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Arkansas Fishing Report January - June 2006

Submitted by Anglers Like You

Help The Angler keep others informed by emailing fishing reports to us. Include your name in the message part of your report if you'd like to receive credit for the report.

December 29, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Should be good fishing for the weekend ahead. It will be wet but the forecast of snow has evaporated and if you can sneak in among the wind gust the fishing could be very good.

* FISHING REPORT

THIS weekend 's forecast looks nice and dark, so the fishing could be pretty good tomorrow. The wind might be a pain but bring a heavier rod and perhaps fish some bigger flies. Olive Woolly Buggers, Crystal Buggers and olive Baby Buggers have been collecting plenty of fish. Try some 8s and 4s in the buggers, white could be very good, or some zonkers, or other big streamers.

Midges and scuds have been working well particularly Cadion Midges in gray/silver, red and green, WD40s, traditional zebras in black and silver and red/gold. Dry fly action this week hasn't been too bad either. Go for cream midges, CDC parachutes, Parachute Adams and Griffiths Gnats.

Egg patterns are consistent producers at this time of year and could be the difference this weekend.

December 26, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 25 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 45-50º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF, and range from 48-52ºF. Recent rains this week will most likely change up the level and clarity again later this week, as well as release rate at the dam. It's that time of year, folks for continually changing water levels and clarity.

Lake level on Millwood, rose drastically again this week is approx 12 inches above normal pool as of Monday, at 260.21 feet. We certainly expect that to change again later in the week with the (much needed) rain in southwest Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. Little River's clarity as of Monday is approx 4-6" and current is increased. The main lake clarity is approx 3-5" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 2-5 feet in places, further from river currents. Current in Little River is increased, with release at the dam 1,162CFS as of 25 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 3 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie are typical winter patterns. Feeding periods are are best during the warmest periods of the day.

The Details:

For the past couple weeks, the Largemouth Bass are relating strictly to deeper water haunts, typical of winter patterns, and are slow to fair. Best bite for Crappie and Bass has been running between 11am- 4pm, and continually changing based on winter weather patterns. The best bite over the past week has been on jigs, 10" worms, Carolina Rigs and Crankbaits. Depending on the area of the lake or river and the water clarity, we are having our best success using bulky jigs with rattles, 10" worms in black/blue or Carolina rigging lizards in watermelon/red or chartruese pumpkin colors depending on water clarity for the region of the lake we are fishing at the time. Largemouth bass are still slow during most of the day, and fair during the warmer part of the day. Bass still are periodically feeding on shad, but the bite continues to improve, around cypress trees, stumps and flooded timber. The carolina rig bite has improved using watermelon-red lizards and gitzits in pumpkinseed w/ chartruese tail.

Most of the bass' feeding periods have tapered off during all but the warmest periods of the day, and have become shorter in duration. War Eagle Spinnerbaits are still taking a few keeper size bass around grass and vegetation, but the bite is entirely random. Along the river next to stumps and deeper cypress trees, we are having our best luck using jigs in black/ blue or pumpkinseed/chart with rattles and an Uncle Josh 101 or Big Daddy pork chunk, with Bang Garlic spray attractant. Carolina rigs using watermelon-red or chartruese pumpkin lizards were taking a few bass this week ranging from 2-3 pounds each along the stairsteps and wash cuts along Little River.

For last few weeks, we have been throwing some crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel and having random success. Using an Excalibur Fat Free Shad or Bandit crankbait in a crawfish pattern (brown back/orange belly) has been working better over the past few weeks, with the bass relating to deeper areas along Little River by deflecting off stumps and cypress trees.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook like the XCalibur rotating treble hook and a flexible rod with Crankbaits. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! A sharp hook like the XCalibur rotating treble hook will make all the difference in the world when that trophy decides to bite. Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The jig bite continues to improve. Over the last couple weeks with the water reduction in temperature, these bass were relating to deep water drops and wintering areas. Stumps and cypress trees, along Little River, especially near creek mouths, in the 8-12 foot depth range, have been holding some decent Largemouths ranging in the 3-5 pound class. We have been using a Booyah swim'n jig in black/blue or black/ chartruese jigs with rattles. Working the jig next to stumps, cypress trees, cypress knees, and any remaining vegetation, along deeper water of Little River and especially within 100 yards of any creek dumping into the river. Again, the Bang Garlic is helping the fish to find the jig in any heavily stained or muddy water, and allowing a little extra hook-set time. Jig bite has been soft, or completely mushy, and at various times, very little line movement detected.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig like the Booyah Swim'n Jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or stained off-color water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

The best soft plastic bite began to shift last week. With the recent high water rise in lake elevation and muddy current, bass have shown a preference for large jigs with bulky trailers for a slow fall, or 10" bulky worms. We changed up a few tactics and have had some random success over the past 2 weeks with a 10" beefy, bulky, worm in black, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, or blue fleck colors.

No report for White Bass.

Crappie were doing better prior to the 12" rise last week, and have now shut almost completely off again, with the recent muddy 1-foot rise.

Channel Cats remain good with the continual current along outer river bends of Little River. Trot lines were taking nice size channel cats in the last few days using chicken liver, cut shad and homemade blood bait. Lines set in the current, between 10-15 feet, have continually been taking some nice channel cats ranging from 8-10 pounds.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 25 December is improved from last week, with the lake approx 2.5" above normal, and river clarity is approx4-6 "; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-5" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 12/18, the lake level approx 12.5 inches above normal pool, at 260.21 feet and falling. Current in Little River on Monday increased, with release at the dam 1,162 CFS as of 25 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 3 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers, and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week. As of Monday, 25 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperatures actually climbed a bit from last week, and currently are ranging 45-50º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF, and range from 48-52ºF.

Mike

December 23, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - IF you're the organised type, this should be a good weekend to fish with all the rest of us still hunting up those last Christmas presents. We will be open all weekend whether you are fishing or shopping. We will be closed on Christmas Day.

Fishing reports this week have been patchy. We would recommend trying small size 20 midges like WD40s in olive, chocolate and gray, red and brown zebra midges and of course the Cadion Midge (formerly the TDM).

If you are really struggling check your depth, the rise in water level in the tailwater means you must go deeper between your indicator and your fly. Perhaps also a switch to 7x flourocarbon might do the trick.

Egg patterns and Y2Ks have been doing well in recent weeks, as have tan and olive Hunchback scuds, tan sowbugs and the Trout Crack.

Olive Woolly Buggers, Crystal Buggers and olive Baby Buggers have been collecting plenty of fish, or try a Zonker in White, natural or olive.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,

December 20, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers is at 460.59

The temp ranges from 49-53 on cloudy days and 53-58 on sunny days

Some walleye and catfish are being caught on jugs fished as shallow as 10 feet with live bream for bait

The rest of the walleye are pretty shallow on cloudy days and feeding pretty good on crallers and minnows as well as shad raps and wally divers and when it is sunny try fishing about 34 feet trolling wally divers and shad raps as well as spoonbill rebels

The bass, some big ones are right on the bank feedinf on jigs and jighead worms as well as rattle traps, and the deeper fish , a lot are suspended in 30-35 feet of water and are pretty hard to catch the rest are on the bottom in 40-70 feet of water and can be caught with c-rigs and football heads, as well as some of the suspenders can be caught in the cedars and pole timber with jerkbaits and spiunnerbaits

The crappie are running on the big size you may not catch a lot but the ones you do are big and are biting in 12-25 feet of water on jigs and minnows in the creekbends suspended in the pole timber and over homemade brush piles

The catfish as stated above are biting some what on jugs from 10 -25 feet of water on live bream

The whites and hybrids are being caught up the rivers as well as the last main points at the mouth of rivers and some are being caught real shallow throwing and swimming a curily tail grub in less than 5 feet of water the rest are suspended from 15-40 feet of water, again look for shad and you will find the whites and hybrids as well as a few other species mixed in also

Tommy Cauley

December 19, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 18 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 49-52º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF, and range from 50-55ºF. Recent rains this week will most likely change up the level and clarity again later this week, as well as release rate at the dam. It's that time of year, folks for continually changing water levels and clarity.

Lake level on Millwood, almost returned to normal early this week and is approx 2.5 inches above normal pool as of Monday, at 259.41 feet and falling. We certainly expect that to change again later in the week with the (much needed) rain in southwest Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved from last week, at approx 6-8" and current is reduced. The main lake clarity is improved at approx 5-6" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 2-5 feet in places, further from river currents. Current in Little River is reduced, with release at the dam 1,162CFS as of 18 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 3 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie are typical winter patterns. Feeding periods are are best during the warmest periods of the day.

The Details:

For the past couple weeks, the Largemouth Bass are relating strictly to deeper water haunts, typical of winter patterns, and are slow, for the most part. Best bite of the day has been running between 11am- 3pm, and continually changing based on winter weather patterns. The best bite over the past week has been on jigs, 10" worms, and Yum Dingers. Depending on the area of the lake or river and the water clarity, we are having our best success using bulky jigs with rattles, 10" worms in black/blue or Yum Dingers in watermelon/red or smoke colors depending on water clarity for the region of the lake we are fishing at the time. With the past week returning to almost normal level and improved water clarity, the Largemouth bass are still slow and periodically feeding on shad, but bite has improved, around cypress trees, stumps and flooded timber. Further up river where you can find more clear water areas, we had several great days this past week using the Yum Dingers in watermelon red and smoke colors rigging them wacky style on a very light 2/0 hook and dead sticking as long as we can stand it around any remaining vegetation, then barely twitch retrieve slowly.

Most of the bass' feeding periods have tapered off during all but the warmest periods of the day, and for the most part, have become shorter in duration. Spinnerbaits are still taking a few keeper size bass around grass and vegetation, but the bite is picky at best. Along the river next to stumps and deeper cypress trees, we are having our best luck using jigs in black/ blue or pumpkinseed/chart with rattles and Bang Garlic spray attractant. Carolina rigs using blue fleck or black and blue lizards were taking a few bass this week ranging from 2-3 pounds each along the stairsteps and wash cuts along Little River.

For last few weeks, we have been throwing some crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel and having random success. Using a shad pattern Cordell Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern (brown back/orange belly), this has been working better over the past few weeks, with the bass relating to deeper areas along Little River by deflecting off stumps and cypress trees. With the return of the lake to almost normal level after the 12" rise from last week, the bass are again relating to the stumps and creek mouths in the river. The return of the clarity to near-normal ranges has improved both the bass and crappie's dispositions.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook like the XCalibur rotating treble hook and a flexible rod with Crankbaits. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! A sharp hook like the XCalibur rotating treble hook will make all the difference in the world when that trophy decides to bite. Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The jig bite continues to improve. Over the last couple weeks with the water reduction in temperature, these bass were relating to deep water drops and wintering areas. Stumps and cypress trees, along Little River, especially near creek mouths, have been holding some decent Largemouths ranging in the 3-5 pound class. We have been using a Booyah swim'n jig in black/blue or black/ chartruese jigs with rattles. Working the jig next to stumps, cypress trees, cypress knees, and any remaining vegetation, along deeper water of Little River and especially within 100 yards of any creek dumping into the river. Again, the Bang Garlic is helping the fish to find the jig in any heavily stained or muddy water, and allowing a little extra hook-set time. Jig bite has been soft, or completely mushy, and at various times, very little line movement detected.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig like the Booyah Swim'n Jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or stained off-color water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

The best soft plastic bite began to shift last week. With the recent high water rise in lake elevation and muddy current; then return to almost normal level and better water clarity this week, bass have shown a preference for large bulky worms. We changed up a few tactics and have had some random success over the past 2 weeks with a 10" beefy, bulky, worm in black, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, or blue fleck colors.

No report for White Bass.

Crappie which shut almost completely off with the recent muddy 1-foot rise, are improving again on shiners and jigs, however, still rather scattered at various depths from 18-22 feet around planted brush piles.

Channel Cats remain good with the continual current along outer river bends of Little River. Trot lines were taking nice size channel cats in the last few days using chicken liver, cut shad and homemade blood bait. Lines set in the current, deeper this week, between 12-20 feet, have continually been taking some nice channel cats ranging from 8-10 pounds.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 18 December is improved from last week, with the lake approx 2.5" above normal, and river clarity is approx 6-8"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 5-6" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 12/18, the lake level has almost returned back to normal from the past week, approx 2.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.41 feet and falling. Current in Little River on Monday reduced, with release at the dam 1,162 CFS as of 18 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 3 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers, and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week. As of Monday, 18 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperatures actually climbed a bit from last week, and currently are ranging 49-52º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF, and range from 50-55ºF.

Mike

December 16, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - What a beautiful morning here at the Dam Store. Hard to believe its December 16, we have dragged out our summer weight shirts. Plenty of cloud around too. The wind may be a factor later but right now its perfect. And a south wind will ruffle the surface, aid your drift, and give your flies a little "life".

Yes wind makes casting a little tricky, but as our guides tell their clients, if the gusts are knocking your cast down there is one simple answer _ wait until between the gusts.

With the faster drift caused by the wind there are a few tactics you can adopt to get your presentations acting a little more naturally. Longer drops between your fly and the indicator allow the fly to get down and stay there, you may also have to run a small weight on your leader, we often look for tungsten beadheads over brass beads. Heavier flies like woolly buggers can be very effective. The "noisy" chop, particularly on overcast days, can also make it decent for fishing heavier streamers, big buggers, leeches, sculpins, zonkers, Zoo Cougars, and Gummy Minnows.

Work the angles too. If you are a right hander, fish off the far bank ( so the wind is blowing left to right), makes casting easier. If you can get the wind blowing from behind you, even slightly, then try roll casts, aimed high _ you will amazed how far the wind will send that fat loop.

FISHING REPORT
THIS weekend will be a great one to drag out the 6wt and toss some big streamers. We had great reports from one customer this week fishing olive zonkers. The white version is pretty good at this time of year too.

Bryce and Steve waded from the top end of the Trophy area to Parker Bend, midmorningTuesday as the water receded. Pale pink egg patterns did very well early for Bryce, but Steve struggled with a sucession of midges, until the water hit normal low water levels.
The best flies were size 20 midges on this bright sunny day, Olive WD40s, Tung Rainbow Warriors, Red and Black Zebras plus the blue Dun Cadion's Midge.

The strong wind whisked off the midge hatch, but we have been hearing plenty good reports on soft hackles like the Partridge and Orange and Red Ass.
Steve also picked off several afternoon fish on the surface, but none were taken while drifting the fly, the dry had to land a foot or two above a riser and in the direction the fish was travelling.

Olive Woolly Buggers, Crystal Buggers and olive Baby Buggers have been collecting plenty of fish. Scuds in tan and olive have been working well, particularly with a Trout Crack on a dropper.

December 13, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The level at greeers ferry is at 460.77 and the temp ranges from 48-52 degrees

With the water getting stable , getting cold and not jumping up and down a lot and staying about this temp with warm days the fishing should improve some what., we usually have good fishing after this happens until it gets real cold, and if the shad start dying earily the hybrids will go wild . we will see.

The hybrids are biting some what on points and the outside of the big main creeks pockets and in some ditches if shad are present , the biggest deal are the shad right now for sure they will not be fro from them , in-line spinners , jigging spoons , and this time of year the bigger swim baits work real well, as well as hair jigs and grubs.

The walleye should bite a little better with the stable water and temp warming also, try trolling shad raps , wally divers and spoonbill rebels , 15-43 feet deep

Some bass are on the banks and some will move up on vertical banks when the sun is high to sun and can be caught pretty easy with spinnerbaits, but most have went deeper and are being caught up to 60 feet deep on dropshots and c-rigs.

The crappie are still on the bends and will be all winter and susped in the pole timber 15 feet if sunny and down to 40 if not over 60 feet of water

Bream are deep right now in the guts of main lake creeks.

The is no report on the catfish, but have heard tales of them biting pretty well in 35 feet of water

Tommy Cauley

December 12, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 11 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 49-56º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF, and range from 50-62ºF. Recent rains this week will most likely change up the level and clarity again later this week, as well as release rate at the dam. It's that time of year, folks for continually changing water levels and clarity.

Lake level on Millwood, almost returned to normal early this week and is approx 3 inches above normal pool as of Monday, at 259.44 feet and falling. We certainly expect that to change again later in the week with all the (much needed) rain in southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved from last week, at approx 6-8" and current is reduced. The main lake clarity likewise reduced, approx 3-5" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 1-3 feet in places, further from river currents. Current in Little River is reduced, with release at the dam 5,099CFS as of 11 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with all 13 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie are typical winter patterns. Feeding periods are are best during the warmest periods of the day.

The Details:

For the past couple weeks, the Largemouth Bass are relating strictly to deeper water haunts, typical of winter patterns, and are slow, for the most part. Best bite of the day has been running between 11am- 3pm, and best bite has been on jigs or 10" to 12" worms. Bass are fair to good on larger 3/4 oz Rat-L-Traps in white, red coach dog, or red chrome colors, depending on the area of the lake or river and the water clarity. The recent rise of the lake level to almost a full foot above normal last week disrupted the improved bite from previous week since that rise had resulted in muddy conditions, mostly lake wide. With the past week returning to almost normal level and improved water clarity, the Largemouth bass are still slow and periodically feeding on shad, but bite has improved, around cypress trees, stumps and flooded timber. Further up river where you can find more clear water areas, Pro-Traps and small Spin Traps (with tail spinners) were working by vertical jigging in schools of bass and crappie.

Bass feeding periods have tapered off during all but the warmest periods of the day, and for the most part, have become shorter in duration, on Rat-L-Traps, War Eagle spinnerbaits and Bass Assassin Charms. Best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week with the improvement in water clarity and return to almost normal lake level, has been the red coach dog or red chrome and white colors in 3/4 oz size. Traps in the 1/2 oz sizes continue taking lots of adolescent size bass (1-2lbs each) around creek mouths and in the various creek channels, themselves, however, the larger, 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the larger bass are holding, and fish more thoroughly, especially in deeper water along the river next to stumps and deeper cypress trees.

For last few weeks, we have been throwing some crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel and having random success. Using a shad pattern Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern (brown back/orange belly), this has been working better over the past few weeks, with the bass relating to deeper areas along Little River by deflecting off stumps and cypress trees. We had to increase our size of the War Eagle spinnerbaits over the past couple weeks, and went to a 3/4 oz size to reach the fish. Best colors this past week have been the white/chartruese or spot remover color combinations with the recent muddy water rise.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The jig bite continues to improve. Over the last couple weeks with the water reduction in temperature, these bass were relating to deep water drops and wintering areas. Stumps and cypress trees, along Little River, especially near creek mouths, have been holding some decent Largemouths. We have been using a Booyah swim'n jig in black/blue or black/ chartruese jigs with rattles combined with the business end of a Bass Assassin Eager Beaver trailer in black/blue tail or green pumpkin. Working the jig next to stumps, cypress trees and cypress knees, along deeper water of Little River and especially within 100 yards of any creek dumping into the river. Again, the Bang Garlic is helping the fish to find the jig in any heavily stained or muddy water, and allowing a little extra hook-set time. Jig bite has been soft, or completely mushy, and at various times, very little line movement detected.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or stained off-color water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

The best soft plastic bite has shifted again over the past week. With the recent high water rise in lake elevation and muddy current then return to almost normal level and better water clarity this week, bass have shown a preference for large bulky worms. We changed up a few tactics and have had some random success over the past week with a 10-12" beefy, bulky, worm in black, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, or blue fleck colors.

No report for White Bass.

Crappie which shut almost completely off with the recent muddy 1-foot rise, are improving again on shiners and jigs, however, still rather scattered at various depths from 16-25 feet around planted brush piles.

Channel Cats remain good with the continaul increase in current along outer river bends of Little River. Trot lines were taking nice size channel cats in the last few days using chicken liver, cut shad and homemade blood bait. Lines set in the current, deeper this week, between 14-17 feet, have continually been taking some nice channel cats ranging from 8-11 pounds.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 11December is improved from last week, with the lake approx 3" above normal, and river clarity is approx 6-8"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-5" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 12/11, the lake level has almost returned back to normal from the past week, approx 3 inches above normal pool, at 259.44 feet and falling. Current in Little River on Monday reduced, with release at the dam 5,099 CFS as of 11 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with all 13 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers, and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week. As of Monday, 11 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperatures actually climbed a bit from last week, and currently are ranging 49-56º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF, and range from 50-62ºF.

Mike

December 9, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - -WATCHING The weather forecast this morning it seems like we can skip the triple layer winter woollies for a few days. This morning was a little cold, but there has been some hardy types out on the river this week and reporting some very very good fishing. You will notice the river looks a little different. Last week's storm bounced Table Rock Lake up almost 4' and Beaver by almost 5'. The extra water in Table Rock has flooded over a lot of gravel bars, particularly below Spider Creek, where we were wading only a few weeks ago.

With Beaver Lake now only a couple of feet below the top of the power pool, and the cold morning temperature, has meant a return to our almost forgotten winter generation schedules. Look for generation first thing in the morning and of a late afternoon, expecially on cold days. Call 417-336-5083. If they are aim to hit the river between 9am-10am and fish through until you are done.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: This is defiantely one weekened where you can break the shack nasties, drop the honey-do list and get among some fish. Bryce and Steve both snuck out this week at different times and picked up some fish, Bryce getting a 17" brown high in the trophy zone while Steve was lower down and caught a porky 15" bow. One good thing about tyhe generation is that is has cleaned out that nasty algae which was coating flies and sticking to your tippet knots.

Red based midges likes Bryce's TDM, Jujubee Midges, Humpbak Midges, and Zebra Midges continue to work well. Bryce's TDM in silver/gray is a must have. The WD40 in Olive or Dorsey's Top Secret Midge are also fishing well if the action slows. Tan scuds continue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend.

We contineu to get good soft hackle reports, the Patridge and Orange in particular was a winner for John S. during the week on falling water. The dry fly efforts on the hatches have been a little inconsistent, with the strong breezzes and the patchy weather, but should settle soon.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

December 6, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,118.21 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is near pool and has come up with the rains. The river arms are still muddy from runoff. Crappie are biting well on minnows and Shinneee Hinneee jigs in brush piles from 8 to 14 feet of water. Bass are fair on drop-shot rigs and CC spoons fished deep. Stripers are biting very well on Roadrunners and whole shad fished 20 feet deep.

December 6, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level has increased to 460.90 at the present time and the devils fork area is closed to boat traffic from hill creek on up from dec. 4th-8th and the week of 11th- the 15th to put a water line on the lake floor.

The bass fishing has been better than normal for the black bass and kentuckies, the smallmouth have been slower , they can be caught off the drops on jigs and spinnerbaits as well as jighead worms and a few are schooling but are small.

The crappie are still biting well in 15-20 feet in the river and creek bends in ploe timber suspended over 40 feet of water.

No report on the bream at this time

The catfishing has slowed pretty much to nothing at this time as they are moving to their deeper holes.

The walleye are biting off and on in 27-43 feet of water shallower if cloudy and deeper if sunny wally divers and other cranks are working as well as jigging spoons.

The hybrid and white bass are on their pre staging areas also and are biting pretty finiky and at times eating it up in 25 to 43 feet of water after the weather gets steady the fishing will improve as well after the lake gets settled down after the rains.

Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

December 3, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 04 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 48-53º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Lake level on Millwood, had drastic rise this week and is approx 12 inches above normal pool. With high daytime ambient temps in the 40 to low 50º range, water temps have dropped again. Little River's clarity as of Monday is reduced, approx 3-6" and current is dramatically increased. The main lake clarity likewise reduced, approx 3-4" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 1-3 feet in places, further from river currents. As of Monday 12/04, the lake level is approx 12 inches above normal pool, at 260.20 feet and falling. Current in Little River is increased, with release at the dam 7,794CFS as of 04 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 7 gates open 1 foot each and 6 gates open at two feet each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie are typical winter patterns. Feeding periods are are best during the warmest periods of the day.

The Details:

During the heat of the day over the past week, the larger bass are relating strictly to deeper water haunts, typical of winter patterns, and are fair on larger Rat-L-Traps in fire tiger, white, and red coach dog colors with the reduction in water clarity. The recent rise of the lake level to almost a full foot above normal has disrupted the improved bite from last week since the rise has resulted in muddy conditions, mostly lake wide. Largemouth bass are still feeding on shad, but closer and in deeper water relative to deep drops, around grass beds and vegetation. Further up river where you can find more clear water areas, Pro-Traps and small Spin Traps (with tail spinners) were working by vertical jigging in schools of bass and crappie.

Bass feeding periods have tapered off during all but the warmest periods of the day, and are becoming shorter in duration, on Rat-L-Traps, War Eagle spinnerbaits and Bass Assassin Charms. Best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week with the off-colored water and recent rise in lake level, has been the fire tiger or red coach dog color in 3/4 oz size. Traps in the 1/2 oz sizes continue taking lots of adolescent size bass (1-2lbs each) around creek mouths and in the creek channel, itself, however, the larger, 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the larger bass are holding, especially in deeper water.

