Fishing report

DeGray Lake: Local angler George Graves said bass fishing is fair in early morning in big deep coves along the south side between points 2 and 6. Also look along the state park between Caddo Bend and the marina. Concentrating on shad schools, most any medium-size topwater lure will work if presented as close to the “break” as possible. Also try soft plastics such as glukes and swimbaits. Lots of small bass and Kentucky bass are in shad schools in the upper part of the lake between Alpine Ridge and Shouse Ford. Try small casting spoons and inline spinners such as Rooster Tails.

Hybrid fishing is good for those who know how to target deep-water fish using sonar. They are scattered in the lower end of the lake between the dam and Iron Mountain along the deep channel and suspended in thermocline at 50 feet in 100-130 feet of water. Search with the sonar and, when a fish is spotted, drop a heavy jigging spoon or 3-inch grub just above the fish. Lots of

white bass are schooling in the shad in the same areas, especially around points 2 and 4. Try small topwater plugs, small spoons and Rooster Tails, preferably colored white. Lots of bream are in coves around rock or wood cover in 3-5 feet of water for smaller species and near the bottom in 20-25 feet off secondary points for larger catches. Redworms and crickets are the preferred bait.

Lake conditions: low 80s, clear, 400.93 feet msl (full pool 408 feet msl).

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, Catch’em All Guide Service, reports a seasonal lack of gamefish catches below Carpenter Dam but says with the big numbers of shad present, schools of stripers and white bass can migrate into the tailrace at any time. October is usually a good time for white bass and hybrids. Most rainbow trout have been caught or migrated away from the dam. The few fish left are extremely wary and almost impossible to catch, conditions not expected to improve until trout stocking resumes in mid-November.

Lake conditions: 64 degrees below Carpenter Dam, 67 degrees below the bridge, clear. Entergy is running a 12-hour generation schedule daily, and boaters should navigate the area slowly and wear a life jacket.

Lake Ouachita: Todd Gadberry, Mountain Harbor Resort, said

black bass are still fair on jig-andpig combinations and crankbaits with Kentucky bass found on in brush piles on main-lake and secondary points. Walleye are good on CC Spoons, with stripers fair on live bait in the central and east areas of the lake. Bream are fair on crickets, maggots and redworms worked 20-25 feet deep.

Crappie are slow to fair on minnows or crappie jigs around 25-30 feet fished on the bottom near brush. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, trotline minnows or hot dogs 15-20 feet deep.

Lake conditions: 78-82 degrees, clear, 572.81 feet msl (full pool 578 feet msl).