HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS AREA LAKES FISHING REPORTS
From The Arkansas Game & Fish Commision Web Site
Updated December 23, 2009
Lake Ouachita:
Visit Trader Bills Ourdoors Here
Visit Mountain Harbor Marina & Spa at Lake Ouachita Here
Visit Poorman's Guide Service Here
Diamond Head Resort & Marina on Lake Catherine Here
Visit Catch em All Guide Service Here
Visit Striped Bass Adventures
Lake Ouachita:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 576.4 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is good with some quality fish being caught in and around the grass on green pumpkin jigs and brush hogs. Concentrate your efforts in 25 feet of water.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 44-48 degrees and clear. Largemouth bass are still very good and can be caught with jigs fished in brush piles on points or humps in 18-25 feet of water. Deep-running crankbaits are working well fished near drop-offs and ledges. Walleye are slow and being caught on jigging spoons or fluorescent jigs tipped with minnows on main-lake points or humps near deep water in 20-30 feet deep. Stripers are still fair on live shad or trotline minnows. Main-lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. Crappie are biting well near brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Minnows and crappie grubs are working well. Catfish are fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.
Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures had no report.
Lake Hamilton:
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no new report.
Daryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature is in the mid-50s. Crappie fishing is excellent on points and humps near deep water. Bass fishing is fair.
Lake Catherine:
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, (501-624-8757) said water temperature has fallen to 48 degrees below Carpenter Dam. Clarity is good, but generation has been non-stop. Rainbow trout fishing is fair with most fish being in the 11 to 12-inch range. Some trout longer than 16 inches have been caught as well. Bank fishing is tough because of the strong current. With low water, anglers can move from area to area, looking for concentrations of trout. Usually, when you catch a fish, there will be more holding in the area. Threadfin shad are available in large numbers from the turbines. White or brown Rooster tails in 1/16-oz. and 1/8-oz. are working well, as are silver Super Dupers. Jigs have taken quality fish and will consistently hook larger trout. White, gray or black are the best bet. Fly fishermen are having success casting woolly buggers in olive or black along with a wide variety of egg patterns. San Juan worms in pink or red used under a strike indicator have been the best fly to use so far this year. Nightcrawlers, redworms, and wax worms fished just off the bottom are a mainstay when fishing for trout. The white and hybrid bass have left the tailrace. These fish move in and out of the area following the shad. Stripers have not moved in the shallow water as no surface activity has been observed. No big fish have been seen or caught lately. Walleye have been caught below the bridge in the main channel. Trolling small shad-like crankbaits have taken fish in the 3- to 5-pound range. These fish are scattered and a good deal of patience is required to find them.
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