Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 11/08/06

Cool and breezy was the weather this past week. Rain came for the weekend. Lake temperature is now perfect for the fall bite, ranging between 58 degrees in the morning to 60 degrees when the sun is out. However, the fall bite has not quite gotten into full swing yet. The lake level dropped a bit this past week, now at 647.49, which is almost 7 feet down.

Crappie have not changed their movement at all this week, they are still suspending in the 28 to 32 foot range away from the brush piles in the middle of the cuts and coves. This week Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows and hyper grubs were the bait of choice for both cuts and coves and along the bluff walls. Blue Thunder and Crystal Minnow in the Swimming Minnow, Hologram and Pearl were the best colors in the hyper grubs. Both of these baits are best when you swim them rather than jigging.

Largemouth bass have moved up some and a few can be caught on spinnerbaits and crankbaits during the day. Spinnerbaits are best slow rolling and especially on a cloudy day. The best colors in a spinnerbait is a shad color. Some largemouth can still be caught early mornings on Zara Spooks and buzzbaits. If the sun peeks out the largemouth will move to docks and you can catch some with tubes or Spider Jigs. Smallmouth bass are feeding on shad during the day and can be caught on a Pop R or Zara Spook Jr. in the morning, later in the day they will move to rock ledges. Spider Jigs and tube baits remain the best baits at this time.

Kentucky bass are also swimming with the shad in 30 to 40 feet of water and frenzy feeding on top out in the middle of “nowhere”. Spoons cast into the balls of shad is working the best, although spinnerbaits and crankbaits, again in shad colors worked through the shad are also catching some nice Kentuckys .

Now that the water temperature is “right” for the fall bite, get ready, it is about to start.

Walleye have been moving this week. Some have moved to shallower feeding grounds. The best walleye bait this past week has been the Rogue. The best areas have been back in the creek pockets and coves. Long liners have not had as much luck with the deep divers, so have changed over to the smaller baits that run shallower such as the Hot ‘N Tot, Reef Runner Deep Little Ripper, and Shad Raps. The best actionhas been in the creeks rather than the main lake.