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

August 13, 2008

Lake Dardanelle:  Eric Pratt at Lake Dardanelle State Park said cooler temperatures have brought some well deserved relief for fishing on Lake Dardanelle. Largemouth bass have become more active in shallower water with the inflow of fresh water from the past couple of days of rain. Anglers are reporting catching bass on chartreuse and white spinnerbaits, shad-colored crankbaits and Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms on points, humps and areas where rain water is flowing into the lake. White and chartreuse frogs and buzzbaits are still productive baits to use in heavy grass beds and around floating vegetation. Catfish are doing very well at this time with many anglers catching their limit. Most are reporting catching them in the upper portion of the lake along the upper river channel on cut shad, gizzard shad and prepared baits. Fishing at the park on the breakwater is still an excellent place to catch a limit of catfish. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms and can be caught just about anywhere along the banks that have some type of structure such as overhanging trees or docks

Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Bass are fair on plastic worms and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on any bait.

Blue Mountain Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 391.37 feet MSL.

Ozark Pool:  Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said water conditions are normal. A few bream have been caught on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on jigs and plastic worms. Catfishing is good on chicken liver, shad and cut bait.

Lake Ouachita:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 574.39 feet MSL.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said the bite has actually been pretty good with good breaking action in the mornings and bass and stripers running together chasing shad. Topwaters have produced, but the best bite has been on shallow-running crankbaits and jigging spoons. Stripers are hitting extremely well on large Berkley swimbaits. After the morning bite is over, fish a 10-inch worm on a 3/8-oz. weight and target the outside edge of the grass in 25 feet of water.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing up and surface temperatures are 86 to 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms and jighead worms. Walleye are biting well on spoons and spinner rigs with a crawler harness fished over main-lake points. Stripers are still very good on live bait with shad or trotline minnows. White ½-oz. jigs and ¾-oz. spoons are working as well. Try around Brady Mountain and Bird Island. Bream are still very good with crickets or worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are still slow and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Catfish are very good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.

Trader Bill’s said the rain has helped the bite a little. Some schooling action has been seen for stripers and black bass in open water. Small spoons, tailspinners and Zara Puppies are working on the schooling fish. Larger Sammies will work as well.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474) said the cooldown was nice for boating, but may impact the fishing. Stripers are biting sporadically, but the bite is still good. Most are being caught in 25 to 40 feet of water on live shad around main-lake points with trees. If you can get them stirred up, you can catch a limit quickly. When going through a probable area, try to use your electric trolling motor instead of an outboard to troll over the school. Some anglers are reporting some decent striper fishing at the dam intake in the evenings.

Lake Hamilton:  Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is very good at night using 10-inch Berkley worms with small weights 12 to 18 feet deep.

Trader Bill’s said stripers are decent on spoon and live bait. Bass are scattered, but some are being caught on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits in creeks and coves.

Lake Catherine:  Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that before the heavy rains set in Entergy ran the turbines for 12-hour periods. This is a normal summertime pattern and provides Hot Springs with electricity as the need arises. August through November are very slow months for trout fishing at Carpenter Dam. Many of the fish have been caught or eaten by this time. Some trout are still being caught, but as reported, the numbers are low and inconsistent. Restocking begins again in late November. Striper and hybrid activity has been fair with most of the good fishing happening in the early morning hours just after the turbines are started. This sudden movement of water causes the threadfin shad to move away from the banks and out into open water where they are easy prey. Topwater action can be fierce at times but does not continue for long periods. Fishermen need to be in position when feeding is taking place and capitalize on the small window of opportunity. Many of these stripers are in the 20-pound range and can be caught on white ¼-ounce jigs and 6 to 8-inch soft plastics fished weightless. Live bait rigs have caught the most fish. Brood and gizzard shad work better than goldfish or bream at Carpenter Dam. Some quality hybrids have been taken on 1/8-ounce jigs in shad or white colors. These fish tend to stay on the outside of the feeding striper schools where competition for food is lower.

Diamond Head Marina said the water is murky and a little high. Bream are fair near drop-offs on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair early near shorelines on top-water lures and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good in deep water on chicken liver.

Lake Hinkle:  Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said all species are slow.

Lake Nimrod:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 348.0 feet MSL.