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Crappie Time in Arkansas Again
Many anglers were patiently waiting this fall for the crappie bite to kick in, as the extended summer temperatures continued into early October. But the good news around the state from the many anglers and shops that provide fishing reports to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is that the crappie bite is on now that water has cooled a bit.
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir has long been regarded as one of the best crappie lakes around, and reports there continue to be very good for the past couple of weeks. From anglers working the cover in and around the Highway 89 bridge to the area around Gold Creek Landing, reports continue to be good to excellent.
Mike Siefert, a guide at Millwood Lake, tells us that crappie continue to bite well on Blakemore Road Runners and vertical jigging a jig in planted brush piles from 12-15 feet of depth.
The crappie may be biting a little slower in DeGray Lake, but patience will pay off, our regular anglers say. George Graves has heard good reports from other guides and suggests looking for brush attractors in 18-24 feet of water between mid-lake and Shouse Ford. Try a 2-inch curly tail grub or tube on a 1/16-ounce jig head in a natural shad pattern in the clear water. Work the jig slowly over the thickest part of the cover. Also try a slip float with a live minnow set at about 15 feet. John Duncan at DeGray seconds the suggestion of the Shouse Ford area as being the best area to fish and suggests working brush tops from 12-20 feet deep.
Deer and other hunting seasons have directed many outdoors lovers to the woods, but there are still ample opportunities for a good fishing weekend with the cooler weather. Enjoy Arkansas's fishing holes.
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(updated 11-9-2016) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water is murky and at a normal level. Crappie remains good on minnows and jigs. Bream fishing is good on worms and crickets. Catfish are on the bite, rating good on a variety of baits and presentations. They’re biting well on yo-yos, trotlines, and flatheads are biting trotlines. Try worms and chicken liver for bait. Bass have slowed in the past week, rating poor.
(updated 10-26-2016) Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) reported crappie have been doing well for the past 2-3 weeks. People are catching anywhere from 5 to 25 fish most days, all pretty good-sized fish. They are getting in the pads some and little on the brush piles, but mostly feeding in the pads. Minnows and jigs are both doing well for bait. Pink minnows on some days, while shiners are doing fine, too. Looking like it will be a better season than the last couple of winters. Water level is good, about 5 inches low. Clarity looks good. Temperature is bouncing down, getting below 70.
(updated 11-9-2016) James Dillard at Tailwater Fishing Co. said the fishing has been on fire. They have had water releases from the dam most week days. Wade fishing has been possible up and down the entire river. Browns are slowly making their way onto the shoals to spawn. Wade carefully and don't disturb the reds. Egg patterns and midges have been producing great numbers of fish.
(updated 11-2-2016) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said they are receiving weekday afternoon generation and less amounts of generation on weekends. For fly fishing, Myers recommends midges, pheasant tails, sowbugs and streamers. For Trout Magnet fishing, he recommends white and cotton candy-colored bodies on chartreuse jigheads. 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 (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real time water release and the Southwest Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 11-2-2016) Greg Seaton with Little Red Fly Fishing Trips (501-690-9166) said afternoon generation remains the rule during the week with little or no generation on the weekend. Warmer weather has increased demand, so the generation during the week has increased slightly. The river remains clear and water temperature is good. With cooler temps in the forecast, times and amounts of generation may change, so it would be wise to check projected generation before your trip. The brown trout are beginning to move, with more browns being caught the last couple of days. Greg said he has not seen any spawning activity, but the brown bite is improving and he is seeing more browns moving on the shoals He has seen some rainbows spawning on a couple of the shoals. Small flies (midge pupas and pheasant tails) still seem to be the most productive, with midge hatches in the morning and blue wing olive mayfly hatches in the afternoon. Combine these with light tippet in the clear water and the chances of success improve.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 459.24 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 461.44 msl).
(updated 11-9-2016) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 459.28 and falling, the temperature is in lower 70s and needing to fall. It is warming back up in the afternoons to mid-70s. The crappie fishing is still about the same. They can be caught in and around the pole timber and over and around brush piles in 12-40 feet of water on jigs and minnows. The walleye are scattered and can be caught in 18-40 feet of water on crankbaits and minnows dragged around on drop-shot rigs. The bream are eating in-line spinners, small crankbaits, crickets and crawlers from real shallow out to 30 feet of water. Bass fishing is getting better using spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and jigs in for fish in shallow depths. The deeper fish are eating C-rigs, football heads and Texas rigged worms. Catfishing is good all over the lake on a variety of baits, on trotlines, jugs and rod and reels. The hybrid and white bass are eating off and on all day and night. Use topwater baits, in-line spinners, spoons and swimbaits in 25-40 feet of water. There is some schooling going on at various times throughout the day all over the lake.
(updated 11-2-2016) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said water is clear and at a low level. Surface temperature was 72 degrees. Bass fishing is good with crankbaits. The crappie bite is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good using stink bait. Bream are fair.
(updated 11-9-2016) Johnny “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) said water level is normal, clarity is good. Surface temperature is around 68 degrees. Bream are slow but still catching on crickets around the shore. Bass are doing well around brush and shallow water using plastic worms and crankbaits. Catfish are doing good in shallow water and deeper water using minnows. Crappie are slow but starting to pick up. Mostly smaller ones around the pier and around the banks. Some people are catching some better size in 9 feet of water using jigs and minnows.
