Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 11/06/06

Dam area to Lead Hill: The topwater bite has gotten interesting over the past week; while early and late is still your best bet you need to have a spook or Sammy tied on and at the ready all day because schools of Spotted bass are chasing shad and will blow up without warning in the middle of just about any cove.

More predictable patterns have been; fishing Jewel spider and football jigs in PB&J or brown / purple flash with Chompers’ jig trailers on pea gravel points and flats that roll off into deep water from 10’ – 35’ deep for Smallmouth, War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover or white / chartreuse around bluff end and ledge rock points will produce Largemouth on windy days and brown / purple flash Eakins’ jigs with green pumpkin Eakins’ craws will work in these same areas on calm days and War Eagle spoons or Chompers’ drop shot worms will catch Spotted Bass in and around schools of shad suspended over deep water.

Lead Hill to Power site: Just like the main lake if you are fishing the area above Lead Hill you need to have a topwater tied on at all times. The bite is best early and late but schools of Spotted Bass are chasing bait all over the lake at all times of day and you need to be ready when it happens. Conventional fall patterns are producing in the upper end of the lake with War Eagle Spinnerbaits in white / chartreuse or mouse will work on windy bluff ends or ledge / mixed rock points, the windier the day the tighter to the bank the fish will be.

Jewel spider, football and Eakins’ jigs are all producing in brown / purple flash or Missouri craw with spider and football jigs with green pumpkin Chomper jig trailers working on pea gravel points and flats near deep water and Eakins’ jig and craw combos being effective around boat docks and on bluff end and ledge banks and points. Chompers’ tubes are also very effective around docks and ledges with green pumpkin / orange and PB&J.

Report #2

Compiled by Bob Stickles, BIG BOBS BAIT AND TACKLE Gainesville Mo 417 679 0067

Bass are suspended throughout the water column. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are working in the shallows, ten feet or less and several big bass were caught this week by people spooni ng for crappie. Brian B. caught a 6.5 largemouth and dennis Watso n caught a 5.5, as both were spooning for crappie. Water debth was between 20 and 30 feet. November should be a good month for bass and spinnerbaits and crankbaits should work well.

Crappie are still deep arounf brush piles and the best bet to catch them is with live minnows. Spooning smaller spoons will also work.

Catfish have slowed down but jug lines baited with bluegills are taking some nice ones. Several 5 lbs ers have been caught this week.

Walleye are where youi find them and no one has found many this week. Best bet is to troll worm harnesses or deep diving plugs like tjhe reef runner. Some models will troll up tp 32 feet.