CENTRAL BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
BREWER Good -- -- Good
CLEAR -- Poor Good Good
CONWAY -- -- -- --
GREERS FERRY Fair -- -- Excellent
HARRIS BRAKE -- -- -- Excellent
MAUMELLE Excellent -- -- Good
NORRELL Excellent Good -- Fair
OVERCUP -- -- -- --
SALINE RIVER (BENTON) Excellent -- -- --
SUNSET -- -- -- --
WINONA Excellent -- Good Good
ARKANSAS RIVER (CADRON) Poor Poor Poor Poor
ARKANSAS RIVER (LITTLE ROCK) Good -- -- Good
ARKANSAS RIVER (MAUMELLE POOL) -- -- -- Excellent
ARKANSAS RIVER (MORRILTON) Fair -- Fair Fair
BISHOP PARK PONDS -- -- -- Good
LITTLE MAUMELLE RIVER Fair -- -- Fair
LITTLE RED RIVER (GREERS FERRY TAILWATER) Rain has muddied the middle and lower sections of the river. For the next few days, consider fishing the upper sections of the Little Red to avoid stained/muddy river conditions. Sowbugs, midges, soft hackles and Woolly Buggers are working well for fly anglers. Pink and white-colored Trout Magnets are recommended for spin fishing. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501) 362-5150 for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
LAKE PECKERWOOD Good -- Good Good
NORTH BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
BULL SHOALS -- -- -- --
NORFORK -- -- -- --
WHITE RIVER Water levels have been mostly at minimum flow this past week making navigating a jon boat somewhat tricky. Because the fishing pressure has been light over the winter, rainbows are snatching egg pattern PowerBaits in yellow, white and red are good. Add garlic scent or shrimp to the hook for extra attention. Put a nightcrawler or red wiggler on your hook when the river is rising. Brown trout are hitting redfin minnows, but they're ignoring average-sized sculpins. You'll catch some rainbows and some smaller aggressive cutthroats with them, but you'll want to use the biggest sculpin in your arsenal to get a larger brown to bite.
NORFORK TAILWATER The Norfork has cleared substantially but has fished poorly. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (sizes 14, 16) like the Green Butt. Egg patterns also have been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, Copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). The fishing is better in the morning. John's favorite rig has been a Y2K with a ruby midge dropper. Dry Run Creek has cleared some and still fishing well. Brown trout have moved in for the spawn. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10).
SOUTH-CENTRAL BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
COLUMBIA -- -- -- --
FELSENTHAL Poor Poor Poor Poor
WHITE OAK Good Good -- Good
NORTHWEST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
BEAVER Fair -- -- Good
BEAVER TAILWATER The river is low, but trout fishing has very good this week. Most trout are being caught between Spider Creek, Parker Bottoms and U.S. 62 bridge. Trout are biting on various quarter-ounce spoons and various PowerBaits fished with light terminal tackle. The water temperature in the area mentioned above has been between 45 and 50 degrees.
FAYETTEVILLE -- -- -- --
SEQUOYAH -- -- -- --
NORTHEAST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
CROWN -- -- -- --
SPRING RIVER Water levels are at 235 cfs and water is clear. Forecast for heavy rains for the next few days should get river levels up. The river has been over a foot low. Fishing has been good with woollies, Y2Ks, and nymphs. Hot pink, white and red trout magnets are working great below a float. Fish it just off the bottom.
SOUTHWEST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
COLUMBIA -- -- -- Fair
MILLWOOD Poor -- -- Poor
GREESON Good -- -- Good
WEST-CENTRAL BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
ATKINS -- -- -- --
BAILEY -- -- -- --
DARDANELLE Excellent -- Excellent Fair
DEGRAY Fair -- -- Fair
OUACHITA Fair -- -- --
HAMILTON -- -- -- --
NIMROD -- -- -- --
CATHERINE -- -- -- --
LAKE HAMILTON TAILWATER Periods of no generation are best for bank fishermen to catch limits of rainbow trout using corn or waxworms with a marshmallow floater. Redworms and nightcrawlers used in the same manner also have produced nice catches. PowerBaits presented just on the bottom or under a bobber are also working well from the bank or boat. Spin fishermen casting small jigs across the current around exposed rock structure have taken the largest trout this past week. Rooster Tails in white or brown are also effective fished in the current or slack water. Crawfish or minnow imitations that run 3-5 feet deep will draw consistent strikes from rainbows looking to feed on injured shad. Fly fishermen are able to wade to areas that hold good numbers of fish and are having success casting egg patterns in white or yellow under a strike indicator. Egg imitators are highly effective. Micro-jigs in white or black have quickly taken numbers of trout in the 12- to 15-inch class. San Juan worms in red or hot pink give fishermen a nice change in approach. Trout Magnets fished 3-7 feet deep have really racked up fish numbers. It seems that all colors are working, with a slight edge in white.
SOUTHEAST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE
ARKANSAS RIVER (PINE BLUFF POOL) -- -- -- --
CANE CREEK -- -- -- --
CHICOT -- -- Poor Good
MONTICELLO -- -- -- --
NOTE For more detailed information on baits and lures, go to: agfc.state.ar.us/fishing/fishingreport.htm
Sports on 02/22/2018