This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's fishing report.

December 3, 2008

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is low. Crappie are fair from the bank. Crappie are fair. Dan at Gold Creek Marina said bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on shiners, but are deep and holding tight to brush. Bass and catfish are fair at best. Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is running low. Trout are biting well on corn and nightcrawlers. Brown trout are in spawn/post-spawn stages right now. Salmon eggs are working well, but stay out of the moss. Morning is providing the best bite. Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the only water releases since Nov. 21 were on Dec. 2. In general, all the shoals are wadable and the fishing has been good. The dissolved oxygen content of the lake/river water continues to be a problem with readings averaging 4.5 parts per million at the dam. The average temperature of the water flowing through the turbines is a chilly 52 degrees. Aquatic insect hatches have become quite predictable of late. Midges are hatching every afternoon with blue winged olive mayflies and caddis flies in the mix until dark. Most aquatic insects "come off" at the most pleasant time of the day. Not coincidentally, around 3 p.m., the larger trout move onto the shoals. The dry flies that are actually working include the BWO (#18), caddis fly (#18-#20; tan), midge (#22; cream or black) and para Adams (#18). If you are fishing sub-surface, tie on a sowbug (#14; olive, UV tan, UV gray or peacock), zebra midge (#16; red or black), red butt soft hackle (#14), copper john (#14), hare's ear (#14), pheasant tail (#16), egg pattern (#12; salmon, cerise, peach or yellow), San Juan worm (#12-#14; red, fl. cerise or worm brown) and woolly bugger (#8-#10; olive, brown or black). Remember, if you are fishing with a "non-swimming insect" pattern, don't make your fly appear to be swimming. The brown trout spawn continues to improve with each passing day. There are a few spawning shoals on the river that have yet to have redds. Dozens of 22- to 24-inch brown trout have been caught and released this season and one 29-inch brown was reported. Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 460.11 feet MSL. Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling. Black bass are still biting well in about 15 feet of water with a few even staying in the shallows. Top waters, crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps are working well in the shallows. Carolina-rigged lizards and football head jigs are the ticket for the deeper bass. Crappie are biting fairly well in the pole timber about 15 feet deep over 60 feet of water on jigs and minnows. Walleye are scarce, but some are being picked up under the schooling whites and hybrids. The whites and hybrids are still going good all over the lake with some pushing shad up to the surface. Watch for the birds to find the fish. Other schools that aren't pushing shad to the surface can be caught on humps and points with spoons and in-line spinners as well as swim baits and grubs. Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said some white bass are coming up in the middle fork. No other reports. Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. All other species are poor. Lake Overcup: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear some ice is forming at the edges of the lake some mornings. Bream are fair on redworms. Crappie are fair on small minnows and white Crappie Stingers fished around docks and piers. Bass and catfish are poor. Very few anglers are on the lake. Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) had no report. Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are poor. Crappie are fair around the buck brush on small live minnows. Bass and catfish are slow. Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina had no report. JB's Guide Service said there is some good action right now. The water is clear. Over the weekend the surface temp was around 55 degrees. Even though bass are mostly biting around 15 feet or so, don't count out the occasional shallow prowler. Try a medium-running crankbait around 4 to 7 feet during the warmest part of the day. Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are biting well on red/white jigs tipped with a minnow. Bass are biting well on Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hogs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and nightcrawlers. Lake Valencia in Maumelle: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms. Bass are fair on medium-sized minnows fished in 2 feet of water near the banks. Trout are being caught on Power Bait. Lake Pickthorne: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are fair. Crappie are biting well. Bass are fair. Catfishing is fair. Burns Park: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie and catfish are biting well. Bream and bass are fair at best. Fourche La Fave River: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said crappie are biting well with some good fish being caught. Catfish, bass and bream are all fair. Arkansas River at Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish N' Stuff (501-834-5733) said fishing is fair in the river right now. All species are biting, but it's the typical slowdown you'd expect for winter on the river. Greers Ferry and Hamilton are the hot spots right now. Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high and stained. Bream are fair on crickets. Bass are fair on white spinnerbaits. Crappie and catfish are slow. Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water clarity is good and the water is running at normal levels. Bream are fair on small brown grubs. Crappie are biting well on jigs fished around brush in deeper pools. Bass are excellent on brown/orange jigs and green crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on Magic Bait. Walleye are biting very well on minnow-imitating crankbaits. Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley's Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfish are biting well on whole shad fished below locks 9 and 10 in 30 feet of water. Bass are in the backs on the coves. If you can find some shad, you can find the bass. They are also on jetties late in the afternoons and are biting fairly well on black/blue jigs. White bass are below the dams and around jetty tips and can be caught on CC Spoons and wobble spoons. Sauger are fair on chartreuse jigs tipped with a minnow fished below the dams. Little Maumelle River: No report. Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bream are fair. Crappie and bass are biting well in sheltered water. Catfishing is good below the dam. Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on shad and bass minnows. Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said bream are biting well on worms in 3 to 4 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows around brush in deeper water. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers in 6 to 8 feet of water. Peckerwood Lake: Herman's Landing said the lake is closed to fishing until Feb. 1.