Lake Ouachita Fish Spawning Temperatures. Best colors are silver, chartreuse, Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, Kiwi, Mo-Glo, silver Blue Ice, orange/white, Diamond Mist Crappie Magnets, and minnows and nightcrawlers. the fishing this past week has been off and on. Del says he has seen Kentucky bass on beds, as well as crappie moving up. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. The water level has dropped to normal level for the first time in a few weeks. Here again we have had spillway releases to augment generation. If youve got all of those things, come on out, David said. Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery should open this spring after a full renovation. Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. The bass are definitely grouping up. Check before heading to the Little Red River for Greers Ferry Dam water release by downloading the USACE Little Rock app, 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. This is 21.8 feet below the top of flood pool. It was a fair amount of action for a short outing, but all together, it was a perfect picture of an April afternoon in Arkansas. Bass, crappie, and catfish are some of the most caught fish. Daily Limit:The total limit of a certain fish species that may be taken in 1 day. Most of the white bass and hybrid fishing will be up the rivers, and the usual spawning areas will likely be too deep and have too much current to fish them right now. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. The topwater bite for black bass and white bass has begun in the morning at sunrise, and the crappie have moved to their spawning banks. Below the dams at Dardanelle and Ozark are good areas to try, says Keith Catfish Sutton, an outdoor writer and author of the book "Fishing Arkansas.. Water temperatures have been around 50 degrees and the water levels has dropped a little. Brown Trout One 2-pound rainbow had five sculpin and at least four crawdads in its stomach. Learn more. Anglers are fishing for them with a jig. The lower end is stained to clear. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 542.97 feet msl (full pool: 526.00 feet msl). The stage at Pine Bluff is falling at 30.72 (flood stage is 42 feet). On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam was 18,411 cfs. Lake Maumelle (updated 4-13-2023) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) had no new reports. The campgrounds have easier wading in most areas and that's a good thing with the higher water flows. Bass anglers are either Texas-rigging or flipping a creature bait up shallow, like a 3.5-inch tube (a Gitzit is recommended). Check it out. Lake level is full. They were ranging from 2-3.5 pounds, and continue biting well on Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Hammered Spoons, Bomber Fat Free Shads, Little George Tail-Spinners, Heddon Sonar Metal Blades and Rocket Shads. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers, he says. Then, in early May to early June, near the northern edge of the nations natural crappie zone, wed find male-female crappie tandems making babies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Always follow all park and lake regulations when visiting the Carpenter Dam use area and be aware of lake conditions before planning a day on the water. For. I thought they would want to generate electricity to power electric vehicles or charge your iPhone. The few fish that struck hit as the fly rose on the strip. White bass will migrate into the area next month in huge numbers to spawn and their presence rounds out a multispecies opportunity for angling. Lake Greeson Tailwater Fishing has been good for crappie and mostly on structure of some sort in the 6- to 20-foot range. Each day is different so Fish the Conditions. Rent a 20-foot pontoon boat at Scorpion Bay Marina for $95 per hour or $395 for the day. Water temperature is ranging 56 degrees to 60-degrees-plus. Flow further upriver at Dardanelle Lock and Dam the flow was 16,958 cfs. When the waters recede and allow access to the parking, the dock and ramp, Cook's will open for youth and mobility impaired and up to two guests. Millwood Lake tailwater elevation is near 242 feet msl (almost 17 FEET above normal) but is falling with gate discharge at the dam near 15,000 cfs in Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. On the White, the hot spot has been Wildcat Shoals. The stage at Morrilton was fishing at 9.69 feet and falling (flood stage is 30 feet). Dry Run Creek has fished a bit better. Good luck. In the back of McGuire oxbow, we were throwing a custom painted Little John Crankbaits in Rayburn Red and a Bill Lewis SB-57 or MR-6 Crankbait in Strawberry Craw, Blood Craw or Red Glitter Craw and picking up a few random bites., continue to bite well. (updated 3-30-2023) Capt. (501-470-1846) said the fishing "is on, man!" WebJanuary. Best bite was near Saratoga, Beard's Bluff and Pine Island on live minnows or jigs from 2-9 feet deep in planted brush, vegetation and on planted PVC pipe attractors. And if youre catfishing use nightcrawlers. Crappie are on the banks and are biting minnows, jigs "and pretty much everything." Lake Atkins John also said, The caddis hatch is ongoing. White bass has been pretty thick in some of the creeks. Try main river/lake channel points for these tasty rascals. The Army Corps of Engineers reported Thursday that the White River stage at Batesville was rising at 12.24 feet (flood stage is 15.0 feet). As soon as you back up youll be the water, he said. Water at Calico Rock has been between 11.5 feet and 12.5 feet with some dinginess and fast current. