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

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.