(updated 11-2-2016) Jolly Roger’s Marina reported good black bass are biting on wacky rig worms and spinnerbaits both early in the morning and late in the day. Blacks can be caught in 3-8 feet just off the weeds. The cooler weather has activated the bass. Roger suggests trying shallow lures and spinnerbaits. Kentucky bass fishing has been excellent and are being caught on crankbaits and jigs. They are being found in 4-9 feet of water. They are mixed in with the black bass. White bass are good. Use Rooster Tails. CC Spoons and deep diving Bandits and Bombers. They seem to be all over the lake. Reports of catches are coming from the east end right off the point on CC Spoons, white jigs and Rooster Tails when schooling. The crappie are very good right now. They are being caught on crappie minnows and with chartreuse and white jigs with a very light line. Crappie are in 15-20 feet depth; try the edge of the channels and on the old road beds. Lots of 6- to 9-inch crappie are being caught, so it should be a great winter fishing. Bream are good and can be found at 15 feet on the bottom. They are being caught on crickets and live worms. Catfishing is good. The catfish are being caught in 15-20 feet of water and are being caught on stink bait, small bream and chicken livers. Catfish in the 30-pound range are very common for Lake Maumelle.
(updated 11-9-2016) Fosters Four Seasons (501-868-9061) said water was clear and the surface temperature ranged 68-70 degrees. Water level was normal. Bass reports were good, with spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater lures working best. Bream were good on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing was good using minnows and jigs. Catfishing was good; use worms or blood bait. White bass reports were good. Fosters has all anglers’ needs in the way of bait and food, and also sells non-ethanol gas.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said catfish are biting fair on chicken liver, nightcrawlers and minnows. Bream have been biting slow to fair on crickets and redworms. Bass fishing has been good with minnows and some plastic worms and grubs. Crappie have been biting pink minnows early in the morning.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said bass are biting good on minnows and small plastic lizards. Crappie have been biting well on No. 6 and pink minnows. Catfish have been biting on minnows, goldfish and black salties. Bream will almost always bite a cricket or redworm.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said bream are biting crickets and redworms. Catfish are biting minnows, goldfish and black salties. Bass have been biting fair on minnows, plastic worms and lizards and small water baits. Crappie have been slow and few but some have been caught on pink minnows recently.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie are still biting well on size 6 and size 12 minnows. Bass fishing has been fair with minnows, plastic worms and lizards and top water baits. Catfish are biting chicken livers, night crawlers and minnows. Bream fishing has slowed but is still fair with crickets or worms.
(updated 11-2-2016) Charlie’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) said flows in the river pool are coming down, but because of hunting, few people are fishing. Black bass were fair on a Red Bug in 2-4 feet of water in the backwater areas. Some fish are beginning to go to the upstream side of the jetties. So, use a red or shad-colored jig. Bream are slowing down so much, there were no reports in the past week. White bass schools are scattered chasing shad on the back side of jetties. Use crankbaits in shad color or, if the water is mud-stained, use Fire Tiger color. White bass bite is good. Catfish are on top of jetties in the midday; use white shad to catch them. As the day moves on, fish the tips of jetties. Catfishing overall was fair. Kentucky bass are biting fair on top of jetties as well. Use a Rapala Fat Rap; the fish seem to like them on the way back up.
(updated 11-9-2016) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said water was clear and surface temperature was at 70 degrees. Level and current were normal. Bass fishing was excellent using spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater lures. Bream bite was good on worms and crickets. Crappie were good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing was good using worms, blood bait and shad. White bass fishing, like that of largemouth bass, was excellent.
(updated 11-9-2016) Vince Miller at Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said the closure of the Broadway Bridge between Little Rock and North Little Rock for construction has turned off the fishing in his area, with few to any anglers.
(updated 11-9-2016) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said water clarity is clear and at a normal level and current. No temperature was recorded. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish reports were poor in the Clear Lake area, but were good near Terry Lock and Dam, where the clarity was muddy. Near the dam, worms and blood bait were getting catfish bites. Bass were also hitting topwater baits along with spinnerbaits and crankbaits in the dam area.
(updated 11-2-2016) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said water was clear and had a surface temperature in the upper 70s. Level and current were normal. Bream were fair on worms and crickets. Crappie were in about 6 feet of water and the bite was fair on pink minnows. Nearer the Terry Lock and Dam, crappie hit minnows and jigs and were in the 6-7-foot range. Bass were good in the pool around jetties and were hitting spinnerbaits and crankbaits, and also favored topwater lures near the Terry dam. Catfishing was fair with blood bait. White bass were good and were all about the white Rooster Tails for anglers having success.
(updated 11-2-2016) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said crappie fishing is good around the Murray Lock and Dam using white or chartreuse jigs. Catfish are biting well on skipjack and slicks. White bass fishing is good; try a red and chartreuse jig. No reports from that area on bream or bass.
(updated 11-9-2016) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said landing will be closed until next Feb. 6.
(updated 11-2-2016) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) reported that catfishing is excellent. Use chicken liver, chicken hearts, nightcrawlers or hot dogs.
(updated 11-2-2016) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) reported excellent catfishing in the past week. Nightcrawlers and chicken hearts were the baits of choice.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said a few catfish have been caught recently on nightcrawlers and minnows. Bream have been biting fair on crickets and worms. Most of them have been small but still fun to catch. Bass fishing has been slow. A few small crappie have been biting pink and size 6 minnows.
(updated 11-2-2016) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said water was clear and had a surface temperature in the upper 70s. Level and current were normal. Bream were fair on worms and crickets. Crappie were in about 6 feet of water and the bite was fair on minnows and jigs. Bass were good on topwater lures, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing was fair with blood bait. White bass reports were good; white Rooster Tails.
