November
4,
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 the water is still high, but has cleared
a bit since the heavy rains a couple of weeks ago. Crappie have
been biting like crazy. They are biting best on minnows and glitter-colored
tubes (reds, whites and blues) as well as alewife and silver
glitter Bass Assassin Tiny Shads about 7- to 8-feet deep. Catfish
have been doing almost as well. Chicken hearts and cut shad are
the choice baits. Most are being caught on the bottom by rod-and-reel
anglers. Bass have been somewhat harder to find, but it has picked
up from the summer. White bass have been running, and have been
caught by crappie anglers.
Blue
Mountain Lake: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 406.96 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 high and muddy. Crappie
are fair around backwater areas on minnows. White bass are fair
on a jig-and-minnow fished from the bank. Catfishing is fair
on nightcrawlers and cut bait fished from the bank. All other
species are slow.
Lake
Ouachita: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 582.50 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).
Larry
Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service the fish are biting
fairly well. Bass are fair on spoons and jigs fished around rocky
points and steep banks on the main lake around 35 feet deep. Stripers
are slow and spotty.
Mountain
Harbor Resort said the water is 60 to 66 degrees and
stained. Largemouth bass are fair and can still be caught on
jigs fished in brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water. Walleye
are fair on jigging spoons fished on main lake points or humps
near deep water in depths of 20 to 30 feet. Stripers are fair
on live shad or trot line minnows. Main lake points near creek
channels or open water humps are the best areas. Bream are slow
on worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still
very good and being caught near brush. Try brush in water 20
to 30 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best.
Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits.
Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on
jug lines and trotlines.
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 surface water temperature is in the
mid-60s and the clarity is improving. Crappie are biting well
on live bait fished 12-15 feet deep on 18-25 feet of water.
Lake
Catherine: Shane
Goodner, owner of Catch’em
All Guide Service, reports very heavy generation will continue
to be the norm at Carpenter Dam until Lake Ouachita is out of
flood pool. The winter drawdown for both Lakes Catherine and
Hamilton will begin on Nov. 7 and should be finished by Nov.
15. The tailwater of Carpenter Dam can be very dangerous during
the drawdown because of submerged islands, rock piles and sand
bars mixed with fast current. Rainbow trout stocking should begin
in mid-November and last until mid-April.
Lake
Hinkle: Bill's
Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is high and
stained. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished
around brush piles near the bank. Bass are biting excellently near
the bank on soft-plastic worms and top-water lures. Catfishing
is good on nightcrawlers.
Lake
Atkins: Lucky
Landing (479-641-7615) said the water rose with all
the rain, but is still fairly clear. Bass are still slow and small.
Catfishing is good. Crappie are slow, but some are being caught
on minnows and jigs. Bream fishing was very good, especially for
large redear sunfish.
