AGFC Regional Fishing Reports

Good fishing abounds all across the Natural State this summer

Arkansas Wildlife Editor

• Arkansas River — The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team said water temperatures are in the mid-70s.

Visibility is up to 1 foot in protected backwaters and only inches on the main channel. Water levels have been fluctuating a bit and will probably continue to do so. When the water is up, focus on shallow-flooded vegetation with spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swim jigs, square-billed crankbaits and/or frogs. Especially good areas will have both wind and shade. When the

Continued on Page 13

Photo courtesy of AGFC FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

water is down, focus on the first substantial drop-off from the bank and look for brushpiles with squarebilled and medium-diving crankbaits. Try Carolina rigs and finesse worms on shaky heads.

•

— Capt.

Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips says surface temp “was 77 when I came off the water (Friday).

However, the crappie are hanging in there. We’ve caught nice slabs as shallow as 6 feet and as deep as 15 feet.”

John Duncan of yoyoguideservice. com at Iron Mountain Marina said, “Summer is here. Rain has stopped for a moment.

Water temperatures are in the mid-70s. Water level is 406.74 feet msl. They are pulling water frequently.

There is a tremendous amount of debris floating from marking 35 upriver.

Catfishing is really a big thing right now.

Now that the water is dropping, trotlines are being used across small coves or parallel with bluff banks.

Live bait is always the best. There has been very little surface activity for schooling

•

— Curtis Willingham of River Rat Bait (870-231-3831) said that this week the water is so high and muddy, fishing has been curtailed.

Last week, he reported both catfish and drum were good on nightcrawlers, despite the high, muddy water.

•

Ramirez, owner of Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) on the southeastern end of the lake, said that this week he has no anglers as the lake has been recently fertilized. The clarity is spotty – it is clear in some spots and cloudy in others. Water level is normal. Before this week, he had said crappie were fair on minnows and jigs, Black bass are fair.

Catfish are fair using worms.

•

— Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that Lake Ouachita is falling but remains over 2 feet into flood, forcing all area dams to continue to run very heavy generation and open floodgates to eliminate the excess waters.

Lakes Hamilton and Catherine are stabilized, but this heavy flow schedule will continue until Lake Ouachita is brought back down below flood level.

This process will take several more weeks before lake conditions are safe enough to navigate.

Lake Catherine had been at normal summertime pool with quality fishing time available for bank and boat fishermen alike.

The majority of the year has already been lost to fishing due to the flooding in January and February, which also interfered with the crappie and walleye spawn.

•

— Jason Baumgartner, park aquarist at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7495), said they had a one evening storm move through the area last week and have since had sunshine and warm days.

The weather forecast calls for isolated showers/storms Wednesday and Thursday followed by sunshine and above-average temperatures throughout the weekend.

Early June rains and high river flow has kept the water clarity muddy.

Surface temperature Tuesday was 74 degrees.

As of Tuesday (May 26) the Corps of Engineers reported river flow at Ozark Lock and Dam has fallen to about 145,000 cfs. Lake Dardanelle State Park continues to comply with state and federal recommendations and policies for social distancing to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Be safe while on the river during high flows. Take advantage of nice weather or time to put a line the water!