Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Weekly Fishing Report
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for July 22, 2021.
DeGray Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 403.87 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl).
water level is at 403.86 feet msl and lowering. Water temperature is around 86 degrees at the surface. “Little to change since last report. Bream would be the biggest story. Look for beds in the back of the coves in 6-10 feet of water normally. But they can bed a lot deeper. Use you side scan and look for “the waffle.” Remember to allow for boat movement when determining the bed’s exact location. You can then anchor lock or drop an anchor. Drop-shotting with crickets or worms produces fast results, but you can cork-fish the beds with small rods and a slip cork.
“Crappie are, for the most part, lethargic in the heat of the day. It takes patience and proper techniques to produce now. Drop-shotting laydowns at the edge of the thermocline is one tatic. Weedless hooks are a consideration when doing this. There is some bass action on the surface early and late. Seen schools from Arlie Moore to Shouse Ford. Topwaters like the Whopper Plopper are good when “chasing the schools.” Two-ounce spoons are still the best for covering ground and distance for schooling bass. Trolling baits like the Shad Rap will also produce well around Lenox Marcus.
“The water’s hot and you will b, too! Hydrate!”
(updated 7-222021) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips
( 501- 844- 5418) says white bass and black bass have been caught casting spoons and trolling crankbaits. A few hybrid stripers have been caught the same way but better and more on live bait fished 21-41 feet deep.
Lake Catherine
Slycked Back Fishing LLC in Hot Springs, builder of the toughest and most durable, all-American-made jigs and fishing products in Hot Springs, reports Lake Catherine’s water levels at full pool with regular generation that produces current in the morning and evenings. Water temps at the lower end of the lake near Remmel Dam continue to hover in the mid- to upper 80s. “Catherine is a tough nut to crack!
There are no set patterns from one day to the next this time of year, so we will share what we can! Bass can be had in shaded shallow areas with topwater frogs, Whopper Ploppers and buzzbaits throughout the day, but especially in the evenings. White color patterns seem to work the best. Drop-shot and Ned rig fishing techniques are getting the lion’s share of fish caught as of late.
Green pumpkin Trick Worms on the drop-shot and seedless watermelon patterns on the Ned rig will catch fish (especially spotted bass). Most of these fish will not be good quality, but they do put plenty in the boat!
The offshore bite is the main way (for us at least) to catch quality fish. Using the Ned rig and drop-shot on main channel ends of submerged gravel bars and deep drop-offs has been our go-to. The other option to fish these areas is a swivel head jig rigged with a watermelon craw.
This heavy bait does great at getting down in current while staying weedless.
It’s an excellent choice for covering large rocky areas quickly.
Walleye are still being caught regularly and accidentally by bass anglers dragging Texas-rigged black and plum worms by dock pilings and off points. Bream are good everywhere off deep rock faces and dock pilings in 15 feet with a water depth of 20 feet plus. Worms and crickets work best by far.
“Check us out on Facebook at Slycked Back Fishing LLC! “
Lake Catherine (Below Carpenter Dam)
Report is that water temperature below the dam is 60 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has posted a special generation schedule starting Friday, July 23, that extends through Thursday, Aug. 5. Anyone planning on navigating the Carpenter Dam tailrace is urged to view these flow releases and plan accordingly.
This schedule is posted weekly on the Entergy website for public viewing normally on Wednesday evening. Now that Lake Ouachita has been lowered several feet below flood pool, weekly flows from area dams are now at a level where fishing and boating are now safe to continue.