MonticelloLive

Fishing Tip:  Here’s a tip from bass fishing pro Woo Dave’s video Classic Patterns on how to get the most out of your soft plastics:Be sure to carry a cigarette lighter and a pocket knife with a wood or plastic handle. If you find yourself running low on soft-plastic worms, you can mend tears in your used worms by heating up the tip of the knife and rubbing it over the soft-plastic. The worms will be slightly discolored, but should hold up for the rest of the fishing day. Check out more tips from the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Library.
 
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater – 391.56 feet, Tailwater – 371.58 feet, Flow – 0 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.62 feet, Tailwater – 337.39 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.64 feet, Tailwater – 285.75 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 285.61 feet, Tailwater – 265.15 feet, Flow – 8,157 cubic feet per second
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 265.35 feet, Tailwater – 249.85 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 249.27 feet, Tailwater – 231.31 feet, Flow – 7,480 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 231.27 feet, Tailwater – 212.94 feet, Flow – 8,028 cubic feet per second
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 196.06 feet, Tailwater – 182.81 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 182.32 feet, Tailwater – 163.59 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 162.90 feet, Tailwater – 116.82 feet, Flow – 80 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
3.3 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
5.3 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
0.6 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
11 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
0.7 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
9 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)  
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report:   Catfishing has slowed down but a few can still be caught on chicken liver or stinkbait. Bream are fair on worms or tinsel jigs. Trout fishing continues to be good in northern Arkansas on Power Bait and wax worms.  For more information on trout stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
 
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot : Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and low. A few bream have been caught on wax worms. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs around the docks. Catfishing is fair on minnows.
Grand Lake : Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is pretty clear and low. Crappie fishing is fair trolling minnows and jigs.
 
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.45 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 60 to 63 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Main lake clarity and visibility is at 8-12 inches. Current increased to 215cubic feet per second. The largemouth bite has cooled a bit during the last week. In the mornings a few nice bass are being caught in 5 to 8 feet of water on Rat-L-Traps. The most bites have come from creek channel ledges with stumps around McGuire and Mud Lake oxbows. Crankbaits in shad patterns are beginning to draw responses from largemouths. The Norman Little N and Deep Little N in shad patterns, the Fat Free Shad, and/or the Cordell Big-O cranks have began catching some decent fish in the last couple days along the river, deflecting off stumps in sloughs of inside river bends, and in creek channels on the deeper, outside swings. The fish are on a shad bite, but some decent jig-and-pig action has come on Texas Craw colored jigs with a black trailer. White bass almost disappeared this week. A few nice whites were caught over the past few days in McGuire Lake area on 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in Gold Shad, White Shad or Khaki colors. The majority of the white bass have gone into deeper water or moved further down Little River toward the main lake. Now that water has cleared and cooled, the crappie bite has improved. We have found them in deeper water of Little River in planted brush piles 18-23 feet deep, but the bite is fair at best on hair jigs, tubes or shiners. With the slight increase in current in Little River, nice-sized channel cats from 2-6 pounds each were caught last week on cut shad, minnows and chicken hearts hung from trotlines and yo-yos along the river and in oxbows hung from cypress trees in 8-10 feet of water.
Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is picking up on minnows and jigs.
Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on worms, liver, and shiners.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 535.70 feet MSL.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the water is a little murky and low. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits and top-water lures.
Little Missouri River: Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said all stocking points on the Little Missouri River have had fresh loads of fish lately, and the fishing is excellent. The only problem with fresh loads of fish is that they tend to stay concentrated for a little while. Once you locate a pod, you can catch plenty, but if you’re off to the left or the right by only a few feet, you’ll haul water all day. Keep moving and casting and you should find the fish. Smidges, woolly buggers and beadhead egg patterns are working well. Be sure to check out Jeff’s page for the latest info on the Little Mo.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 393.81 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley of Poorman’s Guide Service said hybrids are biting well on Zara Puppies and Zara Spooks. Bass are decent on a jig and pig fished on the outside edge of the grass.