(updated 11-9-2016) Bones Bait Shop (501-354-9900), now run by new owners Larry and Shirley Walters, said water is clear and the surface temperature was 69 degrees. Water is low, about 7 or 8 feet at the dock. Futher out in the water, crappie are suspended at about 18-20 feet and the bite is good. They’re around brush piles and are biting minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good in the creek area. Topwater baits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits all are working nicely. Catfishing is fair on worms and blood bait. Bream reports were poor.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 652.82 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659.00 msl).
(updated 11-2-2016) K Dock Marina reported that very warm water temperature has not helped the bite. Had 71 degrees surface temperature last Thursday afternoon at the dock, and temps have ranged 68-71. Water is clear to stained. Water level is almost back to the old power pool normal level of 654 feet msl. All species are slow. They were hoping for great weekend temps for fishermen, though – still in shorts and a T-Shirt for Halloween! Showing 83-85 degrees this week. Hit the lake early before the sun bakes the surface of the water. Fish slow and off the banks. Crappie and walleye should start hitting soon when the cold snap comes. Live minnows on crappie, spoons on walleye and small plastics on bass. Been getting some good reports on catfish. They are feeding on live bluegills, nightcrawlers and crawdads.
(updated 11-9-2016) Ron Gamble at Cotter Trout Dock said, “What a great week in the Arkansas Ozarks! The fall colors are not brilliant this autumn – you'll see a pop of bright reds or orange once in a while – but come on over anyway, the fishing has been outstanding.” Gamble says to be prepared for very cool mornings because they’re getting some fall temperatures (at last) and warm afternoons. A silver-bellied rogue (black or blue back) was catching all the fish this past week, mid-depth, 3 inches long. The rainbows are loving the shrimp/pink PowerBait mashups. You might draw the attention of some browns (they have seen a fair number this week) with a minnow or a sculpin, but never underestimate a frustrated brown if you tease him enough with a gold Cleo, a white and gray jig or a peach/orange/yellow egg pattern fly. The holiday season is coming up and weekend getaways are being scheduled. Remember, Ron says: You can trout-fish year-round in the Arkansas fisheries and the Southern hospitality is all-year-long every day!
(updated 11-9-2016) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) reported water conditions are perfect clarity with the river at a normal level. There have been three generators running the past few days. Rainbow trout bite is great. The rainbows are taking to corn and PowerBaits. Browns are being caught but they are really slow. They’re there, you can see them, but they’re proving hard to catch.
(updated 11-9-2016) John Berry at Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) reported that during the past week, they have had no rain, warm temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 1.4 feet to rest at 5.9 feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet. This is 41.4 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock rose 0.2 feet to rest at 5.9 feet below seasonal power pool and 19.9 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.4 feet to rest at 5.9 feet below seasonal power pool and 15.5 feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we had heavy generation in the afternoon with lower generation in the morning and no wadable water. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonable power pool. With cooler fall weather and lower lake levels, we should be seeing more wadable water. The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 to accommodate the brown trout spawn. The state park will be seasonal Catch and Release for the same period. All brown trout must be immediately released. In addition, night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period.
Berry said that on the White, the bite has been spotty of late. Some days have been excellent and some poor. The hot spot has been Wildcat Shoals, though there has been no wadable water. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers (sizes 8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (size 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead size 16 or18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite is a cerise San Juan worm with a size 18 ruby midge suspended below it).
Berry also said, “A couple of weeks ago I guided Susan Thrasher. She is a repeat client. I always enjoy fishing with her because she is a guide (she owns a nice lodge on the Caney Fork River in Lancaster Tenn.) and is also a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor. To say that she is an accomplished angler is a bit of an understatement. In addition, she had a career as an executive in a large international engineering firm. We fished the Catch and Release section at Rim Shoals and it was a gorgeous day. It was sunny with no wind and a high temperature of 72 degrees. I rigged her rod with the usual suspects, a ruby midge below a cerise San Juan worm (the flies that I have been fishing with great success for months). We began drifting and were into nice fish immediately. The hot fly was the ruby midge. After a while, she asked if she could use her favorite fly. Now, my business philosophy is that the day belongs to the client, so I said ‘sure.’ She ties a size 14 black thread midge with a tungsten bead on a scud hook, and has had great success with it on the Caney Fork and other rivers. She wanted to see if it would work on the White. The fly was way bigger than the midges I have seen (the ruby is a size 18) and I was interested to see if it would work here. We clipped off the ruby midge and tied on her fly. We were into fish immediately and fished that way for an hour or so. In the process, we caught a lot of trout. She wondered if her fly would out-produce the ruby midge. I proposed a simple experiment. We would re-rig her rod with her fly as the lead fly and the ruby midge as the dropper. Once again, we were into fish immediately. We didn’t count, but it was pretty apparent that her fly was catching the majority of the trout. We replaced the ruby midge with another of her large black midges. We noticed that several trout were hitting the strike indicator. We went back to my suburban and got an extra rod that we rigged with a Western pink lady grasshopper and used her fly as a dropper. We took a couple on the hopper, but the black midge caught even more trout. I was intrigued and asked the name of the fly. She said that she really didn’t have a name for it but often referred to it as the Miracle Midge. I knew of another fly pattern with that name and suggested that she call it the Thrasher, her last name. She liked that. We fished until around 4 p.m. She landed well over 60 trout, most of which were caught on the Thrasher. As other boats came in with friends of hers in them, they asked if we had fished with her fly and how well we had done. I answered “yes” and “very well.” It was what they had expected. Sometimes we learn of new fly patterns in unexpected places. I took the fly that was still on my fly rod, below the grass hopper, and gave it to my commercial fly-tyer at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop to reproduce. I want to fish it myself and see if it works for me, too. I think it will and that it will be a fly that earns its own keep.”