For last few weeks, we have been throwing Cordell Big O's, Xcalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel. Using a shad pattern Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern, has been working better over the past few weeks, with the bass relating to deeper areas along Little River. We have had to increase our size of the War Eagle spinnerbaits, and go to a 3/4 oz size to reach the fish. Best colors have been the white/chartruese or fire tiger color combinations with the recent muddy water rise.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The jig bite continues to improve. Over the last couple weeks with the water reduction in temperature, these bass were relating to deep water drops and wintering areas. Black and blue jig or black and chartruese jigs with rattles, and the business end of a Bass Assassin Eager Beaver trailer in black/blue tail or green pumpkin, remain the best colors for the past week, working next to stumps along deeper water in Little River cuts. Again, the Bang Garlic is helping the fish to find the jig in the muddy water, and allowing a little extra hook-set time.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or stained off-color water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

The best soft plastic bite has been shifting over the past week. With the recent high water rise in lake elevation and muddy current, fish were suspended in the 6-10 feet depths. We changed up a few tactics and have had limited success with Carolina Rigs in that depth range using a Bass Assassin Charm Assassin in silver ghost or white. We shortened our leaders to only 10-12" on our Carolina Rigs and got more fish to the boat.

No report for White Bass.

Crappie which had improved over the past week, shut off with the recent muddy 1-foot rise.

Channel Cats have dramatically improved with the recent muddy rise and increase in current along outer river bends of Little River. Trot lines were taking nice size channel cats in the last few days using chicken liver, cut shad and homemade blood bait. Lines set in the current between 8-14 feet, were taking some nice channel cats in the 7-10 pound class.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 04 December is drastically reduced with the lake rising to almost an entire foot above normal, and river clarity is approx 3-6"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-4" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 12/04, the lake level rose over the past week, approx 12 inches above normal pool, at 260.20 feet and falling. Current in Little River on Monday dramatically increased, with release at the dam 7,794 CFS as of 04 December. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 7 gates open 1 foot each, and 6 gates open at 2 feet each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week. As of Monday, 04 December, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 48-53º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Mike

December 2, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -WELL we hope you all enjoyed our first taste of winter weather, it was pretty grim here on Thursday _ we think Steve was the only one lunatic enough to go fishing _ he said it was very good. But Friday was a beautiful day, and the snow cover and ice was simply stunning. By Friday afternoon the roads were clearing nicely, although you could still find patches of ice in the shaded areas. If your planning coming in this weekend, rug up in your winter warms and drive safe. Even start a little later, the best of the fishing should come when the sun warms the river a little. Oh and bring a camera, the waterfalls and icicles along the far bank should be spectacular. If you want a preview of how it looked around here this morning check out the pictures here <http://www.beaverdamstore.com/gallery/v/FlyFishing/FF06/> .

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: What amazing weather we have been having and the rain/sleet/snow and ice should help out our overall water levels. Beaver Lake rose three feet and Thursday morning at Spider Creek the river looked like one unit was running _ and that was just from the runoff. The Upper part of the river should remain pretty clear, though its can be worth prospecting color changes at the mouths of feeder screeks with bright patterns, like eggs or San Juan worms. Don't be timid in your color choices in these conditions and you can probably step up from the standard 6x tippet.

Red based midges likes Bryce's TDM, Jujubee Midges, Humpbak Midges, and Zebra Midges should be good in the Upper section. Bryce's TDM in silver/gray continues to be the most consistent fly our guides use as well as the red wire TDM. The WD40 in Olive is also fishing well if the action slows. Tan scuds continue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend. We have full stocks of new the tan rainbow and copper Hunchback Scuds back in stock.

ROARING RIVER
WE let our guides, Steve and Bryce, off the leash for a few hours last Sunday to go and check out the Winter catch and release season at Roaring River. The Missouri Trout Park is open Friday to Monday, usually the store days for the boys, but it pays to have them clued into the fishing. The spring-fed river is stocked with the hatchery brood stock at this time of year, on top of some of the monsters there year round, and it a great place for some winter fun

Well Steve went on a pig hunt sticking a 20" and a 22" rainbow, both fat deep ex-hatchery fish, and lost a fish that was WAY bigger. Bryce was dabbling with dries picking off a lot of very nice trout. Usually its the other way round with these two but it shows the fun you can have on a day at the Park. Hunt for the big fish for part of the day them switch over to a light dry fly rod, and throw small midge patterns (sometimes some winter mayflies _ Blue Wing Olives). The crowds have been relatively light this year, but Friday and Mondays are even better than the weekends.

If you haven't visited the Trout Park, a Missouri Trout Stamp is required, book one of the guys for a full or half day trip. They have a very good idea where these big fish are and how to catch them, and how to have a blast with some eager dry fly eaters.

Oh Yes would would have had pics of Steve's trout but the 22" drowned his digital camera.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

November 29, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level at greers ferry is at 457.71 and staying pretty steady at present we have had inch of rain so for and more expected to come so the lake should rise some , the temp is between 55 degrees to 64 degrees

The catish are still biting well on cut bait and prepared as well as live bait in about 26 feet of water at present

The walleye have been a little slow sine the hot weather but should do better with the front approaching the area and should be tried with deep diving rebels as well as wally divers and rogues with line clips fished anywhere from 18 to 49 feet of water in the early staging areas

The hybrids and whites are hit and miss and the big fish are not showing up at all with a lot of littler fish being caught with jigging spoons as well as well as the ever so good buckshot lure anywhere from 20 feet to 60 feet at present , but after the front goes through and things get settled down some we sure should start seeing the winter big fish bite pick up some of the best days here are when you get ice in your line guides

The smallmouth, Kentucky's and largemouth all seem to be hanging out in 20 feet of water with some scattered shallow fish avaible as always, the deeper fish can be caught with c-riggs and right bite jigs and the shallow fish with top waters , jighead worms crankbaits and spinnerbaits

The crappie are fair in channel bends in 15-20 feet of water in pole timber using minnows and jigs with the best being a right bite jig tipped with a minnow in the spring flash color

Tommy Cauley

November 28, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 27 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 55-58º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Lake level on Millwood, has almost returned to normal this week, and with high daytime ambient temps in the upper 60 to low 70º range, water temps have stablized. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved, approx 10-12" and current is consistent w/last week. The main lake clarity likewise improved, approx 8-10" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 1-3 feet in places, further from river currents. As of Monday 11/27, the lake level is approx 2.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.39 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday as last week, with release at the dam 1,538CFS as of 27 November. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 4 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie have improved with the weather patterns stablizing over the past week. Feeding periods are are fair to good during early and late periods of the day, with the best feeding periods during the warmest periods of the day.

The Details:

During the heat of the day over the past week, the larger bass are still venturing shallow, and are good on Bass Assassin Shads in Baby Bass and gizzard shad colors, Rat-L-Traps in silver, white, and diamond dust colors. The return of the lake level to normal has improved most activity levels, as has the clarity improvements, lake wide. Largemouth bass are still feeding on shad in relatively shallow water close to deep drops, around grass beds and vegetation.

Bass continue hitting well, but feeding periods are becoming shorter in duration, on Rat-L-Traps, War Eagle spinnerbaits and Bass Assassin Charms. The best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week has been the diamond dust or clear Hologram color in the 1/2 to 3/4 oz sizes. Traps in the 1/2 oz sizes continue taking lots of adolescent size bass (1-2lbs each) around creek mouths and in the creek channel, itself. The larger, 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the larger bass are holding, and if you work it slowly and methodically, deflecting around stumps with repeated casts to the same target, you may "get your arm broke"......

For last few weeks, we have been throwing Cordell Big O's, Xcalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel for the last couple weeks. Using a shad pattern Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern, has been working better over the past few days, with the weather patterns somewhat stablized. The War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover, aurora, or mouse/chart color combinations are still working very well around the grass beds where bait is feeding.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks, like the Xcalibur rotating hook. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite remains on the Bass Assassin Charm Assassin in crystal shad or silver ghost colors, with Bang Garlic spray. The Bang Garlic spray, we believe, are helping these bass locate the lure in any off-colored water over the past few weeks. These bass were taken along almost any entrance to any larger creek channel dumping into Little River. Our best method of presentation is wacky rigging, using a small 2/0 RigN-Hook for a slow fall.

The jig bite continues to improve in the past couple weeks. These bass were relating to the base of cypress knees and trees. Black and blue jig or black and chartruese jigs with rattles, are best colors for the past week, working next to creek channels and on cypress trees. Again, the Bang Garlic is helping the fish to find the jig in any off-colored water, and allowing a little extra hook-set time.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or stained off-color water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

No report for White Bass.

Crappie have improved over the past week on shiners approx 17-25 feet in deep river holes w/ planted brush piles along Little River

No report for Channel Cats.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 27 November is improved with lake level returning to slightly just above normal, and river clarity is approx 10-12"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 8-10" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 11/27, the lake level is returning to normal, and is approx 2.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.39 feet and falling. Current in Little River on Monday same as last week, with release at the dam 1,538 CFS as of 27 November. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 4 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week. As of Monday, 27 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 55-58º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

""""""Good Fishin'! <º)))><{""""""""""""

Mike

November 24, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -WELL hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, we managed a turkey fuelled snooze during the afternoon so we must have had a good time. Would have been DAM pretty on the river too, as we drove over the da, we did spot a few lucky souls out enjoyed a Turkey Day fish. And it should be a great weekend too so come and hit the river.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Weird weather we are having, but the fishing has been pretty DAM good. The sunny days have been a little trying, perhaps the high pressure systems have been slowing the bite a little. But the dull colored days have been very good.
Now its not as if fish haven't been caught on the sunny days this past week, just not to the same oustanding levels of recent weeks. But we did see some very nice fish fall to olive, purple and black crystal buggers this week.
Any of those fish who are done spawning will be HUNGRY! Its a good time to fish some real food.

Red based midges likes Bryces TDM, Jujubee Midges, Humpbak Midges, and Zebra Midges are doing very very well. Bryce TDM in silver/gray is probably the most consistent fly our guides use and it continues to excel. The WD40 in Olive is algo a good bet when thinmgs slow down. Try it on 7x
Tan scuds continue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend. We also have new stock in of the popular new copper Hunchback Scud

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

November 23, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,113.06 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the water is up and is muddy in the river arms of the lake. Crappie are deep and biting fairly well on chartreuse/black tube jigs and minnows fished around mid-lake. Bass are fair around 30 feet deep and deeper on large jigs, spoons and drop-shot rigs. Catfish are poor. Stripers are biting well around mid-lake on large Road Runners and brood minnows.

November 22, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 458.37 and rising and the temp is at 50-62 degrees

The walleye fishing is improving somewhat and they are starting their earily pre-stging efforts in and arounf bridge pilings and the main mouths of major creeks, use deep diving spoonbill rebels and walleye divers with line weights to get down to the fish in about 50 feet of water

The bass are still scattered out but are starting to get grouped up in schools and can be caught with spinnerbaits jigs and crankbaits shallow on certain days and others deep and there is always a jigging spoon bite as well as a c-rig bite going on

The crappie are biting in the creekbends suspended in pole timber in about 15-20 feet of water over 40 feet

The bream action is some what good at about 40 feet

The hybrid and white bass action is getting better now that the water has gotten settled somewhat and some can be caught now in these sareas on jigging spoons and in line spinners , the rock pile in the ditches of cove creek and also the ditches in salt creek as well as around the head of the narrows and mill creek and point 14 as well as piney point in about 43 feet of water

Tommy Cauley

November 20, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 20 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 50-55º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Lake level on Millwood, has almost returned to normal this week, and with high daytime ambient temps in the upper 50 to low 60º range, water temps have stablized. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved, approx 4-5" and greatly reduced current. The main lake clarity likewise improved, approx 5-7" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last few weeks and ranges from 1-3 feet in places, further from river currents. As of Monday 11/20, the lake level is approx 3.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.48 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday reduced from last week, with release at the dam 1,538CFS as of 20 November. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 4 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie have improved with the weather patterns stablizing over the past week. Feeding periods are are fair to good during early and late periods of the day, with the best feeding periods during the warmest periods of the day.

The Details:

During the heat of the day over the past week, the larger bass are still venturing shallow, and are fair to good on jerk baits like the Smithwick Rouge in clown color, Redfins in gold, and Bass Assassin Shads in Baby Bass colors. The return of the lake level to normal has improved most activity levels, as has the clarity improvements, lake wide. Largemouth bass are still feeding on shad in relatively shallow water close to deep drops, around grass beds and vegetation.

Bass continue hitting well, but feeding periods are becoming shorter in duration, on Rat-L-Traps, War Eagle spinnerbaits and Bass Assassin Charms. The best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week has been the Tenn Shad, Gold Tenn Shad, or Diamond Dust colors in the 1/2 to 3/4 oz sizes. Back in some of the clearer area's oxbow lakes, the clear Hologram or diamond dust color patterns, in 1/2 oz sizes are still working. Traps in the 1/2 oz sizes continue taking lots of adolescent size bass (1-2lbs each) around creek mouths and in the creek channel, itself. The larger, 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the larger bass are holding, and if you work it slowly and methodically, deflecting around stumps with repeated casts to the same target, you may "get your arm broke"......

We have been throwing Cordell Big O's and Xcalibur Fat Free Shad crankbaits, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel for the last couple weeks. Using a shad pattern Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern, has been working better over the past few days, with the weather patterns somewhat stablized. The War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover or white/chart color combinations are still working very well around the grass beds where bait is feeding.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks, like the Xcalibur rotating hook. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite remains on the Bass Assassin Charm Assassin in crystal shad or silver ghost colors, with Bang Garlic spray. The Bang Garlic spray, we believe, are helping these bass locate the lure in any off-colored water over the past few weeks. These bass were taken along almost any entrance to any larger creek channel dumping into Little River. Our best method of presentation is dead sticking on a slack line, using a small 2/0 RigN-Hook for a slow fall.

The jig bite continues to improve in the past couple weeks. These bass were relating to stumps, slightly deeper, and 6-10 feet away from base of cypress trees. Black and blue jig or black and chartruese jigs with rattles, are best colors for the past week, working next to creek channels and on cypress trees. Again, the Bang Garlic is helping the fish to find the jig in any off-colored water, and allowing a little extra hook-set time.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or stained off-color water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

White Bass have dissappeared, or gone deep, with the muddy water.

Crappie, likewise, have almost entirely shut down in the last 10 days, with the high muddy rise, although with the level returning to normal, it has begun improving. Best bet for Crappie this week has been on shiners in planted brush piles along Little River from 15-22 feet.

Channel Cats remain very good this week, on trot lines in Little River, any location in the current, and yo-yos from cypress trees in 8-12 feet. Trot lines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 12-14 feet depths, using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 20 November is improved with lake level returning to slightly just above normal, and clarity is approx 3-5"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-5" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 11/20, the lake level is returning to normal, and is approx 3.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.48 feet and falling. Current in Little River on Monday decreased, with release at the dam 1,538 CFS as of 20 November. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 4 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week. As of Monday, 20 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 50-55º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Mike

November 17, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -WELL its been a very exciting and busy couple of weeks what with the One Fly, bunches of guide trips, new products arriving in the store and this little fellow up above . We have been finding fish like this all season, pretty little 'bows with the distinctive blotches, "parr marks" of a juvenile fish. And what is cool about that? Well it means this fish was born and reared on the Beaver Tailwater, a wild trout.

We, and others, had been telling AGFC about this all season, and in the Commission's fall sampling they discovered significant number of both wild rainbow and wild brown trout. Even more interesting was the discovery of 3 different year classes of fish _ some of the 3-year-old browns were also spawning this year. For fly fishers this is further evidence that those full-finned beauties around the 10" mark, and which have been fighting well over their weight, are not slow growing stockers but indeed wild trout. Another reason to be excited about the future of the tailwater and something special to be found on outings.

Cold mornings and a little rain back into the system has triggered some winter schedule generation over the past couple of days. So far a couple of hours in the morning and the same in the evening has been all that has been run. Which is no problem, sleep in and fish the warmest part of the day. Remember to check the telephone hotline 417 336 5083.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Weird weather we are having, but the fishing has been pretty DAM good. The sunny days have been a little trying, perhaps the high pressure systems have been slowing the bite a little. But the dull colored days have been very good.
Now its not as if fish haven't been caught on the sunny days this past week, just not to the same oustanding levels of recent weeks. But we did see some very nice fish fall to olive, purple and black crystal buggers this week.
Any of those fish who are done spawning will be HUNGRY! Its a good time to fish some real food.

Red based midges likes Bryces TDM, Jujubee Midges, Humpbak Midges, and Zebra Midges are doing very very well. Bryce TDM in silver/gray is probably the most consistent fly our guides use and it continues to excel.
Tan scuds continue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend. We also have new stock in of the popular new copper Hunchback Scud

ONE FLY 2006
If you missed One Fly 2006 you missed a great day's fun, beautiful conditions and some fun fishing. Andy Nichol's continued his run of success, confirming his mastery of fall technique, with his third successive win, and his 4th win in 5 years. Andy's 16" winning fish fell to a size 14 Olive sowbug of his own making.

Andy also suprised his fellow competitors passing one the Sage Z-Axis fly rod and reel prize to the second place getters, all who caught and released 15" fish, with Josh Yarborough from Norman Ok, winning the draw.

It was great to see a bunch of familiar faces, and plenty of new ones among the 76 competitors. Of course, being a One Fly there were hard luck stories. Two 18" were caught, the fly fishers involved already having chosen a smaller fish as their One Fly entry, not willing to risk losing their fly and being disqualified.
There were flies popped off on fish, cast off into the trees and dropped on the bank, and I daresay a bunch of frantic searches. But most people seemed to do well, with a goodly number of 14" fish (the winning length 3 years ago) coming to hand. All entrants, particularly those returning to the tailwater after an absence, were remarking on the size and condition of the trout they were catching

Lunch this year was a treat held under the trees at the Spider Creek Resort, thanks to Peter Godfrey (owner of the Store and Resort) for the invitation. His shrimp was spectacular. Thanks also to Buddy from Smoking Bud's Restaurant, another of our neighbours, for handling the catering. It was very pleasant to sit yarning on the reost's table and chairs, and a great way to cap off the event.

We also have to thank all our sponsors for our giveaway bags and door prizes including Spirit River, Ross, Fishpond, Rio, Budweiser of course.

And lastly, and very importantly Cary Marcus our Sage rep, for his support and friendship for this little Dam Store and its One Fly since its inception. Plus, as One Fly attendees know, he's good fun to have around. Thanks, mate!

Check out the One Fly Photos on our Fly Fishing Gallery 2006 <http://www.beaverdamstore.com/gallery/v/FlyFishing/FF06> page

DRY FLY TIME
Last winter provided some superb dry fly action for those in the know and it looks like we could be in for some more action this year. We have been having plenty of reports of people having success on a range of dries, yellow caddis, big and small Parachute Adams, Griffiths Gnats, a range of midge patterns. We are getting several different midges coming off the tailwater current throughout the day. Its sems though as if there trout are liking the size 18 gray and size 20 olive.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

November 16, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,111.96 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting decently on red worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and tube jigs in 8 to 18 feet of water around planted brush piles. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and spoons fished on the edges of main lake points and bluffs. Stripers are fair on 12-ounce to 1-ounce Roostertails.

November 15, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water temp is between 58 & 62 degrees and the level is at 455.65 and falling and rising both on the same day.

The bass are scattered from 6 inches to 60 feet deep and can be caught on crankbaits and spinnerbaits, jigs and jighead worms shallow, and c-rigs , jigs dropshots and whacky rigged cinkos out deep, judt find the bait and you will find the fish, up shallow try river and creekbends and some wind and the fish will be their.

The walleye are fair on trolled crankbaits anywhere from 15 feet to 60 feet deep, they are starting their pre-spawn stage and should get more predictable soon

No report on catfish but rumor is they are still biting well

The crappie are biting in the creek and riverbends also suspended in the pole timber about 15 feet deep and will bite jigs tipped with minnows best

The hybrids and white bass fishing is a constant battle with all the pressure on them , but do stay with the bait and you can catch a few everyday and some days you can catch a lot.

November 13, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 13 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 54-60º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Millwood somewhat stabilized from cold fronts, this past week with high daytime temps in the upper 60-70º range, however, the clarity and rise of the lake is a different story altogether. Little River's clarity as of Monday is drastically reduced and muddy, approx 2-4" with tremendous current due to incoming water and release at the dam. The main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-5" visibility depending on location. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 1-3 feet in places, further from river currents. As of Monday 11/13, the lake level has risen again from last week, and is approx 11 inches above normal pool, at 260.11 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday increased from last week, with release at the dam 6,171CFS as of 13 November, although this may change mid-week with the recent rains. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with all 13 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie have stablized, and improved with the decrease in cold fronts and steady water temps, within the past week. Feeding periods are are fair to good during early and late periods of the day, with good to very good feeding periods during the warmest periods of the day. Large schools of White Bass continue roaming the River and main lake, over the past few weeks with the cooler surface temperatures, and the Black Bass continue to venture shallow for a good bite this week with the warmer air temps.

The Details:

During the heat of the day over the past week, the larger bass are still venturing shallow, and are fair to good on buzz baits if wind conditions will cooperate. The muddy rise over the past 5 days has had most of the bass relating to shallow stumps and flooded bushes, grass beds and vegetation that are typically out of the normal lake level reach of the water.

Largemouth Bass are still actively feeding on Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassin Shads, and Crankbaits. The best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week with the muddy water rise, has been the fire tiger, the Bleeding Chartreuse or Lemon Shad, or Honey Bee. Back in some of the clearer area's oxbow lakes, the clear Hologram or diamond shad color patterns, in 1/2 to 3/4 oz sizes are still working. Traps in the 1/2 oz sizes are taking lots of adolescent size bass (1-2lbs each) around creek mouths and in the creek channel, itself. The larger, 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the larger bass are holding, and if you work it slowly and methodically, deflecting around stumps with repeated casts to the same target, you may "get your arm broke"......

We were throwing a few Crankbaits this week along rip and rock, deflecting around and off the riprap and rocks and stumps, and landed some nice size keeper bass. We were working Cordell Big O's and Xcalibur Fat Free Shads, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel. Using a shad pattern Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern, has been working better over the past few days, with the weather patterns somewhat stablized. Bass are still willing to bust buzz baits again, in blue glimmer, or hologram shad color pattern colors, out on the main lake around grass beds. Certain areas of the main lake have fair water clarity ranging from 5-10", depending on wind, and location. The War Eagle spinnerbaits in Aurora or firecracker colors are working very well around the same areas as buzz baits where baitfish are hiding in the grass beds.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks, like the Xcalibur rotating hook. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite remains on the Bass Assassin Charm Assassin in crystal shad or silver ghost colors, with Bang Garlic spray. The Bang Garlic spray, we believe, are helping these bass locate the lure in any off-colored water over the past week. These bass were taken along almost any entrance to any larger creek channel dumping into Little River. Our best method of presentation is dead sticking on a slack line, using a small 2/0 RigN-Hook for a slow fall.

The jig bite improved over the past week with the recent high muddy water. These bass were relating to stumps, extremely shallow, and a pumpkinseed/chart or black and blue jig with rattles, were taking some 5-7lb class bass in very shallow flats next to creek channels and on cypress trees.

Approach Tip: Use a strong hook jig, with rattles and Bang Garlic spray in the rising muddy or heavy stained water. The rattles will draw in a curious bass to investigate, and the Bang Garlic will entice a slow bite and allow him to hold or swim off with the jig with a good taste.

White Bass have dissappeared, or gone deep, with the muddy water.

Crappie, likewise, have almost entirely shut down in the last few days, with the high muddy rise.

Channel Cats are very good this week, on trot lines in Little River, any location in the current, and yo-yos from cypress trees. Trot lines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 9-14 feet depths, and yo-yos set approx 6-8 feet deep using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 13 November is reduced with all the fresh incoming water and is approx 2-4"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-5" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 11/13, the lake level has risen from last week, and is approx 11 inches above normal pool, at 260.11 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday increased, with release at the dam 6,171 CFS as of Monday, 13 November, although this may change mid-week with the recent rains. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 13 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week with a last few "dog days" of warmer days and nights, and a few less cold frontal passages. As of Monday, 13 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 54-60º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

Mike

November 8, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 455.25 it has came up about 1 foot due to recent rains and the temp is between 60 and 63 degrees and will warm some with the warmer days

The over all bite is not the best in the world right now as the lake is still seeming to try and get finished stratifying with the north end being finished and it is slowily working its way down the lake and it stirs all the muck up and scatteres the fish real bad and when it gets finished the fishing will really improve.

The hybrid fishing is slow right now due to the turn over but if ya stay on bait you can catch some jigging a spoon and reeling a buckshot lure through them real fast and will be able to catch some as they are scattered real bad right now

All species of bass are scattered from 6 inches to 45 feet of water now and can be caught with c-riggs , right bites new jighead and you can also pick some up on wind blown banks with spinnerbaits and rattle traps

No report on the catfish

Bream action has slowed down also

Crappie some can be caught in the standing pole timber fishing vertical with jigs and minnows in about 12-15 feet of water

Walleye are scattered as well but should start their winter staging soon and be more predictable

Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

November 6, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 06 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 56-63º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Millwood somewhat stabilized from cold fronts, this past week with high daytime temps in the upper 60-70º range. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved at approx 20-24"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 12-16" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 11/06, the lake level has stablized from last week, and is approx 5.8 inches above normal pool, at 259.68 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday reduced from last week, with release at the dam 387CFS as of 06 November, although this may change mid-week with the recent rains. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 1 gate open 1 foot. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation has been very much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie have stablized, and improved with the decrease in cold fronts and steady water temps, within the past week. Feeding periods are are fair to good during early and late periods of the day, with good to very good feeding periods during the warmest periods of the day. Large schools of White Bass continue roaming the River and main lake, over the past few weeks with the cooler surface temperatures, and the Black Bass continue to venture shallow for a good bite this week with the warmer air temps.

