(updated 2-23-2023) Donald Ramirez at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no new reports. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports that water temperature is in the mid-50s in Lake Langhofer to the low 60s in protected backwaters. The truth is, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas hasn't seen an unprovoked alligator attack or human death from an alligator in at least 20 years. When they push back in, try a Rapala Jigging Rap or Tater Shad on a Moon Eye. Crappie are SLOW! (Top navigation pool is 338.2 and bottom pool is 336.0.) 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. In fact, Irwin says the static alligator population in Arkansas is only between 2000-3000, a fraction of the million alligators that Florida estimates. The below copy is care of KARK 4 News. 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. They have not heard much on the crappie fishing front, though, in the Little Rock Pool. Alligators are highly territorial and typically live in freshwater environments such as swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Bream, too, are a little more active. for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake. I do the same for my two clients when I am guiding. Are There Alligators in the Mississippi River? Use minnows on a jighead, small worms, crankbaits or jerkbaits. All fish that are caught are catch-and-release at this time and the AGFC Fisheries staff rebuilds the predator population and the forage base. Norfork Tailwater We kill all gators on sight ,, only problem we never seen a gator here in north central Arkansas . The Norfork tailwater had no wadable water. Striped Bass The stage at Pine Bluff is at 31.63 and slightly on the rise (flood stage is 42 feet). Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. The word unprovoked is key. Alligator Gar Variant Names: Gator Gar. Bream are biting on worms and Bream Killers. reports that water temperature below the dam is 50 degrees with stained conditions in the tailrace. Conditions are constantly changing. A few chunky 2- and 3-pound male bass were the most aggressive at midday into late afternoon recently, with those fish being found randomly near and close to deeper creek channels. This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. With the water temperature coming up, one would think the fish would respond in a positive way that would allow us fishermen to catch some. "It hasn't been a hard winter up here. This is a great time to chase walleye with big stickbaits. The biggest alligator ever found in Arkansas was half-inch shy of 14 feet long and weighed around 800 pounds. Clarity is heavily stained to muddy in places this week along Little River, while the main lake is heavily stained. This huge alligator was a mature male which was estimated to be around 35 years old. * No reports on bream or catfish. 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. I could see the birds feeding from a distance, which made me smile really big. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Crappie are good on small jigs or minnows. During colder months, alligators will burrow into mud or construct a mound of vegetation to keep warm. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. Beaver Lake, Arkansas, US Fish Identification Chart. October 25, 2019 Comments Off on Hunters bag 84 Arkansas alligators Hunting . The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and Catfish like liver, dough bait, minnows and nightcrawlers now, but cats have been slow. 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. The lake level Thursday was 577.50 feet msl. When it was brought ashore, the forklift that was used to lift it didnt even lift high enough to get its entire length off the ground! If you're looking to drift-fish, try fishing a double-nymph rig and adjust for the depths you are fishing. Millwood Lake tailwater elevation was near 244 feet msl (almost 20 FEET above normal) and rising with gate discharge at the dam near 20,000 cfs in Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. (updated 2-23-2023) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is sitting close to 1,122 feet msl as of Wednesday. Bee Lake had a few keepers to play with recently as long as the wind would let you stay out on the main lake. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports may be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions havent changed. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, skipjack, shad, chicken liver and stink bait. She says good days should fall on March 4-10, while the best days are March 18-24. Beaver Lake is nationally renowned for bass fishing and has even become a . Lake Overcup Bait presentation should be very slow. This rain and all this water, and the rain in the forecast, are going to make things very up and down for a few days, they say. Black bass are still in a winter pattern and that bite is rate fair. DeGray Lake water level is 406.5 feet msl. 