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.61 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 553.75 msl, April-September – 552.00 msl). (updated 11-9-2016) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the busy schedule on Norfork Lake continues. Tom had two groups in for their Cast & Blast package. They striper-fish for two days and hunted pheasant the other day. The stripers are on the feed above the state line. This past week they caught over 60 stripers. Tom says he knows people are saying they are catching stripers on the flats, but not the numbers his groups are. While they are baiting for shad they are seeing hundreds of stripers way up the creeks in 3 feet of clear water. They are feeding in the coldest water on the lake. This week the lake will turn over. The turnover will shut down fishing on the main lake for a few days, but after that the fish will go on a major feed and you will be able to find them anywhere on the lake. Look on the flats and up the major creek arms for schooling fish. The white bass were feeding around Bryant Creek for periods of over an hour. You should start seeing that after the lake turnover. If you fish above the state line, do not expect to catch any stripers if you plan on trolling with plastic baits or shiners. Tom says he has been watching trollers and shiner fisherman and not one has caught a striper. Tom’s groups are using 7-inch to 8-inch gizzard shad. That’s all the stripers want right now, so just wait until the lake turns and the plastics and shiners will then catch stripers. The best bite is the flat next to the river channel in 25 feet of water. There are huge schools of shad roaming the river. Just keep moving up and down the channel. They are catching stripers using downlines, weighted floats and planer boards, the lines are set at 16 feet.
Reynolds added that he took Mitch, Dave and Mark out for their annual Cast & Blast. They striper-fished for two days and caught their limit both days. The first day it took all eight hours to catch their limit. They had plenty of bites but it was one of those days to catch fish it took three bites to catch each fish. One of the nice things about fishing above the state line is you can catch your shad up there. After they were done the first day the guys let Tom catch their bait for the next day, he said. That saved Tom both time and money, he said, plus it was fun for them seeing how the guides catch bait. The next day the bite started right away and continued all morning. The group caught a limit plus two more in less than three hours. As always, the extra two fish were released. They were seeing large schools of stripers roaming the flats feeding shad. If you have never caught stripers, now is a great time.
(updated 11-2-2016) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said the Norfork Lake fishing pattern is trying its hardest to get into the fall pattern, but Mother Nature has thrown them a curve. They have had unseasonably warm weather with highs in the mid-80s and lows in the low 60s, which is almost 15-20 degrees above average. It has been great for the vacationers enjoying the area still being able to wear shorts and T-shirts, but it is confusing the fish. Lou says he is conflicted because he does love this warm weather, but he is also ready for the fish to start feeding heavily for the cold weather. “I guess I will enjoy whatever nature brings my way,” he said. Lou has been fishing for striped bass and doing OK until the last couple of days. He is finding good fish in the mornings and late afternoons, but they are not real aggressive in biting. He has been fishing on some of the flats heading up river, but one day this week he decided to check out other areas where stripers are typically biting at this time. He found a lot of big fish suspended at 40-55 feet in 120 feet of water off of deep-water bluffs. He dropped live bait as well as jigged a spoon, but had no takers. He believes these fish are hovering in the deepest, coolest water they can get to, that still has good oxygen. From the last oxygen report that he’s seen, at depths below 55 feet the oxygen level is very low, indicating the lake has not totally turned over. The good news for fishing is that assuming the long-term weather forecast is correct, the weather will cool starting this Thursday or Friday and stay at normal temps. The lower ambient temperatures will lower the lake water temperature and allow the lake to finish its turnover and the fish will truly start their fall feed. It won't be long.
Gabric also said that even though the striper bite has slowed for him, the largemouth bite has been excellent. He found surface feeding fish around the bridge columns and said he had a blast. Any topwater bait would have worked, but he had a Kastmaster tied on so he starting casting. Every cast for 45 minutes he either caught a good-size fish or had a bump and missed it. Crankbaits are working for the suspended fish, and plastics worked along the bottom are also working well. Deep-water bluffs either in a cut or at a point are great areas to catch some nice fish. He has also picked up some nice bass near brush piles jigging a spoon in 35 feet of water. The crappie bite is also pretty good. He has caught some nice slabs on a 35-38-feet-deep main lake brush pile. The fish were suspended 20-25 feet down on the top of the brush pile. Sunrise and sunset are two great times to catch crappie, but you can also pick up some fish during the day. Catfish were biting well for a couple of his guests using jugs set in 30-40 feet of water. Their best bait so far has been nightcrawlers. The surface water temperature is in the 72-74 degree range, which is slightly higher than Lou’s last report. A rise in lake temperature is not normal for this time of year. The lake level is fairly stable and currently sits at 552.55. The creeks and coves as well as the flats on the main lake are stained. The deep water of the main lake appears to be clear on the surface.
(updated 11-9-2016) John Berry at Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said Norfork Lake remained steady at 1.2 feet below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet and 27.4 feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we had low levels of generation all day with wadable water every day. All of the lakes on this system are below seasonable power pool. With cooler fall weather and lower lake levels, we should see more wadable water. There has been wadable water every morning on the Norfork. The lake has turned over and there is a sulfur smell on the upper river and with lower dissolved oxygen, in that area, the bite has been slow there. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (sizes 14, 16) like the Green Butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). There have been reliable hatches of small midges (try a size 24 Adams parachute) and caddis (try a size 18 elk hair caddis). The fishing is better in the morning. My favorite fly has been the ruby midge. Dry Run Creek has been less crowded with school in session. A large number of brown trout have moved into the creek. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10).