The Details:

Clarity was improved, this week, on main lake structure and in Little River. Water surface temps stablized in the past several days. During the heat of the day this past week, the larger bass are still venturing shallow, and are fair to good on topwater lures like Baby Torpedos and buzz baits if wind conditions will cooperater, and are just right.

Largemouth Bass are still actively feeding over the past week on Millwood. Rat-L-Traps, and Crankbaits are a sure bet for a good bite, but requires more patience and persistance, of late. The best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week with the improvement in water clarity, has been the clear Hologram, smokey joe, or diamond shad color patterns, in 1/2 to 3/4 oz sizes. Traps in the 1/2 oz sizes are taking lots of adolescent size bass (1-2lbs each) around creek mouths and in the creek channel, itself. The larger, 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the larger bass are holding, and if you work it slowly and methodically, deflecting around stumps with repeated casts to the same target, you may "get your arm broke"......

We were throwing a few Crankbaits this week along rip and rock, deflecting around and off the riprap and rocks and stumps, and landed some nice size keeper bass. We were working Cordell Big O's and Xcalibur Fat Free Shads, parallel to the river channel and in creek mouths dumping into the river channel. Using a shad pattern Big O or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a crawfish pattern, has been working better over the past few days, with the weather patterns somewhat stablized. Bass are still willing to bust buzz baits again, in blue glimmer, or hologram shad color pattern colors, out on the main lake around grass beds. War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover, firecracker, or smoke mouse colors are working very well around the same areas as buzz baits where baitfish are hiding in the grass beds.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks, like the Xcalibur rotating hook. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite has been on the Bass Assassin Charm Assassin in crystal shad or silver ghost colors, with Bang Garlic spray. The Bang Garlic spray, we believe, are helping these bass locate the lure in any off-colored water over the past week. These bass were taken along almost any entrance to any larger creek channel dumping into Little River. Our best method of presentation is dead sticking on a slack line, using a small 2/0 RigN-Hook for a slow fall.

The carolina rig bite is fair. Bass began roaming shallow again, with the stable weather and sun, and warmer days, and have not been as suspended in the past few days as the week before. Charm Bass Assassins in crystal shad colors are working best, along steep stairstep wash-outs of the river in the 4-6 feet depth ranges.

White Bass are continuing roaming Little River in fair numbers and large schools. The Whites are still biting with some frequency, throughout the day on 1/4 to 1/2oz chrome or white Rat-L-Traps, Rocket Shads, Little Cleos, and Rooster Tails, at various locations along Little River this week. Once you connect with a single fish, know that there is a large school down there too. Large schools of Whites have been located in on the main lake between the 1 and the 3 mile marker on Little River; and around the areas of Pugh Slough, & Hwy 71bridge. Stay quick throwing a Rat-L-Trap or a tail spinner like the Rooster Tails or Rocket Shads, when you see surface activity. The fishin's pretty easy to find a bunch of whites. We have noted lots of folks out trolling up and down Little River, and are continuing to find some nice battles out there with whites ranging from 2 to 3.5 pounds.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie bite improved again this week, and were positioning in planted brush piles all along Little River in 17-20 feet depths. Sizes are fair, ranging from 10-15" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have remained in slightly deeper this week, best on jigs and shiners last few days. The Crappie will not come out of the brush to hit the shiner or jig. Contact with the brush, inside the brush, is necessary to coax a Crappie bite.

Channel Cats are fair to good this week, on trot lines and yo-yos from cypress trees. Trot lines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 14-20 feet depths, and yo-yos set approx 8-12 feet deep using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.

Longnose gar continue surfacing along Little River, and offer an extremely good opportunity for bow fishermen to take out some really nice sized gar up to 30 pounds each.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Little River's clarity as of Monday 06 November is improved at approx 20-24"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 12-16" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 11/06, the lake level has stablized from last week, and is approx 5.8 inches above normal pool, at 259.68 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday reduced from last week, with release at the dam 387 CFS as of 06 November, although this may change mid-week with the recent rains. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was still unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 1 gate open 1 foot. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved.

Water surface temperatures stablized this week with a last few "dog days" of warmer days and nights, and a few less cold frontal passages. As of Monday, 06 November, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 56-63º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Mike

October 30, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 30 October, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 58-65º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Millwood underwent dramatic changes again, this past week with repeated cold frontal passages, high winds, and (much needed) rainfall. Little River's clarity as of Monday is improved at approx 18-24"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 15-20" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-4 feet in places. As of Monday 10/30, the lake level has fallen from last week, and is approx 5.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.66 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday at parity from last week, with release at the dam 1,562CFS as of 30 October. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 4 gates open 1 foot each. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie have tapered off within the past week with the repeated cold fronts passing through the region. Feeding periods are are fair to good during warmer periods of the day, but slower than the past few weeks. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, but have diminished. Large schools of White Bass continue roaming the River and main lake, over the past few weeks with the cooler surface temperatures.

The Details:

Clarity was improved, this week, on main lake structure and in Little River. Water surface temps dropped again, by as much as 5-6 degrees in the past several days. The repeated cold fronts have pushed the larger bass deeper, and positioned them with the river's current on the downside of large stumps, tree trunks in the river, and moved them into a true fall pattern, we had not seen yet this year, until the recent past few days. However, during the heat of the day, the larger bass are still venturing shallow, and will bust a topwater lure if conditions are just right.

Largemouth Bass are purposely more selective on feeding over the past week on Millwood. Rat-L-Traps, and Crankbaits are a sure bet for a good bite, but requires more patience and persistance, of late. The best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week with the improvement in water clarity, has been the clear Hologram, smokey joe, or diamond shad color patterns, in 1/2 to 3/4 oz sizes. Working Traps deeper to approx 12-14 feet, or deflecting off stumps and standing timber has been the key over the past 2 weeks. The 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the fish are holding quicker, and coax a bite, if you work it slowly and methodically, deflecting around stumps. Repeated casts to the same target, are normally required to coax a good hit from a keeper size Largemouth this week.

Crankbaits worked parallel to the river channel are beginning to pick up a few more fish over the past couple weeks, but are having mostly the same presentation as the Traps. Using a shad pattern Little N Norman crank or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a bream or shad pattern has been randomly working. Cordell Big-O cranks produced a few good bass as well, using a smokey-joe or shad pattern, but bite was slow and deliberate. Over the past few days, with the weather patterns somewhat stable, we were able to find bass willing to bust buzz baits again, in white, blue glimmer, or shad pattern colors, out on the main lake around grass beds. War Eagle spinnerbaits in spot remover, firecracker, or smoke mouse colors are working very well around the same areas as buzz baits where baitfish are hiding in the grass beds.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite has been on the Eager Beaver the last few days, in pumpkinseed/ chart tail, watermelon-red, or the red shad/green glitter colors, texas rigged with a 3/8 oz slip sinker and clicker bead and Bang Garlic spray. The Bang Garlic spray, we believe, are helping these bass locate the lure in the off-colored water over the past week. These bass were on large stumps along the river, in 10-12 feet depths, out of current, and on cypress trees, tight to cover. Repeated pitches and flips were required to coax a bite on several occasions over the last few days. It was a tough bite, early in the week with the drop in surface temperatures so drastic and quickly, and literally, all but shut down, if not for persistance.

The carolina rig bite is improving as well over the past few days. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes, lizards, and Charm Bass Assassins in pumpkin-chartreuse, castaic shad, or white-ice colors are working along steep stairstep wash-outs of the river in the 9-12 feet depth ranges.

White Bass are continuing roaming Little River in fair numbers and large schools. The Whites are still biting with some frequency, throughout the day on chrome or white Rat-L-Traps, Rocket Shads, Little Cleos, and Rooster Tails, at various locations along Little River this week. Once you connect with a single fish, know that there is a large school down there too. Large schools have been located in Little River around the areas of Pugh Slough, Jack's Isle, and between McGuire Lake & Hwy 71 bridge. Stay quick throwing a Rat-L-Trap or a tail spinner like the Rooster Tails or Rocket Shads, when you see surface activity. The fishin's pretty easy to find a bunch of whites. We have noted lots of folks out trolling up and down Little River, and are finding some nice battles out there with whites ranging from 2 to 3.5 pounds.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie bite improved this week, we believe in part to cooler weather, and positioning the Crappie in planted brush piles. Sizes are fair, ranging from 10-15" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have remained in slightly deeper this week, best on jigs and shiners last few days. Best bite this week was on jigs, between 16-19 feet deep, remaining buried up thick in brush. The Crappie will not come out of the brush to hit the shiner or jig. Contact with the brush, inside the brush, is necessary to coax a Crappie bite.

Channel Cats improved this week with the increase in river current, on trot lines and yo-yos from cypress trees. Trot lines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 18-26 feet depths, and yo-yos set approx 12-15 feet deep using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.

Longnose gar continue surfacing along Little River, and offer an extremely good opportunity for bow fishermen to take out some really nice sized gar up to 30 pounds each.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows improved, at approx 2-4 feet, depending on location, and improving. As of Monday, Little River clarity improved and is approx 18-24 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 15-20". As of Monday, 30 October, the lake level is approx 5.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.66 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam and current in Little River as of Monday, is consistent w/ last week at 1,562CFS. The tailwater level below the dam was unavailable as of Monday, 30 October. The water surface temperature dropped again over the past week from cold fronts passing through the region, currently ranging from 58º- 65º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Mike

October 27, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -
FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Grab your fleece, gloves and warm headgear and head to the river for fall fishing. It was nice to layer up this week, curling up into a warm collar braving some cool conditions and picking off some trout.

Fish soft hackles early and late, Midges or scuds during the day. If its dull and overcast go with buggers and perhaps big streamers for a trophy.

Try something different like our dead Drift Crayfish, fish a sculpin, fish at night _ Just Fish It!

This is the time of the year to fish hard. We like Orange and Patridge, or Partridge and Pheasant soft hackles at this time of year. If your in a deep or slightly swifter moving section try the new Guide's Secret Hares Ear.

Tan scuds continue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend
Red mIdges are very effective like our Razorback Midge, red zebra midges, Jujubee Midges, red Humpback Midges or the red 2488H Copper John. Bryce has also been fishing Craven's Poison Tung hard and doing very well.

Fall is definately the time for buggers, olive being the traditional choice. We have had decent reports on brown and black buggers in recent weeks. We also have several great yellow streamers, including yellow crystal buggers in several sizes, yellow Conehead Muddlers and yellow Zooo Cougars.

It's One Fly weekend and we look to have great weather forecast and a great crew in to take advantage of it. But still its a One Fly so don't forget your gloves, warm head gear and a coat. It almost wouldn't be a One Fly without a little cold and damp.

The fishing has been good as well, with plenty of big fish moving up the river. And while everyone is hunting big browns there have been some very very handy rainbows, in the 17"-19" range taken over the past week. Anyone of these would have won most of the recent One Fly events.

We have also been packaging up our giveaways, sorting through the door prizes, and of course lusting after the main prize, and we have to thank all our sponsors, Sage, Rio, Spirit River, Pacific Fly, Fishpond, Community Coffee and of course the best place to stay on the river, and our sister business the Spider Creek Resort <http://www.spidercreek.com> .

Above all have fun!!

ONE FLY TIPS
Well the fishing conditions all week havce been pretty overcast and dull, so its going to be a change to be fishing under bright and warm conditions on Sunday. We would expect the activity to slow so your first stops are likely be the best bests _ but we have been wrong before.

Speaking of which, our big tip for One Fly first timers is _ get in your wading gear before the draw_ you will start off on the wrong foot with experienced partners if the 7am fishing hooter goes off and your still dawdling around putting on gear.

We would be crazy to pick against a woolly bugger as the winning fly (and yes we have plenty in the store) but tan scuds and red midges have been doing very well. But these have been generally for the smaller fish, though dark days bigger scuds have pulled some nice browns.

Selecting tippet size is where everyone gets to gamble, 6x flourocarbon has a pretty fine margin of error, but 5x produces less fish particularly in bright conditions. But if you feel confident with your rod skills, a 3wt or 4wt would help, we'd be inclined to even try 7x late in the event, if your still hunting a big fish.

We've also been asked a bunch, where to find the big fish. As we mentioned we have seen a goodly number of big fish heading up through the spawning shoals at Parker Bend, but they don't appear to be holding consistently, therefore we can suggest they have headed upstream.

Both the bigger browns and rainbows can often be found in the deeper holes through the Trophy area, at Spider Creek or downstream towards the 62 bridge. Though unless you can see these fish actively feeding they can be very hard to tempt during the day. The fish you spot hunkered down on the bottom are almost impossible. On the other hand if anyone finds a big brown chasing sculpins out of the gravel beds, as we did a couple of weeks back, then a fast strip just under the surface should see you connected.

ONE FLY RULES
The are simple:
Only One fly may be used during the contest. Lose the fly to a tree or a trout and your contest fishing is done. We encourage people to keep fishing and have fun.

Flies only (No jigs) - Longest trout wins Catch and Release all fish.

You must turn in the fly used for your winning fish to the judges.

Egg patterns are banned for ,06-07-08 events. Winning flies are banned for three years to encourage innovation and to ensure the competition is fair and even.

Participants will fish in pairs in order to verify fish length measurements.

Wade fishing only, no boats.

Partners will be drawn 30 minutes before start time.

You must be present at drawing to enter. (Be there 6.30 am_ 6.00 to register).

Fishing starts 7am. No entrants to leave the store before 7am

Arkansas Fishing license and trout permit required.

Earliest entry decides tie coin toss for second tie.

You and partner must return to store by 12-noon or forfeit first prize.

No fishing zone over the spawning beds at Parker Bend. Officials will be present.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

October 23, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 23 October, main lake and Little River water surface temperature ranges 65-70º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up-river water and oxbow's surface temps remain warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-8ºF.

Millwood underwent dramatic changes in the past week with repeated cold frontal passages, high winds, and (much needed) rainfall. Little River's clarity as of Monday is drastically reduced at approx 8-12"; & main lake clarity likewise, approx 3-8" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 1-3 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 10/23, the lake has risen from last week, and is approx 6 inches above normal pool, at 259.70 feet and falling. Current in Little River Monday increased from last week, with release at the dam 1,587CFS as of 23 October. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday. Discharge/ Release Rate at the spillway, is with 4 gates open 1 foot each.

The activity levels of Bass and Crappie have tapered off within the past week with the repeated cold fronts passing through the region. Feeding periods are are fair to good during warmer periods of the day, but slower than the past few weeks. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, but have diminished. Large schools of White Bass continue roaming the River and main lake, over the past few weeks with the cooler surface temperatures.

The Details:

Clarity and surface temp was dramatically changed and reduced, this week, with the recent (and much needed) rainfall, high wind and run-off of fresh water. Water surface temps dropped by as much as 5-6 degrees in the past 5 days. The repeated cold fronts have pushed the larger bass, for the most part deeper, and positioned them with the current on the downside of large stumps, tree trunks in the river, and moved them into a true fall pattern, we had not seen yet this year, until the recent past few days.

Largemouth Bass have become more finiky, and purposely selective on feeding over the past week on Millwood. Rat-L-Traps, and Crankbaits are a sure bet for a good bite, but requires more patience and persistance, of late. The best Rat-L-Trap bite over the past week with the reduction in water clarity, has been the Honey Bee, Bleeding Shad Lemon, or Chartreuse Shiner color patterns, in 1/2 to 3/4 oz sizes. Working Traps deeper to approx 12-14 feet, or deflecting off stumps and standing timber has been the key over the past few days. The 3/4 oz size Trap will allow you to get down to where the fish are holding quicker, and coax a bite, if you work it slowly and methodically, deflecting around stumps. Repeated casts to the same target, are normally required to coax a good hit from a keeper size Largemouth this week.

Crankbaits worked parallel to the river channel are beginning to pick up a few more fish in the past week but are having mostly the same presentation as the Traps. Using a shad pattern Little N Norman crank or an Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a bream or shad pattern has been randomly working. Cordell Big-O cranks produced a few good bass as well, using a smokey-joe or shad pattern, but bite was slow and deliberate.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite for us changed over the past week. We are catching some averaged mid-sized 2-3 lb bass on the Eager Beaver, in pumpkinseed/chart tail, black/blue tail, or the red shad/green glitter colors, texas rigged with a 3/8 oz slip sinker and clicker bead and Bang Garlic spray. The Bang Garlic spray, we believe, are helping these bass locate the lure in the off-colored water over the past week. These bass were on large stumps along the river, in 10-12 feet depths, out of current, and on cypress trees, tight to cover. Repeated pitches and flips were required to coax a bite on several occasions over the last few days. It was a tough bite, early in the week with the drop in surface temperatures so drastic and quickly, and literally, all but shut down, if not for persistance.

The jig bite improved over the past week, with the bass holding tight to cover, and using a 1/2 oz rattling jig in black/blue or pumpkinseed/chartreuse, both or either one using Bang Garlic Spray and a Hog Craw trailer in Black (on the black/blue jig) or Green Pumpkin (on the pumpkinseed jig).

White Bass are continuing roaming Little River in fair numbers and large schools. The Whites are still biting with some frequency, throughout the day on chrome or white Rat-L-Traps, Rocket Shads, Little Cleos, and Rooster Tails, at various locations along Little River this week. Once you connect with a single fish, know that there is a large school down there too. Large schools have been located in Little River around the areas of Pugh Slough, Jack's Isle, and between McGuire Lake & Hwy 71 bridge. Stay quick throwing a Rat-L-Trap or a tail spinner like the Rooster Tails or Rocket Shads, when you see surface activity. The fishin's pretty easy to find a bunch of whites. We have noted lots of folks out trolling up and down Little River, and are finding some nice battles out there with whites ranging from 2 to 3.5 pounds.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie bite over the past week all but faded, with the river and lake clarity worsened, and the best bite was truly inconsistent. Sizes are fair, ranging from 10-15" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have remained in slightly deeper this week, best on jigs and shiners last few days. Best bite last week was on shiners, between 14-18 feet deep, remaining buried up thick in brush. The Crappie will not come out of the brush to hit the shiner or jig. Contact with the brush, inside the brush, is necessary to coax a Crappie bite.

Channel Cats improved this week with the increase in river current, on trot lines and yo-yos from cypress trees. Trot lines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 18-26 feet depths, and yo-yos set approx 12-15 feet deep using chicken livers, cut shad, homemade blood baits, and Catfish Charlie have been working well, anywhere you have current carrying scent and blood trails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows reduced, at approx 1-3 feet, depending on location, and improving. As of Monday, Little River clarity reduced and is approx 8-12 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 3-8". As of Monday, 23 October, the lake level is approx 6 inches above normal pool, at 259.70 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam and current in Little River as of Monday, is drastically increased at 1,587CFS. The tailwater level below the dam was unavailable as of Monday, 23 October. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 65º- 70º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

""""""Good Fishin'! <º)))><{""""""""""""

Mike

October 21, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Its been a long time since we fished in temperatures under 50 degrees. It was nice to layer up this week, curling up into a warm collar braving some cool conditions and picking off some trout. Add some 7x flourocarbon to your tippet selections. It can really make a difference during the sunny portions of the day, just watch your hooksets Egg patterns are coming into their own, we love the Unreal Egg, particularly in Gold Nugget, smaller Flashtail Eggs for when fish are picky and flourescent orange Veiled Eggs as a deep or fast water pattern.

Red midges have been superb in the past couple of weeks, including Red Zebra's, Bryce TDM, Poison Tungs, 2488H Copper Johns, Humpbak Midges. Scuds continue to work well try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend Fall is definately the time for buggers, olive being the traditional choice. We have had decent reports on brown and black buggers in recent weeks. We also have several great yellow streamers, including yellow crystal buggers in several sizes, yellow Conehead Muddlers and yellow Zoo Cougars.

ONE WEEK TO ONE FLY
THE 10th annual Beaver Dam Store is almost here and the bigger fish are moving upstream on cue. We have been spotting browns staging up for the spawn and finding some very thickbodied rainbows. It certainly looks like the Parker Bend spawning areas will be ruled offlimits this year. The fishing should be fantastic for the next few weeks.
Take a camera to record the fish, you really do have a chance of landing the biggest fish of your life here at this time of year, be wary of spawning browns in the shallows, fish the deeper pools hard!
Make sure you layer up, with warm fleece close to your skin, a warm hat, windstopper gloves and a windproof top layer will make sure your toasty warm

Come along for the whole weekend's festivities. Cary Marcus' casting clinic at 2pm Saturday, check your skills on the casting analyzer, play with his collection of new Sage's, and meet new folks on the river and find your spot for the Sunday 29th contest.

If you are planning on registering on the morning of the contest come early 6am. We will start drawing pairs at 6.30am, to be ready for the event's start at 7am. One tip for newcomers is be in your waders, and have your rod strung ready for the 7am start.

Early registrations are appreciated so we can get a good ideas of the catering requirements _ and the lunch will be a highlight.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

October 18, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service -
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,110.68 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said rainy weather has kept many anglers off the lake. Crappie are fair on minnows and tube jigs fished 8 to 12 feet deep around brush and laydowns. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwaters fished in the backs of the creeks. White bass are schooling and biting extremely well on white or silver Rooster Tails. Bluegill are holding on woody cover around 4 to 10 feet deep and biting fair on small in-line spinners.

October 17, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 454.60 and rising it was at 454.28 before the rain and the south fork was at 3.90 and running at 12 cfs and now it is at 5,16 and running at 232 cfs, the middle fork was at 5.33 and running 12 cfs and now is at 9.88 and running at 1364 cfs and now the water has gotten to the lake it will rise probably 2 feet

The shad balls as big as your house are starting to come out of deep water after the rain we really needed it to re-oxygenate the lake and the lake has also been turning over and another few days and the fishing will explode to say the least.

Hybrids are still hit and miss, the rain drove the shad that were up down and the fish also, it always does after a dry spell and the mud will not help them , get away from the mud on the south end of the lake and look for shad on your graph and things will happen their sooner or later in the general area that day at some point and time , drop jigging spoons and buchshots in-line spinners to catch them when they are down and top ­waters and rinky dinks or sweet girls when they are on top.

The bass fishing is pretty well , the smallmouth are on brushpiles and are biting jigs and c-rigs in 8-15 feet of water , the blackbass and kentuckies are in the standing timber and will spoons , buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, there are blacks up in 6 inches to 4 feet of water on stumps and lay downs that will bite jigs and spinners baits as well as crankbaits and jighead worms, be careful as not to get to close and scare them.

The crappie are biting in the channel bends in about 15 feet of water on minnows and jigs and grubs.

The catfish are biting cut bait in 17 feet of water on jugs and trotlines around the creek channels.

The bream are up shallow and eating crickets and night crawlers.

October 16, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 16 October, water surface temperature ranges 69-73º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up river water and oxbows are warmer than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-7ºF.

Little River's clarity as of Monday is approx 18-22"; & main lake clarity is stained but improved, approx 12-14" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 3-5 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 10/16, the lake has fallen from last week, and is approx 4 inches above normal pool, at 259.50 feet and steady. Current in Little River Monday increased from last week, with release at the dam 782CFS as of 16 October. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.00 and steady. Discharge is with 2 gates open 1 foot each.

The activity levels of Bass are excellent with the cooler water temps. Feeding periods are generally good to very good during most periods through out the day. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing bait along the edges and into lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River. Large schools continue breaking topwater early and totally at random part of all day, over the past few weeks with the cooler temperatures. A few of these schools are being found to contain a small population of young adult bass ranging from 2-4 pounds in addition to the juveniles. Take a kid fishing!

The Details:

For the most part, lake clarity improved within the past week. However, we expect clarity to change by mid week this week, with the recent (and much needed) rainfall and influx of fresh water. With the recent rise in elevation of a few inches, it's pushing the larger bass much shallower the past few weeks. The continued cooler weather has drastically improved the bass' attitude. The bass continue to respond well over deep water or in shallow water and especially on points. Three 3 set-ups will catch you all the bass you care to fight, all day long.