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. wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. No reports on catfish, but this is a great time to catch them all over lake and rivers with a variety of baits. The fish I was marking at 60 feet or deeper did not want to bite. (update 2-23-2023) David Hall at Dads Bait Shop (501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, had no new reports from the lake. In spite of the higher level these days, anglers are able to launch boats. Upstream, Table Rock Lake rose 0.1 foot to rest at 1 foot below power pool and 15 feet below the top of flood pool. Winter probably isn't through with us yet, but we will take advantage of this early spring-like weather while it's here! I have found that the late afternoon bite has produced the best numbers. The spoons, Sonar blades, and Rocket Shads seemed to work better by vertical-jigging in the school, letting the blade/spoon drop into the depth zone BELOW the school, then ripping it up and letting it fall back into the school. Red Chrome, Toledo Gold or Natural Crawfish three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps were picking up a few prespawn fish from 8-12 feet deep on vertical drops. I started to target the 30-feet-deep fish and found that they wanted to chase my bait today. These new ponds are then new habitats for other animals and help to increase plant growth and diversity. But warm weather has made for great times on the water.. Cover water. are slow, but try redworms and crickets as they may be starting to get hungry as the water warms some. Stay safe and respectful on the lake. The Newport stage is falling at 21.65 feet (flood stage is 26 feet). The run has just started, they note. Reports have the bass being found both in deep water and shallow along rocky points. Wading might need to wait for a while. Look for balls of shad and try throwing an Alabama rig. 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). Most of the bass are only 25-55 feet over the shad. 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. But just how big can they get? Greers Ferry Lake is 7.6 feet above power pool. Beaver Lake size: max 32"/10 to 12 lbs perhaps. 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. The Chinese alligator is critically endangered and is the smaller of the two species. Contact the reporter for current news for the lake or stream you plan to fish. 77,786 posts . Anglers are also throwing a green pumpkin or brown jig around the wood. Smaller males migrate first into the tailrace to prepare the spawning beds. Water temperature ranges 45-50 degrees. It can take days for a regular bite pattern to resume after a big drop in temperature, so anglers need to be aware. After washing out this past spring, the beavers never repaired it. The alligator numbers everywhere I frequent are exploding. Redear Sunfish Information about the species of fish local to Beaver Lake . 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. We have none of them either. Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir Maybe we need some of those meth gators. Two fish is a coincidence. Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says fishing is mostly no good this week after all the rain. Watch This Florida Woman Feed an Alligator. Parallel steeper ledge 45-degree banks and steeper transition banks. I didn't get to head out on the lake until 10 a.m., but as luck would have it, the bite was on as soon as I got to the area that I wanted to check out. Anglers should try using Carolina-rigged lizards, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and drop-shots. The White has had no wadable water and heavy flows. Although the size of crocodiles varies depending on species, alligators compare well against them. The river current has dropped, but the schools of white bass are migrating up and along Little River. A gators sex is determined by the temperature in the nest. Watermelon red, red/blue/grape colors in artificials are good choices for bass here. The water temperature is ranging about 46-49 degrees. John says his favorite rig has been a size 14 pheasant tail nymph and a size 18 ruby midge. Despite this, American alligators can reach much, much larger sizes. Mid-February marks the beginning of the walleye run for Lake Catherine. Woody Hollow State Park is home to the 40 acre Lake Bennett which provides a stunning location for many water based activities. I log every trip I do and fish 275-plus days a year and I promise you numbers are down. Watch the water temperature, and as it warms they will begin to move up into shallower water on brush piles. All fish that are caught are catch-and-release at this time and the AGFC Fisheries staff rebuilds the predator population and the forage base. Using a jerkbait on breezy day bluff ends over steeper swings and points will fool a few. The Newport stage is falling at 21.65 feet (flood stage is 26 feet). The reported lake elevation at Table Rock Lake was 915.88 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 915.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 931.0 feet msl). Beaver Lake Be great if all this rain was snow. This bit should continue to ramp up each week as the prespawn bite is starting up. 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. Brian McKinzie of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission says a homeowner called an off-duty Benton County Sheriff's deputy to report a possible alligator sighting Thursday night. Although saltwater crocodiles have the largest bite force of animals alive today (16,460 newtons), Deinosuchusis estimated to have a bite force of up to 100,000 newtons. ), Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings. Always check the USACE Little Rock app for the generation schedule before heading out. Are there alligator gar in Beaver Lake? Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool) Hopefully you choose one that the trout wants. Crappie The lake sits in northern Arkansas and is shared with neighbouring Missouri, although most of the 18,200 hectare lake sits within Arkansas. picking up topwater lures, Chatterbaits, buzzbaits, worms, shad-type flukes, creature baits and swimbaits. