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Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is high and stained. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie can be caught in the middle of the brush on minnows and jigs.
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Little Red River: Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said water conditions are normal with heavy generation daily. Trout fishing is very good on a wax worm/Power Egg combination and on Shad Raps. Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said water releases have resumed. The power house is releasing water most days to reduce our lake to a more acceptable level. If we have no heavy rain events in the coming days, water releases will probably occur at breakfast and supper time as per previous protocols. This permits wade fishing at Winkley Shoal at first light, Libby Shoal until fast water arrives and at JFK Park around noon. When releases are ended, our river level will recede more slowly than normal. The Little Red empties into the White River at Augusta, which is over its banks, so releases will be lower as soon as Greers Ferry is down to top power pool. Our midge population continues to grow exponentially every week. Midge hatches are always more prevalent during winter, but this year is exceptional. A few caddis flies and black gnats are also “coming off” most days. The best dry flies are midges (size 22 or smaller in cream or black), Adams (size 18-20) or caddis (size 18-20 tan). Also try a sow bug (size 14-16 peacock, UV tan or light gray), zebra midge (size 16-22 red, copper or black), copper john (size 16 red, green or copper), San Juan worm (size 16-18 fluorescent pink or red), red butt soft hackle (size 14-16) or wooly bugger (size 10-12 olive or black).
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Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.63 feet MSL. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level has stabilized a little, and the water temperature is 40 to 47 degrees. Walleye are beginning to stage in better numbers for the spawn. A jig-and-minnow and jig-and-grub are working well worked slowly along the flats near spawning areas. The bite is very light, but should improve in the next week. White bass and hybrids are holding near the mud line, and should get cranking as the weather begins warming. Try small grubs, spoons and Rapalas as well as in-line spinners and Rooster Tails. Crappie should get started with the warm weather also. Bass fishing will continue to get better, try magnum Wiggle Warts on steep channel bends in the main lake and slow-rolled spinnerbaits and large Rat-L-Traps in the deeper cuts. A football head jig and jighead worn are also working well along bluffs. Catfishing is fair on crawlers.
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Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is high and starting to clear up. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass and hybrids are biting well on plastic baits.
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Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is clear and high. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on stink bait. Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said all fishing is slow.
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Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are murky and high. All fishing is slow.
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Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said the water level is 1.3 feet above the spillway. White bass fishing is fair with some reports of catches coming from the west end of the lake. Shad are bunched up around the river channel, so the action is only days away. Black bass are fair and are beginning to move into shallow water. Light-colored spinnerbaits and jigs are working on the bass up shallow. Some fish are still deep and can be found near the first ledges next to spawning areas. Crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows. There is some movement to shallow water, but most of the fish being caught are still deep. Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair in 12 to 16 feet of water on minnows.
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Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop reported that crappie are biting well on Cubby jigs and pink minnows. Catfishing is excellent on limb lines and yo-yos using cut bait and chicken hearts.
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Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on 2-inch grubs around brush piles. Bass fishing is good on 5-inch green pumpkin lizards and crayfish-colored crankbaits.
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Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bass are biting well on pumpkinseed grubs. Walleye are fair on minnows.
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Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the water is very high with temperatures in the mid 40s. Kentucky bass can be found in the backs of coves and are biting on black and chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair in deeper water on nightcrawlers. A few sauger have been caught below the dam on minnows. Stripers are good. No report on crappie, bream or whites.
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Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is low and fishing has picked up. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jigs in the backwater.
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Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is clear and low. Crappie are biting well on yo-yos baited with minnows. Jigs are working great for pole fishermen. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on live and prepared bait.
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Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on pink minnows and slip-cork rigs.
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Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is very muddy and high. All species are slow.
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Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is very muddy and high. All species are slow.