Largemouth Bass continue with more abandon and aggression, for the most part of all day, having sporadic feeding periods at various and random times during the day. Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassin Shads (or twitch worms) and a War Eagle Spinnerbait or Rocket Shad tail spinner is all you need to know and throw for the last few weeks, to catch fish. The best Rat-L-Trap bites remain with the Clear- Hologram Shad, Diamond Shad, or chrome/blue patterns in 1/4 to 1/2 oz sizes. Several schools of Largemouths continue yielding 3 to 5 pound young adults. Throwing Traps beyond the school, and letting the Trap countdown sink to approx 8-12 feet, then ripping back through the lower quadrant of the school seems to be the best method for finding the larger fish. However, if you can throw and wind a baitcaster, and tie on a Rat-L-Trap, you will catch bass. If you can work your Trap shallow and thread it through the vegetation and lily pads (hint, drop down from the 1/2 oz to the 1/4oz and it's much easier), there are some good bass shallow that will try to take it from you. Experimenting with a crankbait yielded some nice size bass over the past week along the vegetation and lily pad lines parallel to the river channel. Using a suncraw pattern DLN Norman crank gave us a few nice keepers, as well as a Excalibur Fat Free Shad in a brown back/orange belly crawfish pattern. Cordell Big-O cranks produced a few good bass as well, using a smokey- joe pattern.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite for us remains the 5" Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom or baby bass colors; Charm Assassins-wacky rigged (small 2/0 Owner Rig-n Hook=slow fall) in silver ghost color, in thicker vegetation where you can't work a Rat-L-Trap or treble hook through the density of the vegetation. These fish remain in depths of 3 to 9 feet, remaining in the vegetation, moving in and out, shallow, throughout the day. Transparent colors and shades of white, "ice", or clear glitter patterns in the Shad Assassins and Charms have been producing literally dozens of bass/day for last several weeks.

The adult size bass (ranging 3-5lbs each) continue blow-ups in lily pads are eating these Bass Assassin Shads with a vengence, in locations you just cannot work any other bait. We have caught several in the past few weeks between 5-7 pounds in the pads along Little River. Several schools in the past week are busting bait way back into the lily pad fields. Weedless rigged, 5" Shad Assassins are about the only way to hoss them out, and that's with braided line, or 25lb test mono.

White Bass are continuing roaming Little River in fair numbers and large schools. The Whites will bite with some frequency, chrome or white Rat-L-Traps, Rocket Shads, Little Cleos, and Rooster Tails, at various locations along Little River this week. Once you connect with a single fish, know that there is a large school down there too. Large schools have been located in Little River around the areas of Hurricane and between White Cliffs and Hwy 71 bridge. Stay quick throwing a clear or bone Rat-L-Trap or clear Baby Torpedo or a tail spinner like the Rooster Tails or Rocket Shads, when you see surface activity. Catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Back to back, repetitive catches are and have been, very common lately, on whites. They are a blast to battle. The kids love it!! Find yourself a kid and take them. The fishin's pretty easy to find a bunch of whites. We have noted lots of folks out trolling up and down Little River, and are finding some nice battles out there with whites ranging from 2 to 3.5 pounds.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie catches are decent size ranging from 12-16" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have returned to slightly deeper this week, best on jigs and shiners last few days. Best bite last week was Southern Pro Tiny Tubes in red/white or smoke/chartruese colors, and on shiners, between 15-22 feet deep in brush. The Crappie this week will not come out of the brush to hit the shiner or jig. Contact with the brush, inside the brush, is necessary to coax a Crappie bite.

Lots of Longnose Gar are making another great opportunity for bow fishermen. Several in the 15-40 pound class are surfacing repetitively and very frequently all day along Little River in front of Mud Lake, Horseshoe Lake and around Hurricane Creek. Go get'em, is all we can say, because they are there most all day long, shallow easy targets, and they are huge.

Channel Cats improved this week with the increase in river current, on trot lines and yo-yos from cypress trees. Trot lines set in Little River current (outside bends) between 12-17 feet depths, and yo-yos set approx 9-12 feet deep using chicken livers, cut shad and Charlie have been working well.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 3-5 feet, depending on location, and improving. As of Monday, Little River stain improved and is approx 18-24 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 10-14". As of Monday, 16 October, the lake level is approx 4 inches above normal pool, at 259.50 feet and steady. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, is 782CFS. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.00, as of Monday 10/16. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 69º- 73º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

All the best, and as always,

Mike

October 14, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Another great weekend of fly fishing fun ahead, with a great forecast and some very nice fish in the river. Some of our regulars are hitting some very nice fish up and down the tailwater. If your hunting bigger fish this is the time of year to move around, especially with more and more river opening up as Table Rock Lake drops.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Grab your fleece, gloves and warm headgear and head to the river for fall fishing. It was nice to layer up this week, curling up into a warm collar braving some cool conditions and picking off some trout.

Fish soft hackles early and late, Midges or scuds during the day. If its dull and overcast go with buggers and perhaps big streamers for a trophy.

This is the time of the year to fish hard. We like Orange and Patridge, or Partridge and Pheasant soft hackles at this time of year. If your in a deep or slightly swifter moving section try the new Guide's Secret Hares Ear.

Tan scuds continue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker Bend
Red mIdges are very effective like our Razorback Midge, red zebra midges, Jujubee Midges, red Humpback Midges or the red 2488H Copper John. Bryce has also been fishing Craven's Poison Tung hard and doing very well.

Fall is definately the time for buggers, olive being the traditional choice. We have had decent reports on brown and black buggers in recent weeks. We also have several great yellow streamers, including yellow crystal buggers in several sizes, yellow Conehead Muddlers and yellow Zooo Cougars.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

October 11, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
The water level at greers ferry is at 454.50 at present and temp ranges from 69-74 degrees and the level is still dropping

The hybrids are real good some days , some of the biggest schools of shad are coming out of deep water and when on the move the hybrids are right behind them and are catchable with a lot of different baits and the cold front should really help out , follow the shad and make due

The bass are so so, and again the cold front will help get them shallow better after a few days after it has passed try crank baits and spinnerbaits as well as c-riggs and jighead worms , the fish will be on the wood after this front moves through

The crappie are doing pretty well in about 15 feet of water on jigs and minnows , they are suspended over 40 feet of water in the pole timber

Bream fishing is reporabily real good right now around docks and suspended over brush piles in 15 feet of water

Walleye can be taken trolling shad and gold colored crankbaits in about 12 feet in water about 35 feet deep

Catfishing is great with cut bait and bream on trotlines in 12-15 feet of water

Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

October 9, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 09 October, water surface temperature currently ranging 70-74º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Up river water and oxbows are warmer for the most part, than the main lake surface temps by as much as 5-7ºF.

Little River's clarity improved again this week, and as of Monday is approx 18-22"; & main lake clarity is stained but improved as well, approx 12-14" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 3-5 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 10/9, the lake has risen from last week, and is approx 6 inches above normal pool, at 259.69 feet and steady. Current in Little River Monday increased from last week, with release at the dam 161CFS as of 9 October. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 223.98 and steady. Discharge remains gate #12 open 0.39 feet.

The activity levels of Bass are excellent with the cooler water temps. Best feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but are generally good to very good during the periods around mid-day. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing bait along the edges and into lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River. Large schools continue breaking topwater early and totally at random part of all day, over the past few weeks with the cooler temperatures. A few of these schools are being found to contain a small population of young adult bass ranging from 2-4 pounds in addition to the juveniles. Take a kid fishing!

The Details:

The water, for the most part improved in clarity with a little less stain the past week. That's ok too, because it's given us a chance to see some really nice size bass feeding shallow over the past week. With the recent rise in elevation of a few inches, it's pushing the larger bass much shallower the past few weeks. With polarized glasses, and a clearer rising water, the bass are chasing and busting shad around points that you can see the bass feeding. Millwood, has some nice sized Largemouths, and they have been voraciously feeding on the baitfish and shad for the last several weeks. Only with the recent improved color and clarity in the past week to 10 days have we been able to see the fish before they broke the surface, or even if they didnt break surface; as long as they were ravishing these bait schools, shallow on points. The continued cooler weather has drastically improved the bass' attitude. The bass continue to respond well over deep water or in shallow water and especially on points. Three 3 set-ups will catch you all the bass you care to fight, all day long.

Largemouth Bass continue with more abandon and aggression, off and on, for the most part of all day, having sporadic feeding periods. Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassin Shads (or twitch worms) and a War Eagle Spinnerbait or Rocket Shad tail spinner is all you need to know and throw for the last few weeks, to catch fish. The best Rat-L-Trap bites are on the Clear- Hologram Shad, Diamond Shad, or chrome/blue patterns in 1/4 to 1/2 oz sizes. Several schools of Largemouths have yielded 3 to 5 pound young adults. Throwing Traps beyond the school, and letting the Trap countdown sink to approx 8-12 feet, then ripping back through the lower quadrant of the school seems to be the best method for finding the larger fish. However, if you can throw and wind a baitcaster, and tie on a Rat-L-Trap, you will catch bass. If you can work your Trap shallow and thread it through the vegetation and lily pads (hint, drop down from the 1/2 oz to the 1/4oz and it's much easier), there are some good bass shallow that will try to take it from you.

Approach Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook and a flexible rod with Traps and Cranks. These Largemouths have a lot of fight in them! Too stiff a rod will rip the treble hooks out of and away from the bass. A more flexible rod will give you a shock absorber when he makes those last two power surges at the edge of the boat. We learned the hard way. Don't let a monster play you up, fake a gime' , then powersurge, and get the last word in on you after you fight him all the way to the boat. A flexible rod will allow you to beat him at his game.

The best soft plastic bite for us remains the 5" Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom color, or Charm Assassins-wacky rigged (small 2/0 Owner Rig-n Hook=slow fall) in silver ghost color, in thicker vegetation where you can't work a Rat-L-Trap or treble hook through the density of the vegetation. These fish remain in depths of 3 to 9 feet, remaining in the vegetation, moving in and out, shallow, throughout the day. Transparent or shades of white, ice, or clear glitter patterns in the Shad Assassins and Charms have been producing literally dozens of bass/day for last several weeks.

The adult size bass (ranging 3-5lbs each) blowing up in lily pads are eating these Bass Assassin Shads with a vengence, in locations you just cannot work any other bait. We have caught several in the past few weeks between 5-7 pounds in the pads along Little River. Several schools in the past week are busting bait way back into the lily pad fields. Weedless rigged, 5" Shad Assassins are about the only way to hoss them out, and that's with braided line, or 25lb test mono.

White Bass are continuing roaming Little River in fair numbers and large schools. The Whites will bite with some frequency, chrome or white Rat-L-Traps, Rocket Shads, Little Cleos, and Rooster Tails, at various locations along Little River this week. Once you connect with a single fish, know that there is a large school down there too. Large schools have been located in Little River around the areas of Hurricane and between White Cliffs and Hwy 71 bridge. Stay quick throwing a clear or bone Rat-L-Trap or clear Baby Torpedo or a tail spinner like the Rooster Tails or Rocket Shads, when you see surface activity. Catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Back to back, repetitive catches are and have been, very common lately, on whites. They are a blast to battle. The kids love it!! Find yourself a kid and take them. The fishin's pretty easy to find a bunch of whites. We have noted lots of folks out trolling up and down Little River, and are finding some nice battles out there with whites ranging from 2 to 3.5 pounds.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie catches are decent size ranging from 12-16" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have also remained slightly shallower the past few weeks, best on shiners last few days. Best bite last week was Southern Pro Tiny Tubes in white or smoke colors and shiners, between 7-10 feet deep.

Lots of Longnose Gar are making another great opportunity for bow fishermen. Several in the 15-40 pound class are surfacing repetitively and very frequently all day along Little River in front of Mud Lake, Horseshoe Lake and around Hurricane Creek. Go get'em, is all we can say, because they are there most all day long, shallow easy targets, and they are huge.

No report for Channel Cats this week.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 3-5 feet, depending on location, and improving. As of Monday, Little River stain improved and is approx 18-24 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 10-14". As of Monday, 9 October, the lake level is approx 6 inches above normal pool, at 259.69 feet and steady. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, is 161 CFS. The tailwater level below the dam is 223.98, as of Monday 10/9. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 70º- 74º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

All the best,

Mike

October 4, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Another great weekend of fly fishing fun ahead, with a great forecast and some very nice fish in the river. Some of our regulars are hitting some very nice fish up and down the tailwater. If your hunting bigger fish this is the time of year to move around, especially

FALL FISHING
Last week we told you about Steve's 22" brown from Beaver and we have had a bunch of reports over the weekend of some nice fish being caught and released.
Our inked-up buddy Brodie, whose look tends to intimidate some on the river _ just say gday he spends about as much time on the river as Steve and Bryce _ caught several fish outside the slot over the weekend, the best around 20" falling to the Dead Drift Crayfish.
Chris Davis slipped over to Mountain Home for a spot of night fishing and caught his first brown of 20" as well. WE have heard good things on yellow colored micro-jigs, so its worth looking at yellow woolly buggers, and bigger fare like yellow conehead Kiwi Muddlers and Zoo Cougers on dark days.

WE'd have the photos but both the boys, who incidentally learnt their fly fishing with us, were using camera phones, and as yet we haven't received the images

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Oh its GOOOD! Lots of good reports of yellow now starting to come to the fore as the fall fishing picks up, and yellow is a great trigger color for fall browns.
Fish soft hackles early and late, Midges or scuds during the day. If its dull and overcast go with buggers and perhaps big streamers for a trophy.
Try something different like our dead Drift Crayfish, fish a sculpin, fish at night _ Just Fish It!
This is the time of the year to fish hard. We like Orange and Patridge, or Partridge and Pheasant soft hackles at this time of year. If your in a deep or slightly swifter moving section try the new Guide's Secret Hares Ear.
Tan scuds sontinue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker bend
Red mIdges are very effective like our Razorback Midge (we'll be tying more tomorrow am) red zebra midges, Jujubee Midges, red Humpback Midges or the red 2488H Copper John. Bryce has also been fishing Craven's Poison Tung hard and doing very well.
Fall is definately the time for buggers, olive being the traditional choice. We have had decent reports on brown and black buggers in recent weeks. We also have several great yellow streamers, including yellow crystal buggers in several sizes, yellow Conehead Muddlers and yellow Zooo Cougars.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

October 4, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The water level at greers ferry is at 454.81 , 6.22 feet low and falling every day and will continue to do so if the hot weather persists

The bass are schooling some and can be caught with a lot of different plugs while on top , top waters , jigging spoons, grubs and inline spinners , as well as hornets and rinky dinks and when not schooling they can be taken in 15-20 feet of water on c-rigged lizards in the main lake and in the creeks on spinners baits and crankbaits

The hybrid fishing is the best it can be one day and the next it is not worth a flip if the weater will get steady and cool off some more lookout----the same old baits will work and the trick is now to find and stay with the bait 43 feet is still the magic number in depth if they are not on top

The catfishing is still good usuing cut and live bait in about 17 feet of water

The crappie and bream have slowed some what do to the up and downs of the weather-it needs to cool off more

The walleye have been biting more than usual in 15 feet of water suspended over 45 feet

we find em you catch em

Tommy Cauley

October 3, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 02 October, the water surface temperature cooled again over the past week, and currently ranges from 70-75º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Much needed rain has continued over the past week again, & the cloudy days and cool nights have dropped surface temps, again this week in many locations. Up river water, is warmer for the most part, than the main lake surface temps by several degrees F.

Little River's clarity improved over the past week, and as of Monday is approx 14-17"; & main lake clarity is stained but improved as well, approx 5-8" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 3-5 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 10/2, the lake has maintained level from last week, and is approx 2 inches above normal pool, at 259.36 feet and steady. Current in Little River Monday unchanged, with release at the dam 159CFS as of 2 October. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 223.98 and steady. Discharge remains one gate open 0.37 feet.

The activity levels of Bass are excellent with the cooler water temps. Best feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but are generally good and continually improving during the slower periods of mid-day. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing bait along the edges and into lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River. Several large schools continue breaking topwater early and for the most part of all day, over the past few weeks with the cooler temperatures. A few of these schools are being found to contain a small population of young adult bass ranging from 2-4 pounds in addition to the juveniles. Take a kid fishing!

The Details:

The colored water and rise in elevation are pushing the larger bass much shallower the past few weeks. Main lake has drastically improved in color, surface temps, and clarity in the past week. The continued cooler weather remained in the region over the past couple of weeks as well, and continues improving water conditions, water temperatures, as well as the attitude of a few larger fish. The cooler weather nights, and cloudy days helped keep the surface temps down in many locations as much as 8 or 10 degrees, compared to only a few weeks ago. The bass continue to respond well in shallow water. You only need to carry 3 rods, or set ups, out for the last few weeks to catch all the bass you want. Rod #1 is a 5" Bass Assassin Shad. Rod #2 is a 1/4oz to 1/2oz Rat-L-Trap, and Rod #3 is a spinnerbait or Rocket Shad tail spinner. Those 3 set-ups will catch you all the bass you care to fight all day long.

Largemouth Bass are responding to the cooler water temps very well with more abandon and aggression during the mid-day typical late-summer non-feeding period. Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassin Shads and a War Eagle Spinnerbait or Rocket Shad tail spinner is all you need to know and throw for the last few weeks, to catch fish. The best Rat-L-Trap bite we have been on for the last couple weeks is the Clear Hologram Shad, bone white, or chrome/blue patterns in 1/4 to 1/2 oz sizes. Several schools of smaller fish, have continuted to yield some 2 to 4 pound young adults. Throwing Traps beyond the school, and letting the Trap countdown sink to approx 8-12 feet, then ripping back through the lower quadrant of the school seems to be the best method for finding the larger fish. However, if you can throw and wind a baitcaster, and tie on a Rat-L-Trap, you will catch bass. If you can work your Trap shallow and thread it through the vegetation and lily pads (hint, drop down from the 1/2 oz to the 1/4oz and it's much easier), there are some good bass shallow that will try to take it from you, as well, ranging around 3-5 pounds each. Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook! The bass remain best along and in any vegetation lines, along Little River's deep channel swings.

The best soft plastic bite for us remains the 5" Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom color, baby bass, or their Charm Assassins-wacky rigged, in silver ghost color, in thicker vegetation where you can't work a Rat-L-Trap or treble hook through the density of the vegetation. These fish remain in depths of 2 to 6 feet, remaining in the vegetation, moving in and out, shallow, throughout the day. Transparent or shades of white or clear glitter patterns in the Bass Assassin Shads have been producing dozens of bass/day for last several weeks.

The adult size bass (ranging 3-5lbs each) blowing up in lily pads are eating these Bass Assassin Shads with a vengence, in locations you just cannot work any other bait. We have caught several in the past few weeks between 5-7 pounds in the pads along Little River. Several schools in the past week are busting bait way back into the lily pad fields. Weedless rigged, 5" Shad Assassins are about the only way to hoss them out, and that's with braided line, or 25lb test mono.

White Bass are continuing roaming Little River in fair numbers and large schools. The Whites will bite with some frequency, chrome or white Rat-L-Traps at various locations along Little River this week. Once you connect with a single fish, know that there is a large school down there too. Large schools have been located in Little River around the areas of Jack's Isle, Hurricane Creek and Horseshoe Lake past few weeks. Perhaps the semi-annual migration down to the main has begun. Stay quick throwing a clear or bone Rat-L-Trap or clear Baby Torpedo with a tail spinner, when you see surface activity. Catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Back to back, repetitive catches are and have been, very common lately, on whites. They are a blast to battle. The kids love it!! Find yourself a kid and take them.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie catches are decent size ranging from 12-16" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have also remained slightly shallower the past few weeks, best on shiners last few days. Try underneath Cypress trees too in 4-9 feet depths with your shiners.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week are fair on trotlines, using Charlie blood bait and cut shad, along the outside bends of Little River. 2 fishermen reported to us they caught several nice Appaloussa Cats this week over 8 pounds each in Horseshoe Oxbow of Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 3-5 feet, depending on location, and improving. As of Monday, Little River stain improved and is approx 14-17 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 5-8". As of Monday, 2 October, the lake level is approx 2 inches above normal pool, at 259.36 feet and steady. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, is 159 CFS. The tailwater level below the dam is 223.98, as of Monday 10/2. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 70º- 74º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

All the best,

Mike

September 29, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - It might have been a little chilly chasing this fish, but those big fall browns go along way to warming you up. Steve caught and released this deep bodied 22" brown on the tailwater on Thursday night. One of his clients hooked and lost a bigger brown Tuesday afternoon. The pair spotted several big browns actively feeding and a few monster rainbows laid up on the bottom.

The big fall fish are moving up the tailwater as the cool nights trigger reproductive urges, and more importantly for fly fishers, an aggressive hunger to fatten up ahead of the rigors of the spawn. If you want a trophy brown October-November is the season to be spending lots of time on the water. You have to earn these big fish too!

Night fishing is one popular way to target the bigger browns, particularly on Taneycomo, where the lights give a modicum of light, but its also popular on Bull Shoals and Norfolk, and productive on Beaver _ except here you won't have any competition.Night fishing does allow you to step up your leader size, and use larger than normal patterns, like our array of size 4 & 6 Woolly Buggers, leeches, sculpins, crawdads and other streamers. Black is always a good first choice.

High water offers another good big fish option for those with water transport, particularly on dull overcast days. Throw streamers on sink tip or full sink fly lines, tight to the banks where the trout will hold awaiting an easy meal washing past. Don't strip slow but move it fast to encourage aggressive takes.

On low water sightfishing is our preference with downsized fly patterns. Scuds, eggs San Juan Worms and even midges can trigger takes. Downsize your leader to 6x, keep your casting to a minimum and pay particular attention to your drift, keeping your line mends as far upstream as you can manage.

If you want to experience some of this fishing learn some new techniques, catch some fish and generally have a great day on Beaver, or any of the White tailwaters give us a call at the Store, or email us here for a trip with our guides.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Oh its GOOOD! Soft Hackles early and late, Midges or scuds during the day. If its dull and overcast go with buggers and perhaps big streamers for a trophy.

Try something different like our dead Drift Crayfish, fish a sculpin, fish at night _ Just Fish It!

This is the time of the year to fish hard. We like Orange and Patridge, or Partridge and Pheasant soft hackles at this time of year. If your in a deep or slightly swifter moving section try the new Guide's Secret Hares Ear.

Tan scuds sontinue to slay fish. Try McLellans' Hunchback in tan or on dark days switch to the olive or gray. Try the Trout Crack on the flats at Parker bend

Red mIdges are very effective like our Razorback Midge (we'll be tying more tomorrow am) red zebra midges, Jujubee Midges, red Humpback Midges or the red 2488H Copper John

Fall is definately the time for buggers, olive being the traditional choice. We have had decent reports on brown and black buggers in recent weeks. But try something different. Yellow is a an aggression/food trigger for browns at this time of year and we have several great yelloew streamers, including yellow crystal buggers in several sizes, yellow Conehead Muddlers and yellow Zooo Cougars.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

September 29, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service -As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,110.89 feet MSL.

J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is going through a transition right now. Bream are poor because of muddy conditions from the recent rains. Crappie have moved to brush piles in 5 to 15 feet of water and are biting well on minnows. If you're after a bass bite, find some deep drops to timber and fish a spoon. Catfishing is very good on live shad and nightcrawlers.

September 27, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The lake level at greers ferry is at 455.16 and the temp is running anywhere from 69-76 degrees

The hybrid fishing is great one day and not so good the next you can still catch them when they go down , it is on the verge of being fantastic, but they have not got in big groups yet, these fronts have hampered them also , if ya do not find them schooling and catch them on top with topwaters , when they go down look in ditches in about 43 feet of water usuing the buchshot spinner with all the vibration it puts out they can not stand it and you can catch some like that and the best is still yet to come , when the weather gets steady it will be on.

The bass fishing is good in about 15 feet with c-rigs, crankbaits , also try topwaters and buzzbaits earily and late and if it is cloudy throw them all day, also the stump flats are good for the blacks using a crankbait and a jighead worm , some are still deep and can be caught with a football head or a drop shot, alost are schooling all over the lake

The crappie have improved , they are still in the pole timber suspended in about 15 feet over 40-60 feet of water and can be caught on jigs and minnows

The catfishing continues to be good using cut and live bait in about 17 feet of water

Walleye, a few are being caught with the schooling fish and the others are being caught with a shad rap trolled in about 15 feet of water , they are suspended over 40.

The bream have slowed some what.

we find em you catch em

Tommy Cauley

September 25, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 25 September, the water surface temperature cooled again over the past week, and currently ranges from 72-79º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Much needed rain has continued over the past week again, & the cloudy days and cool nights have dropped surface temps, again this week in many locations.

Due to high wind and incoming rain, Little River's clarity diminished over the past week, and as of Monday is approx 8-14"; & main lake clarity is heavy stain, and approx 3-5" visibility. With the much needed rain and incoming water, this is changing daily. Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-3 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 9/25, the lake level has risen from last week, and is approx 2 inches above normal pool, at 259.36 feet and rising. Current in Little River Monday unchanged, with release at the dam 159CFS as of 25 September. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.03 and steady. Discharge remains one gate open 0.37 feet.

The activity levels of Bass continue improving w/ the cooler water temps. Best feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but are generally good and continually improving during the slower periods of mid-day. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing bait along the edges and into lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River. Several large schools continue breaking topwater early and for the most part of all day, over the past few weeks with the cooler temperatures. A few of these schools are being found to contain a small population of young adult bass ranging from 2-4 pounds in addition to the juveniles. Take a kid fishing!

The Details:

Well it finally happened, AGAIN. It RAINED! Much needed rain has stained up most of Millwood, but what a welcome site to see it! The colored water and rise in elevation are pushing the larger bass much shallower the past few weeks. Main lake has been downgraded to just a shade less than muddy, with the recent high winds and thunderstorms. The continued cooler weather remained in the region over the past couple of weeks as well, and continues improving water conditions, water temperatures, as well as the attitude of a few larger fish. The cooler weather nights, rains and cloudy days helped keep the surface temps down in many locations as much as 8 or 10 degrees, and helped to increase surface dissolved oxygen contents, compared to only a few weeks ago. The recent 1-2" rain accumulation, over the past several days, has given fresh meaning to the words, "stained water and oxygen content". The bass continue to respond well in shallow water, with a variety of topwater lures, frogs and chasing Rat-L-Traps and buzz baits.

