Millwood
Lake: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation at 261.83 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 259.2
MSL).
Millwood
Lake Guide Service said bass are slowly recovering from
last week's back-to-back cold fronts. Combined with the lake level
rise over the past two weeks, fish continue pushing into creek
channels and oxbows. Main lake and Little River water surface temperatures
range from 46-50. Discharge at the dam is 10,271 cubic feet/second.
Clarity is moderate stain main lake and oxbows to muddy in the
current of Little River. The best bass bite is occurring mid-day.
Some male bass were seen roaming shallow flats adjacent to primary
and secondary creek channels. The larger females are definitely
in a pre-spawn condition and have been staging in nearby creek
channels or any nearby depressions. A very slow-moving, ¾-oz.
red Rat-L-Trap, jig or threadfin shad-colored crankbait will randomly
pull some keeper bass out of these deeper spots in the creek channels.
Slow-rolling heavy spinnerbaits (chartreuse/white or spot remover
colors) are the best options for spinnerbaits in the stained water
along flooded creek channel swings with stumps and grass. Jigs
in black/blue/purple or Texas craw colors. Add rattles to your
jigs for sound attraction in the off-colored or stained water clarity.
Texas-rigged 6-inch lizards in blackberry, black neon, and black/blue
tail are taking some bass in creek channels. White bass are beginning
to congregate near points and creek channel dumps into Little River
above Highway 71 bridge. Several white bass fishermen reported
they had found several large schools of Whites with Little Cleos,
Little Georges and Rocket Shads, but the bite was inconsistent
and random. Crappie are slow due to the muddy current in Little
River. The upriver, oxbow bite away from current is the best location
over planted brush, for the past several weeks. A few more Crappie
fishermen were out over the past week and report catching some
nice pre-spawn black crappie on Blakemore Roadrunners near cypress
trees. Channel Cats continue to bite well on cut shad, Catfish
Charlie and chicken livers. Anglers are doing best anchoring and
tight-lining and setting trot-lines along the increased current
in Little River between Jack's Isle and Mud Lake.
White
Oak Lake: Local
angler John Tilley said the slight improvement in weather has sparked
some interest in fishing, but not much success has been reported.
The water is still 4 feet below normal and very muddy. Water levels
should be normal by the end of March, which should really improve
fishing results. Some nice redear bream have been caught on worms
at the “old folks” hole
on the lower lake. No reports on bass, catfish or crappie.
Lake
Columbia: Steve’s
Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is murky and high.
Bream are fair. Crappie are fair. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics
and jigs. Catfishing is fair.
Lake
Erling: Steve’s
Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said bream are fair. Crappie are
biting well on jigs. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair.
Lake
Greeson: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 544.62 MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is murky
and is 45 degrees. The Corps of Engineers is dropping the lake level.
Bass are biting well on crankbaits and jigs in 2 to 8 feet of water.
Walleye are fair on jigs. All other species are slow.
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 407.36 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).
Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is
in the mid- to upper 40s. The upper lake is discolored and the lake
below Edgewood is clear. Bass fishing is fair with the return of
cold weather. The fish are back in their winter pattern. Fish main-lake
points, humps and ledges between 20-30 feet with bottom-hugging lures,
such as heavy jigs, Texas-rigged worms and Carolina-rigged brush
hogs. Fish down the point or hump very slowly and cover a lot of
water because the fish are scattered. Dark colors are best in deep
water, particularly green pumpkin and red shad. The best bass bite
has come between Arlie Moore and Cox Creek. Crappie fishing is fair
around deep brush and fish attractors. Fish a minnow or marabou jig
(red/chartreuse), just above the brush. Move around the attractor
very slowly and remember where you catch a fish because they will
most always be in one small spot on the shelter. Try shelters in
25 to 30 feet on the main lake and major creeks. Try areas between
Caddo Drive and Shouse Ford. Bream fishing is slow, with only a few
mixed in with the crappies.
|
