Hot temps mean hot fishing

Nice catches around the state as summer officially arrives

Arkansas Wildlife Editor

• Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir — Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) reported that the lake has its normal stain and is at a normal level as of Thursday morning. No surface temperature was recorded. The bream bite has fallen off to fair; redworms and crickets will work. Crappie have moved into deep water and the bite is fair on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good and the topwater bite is on!

Catfish are good on yo-yos and limb lines; try chicken liver, cut shad or other typical line baits.

The high and fast water on the Little Rock pool of the Arkansas River is getting the anglers from Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood out to area lakes instead. This week they checked out Lake Conway, where the black bass were biting well in the coves on single swimbaits and on topwater frogs.

• Little Red River — The Army Corps of Engineers reports the outflow at Greers Ferry Dam to be 6,239 cfs (turbine) as of noon Thursday, June 16.

Wednesday’s release began about 8 a.m. and run until 1 a.m. Thursday, and Thursday’s began again at 5 a.m., averaging about 6,200 cfs to generate about 88 mwh of energy. Greers Ferry Lake is about 3 feet over normal conservation pool. The tailwater at 2 p.m. May 19 was 276.63 feet msl and rising. Check with the Corps website for real-time release data or by calling (501) 362-5150).

Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecast generation schedule.

Mike Winkler of Little River Fly Fishing Trips

Continued on Page 9 HOT FISHING (cont.)

(501-507-3688) said that with high temperatures in the 90s and a heat index in the 100s throughout Arkansas, along with Greers Ferry Lake being above power pool, look for the Army Corp of Engineers to continue to run two units of water for most of the day. Always check the USACE Little Rock app for the generation schedule before heading

“As of now we are in a consistent generation schedule,” Mike said. “The Army Corp of Engineers have been running two units usually starting at 7 a.m. and running till midnight. I’d expect the same schedule as long as we have hot weather in the forecast and no rain.”

Fishing the falling water has been good. The best bite has been early in the morning before it gets hot and before the new push of water hits. Pheasant tail nymphs, Guide’s Choice hare’s ear and midges have been working great in the falling water.

“When the high water hits, I’d run a deep-water nymph rig up at the dam set from 6 feet to 12 feet deep or throw streamer patterns.”

Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said trout are good on olive Maribou Jigs and on white Rooster Tails.

Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) said that with recent rains, Greers Ferry Lake is above normal seasonal pool, creating unpredictable generation for the Little Red River.

San Juan worms, pheasant tails, hare’s ear, midges and streamers are recommended for fly-fishing. For Trout Magnet fishing, Lowell suggests pink and cotton-candy-colored bodies 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 (swlwc. usace.army.mil) for FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.

Greers Ferry Lake As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 465.64 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.75 feet msl, top flood elevation 487.0 msl).

Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 465.65 feet msl, about 3 feet above normal pool for this time of year and falling with generation and evaporation. Crappie continue to be caught trolling, jigging, etc. in 8-40 feet of water on live and artificial baits. Black bass are right up on the bank out to 45 feet of water and can be caught with lots of different baits from top to bottom. Bream are guarding fry and eating most anything in sight from super shallow out to 25 feet on flats. Catfishing is great all over lake and rivers – out of a lot of baits, hot dogs seem to be shining right now. Walleye are here today, gone tomorrow.

Some kind of walleye rotation; try crawlers, spoons, crankbaits, etc. from 12-45 feet. Hybrid and white bass are roaming a lot and setting up midday on to eat on structure; spoons, inline spinners and live bait – lots working in 25-60 feet of water.

Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood reports that black bass are good in the early morning hours on topwater baits; try a Zara Spook or a Rebel Popper.

• Harris Brake Lake — Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says a 7-pound flathead catfish was caught this week. This was after a 36-pounder was hauled in the previous week. Not surprisingly, the conditions at Harris Brake this week after recent storms featured muddy, high water. Overall, the catfish bite is good on trotlines baited with goldfish.