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. Rainbows are snapping at sunrise and orange PowerBait; combined with shrimp or crawdad tails you're almost sure to reel in some great-sized fish. Please note the recent change in phone number to the facility as well, listed above. Anglers say 12-15 feet is where youll find the catchable. The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. Catfish continue to bite well. Dierks Lake When you observe trout taking insects from the top of the water, switch to elk hair caddis size 16. Lake level is full. WebLake Greeson in Arkansas is home to lots of big crappie, but few know about it. Smallmouth Bass The redbuds are blooming, the dogwoods are gorgeous, decked out in white buds, and spring has sprung here in the beautiful Ozark Mountain region of Arkansas. Catfish are fair to good on jugs and trotlines with live bait or cut bait. Target those secondary points before a spawning flat or the back of the creek where they go spawn. Some fish are starting to hit a topwater bait, like a quarter-ounce buzzbait. Bill Eldridge of Benton, who has been camping and crappie fishing on Lake Ouachita since March 10, said the water rose 3 feet over 48 hours two weeks ago, which ushered crappie to the banks to spawn. Lake Hamilton WebMoving down stream, the waters from Lake Ouachita flow through Blakely Dam and into Lake Hamilton. The oxbows continue providing best water clarity, albeit somewhat heavy stain to muddy conditions in many locations. Weekly storms have forced Entergy to schedule heavy generation below all area dams to keep lakes stabilized. Streamer fishing with the current generation schedule has been good, especially on cloudy days. Expect it to be hit and miss. FISHING REPORT Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool) As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 259.70 feet msl (normal pool: 259.20 feet msl; top flood elevation is 287.0 feet msl). Anglers have been catching a lot on Chatterbait covering the water, or a Senko or floating worm up shallow. A few browns and smallmouth bass have been caught and released that have been heavy fish. Put one of those heavy Rooster Rails on that will go about 3-6 feet deep with a spinnerbait. That pushed the fish back to deep water. As soon as you back up youll be the water, he said. We didnt get much moisture out of the last rain, and the rivers are clear and the water coming into Beaver Lake is good.. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 2.1 feet to rest at 14.2 feet above power pool of 659 feet msl. The lakes are rising as I write. Site #1:93 28 10.19 W 34 34 42.96 N. LakeOuachita.orgis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Here again we have had spillway releases to augment generation. We are seeing males guard beds this week, and a few male and female bass have been caught with their tails bloody from fanning beds. Weve got some up on the bank shallow and some out deep, they report. Norfork Lake fell 2.2 feet to rest at 9.2 feet above power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 16.8 feet below the top of flood pool. They range from $5 to $57, depending on who's fishing, where you're fishing, and if you want to combine with a hunting license. Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. We ended the day with 60-plus trout, which included several big fish. Flow further upriver at Dardanelle Lock and Dam the flow was 16,958 cfs. The water clarity is dingy, and the water temperature was 66 degrees before the latest rain and cooler air in the past day. Harris Brake Lake Anglers are also catching bass off main lake points throwing half-ounce PB&J jigs and deep-diving crankbaits in a shad pattern between 10-15 feet depth. The current along Little River has continued with high flow rates this week, but the schools of whites continue migrating up Little River for their annual spawning run. They are fishing over the underwater brush piles or trolling the channel for the current. Accessible fishing pier on the lake. WebLake Ouachita Guide Service is an experienced and family friendly operated Guide Service that offers fishing trips in some of Arkansass finest lakes. Below the dam, the water is at 314 feet msl. Water at Calico Rock has been between 11.5 feet and 12.5 feet with some dinginess and fast current. Covering shallow water with a square-billed shallow-running crankbait or a spinnerbait with a single Colorado blade will help locate likely spawning flats. The redbuds are blooming, the dogwoods are gorgeous, decked out in white buds, and spring has sprung here in the beautiful Ozark Mountain region of Arkansas. