South Arkansas Fishing Reports
Better weather should add to already hot fishing action
By Jim Harris
Arkansas Wildlife Editor
We’ve had a lot of up-anddown weather, both in terms of temperature and climate conditions. But it seems that we might be looking at warmer and drier conditions.
In south Arkansas we’re starting to hear more and more about the spring spawn and the season is right for wetting a hook.
Lake Dardenale
Recent rains and high river flow has muddied the water. Surface temperature earlier this week was 58 degrees. As of Tuesday (April 11) the Army Corps of Engineers has reported river flows near 200,000 cfs at both Ozark and Dardanelle. Currently, online USACE water level reports are not accessible.
Lake Dardanelle State Park s goal is to deliver the services you need at the highest levels.
Lake Hamilton
Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas-born-and-bred Xpress all-aluminum, allwelded fishing boats in Hot Springs, reports Lake Hamilton at normal pool with water temperatures in the low to mid-60s throughout. Lake clarity is on the better side of fair with a slightly stained appearance. Bass have been on fire lately! We are not in full spawn mode yet but the fish are feeding very heavily on the insides of points that lead to spawning pockets. Basically what we are doing right now is intercepting the fish on
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their way to the spawning areas. Male bass are protecting their territory in the shallows and especially under docks and overhangs. Poppers, frogs and especially floating worms and wacky-rigged Senkos in pumpkinseed, June bug and black colors are hammering some good fish!
The other technique is to target the larger females in the guts of the pockets.
These fish are staging and can be caught with the drop-shot rig and Carolina rig using the same baits, but in 10-15 feet of water.
Crappie reports have been strong, with crappie starting to spawn in around 510 of water. We have hammered some large aggressive crappie on the way to these areas by fishing the gut of the pockets in 20-15 feet on jigs, fishing the vertical presentation and using Sonar to see the fish in real time. Catfish are good in 20-25 feet of water on drop-offs to deep water and in the guts of creek channels. Good luck and Go Greeson!
Lake Nimrod
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake s elevation was 363.77 feet msl (normal pool: 342.00 feet msl).
Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said the lake is starting to clear up. The surface temperature is up to 58 degrees.
Water level remains really high, they report. Bream fishing is excellent. Worms and crickets are working along with jigs and Rock Hoppers. Crappie are good. They are at 8 feet depth and biting minnows and jigs. Work the Brushpiles.
Black bass also are good.
There was a bass tourna-
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ment Sunday morning in which the winner caught five bass weight a total of 23 pounds. Spinnerbaits are working best right now.
Catfishing is good. Most cats are being caught on trotlines at the flats in shallow water.
Lake Ouachita
Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-8672191/800-832-2276 out of state) reports that black bass are excellent.
Floating worms, Ned rigs and Carolina rigs are producing very good stringers. Walleye are still good.
Shad-colored crankbaits fished on river and main lake points are producing quality sacks.
The striper bite remains excellent. These fish are being caught on topwater C-10 Redfins and live bait on the west end of the lake. Bream are good with worms, crickets or PowerBait in 15-25 feet of water. Crappie are very good. Try a small jig or minnow near brush in 4-15 feet of water.
Catfish are good and being caught with trotline and jugs. Cut bait and live bait are working best. Water temperature is ranging 6267 degrees.
Water clarity is clearing.
Lake level was 578.39 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-6227717, or Chris Darby, 870867-7822 for more info.
Got a tip? Email Jim Harris at jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov.