(updated 11-9-2016) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the Buffalo is navigable. The smallmouths are still active. His favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering the Buffalo River. There are no dams, it has large drainages and is prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
(updated 11-9-2016) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the water is navigable. The smallmouths are still active. His favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek. There are no dams, it has large drainages and is prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,114.46 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120.00 msl).
(updated 11-9-2016) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said water is low and clear, and the surface temperature is in the low 70s. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows; you’ll find crappie at 10 feet or less depth. Bass are in shallow depth both early in the day and late and are biting fair. Use a spinnerbait, crankbait or topwater lure. Catfishing is fair on prepared baits or shad. Stripers are busy in the river and are hitting topwater lures and live shad.
(updated 11-9-2016) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said the lake turnover has occurred, getting the stripers on the move using main lake structures, mouths of coves, etc., as they move into tributaries. Some stripers are using gravel bars, points, humps, treetops and cuts in the bank to corner bait. Fishing free lines, balloons and planers will definitely get you some fish. There has been an abundance of topwater activity from striper and white bass. Striper fishing will be good with striper taken on live shad fished from 0-30 feet deep. Also try trolling small umbrella rigs with white or chartreuse grubs for stained water; use plugs like the Rapala No. 14 Husky Jerks in black back or purple back colors and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in 5-6-inch model on downriggers. Jerkbaits like flukes, swimbaits and jigs will also produce. Topwater baits like redfins in 7-inch Zara Spooks, Pencil Poopers, etc., are working. Have ’em tied on and ready! Fish location is greatly influenced by lake level and current flow – current in the lake from generation will generally position fish on upstream or downstream edges of structure. Check the daily lake level and flow data link on Mike Bailey’s web site. The go-to approach on Beaver Lake when fishing for trophy stripers is to use live shad. Water surface temperature has been in the high 60s. On the mid- and lower sections of the lake, these areas have been the striper hot spots recently: Indian Creek, Lost Bridge North, Big Clifty, Point 5, Point 6, Rambo Creek arm, Rocky Branch, Ford and Cedar creeks, Larue, Coppermine, Ventris, and Shaddox Hollow. On the upper section, check out the Highway 12 bridge and Prairie Creek (white bass are surfacing). Walleye are making their way out of the main lake in numbers in fall migration mode but can be found scattered still around the lake and are on the feed. Walleye can be found from 10-30 feet deep depending on areas you fish. Three-way rigging Rapalas in natural colors for clear water or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in areas of stained water. Try Rapala Tail Dancers, Bagley Rumble B's, Flicker Shad, Bandit 300 Series in colors that include orange and chartreuse. Also try slow death rigs and spinner rigs on bottom bouncers in orange/chartreuse. Bink Pro Scale 1-ounce jigging spoons in white or white/chartreuse combination and a variety of jigs are also producing walleye.
(updated 11-2-2016) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said the river is exceptionally low; however, that has not stopped the trout from biting. This will be a short report. Trout are biting on various PowerBaits fished with light terminal tackle. Various spoons are doing the trick as well. The deeper water between Houseman and Beaver are producing some very nice trout. Fly fishermen will enjoy the shallow waters between the dam and Spider Creek.
(updated 11-2-2016) Beaver Dam Store reported the browns are spawning. Please be respective of the reds that are being laid. Trout hatchery trucks have recently dumped trout below the dam and at the Bertrand ramp. Reports from fishermen are off the charts. People are catching limits of fish left and right! If you get the chance, fish the tailwaters; you won’t be disappointed. There are many areas to fish now that the water levels are down. Boaters, beware of the low water conditions. Many new gravel bars have exposed themselves causing dangerous conditions. Trout can be caught using midges, streamers, Y2Ks and San Juan worms. Try drifting zebra midges, nymphing and swinging small soft hackles, scuds and cracklebacks. Good lures are gold and silver Colorado Spoons, red and gold Bouyant Spoons and Flicker Shad in Pro Series No. 4’s and 5’s. Try PowerBait in white, red, orange, yellow, chartreuse and peach. Good flies are pheasant tails, midges in blue dun, black, olive, hare’s ear, tungsten copper Johns, WD40s, Trout Magnets and San Juan worms. Catfish are biting on wicked sticky catfish bait along with Magic Bait crawfish/chicken blood bait.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reported the water being clear and at a normal level. Surface temperature was 65 degrees. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass have been good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Catfishing is good using glowworms or goldfish.
(updated 10-26-2016) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) reported that water was clear and surface temperature was 73 degrees. Water was 8 inches below normal level. Crappie are good and biting minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and topwater baits. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and shad. No reports on bream.
(updated 11-9-2016) Ome Coleman at Lake Poinsett State Park said Lake Poinsett is still low but the weather is still right. So the crappie fisherman and bream fishermen are having fun bringing in the fish. Coleman says he hasn’t heard anything about the bass and catfish, but he is sure they are being caught.
(updated 11-9-2016) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water was clear and at a normal level, with a surface temperature of 68-70 degrees. Bream were good on crickets. Crappie were fair on minnows. Bass were good on jigs. Catfishing was good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers.
(updated 11-9-2016) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 289 cfs and water clarity is clear. The river is getting really low and clear. Olive Woolly Buggers, Guppies and smaller nymphs have been very productive. Cooler weather has helped get the bite on. Heavy daily hatches of caddis and mayflies have been a lot of fun and some dry fly action can be had imitating the various hatches. Hot pink and chartreuse Trout Magnets are working great below an indicator. With the low water conditions and clear water clarity, sight fishing has been excellent. It has also made the trout spooky.
