Arkansas Wildlife Fishing Report Archives

March 18, 2020

Ella Lax is all smiles after catching this rainbow trout with Cotter Trout Dock guide Doug Knight. Photo provided by Cotter Trout Dock.

Fishing Goes On Despite Coronavirus Concerns

As someone else (perhaps it was Gov. Asa Hutchinson) earlier this week mentioned in a press conference in discussing the avoidance of the coronavirus, if one is looking for a good social distancing activity, fishing and the outdoors certainly can provide that. Many of our regular Weekly Fishing Report contributors checked in and said they are open for business, or guiding, or (in the case of our anglers who provide reports) getting out on the water and seeing what's biting.
Not to make the least bit of light about the coronavirus, but apparently it's the water conditions around the state (high, fast in some places, muddy to murky, temps still in the low 50s even though a crappie and bass spawn is close) that are causing many of our reporters their most concern.
Fly-fishing guide Greg Seaton of Heber Springs offers this tip for those of you who were planning or had already scheduled a spring fishing trip (this applies to all fishing, not just trout excusions): "It may be best to check with your guide if you have a trip planned during the next couple of weeks. Some are taking trips and others are postponing until we get a better handle on the virus issue. You can discuss the trip with your guide and make your decision. It’s a hard decision to make, since we consider your health as well as our own. Social distancing is hard to practice while guiding in a boat. Again, each of us and you have to make these decisions, so call and discuss it with your guide. Hopefully, we will have a better handle on this in a couple of weeks. Good fishing, and good health!”
Meanwhile, in the photo above right, Ella Lax and Cotter Trout Dock guide Doug Knight enjoyed a recent day catching rainbow trout. Cotter Trout Dock has got a great report this week about the fishing going on at the White River below Bull Shoals Dam. Plus there are other promising reports from around the state. Check up on your favorite spot by clicking the button below.

Click for the Latest Weekly Fishing Report

AGFC-managed boat ramps like the Bennie Craig ramp are open.

AGFC-managed Boat Ramps Remain Open

As of Wednesday afternoon, all AGFC-maintained boat ramps are open in Arkansas
However, as for Army Corps of Engineers lakes managed for fishing by the AGFC, there are different rules, mostly temparary due to the coronavirus pandemic, being put into place that should bve noted by Corps park user. As of Wednesday, parks and lakes controlled out of the Corps' Little Rock District are remaining open (campgrounds, day-use areas), according to the Corps' Jay Townsend. The Corps IS suspending permits for large gatherings such as pavilion reservations, tournament permits and other permits for events. The Little Rock District oversees all Corps lakes in Arkansas except Ouachita, DeGray and Greeson; those three are controlled by the Vicksburg (Mississippi) District, which sent out a press release Wednesday saying it was temporarily closing visitor centers, field offices and recreation areas to the public. Again, that pertains to lakes Ouachita, Greeson and DeGray as of March 18, but it also does not affect their ramps.
The main note for anglers who are wanting to fish: Boat ramps ARE open. The Vicksburg office of the Corps also says that at this time, in addition to open boat ramps, the recreation sites’ nearby amenities, including restrooms and fish cleaning stations, will remain open at its lakes (Ouachita, DeGray and Greeson in Arkansas).

Anglers are enjoying the white bass run in the waters around Millwood Lake.

Hot Spots: White Bass Run at Millwood Lake

Guide Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake sent us this photo (left) of one of his clients enjoying the white bass run now in gear in the Millwood area. Mike discusses the latest in his report from Millwood, although he notes that this week much more water has flowed into Millwood and that's causing some problems for angler success. Still, there are fish to be caught, he said.
Meanwhile, Bryson Kindy (below left) is shown holding a nice 7-pounder-or-so black bass caught at Sunset Lake in Benton. Kindy was using a plastic worm. And, as AGFC chief photographer Mike Wintroath often explains in his photography column in every issue of Arkansas Wildlife Magazine, holding a big bass in this way can make it look even bigger. But, hey, 7 pounds is nothing to sneeze at. Thanks to Lisa Spencer at Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton for forwarding the photo, along with one from Neil Powell (below right) with a crappie he caught in a private pond using a Beaver Bottom Bait.
Do you have a photo to run in the Fishing Report? Send it along to jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov or give it to your local guide or baitshop owner to forward along to us along with their weekly fishing reports. We'll be sure to include it.
Check out all the hot spots, your favorites spots, and other fishing news by clicking the button below. We've included more photos on the Weekly Fishing Report as well. Look for more changes in appearance of the report online in coming weeks.

Benton's Sunset Lake holds some big bass, as Bryson Kindy shows with this 7-pounder.

Crappie are biting in Saline County fisheries.

Click for the Latest Weekly Fishing Report

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