Largemouth Bass are responding to the cooler water temps as well with more abandon and aggression during the mid-day typical late-summer non-feeding period. Of course, the highest feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but the past few weeks have indicated they are willing to bite almost all day long with some repeating frequency on Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassins and twitch worms. The best Trap bite we have been on for the last couple weeks is the Clear Hologram Shad or bone white, or smoky joe patterns in 1/4 to 1/2 oz sizes. Several schools of smaller fish, have continuted to yield some 2 to 4 pound young adults. Throwing Traps beyond the school, and letting the Trap countdown sink to approx 8-12 feet, then ripping back through the lower quadrant of the school seems to be the best method for finding the larger fish. However, if you can throw and wind a baitcaster, and tie on a Rat-L-Trap, you will catch bass. If you can work your Trap shallow and thread it through the vegetation and lily pads (hint, drop down from the 1/2 oz to the 1/4oz and it's much easier), there are some good bass shallow that will try to take it from you, as well, ranging around 3-5 pounds each. Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook! The bass remain best along and in any vegetation lines, along Little River's deep channel swings.

The best soft plastic bite for us remains Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom color, or Charm Assassins-wacky rigged, in silver ghost color, or Plastic Toads, in thicker vegetation where you can't work a Rat-L-Trap through. These fish range in depths of 2 to 5 feet, remaining in the vegetation, moving shallow, throughout the day. Transparent or bone colors and shades of white for Traps, and natural light white or clear shad patterns in the Bass Assassin Shads have been producing for last several weeks.

Folks, there are some really nice size bass blowing up in lily pads and vegetation eating these Bass Assassin Shads, where you can't work any other bait. We have caught several in the past few weeks between 3-7 pounds in the pads along Little River. With the incoming fresh water and higher amount of stain, this is changing daily. Several schools in the past week are busting bait way back into the lily pad fields. Weedless rigged, 5" Shad Assassins are about the only way to hoss them out, and that's with braided line, or 25lb monofilament.

White Bass are beginning to surface and bite chrome or white Rat-L-Traps at various locations along Little River this week. Large schools have been located in Little River around the areas of Jack's Isle, Hurricane Creek and Horseshoe Lake this week. Perhaps the semi annual migration down to the main has begun. Stay quick throwing a clear or bone Rat-L-Trap or clear Baby Torpedo with a tail spinner, when you see surface activity. Catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Back to back, repetitive catches are and have been, very common lately, on whites. They are a blast to battle. The kids love it!! Find yourself a kid and take them.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie catches are decent size ranging from 12-16" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have also remained slightly shallower the past few weeks at 6-9 feet depths on smoke colored Cordell paddle tail grubs using a 1/8oz jig head, and shiners. Try underneath Cypress trees too in 3-6 feet depths with your shiners.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week are good on trotlines, with the increase in River current, using Catfish Charlie blood bait and cut shad, along the outside bends of Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 2-3 feet, depending on location, but changing daily. As of Monday, with the much needed rain, Little River stained up quickly, and is approx 8-14 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 3-5". As of Monday, 25 September, the lake level is approx 2 inches above normal pool, at 259.36 feet and rising. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, at 159 CFS. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.03, as of Monday 9/25. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 73º- 78º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.


All the best,

Mike

September 22, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -Well fall's arriving and we have some almost spring kind of conditions with thunderstorms, tornado watches and that wet stuff that falls from the sky _ oh yeh rain been a long time since we have seen so much.

Time to also start your fly testing ahead of the 10th annual Beaver Dam Store One Fly event on October 29. Please don't hesitate to give us a call with any questions or to sign up for the event. Get your entry form here

DEAD-DRIFT CRAYFISH
One thing you can guarantee about our fly fishing crew is they love trying new things to fool trout. If you ever watch Steve fish you might wonder why he changes flies so often, if the bite is on he's trying to find stuff that won't work, always trying new flies or ones passed from favor which might give our clients or customers an edge over the trout.

We were pondering Tim's Haddon's Dead-Drift Crayfish, one of a bunch of great new patterns from Umpqua, at the Denver Fly Tackle Dealer Show last month. Conventional wisdom would see this as a superb smallmouth pattern _ tied with small bead chain eyes its designed to be drifted rather than stripped.

Well Steve grabbed one with a different thought in mind _ big brown trout. And he's happy to admit he was wrong. This fly appeals to all trout. He's been chunking it under a bigger than normal indicator to both the educated trout of the Trophy area, dumb stockers at Bertrand Landing and some of the bigger fish downstream.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Everyone we know is hanging onto the tail of summer and we want a cold night or two. The fish are definitely HUNGY now and the fishing has been hot. Soft Hackles have been doing well early and late. Red Ass, and Steve slayed fish on the new Guides Special Hares Ear last week. Now have have been seeing a little light tan caddis hatch on some sections of the river this week. Try Fontaine,s legendary Sparkle Pupa in Ginger or tan

Scuds remains very popular and with good reason _ can you pass up a juicy shrimp?? The trout love them. Hunchback Scuds in Tan, Tan Rainbow, Copper and Olive have been the best. Sowbugs too are worth swimming.

Bryce,s TDM in green, red and gray/silver are always productive. Or you might try a bright Y2K Bug or a stripped woolly bugger to try and distract one of the midge feeders

Takes have been subtle, don,t wait for the indicator to dive under the water and swim upstream. Looks for quivers, dips, bobs and sideways movement, anything which goes against the natural drift downstream. Oh, then strike.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

September 18, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 18 September, the water surface temperature currently ranges from 78º-85º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Much needed rain, cloudy days and cool nights have dropped surface temps, again this week in many locations. Little River's clarity was improved, until Monday, it was approx 24-36"; & main lake clarity was approx 18-20" visibility. With the much needed rain (apprx 1.5 inches Sunday and Monday) this is changing daily. Monday, the clarity had stained up to approx 6". Upriver oxbows remain fair to good water clarity over the last week and ranges from 2-3 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 9/18, the lake level has risen from last week, and is approx 1.5 inch above normal pool, at 259.32 feet and rising. Current in Little River Monday unchanged, with release at the dam 159CFS as of 18 September. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.03 and rising. Discharge remains one gate open 0.37 feet Monday, however, gate change is expected by mid-week depending on how much rain received in Oklahoma and further upstream, hits Little River.

The activity levels of Bass continue improving w/ the cooler water temps. Best feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but are generally fair to good during the slower periods of mid-day. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing bait along the edges and into lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River. Several large schools were breaking topwater early and up in the day until 11am in schooling activities over the past several weeks. A few of these schools are being found to contain a small population of young adult bass ranging from 2-4 pounds in addition to the juveniles. Take a kid fishing!

The Details:

Well it finally happened. It RAINED! Much needed rain has stained up most of Millwood, but what a welcome site to see it! The colored water and rise in elevation are pushing the larger bass much shallower this week. The continued cooler weather remained in the region over the past couple of weeks as well, and continues improving water conditions, water temperatures, as well as the attitude of a few larger fish. The cooler weather nights, rains and cloudy days helped keep the surface temps down in many locations as much as 8 or 10 degrees, compared to only a few weeks ago. The recent 1-2" rain accumulation, over the past several days, has given fresh meaning to the words, "stained water and oxygen content". The bass continue to respond well in shallow water, with a variety of topwater lures, frogs and chasing Rat-L-Traps and buzz baits.

Largemouth Bass are responding to the cooler water temps as well with more abandon and aggression during the mid-day typical summer non-feeding period. Of course, the highest feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but this past week showed they were willing to bite almost all day long with some repeating frequency on Rat-L-Traps and twitch worms. The best Trap bite we have been on for the last couple weeks is the Clear Hologram Shad pattern in 1/4 to 1/2 oz sizes. Several schools of smaller fish, have continuted to yield some 2 to 4 pound young adults. Throwing Traps beyond the school, and letting the Trap countdown sink to approx 8-12 feet, then ripping back through the lower quadrant of the school seems to be the best method for finding the larger fish. If you can work your Trap shallow and thread it through the vegetation and lily pads (hint, drop down from the 1/2 oz to the 1/4oz and it's much easier), there are some good bass shallow that will try to take it from you, as well, ranging around 3-5 pounds each. Tip: Use a good, sharp treble hook! The bass remain best from about daylight until 11am then again after 4pm, in any vegetation along Little River's deep channel swings.

The best soft plastic bite for us remains Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom color, or Charm Assassins-wacky rigged, in silver ghost color, or Plastic Toads, in thicker vegetation where you can't work a Rat-L-Trap through. These fish range in depths of 2 to 5 feet, remaining in the vegetation, moving shallow, throughout the day. Transparent or bone colors and shades, and natural very light blues, or shad patterns have been producing on Traps and crankbaits for last several weeks. With the incoming fresh water and higher amount of stain, this is changing daily. We are having success on bone or white or Spring Bream colored Rat-L-Traps where the water clarity is diminished. Several schools in the past week are busting bait way back into the lily pad fields. Weedless Shad Assassins are about the only way to hoss them out, and that's with braided line, or 25lb monofilament.

Buzz bait bite, w/ bent-cupped oversized blades, where we could retrieve as slow as possible using a 1/4 oz head, and a blue glimmer skirt with white pearl holographic tinnsel is still working sporadically around open pockets and along the River.

Fattbut tubes in pumpkin/chartruese, are taking a few keepers around shallow Cypress Trees in 2-5' depths.

White Bass remained up Little River this week, however a very large school was located in front of Jack's Isle along the River last week. Perhaps the have begun their migration down to the main lake already. Stay quick throwing a clear or bone Rat-L-Trap or Baby Torpedo, when you see surface activity. However, several anglers were successfully trolling for the Whites this week between Hurricane Creek and White Cliffs, and also between Jack's Isle and Mud Lake using spoons with bucktails, and Traps. Catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Back to back, repetitive catches are and have been, very common lately, on whites. They are a blast to battle. The kids love it!! Find yourself a kid and take them.

Crappie fishermen continue venturing out, over the past few weeks due to improved weather. The Crappie catches are decent size ranging from 12-16" in length (1 to 2.5lbs each), and have also moved slightly shallower this week at 7-8 feet depths on smoke colored Cordell paddle tail grubs using a 1/8oz jig head, and shiners. Try underneath Cypress trees too in 3-6 feet depths with your shiners.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week are improved on trotlines, with the increase in River current, using Catfish Charlie blood bait, hot dogs and dough balls, along the outside bends of Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 2-4 feet, depending on location. As of Monday, with the much needed rain, Little River stained up quickly, and is approx 6-10 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 6-7". As of Monday, 18 September, the lake level is approx 1.5 inches above normal pool, at 259.32 feet and rising. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, at 159 CFS. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.03, as of Monday 9/18. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 78º- 85º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys of recent, and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

Let us know if we can help you, be of assistance, or provide seasonal information, on your next trip to Millwood Lake in gorgeous southwest Arkansas! The lake, which some biologists believe, is currently the home of the next potential Arkansas State Record Largemouth Bass, alive and swimming there right now!

All the best,

Mike

September 16, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - Hello. I read your question about how to catch those bass you are seeing. I am a florida native and have been fishing central florida for over 30 years and i can tell you that if you put a live golden shiner in front of those fish you will indeed connect with them. If you need more information on how to fish with this kind of bait let me know and i will send to you a link to all the info you need. I have a few places where i catch my own golden shiners and keep them in a tank to use when i want to go fishing. This is another complete subject i know but once you start catching bass with shiners you won't want to stop. If you buy them they run from $16.00 to $20.00 a dozen, this is to much for me to pay so i catch my own. Catching the bait is almost as much fun as catching the bass! Jeff Morrow, Sarasota, Fla

September 15, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -Definately kinda chilly this morning _ which is great news for big trout hunters. Fall is crawling closer. Thankfully the afternoons still are nice and warm, but its time to find your fleece, maybe dig out a jacket, some toasty warm socks and get ready for the cooler weather.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: The fishing just gets better and better. Scuds are still our go to pattern on the tailwater, particularly McLellan's Hunchback Scud in tan, tan rainbow and copper. But wer are also hearing some good things off the gray and olive patterns. Size seems to of a lesser importance currents.
Trout are stacked in prime locations and eating readily. If you have nothing else throw a scud. You will wear yourself out.
Bryce's TDM in blue dun/silver has been lethal in the bright conditions, as have Blue Poison Tungs, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors and Lightning Bugs. Hump-Bak Midges have also been very good, but particularly when the mist is still present on the water. McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug has been producing fish, as have egg patterns, and Y2K Bugs _ we have stocks now in from Umpqua in 14s (very nice) and 10.
This is terrestrial time too bringing out ants and beetles into the trees and hoppers on the banks. Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives, brown and black during the day.


Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

September 13, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service -

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,110.28 feet MSL.
Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs, with fish moving towards cover in 5 to 15 feet of water. Trolling for the crappie is not producing as well as jigging and using slip-corks now. Catfishing is fair drifting live goldfish near the river channel. White bass and hybrids are biting very well on vertically jigged spoons in white or silver. Black bass are in brush piles around points and biting well on vertically jigged spoons, drop-shot rigs and shaky heads with finesse worms.

September 13, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -

THE WATER LEVEL IS AT 455.42 AND THE TEMP IS 79-82 DEGREES

The hybrid fishing is great some days and lackluster the next if you can stay on the bait you can usually catch them with the bucksot spinner or a top water or a spoon or sometimes swim a grub if not on top they are staying in about 43 feet the thermaclin is receding at present and the first gulls have arrived and the fishing will be fantastic real soon, watch your electronics

The bass fishing has improved also with the cooler nights , some can be caught shallow with spinnerbaits and crankbaits as well as a jighead worm, the better fish shallow are coming on the rightbite frog in the sparkle shad color, the deeper fish can be caught with a dropshot if suspended or a c-rig if on the bottom in 20-45 feet of water

The crappie fishing is good at night usuing light in pole timber over 60 feet of water suspended in about 15 feet

The bream are still guarding their beds and are hard to catch but some can be caught around docks and over brushpiles in about 15 feet of water

The catfishing continues to be good in about 17 feet of water on trotlines and jugs live or cut bait which ever you prefer

The walleye have picked up in some spots dragging night crawlers in about 31 feet on the bottom in rocky areas or trolling a gold shad rap in 7 or 8 feet of water over 15 feet

Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

September 11, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 11 September, the water surface temperature currently ranges from 80º-85º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Cloudy days and cool nights have dropped surface temps, again this week in many locations. Little River's clarity improved, at approx 24-36"; & main lake clarity approx 18-20" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 4-6 feet in places. USACE recently reworked all Little River markers and navigation much improved. As of Monday 9/11, the lake level has fallen from last week, and is approx 1 inch above normal pool, at 259.28 feet. Current in Little River slightly decreased, with release at the dam 159CFS as of Monday, 11 September. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.01 Discharge is one gate open 0.37 feet.

The activity levels of Bass are improving w/ the cooler water temps. Best feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, but are generally improving during the slower periods. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing shad and baitfish in Little River along the edges of lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River. Take a kid fishing! Several large schools were breaking topwater in schooling activities again in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes over the past several weeks. A few of these schools are being found to contain a small population of young adult bass ranging from 2-4 pounds in addition to the juveniles.

The Details:

Much cooler weather remained in the region over the past couple of weeks, and has much improved conditions, and water temperatures, as well as the attitude of a few larger fish. The taste of fall is truly a nice break from this past hot mid summer months! The cooler weather nights, light rains and cloudy days helped keep the surface temps down in many locations as much as 8 or 10 degrees, compared to only a couple weeks ago.

Largemouth Bass are liking the cooler water temps as well with more abandon and aggression during the mid-day typical summer non-feeding period. Of course, the highest feeding periods still remain early and late in the day, or at night, but this past week showed they were willing to bite almost all day long with some repeating frequency on Rat-L-Traps and twitch worms. In addition, the schooling bass that have been roaming Little River for the past 2+ months and breaking, are showing signs of a larger fish population contained therein, as several schools this week of smaller fish, yielded some 2.5 to 3.75 pound young adults. Throwing Traps beyond the school, and letting the Trap countdown sink to approx 8-12 feet, then ripping back through the lower quadrant of the school seems to be the best method for finding the larger fish. The bass remain very good from about daylight until 11am then again after 7pm, in any vegetation along Little Rivers deep channel swings. The best bite for us lately remains Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom; crystal shad; or gizzard shad colors, and also Charm Assassins-wacky rigged, in silver ghost color. For reaching schools busting just out of reach with a Bass Assassin, we have been literally wearing them out on 1/4oz to 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps using the Transparent Hologram color (clear/ shad pattern). These fish range in depths of 2 - 7 feet, remaining close parallel to the vegetation, early and late in the day. Transparent or bone colors and shades, and natural very light blues, or shad patterns have been producing on Traps and crankbaits lately. Clear has been a good choice for topwater Baby Torpedos too.

For approximately the past few weeks, we have lost the buzz bait bite, or cant seem to appease these fish with one, no matter what we did to change up the buzz bait. Slow, fast, nothing mattered as they would not hit us. We recently began experimenting w/ our buzz baits, and bent the blades where we could retrieve it even S - L - O - W - E - R and dropped in size from a 1/2 oz buzz to a 1/4 oz buzz head, oversized the blade, and put on a blue glimmer skirt with some Christmas pearl holographic tinnsel. VaBAMMM!!! We have had these 2 to 2.5 pound bass nocking the bark off this buzz bait last few days out! I guess it really does matter about color and size, most especially when the bass have a choice of diet menu items in mid to late summer..........but these silly rascals have been hitting it way up in the middle of the day.....granted, it works best with lower light direction, early and late.

Eager Beavers in watermelon red are catching bass from 2-3lbs, around cypress trees. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees (5-6 feet off the base of the tree) in 8-10 feet of water. Best color the past couple weeks for texas rigging soft plastics, seem to be smoke/black/red flake, watermelon-red or appleseed.

Carolina rig and jig bite is improved, perhaps with that overall bite improvement, and texas craw color on jigs with a green pumpkin craw trailer. Carolina rig bite was fair this week, we caught between 7 and 10 bass around 2-4 pounds each, using a blackberry lizard on a 12" leader one afternoon along the river. We caught 3 decent, fairly chunky, keepers around 16-17" long each, down the first pass of the channel wall drop-off from the 6 - 8 feet shelf down to between the 13-18 foot shelf. We liked what we saw in the span of about an hour, so we turned around and went back down the same channel wall, going the other direction the second time down it. We caught around 5 or 6 the second pass we made, and the best bass out of that 2-pass run, down a steep channel wall of Little River, weighed about 3.9 on our digital scales. We would have most likely, and honestly, weighed about 9.5 pounds w/ our best 3 keepers from that stretch.

White Bass remained schooling up Little River this week. Stay quick throwing a clear Rat-L-Trap or Baby Torpedo, when you see the top water frenzy start. Action is only short-lived, and lasts for 2-3 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Back to back, repetitive catches are and have been, very common lately, on whites. They are a blast to battle.

A few more Crappie fishermen are venturing out again, over the past few days due to improved weather. They have been telling us their catches are decent size ranging from 12-14" in length, at 10-18 feet depths on jigs in white or smoke, and on smoke Cordell paddle tail grubs using a 1/8oz jig head, in contact w/ planted brush piles.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week are fair on yo-yos and trotlines using chicken livers and Charlie blood bait hung from cypress tree limbs in 8-12 feet depths, and along the outside bends of Little River w/ their trotlines.

We heard Channel Cats and Bream fishing, both, were good on catalpa worms, and crickets around the Millwood State Park and up Little River at Jack's Isle.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 4-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 24-36 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 18-20". As of Monday, 11 September, the lake level is approx 1 inch above normal pool, at 259.28 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, at 159 CFS. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.01, as of Monday 9/11. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 80º- 85º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys as late as past Monday and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigation in excellent condition as of recent. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river channel hardwood stumps, along the Little River in several locations, just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough; Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level or low light, conditions.

All the best,

Mike

September 8, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -The weather is looking great and we are actually enjoying some hot dry fly action around the place. We had been slipping over to Roaring River after work this week with a few Dam Store regulars and getting plenty of giggles. These fish are on a hopper frenzy, and its time to join in.

Don't be afraid to pull a hopper out of your box on Beaver either. If there is a fish consistent rising in the one spot during the afternoon float a hopper over his nose and chances are he will take it.

This week we go into more detail on hopper fishing, and of course the fly fishing report.

YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS - HOPPER TIME

SOMEHOW we get all baggy pants and 80s rap going at this time of year, giddy with the end of summer dry fly fishing. The hoppers are on and our eyeballs light up, and the adrenaline kicks in. Roaring River trout, have lit up on the big bugs, we have had several trips out there this week and caught so many fish its silly. And there is nothing liked a hopper crazed trout crashing your fly. Steve also picked off a few trout midweek on a little evening tailwater foray, and we had reports of hundreds of hoppers on the water down towards Table Rock, unfortunately too low down for trout. If you have been wandering any grassy fields you will notice how thick the hoppers are this season.

Roaring River is a great bet at this time of year for a midweek foray. Our favorite patterns feature a yellow body, the all foam Club Sandwich, and Dave Whitlock's superb Dave's Hopper. Pickier trout might warrant the excellent Henry's Fork Hopper. Joe's Hopper and Turk's Turantula can also work extremely well. A 10 or a 12 is the most common sizes in fly boxes but somedays the tiny 14s are easier to swallow, and others huge 6s are worth the effort. Try your own patterns they are fun to tie. Foam patterns can make the job very easy, but if you prefer natural materials, bullet-headed hoppers are way easier than packing deer hair. We can show you how.

When fishing hoppers you can forget everything you learnt about setting down dry fly patterns quietly. Smack that fly (not the line) down on the surface. If you use the double haul, try an extra haul right as the fly is turning over for a better splat on long leaders. Throw the fly in likely lies around boulders, close to the bank, and in front of feeding fish. Drifting hoppers down feeding lanes is also rewarding.
NB: If you are fishing on Bull Shoals or Taneycomo in high water at this time of year it often pays to check out eddies for rising fish _ these can be a suckers for a large hopper pattern.

Now we had heard a little about this technique _ twitching hoppers to make them look alive is fairly common somedays the fish want them still others kicking. But we hadn't actually heard too much about ripping them across the surface, like a bass popper, trout chasing them down and repeatedly slashing at the surface. Now we aren't about to say this technique works everywhere or all the time, but it was red hot this week.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Mike McLellan's Hunchback Scud is our favorite scud pattern of all and not just because he's a good friend and nice bloke. The tan, olive and gray versions are White River staples we, our guide clients and customers, have caught bunches of trout on.
So when Umpqua introduced two new colors from Mike's fertile brain this fall, well we were excited. And we weren't kidding when we thought they would work. We tested the Copper color first, it got gnawed on by a bunch of trout, then this week in the hands of a novice fly fisher the Tan Rainbow was the number one pattern, even over those thrown bny more experienced colleagues.
Hell we don't know which one to tie on first.Try these out anywhere on the White River system.
Trout are stacked in prime locations and eating readily. If you have nothing else throw a scud. You will wear yourself out. .
Bryce's TDM in blue dun/silver has been lethal in the bright conditions, as have Blue Poison Tungs, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors and Lightning Bugs. Hump-Bak Midges have also been very good, but particularly when the mist is still present on the water. McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug has been producing fish, as have egg patterns, and Y2K Bugs _ we have stocks now in from Umpqua in 14s (very nice) and 10.
This is terrestrial time too bringing out ants and beetles into the trees and hoppers on the banks. Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives, brown and black during the day.


Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

September 6, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -

The water level at greers ferry is at 455.70 , that is 51/2 feet below normal pool and falling maybe the rain they are calling for next week will at least level it out, the the mean temp is 83.5 and falling it was the air temp was 53 here last-nite and that will help on getting it on down and everyday the bite will improve

The hybrid fishing is great right now using the buckshot bait , all ya have to do is drop it down in the shad and get bit, stay around the shad and and use the in-line spinner the bucksot thumper and reel it as fast back up through the bait and the vibration from it will make even the most lethargic fish react and bite and the active fish will bite a right bite grub swam through them and of course the jigging spoon will take some as well as some topwater lures , try the mouth of shilo and cove creek as well as dave creek and mill creek-into higden bay, also the whites and some walleye and a few bass are mixed in with them

The crappie are biting in the pole timber in about 15 feet of water suspended over 40 feet on minnows and rite bite crappie jigs in the chartruse and red colors

The bream are making their beds as the moon comes up and can be caught around docks and up shallow

The catfishing is good using cut bait on jugs in about 17 feet of water

Walleye are fair but scattered on flats in about 43 feet of water and biting crawlers

The bass are scattered right now some can be caught in 20 feet on a texas rig or c-rig and some are on the bank chasing bream and can be caught with a small crank bait or a jighead worm and some are folling the bait fish up the creeks, use a small crank bait or texas rig,or jighead worm for them and all can be caught at certain times of the day with top water plugs

Tommy Cauley

September 4, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 4 September, the water surface temperature currently ranges from 83º-85º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Cooler/cloudy days have dropped surface temps in many locations. Little River's clarity and main lake improved from last week, river at approx 24-36" and main lake's clarity, at approx 18-20" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 4-6 feet in places. USACE as recently as Monday reworked all Little River markers and are much improved. As of Monday 9/4, the lake level has fallen from last week, and is approx 2 inches above normal pool, at 259.42 feet. Current in Little River slightly increased as of Monday, with release at the dam 782CFS as of Monday, 4 September. The tailwater elevation below the spillway was unavailable on Monday.

