Fishing this week

Thursday, September 26, 2013

HOT SPOTS

BEAVER LAKE Bass are busting the surface in the mornings and are biting well on topwater lures. Bream fishing is fair using crickets. Crappie are beginning to bite on trolled Hot n’ Tot crankbaits and minnows. Catfishing is good using trotlines and jugs baited with live shad or sunfish. Stripers are biting well late in the evening around the Rocky Branch Area.

LAKE CONWAY Bass fishing and catfishing are excellent. Bass are being caught in the mornings at Gold Creek using buzzbaits and around lily pads in the creek with a jig. Catfish are biting well on night crawlers, chicken livers and shad. A few crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs fished around Caney Creek and Pierce Creek. Bream fishing is fair using worms and crickets but have moved away from the bank.

LAKE DARDANELLE Bass have been biting well on squarebilled crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and topwater walking baits. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfish are being caught on worms and cut bait.

DEGRAY LAKE Bass fishing is good, and there have been several reports of schooling activity early in the mornings. The fish and shad are moving up on the shallow points in the major coves. Hybrid fishing is improving with more schooling activity, but the fish are deep, 40-45 feet down, with little surface activity. Some good bream reports are coming in, with anglers catching them off deep points 25-30 feet deep. A few catfish are being taken at night.

LAKE OUACHITA Black bass are schooling and topwater action is picking up. Stripers are being caught on live bait and big hair jigs near main lake humps and points. Bream are being caught using crickets or worms in 20-25 feet of water near brush. Catfish are being caught with live bait or hot dogs on jug lines and trot lines set 18-25 feet deep. Rod-and-reel fishermen are catching them near brush piles during the day using big night crawlers.

Sports, Pages 23 on 09/26/2013