Featuring 28,000 acres of clear water that attracts thousands of water sports lovers, fishermen, hikers, and birdwatchers, Beaver Lake is located in the Ozark Highlands near Rogers and features forests, tall bluffs, and meadows crisscrossed by hiking trails. No specific bait was reported. Using a jerkbait on breezy day bluff ends over steeper swings and points will fool a few. Use minnows or jigs. (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. If the warm weather continues, the spawners should move soon. Bull Shoals Lake; Marion County. As of 1 p.m. there had been 31 straight hours of release in the neighborhood of 3,800 cfs. A San Juan worm in hot pink gives trout a visible prey item in the murky conditions. 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). Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool) The American Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis) has been a component of Arkansas's native fauna for thousands of years. If you're looking to drift-fish, try fishing a double-nymph rig and adjust for the depths you are fishing. Best bite for us before the chocolate milk situation had flipped back to jigs from minnows, but the crappie will randomly pick up a minnow with a few decent bites on good days. I had a much better day of catching fish (Monday). There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. Lake Monticello Therefore, alligators perform a death roll with larger prey. However, as alligators age, their teeth become stronger and more robust, which allows them to prey on much bigger animals. (updated 2-9-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said the bite has been pretty good for striped bass as of late. If they are or have been fishing, I ask them how they did. You can learn a lot about a man by watching him cross a barbed wire fence. I bought six flies, tied one on and never changed a thing, I caught 60 good trout. The word unprovoked is key. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Another source of information is asking others. Mike provided the latest fishing specifics: Mike said, We talked to some friends up Little River in the oxbows over the past few days and they told us they were catching some decent largemouths on a floating Trick Worm like the Senko or Zoom Trick Worm and the Yum Dingers. Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool) Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. That is on about 30,000 acres. Stripers are really hard to find. Bull Shoals Lake elevation has fallen slightly over the last week due to the drier weather but the upcoming rains may put us back where we were. The lake on Wednesday was at 660.35 feet msl, which is very near the seasonal power pool level. I got to land a couple of nice largemouth bass, a big 15-inch crappie, a handful of white bass and 4 hybrid stripers. Bream are biting on worms and Bream Killers. The main thing here is the crappie is moving up shallow. In the spring they move to the Point12 area and on up into river arms. (Top navigation pool is 338.2 and bottom pool is 336.0.) Wading might need to wait for a while. (501-834-5733) in Sherwood reports that the lake right now will have some stain to it especially past the U.S. Highway 270 bridge on the upper part of the lake. The White River at Newport was 22.29 feet, indicating they are letting out quite a bit of water out of both lakes. There has been nothing to report this week. water levels at the Spring are running at 440 cfs (350 cfs is average, while water clarity has been poor. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. I could see the birds feeding from a distance, which made me smile really big. The bass are in the 5-foot range or shallower in these backwater areas. Were capitalizing on the shad if they come up to feed early or in the evening, or if the stripers and white bass push them up in the column. Enjoy Norfork Lake!! Drift-fishing with silver inline spinners with Power Eggs and shrimp continues to work best. Lake Greeson Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information. They are moving up, this water has warmed up, its clear and normal (level), Ray said. I have been writing professionally for several years with a focus on animals and wildlife. Fishing has been good for crappie and mostly on structure of some sort in the 6- to 20-foot range. Total hourly outflow at the dam is still high; at midday it was 18,275 cfs, and in the past two days the flo2 has been as high as 19,600 cfs. They suggest fishing more in the backwaters where the water will be a little warmer. With the increasing boat traffic, we need to be mindful when operating our boats near others who are not underway and anchored. The Newport stage is falling at 21.65 feet (flood stage is 26 feet). The 5-foot drawdown creates a dangerous environment when attempting to navigate the tailrace in current or zero flow. Black bass are scattered all over, from shallow to deep. He said, I had a much better day of catching fish (Monday). But warm weather has made for great times on the water.. I feel most of the largemouth bass have pulled off the deeper shad and are holding in the 30-50 feet range on ledges, tree tops, bluff ends or points nearby. 