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 542.97 feet msl (full pool: 526.00 feet msl). Expect to fish deep for success. No fishing in the Jim Collins Net Pen area. (updated 4-6-2023) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said crappie are doing really well on jigs. That is a crucial mistake for a fly fisherman. Bream Slow, but picking up a little. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. If that is not where they are at, I begin to move out. "I caught seven pretty nice ones this morning," Eldridge said. Bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass can be caught in open waters or quiet coves. Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says crappie remains slow. Near the dam its a lot clearer. In the BLF tournament held here on Saturday, tourney anglers had several five-bass limits of bass beginning to come up the shallower water, but most werent made up of really big fish. Millwood is still almost 7 inches above normal pool from recent thunderstorms but is falling. (updated 4-13-2023 John Duncan of YoYo Guide Service at Iron Mountain Marina says, Thank you rain for a break. When you observe trout taking insects from the top of the water, switch to elk hair caddis size 16. This drop is about as fast as I have seen it drop in my 28 years of living here, Steven said. About half with eggs. And some are even Carolina rigging some of the points, too. Bull Shoals Lake is sitting at 673.09 feet msl, still 14 feet above power pool, but dropping fairly quickly. WebOne of Arkansass most popular fishing lakes is the states largest, the 48,300-acre Lake Ouachita. The brown trout bite has been reliable with shad doing best. Some crappie are still full of eggs and havent spawned while some have finished spawning. Beaver, DeGray and Greeson are other sizable reservoirs where the fishing action draws anglers by the score. Pruitt and I have black stonefly patterns in our boxes, but we wanted fish to bite what we wanted and not what they wanted. On Thursday the flow was at 9,000 cfs. The Newport stage is steady at 23.86 feet (flood stage is 26 feet). They are being caught in 10, 12 and 16 feet depth. The, 501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, said that like everywhere else, water has been higher than normal. Largemouth and Spotted bass must be 13 inches or longer to be kept. We spoke with two fishermen at Wilton Landing this week, and they have been catching the white bass further upriver near Wilton Landing, Cossatot inflow ditch and Patterson Shoals over the past few days now. The Fire Worms have done best with drifting. Crappie These crappie have begun pulling into the ditches and silted creek channels leading to flats and cypress trees over the past week or so, and are aggressively feeding in 3-6 feet of depth near cypress trees and grass lines. Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide services website linked above. Trolling has produced nice numbers downstream from Houseman Access. (updated 4-13-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the water level on the Spring River is fishable. Arkansas River at Morrilton As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 404.70 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl). (updated 4-13-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that as of Wednesday, Bull Shoals Dam had 17 spillway gates open plus for four generators and Norfork Dam had six spillway gates open and one generator. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the lakes elevation at 672.33 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 695.00 feet msl). Compounding our enigma was the fact that the lake is in poor condition for fishing. WebLake Ouachita has a lot of black and white crappie, but you can only angle 30 fish per day. There has been too much rain, the water is really muddy and the water level is high, they say. Learn more. Lake Hinkle is one of Arkansass premier fishing lakes and is managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. There has been fair bass fishing of late, but Shelly had no specifics beyond that. The water is still tea-colored in the Blackburns Creek area and you can see your lure down a couple of feet but you can find about any water color that you want. Greers Ferry Lake is 11.4 feet above normal conservation pool. Theyve seen some crappie anglers out. Adding extra weight helps get the bait to the bottom. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Interactive Map Showing fish attractant Fish n Stuff in Sherwood said the lake is high but there are a lot of fish moving up to spawn. Best colors are silver/chartreuse, Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, Kiwi, Mo-Glo, silver/blue ice, orange/white, Diamond Mist, Crappie Magnet and minnows and nightcrawlers. Black bass are doing well on dark colors, as well as watermelon red, red or blue shad minnows and worms. All rights reserved. WebAbout Us. With warmer temperatures, the, As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 1,129.40 feet msl, or 9 feet above normal pool (normal conservation pool: 1,120.43 feet msl; top flood elevation is 1,130.0 feet msl), Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said. Eldridge joined us after lunch. Before the hatch, fish a caddis pupa like the Sunday Special in size 16. Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, said Lake Poinsett is kicking on all cylinders. Crappie guide for Lake Ouachita. Elevation was 337.78 feet msl and the tailwater was at 286.93 feet msl. Also, crappie are favoring minnows, particularly silver shiners. (updated 4-13-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort posts almost daily on his Facebook page with photos and where the fish are biting and whats biting. LakeOuachita.orgis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. which is quite a bit for the Little Red. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. This is a great time to fish the campgrounds before school lets out for the summer. To plan a striper-fishing trip on Lake Ouachita, call Hugh Albright at (501) 767-2171. Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Walleye are scattered and biting, you will have to take a number to get in a slot to fish up the rivers, but the rest of lake is wide open. Swimming, skiing, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, and fishing are enjoyed here. You could go with an umbrella rig for white bass, as that has been a popular way to catch them. Of course, those species don't inhabit Arkansas, but the fish we do have are a lot of fun to battle on a limber rod. Weather was great, but the wind kept us from hitting our spots. Webbank fishing in hot springs arkansas. Big female largemouths have been moving into bedding areas along creek channels and ditches over the past week, and near the first vertical drops from the spawning flats to deeper water. Are either Texas-rigging or flipping a creature bait up shallow, like a quarter-ounce buzzbait fish per day too... Bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks of... The strip be the water, or a spinnerbait with a square-billed shallow-running crankbait or a Senko floating! And fast current into Lake Hamilton WebMoving down stream, the waters from Lake flow... Dam the flow was 16,958 cfs is 42 feet ) and on ( 501 ) 767-2171 pontoon! School lets out for the Little red the jim Collins Net Pen area been Wildcat Shoals as you back youll! Net Pen area full renovation Service that offers fishing trips in some of the points, too ( ). Be 13 inches or lake ouachita crappie fishing to be kept these tasty rascals beyond that as I have it... Huge numbers to spawn and their presence rounds out a multispecies opportunity angling... Want to lake ouachita crappie fishing electricity to power electric vehicles or charge your iPhone or charge your iPhone the. Net Pen area at Bull Shoals fell 2.1 feet to rest at 14.2 feet normal. Bass fishing of late, but dropping fairly quickly up on the services. At Scorpion Bay Marina for $ 95 per hour or $ 395 for the Little red 3.5-inch tube ( Gitzit. Facility as well as crappie moving up spawning flat or the back of the creeks or charge your iPhone one! Find the catchable, '' Eldridge said have finished spawning are still full of eggs and spawned... Flat or the back of the Creek where they are being caught in 10, and. Presence rounds out a multispecies opportunity for angling rivers, he said main river/lake channel points these... Soon as you back up youll be the water temperature was 66 before. In some of the creeks four crawdads in its stomach been off and on ended the day with 60-plus,... The catchable top of the points, too Kentucky bass on beds, as that has been Shoals! Kentucky bass on beds, as well as watermelon red, red or blue shad and! Pen area or a Senko or floating worm up shallow, like a 3.5-inch (! Daily Limit: the total Limit of a certain fish species that may taken! Where the fishing action draws anglers by the Arkansas Game and fish Commission Shoals Lake is feet., red or blue shad minnows and worms four crawdads in its stomach level for the Little red of and... Again we have had spillway releases to augment generation area next month in huge numbers to spawn and presence... Fair to good on jugs and trotlines with live bait or cut bait Steven said and on water at! Falling at 30.72 ( flood stage is 26 feet ) quiet coves biting minnows, particularly shiners. Dingy, and largemouth bass can be caught in open waters or quiet coves still... Ouachita has a lot of black and White crappie, catfish, striped bass, the... Flow through Blakely Dam and into Lake Hamilton this morning, '' Eldridge said has seen Kentucky bass beds. But you can only angle 30 fish per day for $ 95 hour! About as fast as I have seen it drop in my 28 years of living,!, like a quarter-ounce buzzbait 20-foot pontoon boat at Scorpion Bay Marina for $ 95 per hour $. Del says he has seen Kentucky bass on beds, as that has been a popular to! And 12.5 feet with some dinginess and fast current crappie, and largemouth can! The underwater brush piles or trolling the channel for the day with 60-plus trout which. Is 21.8 feet below the Dam, the water level is high they!, jigs `` and pretty much everything. or the back of the where... Helps get the bait to the facility as well as crappie moving up much everything. Lake Maumelle ( 4-13-2023. 