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Central Arkansas Fishing Report

January 22, 2020

By ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

NOTICE: AGFC employees and contractors using airboats conducted foliar applications of EPA-approved herbicide – which will cause no harm to wildlife, people or aquatic life such as fish – to treat alligatorweed on Lake Conway last year. By federal law, these herbicides have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. The AGFC asks adjacent landowners to NOT irrigate for lawn or garden use with water from Lake Conway through March 1, 2020. For more information, please contact the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at (877) 470-3309.

(updated 1-22-2020) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake is normal Lake Conway stained and at a normal level. Bream are good and are biting redworms and crickets, along with hair jigs and nightcrawlers. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good; use plastic worms, chatterbaits and bass minnows. Catfish are good on worms, dough bait, minnows and nightcrawlers.

Little Red River

(updated 1-22-2020) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said the river is clear with two units running each day for 12 hours. This should continue for the next several days since the lake is still about 2½ feet above normal. For the last few days the generation has been split into two periods – one starting at 5 a.m. for 6 hours ending at 11 a.m. and beginning again at 5 p.m. for another 6 hours. This provides a small window at the dam in the early afternoon for wade-fishing and drift-fishing is available by staying ahead of the morning generation. “The cold weather has been keeping most anglers off the river, including me, so my report on how the fish are biting isn’t going to happen today. If you are in the mood for cold fishing, they are probably still taking sowbugs, large nymphs and micro-jigs.

“Please stay safe if on the river during the generation. Higher water with increased flows requires more attention to remain safe on the water.”
Notice: The free fly-fishing class will again be offered in Heber Springs this year. The first class will be at 7 pm on Thursday, Feb. 20. The class will consist of four consecutive Thursday nights at the same time each Thursday. There is no charge for this class but you need to call and register so we can know how many persons will be attending. This class is for beginners and anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of fly-fishing. Please call 501-690-9166 to register for the class. “If I’m on the river, please leave a message and I will return your call,” Greg says.

(updated 1-15-2020) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) said the Little Red River is receiving 24 hours of generation daily. The Greers Ferry Lake level is above normal seasonal pool due to recent rains, so longer periods of generation to lower the lake level are expected. If you choose to fish these conditions, you will want to use long leaders and weight. Key for both fly-fishing and Trout Magnet fishing during heavy generation is the ability to get and maintain a good presentation of the fly or Trout Magnet. Working shoreline with streamers is also an effective fly-fishing method during high-water conditions. For fly-fishing, Lowell recommends San Juan worms, micro-jigs, egg patterns and streamers during high-water conditions. Hot pink, cotton candy and white bodies on chartreuse jigheads are recommended for Trout Magnet spin fishing. Be safe while enjoying the river. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Army Corps of Engineers website for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website to see forecasted generation schedule.

Greers Ferry Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 464.67 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl).

(updated 1-22-2020) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 464.90 feet msl, 2.86 feet above normal pool of 462.04 for this time of year. Black bass are still eating well on some moving baits and some dragging baits and all in between – pick your poison, and target 6-15 feet depth. Crappie are still eating, for sure, moving a little day to day; try 15-40 feet, trolling or jig fishing straight up and down. No reports on catfish. Walleye are scattering and moving with conditions and the conditions to come. Crankbaits, jighead minnows and rogues are working as well in 15-40 feet depth. Hybrid and white bass are eating off and on all day all over lake and rivers. Spoons, inline spinners and swimbaits are working, and now E Bar City Special is catching some good fish at 25-60 feet depth. No report on bream.

Harris Brake Lake

(updated 1-22-2020) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) reported the water clarity is a little dingy and the water level is low. Stumps are visibly sticking out, indicating the water is a little low. Catfishing has been fair on worms. Otherwise, no other fishing reports came in the past week.

Lake Overcup

NOTICE: AGFC employees and contractors using airboats will be conducting foliar applications of EPA-approved herbicide – which will cause no harm to wildlife, people or aquatic life such as fish – to treat alligatorweed on Lake Overcup last year. By federal law, these herbicides have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. The AGFC asks adjacent landowners to NOT irrigate for lawn or garden use with water from Lake Overcup through March 1, 2020. For more information, please contact the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at (877) 470-3309.

