Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 02/16/07

Dam area to Lead Hill: The water just keeps on running through Bull Shoals, I’m sure the trout fishing below the dam is incredible but this much water moving through the lake has effectively killed the deep spoon and drop shot bite for right now. Most of the bait is strung out and the drop in water temperature has started to take its toll on the threadfin with dead and dying shad showing up on and near the surface. With that in mind a couple of key patterns have been jerkbaits and single tailed grubs; Smithwick Rogues in chrome / black and clown as well as Lucky Craft Pointers in chartreuse shad and American shad have been effective around wood and rock cover on and near points and swings. Look for areas where the shad have been blown into the bank and around the cover to be the most productive. Smoke or salt and pepper 3” single tailed grubs are working anywhere you find the dead and dying shad but are most effective around points and channel swings near spawning coves. Most of the fish are being caught in 15’ – 25’ of water either suspended in the water column or right on the bottom. With that in mind you will need to make several casts until you locate the depth the fish are holding in, make several casts counting the bait down about a ten count, if that does work continue to count the bait down to different depths until you find the bottom or the fish.

Lead Hill to Power site: The current is still very strong above K-dock and there are actually some very active fish to be caught in the upper end of the lake right now; bass, walleye, white bass and even a few crappie are being caught on jerkbaits, single tailed and Wiggle Warts off of points and swings. Both Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have been effective baits when fished near wood or rock cover best colors continue to be reflective ones like American shad or chrome / black on sunny days and matte colors like chartreuse shad on cloudy ones. Storm Wiggle Warts in brown craw and phantom green craw have been effective as well paralleling these same rocky points and swings 6’ – 10’ deep. If all else fails a smoke or salt and pepper 3” single tailed grub on a ¼ oz. head fished in these areas will produce a variety of fish. Closer to the mid lake area Jewel 5/16oz Pro Model Spider jigs in winter craw or PB&J with 4” Chomper Jig Trailers are working on channel swings and points on both the main lake and in some of the bigger creek arms. Most of these fish are 15’ – 30’ deep and are holding on rock piles or scattered boulders.