Northeast Arkansas fishing report

Northeast Arkansas fishing report

Ome Coleman at Lake Poinsett State Park said the adage “time does fly when you are having fun” would be an appropriate saying for a fisherman. Many are out there just to enjoy the beautiful weather and relax. The serious fishermen are still buying the goldfish to bait their lines. Minnow sales are picking up, as well as the worms and crickets. The weather is right. Lake Poinsett is still low.

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Crown Lake (updated 10-5-2016)

Boxhound Marina (870670-4496) said water is clear and at a normal level. The fishermen, though, were not out in good numbers this week – “they’re out hunting,” the marina reported, indicating it was a slow week overall. Bream were biting well, though, on crickets. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and topwater baits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers. No reports on crappie.

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Spring River (updated 10-5-2016)

Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 325 cfs at the spring and water clarity has been mostly clear with a heavy green tint. The river has been looking great. It has had a heavy green tint, but that is normal for the Spring. It has been lower and that has made wading much easier. Guppies and olive Woolly Buggers have been great. When the trout turn off, a Y2K followed by a small nymph will keep the bite on. It’s only going to get better as the temperatures get lower. Get out and have a great time on the river. Hot pink and chartreuse Trout Magnets are hard to beat with a spinning rod or on a fly rod.

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(updated 10-5-2016) John Berry in Cotter said the river is fishing well. This is a great place to wade fish, when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. Canoe season is over and there are fewer boats on the river. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).

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White River near Newark (updated 10-5-2016)

Triangle Sports (870-7937122) said said it had no reports from any fishermen in the past week. Last week, with normal water level and a 70-degree temperature on the clear water, the bass were all that were being caught, and only in fair amounts on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwaters.

Lake Poinsett (updated 10-5-2016)