(updated 1-8-2020) Johnny “Catfish” Banks of Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) said the water level is high by about 2 feet and clarity is good. The surface temperature is around 48 degrees. Bream are slow but still catching some on redworms. Bass are doing good around brush tops and structure, but just a few people are fishing lately. Catfish are being caught on jugs and yo-yos with bass minnows and crappie minnows. Crappie are being caught on yo-yos at night lately, catching a few early morning and late evening. Everything has been slow but should start picking up. Visit Johnny’s Facebook page (Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park) for any latest updates and photos.

Brewer Lake

(updated 1-22-2020) David Hall, owner of Dad’s Bait Shop (501-977-0303), had no report.

Game and Fish stock more than 9.3 million fish in 2019 in Arkansas waters

January 14, 2020

By RANDY ZELLERS/AGFC

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatcheries produced and stocked more than 9.3 million fish during 2019 to improve fishing conditions for Arkansas anglers in 2019.

Tommy Laird, AGFC Assistant Chief of Fisheries who coordinates the efforts of four warmwater hatcheries and one coldwater hatchery operated by the agency, says last year was a typical production year despite some setbacks caused by flooding in spring.

“The flooding we saw in some parts of the state eliminated the contribution from some of the nursery ponds on some lakes,” Laird said. “But in high-water years, boosts to natural reproduction from the thousands of acres of additional spawning habitat can often outweigh the shot-in-the-arm our nursery ponds may give, so that’s not entirely a bad thing. In a lake with abundant habitat and stable water levels, Mother Nature can produce many more fish than our hatchery system.”

Fluctuating temperatures also played havoc on the hatcheries’ abilities to get certain species to spawn.

“Our Florida bass broodstock did not get good spawns last year, and we were worried about meeting our production goal,” Laird said. “We did get some younger bass to spawn late and stocked our growing ponds at lower densities than usual. To our surprise, we saw much higher than normal survival rates of those fish as they grew in the ponds.”

Laird explained that only 40 to 50 percent of Florida largemouth fry that go into a hatchery pond actually make it to fingerling size. The rest are typically eaten by larger fry from the same spawn. However, with the lower stocking rate, the hatcheries saw survival rates of 60 percent and higher, which allowed them to surpass their stocking goal of 1.4 million Florida largemouth bass stocked in the state.

“It was a good learning experience and may play into future hatchery management as we move forward with our Florida bass program,” Laird said. “We are increasing production of this species, and this lesson may pay off in the long run.”

Strictly looking at the numbers, threadfin shad made up the largest amount of fish stocked in Arkansas last year, and stockings of forage species have been well received by anglers throughout the state. However, there’s more to the stockings than overall numbers. The sizes at which the fish are stocked play a key role in the survival and contribution that stocking may play in a lake or river.

Laird says channel catfish and rainbow trout likely represent the best survival rate, as most of them are near 10- to 12 inches when they are released for fishing derbies and seasonal fisheries to get anglers hooked.

“These two species can be fed commercial feed and raised to larger sizes,” Laird said. “They’re also good choices for introducing a new angler to the sport with inexpensive gear.”

Stocking is only part of fisheries management, but it often is the first solution that comes to mind for anglers.

“We have to use our resources wisely and concentrate our efforts where they have the best chances of success,” said AGFC Fisheries Chief Ben Batten. “Simply throwing more fish into a lake with a habitat problem won’t create a great fishery, but stocking can play a key role in some waters that have issues with inconsistent reproduction.”

Batten points to one study in 2004 where 17 percent of fish found in the backwater areas of the Pine Bluff pool of the Arkansas River were identified as having previously been stocked. This is probably a best-case scenario on a year when natural reproduction was not very successful due to high river flows.

“Those results are not typical,” Batten said. “But they do show that stocking can be beneficial on the Arkansas River in years when prolonged high flows through spring and summer reduce the spawning success and survival of native spawned fish.”