The activity levels of Bass continue in typical summer patterns with best feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite remains from daylight to 10am, 5pm to 9pm. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue randomly schooling, and are chasing shad and baitfish in Little River along the edges of lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River, breaking topwater in a feeding frenzy. It's a great time to take a kid fishing! Get a kid and get out there early!! Best locations to find these schooling bass have been noted along Little River between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle; Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek and in Horseshoe Lake. Several large schools were breaking topwater in schooling activities again in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes over the past several weeks.

The Details:

Much cooler weather moved into the region over the past week, and has much improved conditions, and water temperatures. Fall is just around the corner! The cooler weather and light rains and cloudy days helped drop the surface temp in many locations as much as 8 degrees.

Largemouth Bass remain in full blown summer patterns, with the continued highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good early and late, in grass, pads and vegetation, on Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom or crystal shad colors, Bass Assassin Charms and trick worms in silver ghost color, Pop R's, 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in Transparent Hologram color (clear/ shad pattern) and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in firecracker, or gold shiner colors. Depths of 2-6 feet remain best close to and in the vegetation, early and late in the day. Due to much improved water clarity over the past couple weeks, choose your colors to reflect surrounding conditions, or transparent hues, and natural appearing colors. Clear has been a good choice, of late.

For approximately the past 6-7 weeks, between 6-10am, adolescent and juvenile Black Bass, mixed with the White Bass are schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads all along Little River and have moved into the oxbow lakes all along Little River with their schooling activities. Bass Assassin Shads, trick worms, and Charms, rigged weedless, Rocket Shads, 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz size Rat-L-Traps, and Little Georges continue to catch these fish.

These same nomadic schools continue schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river, from Yarborough Landing to Highway 71 bridge. White Bass were also schooling up Little River this week. Be quick with a Chuk-n-Spin, Shad Assassin, or Rat-L-Trap when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 3-4 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Eager Beavers in watermelon red or black/blue, are taking keepers around cypress trees. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees (5-6 feet off the base of the tree) in 8-10 feet of water. Fattbutt Gitzits are working sporadically around same stumps and cypress knees. Best color the past couple weeks for gitzits seem to be smoke/black/red flake, appleseed or green pumpkin. Watermelon red lizards and baby brush hogs are taking a few keepers.

Few more Crappie fishermen out over the past few days due to improved weather. Crappie fishermen tell us their catches are fair to good in 9-12 feet depths on jigs in white or smoke and on smoke Cordell paddle tail (spaded tail) grubs, in planted brush piles.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week are improved on yo-yos using shiners hung from cypress tree limbs in 8-12 feet depths.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River, especially between White Cliffs and highway 71 bridge. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad or Chuck-n-Spins in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in Transparent Hologram or chrome/blue colors, or Little Cleos and Rooster Tails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 4-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 24-36 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 18-20". As of Monday, 4 September, the lake level is approx 2 inches above normal pool, at 259.42 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday, at 782 CFS. The tailwater level below the dam was unavailable, as of Monday 9/4. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 83º- 85º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

USACE reworked entire Little River marker buoys as late as Monday (today) and have replaced all damaged or missing markers. Little River navigational buoys in excellent position and condition as of recent. However, floaters and logs have become jammed and stuck on old river hardwood stumps, in the river in several locations just at surface level. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River! Several examples are between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Use caution and watch for these obstructions just at surface, during normal level conditions.

Mike

September 1, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -

September is here already? Man it only seems like yesterday that we were having snow and awaiting spring. Now we are watching the evening temperatures drop nicely and looking forward to fall. As we keep saying if the fishing is good now, how good is fall going to be.

Steve and Bryce took out Channel 5 Outdoors' Fred McClure during the week to film a segment on the Beaver Dam Store, Spider Creek Resort guiding operations, and particularly on the things we are noticing in the river since the management changes went into effect. Things like tougher fighting fish _ some of the 9" fish are actually pulling line!!!! A lot of fish in and just under the slot are starting to carry some weight, getting bellies and shoulders which shows that the food resource is getting back in balance with the stocking numbers. What that means is bigger, fatter fish in the longer term, exactly what the management changes were hoping to achieve. Obviously it is early days yet but the signs are good. Now how good would this place be with a hatchery in place!!!!!!!!!!

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: We keep saying it but the fishing is very very good right now. Tie on a scud or one of Bryce's TDM's and you can't go wrong. There are ebbs and flows during the course of the day but stick with it and you will catch a bunch of fish.

The Trophy area has been superb but Bryce and Steve went exploring midweek after filming closed and were reporting seeing a lot of browns between Bertrand and Parker Bend. These fish were stacked in specific locations, and very wary but the right time of day and the right presentation could be rewarded. Incidentally if you get to watch the show you may also see the boys go silly spotting a HUGE brown in the trophy area. Steve had one half chance but swears a smaller 'bow dashed in and ate his scud just before the brown did _ yeh right!

Trout are stacked in prime locations and feeding hard. If you have nothing else throw a tan scud. You will wear yourself out. McLellan's Hunchback Scud in tan (16s and 14s) has been the go to pattern, but most tan scud patterns will work almost as well. One of our guide clients this week tested out the new Copper version of this scud and we can report it holds up well to repeatedly being eaten. Too good infact we haven't had a chance to test the Tan Rainbow version.

Bryce's TDM in blue dun/silver has been lethal in the bright conditions, as have Blue Poison Tungs, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors and Lightning Bugs. Hump-Bak Midges have also been very good, but particularly when the mist is still present on the water.

McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug has been producing fish, as have egg patterns, and Y2K Bugs _ we have stocks now in from Umpqua in 14s (very nice) and 10.

This is terrestrial time too bringing out ants and beetles into the trees and hoppers on the banks. One of our regulars was "complaining" with a big grin on his face that he had run out of ant patterns so he was going to have to switch to a scud. Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorite terrestrials as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle and the new Rubber Rivergod is a winner too. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.

Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives, brown and black during the day.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

August 31, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service -
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,110.66 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the water level is up since the last rain, but it is still low. River areas of the lake are pretty muddy right now. Crappie are poor to fair, with a few being taken on jigs fished around deep brush piles. Catfishing is good on chicken livers, small bream and goldfish. Bass fishing has been fairly slow, with the best bite coming at night. Dark-colored jigs, spinnerbaits and large soft-plastics are working in shallow water during the evening. During the daytime, it's a finesse bite with Shaky head worms being the go-to bait.

August 29, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 456.25 it is 4.78 feet low and falling

The temp has fell some after the rains

The hybrid and white bass fishing is spotty at best but the cooler weather and the rain we have had the fish are really on the move and when ya find them you can catch a lot but ya have to find them and they can be caught swimming grubs , rinky dinks and on jigging spoons , or super spook jr.'s if on top or the ole hawg sticks.

The crappie and bream are on the move also and when they get settled back into a grove can be caught over brush tops in about 15 feet of water and around docks also on minnows and worms.

The catfishing is good on jugs and trotlines baited with cut bait , liver and bream in about 17 feet of water , most anywhere on the lake .

The walleye are fair but are scattered and moving also and can be caught on crawlers in about 23-43 feet and also on spoons under the hybrids and whites , a lot are being caught by bass fisherman on c-rigs with lizaqrds also.

The bass are on the move also with their break-up from deeper water , some are schooling and some are in 6 inches and some out to 45 feet and some in-between , they can be caught on top waters , rinky dinks , spoons and texas rigged and c-rigged worms as well as jig-head worms , after you find what depth the most of them are using that day you can pretty much pattern them , wether it is cloudy or sunny.

we find em you catch em

Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

August 28, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 28 August, the water surface temperature currently ranges from 85º-89º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Recent rains and slightly cooler/cloudy days have dropped surface temps in mamy locations. Little River's clarity and main lake approximately same as last week, river at approx 12-18" and main lake's clarity, at approx 6-10" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 4-6 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 8/28, the lake level has risen from last week, and is approx 4 inches above normal pool, at 259.57 feet. Current in Little River slow as of Monday, with 1 gate open 0.39 feet, the same as last week, with release at the dam 158CFS as of Monday, 28August. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.08 feet.

The activity levels of Bass continue in typical summer patterns with best feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite remains from daylight to 9am, 5pm to 9pm. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue schooling, and are chasing shad and baitfish in Little River along the edges of lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River, breaking topwater in a feeding frenzy. It's a great time to take a kid fishing! Get a kid and get out there early!! Best locations to find these schooling bass have been noted along Little River between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle; Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek and in Horseshoe Lake. Several large schools were breaking topwater in schooling activities again in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes over the past several weeks.

The Details:

Much is unchanged over the last few weeks other than water clarity and improved lake conditions. It's still HOT ! Get up and get out early, or go late. Best bass bite is pretty much done by 10-11am, or after 5pm to 9pm. Recent rains didnt muddy up the lake too bad, but the temperature was drastically improved lake wide. The cooler light rains and cloudy days helped drop the surface temp in many locations as much as 5-7 degrees.

Largemouth Bass remain in full blown summer patterns, with the continued highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good early and late, in grass, pads and vegetation, on Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom or crystal shad colors, Bass Assassin Charms in silver ghost color, Johnson spoons (gold seems to be best on cloudy days) with white grub trailers in the lily pads, and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in firecracker, or gold shiner colors. Depths of 2-6 feet remain best close to and in the vegetation, early and late in the day.

For approximately the past 6-7 weeks, between 6-10am, adolescent and juvenile Black Bass, mixed with the White Bass are schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads all along Little River and have moved into the oxbow lakes all along Little River with their schooling activities. Johnson spoons, soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, Rocket Shads, 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz size Rat-L-Traps, and Little Georges continuie to catch these fish.

These same nomadic schools are also schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river, from Yarborough Landing to Highway 71 bridge. White Bass were also schooling up Little River this week. Be quick with a Chuk-n-Spin, Shad Assassin, or Rat-L-Trap when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 3-4 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Eager Beavers in watermelon red or black/blue, are taking keepers around cypress trees. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees (5-6 feet off the base of the tree) in 8-10 feet of water. Fattbutt Gitzits are working sporadically around same stumps and cypress knees. Best color the past couple weeks for gitzits seem to be appleseed or butterscotch.

Not many Crappie fishermen out due to heat, however a few Crappie fishermen reported fair catches in 14-17 feet depths on shiners in planted brush piles.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week were fair on yo-yos using shiners and chicken livers.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River, especially between White Cliffs and highway 71 bridge. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad or Chuck-n-Spins in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs, or Little Cleos and Rooster Tails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 4-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 12-18 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 6-10". As of Monday, 28 August, the lake level is approx 4 inches above normal pool, at 259.57 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 158CFS with 1 gate open at 0.39 feet. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.08, as of Monday 8/28. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 85º- 89º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

All the best,

Mike

August 23, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture: As of Monday, 21 August, the water surface temperature currently ranges from 88º-93º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity and main lake approximately same as last week, river at approx 12-18" and main lake's clarity, at approx 6-10" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 4-6 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 8/21, the lake level has risen from last week, and is approx 3 inches above normal pool, at 259.45 feet. Current in Little River slow, with 1 gate open 0.39 feet, the same as last week, with release at the dam 158CFS as of Monday, 21August. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.07 feet.

The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with best feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite remains from daylight to 9am, 5pm to 9pm. Juvenile and yearling Black Bass continue schooling over the past 4-6 weeks, and are chasing shad and baitfish in Little River along the edges of lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River, breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy. It's a great time to take a kid fishing! Get a kid and get out there early!! Best locations to find these schooling bass have been noted along Little River between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough, between Jack's Isle and Mud Lake and between Hurricane Creek and Horseshoe Lake. Several large schools were again in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes this week.

The Details: Much is unchanged over the last few weeks other than water clarity and improved lake conditions. It's HOT out there people! Get up and get out early, or go late. Best bass bite is pretty much done by 10-11am, or after 5pm to 9pm. Recent thunderstorms fizzled out, and didnt really muddy the lake up to bad. There were some high winds, but diminished in relatively short time frame, which preserved the recent improvements to lake and river clarity levels.

Largemouth Bass are in full blown summer patterns, with the highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good early and late, in grass, pads and vegetation, on Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom or gizzard shad colors, Bass Assassin Charms in silver ghost color, Johnson spoons (gold seems to be best on cloudy days, silver on bright days), with white grub trailers in the lily pads, and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in firecracker, cole slaw, or gold shiner colors. Try the inside grass and pad lines where you see openings in the back of the lily pads and grass intersections, yet depths of 2-6 feet remain, early and late in the day. A few fish are still busting buzz baits, but a slower presentation has evolved over the last 2 weeks, and the bass are being a little more finiky and choosy about menu and presentation, excluding of course, the schooling bass.

Bass Assassin Charm Assassins in silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are still taking chunky Millwood Bass by dead sticking. Allowing the Charm to fall along pad edges to approx 7-10 feet, watch your line. Any slight movement or jump of the line, set the hook. Sometimes they will hit the Charm on the fall, and not move with it. Other times they will just start swimming off with it. Any line movement on the fall indicates he has it. Dont wait and ask. Set on him. It could be an 8 or 11 pounder as easily as a 2 or 3 pounder.

As per last few week's report, for the past 6 weeks, between 6-10am, juvenile Black Bass, mixed with the White Bass are schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads all along Little River and have moved into the oxbow lakes all along Little River with their schooling activities. Johnson spoons, soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, Rocket Shads, 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz size Rat-L-Traps, and Little Georges continuie to catch these fish.

These same nomadic schools are also schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river, from Yarborough Landing to Highway 71 bridge. White Bass were also schooling up Little River this week. Be quick with a Chuk-n-Spin, Shad Assassin, or Rat-L-Trap when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 3-4 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 20-40 fish, from different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Eager Beavers in watermelon red or black/blue, are taking keepers around cypress trees. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees (5-6 feet off the base of the tree) in 8-10 feet of water. Slow fall of the bait seems to be a trigger to bite. Fattbutt Gitzits are working sporadically around same stumps and cypress knees. Best color the past couple weeks for gitzits seem to be appleseed or butterscotch.

No report for Crappie this week, not many Crappie fishermen out due to heat.

Blue Cats and Channel Cats this week were fair on yo-yos and trot lines using cut shad, homemade stink baits, and shiners.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River, especially between White Cliffs and highway 71 bridge. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad or Chuck-n-Spins in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs, or Little Cleos and Rooster Tails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 4-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 12-18 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 6-10". As of Monday, 21 August, the lake level is approx 3 inches above normal pool, at 259.45 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 158CFS with 1 gate open at 0.39 feet. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.07, as of Monday. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 88º- 93º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

All the best,

Mike

August 18, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - So it's August, traditionally the worst month for Ozark fly fishing, but the fishing is soo good its almost silly. We have been having great guide trips over the past few weeks. Scud patterns have taken over as the prime pattern to be throwing and the fish have been eager. But its still a matter of finding the fish and delivering a good presentation. Abd the takes have been somewhat soft so watch those indicators.
 
FISHING REPORT

    Beaver Tailwater:  We have to say the fishing has been very very very good the past two weeks. If your wondering why there was no report last week its due to the fishing. Trout are stacked in prime locations and feeding hard. If you have nothing else throw a tan scud. You will wear yourself out.  McLellan's Hunchback Scud in tan (16s and 14s) has been the go to pattern, but most tan scud patterns will work almost as well.
    We have barely trod out of the Trophy Zone, its fishing very reliably, but more water is opening up downstream offering fly fishers the chance to get away from crowds.
    Bryce's TDM in blue dun/silver has  been lethal in the bright conditions, as have Blue Poison Tungs, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors and Lightning Bugs. Hump-Bak Midges have also been very good, but particularly when the mist is still present on the water.
     McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug has been producing fish, as have egg patterns, and Y2K Bugs

    Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). We have had some good reports on people willing to take a chance on fishing dries rather than the traditional nymphs.  Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawsonís Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.
 
Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives, brown and black during the day.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis  and Bryce

August 16, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 457.09
 
The catfish are biting real good on bream and cut bait / with jugs and a 15-17 foot leader and also on trotlines
 
The hybrid fishing is spotty and some can be caught schooling earily and late if you are in the right spot, and jigging spoons in 43 feet of water on bends of creeks
 
Some bass are schooling earily and late in the day up all river arms , some are being caught in the bends and ledges, the bite has picked up with the cool down and some can still be caught shallow
 
The bream bite has slowed after the last spawn
 
Crappie are slow also
 
The walleye fishing should pick up soon with the cool down
 
The water temp has fell about 2 degrees and the fishing will get better real soom we will have an earily fall
 
August 7, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The water surface temperature currently ranges from 86º-90º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity and main lake is much improved from last week, river at approx 10-14" and main lake's clarity, at approx 7-9" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 3-5 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 8/07, the lake level is approx 2.9 inches above normal pool, at 259.44 feet. Current in Little River slow, with 1 gate open 0.38 feet, the release at the dam 158CFS as of Monday. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.08 feet.

The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with best feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite remains from daylight to 11am, 5pm to 9pm. Numbers of bass in the 2-5 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class in the past several weeks. Yearling and juvenile Black Bass continue schooling over the past 4 weeks, and are chasing shad and baitfish in Little River along the edges of lily pads, and in the oxbows all along Little River, breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy. Schooling activites have been noted earlier this year than years past, and are taking place all along Little River, up and into the vegetation along river edges. It's a great time to take a kid fishing! Get a kid and get out there early!! Best locations to find these schooling bass have been noted along Little River between Snake Creek and Pugh Slough, between Jack's Isle and Mud Lake and between Hurricane Creek and Horseshoe Lake. Several large schools were noted in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes this week.

The Details:

Much is unchanged over the last few weeks other than water clarity and improved lake conditions. It's HOT out there people! Get up and get out early, or go late. Best bass bite is pretty much done by 10-11am, or after 5pm to 9pm.

Largemouth Bass are in full blown summer patterns, with the highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass are good early and late, in grass, pads and vegetation, on Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom, Bass Assassin Charms in silver ghost (wacky rigged), Johnson spoons, with white grub trailers in the lily pads and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora or firecracker colors. Early mornings, with low wind and calm surface, try the Bass Assassin Shads in pumpkinseed, Ken Pops in gold/black, and Baby Torpedos in a natural frog or chrome shad pattern. Those baits remain taking savage strikes along the edges of hydrilla, coontail, and lily pads along Little River. Try the inside grass and pad lines where you see openings in the back of the lily pads and grass intersections, yet depths of 2-6 feet remain, early and late in the day. A few fish are still busting buzz baits, but a slower presentation is emerging, and the bass are being a little more finiky and choosy about menu and presentation, excluding of course, the schooling bass.

Bass Assassin Charm Assassins in crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are still taking chunky Millwood Bass by dead sticking. Allowing the Charm to fall along pad edges to approx 4-6 feet, watch your line. Any slight movement or jump of the line, set the hook. Sometimes they will hit the Charm on the fall, and not move with it. Other times they will just start swimming off with it. Any line movement on the fall indicates he has it. Dont wait and ask. Set on him. It could be an 8 or 11 pounder as easily as a 2 or 3 pounder.

As per last few week's report, for about the last month, between 6-11am, Black Bass are schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads all along Little River and have moved into the oxbow lakes all along Little River with their schooling activities. Johnson spoons, soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, Rocket Shads, 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz size Rat-L-Traps, and Little Georges are catching these fish.

These same nomadic schools are also schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river, from Yarborough Landing to Highway 71 bridge. White Bass were also schooling up Little River this week. Be ready with a Little Cleo, Shad Assassin, or Rat-L-Trap when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 3-5 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 50-60 fish, from 2-4 different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, 4" worm in tequila sunrise or red shad and Eager Beavers in watermelon red or green pumpkin, are taking keepers around cypress trees. We are not pegging the Eager Beaver and using only a 1/8 oz sinker with a slip bead on a 6-6 MH Lamiglass Rod. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees about 5-6 feet off the base of the tree in 7-9 feet of water. Slow fall of the bait seems to be a trigger to bite. Fattbutt Gitzits are working sporadically around same stumps and cypress knees.

Carolina rig bite: Improved over the past few weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Areas that appear to be working the best this week along Little River, is between Lost Lake and Pugh Slough, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. The best color over the past few days has shifted back to pumpkinseed/chartruese tail lizards on the carolina rig. Bass Assassin Charms in crystal shad colors are also taking keepers on carolina rigs.

The jig bite: Over the past few weeks to a month, we have toggled back and forth from the standard Millwood-proven Texas Craw color to white jigs, then switched to watermelon reds and green pumpkins. We have gone back to a black/blue/purple jig with some success. A pumpkinseed/chartruese jig with black trailer or black/blue & purple seems to be the best combination in recent days.

Crappie are still hitting shiners and minnows, and moved back into the lily pads, where they were located in past couple weeks, in less than 9 feet of water along Little River and in the oxbows. Not a lot of Crappie fishermen on the lake in the past few days due to heat after 9am, and bite is pretty much done by 10am.

Blues or Channel Cats this week were fair on yo-yos and trot lines using cut shad, shiners and hot dogs. Cottonseed Mill cakes were taking some nice chunky Channel Cats in last few days.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River, especially between White Cliffs and highway 71 bridge. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs, or Little Cleos and Rooster Tails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 3-5 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 10-14 inches, depending on location. Main lake clarity is approx 7-9". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 2.9 inches above normal pool, at 259.44 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 158CFS with 1 gate open at 0.38 feet. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.08, as of Monday. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 86º- 90º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!
All the best,

Mike

August 4, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Beaver Tailwater: The weather has been hot and bright, what you would normally say is some of the toughest conditions on Beaver but the fishing has been very, very good. Early morning fishing, with the mist on the water has been fair. But we have had our best fishing once the sun has fully hit the tailwater. Bryce's TDM in blue dun/silver has been lethal in the bright conditions, as have Blue Poison Tungs, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors and Lightning Bugs. Hump-Bak Midges have also been very good, but particularly when the mist is still present..
Tan and light brown scuds are also productive as well as McLellan's V-Rib Sowbug and Hares Ears.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). We have had some good reports on people willing to take a chance on fishing dries rather than the traditional nymphs. Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.

Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives, brown and black during the day.


Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

August 3, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,111.47 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said bream are biting on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well in deep water. Try trolling with small Bandits or Hot N' Tots. Bass are biting fairly well at night around brush piles on dark-colored, 10-inch plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on jugs with live bait.

August 1, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The water levelat greers ferry is at 458.27, it's a little above 3 feet low , the rain did little for it and it is hot, but the new planted vegetation is doing great.

The hybrids are hit and miss if ya leave then schooling in one place in the afternoon you can go back and catch some first thing in the mornings but after that they may disappear for 2 days and cannot find them or a bite, some days are just better than others , stay on the water and sooner or later if ya find the bait you'll get into the fish

The bass fishing has been tough as well , with the smallmouth biting pretty well at night , most of the fish have been suspended and are hard to catch, try a dropshot and swim a grub and also a jigging spoon is working also.alot of the blacks have been up shallow chasing the spawning bream and that has been one reason most have not been catching them, but they are headed out deep now.

The crappie are suspended over deep brush piles in about 25 feet of water if ya know where brush is that deep you can catch a few on minnows

The bream have finished their last spawn up and are headed back to deep water again they will be aroud 25 feet also

The walleye fishing ahs been hit or miss also

Catfishing is good using just about any bait ya want, just according to what species ya want to catch anywhere from 5 feet to 40 feet deep

we find em you catch em

Tommy Cauley

July 31, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The water surface temperature currently ranges from 84º-91º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity is reduced from recent (much needed) rain and high winds, approx 4-8". Main lake's clarity, likewise, at approx 3-5" visibility. Upriver oxbows remain very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 2-4 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River.

As of Monday 7/31, lake level approx 2.9 inches above normal pool, at 259.44 feet. Current in Little River slow, with 1 gate open 0.39 feet, the release at the dam 158CFS as of Monday. The tailwater elevation below the spillway is 224.11 feet. The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with best feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite remains from daylight to 10am, 6pm to 9pm. Numbers of bass in the 2-5 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class in the past several weeks. Yearling and juvenile Black Bass continue schooling over the past 4 weeks, and are chasing shad and baitfish in Little River along the edges of lily pads, breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy. Schooling activites have been noted earlier this year than years past, and are taking place all along Little River, up and into the vegetation along river edges. It's a great time to take a kid fishing! Get a kid and get out there early!!

