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

July 28, 2010

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 255.84 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 259.2 MSL).

Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake is 39.1 inches below normal pool and falling. Little River is now running at 2,605 CFS. The four-foot drawdown continues to reduce the lake level. Largemouth bass have been biting best from daybreak to 10 a.m. With the four foot drawdown, bass have pulled to the river and creek dumps and points intersecting with Little River, where they have quick access to deeper water. They are in normal summer pattern and are biting well around vegetation on buzzbaits, Cordell Crazy Shads, Spit'N Images, Yum BuzzFrogs, Twitch Assassins and Bass Assassin Shads. Salt and pepper silver phantom and gold pepper shiner colors are working the best along Little River. Surface lures, such as Pop-Rs and Baby Torpedoes, are also getting hits. Crankbaits, tubes and worms are also working well. Slow rollin g Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, firetiger or Cajun craw are also working with the crankbait bite. The best water clarity has been found upriver. If you fish the flats make sure you are close to deep drops, the river or creek channels because the drawdown will affect your normal fishing spots. White bass are breaking top-water in large schools in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows. They are chasing schools of threadfin shad in the early morning. Crappie are fair on live shiners, jigs, smoke grubs and vertically jigged tiny Beetle Spins. White/red dot or Catalpa colors are the best. The bite is best over planted brush in 14 to 17 feet of water, and is usually over by 10 a.m. Catfishing is best with chicken livers, Charlie and red nightcrawlers. Trotlines, yo-yos and anchoring and tightlining are all producing fish.

White Oak Lake: Local angler John Tilley is out of town so there is no new report for White Oak Lake.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass fishing is good with various lures. There was no report on crappie or catfish.

Lake Erling: Steve's Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) said the water is a little low. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well on various lures. Catfishing is good also. There was no report on crappie.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation was 545.23 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is dingy and rising. The surface temperature is about 87 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on Tennessee shad and white/chartreuse jigs fished in 15 to 20 feet of water. Bass are biting on crankbaits, plastic worms and jigs. Catfishing is fair with worms and stink bait. Jugs and trotlines are also producing fish.

Cossatot River: (Updated 7/14/2010) Cossatot River State Park said the water level is at 1.94 feet, and the water temperature is about 90 degrees. The hot water has caused fishing to slow, but if the heat continues it could help the fishing. Fish have been most active during the late evening and during stormy weather. Stick with plastic lures and work them slowly. Smallmouths will also bite on live minnows or crawdads. One fisherman reported catching a few small bream on worms at the sandbar. Don't forget your sunscreen if you are fishing during the day.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation was 402.57 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the lake is clear throughout and the surface temperature is in the upper 80s. Bass fishing is fair with several good catches being reported. They are biting best in the morning, and many are breaking water on the main lake points at mid lake. Top-water lures, swimbaits, plastic worms and jigs are all producing catches. Night fishing has been good for bass also, using an 8- to 10-inch dark-colored worm. Fish off the points and humps about 10 to 20 feet deep. Crappie fishing has been slow, with a few being caught around large attractors between Caddo Drive and Shouse Ford and at the campground by Brushy Creek. The best way to catch crappie is to fish a 1/16-ounce jighead with a 2-inch Tennessee shad or Arkansas shad grub over thick brush. They will bite best in the early morning, before sunup. Hybrid and white bass fishing is good. The best fishing has been around Arlie Moore, Alpine Ridge and Island 34. For breaking fish throw a 1/2-ounce spo on. If there are no breaking fish, fish on points and ledges about 15 to 20 feet deep. Bream are biting on slip floats, crickets and worms fished in 15 to 20 feet of water. Fish around any cover on secondary points. Catfishing is fair at night with noodles and trotlines baited with small bream or big minnows. Ozan, Point 10 and Brushy Creek have been the best areas.