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, gate discharge, rain or thunderstorms. (updated 2-23-2023) After a two-year project of rebuilding the lake habitat by the AGFC while the city of Monticello rebuilt the lakes dam, Lake Monticello is reopened for fishing though the water is still well below what will be full pool when it refills. A San Juan worm in hot pink gives trout a visible prey item in the murky conditions. (updated 2-23-2023) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) said the water temperature is rising and the water is clear. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 540.05 feet msl (full pool: 526.00 feet msl). Anytime lakes like this and other similar lakes come up, they get out of the flow, they said. Catfish are slow but biting in the early evenings on stink bait and live bait. It is important to note that dramatic drops in temperature greatly affect the trout bite in a negative way. The water temperature is ranging about 46-49 degrees. Alligator hunter Travis Bearden was hunting on the lake with his father, brother, and friend during the final weekend of the alligator hunting season when they spotted the large animal nearby. (updated 2-23-2023) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said fishing has been pretty slow for the past several days, and they had no reports of note. Some holding in the mouths of the creeks and main lake and are over 120-150 feet and have been suspended 90-100 down. This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. They suggest fishing more in the backwaters where the water will be a little warmer. (updated 2-23-2023) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports that water temperature is in the mid-50s in Lake Langhofer to the low 60s in protected backwaters. Water temperature in the river arms is in the high 40s and the main lake is in the mid-40s. Walleye stocking photos: Beaver Lake Walleye: back to top. The stage at Morrilton was down almost 6 feet from this time a week ago, to 12.28 feet (flood stage is 30 feet). There are alligators in Arkansas but they are usually in specific areas. The bass are in the 5-foot range or shallower in these backwater areas. It is not uncommon for part of the dam to wash out during a big rain, but the beavers quickly repair it. As of Friday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 401.55 feet msl (full pool: 387.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 419.0 feet msl). Ray suggests shad-colored jigs or jigs favoring white, silver/white and pink colors. Thats how its been all winter but nobody is fishing for them, Ray said. The lake itself was created by Dr. Hugh H. Bennet to study water run-off, silt . Most trout are being caught on Pautzke Fire Bait fished with light terminal tackle, with most being caught in slack water and eddies. With the increasing boat traffic, we need to be mindful when operating our boats near others who are not underway and anchored. 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. Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website (. If it has been over a week or two you need to put some more thought into it. I have a duck hole that depends on a beaver dam to retain the water. Greers Ferry Lake If I am fishing from a boat, I will ask every guide I see at the ramp. Add a little bigger sinker to allow the bait to get to the river bottom. No reports on walleye. Ledges, humps and weed lines have been the most productive areas to fish. It is the choice of the fly that you are going to use to catch fish. We have been doing well catching spotted bass and largemouths throwing these baits for walleye, so that shows me bass are on the feed. With color to the water, anglers have been flipping a brown or a black/blue jig in and around cover and fishing it slow to pull in. 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. water levels at the Spring are running at 440 cfs (350 cfs is average, while water clarity has been poor. Theyve also had success with red crankbaits and red Rat-L-Trap. One-Knocker Rat-L-Traps in Red Shad, Toledo Gold or Goldfire Craw picked up several chunky, fat male bass on cypress trees and knees in 7-8 feet of depth near flats adjacent to spawning locations, but the retrieve had to be slow and deliberate deflecting off wood, stumps and cypress knees. The stage at Pine Bluff is at 31.63 and slightly on the rise (flood stage is 42 feet). As of Thursday morning, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 468.68 feet msl with slight falling (0.36 inch) over the past 24 hours (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl, top flood elevation 487.0 msl). The stage is on a fast rise at 8.77 feet as of Thursday afternoon (flood stage is 32 feet). If I am struggling I will ask another guide how he is doing and what he is using as we pass on stream. Lou posts almost daily on his Facebook page with photos and where the fish are biting and whats biting. Out on the boats, anglers have caught some but not many. As of Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam was 15,682 cfs. There was once a town where Greers Ferry Lake now sits. The preferred bait is a yellow-headed hair jig, and some minnows are being used, though not as many as jigs. The Norfork tailwater had no wadable water. 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