The Details:

Largemouth Bass are in full blown summer patterns, with the highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good to excellent early and late, in grass, pads and vegetation, on War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora or firecracker colors, Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom, buzz baits in bubblegum/blue, and Johnson spoons, with white grub trailers in the lily pads. Early morning on calm surface, Bass Assassin Shads, Ken Pops, Pop-R's and Zara Puppies are taking savage strikes along the edges of hydrilla, coontail, and lily pads along Little River. Try the inside grass and pad lines where you see openings in the back of the lily pads and grass intersections, for example Pugh Slough, early and late in the day.

Bass Assassin Charm Assassins in crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are still taking chunky Millwood Bass by dead sticking. Allowing the Charm to fall along pad edges to approx 4-6 feet, watch your line. Any slight movement or jump of the line, set the hook. Sometimes they will hit the Charm on the fall, and not move with it. Other times they will just start swimming off with it. Any line movement on the fall indicates he has it. Dont wait and ask. Set on him. It could be an 8 or 11 pounder as easily as a 2 or 3 pounder.

As per last week's report, for about the last month, between 6-11am, Black Bass are schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads all along Little River. The Johnson spoons, soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, Rocket Shads and Little Georges are catching these fish.

These same nomadic schools are also schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river, from Yarborough Landing to Highway 71 bridge. White Bass were trying to school with the black bass further up Little River this week. Be ready with a Little Cleo, Shad Assassin, or Rat-L-Trap when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 2-3 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 50-60 fish, from 2-4 different schools, in just a few hours, on numerous occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass eating anything and everything as fast as they possibly can!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Eager Beavers in watermelon red or green pumpkin, are taking keepers around cypress trees. We are not pegging the Eager Beaver and using only a 1/8 oz sinker with a slip bead on a 6-6 MH Lamiglass Rod. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees about 5-6 feet off the base of the tree in 7-9 feet of water. Slow fall of the bait seems to be a trigger to bite.

Carolina rig bite: Improved over the past few weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Areas that appear to be working the best this week along Little River, is between Lost Lake and Pugh Slough, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. The best color over the past few days has shifted back to pumpkinseed/chartruese tail lizards on the carolina rig. Bass Assassin Charms in crystal shad colors are also taking keepers on carolina rigs.

The jig bite: Over the past few weeks to a month, we have toggled back and forth from the standard Millwood-proven Texas Craw color to white jigs, then switched to watermelon reds and green pumpkins. With the incoming stained water and high winds muddying up several of the good jig-bite areas this week, we have gone back to a black/blue/purple jig with some success. A pumpkinseed/chartruese jig with black trailer or black/blue & purple seems to be the best combination in recent days.

Crappie are still hitting shiners and minnows, but moved out of the lily pads, where they were located in past couple weeks, in less than 9 feet of water along Little River and in the oxbows. Not a lot of Crappie fishermen on the lake in the past few days due to heat after 9am, and bite is pretty much done by 10am. Crappie were caught in the last 5 days back in the depths of the river between 13-17 feet deep in planted brush piles.

No report for Blues or Channel Cats this week.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River, especially between White Cliffs and highway 71 bridge. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs, or Little Cleos and Rooster Tails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 3-4 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 4-8 inches, depending on location. Main lake is approx 3-5". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 2.9 inches above normal pool, at 259.44 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 158CFS with 1 gate open at 0.39 feet. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.11, as of Monday. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 84º- 91º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Use caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

All the best,

Mike

July 28, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -

Well the fishing has been seriously good the past couple of weeks and given today's cloudy weather we have had a hard time penning this report. Hey we would rather be fishing too. We have had some reports of very nice trout coming to flies both in the upper end of the slot and well over.

Our well-inked mate, Brody, nailed a 20" brown in the trophy area last weekend and a rainbow almost as big and a couple of other friends caught some bows in the 18" range not too far away. The morning fishing has been very good and its been even better once the sun is on the water. It appears that the regular water releases are holding the fish up

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Fly fishing has been the method to fish for the past couple of weeks on the tailwater. Once the light hits the water the keys have been long drifts, 6x tippets and good presentations. But some days even that hasn't mattered as long as you got the fly in front of the fish.
Spirit River's Hump-Bak Midge in olive, though we also caught fish on the red, brown and black versions maintains its position at the head of the list. And a couple of times we have taken it off our leader to see whether we were feeding it to particularly stupid fish.
Bryce's TDM in blue dun/silver has also been lethal in the bright conditions, as have Blue Poison Tungs, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors and Lightning Bugs..
Tan and light brown scuds are also productive as well as McLellan's V-Rib Sowbug and Hares Ears.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.

Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives, brown and black during the day.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

July 24, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The water surface temperature currently ranges from 86º-93º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity is approx 10-18". Main lake's clarity, improved this week, at approx 12-15" visibility. Upriver oxbows have very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 4-6 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River.

As of Monday 7/24, lake level approx 3 inches below normal pool, at 258.96. Current in Little River slow, with 1 gate open 0.39 feet, the release at the dam 158CFS as of Monday. The tailwater elevation is 224.04 feet. The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with best feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite is from daylight to 9am, 6pm to 8pm. Numbers of bass in the 2-5 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class in the past 3 weeks. Yearling and juvenile Black Bass continue schooling over the past 4 weeks, and are chasing shad and baitfish in the lily pads over the past few days breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy. Schooling activites have been noted earlier this year than years past, and are taking place all along Little River, up and into the vegetation along river edges. It's a great time to take a kid fishing! Get a kid and get out there early!!

The Details:

Largemouth Bass are in full blown summer patterns, with the highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good to excellent early and late, in grass, pads and vegetation, on War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora color, Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom, buzz baits in blue glimmer, and Johnson spoons, with white grub trailers in the lily pads. Early morning on calm surface, the Bass Assassin Shads are taking savage strikes along the edges of hydrilla, coontail, and lily pads along Little River.

Bass Assassin Charm Assassins in salt & pepper silver phantom, crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are still taking chunky Millwood Bass by dead sticking. Allowing the Charm to fall along pad edges to approx 4-6 feet, watch your line. Any slight movement or jump of the line, set the hook. Sometimes they will hit the Charm on the fall, and not move with it. Other times they will just start swimming off with it. Any line movement on the fall indicates he has it. Dont wait and ask. Set on him. It could be an 8 or 11 pounder as easily as a 2 or 3 pounder.

For about the last month, between 6-11am, Black Bass have been schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads all along Little River. The Johnson spoons, soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, Rocket Shads and Little Georges are catching these fish.

These same nomadic schools are also schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river, from Yarborough Landing to Highway 71 bridge. White Bass were trying to school with the black bass further up Little River this week. Be ready with a Little Cleo, Shad Assassin, or Rat-L-Trap when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 2-3 minutes at a time, but catches are common of 50-60 fish, from 4 different schools, in approx 3 hours this week, on numerous occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass eating anything and everything as fast as they possibly can!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Eager Beavers in watermelon red or green pumpkin, Snag Proof frogs (with rattles inside) in white, are drawing strikes and blow-ups around shaded cover overhead. We are not pegging the Eager Beaver and using only a 1/8 oz sinker with a slip bead on a 6-6 MH Lamiglass Rod. The best bite on the Eager Beaver has been on cypress tree knees about 5-6 feet off the base of the tree in 7-9 feet of water. Due to recent water clarity we have dropped line size from 20 to 17 lb and 14 lb test in recent weeks. We have also gotten broke off several times due to heavy cover.

Carolina rig bite: Improved over the past few weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Areas that appear to be working the best this week along Little River, is between Lost Lake and Pugh Slough, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. The carolina rig is working well, with lizards in green pumpkin or watermelon-red colors or Bass Assassin Charms in crystal shad colors.

The jig bite: Several weeks ago, we switched from a Texas Craw color (black/pumpkin/ chart) to a white jig with a white plastic chunk trailer, and had better results than the previous weeks. Due to recent water clarity improvements, we have gone to a watermelon/red or green pumpkin jig with some better bites. A pumpkinseed or amber trailer seems to be the best combination in recent days.

Crappie are still hitting shiners and minnows, in the lily pads, in less than 9 feet or water along Little River and in the oxbows. Not a lot of Crappie fishermen on the lake in the past few days due to heat after 9am, and bite is pretty much done by 10am.

Blue Cats are fair to good, at night and early morning, on trot lines baited with cut shad, dog food and hot dogs. Shiners baited on yo-yos under cypress trees in 7-10 feet depths have been catching a few Blues at night around Jack's Isle and Mud Lake.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River, especially between White Cliffs and highway 71 bridge. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs, or Little Cleos and Rooster Tails.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 4-7 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 10-18 inches, depending on location. Main lake is approx 12-15". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 3 inch below normal pool, at 258.96 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 158CFS with 1 gate open at 0.39 feet. The tailwater level below the dam is 224.04, as of Monday. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 86º- 93º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Mike

July 23, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -The water level at greers ferry is 459.24 today

The bass are in their summer time patterns for sure , but since the cold from they have been shut down with the change in the pressure and temp , it was so drastic they have not recovered as of yet , they are out on the drops and bends of creeks and rivers , with some top water action earily and late in the day and some schooling activiety and some flowing the hybrids around and eating their left overs

The crappie are about in the same way as the rest of the fish , they are suspended in the pole timber and over brush piles in about 20 feet of water and can be caught with minnows or jigs and or jigs tipped with minnows

The walleye are back to being pretty fair but are pretty scattered in about 33 feet of water and can be caught tight linning a minnow or with bottom bounchers with night crawlers

The bream are going pretty good some shallow but most in about 20 feet on the bottom and can be caught tight linning a crawler or slip bobbing a cricket

The whites and hybrids are hit and miss look for the shad and jig a spoon or reel an in-line spinner through them the hammered blade spinner that bucksot is making here is doing the trick it is has so muck more vibration , because the fish are feeding in about 43 feet right now, some are schooling earily and late but you have to be right on top of them, they are drawing water starting around 3 p.m. and the action will heat up durning that time if you are in the right spot , look in the cemetery , the jungle around sugarloaf area and point 6 and in cove creel as well as kidney cove and point 1

Tommy Cauley

July 21, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -

Whew, a little relief from the heatwave is coming. And there has been no better place to get cool this week than standing in the tailwaters. The fish have been helpful to pass the time while you cool off as well. The heatwave prompted the first real wide open generation in a long time. The White was rolling hard Thursday afternoon and we would expect the same today.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Fishing has been good this week right throughout the heat. The key has been good long drifts, the fliy has seemed to matter less as long as its a beadhead midge 16-20. But our favorite this week was Spirit River's Hump-Bak Midge in olive, though we also caught fish on the red, brown and black versions. If nothing else this very cool little fly with the off centre bead is different, and the extra flash is appealing in these bright conditions. Fly tyers note, we should have stocks of the beads in this weekend.

Bryce's silver TDM, standard black or red Zebra Midges, Hot Wire Princes and Rojo Midges have been working well once the surface activity quietens. Long leaders and small indicators are essential. Tan and light brown scuds are also productive as well as McLellan's V-Rib Sowbug.

Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.

Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives and black during the day.

GENERATION PATTERN PRIMER
Heatwave conditions brough back something we haven't seen in a while, Beaver Tailwater up high and flowing hard. The heat is forecast to abate over the weekend before climbing back into the 90s midweek, so we thought it apt to rerun our generation prediction primer from last month.

Well predicting water generation, at least in Arkansas is a black art, best practised with tea leaves, crystals or chicken entrails. All are about as accurate as the power authorities official generation calendar and we don't suggest you use any of them. Funnily enough if you lived in Tennessee and fished their waters their power generation authority is required to publish accurate generation start and finish times, at least a couple of days in advance. Must be something in the water here!

Since we are all at the mercy of SWPA, we thought we would fill you in on our methods for predicting water releases during the year. Firstly Beaver is a little more predictable than say Norfolk since the power station supplies peak power demand. That means Beaver gets used in summer time on hot afternoons when people crank the air conditioning up. In winter its in reverse, mornings and evenings are the peak period when people are getting ready for, or coming home from, work and the heaters go on.

We also use the Corp of Engineers graphing page which tracks generation levels and lake heights here. Watching generation patterns, in conjunction with weather forecasts here <http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ifps/MapClick.php?CityName=Eureka+Springs&amp;state=AR&amp;site=TSA> , over the past few days can give you a pretty good idea of what is going to happen in the next few days. Just remember Thursday and Fridays often have a higher power demand.

The only truly accurate method of finding out if they are generating or not is having a look at the river or you can also telephone 417 336 5083 for a recorded message on whether the water is on or off at that current time. You will hear a message for Table Rock first and Beaver second.

Currently we are getting afternoon generation, usually only a couple of hours, and not much water either unless the temperatures are very high, perfect for floating and fishing.

For your information we have links to the Corp graph pages for other tailwaters below

Bull Shoals <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/WEB/bul.htm>
Table Rock <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/Web/tab.htm>
Norfolk <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/WEB/nor.htm>

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

July 21, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,112.66 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said bream are biting well on crickets fished 6 to 10 feet deep in the smaller lakes around Beaver Lake. On the lake, crappie are biting well on trolled crankbaits fished around flats. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and worms slowly fished 10 to 20 feet deep at night. Striped bass are poor. White bass are schooling early and late in the day at the north end of the lake and biting well on small top-water baits and CC Spoons. Catfish are beginning to spawn and are biting well on worms, stinkbait and liver.

July 18, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The water surface temperature currently ranges from 82º-92º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity is approx 6-10". Main lake's clarity, improved this week, at approx 4-6" visibility. Upriver oxbows have very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 3-6 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River.

As of Monday 7/17, lake level has risen from last week, and is approx one-half inch above normal pool, at 259.24. Current in Little River slow, with 1 gate open 0.37 feet, the release at the dam 156CFS as of Monday. The tailwater elevation is 223.97 feet. The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Best bite is from daylight to 9am, 6pm to 8pm. Numbers of bass in the 2-5 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class. Yearling and juvenile Black Bass continue schooling over the past 3 weeks, and are chasing shad and baitfish in the lily pads over the past few days breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy. Schooling activites are earlier this year than years past, and are taking place all along Little River and up and into the vegetation along river edges. It's a great time to take a kid fishing!

The Details:

Largemouth Bass are in full blown summer patterns, with the highest feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good in grass, pads and vegetation, on War Eagle Spinnerbaits in firecracker or aurora colors, buzz baits in blue glimmer or Tenneessee shad colors, and Johnson spoons, with white grub trailers in the lily pads. A white Moss Boss with a spilt milk - split tail plastic trailer in the pads will take chunky bass blowing up on shad. Early morning on calm lake surface, Zara Spook Jr's and Heddon Baby Torpedos in chrome/black, leopard frog, and gold pumpkinseed are drawing strikes.

Bass Assassin Shads and Charm Assassins in salt & pepper silver phantom, crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are still taking chunky Millwood Bass. Buzz baits are working early and then again late, blue glimmer or Tenn Shad colors working best for skirt choices. Over the past 3 weeks, between 7-10am, Black Bass have been schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads. The Johnson spoons, Moss Boss and soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, are catching these fish.

These same nomadic schools are also schooling and busting huge shad and bait schools in the river between Snake Creek and Jack's Isle and further up Little River between Hurricane Creek and second entrance to Horseshoe Lake. Be ready with a Little Cleo, Little George, Roadrunner, Rocket Shad or Rat-L-Trap that you can set sail when you see the top water frenzy start. The wild action only lasts for 2-3 minutes at a time, but 2 fishermen caught and released between 15-25 fish on 4 different schools, in approx 15 minutes this week, on 3 different occasions. Get your kids up early one day, get out there, and get those kids hooked on fishing while the action is HOT! They will be hooked for life with these schooling bass eating anything and everything as fast as they possibly can!

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Zoom Horney Toads in watermelon pearl, Snag Proof frogs (with rattles inside) in white, and Heddon Zara Mouses in chartruese colors, are drawing savage strikes and blow-ups around shaded cover overhead.

Carolina rig bite: Improved over the past few weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Areas that appear to be working the best this week are between 5-6 mile marker along Little River, on the northeast side of the river, and between Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. The carolina rig is working well, with lizards in green pumpkin or watermelon-red colors or Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom colors. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in camo, butterscotch and black/blue tail colors are still catching fish on cypress trees and knees in 8-12 feet depths and along Little River on points where stumps are present.

The jig bite: We switched from a Texas Craw color (black/pumpkin/chart) to a white jig with a white plastic chunk trailer, several weeks ago, and are having better results than the previous weeks. We are "swimming" the jig around grass, lily pads, and coontail over the last few weeks. We are having much more success with this technique than the standard pig & jig hopping approach, around wood.

Crappie are still hitting shiners and minnows, in the lily pads, in less than 6-8 feet depths of water along Little River and in the oxbows. Not a lot of Crappie fishermen on the lake in the past few days due to heat after 9am, and bite is pretty much done by 10am.

Channel Cat and Blue Cats were improved over the past week, as depth of Little River is returning to normal level. Trot lines baited with cut shad, chicken livers dog food and hot dogs, have been taking some nice Channel cats. Shiners baited on yo-yos under cypress trees in 7-10 feet depths were catching a few Blues at night around Jack's Isle.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows approx 3-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 8 inches, depending on location. Main lake is approx 6". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 1/2 inch above the normal pool, at 259.24 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 156CFS with 1 gate open at 0.37 feet. The tailwater level below the dam is 223.97, as of Monday. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 82º- 93º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

All the best,

Mike

July 16, 2006 - Beaver - Went to Beaver Lake in N.W. Arkansas and it was awesome. Wife caught the biggest 28 lb. Striper. We are mounting that one. At one time we had (5) huge Stripers on at once. I'm still shaking from that trip. Mark.

July 14, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -

Well it's hotter than a monkey's bum to quote our Upside Down colleague. So there is no better place to spend your time than the cool waters of an Ozark tailwater. Tnakfully the water releases are keeping the temperatures still good for trout otherwise we'd be heading for air conditioning. Come to think of it hanging out in the Dam store is a pretty good way to recover a bit white you wait for the mid-afternoon water releases to subside.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Its funny how all of us get into a particular mode of fishing for a while sticking with it because it works. But sometimes its good to break out of the comfort zone. We have a bunch of favorite scud and sowbug patterns, many tied by our good friend Mike McLellan, but over the past few months haven't been adding them to our leader that often on Beaver. On Taneycomo they are essential.
But the prevailing summer conditions have had us returning to our favorites mostly Mike's Woven V-Rib Sowbug and Hunchback Scud and Kaufmann's scud. Fish these down deep up and down the tailwater. Try tan and olive in the Hunchback scuds and both sizes of the Sowbug.
Soft hackles remain our early morning go to fly. Bryce's TDM, Zebra Midges, Hump-Bak Midges, Hot Wire Princes and Rojo Midges have been working well once the surface activity quietens. Long leaders and small indicators are essential.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). This week there were squadrons of cinnamon ants, floating downstream. Most were in the 28s and 20s range but every so often a flight commander or two, size 16, were visible. Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.

Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives and black during the day.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

July 5, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -

The water level is at 460.42 and falling

The crappie have just quit biting for some reason you can catch 1 or 2 and that is about it

The bream are still on beds and will be each full moon the rest of summer and will bit crickets and worms pretty well

The hybrids and whites are slow at times and at times you can catch all ya want and even the night fishing ahs not been good for them we need some hot weather so the thermicline will develpoe good if not the lake may turn over soon, and the full moon is not helping at all

The bass fishing has been spotty at best you can catch 1 here and 1 there the best bet is on drops with a texas rigged worm and fish it real slow

A few walleye are being caught and 1 was a 7 lbs you can catch a few under the hybrids but they are not ganged up like they should be

Tommy Cauley

July 4, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The water surface temperature currently ranges from 80º-91º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity is approx 6-10". Main lake's clarity, improved this week, at approx 5-7" visibility. Upriver oxbows have very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 3-6 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River.

As of Monday 7/10, lake level has risen a few inches from last week, but still is approx 2.04 inches below normal pool, at 259.03. Current in Little River slow, with 1 gate open 0.37 feet, the release at the dam 156CFS as of Monday. The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Numbers of bass in the 2-5 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class. Yearling and juvenile Black Bass have been schooling over the past 2 weeks, and are chasing shad and baitfish in the lily pads over the past few days breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass are in full time summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good in grass, pads and vegetation, on War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora, copper peach, or firecracker colors, Johnson silver spoons on sunny days, and Johnson gold spoons on cloudy days; either one and both, with white grub trailers. A white Moss Boss with a spilt milk - split tail plastic trailer in the pads will take chunky bass blowing up on shad. Be sure to use a braided line or heavy gear to hoss them out! Bass are still fair to good on Z-Nails and Salty Rat Tails in watermelon red or green pumpkin colors.

Bass Assassin Shads and Charm Assassins in salt & pepper silver phantom, crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are still taking chunky Millwood Bass. Buzz baits are working early and then again late, in bubblegum/white or blue glimmer colors. Over the past 2 weeks, between 9-11am, Black Bass have been schooling, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads. The Johnson spoons, Moss Boss and soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, are catching these fish.

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Zoom Horney Toads, Snag Proof (hollow) frogs (with rattles inside) and Heddon Zara Mouses (the ones with built-in, internal rattles) in white or leopard frog pattern colors, are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields where any hydrilla or grass intersect pads, and are offering bass some shaded cover overhead.

Carolina rig bite continues to improve over the last couple weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Areas that appear to be working the best this week are between 2-4 mile marker along Little River, on the northeast side of the river, and between Horseshoe Lake and the White Cliffs area boat ramp. The carolina rig is working very well, with lizards in green pumpkin or watermelon-red colors or Bass Assassin Shads in salt & pepper silver phantom colors. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in camo or appleseed colors are still catching fish on cypress trees and knees in 8-12 feet depths and along Little River on points where stumps are present.

The jig bite: Three weeks ago, we switched from a Texas Craw color (black / pumpkin / chart) to a white jig with a white plastic chunk trailer, and are having better results than the previous weeks with the Texas Craw color. We are "swimming" the jig around grass, lily pads, and coontail over the last few weeks. We are having much more success with this technique than the standard pig & jig hopping approach, around wood.

Crappie this week are hitting shiners and minnows, in the lily pads, in less than 9 feet depths of water.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar remain shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Gar. We continue to note Gar in excess of 10 pounds each, surfacing in water depths of less than 3 feet, in Mud Lake, McGuire Lake and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

Channel Cat and Blue Cats were slow to fair again over the past week, as not much current in Little River is carrying bait's scent very far. Trot lines baited with stink bait, cut shad and spoiled chicken livers were working sporadically. Shiners baited on yo-yos under cypress trees in 8-9 feet depths were catching a few Blues at night around Jack's Isle and also in Mud Lake.

White Bass remain trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few weeks in lily pads, along Little River. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs. This was the case this week and last week, in front of Mud Lake, in Hurricane Creek, the first entrance to Horseshoe, and in the first 200 yards of Lick Creek.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows improved over the past week, at approx 3-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 8 inches, depending on location. Main lake is also improved this week to approx 6". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 2 inches below the normal pool, at 259.03 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week slow, at 156CFS with 1 gate open at 0.37 feet. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 80º- 91º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Wear that Life Jacket!! If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

""""""Good Fishin'! <º)))><{""""""""""""

Mike

July 7, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! -Fishy, Fishy, Fishy! That's the forecast from the Dam Store brains trust. Mild weather and partly cloudy days will give the fly fishers a little respite from the blazing sun, and a great chance to get their rods bent. The July 4 crowds have eased a little and its tightlines time.

This morning's fishing reports were excellent. The midge hatches were strong and don't be surprised if cinnamon ant patterns are working.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Fishing should be great this weekend. A bunch of trout were stocked Friday if your after something easy and relaxed. There are some trickier fish up on the surface early eating teeny, tiny midges. Soft Hackles swung on the current, particularly in yellow or pheasant tail are a good bet. be paitients and try not to work the fly too much.

Bryce's TDM, Zebra Midges, Hump-Bak Midges, Hot Wire Princes and Rojo Midges have been working well once the surface activity quietens. Long leaders and small indicators are essential.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). This week there were squadrons of cinammon ants, floating downstream. Most were in the 28s and 20s range but every so often a flight commander or two, size 16, were visible. Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught in the slack water.

Don't forget your woolly buggers, black 6 Flash-A-Buggers of an evening, and olives and black during the day.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

July 5, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -

The water level is at 460.81 and falling

The walleye fishing has not been that good this week they have seemed to have moved or quite biting with all the boat traffic.

The bass can still be caught out on the ledges in 20-45 feet deep

The hybrids are spotty ­find the shad

The catfishing is still good

The crappie have slowed down also

Bream are biting pretty good

Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide

July 4, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The water surface temperature currently ranges from 80º-88º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity is improved, at approx 7-9". Main lake's clarity, likewise improved this week, at approx 6-7" visibility. Upriver oxbows have very good water clarity over the last week and varies from 5-6 feet in places. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Upriver missing river buoy locations are between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle; Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Downriver missing river buoy locations are between Yarborough point and Bee Lake; Outlaw Trail and Paraloma Trail; #1 and #5 mile marker.

