If you're looking to drift-fish, try fishing a double-nymph rig and adjust for the depths you are fishing. (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. Crappie are back chewing pretty good since water has cleared back up. Despite this, American alligators can reach much, much larger sizes. Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek Trout key in on the shad kill this time of year as freezing temperatures stun threadfin shad in Lake Hamilton and these baitfish are drawn through the turbines and scattered throughout the tailrace area. The water temps are in the mid-40s and close to 50 degrees in the river arms. 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. Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions. Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the fishing has been really good. (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. Drag something deep, or sit out and throw an Alabama rig, jerkbaits, and the Wiggle Wart, and dont forget about the Rat-L-Trap. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 405.58 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl). 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. Catfish are still doing well on trotlines using shad or slicks. If you use artificial lures try deeper-diving lures. Copyright 2023 Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, A Public Treasure: The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, Ways to Entertain Your Family During the Holidays. Catfish Beaver Lake I have been getting asked a lot lately, yes, we are catching walleye. The water temps are in the mid-40s and close to 50 degrees in the river arms. The word unprovoked is key. Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide services website linked above, or at the Army Corps of Engineers website. The aforementioned forage and bream species will be stocked again in the fall of 2025, along with black crappie. 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. Bream are starting to pick up. With the clear water, about any color is good now. Incredibly, although Beardens alligator holds the state record as the biggest alligator ever found in Arkansas, it is not the heaviest. Instead, the heaviest alligator caught in Arkansas makes Beardens alligator seem like a mere baby in comparison. Stay safe and respectful on the lake. 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. Walleye Lake Hamilton Lake Monticello is mostly dependent on rainwater for refilling all of its 1,520 acres, and in late fall it had reached a coverage of almost 500 acres. No reports on walleye. Reports have the bass being found both in deep water and shallow along rocky points. Spanning 53,179 square miles, Arkansas is a landlocked state in the south-central region of the United States. Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. 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 fish will move shallower under the right conditions and hold on swings, points and ledges. Where to Fish in Arkansas Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir 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. Mike says they expect to see greater numbers of large white bass schools running upriver near Patterson Shoals and Wilton Landing near Cossatot inflow ditch for their annual spawning runs over the next few weeks as the surface temps continue to climb into the low and mid-50 degree range. With the increasing boat traffic, we need to be mindful when operating our boats near others who are not underway and anchored. There have been some reports of them being found near drop-offs around 16-20 feet and off rocky banks. As a result both Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams have been releasing a lot of water. The overflow of that food source into the river sets off the famous voracious feeding pattern and the easy trout catch, which anglers love. Generation has been pretty consistent, starting around 6 a.m. and ending mid-afternoon. 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. They inhabit freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshes, though they can also be found in brackish water. (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. (updated 2-23-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the recent storms caused both Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes to rise above the conservation pool. The preferred bait is a yellow-headed hair jig, and some minnows are being used, though not as many as jigs. 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. They are moving up, this water has warmed up, its clear and normal (level), Ray said. Wind, wind, wind and clouds will help. 501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, had no new reports from the lake. No one was out late this week with the bad weather. Theyve also had success with red crankbaits and red Rat-L-Trap. No baits were mentioned for black bass or catfish, either, but they were caught in fair numbers as well. 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). 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. The lake is closed to fishing until spring as it serves as a rest area for migrating waterfowl, and as access opens up after the White River recedes in the area. Stripers are moving into the river arms and upper White. Largemouth bass reports have been good. Florida largemouth bass will be stocked during the summer of 2025. The Army Corps of Engineers reported the outflow at Greers Ferry Dam to be 8,641 cfs (turbine) as of midday Thursday, where it had been for well over 24 hours. The brown trout that have been spawning for the last three months are now working their way back downstream. He suggests anglers and boaters check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system. 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. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. The stage is on a fast rise at 8.77 feet as of Thursday afternoon (flood stage is 32 feet). The lake level Thursday was 577.50 feet msl. These are the two main rivers that feed Beaver Lake. 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. Amongst these lowlands is the Mississippi Alluvial Region which includes many swamps and wetlands. Bass fishing starts to improve on both windblown banks on crankbaits back in the creeks and on main lake points near brush on grubs, and then another cold front comes through slowing the fishing. Habitat: weeds, points, rocks, then down to the thermocline in the warmer months. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo. 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. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Redworms are getting reactions from bream right by the dock. 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. The stage at Morrilton was down almost 6 feet from this time a week ago, to 12.28 feet (flood stage is 30 feet). 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. White bass are a fun fish for new anglers and old alike. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers. Wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. The main thing here is the crappie is moving up shallow. The drawdown will remain in effect until March 1, at which time the 7,000-acre lake will be allowed to refill. They are taking reservations on their answering machine for spring. I dropped my bait down to 50 feet, and when a small school of fish came under me, I would reel up as fast as I could through the middle of the school. Black bass are biting, but theyre slow. Some reports say folks are getting bit on green pumpkin jigs in 25 feet of water on ledges. Gators in Arkansas do not eat during the winter months-theyll bask in the sun but they are not warm enough to digest food. He reports a few bream are starting to show up floating around. No bream or bass reports. 