There are not a lot of crappie anglers out yet with the chill (35 degrees Friday) still in the air. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Redear Sunfish I could see the birds feeding from a distance, which made me smile really big. With proper care and nutrition, captive alligators may even be able to live past 100 years of age! Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. Flow at the Terry Lock and Dam was 54,428 cfs. Woollies and streamers can work on good days, or nymphs on other days, with really nice bug hatches on the nice sunny mornings. 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! Largemouth bass reports have been good. 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 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and There are days I can see three from the boat ramp at one time. Enjoy Norfork Lake!! Lake level is now down 6.5 feet. 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. (updated 2-23-2023) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said that with Bull Shoals Lake level being at 660 feet msl, the Corps of Engineers has been pushing water through the dam. They are taking reservations on their answering machine for spring. Mud Lake, Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows along Little River have had the best water clarity and the most aggressive largemouth and spotted bass over the past few weeks. Alligator Gar Variant Names: Gator Gar Spotted Gar Variant Names: None Shortnose gar Variant Names: Billy Gar, Short-Billed Gar, Stub-Nose . This article explores ten absolutely amazing lakes found in Arkansas. 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. Some reports say they are deep at 18-22 feet. The wind came up and it started to rain pretty hard. The water is high. Two fish is a coincidence. No reports on catfish, but this is a great time to catch them all over lake and rivers with a variety of baits. On my home lake - Millwood - there were three permits available by drawing this year. I started to target the 30-feet-deep fish and found that they wanted to chase my bait today. Temperature and conditions over the next month will dictate your game plan and success. 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). The crankbait bite is getting better as temps rise. Visit Jons Facebook page for latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR. Temperature and conditions over the next month will dictate your game plan and success. 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. Males are bigger than females, and size is generally related to age, with the oldest males being the longest and the heaviest. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. The American Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis) has been a component of Arkansas's native fauna for thousands of years. 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. Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool) After the lake rose over 3 feet with over 4-6 inches of rainfall the lake clarity turned to chocolate milk and almost completely shut down the bite we had the week before. 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 bass. Then, there is a private land quota hunt - like the bear hunt in N AR. (updated 2-23-2023) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said 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. It is the choice of the fly that you are going to use to catch fish. With the recent detection of the plant at nearby Mercer Bayou and the spread of the plant within Erling, AGRED worked with the AGFC to determine a plan that would help combat the aquatic nuisance species. wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support. Look for them in the river arms and below Beaver Dam, around War Eagle and the White River arms. Try throwing articulated patterns on a sink line toward the bank. Remember that the White and North Fork Rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. (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. Bull Shoals Lake Theyve also had success with red crankbaits and red Rat-L-Trap. Greers Ferry Lake. When we look at its diet, its easy to understand just how it managed to get so heavy. They are in 12-50 feet of water for best results, Tommy said, suggesting anglers use minnows, jigs or a small crankbait. McKinzie told the Northwest Arkansas Times (http://bit.ly/LPQ4o5) that by the time commission officials arrived the animal was gone. The largest alligator ever was a 19ft 2in long alligator caught on Marsh Island, Louisiana, in 1890. 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. (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said. 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. (updated 2-23-2023) Lacey Williams at Lakeview Landing on Arkansas Highway 95 (501-252-1437) said that crappie anglers should look for the underwater timber about 5 feet deep and use minnows. Alligators are highly territorial and typically live in freshwater environments such as swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Smaller animals are usually grabbed and swallowed immediately, while larger prey is usually dragged into the water and drowned. The frightening ordeal occurred after they harpooned it but were unable to get a clear shot to kill it immediately. reports have been good. Check our blog (linked above) to make sure it's not up and muddy. He says he was headed out on the lake last week searching for fish when . Above the dam and coming from the river the water is clear, though in front of the dam the water is muddy. (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the Little Red is really blown out with the water being released from Greers Ferry Dam over the past week or more. Brazalo Spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or River Shad with red blades were catching some decent prespawn males moving in and out of spawning flats over the weekend when the sun was up bright and high in the sky and you could see movement in 3-5 feet of depths on the spawning flats. Some larger white bass are up the river with walleye spawning, and smaller ones have not spawned yet and are still in open water on shad. Crappie and bass are catch-and-release at Lake Poinsett. They suggest fishing more in the backwaters where the water will be a little warmer. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.4 foot to rest at 1.5 feet above power pool of 659 feet msl. Arkansas River at Morrilton reports that water temperature below the dam is 50 degrees with stained conditions in the tailrace. Then add in sulfur and Mercer and red River and you probably have enough gators for the whole south. White Bass The White River at Newport was 22.29 feet, indicating they are letting out quite a bit of water out of both lakes. On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam was 49,248 cfs. Black bass are biting but its been slow. The death roll consists of the alligator rolling and spinning while holding the prey so that smaller, bite-sized chunks are torn off. They are taking reservations on their answering machine for spring. Once the lakes reach the conservation pool levels of 659 feet msl for Bull Shoals and 553 feet msl for Norfork, I expect both dams will reduce how much water they release allowing the river to drop to more normal levels.. It's still far from spring-like temps. 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. Greers Ferry Lake is 6.6 feet above normal conservation pool. De Queen Lake They could have built back a forty ft wide dam to flood 10 acres and they never touched it. Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove, Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards, Endangered Species and Other Threats to Wildlife, Gov. As a result both Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams have been releasing a lot of water. Blue Mountain Lake It is illegal to feed alligators in Arkansas. Use something bright: chartreuse, Mo-Glo. The Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday reported the Clarendon gauge rising slightly at 28.74 feet, or 2.74 above the flood stage of 26.00 feet. But warm weather has made for great times on the water.. Fishing has been good for crappie and mostly on structure of some sort in the 6- to 20-foot range. They typically range between 11 and 16 feet long, but some can be longer still. Their teeth were adapted for crushing rather than piercing prey, and they were capable of killing and eating even large dinosaurs. Anglersare catching them as shallow as 3-5 feet now. The smallmouth are definitely grouping up if you can find them; they are in roaming mode. A forum community dedicated to Arkansas hunters and enthusiasts. There is barely an alligator season. Central Arkansas Water will stop drawing down the lake on March 1. I believe it was 43 gators for the ten SW counties. The best water clarity and reaction from largemouths is in the back of the oxbows where the clarity is somewhat better, away from the river current, although the main lake from Paraloma Trail to mile marker 4 in Little River was fairly clear over the past few days before the thunderstorms. Let's all be safe and enjoy this awesome fishery. A San Juan worm in hot pink gives trout a visible prey item in the murky conditions. Contact the reporter for current news for the lake or stream you plan to fish. Striped Bass Amongst these lowlands is the Mississippi Alluvial Region which includes many swamps and wetlands. Alligators are found primarily in the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Texas. The water temperature is ranging about 46-49 degrees. Plenty of rain lately has the river up about a foot above normal and has the water stained a good pea soup tint. Little productive fishing has been done in the tailrace under these adverse conditions. This is because they make alligator holes, which create new habitats. Although the size of crocodiles varies depending on species, alligators compare well against them. That makes no sense to me at all. The lake is in good shape and clear for hte most part. Conditions are constantly changing. (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. Fishing continues to be up and down just like the weather. Havent seen a beaver or nutria rat in years where I use to see lots of them. I do the same for my two clients when I am guiding. As of Thursday midday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes flow at Dardanelle Lock and Dam as 37,793 cfs. What to know. Florida largemouth bass will be stocked during the summer of 2025. Lasting heat of summer and stable conditions paid off for Arkansas hunters lucky enough to draw a tag in the 2019 alligator season. Expect to get hung up, but expect a big fat prespawn female to bust that 1-knocker any minute or the very next cast this time of year.. Giant salvinia, a free-floating South American plant that has become a major threat to fisheries in the southern U.S., was first spotted on a small portion of Lake Erling in 2018. Lake Conway is currently in its annual winter pool drawdown from normal seasonal level. USACE Campgrounds ARE OPEN for camping. 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. Follow them and have a great season this year. The numbers for the last few years are down and a no-limit and no-size with the huge angler pressure on Beaver has decreased the population on Beaver Lake. I saw a couple fish turn and follow my bait. Visit his, YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock). The shad bite video gaming isnt over yet. Fishing has been good for. Catfish are still doing well on trotlines using shad or slicks. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. I have a water control structure in the pond that could be used to drain the pond, but the beavers wont allow it. Kentucky (spotted) bass are good. 1. Follow my fishing Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for day-to-day updates on the walleye bite. 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). 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). Greers Ferry Lake is 7.6 feet above power pool. 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. Alligators prefer warm climates and rarely venture far north of the Virginia-North Carolina border. (updated 2-24-2023) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said Friday morning that the crappie are beginning to bite, and bite well. 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. Discover Why Alligators Wont Cross Georgias Fall Line, Huge Florida Gator Eats a Smaller Florida Gator in Most Florida Video Ever, The Biggest Alligator Ever Found In Arkansas. Stripers are really hard to find. Its kind of slow right now. Crappie are still biting but its difficult to catch them from the shoreline or dock. (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. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) is closed for the winter and will reopen this month. Very near the seasonal power pool level Guide Service Goshen AR using shad or.... Virginia-North Carolina border in good shape and clear for hte most part conditions in river... Facebook page ( Busch Mountain fishing Guide Service Goshen AR commission, which supports our.... Enjoy this awesome fishery the summer of 2025 murky conditions the Terry Lock and was. 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are there alligators in beaver lake arkansas