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. Wading might need to wait for a while. The moist habitats are perfect for many animals, including alligators. As of Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam was 15,682 cfs. Conditions are constantly changing. I see the same as you. We kill all gators on sight ,, only problem we never seen a gator here in north central Arkansas . NOTICE: The American Gamebird Research Education and Development Foundation, under recommendation from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is conducting a 5-foot drawdown of Lake Erling in Lafayette County to combat the spread of giant salvinia, a highly invasive aquatic plant species not native to the United States. Surface temps are stable this week, ranging 48-52 degrees depending on location and the time of day. People are fishing 5-foot deep for crappie. Drag something deep, or sit out and throw an Alabama rig, jerkbaits, and the Wiggle Wart, and dont forget about the Rat-L-Trap. Think white for baits and flies this week: shad patterns, white egg patterns, white-bellied stick baits the water level will support deep-diving jerkbaits white jigs and minnows. However, despite its immense weight, it wasnt a record-breaker as it only measured 13 feet 3 inches long. If they did not do well, I moved on. Hatchet Jacks Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (501-758-4958) reports that one of their regulars went to Blue Mountain Lake before this latest rainfall that inundated places, and he reported that for. The largest species is the saltwater crocodile which can be more than 20 feet long, meaning that the largest alligators arent much smaller than them. We have been doing well catching spotted bass and largemouths throwing these baits for walleye, so that shows me bass are on the feed. The Corps of Engineers is "running it strong," they report, and the water below the dam is at 314 feet msl. Once it hits a peak and starts to fall, the fish will scatter more. Big female largemouths are beginning to stage at creek mouths and on the first vertical drops from the spawning flats to deeper water. Two fish is a coincidence. Beavers pretty much gone. They suggest fishing more in the backwaters where the water will be a little warmer. Alligators in Arkansas (Little Rock, Hot Springs, Mena: house, living in, pine) User Name: Remember Me: Password . The trout stocking program has proceeded as scheduled, so big numbers of fish are in the tailrace and can be caught when safe conditions allow bank and boat fishermen to access the lake. Find your next adventure. They are taking reservations on their answering machine for spring. As members of Alligatoroidae, alligators are also members of the order Crocodilia. (updated 2-9-2023) Hatchet Jacks Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (501-758-4958) said crappie are still on in the usual places like Gold Creek, but are hit and miss. Anglers have had success catching. It turns out that this alligator was literally eating the competition as its stomach contained a 5-foot-long alligator! One of the earliest recorded accounts of alligators in Arkansas comes from the Arkansas Gazette, May 1828, which reported the killing of an 11-foot specimen on the north side of the Arkansas River at Little Rock. Water temperature was ranging 51-54 degrees as of Tuesday. Water level has stablized from recent rains. Flats next to deep creeks and secondary points with any remaining dead lily pad stems will coax a bite on a Chatterbait or square bill on warm and sunny days, mainly in the afternoon. (updated 2-23-2023) Ken Winstead at Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) in Perryville says crappie are biting in spite of the various weather and water changes were seeing lately. said the lake level was 554.51 feet msl and the storm was just starting to enter the area about 11:30 a.m. when he arrived at the resort Wednesday. 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). Millwood Lake Bream are a year-round bite on redworms and crickets, but theyre slow now. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Always follow all park and lake regulations when visiting the Carpenter Dam use area and be aware of lake conditions before planning a day on the water. The aforementioned forage and bream species will be stocked again in the fall of 2025, along with black crappie. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 1,121.60 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,121.43 feet msl; top flood elevation is 1,130.0 feet msl). Beaver Lake, Arkansas, US Fish Identification Chart. 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. Alligators are actually incredibly important to the ecosystem. As a result of these threats, their conservation status is considered vulnerable in some areas. My question is this, is there a gator season? Unfortunately, we lost a large part of the alligator population due to unregulated market hunting and their wetlands being drained. 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. Alligators can swim up to 20 miles per hour and on land, they can run up to 11 miles per hour. Fishing has been good for. (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said. Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool) Crappie fishing is fair to poor on main lake brush piles on both jigs and live minnows on a slip float just at sundown to dark. Winter drawdown is scheduled to end next week (March 1-8) Flood gates remained open to aid in lowering Lake Ouachita out of flood pool. The run has just started, they note. McKinzie says the man was allowed to keep the animal for the time being. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Another angler caught a 2-pound white bass while fishing from the shoreline. * Over the past few weeks, the crappie bite improved, then thunderstorms and lake wind advisories destroyed clarity and discharge along Little River went back to over 30,000 cfs. There has definitely been some shad kill. Flow at the Terry Lock and Dam was 54,428 cfs. For bass, what I gathered from the bass fishermen I spoke with, they are struggling as well with fish not responding to the warmer water. Older alligators prey on turtles, fish, birds, and mammals all the way up to the size of deer. The lake is at the same level as it was a week ago. Also, the minnows and nightcrawlers that work for crappie may get a bass reaction. Think white for baits and flies this week: shad patterns, white egg patterns, white-bellied stick baits the water level will support deep-diving jerkbaits white jigs and minnows. However, it wasnt plain sailing as the fearsome beast towed their boat around the lake for two whole hoursbefore they eventually managed to kill it. Ive been getting bit on a Jewel football jig or shaky head in green pumpkin on the points, ledges and swings in the creeks. The stage is on a fast rise at 8.77 feet as of Thursday afternoon (flood stage is 32 feet). But the amount of rain weve had, the crappie will be out of the flow of the lake, now, in the murky waters, and wont be deep. Currently, all floodgates have been closed below Carpenter Dam, but generation flows are still high as Lake Ouachita is barely below flood pool. Hybrids and smaller stripers are still in open water on shad about 50 feet down, no matter how deep the water is, and can be caught dragging live bait or umbrellas through the shad. These freshwater habitats are prime areas for alligators that thrive in these areas, and some can reach incredible lengths. With the increased water flow the fishing has been marginal. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Action Plan | 2020-2025, Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses. My favorite has been a cerise San Juan worm with an orange egg dropper. The lake itself was created by Dr. Hugh H. Bennet to study water run-off, silt . The surface water temperature was 49 degrees and the water was stained in the creeks but a little clearer on the main lake. I knew what was going on. Greers Ferry Lake is 6.6 feet above normal conservation pool. Beaver Lake Brown Trout Its kind of slow right now. Crappie are still biting but its difficult to catch them from the shoreline or dock. with photos and where the fish are biting and whats biting. * No reports on bream or catfish. Are there alligator gar in Beaver Lake? "We expect a big change in the next three weeks," they report. There is barely an alligator season. Wouldnt doubt that five alligators living in the pond have something to do with it - and alligators everywhere in the back end of Millwood. Bluegill While there were no reports on, Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, reported Lake Poinsett had. The usual jigs and minnows are working. (updated 2-16-2023) Mike Winkler of Little River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Greers Ferry Lake is 7.6 feet above power pool. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. I knew what was going on. The White has had no wadable water and heavy flows. Anglers are fishing mostly live baits (minnows have been the big thing) and they are finding mostly males, no females, and the males aren't really that big yet. (AP) - Authorities have solved the mystery of what kind of animal was seen strolling along a road near Gravette. Lake Hamilton The alligator numbers everywhere I frequent are exploding. Incredibly, although Beardens alligator holds the state record as the biggest alligator ever found in Arkansas, it is not the heaviest. Beaver Lake is nationally renowned for bass fishing and has even become a . Lake Maumelle The overflow of that food source into the river sets off the famous voracious feeding pattern and the easy trout catch, which anglers love. Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said Friday morning that the crappie are beginning to bite, and bite well. Always check the USACE Little Rock app for the generation schedule before heading out. Males are bigger than females, and size is generally related to age, with the oldest males being the longest and the heaviest. Also use minnows and nightcrawlers. (updated 2-23-2023) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) has not heard any reports from the lake or from the lower LR pool or beyond Terry Lock and Dam this week. By midday Thursday the flow was 16,745 cfs and has ranged 12,700 to almost 17,000 over the past 24 hours; tailwater elevation was 457.49 feet. Have some feedback for us? Streamer season is upon us. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, gate discharge, rain or thunderstorms. Anything shad-like will be a great bait now. Dont mean to side track this thread, as I know nothing about beavers. My first choice is usually the flies that I fished the last time I was out especially if it has not been so long since I fished. Over the last week they have seen water depths of 8.5 to 10.5 feet with a strong current. (updated 2-23-2023) Donald Ramirez at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no new reports. Lots of jigging soft plastics and lead spoons. Water temperature in the river arms is in the high 40s and the main lake is in the mid-40s. Additionally, numerous conservation efforts are underway to restore natural wetland habitats that provide critical refuge for alligators and other aquatic wildlife species. I stopped the boat and looked at my graph and there were fish all over the place. Visibility is 6-12 inches. Watch the water temperature, and as it warms they will begin to move up into shallower water on brush piles. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Thanks to a long summer, alligators have stuck around here in Arkansas. The best area to target is the transition areas where it goes from deeper water to the backs of creeks with the warmer water coming in. 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