This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. The massive influx of healthy rainbow trout to the lake rejuvenates the tailrace to an earlier scenario of quality fishing. Updated: Jun 14, 2022 / 08:31 AM CDT. Check with the Army Corps of Engineers website for real-time release data, ). As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at Blakely Dam was 577.46 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl). With the increasing boat traffic, we need to be mindful when operating our boats near others who are not underway and anchored. The below copy is care of KARK 4 News. The American Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis) has been a component of Arkansas's native fauna for thousands of years. There has been nothing to report this week. 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. (updated 2-23-2023) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said crappie have been biting in the usual hot spots like Gold Creek. Most of the bass are only 25-55 feet over the shad. Lake Hamilton (AP) - Authorities have solved the mystery of what kind of animal was seen strolling along a road near Gravette. TOP:An angler named Bo (no last name available) from Gentry, Arkansas, landed this very impressive brown trout in the Beaver Lake tailwater this past week while fishing with guide Austin Kennedy. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool). As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at Narrows Dam was 546.89 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl). When they did eventually manage to kill the beast, it soon became clear that it was a record-breaker. Crappie are SLOW! Spanning 53,179 square miles, Arkansas is a landlocked state in the south-central region of the United States. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. The weekly generation report is posted every Wednesday evening on the Entergy website under Hydro-Operations. The Army Corps of Engineers reported Thursday that the White River stage at Batesville steady at 10.39 feet, less than 5 feet below the flood stage of 15.0 feet. The drop-shot is a player in 30-45 feet. Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second. I had at least five in a one acre slough. If I am struggling I will ask another guide how he is doing and what he is using as we pass on stream. They are moving up, this water has warmed up, its clear and normal (level), Ray said. Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek Bluegill The clarity is muddy to almost yellow looking, they report, and the level of the lake appears to be 2-3 feet deeper for some that at this usual time of the year. On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam at Pine Bluff was 40,646 cfs, about half the flow of this time last week. Thanks to a long summer, alligators have stuck around here in Arkansas. Their numbers where heavily depleted by unregulated market hunting (purses, belts, shoes, etc.) In spite of the higher level these days, anglers are able to launch boats. (updated 2-16-2023) Lowell Myers of Sore Lipem All Guide Service (501-250-0730) has no new updates. But warm weather has made for great times on the water.. Alligators are large, powerful reptiles from the family group Aligatoroidaewhich also includes caimans. I had a much better day of catching fish (Monday). Water level has stablized from recent rains. We favor a dark colored bait and also watermelon red, red or blue, or shad-like baits. Winter probably isn't through with us yet, but we will take advantage of this early spring-like weather while it's here! (updated 2-9-2023) Hatchet Jacks Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (501-758-4958) says the water has been very low from their 10-foot drawdown, but a lot of crappie and other fish are going to get active after a big rise in the water. Cover water. He suggests anglers and boaters check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system. The preferred bait is a yellow-headed hair jig, and some minnows are being used, though not as many as jigs. The Southwestern Power Administration has dictated power generation at nearly five generators (14,000 cfs) pretty much round-the-clock this week, so be very careful motoring in these higher water conditions. The lake had made its way up to 50 degrees though on Friday morning it was recorded as 39 degrees. in Calico Rock, said the recent storms caused both Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes to rise above the conservation pool. Crappie are good on small jigs or minnows. Try Rock Crawler reds on the steeper, clearer water; Wiggle Warts on mid; and a Chick Magnet on the flat side in the stain. The people there talk to a lot of guides and anglers and often have good information. There could have been a new hatch, or a serious rain or temperature change that triggered another food source since your last trip. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) in Batesville had no reports. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and If you're looking to drift-fish, try fishing a double-nymph rig and adjust for the depths you are fishing. Crappie were reported at about 6 feet depth in Gold Creek, and at 6-8 feet depth around the Highway 89 bridge area. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.4 foot to rest at 1.5 feet above power pool of 659 feet msl. Are alligators native to Arkansas?Yes, alligators have been in Arkansas for thousands of years. Use jigs in Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, Kiwi, Mo-Glo, silver and Blue Ice, or throw a Crappie Magnet that is orange, white or Diamond Mist. The stage at Morrilton was down almost 6 feet from this time a week ago, to 12.28 feet (flood stage is 30 feet). Anglers have also been doing really well on the black bass, which are also coming up shallow in 3-4 feet of water. I love spending time in the outdoors and when not writing I can be found on the farm surrounded by horses, dogs, sheep, and pigs. Anytime lakes like this and other similar lakes come up, they get out of the flow, they said. As of Friday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was at 359.00 feet msl (normal pool: 342.