WEST-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

November 11, 2009

Lake Fort Smith:   No report.   

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait and More II (479-272-4025) had no report.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no report.    

Lake Dardanelle: Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said a person couldn’t ask for better crappie fishing. Crappie limits are being reported daily. Anglers are fishing about 6 inches from the bottom with minnows or red/clear and red/yellow jigs. Bass anglers are reporting decent catches on the river. The backwaters are still a little too muddy, but are starting to produce better than last week. White bass are running in Spadra Creek. Catfish limits are still within reach on cut shad and bream.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 404.54 feet MSL.

Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) had no report. The lake is flooded.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is still dirty from the flood. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished up the creeks and backwater. Black bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits. White bass are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on shad.  

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 580.09 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing is fair to good. Bass are hitting top-water lures and spinnerbaits fairly well. Bass are biting well on spoons fished in deep timber. Stripers are scattered, but a few have been caught by anglers covering a lot of water with a large Redfin.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 60 to 66 degrees and stained. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs fished in brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are fair on jigging spoons fished around main lake points or humps in 20 to 30 feet of water. Stripers are slow on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. Main lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Bream are fair on worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are very good and being caught near brush. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Minnows or Tennessee shad or white crappie grubs are still working best. Catfish are fair on jugs and trotlines with cut bait or live bait.

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said the high water has scattered the stripers quite a bit. Some schools are being found, but finding fish that will hit is a bit tough. The ones that are being caught have had some good size to them. Live gizzard shad sinkered down to the schools has been the only thing working.

Lake Hamilton:  Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no new report.

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said the added current has kept the water too muddy for most striper fishing. If you can get your shad below the muddy surface water, you can catch a few fish, but it’s been spotty.

Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the lake is being dropped 5 feet for the annual winter drawdown. Crappie and bass are being caught 12-15 feet deep in 18-32 feet of water near deeper water on live bait and jigs. Catfish have been excellent on jug lines with live bait.  

Lake Catherine:  Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports the winter drawdown began Nov. 7 and will be complete on Nov. 22. Both Lakes Hamilton and Catherine will be lowered 5 feet this year. Periods of heavy generation combined with spillway gate openings will be the norm at Carpenter Dam until Lake Ouachita is out of flood pool and area lakes are brought down into normal operating levels. Rainbow trout are now in the tailrace and are being caught in the main channel on white Rooster Tails and silver Super Dupers. Boaters have caught limits of fish by trolling small minnow and crawfish crankbaits against the current. The stocking program has just begun and trout fishing will become much better as Christmas approaches. Walleye and white bass are feeding in the old Ouachita River channel and are still being caught on jigs tipped with minnows or minnows cast on a Carolina rig. Hybrids and stripers have been taken on Shad Raps in sliver/black with a few fish hooked on Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors. Caution is advised to anyone navigating the tailwaters while the drawdown is underway. Many underwater obstacles will be exposed with the falling water levels.

Lake Hinkle:  Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is high and clear. The fishing has been good this week. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting very well near the bank on minnows fished in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting very well around the weedline nearest the bank on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on worms.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.