Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 02/03/07

Dam area to Lead Hill: There is an incredible amount of current running through Bull Shoals right now, this has spread the bait out and pushed it to the bottom and effectively eliminated the spoon and drop shot bite. With that in mind most of the fish have are relating to points and swings throughout the lake. A couple of baits have been key to catching fish on the lower end of the lake; Jewel spider and football jigs in PB&J or green pumpkin green flash fished on points from 10’ – 30’ deep have been producing both smallmouth and largemouth. Key on points near channel swings and work the deep side of the point slowly and methodically with a heavy enough jig to maintain bottom contact. Jerkbaits are productive on bluff ends and deeper points with standing timber or laydowns, make casts beyond the cover and work the bait back to it to draw strikes. Key colors are American Shad, Chrome / Black and Clown on sunny days and Chartreuse Shad and Ayu on cloudy days.

Lead Hill to Power site: The current is really a factor in the upper end of the lake, couple that amount of shad that is washing from Table Rock through Taneycomo and into Bull Shoals and you have a virtual feeding frenzy taking place above K-Dock. Jerkbaits are the number one choice in this area; look for slack water around wood and rock cover or on the down stream side of main lake points to hold a mixed bag of fish. Walleye, bass, white bass and crappie are all being caught on these areas on Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers, color doesn’t seem to be big factors in these areas just remember to use reflective colors on sunny days and matte colors on cloudy ones. There is a pretty decent jig bite on the upper end as well, look for shallow wood cover on rocky banks to hold most of the fish. An Eakins’ jig in Missouri Craw with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw or Paca Chunk will draw strikes.