March
3,
2010
Lake
Nimrod: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 342.61 feet MSL.
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 crappie have been biting fairly well. Some
limits have been reported from morning fishermen using minnows
and orange/chartreuse jigs close to the bottom. Catfishing is
excellent on shad, worms and stink bait. Not many bass anglers
are on the water, and the bass fishing has been slow.
Blue
Mountain Lake: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 387.24 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s
Quick Stop (479-947-2178) had no report.
Lake
Ouachita: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 577.06 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).
Trader
Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is
in the 40s. Moss is beginning to grow back in many areas of the
lake, and the water is still in the buckbrush. Bass are fair
on crankbaits and jigs fished in 15 to 20 feet of water. Rat-L-Traps
are working from 5 to 10 feet deep around the grass. Crappie
are fair, but are scattered in the same depths as the bass.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s
Guide Service said bass fishing is slow. Jerk baits, Rat-L-Traps
and jigs fished around the grass are your best bet. Stripers
are fair on spoons and shad-colored crankbaits at the far west
side of the lake.
Mountain
Harbor Resort said the water is 40 to 44 degrees and
clearing. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs fished in brush piles
on points or humps in 18 to 25 feet of water. Lipless crankbaits
are working well fished near drop-offs, ledges and moss. Walleye
are fair on jigging spoons or fluorescent jigs tipped with minnows
on main lake points or humps in the river channels in 20-30 feet
of water. These fish are slowly making their way upstream to
spawn. Stripers are fair on live shad and trotline minnows. Main
lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best
areas. Jigging spoons are working for these fish in 20 to 30
feet of water. Bream are slow on worms or crickets in water 20
to 25 feet deep. Crappie are biting well near brush in water
12 to 20 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working
best. Tennessee shad and Arkansas shad are the best colors for
artificial baits. Catfish are still slow and being caught on
cut bait and live bait hung from on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake
Hamilton: Trader
Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water temperature is
in the 40s and the water is clear. The water flowing through
the lake has made it clearer than normal for this time of year
and the fish are deeper because of it. Bass are being caught
around 10 to 15 feet deep on jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are
fair on minnows fished under a slip-cork, very slowly in 8 to
12 feet of water.
Daryl Morris of Family
Fishing Trips said a lot of water is passing through Lake
Hamilton as Lake Ouachita is being lowered. The lake will be
allowed to rise to normal pool on March 4. Fishing is slow right
now, but should improve with some warmer weather.
Lake
Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em
All Guide Service, (501-624-8757) said flows from Carpenter
Dam have been reduced and navigating the tailrace has become
much safer. The water temperature is 44 degrees, and the water
is clear. Rainbow trout fishing has improved in the slower currents,
and will become much better as more slack water is available.
Warmer temperatures have reduced the amount of injured shad brought
into the tailrace and trout are actively searching for food.
Bank fishermen should fish close to the banks instead of casting
far into the channels. Corn, wax worms, nightcrawlers, redworms
or meal worms floated off the bottom with marshmallows have recorded
limits of fish. PowerBait is working well in the slack water
perfectly imitates a fish egg and is a deadly presentation for
trout in current or slack water. Fly-fishermen are now able to
wade to areas that hold trout and are recording limits of fish
casting olive-colored woolly buggers and black micro-jigs under
a strike indicator. Small white streamers are working well along
with hot pink San Juan worms. Spin-fishermen have caught the
largest trout with white Rooster Tails in the shoal areas. Super
Dupers in silver or gold will draw strikes from big trout in
deeper water behind visible structure. Trolling small minnow-like
crankbaits below the bridge will target trout that have seen
very little fishing pressure. Male and female walleye are now
present in the tailrace, but very few have been caught due to
the fast water conditions. Trolling crayfish-imitating crankbaits
over spawning areas until a strike occurs is a very effective
method of finding walleye. Anchoring above the area and casting
jigs tipped with minnows has proven to be the most consistent
technique to hooking quality fish.
Lake
Hinkle: Bill's
Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said
the water is cold and fishing is still very slow.
Lake
Atkins: Ken
Vinson at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said fishing really
picked up last week, with a 71/2-lb. and 91/2-lb. bass being caught.
Crappie are moving up to shallow water and a couple of limit catches
have been reported. A few redear bream were also caught over the
weekend. The water temperature is 44 degrees and climbing. The
water is at a good level and is clear.