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. Most of the bass are only 25-55 feet over the shad. The Millwood State Park IS OPEN for camping, and the State Park Office can be reached at 870-898-2800 for availability or additional information. The Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water to get the lake down, usually running two generators 24/7. Alligators in Arkansas (Little Rock, Hot Springs, Mena: house, living in, pine) User Name: Remember Me: Password . The largest alligators are also incredibly heavy, with reports of anything from 1,000 up to a massive 2,000 pounds being recorded. The moist habitats are perfect for many animals, including alligators. Add a little bigger sinker to allow the bait to get to the river bottom. I tried a variety of methods and the one that worked best was spider-rigging with minnows at a slow crawl! Kent said. But on Friday, the animal was found and officials learned it . 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). With colder temperatures, the, 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). Dont mean to side track this thread, as I know nothing about beavers. In fact, Deinosuchuswas an apex predator and quite likely the most terrifying alligator to ever walk the earth. Three fish is a trend. This includes all alligators, true crocodiles, caimans, gharials, and false gharials, along with many extinct members. 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. Wading might need to wait for a while. 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). (updated 2-9-2022) Randy Plyler with Plyler Outdoors Guide Service (870-210-0522) said that there's only been a few folks out here over the course of the last couple weeks on DeGray. Currently, all floodgates have been closed below Carpenter Dam, but generation flows are still high as Lake Ouachita is barely below flood pool. Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. We have none that I know of. Shelly has already started looking ahead to the good moon times for next month. We are all in this together and freely share information. Lake Fayetteville The huge alligator dwarfed their boat and used its immense strength and power to drag it around while the terrified occupants were completely at its mercy. McKinzie says the man was allowed to keep the animal for the time being. Look for balls of shad and try throwing an Alabama rig. In addition, add lots of flash to white, olive or olive-and-brown streamers, sparkling collars on your jigs, or toss out a shiny silver spoon. Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) is closed for the winter and will reopen this month. DeGray Lake water level is 406.5 feet msl. Ray suggests shad-colored jigs or jigs favoring white, silver/white and pink colors. Clarity along Little River is stained, and is much worse further up Little River with river clarity ranging 3-5 inches visibility depending on location. 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). Look for water flowing back in creeks and coves and start casting a Wiggle Wart or a Rock Crawler crankbait into shallow water. The lake sits in northern Arkansas and is shared with neighbouring Missouri, although most of the 18,200 hectare lake sits within Arkansas. Late in 2022 the AGFC hatchery staff stocked about 180,000 fathead minnows, 111,902 golden shiners, 78,840 bluegill and 82,056 redear sunfish. They will be feeding. Amenities vary at each different property. The wind came up and it started to rain pretty hard. Anglers have had success catching bass on a crawfish-colored Spro Rock Crawler and even throwing a spinnerbait in the stained water of the backs of creeks, too. Wouldnt doubt that five alligators living in the pond have something to do with it - and alligators everywhere in the back end of Millwood. Lake Bennett. This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. Most fish are still holding in a winter pattern and are right on the bottom in 16-23 feet of water. There has been nothing to report this week. Alligator Gar Variant Names: Gator Gar Spotted Gar Variant Names: None Shortnose gar Variant Names: Billy Gar, Short-Billed Gar, Stub-Nose . for the underwater timber about 5 feet deep and use minnows. One of the guides going out from Andrews fished three days this week and on his teams the anglers were doing real well on the crappie. As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 447.76 feet msl (full pool: 437.00 feet msl). Whats the Biggest Alligator Ever Found in the Mississippi River? Alligators are highly territorial and typically live in freshwater environments such as swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, and rivers. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers. Wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. The surface water temperature was 49 degrees and the water was stained in the creeks but a little clearer on the main lake. Nobody is really catfishing now, and the bream anglers have not started bream fishing in number yet, though they were catching bream before the water took a big rise. Alligators are large, powerful reptiles from the family group Aligatoroidaewhich also includes caimans. Try using a Texas rig on the brush, or fish with jigs. White River Stripers are really hard to find. (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the fishing says the fish have been biting pretty well toward the backs of creeks on the upper end. Greers Ferry Lake is 6.6 feet above normal conservation pool. 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. 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. Ag&f seem to be ass backwards on everything. My question is this, is there a gator season? Also use minnows. Anglers have had success catching. Anglers should try using Carolina-rigged lizards, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and drop-shots. Their numbers where heavily depleted by unregulated market hunting (purses, belts, shoes, etc.) I had at least five in a one acre slough. (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. I could see the birds feeding from a distance, which made me smile really big. Some reports say they are deep at 18-22 feet. Greers Ferry Lake. Anytime I am in a fly shop I ask what the hot fly has been recently. Are alligators dangerous?No, if you leave them alone! Its still hit and miss. Where can I see alligators in Arkansas?The Arkansas Post National Memorial and Millwood State Park. Are alligators native to Arkansas?Yes, alligators have been in Arkansas for thousands of years. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. Beaver Lake, Arkansas, US Fish Identification Chart. This week we've seen a significant shad kill on the lake. reports that water temperature below the dam is 50 degrees with stained conditions in the tailrace. People are fishing 5-foot deep for crappie. Very heavy generation has been the norm for several weeks with both generators running huge amounts of water through the system to keep area lakes at winter drawdown levels. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead). Anglers are also throwing a crankbait either in a red or something with some chartreuse in it. I could see the birds feeding from a distance, which made me smile really big. In the back of McGuire oxbow, we were throwing a custom-painted Little John Crankbaits in Rayburn Red, and a Bill Lewis SB-57 or MR-6 Crankbait in Strawberry Craw, Blood Craw or Red Glitter Craw and picking up a few random bites. Pullen Pond also has Gators. JavaScript is disabled. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. However, alligators today are much, much smaller than their prehistoric counterparts. The stage at Pine Bluff is at 31.63 and slightly on the rise (flood stage is 42 feet). 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. This is a great time to chase walleye with big stickbaits. Wading might need to wait for a while. Above the dam and coming from the river the water is clear, though in front of the dam the water is muddy. Mid-February marks the beginning of the walleye run for Lake Catherine. 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