SOUTHWEST 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

Millwood Lake: Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service  said the lake level rose dramatically above normal conservation pool and is expected to continue through the week. Surface temperatures rose slightly, ranging 50 to 55 degrees. The lake level as of Monday was 261.64 msl. Discharge rate was increased to 26,969 cfs. Water clarity is 1 to 2 inches of visibility in the river. River Run East facilities are still undergoing maintenance and upgrades, and as such, still closed until mid-July 2012.  Paraloma Park is closed for the winter.  All other ramps and USACE parks are open. The best bass bite over the past week, has been pitching jigs, worms, tubes, rattle baits, and soft plastics to stumps, grass, lily pads, and wood laydowns behind points and cuts of the river, in the swirling eddies and current breaks. Some bass start ed moving to spawning areas on warmer days. Best lures are still Gene Larew Hog Craws in black or black/blue, Yum Woolly Bugs and Zoom Brush Hogs in black/blue and blackberry. Magnum Tubes are also working around stumps, cypress trees and knees. Slow rolling a War Eagle spinnerbaits around any remaining vegetation and lily pad stems is working as well. Rat-L-Traps in Toledo Gold, White Zombie, or Red Shad continue catching some bass. The key to the Rat-L-Trap bite is slowing down the retrieve to a crawl and deflecting off stumps in flats 5 feet deep, close to 8- to 12-foot drop offs.  Bomber crankbaits in Tennessee shad, citrus shad or white are catching a few largemouths back in the oxbows away from muddy current. The white bass have gone deep in the river channel, and all but disappeared with the recent influx of muddy water and increased current. Crappie are scattered and slow. Catfish are excellent on trotlines, yo-yos and tight lines near the river, baited with cut shad and chicken livers and set in 12 to 16 feet of water.

Lake Columbia: Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report.  

Lake Erling: Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 546.26 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304)  said the water is murky and high. Fishing is slow for all species.

For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.

Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River): Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.

Cossatot River: Cossatot River State Park had no report.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.58 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said water temperature is in the high 40s. The water is clear to Caddo Drive, slightly stained up to point 15 and heavily stained on up to Cox Creek. Bass fishing is fair with the fish moving up a little shallower. Look for fish on main lake points and on the north side of the lake. Also any point with the warm wind blowing into it is best. Look for fish from 10 to 20 feet deep.  Best lures have been deep-running crankbaits in shad patterns and paddletail flukes in white or albino. Also a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or jig with trailer is productive. Use green pumpkin or red shad on the worms and most any dark color for the jig and trailer.  Best areas have been between Edgewood and Cox Creek. A heavy jigging spoon in chartreuse or white is still doing well on the ledges of Big Hill Creek at depths or 25 to 28 feet. Crappie fishing is starting to improve with the warm weather. The fish are still on the deep main lake attractors at 25 to 30 feet deep. Use a Tennessee shad Kalin's 2-inch grub on a 1/16-ounce chartreuse jig head very slowly just above the thickest part of the brush. The best attractors are between Arlie Moore and Point Cedar.  The Shouse Ford area is hard to beat in the winter.  Also try Big Hill Creek where there are some very good brush piles. Hybrid fishing is very good on the big flat just west of Goat Island. The fish are in small schools suspended about 15 feet down in 35 feet of water. Use the sonar to locate the schools and slow troll with the trolling motor multiple 3-inch twister tail grubs in white or chartreuse.