“Where they bitin’?” – The East Arkansas Fishing Report
Experts weigh in on local hot spots
From the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
www.agfc.com
Horseshoe Lake
(updated 5-22-2019) Professional fishing guide Ronnie Tice (901-6876800) says the lake clarity is clear' and the surface temperature is 70 degrees. As of Monday, he says, they had been dealing with high winds, but fishing is great.
Bream are fair on redworms and crickets.
Crappie are good on minnows and hair jigs. Work the lily pads in 7 feet of water. Also, fish the docks and troll with minnows.
Black bass are excellent now. They are around their beds. Catfishing is excellent in the shallows; they appear to still be spawning. Follow Ronnie on his Facebook page.
Bear Creek Lake
(updated 5-22-2019) Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), says crappie and bream are up and biting. Live bait (mainly crickets) have been bringing them in. Bream are on beds, while crappie are biting in shallow water (4-5 feet). Bass are feeding on worms and artificial jigs-
Storm Creek Lake
(updated 5-22-2019) Natalie Faughn, assistant superintendent at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), there Storm Creek activity is slow. Some catfish and bass are biting, but water is still muddy and high.
Cook’s Lake
(updated 5-23-2019) Wil Hafner, education program specialist at the Potlatch Education Center at Cook’s Lake, says, “Do I even need to mention the fishing situation at Cook’s Lake? We have been hoping for a drop in the river and received the opposite.
However, if you have caught some fish elsewhere and want to learn how to cook them in ways other than fried, join us on May 23 from 6-8 p.m. for a non-fried fish dish class.
The class is free, but seating is very limited. Call the center to register. Check back in this space or call the center at 870-241-3373 for any updates on fishing Cook’s Lake. Cook’s Lake, when it reopens, will make fishing available on the 2- mile-long oxbow off the White River to youth under age 16 and to mobil-ity impaired anglers on the first and third Saturdays of each month, through October. Anglers can be accompanied by a helper who may fish.
