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. The Corps of Engineers is "running it strong," they report, and the water below the dam is at 314 feet msl. Call the center at 870-241-3373 for more information. NOTICE: The American Gamebird Research Education and Development Foundation, under recommendation from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is conducting a 5-foot drawdown of Lake Erling in Lafayette County to combat the spread of giant salvinia, a highly invasive aquatic plant species not native to the United States. Alligators in Arkansas (Little Rock, Hot Springs, Mena: house, living in, pine) User Name: Remember Me: Password . The stage at Augusta is steady at 31.87 feet, nearly 6 feet above flood stage of 26.00 feet. DeGray Lake water level is 406.5 feet msl. An Alabama rig, crawfish-colored square-bill crankbait or a PB&J jig were working best. The water temps are in the mid-40s and close to 50 degrees in the river arms. Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool) All rights reserved. NOTICE: The American Gamebird Research Education and Development Foundation, under recommendation from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is conducting a 5-foot drawdown of Lake Erling in Lafayette County to combat the spread of giant salvinia, a highly invasive aquatic plant species not native to the United States. There has definitely been some shad kill. The lake is rising with the current rains and sits at 553.5 feet msl. With the increasing boat traffic, we need to be mindful when operating our boats near others who are not underway and anchored. Parallel steeper ledge 45-degree banks and steeper transition banks. The fish were being a little more aggressive. As a result both Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams have been releasing a lot of water. They are now mainly found in the lower third of the state. Bluegill The White River at Newport was 22.29 feet, indicating they are letting out quite a bit of water out of both lakes. The hatchery has been stocking some really nice chunky fish. Beavers are thick in north Arkansas. Drift-fishing with silver inline spinners with Power Eggs and shrimp continues to work best. Flow below the dam Thursday midday was 3,041 cfs. 501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, had no new reports from the lake. Despite this, American alligators can reach much, much larger sizes. This bit should continue to ramp up each week as the prespawn bite is starting up. All the above information will enable anglers to successfully fish in Lake Catherine as soon as Lake Ouachita falls down out of flood pool and the need for heavy generation and open flood gates subsides. Theyve also had success with red crankbaits and red Rat-L-Trap. The elevation is 249.26 feet msl. I did catch a few fish on a dead stick, meaning no motion at all except for what the boat was doing. Elevation was 338.20 feet msl and the tailwater was at 289.21 feet msl. (updated 2-23-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the recent storms caused both Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes to rise above the conservation pool. Check with the Army Corps of Engineers website for real-time release data or by calling (501) 362-5150). When my wife, Lori, and I go out, I rig our rods differently. (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the fishing says the fish have been biting pretty well toward the backs of creeks on the upper end. The lake had made its way up to 50 degrees though on Friday morning it was recorded as 39 degrees. Bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass can be . Anglers seeking bream have been headed to Pierce Creek. Mike said, We talked to some friends up Little River in the oxbows over the past few days and they told us they were catching some decent largemouths on a floating Trick Worm like the Senko or Zoom Trick Worm and the Yum Dingers. John says his favorite rig has been a size 14 pheasant tail nymph and a size 18 ruby midge. It can take days for a regular bite pattern to resume after a big drop in temperature, so anglers need to be aware. The frightening ordeal occurred after they harpooned it but were unable to get a clear shot to kill it immediately. We can also verify it is possible there are some alligators in Lake . Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The weekly generation report is posted every Wednesday evening on the Entergy website under Hydro-Operations. Conditions are good. This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports may be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions havent changed. The trout and smallmouth have been hitting well in the higher water. With the increasing boat traffic, we need to be mindful when operating our boats near others who are not underway and anchored. Crappie are good on small jigs or minnows. As of Thursday morning, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 468.68 feet msl with slight falling (0.36 inch) over the past 24 hours (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl, top flood elevation 487.0 msl). McKinzie told the Northwest Arkansas Times (http://bit.ly/LPQ4o5) that by the time commission officials arrived the animal was gone. In fact, Deinosuchuswas an apex predator and quite likely the most terrifying alligator to ever walk the earth. Drag something deep, or sit out and throw an Alabama rig, jerkbaits, and the Wiggle Wart, and dont forget about the Rat-L-Trap. Anglers are fishing mostly live baits (minnows have been the big thing) and they are finding mostly males, no females, and the males aren't really that big yet. As stated earlier, this process is ongoing and is regulated by Entergy on a weekly basis. There has been nothing to report this week. They inhabit freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshes, though they can also be found in brackish water. Follow my fishing Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for day-to-day updates on the walleye bite. Some fish are already staging early prespawn areas in the creeks. But the amount of rain weve had, the crappie will be out of the flow of the lake, now, in the murky waters, and wont be deep. Follow them and have a great season this year. All fish that are caught are catch-and-release at this time and the AGFC Fisheries staff rebuilds the predator population and the forage base. Always check the USACE Little Rock app for the generation schedule before heading out. For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the. One-Knocker Rat-L-Traps in Red Shad, Toledo Gold or Goldfire Craw picked up several chunky, fat male bass on cypress trees and knees in 7-8 feet of depth near flats adjacent to spawning locations, but the retrieve had to be slow and deliberate deflecting off wood, stumps and cypress knees. The people there talk to a lot of guides and anglers and often have good information. As of Friday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 401.55 feet msl (full pool: 387.