EAST ARKANSAS

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is murky and at a normal level. Bream fishing is fair in deeper water on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. A few catfish have been caught on chicken liver.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and extremely low and fishing is slow for all species.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is murky and low. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows. Bass fishing is good on spinnerbaits and top-water baits.
Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said fishing is slow for all species.
Horseshoe Lake: Local angler Clyde Gregory said water is clear and pretty low. Crappie fishing is good in deep water trolling on minnows and black or chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well in shallow water on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing are biting well in deep water on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water conditions are clear and normal. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 1-3 feet of water on small minnows and white or chartreuse jigs around lily pads and grass lines. Bass fishing has been excellent on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits around lily pads.
Little Red River:Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and low with sporadic generation. Trout fishing has been pretty good on wax worms, corn and Power Eggs. Fly-fishing is picking up.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry powerhouse is periodically releasing small amounts of water. There have been five releases in the last seven days during late afternoons. The quantities of water have varied from two full generators to half of one generator with duration of one to two hours. Releases will increase if a cold front comes through. While caddis flies and mayflies continue hatching every day, nothing can compare to our midge hatches. Midges are so thick at times that a paper mask over your nose and mouth would be appropriate. This same midge hatch has happened every November for the last three years. At times, trout will be seen rising to the midges as far as you can see up and down the river. The midges are actually smaller than a size 32 hook, but larger size 22 dry midges will suffice. Dry flies that are catching fish include cream midge (size 22), BWO (sizes 18-20), Adams (size 18) and tan elk hair caddis (sizes 16-18). Sub-surface flies that are catching fish include tan, peacock or purple haze sow bug (size 14-16), red copper john (size 16), red, black or copper zebra midge (sizes 16-22), hare’s ear nymph (size 16), pheasant tail (size 16) and or olive or black woolly bugger (sizes 10-12).
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 456.68 feet MSL.
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said hybrid and white bass fishing continue to be very good all over the lake, many birds have shown up, making it a little easier to find surface activity when the bite is slow. Spoons, buckshot in-line spinners and some top-water action can still be had, but the fish are moving deeper. Some fish have moved to 60 feet while others can be caught in 38-50 feet. The bass fishing has gotten better with many fish moving shallower. Spinnerbaits, flukes, Rat-L-Traps, top-waters and jighead worms are all working fairly well near shallow cover. Smallmouth and a few largemouths are biting around 20 feet deep on football head jigs, drop-shot rigs and Carolina rigs. Catfishing has been excellent on jugs set 17 feet deep. Walleye are being caught around the hybrid activity with spoons fished on the bottom. Crappie are biting fairly well in the pole timber on jigs and minnows.
Shiloh Marina said fishing has been slow for all species.
Harris Brake Lake:Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and low. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on stink bait and minnows.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said fishing has been slow for all species.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair on worms. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. A few bass are being caught on spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on worms and chicken liver.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said bream are fair on worms. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair on minnows.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair on crickets. Bass fishing is good on top-water baits and watermelon-colored 5-inch lizards.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and low. Crappie are biting well in about 6 feet of water on Tennessee shad-colored jigs around brush piles. Bass fishing is good on white 8-oz. spinnerbaits. Walleye fishing is fair on orange crawdad crankbaits. 
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said largemouth are biting fairly well on chartreuse and white spinnerbaits fished around wood cover in 6 to 10 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on the front side of the jetties and in front of the dams on whole shad. Some white bass have been caught around Coppers Gap, Flagg Lake Cutoff and across form the Petit Jean River on white Shad Raps. White bass are also being caught below the Dam Nine on Rooster Tails. Stripers are holding below dams nine and 10 and are biting well on 2-oz. jigs with Mr. Twister grubs. Crappie are behind the jetties and biting fairly well on minnows near the banks. Use caution when navigating and fishing the river, paddlefishing season is underway and many nets are in the water.
Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is normal with little current. Bass fishing is fair in the backwater on crankbaits, jigs and pumpkin-colored 6-inch worms.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is clear and high. Crappie fishing is fair in 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on about any kind of bait.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water conditions are normal, but fishing is very slow.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and a little low. Bream fishing is fair on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair in 4-5 feet of water on blue and white jigs. A few largemouth bass have been caught on white spinnerbaits around grassy areas. 

