Central Arkansas Wildlife fishing report
Category: fishing reports
Apr 3rd, 2019 by Keith Worrall 429
Modified Apr 3rd, 2019 at 12:09 PM
Central Arkansas Wildlife fishing report
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
(updated 3-27-2019) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said that the lake conditions are calm with the usual Lake Conway stain. The water level is normal. No surface temperature was recorded. Bream, which were reported beginning to spawn last week, are good. Red worms and crickets are the baits of choice. Crappie are good; use minnows or jigs. Black bass are good; anglers report success with white/chartreuse buzz baits. Catfishing is poor
Little Red River
(updated 3-27-2019) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service said currently they are seeing around 14 hours of daily generation on the Little Red River. The Greers Ferry Lake level is above normal seasonal pool due to recent rains, so longer periods of generation with possible flood gates being used to lower the lake level as quickly as possible are expected. If you choose to fish these conditions, you will want to use long leaders and weight. Key for both fly-fishing and Trout Magnet fishing during heavy generation is the ability to get and maintain a good presentation of the fly or Trout Magnet. Working shoreline with streamers is also an effective fly-fishing method during high water conditions. For fly-fishing, Lowell recommends San Juan worms, micro jigs, march brown patterns and streamers during high water conditions, and pheasant tails, sowbugs and streamers during normal water conditions. Hot pink, cotton candy and white bodies on chartreuse jigheads are recommended for Trout Magnet spin fishing. Be safe while enjoying the river. 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 (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 3-27-2019) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said the river is clear with generation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The lake level is 470.54 feet msl, which is about 8 feet above normal. As long as the lake is in the flood pool, we can expect heavier-than-normal generation. The Corps of Engineers has said that the current schedule will probably be maintained until the weekend, when an increased amount will be released as the lower river levels will allow. They also told Greg that one of the generators will go offline on April 1 for maintenance. At this time, flood gates will be opened to increase the flow up to the amount of two units. This will probably be on a 24/7 operation if the river levels permit.
Greg says drift fishing with large nymphs has been fair to good by staying ahead of the new generation. “Please be aware of the timing of the generation reaching the section of river you are fishing and be careful on this high water. The current and depth change a great deal when the generation occurs. Do not anchor or drift to the upstream side of docks or other obstacles in the river during high water.”
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