Central Arkansas Fishing Reports

All the latest news from local fishing sources

Arkansas Wildlife Editor

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir — Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said Wednesday afternoon that the lake is at its normal stain and is back up to normal for the second week in a row. Fishing picked up after an off week last week. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets.

Crappie are fair for anglers using small and mediumsized minnows or small jigs. Black bass are good; try spinnerbaits, topwater lures, frogs, poppers and 7 to 10 inch curly tail worms. Catfishing is good. Use stink bait, shad, skipjack, small bream or goldfish.

Fish ‘N’ Stuff (501-8345733) that with the Little Rock pool’s fishing conditions difficult with craft advisories and high flow, the crew took in Lake Conway, where the water is stained and at a normal level. Bass are good in the mornings (they can be hit or miss some days) on frogs and buzzbaits around lily pads and cypress trees.

Bass will also be good on spinnerbaits if it’s windy around the lily pads and cypress trees. In the afternoon, look for a good bass bite if you’re throwing a Texas-rigged worm or wacky rig. Bream are pretty good in coves and around lily pads on crickets and redworms.

Lake Beaverfork — Angler Dennis Charles visited Beaverfork as well as several other lakes in the area with similar conditions (Lake Brewer, Lake Cargile, Woolly Hollow and Lake Barnett, lake

Continued on Page 14 FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

Winona). Water level has been above normal and somewhat clear, the bite increased and the bass are making fishing a LOT of fun. The crappie are slow in mid-level water; use floating lures with dive, as well as jigs. Bass are all over chasing food. “Use everything in the box and think outside the box,” Dennis says. Bream are active. Catfish are doing well along the bottom all over. Brewer and Barnett lakes are seeing a LOT of bass activity Dennis also went to Lake Winona recently. “Fishing was very slow, BUT there’s a 6-mile ride to the launch ramp where the average speed will be 5 mph. BUT if you not in a hurry, well worth it.”

Visit Dennis’ Facebook page (Arkansas Fishing Adventures) for more information – send Jim Harris, the AGFC’s Arkansas Wildlife Magazine managing editor, a photo of your catch and Jim just might post it here.

Dennis adds, “Anglers, please remember, we can only add reports if you anglers let us know. I’ve asked many and a few are hesitant to divulge their catch info.”

Also, for anglers looking for additional information about bass fishing around the area, Dennis suggests checking out the Arkansas Bass Fishing Facebook page.

— Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Wednesday that water was in the low 50s. Morning fishing is better because the Army Corps of Engineers shuts off the water at the dam for a while. Water is stained but clearing up. Trout are good on falling water in the morning on Marabou Jigs in olive color, Rooster Tails in brown trout color, jerkbaits and No. 5 Rapala Countdowns in rainbow trout color. Also, good bites are coming by drifting with PowerBait.

Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) said they are seeing generation starting early mornings and continuing until midnight each day. There are opportunities for wading by starting early on the upper section of the river and the middle section at midday.

San Juan Worms, egg patterns, sowbugs and streamers for fly-fishing. For Trout Magnet fishing hot pink-colored body on chartreuse or gold jigheads.

Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted

— Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry lake is at 464.77 feet and falling. Wednesday it was 2.23 feet below normal pool for this time of year of 462.54 feet msl. It’s about back to normal and should be normal in a couple of weeks, if not sooner, and when it gets the rest of shad out of the bushes it will be on for all species if you anglers can stand some HEAT.

Catfishing is good all over using live bait and most other catfish baits, but soap is showing out right now -on jugs, trotlines and rods and reels. Walleye are biting if you’ve got a little wind on points, secondary points and little points in between those; drag crawlers on a drop-shot or jighead, and crankbaits and, of course, spoons in 25-45 feet.

Black bass are in bushes out to 45 feet and with some suspended in 60 feet; use baits that will cover top, middle and on bottom, FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

dragging something. You make the choice and you can make it happen.

Crappie are still being caught as shallow as 15 feet out to 45. You can troll for them or fish vertical using crankbaits, minnows or jigs; a beetle spin will do the trick as well.

Bream are on the prowl, of course, eating everything they can. Use crawlers, crickets, small cranks or inline spinners from super shallow out to 25 feet.

Hybrid bass and white bass are chewing at will seven or eight times a day, just stay around the shad 30-50 feet and fish with hair jigs, spoons, inline spinners and Alabama rigs as well as single swimbaits. Enjoy and wear your life jacket.

Fish ’N Stuff (501-8345733) in Sherwood says water is clear and high (a couple feet) but on the fall.

Bass are good. They’re catching a bunch of small fish on shad, small topwater lures or a silver CC Spoon. During the day, the fish are being caught out deeper on drop-shot or by deep trolling a crankbait, along with Carolina rigs and football jigs in 15-30 feet of water out on the ends of points, drop-offs or humps in the middle of the

— Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says the lake is still a little muddy and is low. The fishing remains fair to good, though. Bream are good on redworms and crickets.

Crappie have reappeared, with a fair bite seen this week around the deeper areas of the lake. Use minnows or jigs. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits.

Catfish have been biting well for a few weeks; this week, stink bait is working on the rod-and-reels, and trotlines will catch when baited with small bream, hot dogs and stink bait.

— Phil Thomas at Lakeview Landing (501-354-5309) said the clarity has turned dingy and the level is still low. Bream are good using redworms or crickets.

Catfish are excellent; use the basic catfish bait. No reports on crappie or black bass.

— Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-5171250) said Thursday morning that fishing picked up this week. Clarity of the river is clear and the water level and current are normal. Bream are good on redworms and crickets.

Crappie reports are poor and there had been no crappie bite of note for a while now. Black bass are fair early in the morning and late. Try spinnerbaits or plastic worms. Catfish are fair on chicken livers.

— Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is at 85,000 cfs and is muddy and high, but coming down. The conditions should be fine for the weekend for small craft. Bass are good on Texas-rigged worms, black/blue jigs, chartreuse/

squarebill crankbaits, and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits during the day. In the early morning or late evening, the fishing has been good on Zara Spooks, frogs and buzzbaits.