NORTHWEST 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

Beaver Lake :As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.39 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).

Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) had no report.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) ) said bass have been biting well on slow-cranked, crawdad-colored Wiggle Wart crankbaits along chunk rock banks. Bass have also been biting hula grubs or jigs with a craw trailer around docks or timber along sloping chunk rock banks. Afternoons have been best. Crappie fishing has been very good from late morning until the afternoon. Fish have been suspending just below the surface in 15 feet of water above brush piles and along pole timber closer to deeper water. A black/chartreuse or pink/white 2-inch swim bait fished under a cork 4 to 8 feet deep has worked well. If the fish are a bit deeper, try a slow retrieved curly tail grub.  Blue Springs, Hickory Creek, Friendship Creek and Monte-NE have all been good areas to fish. White bass continue to roam main lak e flats and points. They can be picked off by slow trolling a Bandit crankbait. Point 12, Monte-NE and Prairie Creek have all been good. Catfishing has been best at Hickory Creek and the 412 bridge access.  Liver or worms have worked best.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 8 to 12 feet of water. Bass are fair on Alabama-rigged swimbaits and on crankbaits. Catfishing is slow.

Beaver Tailwater: Just Fishing Guides said there has been very little low water for wade fishing. Generation has been at least 18 hours per day with flows to 8,000 cfs. Some days they are spiking twice per day. The water has been off color, but the fishing has been consistently good. A variety of flies are working, including size 12-16 Humpback Scud, BH Simple Sow, BH Flashback Pheasant Tail and size 8-12 Zebra Midge (grey, black, olive and red), Wooly Bugger, Sparrow, .56'er and Zonker. Egg and San Juan worm patterns are also working on the high water.

Lake Elmdale: Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said fishing on Lake Elmdale has been slow, largely due to strong winds. Green hula grubs, fished slowly in deep water have been productive at times. Jigging spoons fished vertically over schools of fish in the graph will work as well. A black/blue jig fished around 16 to 20 feet deep on the east side of the old roadbed are taking a few fish.

Kings River: Just Fishing Guides said the water is at a good level but cold due to lower air temperatures. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40's, right at the point where fishing (catching) gets tough for smallmouth. Make sure you are fishing the deep holes and shallower waters on warm sunny days. With the cold temperatures concentrate on places you know there are springs or seeps. Fish slow and deep with soft plastics or crawdad pattern flies.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is murky and at normal level. The windy, cool weather has kept most anglers off the water; no report.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. The surface temperature is 45 degrees. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 2 to 5 feet of water. Bass are biting well on jigs, crankbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is fair on minnows.