As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at Blakely Dam was 576.13 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl). Plan on continued heavy generation from the dam for a while. Crappie are on the cusp of taking off, they report. We also had good reports of nice crappie from folks camping at Cottonshed USACE campground and fishing Mine Creek and Schall Branch near Pine Island with over 50 caught per day. As of noon Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 16.2 feet high at 359.05 feet msl (normal pool: 343.71 feet msl; top flood elevation is 373.0 feet msl). Although fishing has been slow this week, we have seen several rainbow trout over 2 pounds and brown trout over 18 inches. The visibility in Lake Maumelle is ranging 2-4 feet. Bream are slow, but picking up a little. Now is the time! The hills enveloping Lake Ouachita are clad in dapper pastels of much lighter shades of green than they will wear in the summer. We invite you to come join us.. (updated 4-13-2023) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported water temperature is in the mid- to high 50s. (updated 4-13-2023) Ken Winstead at Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting year-round on redworms and crickets. Try using jigs or minnows. (updated 3-30-2023) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says crappie remains slow. Drift-fishing from a john boat takes the frustration out of high-water fishing; this is not the kind of water to for using an anchor. White River Flow further upriver at Dardanelle Lock and Dam the flow was 16,958 cfs. Darker water warms more quickly. Here again we have had spillway releases to augment generation. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass combined daily limit is 6 (only WebConditions : Lake Ouachita: Capt. The water temperature is ranging 64-65 degrees this week, up to 68, "which is perfect," Ray said. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at Narrows Dam was 544.78 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl). As of Thursday at noon, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 473.46 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl, top flood elevation 487.0 msl). (501-470-1846) said the fishing "is on, man!" Up Little River from White Cliffs to Cossatot inflow from Wilton Landing remains muddy. Water temps continue to rise. Anglers are fishing for them with a jig. 7. A deep-water nymph rig has been producing while fishing out of the boat. Once found, the flats can be milked for a few more fish as they continue to move up by casting Texas-rigged lizards and weightless worms to shallow targets like stumps and flooded brush. They fall slowly, so you have to count them down at a rate of "one-thousand-one.". Some males from 2-3 pounds were found shallow in 1-3 feet of water on flats near vegetation, and others in 6-9 feet deep creek channels where grass and reeds and fresh lily pad shoots are emerging, and are biting Brazalo Spinnerbaits, lizards, Brush Hogs and Bass Assassins. This irritated Whitlock who intended his flies to be used. Flow below the dam Thursday midday was 9,591 cfs, with constant generation in that range for several days. For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the U.S. Geological Survey's Lake Conway water level site. WebCrappie have always been a big draw to lake Ouachita. The 40,100-acre lake is well known for fishing and consistently ranks as one of the top 10 spots in the nation for Vertical jigging a crappie tube on a one-sixteenth-ounce ball-headed jig using at least a 10-foot jigging pole would be a good approach. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Interactive Map Showing fish attractant WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported water temperature is in the mid- to high 50s. (Top navigation pool is 338.2 and bottom pool is 336.0.) The oxbows continue providing best water clarity, albeit somewhat heavy stain to muddy conditions in many locations. This is 21.8 feet below the top of flood pool. 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). Bill Eldridge of Benton, who has been camping and crappie fishing on Lake Trout The White River at Newport is 23.83 feet and has been the same for three days. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette), Bill Eldridge pulls a bass from a brush pile Wednesday on Lake Ouachita. John also said, The caddis hatch is ongoing. April marks the final stocking month for rainbow trout until November, with 4,320 trout scheduled to be released. My plan would take us to Lake Ouachita, Arkansas in late March to early April, in hopes of finding fish spawning on shallow brush or boat docks. Millwood is still almost 7 inches above normal pool from recent thunderstorms but is falling. (updated 4-13-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said 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. ", Crappie are congregating in deep cuts that have debris piled into the bottoms, Eldridge said. Throw around the ol McMinnow 2.8 swimbait in white or shad colors, and also a fluke and Lucky Craft Gunfish topwater this pattern has been the deal for me. White River 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. The water level is normal and the clarity is dingy. We can expect higher flows on the White and Norfork for some time to come.. Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk. LAKE OUACHITA ARKANSAS The lake is its normal stained and the level may be a little high, but the anglers are still catching the fish shallow. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead). Blue back/chartreuse has been working well. Creeks are beginning to clear, with temperature around 57 degrees in the morning this week. The surface temperature on Sunday had worked its way past the 60-degree mark, coming in at 63.5 degrees (nearly 11 degrees above the previous Sunday). As of Thursday at noon, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 473.46 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl, top flood elevation 487.0 msl). Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide services website linked above. Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. Theyve been catching some really nice flatheads on limblines, they say. Look for bigger spreads shallower than 30 feet, and be sure to check the flats. The park is popular for water skiing, fishing, camping, picnicking, and hiking. It will be difficult to fish this hatch with the high water levels we now have. Pruitt used a 3-weight Sage 309 and Lamson Loop reel spooled with Rios floating line. JL Guide Service is an experienced and family friendly operator that offers fishing trips in some of Arkansass finest lakes. Have fun, stay safe and catch some fish!. The Norfork tailwater had no wadable water. Lake Pleasant Regional Park is at 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road in 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. 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.. (updated 3-30-2023) Capt. As of Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam was 8,064 cfs. The water is stable now, clear and at a normal level. The water can rise very quickly. 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. Ken Winstead at Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) in Perryville said. Temperature was 52 degrees at the start, warming to 62 by the end of the day. Seeing as I'd never fished this lake before I opted to hire a guide. WATER CLARITY: Stained LAKE LEVEL: 579.34, MIKE WURM 501-622-7717, CHRIS DARBY 870-867-7822, GIVE OUR GUIDES A CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION, Water Temperature 46-50 degrees (updated 3-30-2023) AGFC staff fishing Greers Ferry Lake said black bass should move up into the newly flooded areas with the warm weather, looking for places to set up spawning beds and feed on insects and other terrestrial critters caught in the rising water. If youre going for crappie, the boat anglers are trying in the shallow area now with minnows and with a Crappie Stinger jig. Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality. Trophies in the 40-pound class have been The tailwater was at 279.15 feet as of noon Thursday. And high water is always a good time to chase browns. NOTICE: Central Arkansas Water will be closing public access to the water on the lake (no boating/sailing) from midnight Monday morning, April 17, until 6 p.m. Friday, April 21, for application of herbicide to treat hydrilla in the lake. The bigger bass are probably holding deeper in those secondary points or in the great new coontail sitting in 9-15 feet of water. Fish early or late in the day unless its a cloudy, windy day. Catfish anglers have been catching cats on trotlines, noodles, limblines and rod-and-reel. John says his favorite rig has been a cerise San Juan worms and an orange egg. Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool) If youve got all of those things, come on out, David said. The Newport stage is steady at 23.86 feet (flood stage is 26 feet). will likely be found around brush and vegetation near the old shoreline as they were moving up to spawn when the last rise of water came into the system. The lower end is stained to clear. Mike and crew continue to find a few large schools over the past couple weeks along Little River, and the most and largest schools of white bass have been between Cemetery Slough and Cossatot River inflow ditch. 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. We have seen some small hatches in late afternoon. The faster water is stirring up more food and it seems like the bigger fish are taking advantage. Theyre being found from 1-60 feet, and Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and jigs are working plus a lot in between. Catfish are starting to move up, he said. Clarity still a little stained in mid-lake and above in the creeks from recent runoff. John also said, The caddis hatch is ongoing. At times the river has had too much rain and turned muddy. Theyve seen some crappie anglers out. This is a near-perfect level of generation for fishing from a boat. Also, they are going with green pumpkin orange or green pumpkin blue colors, as well as black/blue creature baits. Catfish are also biting on well on liver of all kinds, dough bait, minnows and night crawlers. Most of the dirty water cleared out, but some of the bigger creeks or up the lake have stain, while there is 18 feet visibility around the dam area. (501-834-5733) in Sherwood advises that anglers check with Army Corps of Engineers (see url above or download the app) to see what the flow level is. I am writing this in the middle of what The Weather Channel describes as a severe thunderstorm. Covering shallow water with a square-billed shallow-running crankbait or a spinnerbait with a single Colorado blade will help locate likely spawning flats. Try a dark-color bait. Things are getting better quickly. The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. No bass are on top yet, but they are moving into shallower areas. No reports of Alligators in Lake Ouachita have ever been received.Arkansas's largest lake, Lake Ouachita offers 40,000 acres of clear, clean water surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest. Some people have been catching bass on spinnerbaits but I have not been able to get that accomplished. (updated 4-13-2023) Lacey Williams at Lakeview Landing on Arkansas Highway 95 (501-252-1437) said the water level is still up but closer to normal. Expect to fish deep for success. I looked further and noted that they had spillway releases on all of the dams in the White River system. Also in other spots on the river anglers are throwing a spinnerbait up shallow in white/chartreuse as well as black/blue Chatterbaits. By midday Thursday the flow was 27,817 cfs and has ranged about that same level for several days; tailwater elevation was 461.02 feet. And remember to Have Fun fishing! LAKE CONDITIONS Catfish Fair to good on jugs and trot lines with live or cut bait. 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. Senko, Dinger, floating worm, jerk bait, and Carolina rig are go to baits right now. That is a crucial mistake for a fly fisherman. (updated 4-13-2023) Fish N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports the river is "really at a good spot where it's fishing really well." The Fire Worms have done best with drifting. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Interactive Map Showing fish attractant areas for Lake Ouachita. The stage at Augusta is steady at 32.03 feet, almost 6 feet above flood stage of 26.00 feet. 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