( updated 11-9-2016) John Berry in Cotter said the river is fishing well. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. Canoe season is over and there are fewer boats on the river. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
(updated 11-9-2016) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the fishing has been slow do to low water levels. Water remains low but the clarity is clear. Bream are fair around brush piles on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Nor reports were heard on any other species.
(updated 11-2-16) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team reported water temperatures are around 70 degrees and visibility is about 1 foot. Black bass are biting fairly well now that the water is cooling a bit and there is less fishing pressure. Both small and larger fish are being caught on wind-blown banks in Lake Langhofer that have baitfish activity. Anglers are having best success with squarebill crankbaits and small-bladed spinnerbaits in shad colors. Good-sized fish are also being caught with jigs worked around and in woody cover and brush.
(updated 11-9-16) Cane Creek State Park said crappie fishing has been good this week. Crappie catches have been large in the mornings with the fish biting on minnows and electric-chicken-colored bait. Bass fishing has been fair, with the bass biting on redworms. Catfish season has not gotten rolling yet, but check back on cats. The weather has been comfortably warm in the afternoons, with slightly chilly nights and mornings. Bream are nowhere in sight.
(updated 11-2-16) Matthew C. Gillum, the ranger at Lake Chicot State Park (870-265-9705), said catfish can be caught using nightcrawlers. Bream are biting waxworms better than crickets. Bass can be found in shallow water and caught using chartreuse and black crankbaits as well as purple shad spinnerbaits. Watermelon-red Zoom Baby Brush Hogs can be used when fishing in thick cover.
(updated 11-2-16) Pine Haven Bait and Tackle (870-367-4303) said catfish reports were fair, with no other information. Fishing appeared to be slow at the lake. Anglers were purchasing bait to fish nearby Cane Creek State Park.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.31 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.32 msl).
(updated 11-9-2016) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said that lake level on Monday (Nov. 7) was near normal conservation pool; approximately 1 inch above normal and steady. There is increased current this week off Little River from last week, with the gates releasing around 1050 cfs as of Monday. Water temps dropped slightly over the past week and have ranged 65 degrees early to 72 degrees, depending on location. Navigation is cautioned for Little River as of Monday due to many missing river buoys throughout the channel on main lake structure. Tailwater level was consistent with last week, sitting 226.17 feet msl on Monday. Clarity and visibility have been consistent over the past couple of weeks, ranging 8-12 inches on main lake structure away from current. Cottonshed, Saline River, Okay Point andand northeast quadrant remain stained. Little River's visibility ranges 10-12 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging 15-25 inches depth of visibility depending on location.
Siefert said that largemouth bass feeding moods continue to improve with the cooler daytime temperatures and dropping surface temps over the past week. Bass are best from 2-3 pounds on topwaters early, along points and creek junctions and creek mouths dumping into Little River. Shad continue relating to creek channels over the past couple weeks, moving in and out of the main creek channel to the points and back again, depending on surface temperatures. Main lake grass beds are also a good choice early if there is good wind blowing. Cordell Crazy Shads, Baby Torpedoes, Heddon Spit'n Images in threadfin shad patterns, and Stuttersteps are working. Bass Assassin Shads and soft plastic frogs are good topwater choices early. Use a bulky 10-inch Berkley Power worm and Rat-L-Traps worked parallel in grassy areas just off Little River. Bass Assassin Shads continue working well in the thick stuff. Good reactions continue on the Johnson spoons using a white or smoke colored 2- or 3-inch fat, curly tail grub trailer. Best colors of Bass Assassin Shads over the past couple weeks have been Salt & Pepper, Grey Ghost and Bad To The Bone colors in the current water clarity and conditions. Best color of Stuttersteps over the past couple weeks have been the Ghost and the Sexy Ghost colors. Rat-L-Traps in chrome/blue tail spinners, Millwood Magic and Tennessee Shad colors continue catching 2-3 pound largemouths in creeks. The 1.75 Echo Squarebill crankbaits in Ghost or Millwood Magic colors continue working on points and in creek channels dumping into Little River. Deeper diving Bomber cranks in Citruse, Citrus Shad and Tennessee Special colors continue to be best choices in the oxbows and in the deeper creek channels over the past several weeks for largemouths and white bass alike. These same cranks and squarebills are also working in creek mouths and points extending into Little River at various times during the day. Whites and hybrids continue roaming Little River, mouths of creek channels and the oxbows, and are hitting the Citrus, Chartreuse Shad or Tennessee Shad colored crankbaits. Over the past few weeks, white bass, Kentucky bass and largemouths were surface-breaking on shad in back of Horseshoe and McGuire up Little River. Those fish were hitting small, topwater Crazy Shads, tail spinner Rat-L-Traps, Little Georges, Rocket Shads, jigging spoons and Rooster Tails in red/white or chartreuse/white, and small Pop-R's early in the mornings. Crappie continue to bite well on Blakemore Road Runners and vertical jigging jigs in planted brush piles from 12-15 feet of depth. Blues and channel cats were biting good this week on trotlines set at 10-15 feet deep along Little River using cut baits like shad and buffalo, and chicken gizzards and livers.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 538.29 feet msl (Flood pool – 548.00 msl).
(updated 11-9-2016) Gary Lammers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported surface temperature is in the lower to mid-70s. Water is clear throughout most of the lake. Crappie are good on brush piles in 10-15 feet. Try fishing 2-inch twister tail grubs in a shad color using a slow retrieve or live minnows fished vertically. A few bass are still roaming the banks and are hitting topwater plugs and buzzbaits. Schooling activity has slowed down over the past few days.
