Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 12/10/06

Dam area to Lead Hill: Two distinct patterns have developed on the lower end of Bull Shoals; a deep bite is starting to shape up nicely with several schools of big Spotted Bass following schools of shad into major creek arms and Smallmouth are moving up shallow on pea gravel points and flats. For the deep fish look for the schools of bait to be suspended from 30’ – 60’ deep in the “guts of creeks”, drop white War Eagle Spoons, plum or sand Chompers Drop Shot Worms and milky salt and pepper Single Tailed Grubs below the schools of bait to draw strikes for the waiting fish. If you are after Smallmouth position your boat in about 35’ of water on pea gravel points and flats and make long cast toward the bank with either 5/16 oz or 7/16 oz Jewel Spider Jigs in PB&J with a green pumpkin Chomper Jig Trailer or a PB&J Chomper Ultra tube, then drag either bait on the bottom paying close attention to anything that you run the bait into.

Lead Hill to Power site: There seem to be a lot of fish toward the backs of creeks in the upper end of Bull Shoals. Most of the fish have been coming on either Storm Wiggle Warts or Smithwick and Lucky Craft jerkbaits fished close to cedar trees and other submerged cover. Look for schools of bait to alert you to where most of the fish are located. If it is a “blue bird” day switch to a PB&J Eakins’ jig and green pumpkin Eakins’ craw combo and fish channel swing banks from mid way into the creek all the way back to the “last rock bank” in the creek. Slow down and pay close attention to any wood or rock cover you find and make multiple pitches from different angles at each piece of cover.