Fishing goes on despite coronavirus concerns
Fishing spots open for business as pandemic shuts down many attractions, destinations
From the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
www.agfc.com As someone else (perhaps it was Gov. Asa Hutchinson) earlier this week mentioned in a press conference in discussing the avoidance of the coronavirus, if one is looking for a good social distancing activity, fishing and the outdoors certainly can provide that. Many of our regular Weekly Fishing Report contributors checked in and said they are open for business, or guiding, or (in the case of our anglers who provide reports) getting out on the water and seeing what's biting.
Not to make the least bit of light about the coronavirus, but apparently it's the water conditions around the state (high, fast in some places, muddy to murky, temps still in the low 50s even though a crappie and bass spawn is close) that are causing many of our reporters their most concern.
Fly-fishing guide Greg Seaton of Heber Springs offers this tip for those of you who were planning or had already scheduled a spring fishing trip (this applies to all fishing, not just trout excusions): 'It may be best to check with your guide if you have a trip planned during the next couple of weeks.
Some are taking trips and others are postponing until we get a better handle on the virus issue. You can discuss the trip with your guide and make your decision. It’s a hard decision to make, since we consider your health as well as our own. Social distancing is hard to practice while guiding in a boat. Again, each of us and you have to make these decisions, so call and discuss it with your guide. Hopefully, we will have a better handle on this in a couple of weeks. Good fishing, and good health!”
Meanwhile, in the photo above right, Ella Lax and Cotter Trout Dock guide Doug Knight enjoyed a recent day catching rainbow trout. Cotter Trout Dock has got a great report this week about the fishing going on at the White River below Bull Shoals Dam. Plus there are other promising reports from around the state. Check out one hot spot in the Central Arkansas Fishing Reports (updated March 21):
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake is at its normal (stained) clarity. Water level jumped up some; it’s high as of Tuesday. Bream are good on redworms and crickets. Crappie are good.
Try bass minnows or handtied jigs for best results.
Black bass are good.
Anglers are using an assortment of baits to catch them: spinnerbaits, plastic worms, swimbaits, worms, chatterbaits and frogs.
Catfishing is good, too.
Stink bait is a good method now, along with nightcrawlers, goldfish, and setting up trotlines with minnows.
• Little Red River — Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) said Greers Ferry Lake is above normal seasonal pool due to recent rains, so longer periods of generation on the Little Red are expected. If you choose to fish these conditions, you will want to use long leaders and weight. The 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 Army Corps of Engineers website for realtime water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website to see forecasted generation schedule.
Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips. com (501-690-9166) said, “Rain, rain … go away! I think it’s a common thing to see rain each day. The lake is 1 foot above normal and that’s the good news. The bad news is it’s raining and expected to rain for the next few days. “It may be best to check with your guide if you have a trip planned during the next couple of weeks. Some are taking trips and others are postponing until we get a better handle on the virus issue. You can discuss the trip with your guide and make your decision. It’s a hard decision to make, since we consider your health as well as our own.
Social distancing is hard to practice while guiding in a boat. Again, each of us and you have to make these decisions, so call and discuss it with your guide.
Hopefully, we will have a better handle on this in a couple of weeks. Good fishing, and good health!”
• Greers Ferry Lake — Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 463.12 feet msl and falling with generation. It is 1.08 feet above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl. The overall catch rate is getting better every day because more people are just out fishing because the weather is getting better; the catch rate never really went down all winter.
Some crappie are still out suspended in deep water, some closer in, some right in front of bushes and some in the bushes and on brushpiles. Try crawlers, Flukes or minnows. Bream are eating up shallow in warmer water – real shallow – the rest are still out deeper. Try crawlers, beetle spins or small crankbaits. Catfish are eating all over rivers and in the lake. Black bass are scattered from super deep to super shallow. Hybrid bass and white bass, some are upriver, while some are part of the way up and some are in the lake; use spoons, grubs, swimbaits or topwater baits.