(updated 11-9-2016) Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said a fall feeding frenzy with the spotted bass and crappie is underway. He said Greeson has had plenty of crappie biting in 10-15 feet of water on brush piles. They’re biting jigs fair but the best bet is to go with live bait.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 398.00 feet msl (flood pool – 408.00 msl).
(updated 11-9-2016) Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the upper 60s and the lake is clear throughout. Very few reports this week because very few are fishing; the fishermen are probably all out chasing deer. There have been a few good reports on bass, especially in the morning. The fish are feeding in the vast shad schools most everywhere in the lake. Some of the better spots have been at mid-lake with Caddo Drive and Arlie Moore producing nice catches. Also the major creeks such as Big Hill, Yancey and Brushy are producing. Most any topwater lure will work as long as it is presented where the fish are "breaking." If you can't find topwater activity, try a Texas or Carolina rigged worm or lizard pulled down the steep side of major points. Best colors for the plastics have been green pumpkin and red shad. Crappie fishing is good with the guides showing very nice catches. Look for brush attractors in 18-24 feet of water between mid-lake and Shouse Ford. Try a 2-inch curly tail grub or tube on a 1/16-ounce jig head in a natural shad pattern in the clear water. Work the jig slowly over the thickest part of the cover. Also try a slip float with a live minnow set at about 15 feet. Hybrid fishing is holding up fairly well with some fish still holding in the deep water in the vicinity of the dam and Iron Mountain. Even though the deep thermocline at 50 feet is dissipating, the fish are still at that level. Use the sonar to locate the fish and drop a heavy jigging spoon or grub to just above the fish. If you have the sonar adjusted properly, you should be able to see the lure and watch the fish bite. Look for early morning surface activity at mid-lake in the vicinity of Alpine Ridge and Lenox Marcus. Also try trolling the small 5-arm umbrella loaded with 4-inch white swimbaits. Good areas are Big Hill Creek and around Island 34. A few catfish reported at night on trotlines and noodles coming from the major creeks such as Big Hill, Brushy and Yancey. Live small bream, big minnows and goldfish have been the best bet.
(updated 11-9-2016) John Duncan of YoYoGuideService.com at Iron Mountain Marina said the weather has changed and changed fishing. This cold front has slowed the bite somewhat. Water down a little more to 398.00 feet. Water temperature is mid-70s. Water in Point Cedar area has slight tint to it. Mid-lake water very clear. Cat fishing is very slow. Short lines around stump fields still good choice for a big one. Live bait is always the best choice for catfishing. Bream are showing up on electronics of some of the points. The north side of the shallow marker at the mouth of the entrance to Iron Mountain they are 15 feet deep. Schooling bass has diminished. Watch for shad schools in the calm areas and coves. Topwaters are good bait for schooling fish and for fishing black bass in bank cover. Crappie fishing is slower. Shouse Ford area is the best area to fish. Bite is slow so be patient. Fish brush tops from 12-20 feet deep.
(updated 11-9-2016) Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said crappie are biting well on live bait on brush piles fished 8-12 feet deep. The whites and hybrids are starting to school and break early in the mornings again. Look for creek arms full of shad.
No report.
(updated 11-2-16) Sportsman’s One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) said bass are biting on spinnerbaits. Crappie starting to bite on the upper side. A few bream being caught. No report on catfish.
(updated 11-2-16) Sportsman’s One Stop (870-863-7248) said there was a report on a few crappie and bass being caught.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 337.07 feet msl (full pool – 342.00 msl).
(updated 11-9-2016) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) reported high water and reports being slow with little to no fishing. The previous week, with normal to high conditions, bream were biting well on worms and crickets. Bass were fair on spinnerbaits and topwater lures. Catfishing was fair on blood bait. Crappie reports were poor.
(updated 11-9-2016) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said all its potential, usual fishermen were hunting and there was no fishing there.
(updated 11-9-2016) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said fishing had been slow but it picked up over the weekend. Water is clear and surface temperature was 68 degrees earlier this week. Water level is low. Bass are good in the deeper water, with crankbaits working well. Bream are good on redworms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on yoyos and on trotlines. Use chicken livers and shad.
(updated 10-26-2016) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said water temperature is in the lower to mid-70s. The river is dirty with sporadic flow, and some creeks are dingy to heavy stained. Fishing has been hit and miss due to the dirty water and the sporadic flow. Largemouth bass have been caught using topwater baits such as frogs, buzzbaits, chatterbait with a scam shad trailer, spinnerbaits and Rat-L Traps. On the tough days, slow down and work the bottom with jigs and plastics. Striped bass have been slow. Stick to swimbaits, crankbaits and Rat-L Traps. When they moved to the surface, topwater popper baits will work great. White bass have been slow in the river, with the better bite in the creeks on crankbaits and Rat-L Traps. The surface bite has been on poppers. Crappie have been taken on Fire Tiger jigs and minnows in 8 feet of water in submerged trees. Catfish have been good on worms, stink bait and cut bait, perch and shad. Bream have been good around lily pads with crickets and worms.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 570.67 feet msl (full pool – 578.00 msl).
(updated 11-2-2016) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 for out of state) said black bass are still good and being caught with spybaits and topwaters fished over main lake and secondary points. Walleye are fair and are being caught jigging CC Spoons. Stripers are fair on live bait. The central area of the lake is the best area for these fish. Bream are slow. Crickets, maggots and redworms are best fished 20-25 feet deep. Crappie are very good. Try using minnows or crappie jigs at depths around 15-25 feet deep fished near brush. Catfish are slow. Try nightcrawlers, trotline minnows or crickets in depths of 15-20 feet. Water temperature has ranged 68-72 degrees on the surface. The water has been clear. Call Mountain Harbor guides Mike Wurm (501-622-7717), Chris Darby (870-867-7822) or Jerry Bean (501-282-6104 to set up a trip or for more information.
