Spotlight on Central Arkansas

AGFC Regional Fishing Reports offer plenty of hot spots

AGFC Communications

• Bishop Park Ponds — Many of the fishermen last weekend said crappie and bass have been biting No. 6 and No. 12 minnows, Kalin’s Grubs and Zoom Trick Worms. Catfish have been hitting minnows, nightcrawlers and bait shrimp. Bream fishing has been good with crickets and red worms. Katie Specht (photo on right) caught this nice catfish on a recent trip to Bishop Park recently.

• Lake Conway Reservoir — Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake has its normal stain and is at a normal level.

Bream have been biting well this past week.

Redworms, crickets and bream jigs are working.

Crappie are good. Use minnows or jigs (try a hand-tie jig for best results). Black bass reports are good.

Anglers are using a variety of baits successfully: cranks, plastic worms, topwater plugs, frogs and bass minnows. Catfishing is good. Goldfish, dough bait, bream and nightcrawlers all have the catfishes’ attention.

• Little Red River — Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) says the Greers Ferry Lake level is still above seasonal pool.

“Right now the generation pattern is unpredictable, but we are seeing a few days that have lower water,” he said. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the 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 (swlwc. usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see the forecasted generation schedule. For fly-fishing, Lowell recommends San Juan worms, egg, hares ear, sowbugs and streamers. Hot pink and white bodies on chartreuse jigheads are recommended for Trout Magnet spin fishing. The undercurrent can be rough with high waters. “Be safe while enjoying the river,” Lowell says.

• Greers Ferry Lake — Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said, “The lake has maintained a pretty good level for the spawn, which will be done with most species by the end of month.” Speaking of the spawn, bream appear like they had a very good hatch, so future catching looks good. As for now use crawlers and crickets in and around bushes, and out in front of the bushes, from super shallow out to 15 feet of water. As for walleye, most of them other than the resident fish have vacated to the rivers, and they will eat along with lake fish, plus ones that have gotten back to the lake from rivers. Focus on pea gravel points, and humps good are also good. Try crawlers and crankbaits in 12-25 feet of water. Catfish are eating well in places, and when water warms more they will really be on the prowl.

Use most of the regular methods to catch them.

Crappie are still spawning upriver and a lot downlake in selected areas; use jigs and minnows around bushes. Black bass are eating, spawning and guarding fry all over the lake and rivers. A large variety of baits are working from super-super shallow out to 20 feet, and wolf packs are roaming the shallows as well. Hybrid and white bass are feeling their oats, so to speak – some good catches are coming in, and a lot of 100-fish days are being seen right now with the shad spawn going on.

• Harris Brake Lake — Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says the clarity is muddy. The water is calm and at a normal level as of Tuesday afternoon. Bream are biting in the morning on redworms and crickets. Anglers report good catches. Crappie are good. They are being caught in 5-6 feet depth on minnows, jigs (pink jigheads in particular) and other jig-style lures.

Black bass reports have been poor. Catfishing is good; bait your trotline with shad and/or goldfish.

• Lake Overcup — Johnny “Catfish” Banks of Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) had no new reports. Visit Johnny’s Facebook page (Overcup Bait Shop and

Continued on Page 9 FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

R.V. Park (501-354-9007) had no new reports. Visit Johnny’s Facebook page (Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park) for the latest updates and photos.

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— David Hall, owner of Dad’s Bait Shop (501-977-0303), said the lake is slightly stained.

Surface water temperature is ranging 65-68 degrees and the level is 4 feet high.

Bream are good, and are best when the sun is out in the heat of the day. David says he has crickets with more coming Wednesday, and that’s what the bream like best now. Crappie also are good. They are at 10-12 feet depth on top of underwater brush, and they are pulling out of the buckbrush. Minnows and jigs, naturally, with Monkey Milk and Purple Monkey jigs along with tri-color crappie tubes being the best choices. Black bass are good. Look for them at 4-5 feet depth. No baits were suggested. Catfishing is good on jugs. Use size 20 trotline minnows. David hears that white bass are also biting well.

• Lake Maumelle — Westrock Landing (501-658-5598) on Highway 10 near Roland had no fishing reports. The shop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunset Lake — Crappie have been biting well on No. 6 minnows and Kalin’s Bleeding Tennessee Shad Grubs. Fish shallow around the edges of grass or brushy areas. Bass have been hitting wacky-rigged Trick Worms, Carolina- or Texas-rigged lizards and Baby Brush Hogs and live minnows. Watermelon/red, watermelon candy and Red Bug are the going colors in plastics right now. Catfish are being caught on chicken livers, nightcrawlers, minnows and Wild Cat Stink Baits. Bream fishing has been great for some young anglers fishing with crickets and redworms in mossy and grassy areas around the lake.

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— The river has been up and down a lot lately with the rains coming every few days. When it's not too high or muddy the fishing has been good.

Bass have been biting No.

12 and brooder minnows, Zoom Lizards and Baby Brush Hogs, crawdad crankbaits and Zing Tail Spinners. Catfish are biting No. 12 and brooder minnows, goldfish, back salties and chicken livers. Crappie have been hitting No. 6 minnows, Kalin’s Grubs and Beaver Bottom Jigs.

Walleye are slow and Lisa has heard no reports of catches this week. Bream fishing is fast and fun with crickets or redworms on small hooks and light line and tackle. There's also a lot of fun gar fishing on the Saline. Use good, strong 12- to 20-pound test line and a strong, sharp hook with a No. 12 minnow 18-36 inches under a float or with just a small split shot sinker. “When you see a gar or two at the surface, cast your bait close by and you'll probably get their attention. When one takes it, give it slack line until it stops, then wait until it starts to move again, tighten your line and set the hook,” she suggests. “Gar are strong fighters, a challenge

they make decent table fare.

Lisa adds, “Wherever you fish in our beautiful state, have fun, be safe and leave only your footprints behind. No trash please.

And remember, Lisa’s Bait Shop in Benton has had all the bait and tackle you need, since 1985.”

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— Crappie fishing is fair to good with No. 6 minnows and Kalin’s Tennessee Shad and Arkansas Shad grubs and Beaver Bottom Baits crappie jigs. Fish shallow around brush or deeper around submerged cover like logs. Bass have been biting No. 12 minnows, Zoom Trick Worms, Baby Brush Hogs and Zlinkys.

Spinnerbaits have been good on windy days.

Catfish are biting minnows, black salties, goldfish, chicken livers and nightcrawlers. The best bite has been from dusk to an hour or two after dark. Bream fishing is about to get good. Some have reported catching some on jigs and smaller minnows while crappie fishing. Try dropping a cricket or redworm around brush or any underwater cover. The big redear tend to come from deeper water in the lake.

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— Crappie fishing has been hit and miss. Customers report good catches one day with No. 12 and No. 6 minnows,

Continued on Page 10 CENTRAL ARKANSAS (cont.)

Bobby Garland Baby Shad Jigs and Kalin’s Grubs, then only a few fish the next day. The fish have been coming from 16 inches to 12 feet deep and holding close to cover. One customer says they're confused. Bass have been hitting the minnows and jigs as well as Zoom Trick Worms and Brush Hogs.

Catfish are biting at daylight, dusk and after dark on minnows, nightcrawlers, chicken livers and stink baits. Bream are starting to move up to shallow water in the sunny parts of the lake but are still slightly scattered. They can't resist

— Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is clear and at normal level.

Bream are good. They’re being caught in 2 feet depth on worms and crickets. Crappie reports have been poor. They are slow and appear to be finished spawning. Black bass reports have been good.

Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastic worms all are working well.

Catfishing is good; use chicken liver or minnows.