No bad time to fish…
Spring is still a month away but there’s still good angling to be had
By Randy Zellers
AGFC Communications
Late winter offers some of the best opportunities to land a trophy-class bass, trout, walleye or crappie. The action isn’t always fast and furious, but anglers can find concentrations of fish as they school together and feed on shad in predictable locations. Add in the lack of crowds at the boat ramp and on the water, and you have the potential for a good day on the water.
East Arkansas Fishing Reports
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— Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) said crappie are biting but they are a little sluggish. Baits need to be moved slowly to entice a bite. Look for crappie in the deeper areas of the lake. “The fish we caught were biting a red-and-white hand-tied jig.”
He had no reports from bass, bream or catfish. The water temperature at Horseshoe is 49 degrees and the clarity is dingy. The lake level remains a little low.
• Lake Poinsett — Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park said, “Despite the cold, Lake Poinsett’s fishing has been anything but frozen. Numerous anglers are out catching crappie and bream mostly.
A few that have stopped by the State Park’s Visitor Center have mentioned that with the colder temps and added fishing pressure, the crappie are moving to the deeper waters near the dam according to their LiveScopes. They mentioned the crappie were hitting on minnows and a variety of jigs still.
“Reports for the other main sport fish in the lake have been few, but there are still bream and bass being caught; no real mention of catfish, though. We see a lot of boats drive by the Visitor Center and hear a lot are putting in at the AGFC boat ramp at the dam. The limit on crappie is 15 fish (all sizes encouraged to be harvested to help prevent stunting) and for black bass you can keep 10 fish with one being larger than 16 inches.
“So, if the cold doesn’t bother you, come out to Lake Poinsett to test your luck and skill! As always, the State Park Visitor Center sells live bait (currently nightcrawlers, redworms and minnows) and is open with winter hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 1-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.”
• Spring River — Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides. com, (870) 955-8300, said water levels are at 480 cfs and water clarity is clearing. Rain last week has had the river up. It did get murky but cleared up by the weekend. River levels have been up all winter, making for tougher wading at times. The river bottom is very slick!
“The catching has been excellent when water conditions are good. Heavier flies that get down have been the trick this season. Big Woollies and
See FISH, page A20 FISH
From page A8
streamers can work well. Sink tips can be useful with a fast sink rate. Long leaders can work well also, high-sticking the woollies. The big fish lately have been on White Lightnings on the fly. It’s a big white fly that we use under an indicator for big trout and smallies that imitate baitfish. Plenty of bugs hatching, but tough with the highwater levels for any dry fly action.
“On spinning tackle, D2 jigs are the ticket for chasing the smallmouth through the winter, with white being the hottest. Fish them below a float or fast like a jerkbait.
They really work! We have them in the shop.
Winter is the time to chase big trout, smallies and spotted bass. The Spring River always produces huge rainbow trout that come out in the cold months. Smallmouth bass move up through the winter looking for warmer water, too. Just got to layer up to stay warm and make sure to stay dry!
“Keep an eye on the blog (springriverfliesandguides.co m) for the latest conditions on the Spring River!
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— For the real-time water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam and Maynard Lock and Dam, as well as the Pine Bluff pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no new reports.
• Cane Creek Lake — The AGFC closed access to Cane Creek Lake Feb. 10-12 for nutria control. For additional information, call the AGFC Fisheries Division’s Monticello office at 833-363-7638.
Melanie Fitzgibbon, superintendent at Cane Creek State Park, (870-628-4714) said anglers had made several minnow and worm purchases over the beautiful first week of February weekend. Only one report came in from the anglers, though, and that was crappie being caught off the fishing pier using minnows.
In late January, red wigglers seemed to be the bait of choice.
• Lake Monticello — Anglers are reminded that if they venture out for some fishing on Lake Monticello while the lake continues to refill after being renovated, that all fish caught must be released immediately.
The Hunger Run Access is open to boat traffic. Reports are good of anglers catching nice-sided black bass now.
