Nice trout are out and about in Central Arkansas waters this winter

Recent rains have put water onto some areas so use caution

By Jim Harris

AGFC Communications

For anglers using the privately owned Beaverfork Lake in Faulkner County, especially with Lake Conway being drawn down for renovation, according to the Conway Parks and Recreation Dept. they are implementing their every-five-year winter drawdown of Beaverfork. This routine maintenance is done to allow landowners to do maintenance to their piers, boathouses and shorelines.

Although the ramps will eventually be unusable, a primitive ramp at the end of Volleyball Point provides a way to launch smaller boats.

They will refill the lake beginning Jan. 1.

Central Arkansas Fishing Reports

•

— For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s Lake Conway water level site.

Bates Field and Stream (501470-1846) has no new reports from Lake Conway, which has been drawn down to just a few small pools of water around much of the lake.

Lakes Overcup and Atkins are where anglers are headed for crappie fishing these days, they report. Minnows and jigs are what they are using.

Everything in the immediate area has slowed down in terms of fishing, they add.

Anglers were reported catching about every species of fish by going to the AGFCstocked Lake Conway Nursery Pond, which is a near-70-acre pond stocked by the AGFC with bass, crappie, bream and catfish.

• Little Red River — For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website or by calling (501) 362-5150). Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website to see forecast generation schedule.

Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501507-3688) said fishing on the Little Red River has been a mixed bag lately, thanks to an unpredictable generation schedule. The Southwestern Power Administration has been inconsistent, with projected releases not always matching the actual water flow. “Before heading out, I highly recommend checking the USACE Little Rock App for up-to-date information on dam releases.”

This weekend is bringing colder temperatures, which could lead to water releases to meet power demand. Heavy rains earlier this week, combined with limited water flow, have left the river off-color from the Swinging Bridge area down to the 305 bridge.

There was a scheduled release on Dec. 18, and if the cold weather holds, we might finally see improved water clarity and flow.

For now, the low flows have created excellent wade fishing opportunities across various sections of the river. With the brown trout spawn in full

See FISH, page A8

Photo courtesy of AGFC FISH

From page A7

swing, fish are active on the shoals. Be mindful of where you’re stepping, as the cleaned-out gravel areas (called “redds”) are where the fish are spawning. Avoid walking through these spots to help protect the next generation of trout.

The best fishing has been after periods of generation or during falling water. Focus your efforts on the shoals and deep plunge pools just downstream. On days when the river is at its lowest, target deeper water sections with moss beds, as these areas are holding fish.

The top flies recently have been egg patterns, San Juan Worms and various midges.

Adjust your tactics based on flow and clarity, and you should find success.

“Tight lines and stay safe out there! For guided trips or more information, feel free to reach out.”

•

— Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-9401318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 455.21; that’s 6.81 feet below normal pool of 462.04 feet msl. The lake has come up about 1 foot the last few days with the rain, and there is not a lot of generation going on.

Most species are getting settled more on structure now.

For crappie, try super shallow and out to 30 feet using jigs, minnows or crankbaits. Fishing straight up and down in pole timber or brushpiles is working great. Walleye are eating in the main lake off and on and starting to pre-stage and staging, scattered throughout the lake. Fish around bridge pilings and in mouths of rivers on any corner facing upstream by dragging a minnow or crankbait in 45-65 feet. Some continue following under big schools of white bass and hybrids; use spoons for those. Also, a lot just roaming around, and a spoon is best for that vertical fishing targeting 10-50 feet depth.

Hybrid and white bass are set up in the main lake and some are roaming, schooling on top. For the ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. They are wanting to get settled in about 43 feet, which is magic water depth they are comfortable in here many months out of the year because it has the right temp and oxygen.

Catfish continue biting on the usual stuff all over the lake and in the rivers; try staying around schools of shad. Some bream can be found shallow, but most are still around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine as well as inline spinners. Black bass are found in singles shallow, but most groups are out in the lake roaming shallow and schooling. Carolina rigs, Wiggle Warts and any flat-sided crankbait, drop-shots and spinnerbaits will provide the best action, and the Rat-LTrap, of course — super super shallow out to 60 feet. Be safe and wear your life jacket, and Merry, Merry Christmas to all!

Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that the smallmouth bass are doing really well in 15-20 feet of water. Anglers are having best success with a peanut butter and jelly jig in a halfounce or three-quarter-ounce size. The largemouths and spotted bass are doing well off main lake points. Try an Alabama rig using an eighthounce jighead with a 2.8-inch or 3.3-inch swimbait.

Crappie on the lake are doing pretty good as well. They are being caught in 20-25 feet of water, and an eighth-ounce jighead (try silver or pink) with a black and chartreuse body is your best ticket to success.

• Harris Brake Lake — Harris Brake Lake Resort (501889-2745) says that the crappie have been doing well lately and anglers have caught some big slabs — some 1515.5 inches in length and up to 2 pounds — fishing from the shoreline. Other nice crappie have been hauled in by anglers using boats. Even though the water has dropped noticeably as water is being used to flood parts of Harris Brake WMA for waterfowl season, access by boat to the lake is fine, they report. Water around the shoreline is only about 2 feet in depth where the close-in crappie are biting. Pelicans in good numbers have returned, they also report, and shad are moving in shallow.

Anglers are mostly using a pearl white or white/chartreuse color jig, but minnows also are being cast. Crappie are also being caught in good numbers on the other side of the lake from the resort, they hear.

White bass have been caught on Rooster Tails. The best time for the crappie and white bass bite has been from about 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Follow more from Harris Brake Lake Resort on Facebook.

• Lake Maumelle — WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported that water temperature is in the low 50s and the water level is 7.68 feet below normal pool as Central Arkansas Water draws the lake down to 8 feet below normal level to help eliminate water hyacinth.

The largemouth bass bite is good. Some can be found shallow in 2-5 feet or water, while a few reports this week had bass being found in the back of the creeks. Others are being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop-offs. Try using topwater baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbait, Chatterbait and crankbaits. Spotted bass also are good. There are reports of them being found scattered on drop-offs in 10-20 feet depth.

Use jerkbaits or jigs. Crappie are good, with reports of crappie being found between 2030 feet depth. Jigs are working.

No reports on white bass, bream or catfish. White bass should like twister tails and crankbaits, though; while worms can get a bream to bite. Bream, liver and worms are favorites for catfish at this time of year.

Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501548-8990) said water temps are in the mid-50s. The lake is approximately 7 feet below the winter pool but still accessible via WestRock Landing.

Crappie can be found in 25-30 feet of water on brush and are roaming. Jigs and minnows are working great when they’re not stuffed to the gills. As always, presentation is key! This is the absolute best time of the year to catch a mess of super-healthy slabs!

“Give me a shout today at 501-548-8990 to get in on the action!”

• Little Maumelle River — Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is clear as a bell, the river is perfect for fishing, and the fishing overall is very good. Crappie are doing better than the bass, he said, and the bass are still doing real well. Crappie are in about 10 feet depth are biting on minnows and jigs. Black bass will jump on a crankbait, and they’re being caught in 45 feet depth. For the real-time water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.