The bass bite is here

Spring fishing frenzy includes a Hamilton Lake monster catch

Arkansas Wildlife Editor From Millwood Lake up through the southwest to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, big bass reports began circulating this past week as the weather has turned to prime time for hungry bass.

Mike Siefert of Millwood Lake Guide Service forwarded this photo, below, of Prescott anglers Ronnie (left) and Vernon (right) after they hauled in this 7.8-pound female largemouth bass.

Siefert said bass are in a full-blown spawning mode this week on Millwood, and includes the white bass making their run up Little River to U.S. Highway 71, a telltale sign for white bass activity around the state in the next several days. Sierfert says numerous black bass beds are being seen with pre-spawn females staging and spawning. Also, the warmer daytime highs and warm southern winds have boosted the bite. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Rayburn Red Craw, 'Lectric Red and Red Chrome are randomly catching fish. Chatterbaits in Texas Craw, Black & Blue or Hot Mouse will draw a few reaction bites.

Brazalo Spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse, Millwood Mayhem Bream and Spot Remover caught a few more decent bass this week, and Chatterbaits picked up some healthy 6to 7-pound largemouths this week, the guide said.

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Photo courtesy of AGFC BASS (cont.)

• Reports surfaced from anglers catching nice-sized bass at lakes Greeson and DeGray, while Facebook was the place to see a fantastic bass hauled in on Lake Hamilton by angler Billy Gilbert that was just a shad away from being 11 pounds (10.95 pounds officially), caught with just 2 minutes to spare in the Diamond Lakes Big Bass Classic last Sunday to win the event.

• Boaters and anglers who use federal waters in Arkansas (as well as out of state) need to be aware of a new federal law that goes into effect April 1. The law requires the operator of a boat to wear a link to the boat's Engine Cut-off Device. The law applies to motored recreational vessels with 3 hp or more that is less than 26 feet in length.

Engine Cut-off Devices are critical safety features on a boat that can help prevent fatalities if the boat operator were to be ejected or fall overboard. The new law applies to all federal waters; In Arkansas, this includes U.S. Army Corp of Engineer reservoirs and the Arkansas, White, Red, Ouachita, and Mississippi Rivers.

For more information about the law, please visit the U.S. Coast Guard, www.uscg.mil.

• Grand Lake, located in the deepest reaches of southeast Arkansas, is still on the Arkansas angler's radar for a great catfish bite and gets attention from the Fisheries Division. As the weather has warmed, it's the perfect time to check out a new addition at that lake. The fishing pier at the Grand Lake access off Arkansas Highway 8 was updated recently with new decking and benches.

Grand Lake is situated just off the Mississippi River in Chicot County. Currently, Grand Lake has no limit on catfish.