CENTRAL ARKANSAS - Weekly Fishing Report

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Randy Zellers (501)223-6406, e-mail: rdzellers@agfc.state.ar.us

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report.

February 2, 2012

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs fished 8 to 10 feet deep in Wilhelmina Cove in the back of Gold Creek and at Twin Bridges. Bass are fair on shad-colored spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on yo-yos around Green’s Lake.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are still biting well on jigs or minnows. Bream are biting well on redworms fished just off the bottom. Catfishing is good on yo-yos baited with minnows and nightcrawlers. No report on bass.

Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) ) said the water is clear and at normal level with two generators running occasionally. When the water is high, use a spinner across the current. When the water is low, switch to a large nightcrawler fished on the bottom. Fishing has been good in both high and low water.
 
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.36 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the lake level is falling. The surface temperature is 46-49 degrees and rising. The expected warm rain should really put the river walleye on the move and a lot of males should start showing up soon. Try hair jigs, jigs with minnows and crankbaits. The hybrids and white bass continue to be good all over the lake. Try the Claw (Alabama rig), spoons, hair jigs and in-line spinners. No report on catfish. Crappie are still good around brush piles and in the pole timber. Jigs, jigs with minnows and small spoons fished vertically are catching the most fish. 

Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com had no new report.

Harris Brake Lake: Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is stained and high. Bream and crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on crawdad- and minnow-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is slow.  

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting on the east and south sides before sunup and at sundown. Minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad in white and salt/pepper and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles are working well. Catfish are good on minnows and worms in shallow water and deep boat runs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Rooster Tails. Bream are slow.

Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about a foot high and murky on the upper end. The dam side is fairly clear. Crappie have been biting around the docks and brush piles against the dam, they are hitting no. 6 minnows and white Crappie Stingers and white/chartreuse and pink/white tube jigs. Bream are fair around brush piles. Bass and catfish are slow. 

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are slow but moving around. Minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads in black/sliver/white with an orange jig head are picking up a couple of fish at sunup and sundown.

Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is a little high and clear. The crappie are hitting white Crappie Stingers and blue/white tube jigs over the brush piles and old bridges. The bream are fair on redworms. The bass and catfish are slow.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water is 3 inches above the spillway and the water temperature is around 48 degrees. Largemouth bass are about 20 feet deep and are biting fairly well on jigs and grubs. Spotted bass are biting well on Rooster Tails and jig head grubs in 20 feet of water. White bass are slow; they’ve been spotted in the main channel from Jims Island west. Fish shad-colored grubs or spoons where you find gulls and loons concentrating. Crappie are biting well on small jigs and grubs and on small pink minnows in 20 to 25 feet of water on the edges of channels. Bream and catfish are slow.

Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. All species are slow.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061)  said the water is clear and at normal level. Walleye are fair on live bait in deeper holes of the river. Bass are excellent on red Rebel Crawdad crankbaits and on black/blue jigs fished around deep holes. Crappie are fair on popsicle-colored 2-inch grubs. Bream and catfish are slow. 

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Opello had no report.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool): Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool): Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the river has been under a small craft advisory. Boating on the main channel is not recommended.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water below Terry Lock and Dam is stained and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows in the backwater. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on cut shad.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers..

Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the landing is closed until February.

Lake Pickthorne:Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.