(Reports
are from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)
Fishing
Tip: When bream begin bedding up, there’s no need to constantly re-bait
a hook with a cricket or worm. Take a small, rubber-legged fly such as
a bream killer or sponge spider and tie it to the hook of a small
popping bug with a foot of 2-pound-test line. The whole rig should
weigh enough to flip to the bed using an ultra-light rod. Some bream
will hit the popper, but most will take the fly underneath and bring
the popper down like a bobber. If the bream are really active, you may
end up with a fish on each of the lures.
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said
there were two days of high water last week, and the fishing was great
after the rush of fresh water from the lake. Fly fishermen have
been doing well on dry flies, especially no. 14 red butt, no. 14 brown
bivisible dry fly, and the light fluttering caddis dry fly. Spin
fishermen are mostly using white or yellow PowerBait and wax worms on
the low water, but two days of high water enabled the use of some
larger artificial lures, such as the Husky Jerks and Rogues. Other
artificial lures that work well on high and low water are white Rooster
Tails, silver or gold Little Cleos, rainbow Buoyant Spoons, and several
of the new Mepps lures in no. 7 or no. 9 sizes. Overall, the
fishing this week has been excellent compared to previous weeks, but
there is never a week on the White River where you can complain about
the fishing. Wilderness Trail said
fishing for trout on the White River has been doing well. With low or
no generation Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and Sunrise have worked well
along with red worms and nightcrawlers. With generation, Buoyant
Spoons, Little Cleos, and Countdown Rapalas are the baits of choice.
The fly anglers have done extremely well with little generation on
olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, pheasant tails and hare’s ears. The brown trout
are being caught on Countdowns, Flat Fish, suspending Rogues and
nightcrawlers.
North Fork River: Gene’s Trout Dock said the
rains have stained the water, but it will clear again soon. There has
been some excellent fishing in the upper part of the river. White Power
Eggs, nightcrawlers and corn have been the go-to baits for most
anglers. Fly anglers have done the best on black woolly buggers.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 648.06 feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said water
clarity is at 12 feet. There are creeks and pockets that have 70 degree
water temperatures in the back, there is 70 degrees in the Theodosia
arm, and 70 degrees in creeks above Lead Hill, but the fish are not
relating to the warmer water in all of these areas. Mainly because it
is only surface temperature. Main lake temperature at the surface is
65.7 degrees, 15 feet down it is only 58 degrees. White bass are back
in the creeks and pockets trying to spawn again. Crappie are just about
done with their spawn and are still hanging out between shore and the
brush piles. The best bait is a crappie minnow on a jig head. Also
working very well is the Bobby Garland Swimming Minnow in Blue Thunder
and the Baby Shad in Blue Thunder and Crystal. Largemouth bass have
made a number of false beds but they are not into spawn as yet, except
in the uppermost part of the lake. Continue to fish the largemouth in
staging areas and treat them as pre-spawn. Some top-water action
is present early in the morning but the best baits are flukes,
centipedes, brush hogs and jigs. Smallmouth bass are in spawn and
post-spawn phases throughout the lake. Pea rock points and banks are
holding most of the nice smallies. Mojo-rigged centipedes, lizards,
Senkos and Brush Hogs are just a few of the key baits. Spider jigs and
tubes also picked up throughout this week fished slowly in 10 to 24
feet of water. Kentucky bass are on beds and some are in post
spawn. Best baits are tubes, finesse worms, Zoom Meatheads, or
centipedes. Fish transition areas along chunk rock channel swings or
around chunk rock points that have step-down ledges. Walleye continue
to puzzle even the pro anglers. Their spawn is over, their post
spawn is over but they are just not feeding during the daylight hours.
There are a few walleye being caught during the day, but the numbers
are few and there is no pattern or depth to key in on. Try
casting or trolling a Hot’N Tot or Deep Little Ripper Reef Runner bait
anywhere from 10 to 30 feet. The best bite is at night on channel
swings and points casting Glass Shads, Suspending Rogues and Lucky
Craft Staysees. There have been a few walleye that were caught on
crawler harnesses, nightcrawlers and bottom
bouncers.
Sugar Loaf Harbor said
the water is rising and stained. Crappie are still coming up to the
banks and are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around any cover.
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 543.85 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik
Stop said crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and crappie jigs.
The bass spawn is over, and anglers should try concentrating on
slightly deeper water near secondary points.