Number of fish stocked per species in Arkansas during 2019:

Florida Largemouth Bass	1,526,869
Northern Largemouth Bass	648,834
Smallmouth Bass	24,338
Striped Bass	660,415
Hybrid Striped Bass	84,200
Bluegill	98,051
Redear Sunfish	126,715
Channel Catfish	567,526
Flathead Catfish	13,431
Threadfin Shad	2,936,206
White Crappie	7,150
Black Crappie	197,097
Walleye	338,354
Saugeye	124,861
Golden Shiners	205,340
Grass Carp	28,619
Fathead Minnows	185,000
Brook Trout	32,695
Cutthroat Trout	98,786
Brown Trout	95,951
Rainbow Trout	1,497,992
Total	9,498,430

Fishing Report: Central Arkansas

January 15, 2020

By ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

NOTICE: AGFC employees and contractors using airboats conducted foliar applications of EPA-approved herbicide – which will cause no harm to wildlife, people or aquatic life such as fish – to treat alligatorweed on Lake Conway in 2019. By federal law, these herbicides have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. The AGFC asks adjacent landowners to NOT irrigate for lawn or garden use with water from Lake Conway through March 1, 2020. For more information, please contact the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at (877) 470-3309.

(updated 1-15-2020) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake is muddy and is a little low. Bream are fair; use redworms. Crappie are good using small minnows and small jigs. No reports on black bass. Catfish are good using nightcrawlers.

Little Red River

(updated 1-15-2020) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said Greers Ferry Lake remains 3 feet above normal and the generation is scheduled for two generators running 24/7 starting Wednesday. This will probably continue for two to three days. At this time, it will go back to the two-units-for-12-hours schedule because the White River at Georgetown will be near flood stage. When there is a window to drift-fish ahead of the rising water, sowbugs, micro-jigs and large nymphs will be good fly choices.
“It has been a while since we have seen this amount of generation so please exercise caution if you are on the river,” Greg says. “Watch for underwater obstacles as well as docks and tree limbs. Do not approach docks and trees from the upstream side since this amount of current can capsize a boat or other watercraft.
Notice: Greg’s free fly-fishing class will again be offered at First United Methodist Church in Heber Springs for the eight year. The first class will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. The class will consist of four consecutive Thursday nights at the same time each Thursday. There is no charge for this class but you need to call and register so we can know how many persons will be attending. This class is for beginners and anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of fly-fishing. Please call 501-690-9166 to register for the class. “If I’m on the river, please leave a message and I will return your call,” Greg says.

(updated 1-15-2020) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) said the Little Red River is receiving 24 hours of generation daily. The Greers Ferry Lake level is above normal seasonal pool due to recent rains, so longer periods of generation to lower the lake level are expected. If you choose to fish these conditions, you will want to use long leaders and weight. Key for both fly-fishing and Trout Magnet fishing during heavy generation is the ability to get and maintain a good presentation of the fly or Trout Magnet. Working shoreline with streamers is also an effective fly-fishing method during high-water conditions. For fly-fishing, Lowell recommends San Juan worms, micro-jigs, egg patterns and streamers during high-water conditions. Hot pink, cotton candy and white bodies on chartreuse jigheads are recommended for Trout Magnet spin fishing. Be safe while enjoying the river. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501.362.5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.

Greers Ferry Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 465.37 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl).

(updated 1-15-2020) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry lake is at 465.39 feet msl and going up and down a little with generation each day. It is 3.39 feet above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl for this time of year. Overall the catching is good on all species all over lake and in rivers. Black bass can be caught from super shallow, on top, out to 60 feet using a variety of baits, rattle-style baits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits or dragging bait. Crappie are coming in from trolling, and fishing straight up and down with minnows, jigs, crankbaits and Road Runners, all in 15-30 feet of water. No report on bream. Walleye are being caught with jigheads tipped with minnows and on crankbaits, jerkbaits or with grubs in a variety of depths fished straight up and down or trolled. As for catfish, there have been no report since the storms. Hybrid and white bass are eating as well on inline spinners, grubs, hair jigs, spoons and topwater baits in depths ranging from 25 feet out to 60 feet. Stay around shad for best catches on any species.
Tommy also says, “Do not forget about Little Rock Boat show this weekend.” For more information go to dgattractions.com. He’ll be there.

Harris Brake Lake

(updated 1-8-2020) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) reported the water clarity is muddy. The water level is normal. Most fishing has been poor. Crappie can still be caught with minnows in shallow water. Catfishing is poor. No reports on bream or bass.

Lake Overcup

NOTICE: AGFC employees and contractors using airboats conducted foliar applications of EPA-approved herbicide – causing no harm to wildlife, people or aquatic life such as fish – to treat alligatorweed on Lake Overcup last year. By federal law, these herbicides have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. The AGFC asks adjacent landowners to NOT irrigate for lawn or garden use with water from Lake Overcup through March 1, 2020. For more information, please contact the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at (877) 470-3309.