Also, bream remain good with redworms and crickets working. Crappie and bass, meanwhile, have ben fair.

Crappie are reachable in the deeper areas by boat; use minnows or jigs. Black bass will be round on shoreline areas, and they are hungry for minnows or typical summertime bass lures.

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— Lacey Williams at Lakeview Landing on Arkansas Highway 95 (501-242-1437) said fishing has slowed down a bit because of the weather. But if you can beat the heat in the morning, that is your best bet. Or come before daylight and use stink baits like Danny King’s Catfish Punch Bait. The bass are in beds, which means you most likely need a boat to get to them. Crappie are about 2 feet deep on jigs out in the brushpiles. “The only thing I was catching myself was a sunburn,”

— David Hall at Dad’s Bait Shop (501-289-2210) says the water remains cloudy and the level is high. No temperature was reported.

Fishing results mirror what David saw last week.

Bream are still good on redworms and crickets.

Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs; try 6-7 feet deep by trolling and spiderrigging down the channel, and also target sunken brushpiles. The best black bass bite is found in the evenings. Go with spinnerbaits. Catfish are favoring Catfish Charlie bait.

Results have been good.

Dad’s is a 24/7 self-serve bait shop.

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— Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said bass are good on main lake points using a Carolina rig or deep-diving crankbaits.

WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) said the largemouth bass bite is good. There are reports of the bass being found shallow along the grass lines. Some reports have them deep. They are biting at dawn and at dusk.

Try using Carolina-rigged lizards, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps or dropshots rigs. Spotted bass (Kentucky bass) are also good. Some reports of them being found near drop offs around 16-20 feet and off rocky banks and other reports of them being found on brushpiles. Some have been caught near rocky points. Try using a Texas rig on brush or jigs, crankbaits and Rat-LTraps. In the Tuesday night WestRock Landing black bass tournament this week, Sam and Fred Lowery caught a 5-bass limit total-

Photo courtesy of AGFC FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

ing 12.97 pounds plus the Big Bass of 4.19 pounds.

Cameron Nesterenko and Andrew Wooley were right behind the winners by a fraction, catching 12.94 pounds with their five bass, and Josh Jeffers and Josh Baker had an 11.91-pound stringer.

Crappie have been fair.

Reports surfaced this week of crappie being found at 12-18 feet depth. Go with jigs or minnows. Bream have been fair. They are mixed in with the crappie and some bream are still deep. Most of the catches have been between 12-14 feet on minnows or jigs.

No reports on white bass or catfish this week. For the cats, though, try using chicken liver, worms or crayfish and see what bites.

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— On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam was 143,766 cfs. The stage was down almost 4 feet this time from last week, at 22.99 feet on Thursday. Flow further upriver at Dardanelle Lock and Dam was 137,787 cfs.

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— Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) says the fishing and conditions have been consistent

a couple of weeks now.

Water is clear and the level is normal. No surface temperature was reported.

Bream are biting well and are bedded up shallow. Go with redworms or crickets. Crappie are good in 5-6 feet depth. Minnows are working best. Black bass are good early in the day and late in the evening.

Spinnerbaits and soft plastic worms are getting the most action. Catfish are good using chicken liver.

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— Maumelle Pool: On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam was 143,564 cfs.

Little Rock Area Pools: The Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam was 138,150 cfs, and the stream gauge stage was at 10.97 feet, down 3 feet from a week ago. The tailwater is at 248.93 feet msl. Flow at the Terry Lock and Dam was 141,848 cfs. There continues to be a smallcraft warning on the Little Rock pool.

Zimmerman’s Exxon said that bream are good on the river using waxworms or crickets in the backwaters and the Willow Beach area. Black bass are biting well around the old Cajun’s Wharf location on the main river; try a crankbait, a topwater lure or shaky head worm. Catfish reports are good, with skipjack and shad proving successful.