NORTH ARKANSAS

White River: Gaston’s White River Resort said water generation has varied from zero to three units since Oct. 27. Hank Wilson’s top recommendation for fly-anglers is the bulbous bivisible. The Y2K bug also is catching trout very well, as is a 1/64-oz. pink jig and the zebra midge.
Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is clear and low with very little generation. Trout fishing is pretty good on Power Bait, shiners, and Little Cleos. Fly-anglers have had good luck on black/white zebra midges, egg patterns and black woolly buggers.
Angler’s White River Resort said the water conditions are normal. Trout fishing has been excellent on Power Bait and spinnerbaits. The average is about 40 fish per day and anglers are catching bigger trout as the water cools down.
McClellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been very sporadic for the last couple of days.  Wade-fishing areas like Rim, Roundhouse and Wildcat shoals has been very productive with egg patterns, tan and olive McLellan’s hunchback scuds and woven sow bugs.  Fishing high water out of a boat has also been very productive using large scuds, eggs, and San Juan worms. Fall is a great time to fish various egg patterns as the brown trout leave the deeper water for the shallow gravel flats and riffles during their annual spawning run. Fall is also a great time to fish large streamers for aggressive brown trout.  Fishing from a boat using sinking lines, cast to fishy looking structure as you drift downstream and use an erratic retrieve to swim your fly across the current. You won’t get as many hook-ups this way, but streamer fishing usually produces the biggest fish of the day.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 648.38 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork:As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.61 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and 5 feet low. Bass fishing is decent in shallow water on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and top-water baits. Some stripers have been caught on stick baits.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and the level varies from day to day. Trout fishing has been good mostly on corn and wax worms. Fly-anglers are doing well on black woolly buggers.
McClellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been very sporadic lately as the Corps of Engineers pulses the water to try and alleviate low dissolved oxygen levels. If you fish Norfork, be sure to land fish as quickly as possible and take extra time reviving them before release. Fall is the best time of year to fish egg patterns as the brown trout leave the deeper water for the shallow gravel flats during their annual spawning run.  However, for the health of the fishery, be sure to avoid actively spawning fish and their spawning redds (clean oval depressions in the gravel).
 
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,114.19 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair on crickets. Crappie fishing is good in 10-12 feet of water around brush piles on minnows. A few bass have been caught on plastic worms, jigs and top-water baits. Stripers are being caught in the late afternoons on ¾-oz. Rat-L-Traps.
Beaver Tailwater: McClellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation during the last few days, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. Of course, scuds and sow bugs as well as midge pupa patterns have been very productive. Cream midge adult patterns have hooked several trout over the past week.                                         
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on chicken liver.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is fair in 4-6 feet of water on worms around stumps. Crappie fishing is fair in 4-8 feet of water on minnows, jigs, and tubes. Bass fishing is good in 4-8 feet around brush on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and top-water lures. Catfishing is decent in 5-10 feet of water on worms, liver, perch, and goldfish.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water conditions are normal. Crappie is the best thing going on minnows.
 
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and 2 feet low. Crappie fishing is good in 12 feet of water on minnows. A few bass have been caught in deep water on jig-and-pig combos. A few catfish have been caught on liver.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said fishing has been slow for all species.
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said fishing has been slow for all species.
 
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) had no report for the week.
Bill’s Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) said the water is murky and low. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is fair on crankbaits and plastic worms. Some catfish have been caught on shad.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 384.14 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. A few bass are being caught on assorted lures. Catfishing is good on liver, worms and minnows.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is a little murky and at a normal level. A few bream have been caught on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is decent on spinnerbaits and black or blue jigs. A few catfish have been caught on shad below the dam.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 567.96 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Marina said the water temperature is in the low- to mid-60s and the water is clear. Largemouth bass have slowed, but are still good and these fish can be caught with finesse worms, spoons and spooks on main lake points and secondary points.  Spotted bass are slowing but are still good on live crawfish fished near brush 15 to 20 feet deep. Walleye are fair and are being caught on spoons and crankbaits over humps and main lake points. Stripers are excellent on live brood minnows and gizzard shad.  Top-water action is very good on all parts of the lake early and late. Bream are fair on crickets and worms in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are excellent and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 6 to 12 feet deep. Catfish are fair with reports of these fish being caught with live bait and cut bait in water 20 to 25 feet deep on jugs and trotlines.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are suspended in the channels around 20 feet deep and are trying to school up. The fishing is excellent with a spoon if you can find them on your electronics. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished over the grass are working well, and a jig fished on the deep edge of the grass is also producing some good fish. Crappie are biting well on Tennessee shad colored jigs and crankbaits over the grass. Stripers are beginning to get active with the cold weather with spoons and surface lures working well.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the tailrace area is extremely shallow from the winter drawdown. Rainbow trout will be stocked in the area this month, which will bring many species of fish back into the tailrace water. The stocking program will intensify in January and that will again make Carpenter Dam one of the best trout fishing waters in Arkansas.
Lake Hamilton: No report.
Lake Hinkle: Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said fishing is slow for all species.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said water conditions are about normal. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair in deep water on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is fair on liver.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 341.83 feet MSL.
 
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Moro Bay:  Moro Bay State Park said the river is at its normal level (65 feet above sea level). Most outdoorsmen are chasing deer and there has been little talk of fishing. Crappie should be starting to bite about now and even some bass with the extended warm streak we’ve had. If you want to catch the crappie, try shiners in the bay or in the lake. The fall weather is very pleasant and you can enjoy the river almost to yourself this time of year.   
Felsenthal (Benjamin Lake): Russell Ice and Tackle (870-797-2993) said water conditions are about normal. Crappie is the best thing going on shiners.