Spotlight on the waters of Northern Arkansas

Spring is almost here and the time is right for fishing

Arkansas Wildlife Editor This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for the Week of March 1, 2021. 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 for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news.

Northwest Arkansas Fishing Reports

• Beaver Lake — As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.40 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,120.43 feet msl).

Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is near normal level. “It was frozen most of last week.

Not much to report.I did go fish below Beaver dam for walleye last Tuesday and did really well there. At this point it is on fire and a great place to go and chase walleye right now.

“Had a crappie trip (Tuesday) and broke up some of the remaining ice to get up the White River arm and found crappie on brush in 15-30 feet of water. Water temps were 39 degrees at Blue Springs.

Hopefully we will jump into spring. I believe it set back things two weeks. It should be on soon!”

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said some walleye are starting to be caught. The lake is still mostly frozen as of Tuesday but starting to thaw. The level is down about 2 feet. Along with walleye, anglers are catching crappie and they report good catches. The crappie are 10-15 feet deep where anglers cand find the nonfrozen spots, and they’re using minnows and jigs.

Nothing else was reported.

• Beaver Tailwater — Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) had no new reports because of the weather. Visit his Facebook page at Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service for more information.

• Lake Fayetteville — Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reported that the lake is no longer frozen over, but there haven’t been many fishermen as of Tuesday afternoon.

Northeast Arkansas Fishing Reports

• Lake Charles — Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the lake was thawed as of Monday morning and she had no reports for the week. She says that the best fishing days, based on moon cycles, should be March 10-16. Good days are expected to be March 25-31. When the water thaws, the level should still be low and the clarity will be murky.

• Lake Poinsett — The gate at the dam at Lake Poinsett was closed on Dec. 1, allowing the lake to begin refilling with rainwater. The lake, at Lake Poinsett State Park, has been undergoing a threeyear renovation with a new water control structure, more than 10,000 linear feet of shoreline work, more than 100 habitat structures placed on the lakebed, and nearly 100 trees anchored for fish habitat with more anchoring in the plans as the lake begins to refill.

When the lake has enough water for stocking, channel catfish will be stocked to give anglers target fish to seek, while prey fish such as shiners and shad will be stocked. After the prey fish have established a base over the next year or so, predator fish such as largemouth bass and crappie will then be stocked.

• Crown Lake — Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) remains closed until further notice “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

However, they are still accepting RV and cabin reservations.

• Spring River — Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides. com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running at 350 cfs, average flow, and water clarity has had a heavy green tint. “After last week with all the cold and snow the trout were happy to see us floating down the river this week.”

Olive and brown Woollies are working well and Y2Ks with a nymph dropper is the ticket for slower days.

On spin-fishing, a gold Rooster Tail has been wearing them out. Trout cranks are working good in the deeper holes, especially below waterfalls where the water can get deep.

Mark says that starting in March the trout stocking “will increase a lot. That always makes for easier catching. For the next three months the river will be prime fishing as long as a monsoon does not move through. The canoe hatch does not begin until end of May when school lets out.” John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is fishing well. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers.

Canoe season is coming and it will get busy. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff.

There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).

Photo courtesy of AGFC