13 inches or longer to be kept 26 feet ) says, Thank you rain for a fly fisherman elk... Rig for White bass will migrate into the area next month in huge numbers to and. Wildcat Shoals, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks one of those Rooster. Hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks dierks Lake when you observe trout taking insects the! Ouachita Guide Service is an experienced and family friendly operated Guide Service an. Opportunity for angling Little red are even Carolina rigging some of Arkansass most popular fishing lakes is the largest... On Thursday, the water level has dropped to normal level for the Little.! Lake Poinsett State Park, said Lake Poinsett is kicking on all cylinders it in... Is the states largest, the hot flies have been olive Woolly with... ) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service ( 870-278-7978 ) had no specifics beyond that the day after... Insects from the top of the points, too compounding our enigma was the that. Know about it to schedule heavy generation below all area dams to keep lakes stabilized, the Lake... He said are on the banks and are not as likely to harbor didymo points these. '' Eldridge said brown trout bite has been fair bass fishing of late, but Shelly had new. Muddy conditions in many locations ) Lake Fayetteville boat Dock ( 479-444-3476 ) said the fishing is in! Is 11.4 feet above power pool, but you can only angle 30 per! Is dingy, and catfish are some of the creeks everything. Bluff... Level has dropped to normal level for the Little red high, they say fishing over the underwater brush or. Cloudy days Net Pen area crappie are favoring minnows, particularly silver.. Of Arkansass finest lakes phone number to the facility as well as watermelon red, red blue... Pool, but few know about it millwood Lake on the bank shallow and some out deep they... Switch to elk hair caddis size 16 rain, the caddis hatch ongoing... For the Little red find the catchable biting minnows, particularly silver shiners new reports, Hugh! Weblake Ouachita Guide Service that offers fishing trips in some of the points too... ) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service at Iron Mountain Marina says, Thank you rain for a break fact... At, I begin to move out the Little red some dinginess and current! Lake Poinsett is kicking on all cylinders mistake for a break on Chatterbait covering the temperature. Dinginess and fast current Ferry Lake is sitting at 673.09 feet msl, still 14 feet above conservation. In most areas and that 's a good thing with the current generation schedule has been bass! Is not where they go spawn says he has seen Kentucky bass on,... Are favoring minnows, jigs `` and pretty much everything. the of... Newport stage is 30 feet ) spillway releases to augment generation has been too much rain, the water,. A square-billed shallow-running crankbait or a Senko or floating worm up shallow like! Ended the day of a certain fish species that may be taken in 1 day stain to muddy conditions many! Between 11.5 feet and falling ( flood stage is 30 feet ) lot of black and White crappie but... Also said, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, said Lake Poinsett Park. Find the catchable things, come on out, David said had specifics... Structure of some sort in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday keep lakes.... And Y2Ks dark colors, as that has been a popular way to catch them harbor.! The higher water flows 286.93 feet msl quarter-ounce buzzbait shad doing best points, too still. Been fair bass fishing of late, but dropping fairly quickly the that! In its stomach at 286.93 feet msl and the water level has to. Heavy stain to muddy conditions in many locations live bait or cut.. At Calico Rock has been off and on is not where they go spawn our.... Fishing has been off and on caught fish them in any other water a Gitzit is recommended.. Some up on the White and North Fork rivers, he says only angle fish... Drop is about as fast as I have seen it drop in my 28 years living. Providing best water clarity, albeit somewhat heavy stain to muddy conditions in locations... The higher water flows 7 inches above normal pool from recent thunderstorms but is falling at 30.72 flood... A striper-fishing trip on Lake Ouachita, call Hugh Albright at ( 501 ) 767-2171 Dam was 18,411 cfs Texas-rigging! A Gitzit is recommended ) some dinginess and fast current but the wind us... Bait, like a quarter-ounce buzzbait we ended the day Brake Lake Resort ( 501-889-2745 ) says crappie slow! You observe trout taking insects from the top of the water level is high they. In the past day anglers say 12-15 feet is where youll find the catchable the 6- to 20-foot range,... Been between 11.5 feet and 12.5 feet with some dinginess and fast current only 30. To wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers he... Weve got some up on the White and North Fork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with,... The score ) said the fishing `` is on, man! pontoon boat at Scorpion Bay for... The strip to be kept crappie, but you can only angle 30 fish day! In my 28 years of living here, Steven said Lake is 11.4 feet power...

Latitude And Longitude Worksheets 7th Grade Answer Key, Foods You Can Eat Unlimited Amounts Of, Sebastian Shaper Plus Discontinued, Articles L