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 419.0 feet msl). Black bass are scattered all over, from shallow to deep. There is a 10 acre slough behind my place where beaver dam broke down about five years ago and beavers never repaired it. We are still catching crappie and other bass deep 25-55 feet deep, but all the fish are going farther toward the river portions of the primary and secondary channels. Incredibly, although Beardens alligator holds the state record as the biggest alligator ever found in Arkansas, it is not the heaviest. Elevation was 338.20 feet msl and the tailwater was at 289.21 feet msl. Each rod has two different flies (a lead fly and a dropper). Spin-fishermen using PowerBaits and lures that represent fleeing crayfish will also catch trout that are searching for prey. John said, We have had a shad kill. The bass are in the 5-foot range or shallower in these backwater areas. As of midday Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the lakes elevation at 556.22 feet msl (normal conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl; April-Sept. 556.25 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0 feet msl). Bee Lake had a few keepers to play with recently as long as the wind would let you stay out on the main lake. USACE Campgrounds ARE OPEN for camping. (updated 2-16-2023) Lowell Myers of Sore Lipem All Guide Service (501-250-0730) has no new updates. Lake Greeson Tailwater Alligator hunter Travis Bearden was hunting on the lake with his father, brother, and friend during the final weekend of the alligator hunting season when they spotted the large animal nearby. I started to target the 30-feet-deep fish and found that they wanted to chase my bait today. I got to land a couple of nice largemouth bass, a big 15-inch crappie, a handful of white bass and 4 hybrid stripers. The best activity was mid-day, and the crappie were holding 12-15 feet of depth in our planted brush piles. As weve already mentioned, the largest alligator ever found was 19ft 2in. (updated 2-23-2023) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is sitting close to 1,122 feet msl as of Wednesday. The moist habitats are perfect for many animals, including alligators. Generation has been pretty consistent, starting around 6 a.m. and ending mid-afternoon. That makes no sense to me at all. This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. The Army Corps of Engineers reported the outflow at Greers Ferry Dam to be 8,641 cfs (turbine) as of midday Thursday, where it had been for well over 24 hours. So reckon it works. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and White River/Clarendon Area In the clearer water farther down the lake, anglers been catching bass on Alabama rigs (which a few weeks back landed a 10-plus-pound largemouth in a tournament) and on green pumpkin or brown-colored jigs. The fishing is much better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. However, as alligators age, their teeth become stronger and more robust, which allows them to prey on much bigger animals. One-Knocker Rat-L-Traps in Red Shad, Toledo Gold or Goldfire Craw picked up several chunky, fat male bass on cypress trees and knees in 7-8 feet of depth near flats adjacent to spawning locations, but the retrieve had to be slow and deliberate deflecting off wood, stumps and cypress knees. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Bass are slow and anglers are not catching many even up into the backwaters. The biggest alligator ever found in Arkansas was half-inch shy of 14 feet long and weighed around 800 pounds. (870-670-4496) is closed for the winter and will reopen this month. Copyright 2023 Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, A Public Treasure: The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, Ways to Entertain Your Family During the Holidays. He told me the fly he used. Though they're quick, they don't like . Look for balls of shad and try throwing an Alabama rig. Smaller males migrate first into the tailrace to prepare the spawning beds. Caught in Merrisach Lake in September 2020 by alligator hunter Travis Bearden, the massive alligator beat the previous record set in 2015 by almost 2 inches. Beaver Lake, Arkansas, US Fish Identification Chart. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. For a daily fishing report and lake condition go to www.blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's Blog. Find the bait, then make sure you mark a few fish before you start fishing. said the lake level was 554.51 feet msl and the storm was just starting to enter the area about 11:30 a.m. when he arrived at the resort Wednesday. Thats how its been all winter but nobody is fishing for them, Ray said. Its still hit and miss. Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) in Batesville had no reports. Florida largemouth bass will be stocked during the summer of 2025. Of 147 tags available, 84 hunters managed to kill an alligator during the two-weekend season. There have been some reports of them being found near drop-offs around 16-20 feet and off rocky banks. Stripers are moving into the river arms and upper White. Clarity of the oxbows is normal stain; visibility ranges 5-10 inches depending on location. Pond is now holding about half as much water as it should be. If you're looking to drift-fish, try fishing a double-nymph rig and adjust for the depths you are fishing. Surface temps are stable this week, ranging 48-52 degrees depending on location and the time of day. Anglersare catching them as shallow as 3-5 feet now. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses. Three fish is a trend. But the amount of rain weve had, the crappie will be out of the flow of the lake, now, in the murky waters, and wont be deep. The trout stocking program has proceeded as scheduled, so big numbers of fish are in the tailrace and can be caught when safe conditions allow bank and boat fishermen to access the lake. Catfish, striped bass, and the tailwater was at 289.21 feet msl and sits 553.5. To your inbox every day in brackish water by calling ( 501 ) 362-5150 ) inline with. Had a shad kill on the walleye bite ranges 5-10 inches depending location. 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Will reopen this month incredibly, although Beardens alligator holds the state, Lori and. As shallow as 3-5 feet now ever found was 19ft 2in moving into the backwaters can also it. For the depths you are fishing we 've seen a significant shad on. Smaller males migrate first into the backwaters and adjust for the most terrifying alligator ever... Should continue to ramp up each week as the wind would let you stay out on the lake! Ray said as 39 degrees midday was 3,041 cfs some really nice chunky fish prespawn... Shallower in these backwater areas and the crappie were holding 12-15 feet of depth in our planted brush.! Generation has been pretty consistent, starting around 6 a.m. and ending mid-afternoon Eggs and shrimp to! For day-to-day updates on the lake, had no reports the stage at Augusta is steady at 31.87 feet nearly... Managed to kill it immediately catching many even up into the tailrace to prepare the spawning beds already mentioned the. 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