounds. Anglers are finding the crappie 3 feet deep in 6-8 feet of water. The best baits now are Beaver Bottoms in purple/chartreuse, they report. Black bass are good; they’re in 8-10 feet depth. They are liking purple/chartreuse and black/blue colors. Use a topwater bait or a purple ribbon Trick Worm.

Catfishing is good using black salties, goldfish, trotline minnows and noodling at 6 feet deep, and pretty much any other bait you choose.

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— Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out of state) reports that black bass are still slow to fair. Big Texasrigged worms and jighead worms are working best right now. Try red bug, plum or blood line colors.

Walleye are still good.

Spoons and bottom bouncers with small spinners tipped with a crawler are working best. Stripers are fair to good. These fish are being caught on live bait on the east part of the lake.

Bream are good with crickets or worms in 15-25 feet of water. Crappie are slow.

Try a small jig or minnow near brush in 15-25 feet of water. Catfish are fair and being caught with trotlines and jugs. Cut bait and live bait are working best.

Water temperature is ranging 80-85 degrees and the clarity is clear. The lake level earlier this week was 574.14 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

• Cook’s Lake — The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Conservation Education Center (870-241-3373) says the fishing report for the oxbow is the same as it’s been since reopening for the season two weeks ago. Anglers are still catching bass and bream. Black bass are being caught around cypress trees. Most are being caught flipping black and red flake tubes or green pumpkin finesse jigs. Some bass can be picked off with square bills and white spinnerbaits. Bluegill have been good around laydowns and cypress trees with crickets. Crappie have been hit-or-miss but should get better as the water goes down. Try black and chartreuse jigs in hollow cypress trees. “No one has targeted catfish, but they should be biting, too!” Wil says.

Cook’s Lake is a 2.5-mile long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to being used only for education purposes and youth and mobilityimpaired fishing. The scenic lake is full of slab crappie, giant bluegills, largemouth bass and catfish of all species. Due to current guidelines, Cook’s Lake will be open to fishing during normal business hours Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., water level pending.

Cook’s Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility impaired, and up to two helpers (who may also fish). Fish from the 140-foot mobilityimpaired accessible dock or launch a boat, but we ask for trolling motors only. To comply with current guidelines, please call ahead at least a day in advance to register to fish. Before launching, please check in at the Conservation Education Center, and report back before leaving.

For information or unscheduled closures, call the center at 870-241-3373.

• Bear Creek Lake — Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), said Bear Creek Lake has seen some good catfish activity over the last few weeks.

They are biting on stink bait or homemade bait, mostly in the cooler hours of the day (early morning or evenings). With the increase in air and surface temperature, most other species have moved into deeper water.

Storm Creek Lake has not had any substantial reports of successful angling.

Remember, the Mississippi River State Park Visitor Center is OPEN and stocked with your fishing needs. Live and artificial bait, hooks, line and other accessories are available.