February
3, 2010
Lake
Nimrod: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 346.43 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 are biting best on crappie minnows about 8 inches
from bottom. Some are being caught on red/white glitter
and tomato seed jigs. Not many limits are coming in, but
the fishing is decent. Catfish are still biting very well
on whole fresh shad. Bass are still slow
Blue
Mountain Lake: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 387.64 feet MSL.
Teresa at CD’s
Quick Stop (479-947-2178) had no report.
Ozark
Pool: Lakeside
Food Mart (479-667-5155) had no report.
Lake
Ouachita: As
of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s
elevation was 577.48 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s
Guide Service said fishing is picking up. Stripers are hit-and-miss;
look for the birds. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs in brush
piles 30 to 35 feet deep.
Mountain
Harbor Resort said the water is 42-46 degrees and clearing.
Largemouth bass are biting well on jigs fished in brush piles
on points or humps in 18 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are still
slow and being caught on jigging spoons or fluorescent jigs tipped
with minnows on main-lake points or humps in river channels in
depths of 20 to 30 feet. 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 30 to 40 feet of water. Crappie are good and being caught
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 slow and being
caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Lake Hamilton:
Daryl Morris of Family
Fishing Trips said the water temperature is fluctuating from
the upper 40s to the low 50s, depending upon weather conditions.
Recent rains have stained the water in the backs of all the major
creek arms. Crappie and bass are fair around cover in and near
deeper channels.
Lake Catherine:
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em
All Guide Service, (501-624-8757) said water temperature
has fallen to 41 degrees below Carpenter Dam. Higher flows accompanied
the colder water as Entergy works toward maintaining lake levels.
Rainbow trout fishing is excellent below the dam with thousands
of healthy trout inhabiting the tailrace. Fly-anglers casting
small white streamers have caught the largest fish as trout continue
to target injured threadfin shad. Egg patterns will consistently
draw strikes when all other presentations fail. Woolly buggers
in black or olive fished under a strike indicator are working
well along with black/chartreuse micro jigs. Boaters are taking
limits of trout casting 1/16-ounce jigs around visible cover.
Spinners such as Rooster Tails and Mepps perfectly imitate an
injured shad and are working well. Bank fishermen that can find
areas protected from heavy current are catching rainbows on Power
Bait, corn and marshmallows, and nightcrawlers. These basic presentations
are responsible for the majority of trout caught below the dam
and will work under any situation. Walleye will begin their spawning
run this month and the males will begin to show up in the next
couple of weeks. Stripers have been schooling below the bridge
with fish in the 10- to 15-pound range being caught. C-10 Redfins
and Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors have worked best.
Lake
Hinkle: Bill's
Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said
freezing conditions kept everyone off the water. No report.
Lake
Atkins: Ken
Vinson at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the lake
is a little high with melting snow clearing. Fishing is picking
up a bit this week. Some nice crappie were taken 5 to 8 feet of
water on minnows and jigs. Bass are starting to show up a bit more
in the coves and around the banks. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits
may catch one or two. Things are slow, but looking up.
