Fishing report
Lake Ouachita
John Koestler at Masterbaiters Bait and Tackle reports that the fishing in Lake Ouachita was rough, but they did manage to get some bass on crankbaits and also jigging spoons.
Still lots of bream in 20 feet of water.
Crappie bite should be good in a week or two. “We were getting some in 25 feet of water,” John says.
Walleye are being caught in 30 feet with grass on jigs or crawlers with spinners. Points have also been producing walleye and bass.
Surface water temperature is 52 degrees.
Lake Catherine
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 19 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace.
Currently, both lakes Hamilton and Catherine have been drawn down 5 feet, and the drawdown will remain in place until March 1. Numerous underwater hazards are now visible in the tailrace due to the low water conditions and boaters and wade fishermen alike should use caution when navigating the area.
The trout are highly scattered now from the bridge to the dam, which is normal for the early part of the fall season. Decent numbers of fish have been caught by fly-fishermen who are now able to access areas that hold fish. Egg patterns in orange or yellow have accounted for several limits of quality rainbows presented under a strike indicator. Micro- jigs in black or white have also worked well when used in the same manner. Boaters trolling shallow running crankbaits that imitate shad or crayfish have taken numbers of trout during times of generation. The majority of trout are in the 11 to 12 inch class and are full bodied. Bank fishermen are also catching trout on powerbaits and nightcrawlers cut in half used under a bobber or just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater.
Schools of white bass are inhabiting the tailrace and feeding on threadfin shad. Topwater action has been observed in the early morning below the bridge.
Walleye still remain in the tailrace and can be caught on minnows tight-lined in deep water. The closer to the dam you fish, the more likely you are to catch walleye in the fall. The deepest areas consistently hold walleye that live and feed in the tailrace.
No striper activity has been reported this week, but these predator fish migrate in and out of the area frequently.
The infusion of trout always shocks the system into action with more and diverse species of fish migrating into the area to live and feed.
Lake Hamilton
Greeson Marine reports Lake Hamilton’s water levels down for the annual dock and shoreline maintenance. Water levels have exposed many shallow areas. Please use caution at all times.
Water temperatures are around the 60-degree mark in most areas. Fishing is still basically on the same pattern it has been for three weeks now. Without good freezing nights the frogs are still abundant, and it is no surprise that the bass are still feeding well on frog patterns, skipped under docks especially. Bass also are doing well on topwater with a pearl or silver Zara Spook fished in a walk-the-dog retrieve. Some bass have already transitioned to a late fall or winter scenario, and it pays off to throw a flat-sided craw-colored crankbait or Wiggle Wart-style bait down the rock ledges. As the water breaks into the mid50s a suspended jerkbait will start to play a factor instead of the topwater Spook.
Crappie are fair to good early in the morning over deep brush in the 25 feet depth range, but suspended over the tops. Live minnows on unweighted hooks and white or shad jigs are the go-to’s right now.
Hybrids can still be found breaking just inside main lake points early in the morning and about 3 in the afternoon. A jerkbait or broken minnow can wreck a school in a hurry.
Bream are still in 15-20 feet of water around docks and structure.