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 373.0 feet msl). Out on the boats, anglers have caught some but not many. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. Crappie and bass are catch-and-release at Lake Poinsett. Bass have been caught this week on Chatterbait (black/blue, a Z Man Jackhammer is a good one to throw now with more vibration to it than others), or flipping a black/blue jig as well as a square-bill crankbait. * No reports on bream or catfish. They are ambush predators, and this means that they can quickly seize their prey as soon as the opportunity arises. The crawdads are becoming active. Easily the largest and the most fearsome amongst a pretty terrifying bunch was Deinosuchus. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake. Norfork Tailwater No reports on walleye. The fishing pressure on the lake is still light. for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake. The hot flies were Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hares ears and sowbugs. I have a water control structure in the pond that could be used to drain the pond, but the beavers wont allow it. (updated 2-23-2023) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level now at Greers Ferry Lake is at 468.75 feet msl, 6.71 feet above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl and falling with generation. With Little River turned to chocolate milk again this week with all the inflow, current and gate discharge, we are just going to take a wait-and-see approach as normal lake pool should be achieved over the next week to 10 days provided we don't have much more rainfall. USACE Campgrounds ARE OPEN for camping. They lowered tag numbers on Millwood this year to three I think. People have been fishing for cats under the 89 bridge, Pierce Creek and around Dix, Green and Adams lakes. I stopped the boat and looked at my graph and there were fish all over the place. Once it hits a peak and starts to fall, the fish will scatter more. The Arkansas River offers good fishing for largemouth bass and white bass, but there's very good bass fishing at Lee Creek Lake and Sugarloaf Lake. Now with all the increased thunderstorms this week and slowly falling lake level, with the lake still almost 20 inches high, and the decrease of discharge at Millwood Dam and gates, we have yet to see how the crappie will respond over the next week. Ill post again when they begin to shallow.. However, as alligators age, their teeth become stronger and more robust, which allows them to prey on much bigger animals. The water temps are in the mid-40s and close to 50 degrees in the river arms. White bass are about 5-7 feet out from the shoreline and also going after the redworms. The elevation is 249.26 feet msl. Good luck. She says good days should fall on March 4-10, while the best days are March 18-24. Make sure you have the right color: Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, Kiwi, Mo-Glo, Silver, Blue Ice in jigs, or orange/white/diamond mist in Crappie Magnet. Let's all be safe and enjoy this awesome fishery. While there were no reports on, Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, reported Lake Poinsett had. Visibility is 6-12 inches. Wading might need to wait for a while. 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. Still plenty around. This is 34.5 feet below the top of flood pool. Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir Little productive fishing has been done in the tailrace under these adverse conditions. But on Friday, the animal was found and officials learned it was really was an alligator. Mama gators protect the nest. Norfork Lake fell 2.3 feet to rest at 0.9 foot above power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 25.3 feet below the top of flood pool. Look for balls of shad and try throwing an Alabama rig. Lou posts almost daily on his Facebook page with photos and where the fish are biting and whats biting. Be great if all this rain was snow. Black bass are biting but its been slow. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 447.76 feet msl (full pool: 437.00 feet msl). The bass are in the 5-foot range or shallower in these backwater areas. Lake Dardanelle Alligators are native to only China, Mexico, and the United States. Some fish will move shallower under the right conditions and hold on swings, points and ledges. Norfork Lake This includes all alligators, true crocodiles, caimans, gharials, and false gharials, along with many extinct members. They are in 12-50 feet of water for best results, Tommy said, suggesting anglers use minnows, jigs or a small crankbait. (updated 2-24-2023) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the main topic of conversation this week is the walleye are s tarting to move into the creeks. 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). The average life expectancy of an alligator is typically around 30-50 years. The fish are about 8-12 feet deep. The lake is closed to fishing until spring as it serves as a rest area for migrating waterfowl, and as access opens up after the White River recedes in the area. If you are out looking for striped bass, they will be in an area from East Pigeon to the 101 bridge and/or from the Highway 62 bridge back to the 101 Boat Docks. It does take some looking, but once you find them it is a blast. Greers Ferry Lake is 6.6 feet above normal conservation pool. Nimrod was 18 feet above normal pool level, but even with the latest rain it is dropping. Visit his, YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock). 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