FISHING REPORT
LAKE HAMILTON
Greeson Marine reports water temps were in the mid-50s all over and the water was clear.
Bass, both spotted and largemouth, are moving up to shallower areas and positioning themselves on the interior corners of points. Most fish have not moved all the way back in the pockets. We had good success with a floating worm (in any bright color) under and around docks and other manmade structures. Fish seem to position on the gangplank to the dock and not the dock itself.
We have received no less than 4 inches of rain so far this week, and the lake is high and muddy. This is the perfect time to get a white or chartreuse bladed jig out and start banging away at structure that is visible. Fish will get shallow and right up against any structure. Some really big fish get caught in conditions like we have now!
Crappie are moving shallow, moving from submerged structure in reverse of the fall patterns. Time to connect the dots. Minnows or slow-rolled jigs in shallower areas have been getting bites, but this is secondhand information.
LAKE CATHERINE
Slycked Back Fishing reports the water is around 55 degrees and slightly off-color above Carpenter Dam.
Bass have begun moving up shallow already in the last week since the river’s level returned to normal. Floating worm presentations along with wackyrigged Senko-style worms fished weightless have been doing well and getting bites. Right now, especially, fish will stage on a 6-12 feet dock or brushpile near the spawning pocket (maybe just inside) and feed.
With the onset of heavy rains at the beginning of this week, Lake Catherine will turn muddy, no doubt. Chatterbaits, Whopper Ploppers and Colorado-bladed spinners in very light or very bright colors are the only way to go in these conditions. Fish will be shallow and eager to ambush something noisy put right on top of them.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said that water temperatures are 45 degrees and muddy in the tailrace.
Rainbow trout are everywhere in the tailrace and thriving in the nutrient-rich waters. The AGFC are stocking an additional 9,700 rainbow trout in March. Bank anglers should stick to basic patterns of live bait such as waxworms or mealworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Nightcrawlers will also work when cut into 2-inch sections presented in the same manner. Fly-fishermen casting egg patterns in white or yellow under a strike indicator have caught and released decent numbers of rainbow trout in the tailrace where current is present. Micro-jigs and Woolly Buggers have taken trout over 14 inches, although there has been a huge influx of smaller trout.
White bass have been observed breaking in the early morning hours chasing threadfin shad below the bridge. Casting spinnerbaits and jigs in 1/8-oz. weights has been the best presentation to catch these fish. Hybrid bass often school alongside white bass and can be caught on the same techniques. Trolling shallow-running crankbaits against the current has been productive catching white bass and hybrids, as well as walleye in the 2-pound class.
Walleye thrive in the tailrace in the summer and early winter months as these fish prefer colder water temperatures than other area game fish. The walleye spawn below Carpenter Dam is now in full swing with smaller males being caught in the 1 1/2-pound range. Some larger females have also been taken in the 3- to 4-pound class. The best action has taken place during times of generation.
LAKE OUACHITA & DEGRAY LAKE
Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said he’s been fishing both DeGray and Ouachita and has found similar conditions in both. Lake level and water temperature is on the rise here.
We’ve been catching crappie as shallow as 3 feet and as deep as 10 feet mostly on live bait under slip corks in the backs of creek arms and coves. Don’t get too discouraged because when they are making babies; they don’t eat much. Once they are done with their business, they’ll be hungry and stacked up on the midrange brushpiles fished 6-12 feet deep.