(updated 10-26-2016) David Draper of the Lake Ouachita Striped Bass Association said the weather has been great but the high pressure has made fishing tough. Finding fish has been hard; getting them to bite is even harder. Hoping a change in pressure will bring the striper around.
(update 10-26-2016) Phillip Kastner at Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports said on US97 it's not your normal fall in the area, as the lake temperature has been about 15-20 degrees above normal. The lake ought to be in the mid-to-low 50s, but it's just not happening. However, even though the lake is a lot warmer, Trader Bills is still selling the same things they normally sell this time of year. Kastner said he's selling aRat-L-Trapswater baits, three-quarter and half-ounce Rat-L Traps, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, the list is basically the same for this point in the season. And Kastner said he thinks part of the reason why is that fish are still chasing shad the same. He says you've got to use downsized blades on your spinnerbaits -- a half-ounce Rat-L Trap will catch more fish than a three-quarter-ounce Trap will. A smaller framed spinnerbait will catch more fish than a three-quarter-ounce bait will. You’ve gotta downsize your lures because the fish are still eating small shad. It’s really some of the best fishing going on right now and it's crazy how hot Lake Ouachita is. A 1.5 squarebill shad-colored crankbait would be good to try; a half-ounce Rat-L-Trap or Strike King Red-Eye Shad or Zoom Ultra Vibe, or whatever you want to throw in lipless crankbait might catch every single fish swimming around in the lake right now. You cannot disregard topwater bait the first 2-3 hours of the day. Try a Stanley Ribbit or a Zoom Horny Toad; a Zara Spook would be a deadly weapon. Phil personally likes a Chugger because fish are chasing shad that are jumping; if you see shad being chased by a predator, they're jumping from them, and a Chugger resembles other shad jumping. Also, you can catch larger Kentucky bass now. You'll find them engorged with shad.
(updated 11-9-2016) Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips reported that jigging spoons just off the bottom in the main channel will yield you striper, hybrids and walleye – check out the trip pictures on Darryl’s website. A fall feeding frenzy is under way in all the lakes Morris has been fishing, he said.
(updated 11-9-2016) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the winter drawdown for Lake Catherine will be completed Nov. 10. A five-foot draw has been scheduled and will be in place until early March 2017. Water temperature is 63 degrees below the dam with clear conditions in the tailrace. Boaters need to use extreme caution when navigating the area since the low water conditions have exposed many underwater hazards. Rock and sandbar dangers are numerous and made more life-threatening by fast water conditions. Life jackets should always be worn by boaters and waders alike when on the water. The rainbow trout season is about to begin again with the Game and Fish Commission stocking trout in Lake Catherine by the week of Thanksgiving. Rainbows have been absent in the lake for months and this influx of fish always jumpstarts the fall fishing below Carpenter Dam. Bank fishermen can use waxworms or mealworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Redworms and nightcrawlers also well work when using this same technique. Live bait presentations give anglers the best opportunity to catch trout as artificial lures are often ignored by finicky trout. Spin fishermen will have success casting Rooster Tails in 1/16- or 1/8-ounce weights over sandbars and exposed rock structure. Brown or white colors are best and most effective during periods of generation. Trout adapt quickly to feeding on available forage and will begin feeding heavily on the shad population. Small jigs in grey or white will draw strikes from hungry trout along with small silver spoons fished in the current. Fly fishermen can easily access areas that hold numbers of trout. Shoals are a target area with the head and tail regions normally holding the most fish. Micro-jigs in black or white cast with a strike indicator will catch trout holding in and around current flow searching for prey. San Juan worms in hot pink or red will also work well along with small streamer in sliver. Baitfish provide a huge part of the diet of rainbow trout below Carpenter Dam so matching the forage is critical to fishing success in Lake Catherine. Stripers will move into the tailrace as the rainbow trout stockings become more regular. Alabama rigs, C-10 Redfins, and heavy jigs are deadly lures to use when attempting to catch these large predators. Heavy rods and lines are recommended. Topwater activity will increase with the presence of trout and fishermen need to watch and react quickly when feeding begins.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 383.54 feet msl (flood pool – 384.00 msl).
No fishing reports were recorded.
(updated 11-9-16) Natalie Carter, ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), said activity has dropped on crappie and bream of late. The fish are responding to live bait (minnows), but that bite has significantly fallen off. Bass, though, have been mild to moderate the last week, reported from fishermen using both worms and artificial lures. The main activity seems to be found from fishermen taking boats up into the recesses of both Bear Creek and Storm Creek lakes. Limited activity from fishing docks and boat ramps. The Mississippi River State Park Visitor Center located in Marianna, off of Hwy 44 is selling bait and is open 8-5 every day. The park has redworms, nightcrawlers, shad and crickets along with a wide variety of jigs and artificial baits. Call with any questions or to book a campsite.
(updated 11-9-16) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said that as with Bear Creek in the park, Storm Creek has seen a falloff of activity from crappie and bream. Live minnows are getting some response. Fisherman are trying the recesses of the lake, and there is limited activity from fishing the docks and boat ramps.
(updated 11-9-2016) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) reported water being clear and at a normal level and current. No surface temperature was reported. Crappie fishing has been excellent. The fish are deep and biting minnows and jigs. Bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater lures. Catfish reports were good on worms and chicken livers. No reports on bream.
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| Family and Community Fishing Program: All Family and Community Fishing Program ponds are stocked with catfish and ready for fishing. Visit hwww.agfc.com/familyfishing for up-to-date information about pond stockings, events and locations.
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