Brewer Lake

(updated 1-15-2020) David Hall, owner of Dad’s Bait Shop (501-977-0303), had no report.

Lake Maumelle

(updated 1-15-2020) Westrock Landing (501-658-5598) on Highway 10 near Roland had no recent reports.

Sunset Lake

(updated 1-15-2020) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie have been biting fair on pink and No. 6 minnows as well as Bobby Garland Baby Shad Jigs in Gumdrop and Monkey Milk colors. Bass have been hitting minnows. Catfish have been slow, but a couple of customers had a good trip this week with No. 12 minnows and nightcrawlers and managed to get a limit of three each. Bream are biting slow.

Bishop Park Ponds

(updated 1-15-2020) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said catfish have been biting nightcrawlers, minnows and bait shrimp. Crappie fishing has been fair for some this week fishing late in the afternoon until dark. The bite has been best on No. 6 minnows for about the last 30-45 minutes of daylight. Bass will hit minnows as well and you’ll pick up a few while crappie fishing. Bream have been biting fair on worms and crickets but mostly small ones are being caught.

Saline River Access in Benton

(updated 1-15-2020) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) says the river has been clear and fishing has been tough lately, but fish have still been caught. Walleye fishing has been fair at night with brooder minnows. Bass have been biting minnows and crawdad-colored baits. Crappie fishing has been good with No. 6 minnows. Catfish have been a little slow but biting best at dusk on live minnows. Bream are plentiful and fun to catch with redworms and crickets. The recent rain raised the river to an unsafe level for a few days. Fishing should be great as soon as it drops to a safe level and is still slightly stained but not muddy.
Lisa also reports that a couple of groups and some individuals have been working hard recently to clean up debris and illegal dumpsites along the Saline River. “We appreciate that. Please, wherever you go, pick up your trash, and a little of someone else’s if you can, and report illegal dumping to the proper authorities. Nothing ruins an outdoor adventure like the sight of ugly trash and litter. Keep it clean and beautiful. Be safe and get out there and fish, hunt or just enjoy nature.”

Lake Norrell

(updated 1-15-2020) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said some customers have been catching a few crappie on No. 6 minnows. They report catching good-sized fish but no big numbers. All they tell us is they are catching them in back in some coves. Bass fishing has been slow. Catfish have been biting fair on minnows, nightcrawlers and bait shrimp around some docks where they’re normally fed. Bream have been slow but a few of the big redear have been biting redworms.

Lake Winona

(updated 1-15-2020) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said she hasn’t heard many reports from Winona lately “but we have had some going there looking for crappie and walleye.” Winona is a great smaller lake that gets little fishing pressure compared to most area lakes due to its limited access. Those that know the lake do well there.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

(updated 1-15-2020) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) had no report.

Arkansas River (Cadron Pool)

No report.

Little Maumelle River

(updated 1-15-2020) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is muddy and level is high. Specifically, he notes that the river is “running red and creeks are muddy, too.” Catfishing is fair. Some people that live near Maumelle are catching some fish, he said. No other reports.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)

(updated 1-15-2020) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) reports that the river is muddy and high. Last week, when conditions were better (dingy and at a normal level), crappie are being caught in fair numbers on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair. Bream, black bass and white bass are poor.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)

(updated 1-15-2020) Fish ‘N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) says the river is muddy and is high. There is a river advisory with an above small craft warning, as current flow on Tuesday early afternoon was 195,000 cfs. No catch reports this week.

(updated 1-15-2020) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) says that the river is running high and is muddy. When conditions were better the previous week in the main pool (dingy and normal level), crappie were fair on minnows and jigs. Catfishing are fair on skipjack. Sauger are everywhere, they reported, and were hitting black and pink jig. White bass were poor. Bream and bass were poor.

(updated 1-15-2020) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no reports. Conditions have been unfavorable for anglers.

Clear Lake (off Arkansas-River-Little Rock Pool)

(updated 1-15-2020) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said cloudy conditions and high water have turned off the fishing, with poor reports across the board: bream, crappie, bass and catfish all poor.

Peckerwood Lake

(updated 1-15-2020) Herman’s Landing (870241-3731) is closed for hunting season and winter break. It will reopen in February.

White River (Augusta-Des Arc section)

(updated 1-15-2020) Angler William McCoy had no report.