This makes alligators significantly larger than caimans which reach a maximum of 13 feet long, and gharials which reach around 14 feet. As of Thursday midday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes flow at Dardanelle Lock and Dam as 37,793 cfs. Anything shad-like will be a great bait now. I believe it was 43 gators for the ten SW counties. Big snow/freeze knocked them back here. Follow them and have a great season this year. Some fish are already staging early prespawn areas in the creeks. I got to land a couple of nice largemouth bass, a big 15-inch crappie, a handful of white bass and 4 hybrid stripers. The fish were being a little more aggressive. The stage in the Little Rock pool was at 7.55 feet, down about 1 foot from this time a week ago (flood stage is 25 feet). Fishing continues to be up and down just like the weather. Wading might need to wait for a while. Arkansas River at Morrilton 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. Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second. Florida largemouth bass will be stocked during the summer of 2025. The word unprovoked is key. They suggest fishing more in the backwaters where the water will be a little warmer. Normal state limits on bream and catfish now. (updated 2-23-2023) Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, reported Lake Poinsett had crappie biting well on minnows and jigs. The smallmouth are definitely grouping up if you can find them; they are in roaming mode. Alligators can also reach great ages in captivity, with some living into their 70s and 80s. (updated 2-16-2023) Fish N Stuff (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. * No reports on bream or catfish. While the Game and Fish Commission reports 84 gators were harvested last month, the reptiles are not just found in hunting . 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. The water is high. Visit his, YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock). Winter probably isn't through with us yet, but we will take advantage of this early spring-like weather while it's here! 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. As of 1 p.m. there had been 31 straight hours of release in the neighborhood of 3,800 cfs. Beaver Tailwater The overflow of that food source into the river sets off the famous voracious feeding pattern and the easy trout catch, which anglers love. Bull Shoals Lake Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk. I have a duck hole that depends on a beaver dam to retain the water. DeGray Lake Clarity of the oxbows is normal stain; visibility ranges 5-10 inches depending on location. It is not uncommon for part of the dam to wash out during a big rain, but the beavers quickly repair it. However, despite its immense weight, it wasnt a record-breaker as it only measured 13 feet 3 inches long. The stage is on a fast rise at 8.77 feet as of Thursday afternoon (flood stage is 32 feet). It can take days for a regular bite pattern to resume after a big drop in temperature, so anglers need to be aware. There are days I can see three from the boat ramp at one time. for day-to-day updates on the walleye bite. 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. It might be hit and miss now. Contact the reporter for current news for the lake or stream you plan to fish. Wind, wind, wind and clouds will help. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, Beaver Lake is a nature lover's delight during all seasons. Stripers do make a spawn just like every other fish in the lake; the only difference is the eggs do not recruit new fish. When I rig my rod before starting, I take all of this information and determine what flies would be the best to use and I tie on as many as I can. 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). Alligators have a relatively long lifespan, with some individuals having been known to live up to 50 years in the wild. The 10 Best Childrens Books About Alligators Reviewed and Ranked, Watch This Florida Woman Feed an Alligator Up-Close, With Predictable Ending, Discover the One Place on Earth that Crocodiles and Alligators Coexist. Red Chrome, Toledo Gold or Natural Crawfish three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps were picking up a few prespawn fish from 8-12 feet deep on vertical drops. Some reports say folks are getting bit on green pumpkin jigs in 25 feet of water on ledges. With proper care and nutrition, captive alligators may even be able to live past 100 years of age! Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information. Remember to be courteous to other boaters on the water. Move around, check out shallow water and the deep water too. (updated 2-24-2023) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) in Plainview hears from guides and anglers that crappie are doing very well now. Over the last week they have seen water depths of 8.5 to 10.5 feet with a strong current. The moist habitats are perfect for many animals, including alligators. Bee Lake had a few keepers to play with recently as long as the wind would let you stay out on the main lake. Are there alligator gar in Beaver Lake? The aforementioned forage and bream species will be stocked again in the fall of 2025, along with black crappie. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Beaver Lake rose 0.4 foot to rest at 1.4 feet above power pool or 8.2 feet below the top of flood pool. Arkansas River (Little Rock Area Pools) 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. It does take some looking, but once you find them it is a blast. I do the same for my two clients when I am guiding. Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool) 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. He says he was headed out on the lake last week searching for fish when . Lake Overcup Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) said the water temperature is rising and the water is clear. are slow, but try redworms and crickets as they may be starting to get hungry as the water warms some. 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. Bull Shoals Lake; Marion County. However, do not let children or pets swim in waters with alligators. Bluegill If you're looking to drift-fish, try fishing a double-nymph rig and adjust for the depths you are fishing. Watch the water temperature, and as it warms they will begin to move up into shallower water on brush piles. Austin Kennedy has more great fishing news in his report from the tailwater below, as fishing has really picked up on trout, walleye and more. But youve got to find out where they are, and dont expect them to be consistent. Try Rock Crawler reds on the steeper, clearer water; Wiggle Warts on mid; and a Chick Magnet on the flat side in the stain. (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. They suggest fishing more in the backwaters where the water will be a little warmer. Water temp was 44-46 degrees. The stage at Morrilton was down almost 6 feet from this time a week ago, to 12.28 feet (flood stage is 30 feet). White River Blue Mountain Lake The stage in the Little Rock pool was at 7.55 feet, down about 1 foot from this time a week ago (flood stage is 25 feet). As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 405.58 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl). Keep anglin' and we'll see you at the river.. Big female largemouths are beginning to stage at creek mouths and on the first vertical drops from the spawning flats to deeper water. Beaver Lake size: max 32"/10 to 12 lbs perhaps. As members of Alligatoroidae, alligators are also members of the order Crocodilia. Those white bass were in large numbers ranging 2-3 pounds and were biting well on Cordell Hammered Spoons, Bomber Fat Free Shads, Little George Tail-spinners, Heddon Sonar Metal Blades, and Rocket Shads. Clarity is the usual murky. The stage is on a fast rise at 8.77 feet as of Thursday afternoon (flood stage is 32 feet). Check out the Lakeview Landing Hwy 95 Facebook page for water temperature and other updates. We are still catching crappie and other bass deep 25-55 feet deep, but all the fish are going farther toward the river portions of the primary and secondary channels. The lake sits in northern Arkansas and is shared with neighbouring Missouri, although most of the 18,200 hectare lake sits within Arkansas. Try crawlers in 5-15 feet. Wading might need to wait for a while. White Bass John said, We have had a shad kill. Caught in Merrisach Lake in September 2020 by alligator hunter Travis Bearden, the massive alligator beat the previous record set in 2015 by almost 2 inches. The elevation is 249.26 feet msl. Harris Brake Lake These freshwater habitats are prime areas for alligators that thrive in these areas, and some can reach incredible lengths. We could kill 3 alligators on millwood every night for a month.easily. I havent seen a beaver on Millwood in a couple years. Shad and sculpins are the preferred meal for a hungry brown; try also egg patterns (light yellow peach colored) with an orange leading bead. Fishing in the creeks feeding into the river can result in some nice bass or catfish. As stated earlier, this process is ongoing and is regulated by Entergy on a weekly basis. (updated 2-23-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said that during the past week they have had a half-inch of rain at Cotter, warmer temperatures and moderate winds. The frightening ordeal occurred after they harpooned it but were unable to get a clear shot to kill it immediately. The northern portion of the lake has some color to the water, while past Cove Creek and Eden Isle the lake gets clearer. On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam at Pine Bluff was 40,646 cfs, about half the flow of this time last week. One of the earliest recorded accounts of alligators in Arkansas comes from the Arkansas Gazette, May 1828, which reported the killing of an 11-foot specimen on the north side of the Arkansas River at Little Rock. No reports of white bass, crappie, bream or catfish. This includes all alligators, true crocodiles, caimans, gharials, and false gharials, along with many extinct members. Millwood Lake tailwater elevation was near 244 feet msl (almost 20 FEET above normal) and rising with gate discharge at the dam near 20,000 cfs in Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. Beavers pretty much gone. The public is urged to use extreme caution when visiting the Carpenter Dam use area during this time. And if the bite is off, a big Y2K can be the ticket. Also use minnows and nightcrawlers. * Over the past few weeks, the crappie bite improved, then thunderstorms and lake wind advisories destroyed clarity and discharge along Little River went back to over 30,000 cfs. 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). 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. We have none that I know of. He says there was some speculation that the creature was a caiman, which are related to alligators and are legal to own in Arkansas. Guide Jeff Larch, who operates River Valley Tours and takes groups out at Nimrod, went up in recent days to Dardanelle "and did very good on the crappie," they report. Bream are slow, but try redworms and crickets as they may be starting to get hungry as the water warms some. There have been some reports of them being found near drop-offs around 16-20 feet and off rocky banks. 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). Black bass are biting, but theyre slow. The current creel limit for Beaver Lake walleye is a four-fish limit 15" to 20" or three-fish limit 15" to 20" and one fish greater than 28". My favorite has been a cerise San Juan worm with an orange egg dropper. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks. "They are not really going full bore, but they can be caught now and that's big." The crankbait bite is getting better as temps rise. Another source of information is asking others. The best activity was mid-day, and the crappie were holding 12-15 feet of depth in our planted brush piles. For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality. Alligators have been hunted seasonally in Arkansas since 2008 as a measure to . Lake Greeson Tailwater Catfish like liver, dough bait, minnows and nightcrawlers now, but cats have been slow. But the amount of rain weve had, the crappie will be out of the flow of the lake, now, in the murky waters, and wont be deep. Anglers seeking bream have been headed to Pierce Creek. 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. In general, fly-fishers are quite willing to share information. Arkansas is a geographically diverse state with mountainous regions co-existing with swamps and wetlands. 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). With the rising water level, the largemouth bass bite will become really good. Fishing on the Little Red from a boat in high water has been good as far as the streamer bite goes. The crankbait bite is getting better as temps rise. What to know. The Norfork tailwater had no wadable water. Little Red River The Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water to get the lake down, usually running two generators 24/7. Hatchet Jacks Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (501-758-4958) said even with high flow you can fish the bank, and if you can figure out where the fish are, you can have success. Smaller animals are usually grabbed and swallowed immediately, while larger prey is usually dragged into the water and drowned. A big crackleback fished deep has been good on several trips lately. Kentucky (spotted) bass are good. 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. Expect more of the same as far as generation schedule goes. (updated 2-23-2023) Donald Ramirez at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no new reports. The death roll consists of the alligator rolling and spinning while holding the prey so that smaller, bite-sized chunks are torn off. Bass anglers picking up topwater lures, Chatterbaits, buzzbaits, worms, shad-type flukes, creature baits and swimbaits. They are now mainly found in the lower third of the state. Bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass can be . If they did not do well, I moved on. They have not heard much on the crappie fishing front, though, in the Little Rock Pool.