State fishing report

CENTRAL BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

BREWER -- -- -- --

CLEAR -- Poor Good Good

CONWAY Fair Fair Fair Fair

GREERS FERRY Fair -- -- Good

HARRIS BRAKE -- -- -- --

MAUMELLE Poor -- -- Poor

NORRELL Good -- Good Good

OVERCUP Fair Poor Poor Poor

SALINE RIVER (BENTON) Good -- -- Good

SUNSET Fair -- -- Fair

WINONA Good -- Good Good

ARKANSAS RIVER (CADRON) -- -- -- --

ARKANSAS RIVER (LITTLE ROCK) Good Fair Fair Fair

ARKANSAS RIVER (MAUMELLE POOL) -- -- -- Excellent

ARKANSAS RIVER (MORRILTON) Fair -- Fair Fair

BISHOP PARK PONDS -- -- -- Good

LITTLE MAUMELLE RIVER Fair -- -- Fair

LITTLE RED RIVER (GREERS FERRY TAILWATER) Water is extremely low most days from lack of water release from the Greers Ferry Dam. Power generation is occurring only during times of cold air temperatures, so expect extended days of very little water release during mild winter temperatures. Sowbugs, midges, soft hackles and Woolly Buggers are working well for fly anglers. Pink and white Trout Magnets are recommended for spin fishing. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501) 362-5150 for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.

LAKE PICKTHORNE -- -- -- --

NORTH BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

BULL SHOALS -- -- -- --

NORFORK -- -- -- --

WHITE RIVER Southwest Power has been releasing large amounts of water for several hours early in the day and returning to low flow for the rest of the day. Expect very low releases when the weather is mild. Try stick baits with gold bellies and blue backs. Live worms, red wigglers are best, attract some trout especially during rising releases. Keep a few sculpins on hand and always some gold/red spoons as the water drops.

NORFORK TAILWATER The Norfork has cleared substantially but has fished poorly. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (sizes 14, 16) like the Green Butt. Egg patterns also have been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). The fishing is better in the morning. John's favorite rig has been a Y2K with a ruby midge dropper. Dry Run Creek has cleared some and still fishing well. Brown trout have moved in for the spawn. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10).

SOUTH-CENTRAL BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

COLUMBIA -- -- -- --

FELSENTHAL Poor Poor Poor Poor

WHITE OAK Good Good -- Excellent

NORTHWEST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

BEAVER Fair -- -- Fair

BEAVER TAILWATER The river is low, and trout are biting nightcrawlers. Fish the Bertrand Access and the launching ramp just below the dam using PowerBait. When water is flowing, throw gold and silver Colorado Spoons, red/gold Bouyant Spoons, and Flick'r Shad in Pro Series Nos. 4 and 5. Good PowerBait colors are white, red, orange, yellow, chartreuse and peach. Good flies are pheasant tails, midges in blue dun, black, olive, hare's ear, tungsten Copper Johns, WD 40s, Trout Magnets and San Juan worms.

FAYETTEVILLE -- -- -- --

SEQUOYAH Fair Fair -- Poor

NORTHEAST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

CROWN -- -- -- --

SPRING RIVER Olive Woollies and White Lightnings are hot with a downward cast with short fast strips back upstream. On tough days, a Y2K with a small dropper like a red midge or micro nymph is the way to go. Over the last month some really big fish have been caught. Hot pink and white Trout Magnets always catch fish on the Spring River.

SOUTHWEST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

COLUMBIA -- -- -- Fair

MILLWOOD Poor -- -- Poor

GREESON Fair -- -- Fair

WEST-CENTRAL BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

ATKINS -- -- -- --

BAILEY -- -- -- --

DARDANELLE -- -- -- --

DEGRAY Good -- -- Good

OUACHITA Good -- -- Good

HAMILTON Poor Poor -- Excellent

NIMROD -- Fair Fair Good

CATHERINE -- -- -- --

LAKE HAMILTON TAILWATER Periods of no generation are best for bank fishermen to catch limits of rainbow trout using corn or waxworms with a marshmallow floater. Redworms and nightcrawlers used in the same manner also have produced nice catches. PowerBaits presented just on the bottom or under a bobber are also working well from the bank or boat. Spin fishermen casting small jigs across the current around exposed rock structure have taken the largest trout this past week. Rooster Tails in white or brown are also effective fished in the current or slack water. Crawfish or minnow imitations that run 3-5 feet deep will draw consistent strikes from rainbows looking to feed on injured shad. Fly fishermen are able to wade to areas that hold good numbers of fish and are having success casting egg patterns in white or yellow under a strike indicator. Egg imitators are highly effective. Micro-jigs in white or black have quickly taken numbers of trout in the 12- to 15-inch class. San Juan worms in red or hot pink give fishermen a nice change in approach. Trout Magnets fished 3-7 feet deep have really racked up fish numbers. It seems that all colors are working, with a slight edge in white.

SOUTHEAST BASS BREAM CATFISH CRAPPIE

ARKANSAS RIVER (PINE BLUFF POOL) -- -- -- --

CANE CREEK Good Poor -- Good

CHICOT -- -- -- --

MONTICELLO Fair -- -- Fair

NOTE For more detailed information on baits and lures, go to: agfc.state.ar.us/fishing/fishingreport.htm

Sports on 02/08/2018

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