Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 04/13/06:

Fishing report for Bull Shoals Lake from the Dam area. Report submitted as a community service by SPRING CREEK ENTERPRISES ,Don and Judy Schnable 417 273 4859 schnabs@webound.com

Here we go again, spring was in the air and the lake was progressing nicely, then in blew a northerner with cold rain, big wind and temperatures dropping into the upper 30’s at night. The north wind blew all the heat out of the northern creeks and pockets, which will slow the spawning process for White Bass, Smallmouth bass and Kentuckys for about a week. Lake temperature as of Sunday was 52.8 with a degree or two warmer up lake and in the Theodosia arm.

The back of some creeks are at 56 degrees and with the predicted warm week ahead we should be back on track by the end of the week. Lake level came up with the rains and the pool is now at 647.46, 6 ¾ feet below normal pool. Crappie were active this week in about 8 to 12 feet of water inside the brush piles and toward the back of the pockets. Live minnows are the choice for many anglers but this week Bobby Garland’s Swimming Minnows have outshined the live bait. White Bass are in position in the back of the creeks. If the weatherman is right about the warm up, they should be in spawn by the upcoming weekend. Small spoons, inline spinners and roadrunners are your key baits.

Largemouth bass are positioning themselves in their spawning areas but we need 6 to 8 degrees more in lake temperature before they will go on beds. Staging bass sometimes become spooky and this year we have very clear water so you need to downsize your line size (8 pound test is a good choice) and make long casts with jigs, tubes, trick worms and Sinko’s. Fish around docks, blow downs and rocky banks or points toward the back of the creeks and pockets.

Smallmouth bass are staging on pea rock pints, pea rock banks and banks that have ledges down in 8 to 10 feet of water. They should start spawning near the end of the week. Main lake as well as creeks and pockets are holding nice smallies. Hot baits have been tubes, spider jigs, centipedes and lizards. Fish the lizard and centipede on Mojo rigs with 6 pound test line and a 3 foot leader. On breezy days fish Wiggle Warts or Spinnerbaits with gold and silver willow blades.

Kentucky bass are also up on the banks staging along chunk rock in 12 to 18 feet of water. Centipedes and lizards in watermelon or watermelon candy have been the best colors. Look for areas that have transition changes on the banks, both on the main lake and in the creeks.

Walleye are spotty. After talking with Walleye Guide Heath Holman, the walleye in the upper lake are spawned out and the walleye from mid-lake to the dam are just days away from spawn. So if you are fishing up lake your walleye are in post spawn and if you are mid to lower lake your walleye are pre-spawn. Either way it is tough. Jerk baits are your best bet for the next week to ten days. Suspending rogues, X-raps or Lucky Craft Pointer 78’s are the best baits.

Remember to keep only what you can eat and release the rest for another day. Rick Culver of Wilderness Trail does the research for this report and the writing of this report. For more information call Rick or Sue Culver at Wilderness Trail at 870-445-2703, e-mail us at wtrail@bullshoals.net or check out our web site at www.wildernesstrail.com

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