Lake Nimrod - (Updated 10-30-2013) As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 343.13 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).
(Updated 10-30-2013) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said weather conditions and deer season have caused fishing to come to a halt. The crappie and bass are biting very little, but should improve with the coming weather.
(Updated 11-06-2013) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting very well on Bandit and Bomber crankbaits trolled in 4 to 12 feet of water and on Bobby Garland Slab Slay’Rs, Baby Shads, Stroll’Rs and split tails in white/salt-and-pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white with a green or yellow Power Bait Crappie nibble. Catfish are biting on nightcrawlers and chicken, turkey or rabbit livers. Bass are biting well on Tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, flukes and drop-shot worms. Bream are biting on meal worms, crickets, redworms, wax worms and Rockhopper jigs.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain) -
(Updated 11-06-2013) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said catfishing is good on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken, turkey or rabbit livers. Bass are fair on dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails, flukes and drop-shot worms. Bream are fair on crickets, redworms, nightcrawlers and Rockhopper jigs.
Fourche La Fave River -
(Updated 11-06-2013) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained and low. Crappie are slow on Bobby Garland Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white/salt-and-pepper, red/chartreuse shad, bone white, Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white with a green or yellow Power Bait Crappie nibble. A few have been caught on trolled Bomber and Bandit crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken, turkey or rabbit livers. Bass are slow on Tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, flukes and drop-shot worms. Bream are biting on meal worms, crickets, redworms, wax worms and Rockhopper jigs.
Lake Hinkle -
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.
Lake Dardanelle -
(Updated 10-30-2013) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said the surface water temperature is 64 with mostly clear water but turning murky on the lower end of the river. Most creeks are clear. Upriver bass are good and are being caught on lipless crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Mid-river bass are good and being caught on lipless crank baits, jigs, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. Mid-river bass are good and being caught on swim baits, lipless crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Striped bass are excellent on all areas of the river. They can be caught lipless crankbaits, swimbaits, and jerk baits. White bass are good on lipless crankbaits, spoons and tailspinners. Crappie fishing is improving in the rivers with some moving into the creeks. They can be caught with black jigs and minnows. Catfishing is good with live bait.
Blue Mountain Lake -
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.80 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).
Lake Ouachita - As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 570.10 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).
(Updated 11-06-2013) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing and the surface water temperature is 62 to 68 degrees. Black bass are biting well. Try a Zara Spook Jr. or Zara Pup near creek channels and main lake points for topwater action. Walleye are fair on bottom bouncers fished with nightcrawlers and on C.C. spoons near brush in the 20-30 foot range. Stripers are good and still being caught on live bait and big hair jigs. Topwater action has started, with reports of good breakers in the mouths of major creek basins. A clear or chrome Super Spook has been popular with these fish. Bream are still fair and being caught with crickets or worms in 20-25 feet of water near brush. Crappie are good and being caught near brush in the 20-25 foot range with red rosies, minnows or crappie jigs. Catfish have slowed but are still being caught with live bait or hot dogs on jug lines and trotlines set 18-25 feet deep.
Lake Hamilton - (Updated 11-06-2013) The annual winter drawdown for Lake Hamilton will be sustained at 5 feet below summer pool until March 2014. Be mindful of underwater obstacles as the water falls.
Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no new report.
For a report on the crappie fishing at Lake Hamilton, visit Family Fishing Trips.
Lake Catherine - For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(Updated 11-06-2013) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said water temperature below Carpenter Dam fluctuates between 64 and 72 degrees from the dam to the bridge. Entergy has been generating only enough water to maintain lake levels, but this schedule will change Saturday, Nov. 2. The winter drawdown is scheduled to start and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 10. Lakes Hamilton and Catherine will be lowered 5 feet and will drop around 6 inches each day until completion. Both lakes will be refilled in early March 2014. The 5-foot drawdown will make the tailrace dangerous to navigate, so extreme caution must be used for safety. Clear conditions exist below the dam with bank anglers catching white bass when the turbines are running. Rooster tails in white or brown have accounted for some decent numbers of white bass when cast over shallow flats and around visible structure. Jerkbaits in a black/silver have also hooked bass in the late evening. In times of slack water, tightlining minnows over deep water has been the best technique overall for white bass, walleye and hybrids. Little striper action is taking place below the dam with only a few single fish breaking the water below the bridge in the main channel. These fish move in and out of the tailrace regularly, making reports difficult to predict. However, striper action will improve greatly the week the rainbow trout are stocked in mid-November. November brings shad into the tailrace attracting schools of crappie and white bass to feed. These fish can be caught on 1/16- and 1/8-ounce jigs in white or gray, cast around exposed rock formations in the main channel. Action is best during times of current flow from the dam.
Lake Atkins (Updated 11-06-2013) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the lake is low. Crappie have moved into the coves and are being caught on jigs and minnows. Bream have picked up quite a bit along with some big redear using worms and crickets. Bass have been slow. Still catching catfish on trotlines and yo-yos.