As of Monday 7/03, lake level is approx 4.3 inches below normal pool, at 258.84. Current in Little River reduced from last week, with release at the dam 155CFS as of Monday. The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 6-7 lb class. Black and White Bass were attempting to school and chase shad in the lily pads over the past few days breaking topwater in a fast feeding frenzy.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass are in full time summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good in grass, pads and vegetation, on War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover, smokey mouse, or gold shiner colors, and fair to good on Salty Rat Tails or Z-Nails in watermelon red or green pumpkin colors. Bass Assassin Shads and Charm Assassins in salt & pepper silver phantom, crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are taking chunky Millwood Bass. Buzz baits in bubblegum & white are catching keeper Bass. Over the past few days, between 9-11am, Black and White Bass were attempting to school, chasing and busting the surface, running the shad and bait, in vegetation and lily pads. The soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Charms, rigged weedless, are catching these fish. Small chrome, hammered spoons with white bucktails, are also working, but get hung up in the lily pads more frequently.

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Zoom Horney Toads and Heddon Zara Mouses are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields where any hydrilla or grass intersect pads, offering shade.

Carolina rig bite continues to improve over the last couple weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, the carolina rig is working very well, with several fish in the 3-5lb class being caught and released. Lizards in green pumpkin or watermelon-red colors are working well. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in camo, appleseed, or butterscotch colors are catching fish on cypress trees and knees in 8-12 feet depth.

The jig bite: Two weeks ago, we switched from a Texas Craw color (black/pumpkin/chart) to a white jig with a white plastic chunk trailer, and are having better results than the previous weeks with the Texas Craw color. We are casting this white jig, and white split tail plastic chunk, and "swimming" the jig around grass, lily pads, and coontail over the last two weeks. We are having much more success "swimming" the jig around grass, than slow hopping around wood.

Crappie are into their summer patterns, and are fair along Little River approx 18-20 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar are noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Gar. We have noted Gar in excess of 10-15 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in Mud Lake, McGuire Lake and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

Channel Cat and Blue Cats were slow to fair over the past week, as not much current in Little River is carrying bait's scent very far. Trot lines baited with stink bait, cut shad and spoiled chicken livers were working sporadically. Shiners baited on yo-yos under cypress trees in 8-9 feet depths were catching a few Blues at night around Jack's Isle.

White Bass were trying to school with the Black Bass in the mornings in the last few days in lily pads, along Little River. If you can find these large schools of Whites chasing bait and shad along the outside edges of the pads, they will hammer a Rocket Shad in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows improved over the past week, at approx 5-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 8 inches, depending on location. Main lake is also improved this week to approx 6". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 4 inches below the normal pool, at 258.84 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week reduced, at 155CFS with 1 gate open at 0.4 feet. The water surface temperature currently ranges from 80º-88º, depending of course, on location and time of day.

Several river marker buoys remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. Upriver missing river buoy locations are between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle; Mud Lake and Hurricane Creek. Downriver missing river buoy locations are between Yarborough point and Bee Lake; Outlaw Trail and Paraloma Trail; #1 and #5 mile marker. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

""""""Good Fishin'! <º)))><{""""""""""""

Mike

June 30, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! We'll the July 4 weekend is here again, the weather forecast is great and the river is fishing well. We are looking forward to seeing a whole bunch of old friends ove the next week and meeting many new ones. Just stay safe amongst the traffic, have a great time whether your here or anywhere chasing fish and tight lines!!

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Well for all the battles people had last weekend, Monday showed that Beaver isn't "fished out", "too hard" or a bad place to fish. Long leaders, 9' plus 3' of flourocarbon 6x tippet, and the right drifting techniques will score fish and lots of them. Steve had two clients on Monday _ Bud could fish well and finished with 40-odd fish, his wife Patty was a first timer and after going through Steve's intro fly casting lesson finished up with around 10 _ and could have had as many more.

Steve's Cooee soft hackles (now back in stock after we chained him to the tying desk mid-week) tore up those usually tricky early morning risers. When the sun hit the water the fish went deep as usual and were keen to grab tungsten Hot Wire Prince nymphs in red/blue or red/yellow. Those three patterns were enough to account for 60-odd fish in about six person-hours of fishing effort.

Its also worth adding some tan Hunchback scuds, in 16 and 14 to drift through the mid-to lower part of the trophy area, Brassies (with or without bead) and Copper Johns in 14s, 16s and 18s are also doing well.

Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught against the shore.

WHAT TO DO DURING GENERATION
If you have ever had anything to do with an Arkansas tailwater you know the following scenario. Beautiful day, feeding fish, rig up your new/favorite rod, hand-tie the perfect leader without clipping the leader rathe tthan the tag end, your newly tied/purchased killer fly is hanging on the pointy end. You wader repair had worked, the water feels good around your legs and your upper body is enjoying the sun, you start to work out line for your first cast _ and the horn sounds. A great day done _ maybe not. Beaver power station is only running a couple of hours mid-to late afternoon at present so its worth hanging around.

Since we are a helpful bunch of folks here at the Dam store here's our list of things to do when they are generating on the tailwater this summer:
Go swimming in Beaver Lake. The water temperatures are beautiful
Be nice to your wife/partner/significant other.
Rent a canoe or kayak and float the river, fish as much or as little as you want to.
Test cast all the rods in the Beaver Dam Store. Steve won't mind a bit.
Find a shady spot under a tree and mediate on new ways to fool trout. Closing your eyes helps the process.
Reorganise your fly boxes. Your collection would look even nicer and be more organised in our Big Cliff, Cliff's Bugger Barn or C&F boxes.
Set up a small mobile fly tying kit to fill in time. You can never have too many Zebra's, TDMs, or soft hackles and the materials don't take up much space.
Go panfishing on the lake.
Panfishing is Dam good fun on a fly rod. Piddling around the lake edges with a popper, hopper or even prospecting with a woolly bugger is way more fun than driving home cursing at fate or SWPA. Climb out of your waders, slip on your sandlas and enjoy the feeling of warm water on your legs.
No fancy leader set-ups not need for delicate casts, just splat that bug down on the surface and watch as its hammered. A lot of times they will miss, but you will keep grinning. Adding a Hares Ear or similar nondescript nymph on a dropper can be productive as well. Light rods are the best, 4s, 3, or for some serious fun try our "smile-making" 6' 2wt TFO Series One. Even the price is fun at $89.95.

Now you don't need to throw 8wt sized poppers like Bubba here at the left ate, but you can try Club Sandwhich or Charlie Boy hoppers, Panfish Agitators, Dinks, and Micro Poppers. Buggers are also a good bet, or mix it up with some crawdad patterns for those hungry smallies.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

June 27, 2006 - Greers Ferry - the water level at greers ferry is 463.34 and falling at present

the walleye are fair in 28-32 feet of water on crawler harness rigged on bottom bouncers

the whites and hybrids are hit or miss with the good fishing at night underlights and earily morning and late evenings and also some of the best is in the middle of the day if you can sand the heat, after all the anglers goo in for the day and the boat action gets quite then tehy have been schooling some in the heat of the day, with your regular stand by baits working

the crappie have slowed some with the cooler nights but will get more predictible as it heats back up and get suspended in the brush piles and the standing pole timber

the bream are biting pretty good aropund docks and up shallow earily and late in the day crickets seems to be the best

the catfishing is hot right now on the lake with allspecies biting good on just about anything you want to use for bait from soap on down to livers , with live bream being the best for flatheads

the bass are in their summer mode and have bit pretty well in the cooler weather , they feel good also, but the best bet is on the channel swings and points and drops with texas rigged or c-rigged worms or lizards and the shakey hookers are taking afew when they come up schooling


June 27, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The surface water temperatures range from 78º-92º, depending of course, on location and time of day. Little River's clarity is improved, at approx 5-6". Main lake's clarity, likewise improved this week, at approx 5" visibility. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 6/26, lake level is approx 4 inches above normal pool, at 259.55. Current in Little River reduced from last week, with release at the dam 390CFS as of Monday. The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 6-7 lb class. Over the past 3 weeks, the AG&FC have released approx 147,000 Florida Strain Bass into Millwood ranging in size from 2" to 4" fingerlings, and "bull size" (3"-4") bass, to fully grown 3-6 pound adult Florida strain brood stock; some with flourescent tags, into Millwood. If you are fortunate enough to catch one of these tagged fish with its own unique ID number, you will get a 1-year free fishing license from the State of Arkansas!

The Details:

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, over the past 3 weeks, have released approx 147,000 fingerlings and adult brood stock, Florida Strain Bass in Millwood, bringing the 2006 total Florida Strain Bass additions number to approximately 147,008 from the AG&FC hatchery. This brings the total number of Florida Bass stocked into Millwood since their trophy management plan began, to just under 2,000,000!! The adult Florida Strain Bass released 2 weeks ago, were in the 6 pound class, and 3 of the 8 were tagged with flourescent tags, each fish with its own unique ID number. Some lucky fisherman who catches one of these tagged Bass, will earn a 1-year fishing license from the State of Arkansas, FREE!!!

It seems that the Hulsey Hatchery folks did a fantastic job of raising fish this year and they had bumper crops of Florida bass! SW Arkansas District Biologists continue working hard to ensure the future generations of hard fighting and behemoth bass for Millwood. We all hope to continue to see success in the Florida Bass chromosomal improvements to Millwood Lake's native Northern Largemouth population in the F1 and F2 generations, as we have over the past few years. Great stuff. Keep up the great work AG&FC Hulsey Hatchery and Southwest District Offices fisheries biologists!

Largemouth Bass are in full time summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day, and at night. Bass remain good on War Eagle Spinnerbaits in gold shiner, cole slaw, or firetiger colors (especially in the heavier stained water clarity areas) and fair to good on Salty Rat Tails, Z-Nails in watermelon red, black/blue flake or green pumpkin colors. Bass Assassin Shads and Charm Assassins in salt & pepper phantom/ chartruese or crystal shad and silver ghost colors, wacky rigged, are taking chunky Millwood Bass. Buzz baits in bubblegum/white are catching keeper Bass.

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Zoom Horney Toads and Heddon Zara Mouses are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields where any hydrilla or grass intersect pads, offering shade.

Carolina rig bite is improving over the last couple weeks along steep wash-outs/cut-outs in Little River. Between Pugh Slough and Jack's Isle, the carolina rig is working very well, with several fish in the 4-6lb class being caught and released in the last few days. Lizards in green pumpkin or pumpkinseed/chart colors are working well. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in pumpkin / chartruese tail, or black neon colors remain catching fish on cypress trees and stumps along the Little River.

Trick/twitch/Charm Assassins in crystal shad or silver ghost, are working best around grass mats in 2-4 feet of water, up Little River close to deeper water. Stay close to the river, but early and late dont hesitate to throw a blue glimmer or black buzz bait or a gold shiner War Eagle spinnerbait in the grass in shallow sloughs immediately off the river, or on points tapering out into 14 feet depths. The jig bite seems to have improved again in the last 2 weeks. We switched over to throwing a white jig with a white plastic chunk trailer, and are having better results than the previous weeks with our standard black/blue or Texas Craw color. We are casting this white jig, and white split tail plastic chunk, and "swimming" the jig around grass, lily pads, and coontail over the last two weeks. We are having much more success "swimming" the jig around grass, than slow hopping around wood. 10-12" Berkley Power worms, in blue fleck or june bug colors are still working well around stumps, especially on points, in vegetation and grass.

Crappie are also into their summer patterns and remain stacked up in Little River approx 15-19 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners. Jigs occasionally will buy a few bites, but the shiners remain taking the better size fish.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar are noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Gar. We have noted Gar in excess of 10-15 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in Mud Lake, McGuire Lake and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

No report this week for Channel Cat or Blue Cats.

White Bass were trying to school with the cooler mornings in the last few days in Horseshoe and McGuire Lake oxbows off Little River, and were hammering Rocket Shads in white and chartruese colors, as well as Rat-L-Traps in chrome/black and chrome/green backs.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake currently range approx 78-92º.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows improved over the past week, at approx 3 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 5-6 inches, depending on location. Main lake is also improved this week to approx 5". As of Monday, the lake level is approx 4 inches above the normal pool, at 259.55 feet. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week reduced at 390CFS with 1 gate open at 1 foot. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Water temps climbed a few degrees over the past week. The increase of surface temps over the last 2 weeks, have put most all the bass and crappie into their summer routine patterns, typical for this time of year, with highest activity feeding periods, early, late in the day or at night.

All the best,

""""""Good Fishin'! <º)))><{""""""""""""

Mike

June 23, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

This weekend should be a beauty, with temperatures in the 80s and beautiful days. Great to get on the river and float. You can rent canoes, kayaks and jon boats at Spider Creek Resort <http://www.spidercreek.com/> . Give them a call at 1 800 272 6034, particularly if you want an early start its wise to book ahead.

Or you could relax and toss some little floater for pan fish. We have had great reports from White Bass Cove to the Dam. We have some hot patterns too.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Get out of bed or stay out late. That's the best bet for tackling Beaver at the moment. And by early we mean really early. Its light enough to fish from about 5.30am. The mist will usually be thick enough to make dead drifting small midge emergers or even small indicators somewhat of a pain, your drifts get shortened up by the sheer lack of visibility. If there has been any rain during the day it can be a real peasouper down there
So our favorite tactic for the very early period is either soft hackles swung across the current or woolly buggers stripped or swung. And swung or stripped slowly _ often the best pace is merely to hold your line tight

By the time the mist burns off and the sun hits the water the fish are heading deep. Copper-ribbed zebra midges are very good, as are Bryce's TDM, regular zebras and the Blue Poison Tung. Y2Ks and Woolly Buggers can also produce some fish. But generally the middle of the day is going to be hard work.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught against the shore.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

ARE THEY RUNNING WATER?
Of all the queries we get "are they running water" is probably the most common. Its usually followed by a second question "well how do you find out?"

Well predicting water generation, at least in Arkansas is a black art, best practised with tea leaves, crystals or chicken entrails. All are about as accurate as the power authorities official generation calendar and we don't suggest you use any of them. Funnily enough if you lived in Tennessee and fished their waters their power generation authority is required to and does publish accurate generation start and finish times, at least a couple of days in advance. Must be something in the water here!

Since we are all at the mercy of SWPA, we thought we would fill you in on our methods for predicting water releases during the year. Firstly Beaver is a little more predictable than say Norfolk since the power station supplies peak power demand. That means Beaver gets used in summer time on hot afternoons when people crank the air conditioning up. In winter its in reverse, mornings and evenings are the peak period when people are getting ready for, or coming home from, work and the heaters go on. .

We also use the Corp of Engineers graphing page which tracks generation levels and lake heights here <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/Web/bea.htm> . Watching generation patterns, in conjunction with temperature, over the past few days can giev you a pretty good idea of what is going to happen in the coming days. Just remember Thursday and Fridays often have a higher power demand.

The only truly accurate method of finding out if they are generating or not is having a look at the river or you can also telephone 417 336 5083 for a recorded message on whether the water is on or off at that current time. You will hear a message for Table Rock first and Beaver second.

Currently we are getting afternoon generation, usually only a couple of hours, and not much water either unless the temperatures are very high, perfect for floating and fishing.

For your information we have links to the Corp graph pages for other tailwaters below

Bull Shoals <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/WEB/bul.htm>
Table Rock <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/Web/tab.htm>
Norfolk <http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/plots/WEB/nor.htm>

June 21, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,113.61 feet MSL.

J.T. Crappie Guide Services said bream aren't biting much. Crappie and whites are biting fairly well on minnows and small shad at night under lights. Whites are also biting on Hot-N-Tots around bluff lines 10 to 15 feet deep. Bass are in their summer pattern and are biting fairly well during the day on finesse worms and small baits. At night, bass are biting on big worms and black spinnerbaits in brush piles 20 to 25 feet deep. Stripers are in deep waters. Catfish are biting well on goldfish, live baits, trotlines and jugs.

June 21, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers is 461.69 and falling

the whites and hybrid bass can be caught at night as they are in their summer patterns now for sure and earily and late in the day schooling some but you have to be around alot of bait fish and if they move water durning the day they can be caught also -on the new bandit in-line spinner and top waters and spoons

the crappie are suspended in the pole timber and also over deeper brush piles 15-25 feet deep

bream are biting well around docks and brush piles 15-25 feet deep also.

the catfishing is good all around the lake and can be caught several different ways jugs trotlines and noodles as well as rod and reel with any of your favorite baits

the bass are up shallow earily and late and on the ledges the rest of the time in river bends and the sides of points as well as being buried in deeper brushpiles when the sun is high and can be caught with texas rigged worms in grasshopper and red with gold flake worms and the crabapple is working well also , along with c-rigged finesse worms some fish are being reported being caught with dropshot worms and also with football heads from 15 feet to 45 feet deep

Tommy Cauley

June 20, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The surface water temperatures range from 80º-90º, depending of course, on location and time of day. River's water clarity diminished from recent rains, and is approx 4-5". Main lake's clarity, likewise diminshed this week, at approx 3-5" visibility. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Tuesday 6/20, the lake level is approx 3.4 inches above normal level and slowly falling. Current in Little River remains as last week, with release at the dam 790CFS as of Tuesday. The activity levels of Bass & Crappie are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class. Over the past 2 weeks, the AG&FC have released approx 147,000 Florida Bass into Millwood ranging in size from 2" to 4" fingerlings and "bull size" bass to fully grown 3-6 pound adult Florida strain brood stock. Last week another crop of adult Florida strain bass were released, some with flourescent tags, into Millwood. If you are fortunate enough to catch one of these tagged fish with its own unique ID number, you will get a 1-year free fishing license from the State of Arkansas!

The Details:

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission released 8 adult brood stock, purebred Florida Bass in Millwood last Wednesday, and another approx 147,000 fingerlings over the past 2 weeks bringing the 2006 total Florida Bass number to approximately 147,008 including the brood adults from the AG&FC hatchery. This brings the total number of Florida Bass stocked into Millwood since approximately 1988 or 1990, to just under 2,000,000!! The adult Florida strain bass released last week were in the 6 pound class, and 3 of the 8 were tagged with flourescent tags, each fish with its own unique ID number. Some lucky fisherman who catches one of these tagged Bass, will earn a 1-year fishing license from the State of Arkansas, FREE!!!

It seems that the Hulsey Hatchery folks did a fantastic job of raising fish this year and they had bumper crops of Florida bass! SW Arkansas District Biologists continue working hard to ensure the future generations of hard fighting and behemoth bass for Millwood. We all hope to continue to see success in the Florida Bass chromosomal improvements to Millwood Lake's native Northern Largemouth population, as we have over the past few years. Great stuff. Keep up the great work AG&FC Hulsey Hatchery and Southwestern District Offices!

Largemouth Bass are in full swing summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day. Bass remain good on Ken Pops in chrome/purple back, Salty Rat Tails, Senkos, & Z-Nails in watermelon red, black/blue flake or green pumpkin colors. Bass Assassin Shads in crystal shad colors and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in gold shiner, cole slaw, or firetiger colors are taking chunky Millwood Bass. Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs are still catching keeper Bass.

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Zoom Horney Toads and Heddon Zara Mouses are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields where any hydrilla or grass intersect pads, offering shade. Zoom baby brush hogs in june bug or lizards in cotton candy colors are working well. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in pumpkin / chartruese tail, or black neon colors are catching fish on cypress. The Bass Assassin shads in Texas Red, Tennessee Shad, or bubble gum colors, the trick worms in bait fish blue/gray colors, continue working over the last few weeks, around vegetation in creek channels.

Senkos or Trick worms in black/blue fleck, watermelon-red, purple fleck and white ice, are working best around grass mats in 2-4 feet of water, up Little River close to deeper water. Stay close to the river, but early and late dont hesitate to throw a buzz bait or spinnerbait in the grass in shallow sloughs immedieately off the river, or on points tapering out into 14 feet depths. The jig bite seems to have improved in the last week, however, we have switched over to throwing a white jig with a Zoom spilt milk double curly tail trailer. We are throwing this white jig, and swimming it around grass, lily pads, and coontail over the last few days. We are having much more success swimming the jig around grass, than slow hopping around wood. 10-12" Berkley Power worms, in blue fleck or june bug colors are still working well around stumps, especially on points, in vegetation and grass.

Crappie are also into their summer patterns and remain stacked up in Little River approx 15-19 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners. Jigs occasionally will buy a few bites, but the shiners remain taking the better size fish.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar are noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Gar. We have noted Gar in excess of 20 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in McGuire and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

Channel and Blue Cats continue hitting cut shad, chicken livers and Catfish Charlie on trot lines in 17-20 feet depth in Little River current. At night, yo-yos are working around Jack's Isle and in Mud Lake under cypress trees, baited with chicken livers or Catfish Charlie and homemade blood bait, hung from tree limbs in 7-11 foot depths.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake currently range approx 80-90º.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows diminished over the past week's rain, at approx 1-3 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 4-5 inches, depending on location. Main lake is also reduced this week to approx 3-5". As of Tuesday, the lake level is approx 3.4 inches above the normal pool, at 259.49 feet and slowly falling. Discharge at the dam as of Tuesday this week remains at 790CFS with 2 gates are open at 1 foot each. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Water temps climbed a few degrees over the past week. The increase of surface temps over the last 2 weeks, have put most all the bass and crappie into their summer routine patterns, typical for this time of year.

Wear that Life Jacket!! If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

Mike

June 16, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

This weekend is shaping as a pretty decent fishing weekend, as long as you don't mind a little rain. But the grey skies, cloud cover should be fund to fish. If your really keen, work on floating the river during generation and throw some big streams, you could find this is a great way to hit a big brown.

We have has some conventional tackle reports of browns being targetted this way in the past few weeks. Call in and we can fill you in on the flies and gear to use.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Midday fishing remains tricky on the tailwater with some very spooky fish. So get out of bed or stay out late And by early we mean really early. Its light enough to fish from about 5.30am. The mist will usually be thick enough to make deas drifting small midge emergers or even small indicators somewhat of a pain, your drifts get shortened up by the sheer lack of visibility. So our favorite tactic for the very early period is either soft hackles swung across the current or woolly buggers stripped or swung. And swung or stripped slowly _ often the best pace is merely to hold your line tight. Srteve went out to test drive some new patterns on Wednesday and finished off with three rainbows landed, two lost off five casts of his Green and Yellow Cooee Soft Hackle.

By the time the mist burns off and the sun hits the water the fish are heading deep. Copper-ribbed zebra midges are very good, as are Bryce's TDM, regular zebras and the Blue Poison Tung. Y2Ks and Woolly Buggers can also produce some fish. But generally the middle of the day is going to be hard work.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught against the shore.

TERRESTRIAL TIME
Summer fly fishing in the Ozarks means escaping the heat in the soothing cool of the White River, lazy evenings and misty mornings. Swinging soft hackles at dawn and big streamers, or a mouse on warm evenings. Bass bugs on the lakes and crawdads in the streams. And hopper, beetles and ants eveywhere.

Tossing terrestrials is one of our favorite activities during the summer months. If your not familiar with the term terrestrials are all those normally land based bugs which end up in the water. The wider family can include leafhoppers, crickets, cicadas, inchworms but the most common varieties around these parts are ants, beetles and hoppers. Fish love them all and can provide some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.

Warm windy afternoons are usually pretty good for this type of fishing. Lots of bugs blown out of the trees, bushes and grass along the banks. Look underneath and downstream of overhanging trees (there are a couple of obvious ones in Beaver). Often the most likely area to start looking for terrestrial feeders is the windward bank. But taller trees, higher winds can have the food landing further out from the bank. And don't forget the lee shore. After a couple of hours of wind the breeze will have pushed a nice supply of bugs over to the far bank, where you will often find a trout or two slurping down the feast.

Usually generation kills off any thoughts of dry flies on Ozark tailwaters, but not when bigger terrestrials are out. Tossing hoppers or ants into decent sized eddies and back waters, can be lethal at times. Risers are easier to see in the smooth flat parts of the eddy but look hard at the seams where the eddy and the main brush rub shoulders. Taneycomo, Bull Shoals and Beaver have several of these types of locations, where risers seems to almost feed at will.

Some of our favorite terrestrial patterns:
Hoppers: Club Sandwich, Dave's Hopper (from the Southern master Dave Whitlock), Charlie Boy Hoppers.
Ants: Schroeder's Parachute Ant.
Beetles: Lawson's Foam Beetle, Renegade, Red Tag (ask Steve about this easy tie Aussie standard), Hi-Vis Foam Beetle.
General Attractors: Stimulator (ok its a stonefly but it works); Chernobyl Ant; Turks Tarantula.

Don't forget most of the foam patterns above can slay panfish, smallmouth and even largemouth as well

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

June 13, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry is at 462.05 and falling

most all the black basses are out on their summer ledges now and will be their except durin g brief earily morning and late evening feeding on top, and can be caught with top waters and buzz baits earily and late and texas rigged worms and c-rigged worms and lizards from 15 to 35 feet deep, some bass are schooling durning the day on bends and the tops of the ledges at different times of the day and on different parts of the lake

some hybrids and whits are schooling some and the rest of the time can be caught out in the creek channels

the walleye are fair dragging bottom bouncers in 27 feet of water with a crawler harness

the crappie are suspended over 20 feet brush piles and also in pole timber in 15- 20 feet of water over 60 feet

the bream are fair around docks and over brush plies any where from 6 inches to 27 feet

the catfishing is good all around the lake on jugs and trot lines baited with cut bait, bream and or prepared bait in depths from 15-17 feet deep and the flatheads are spawning now also

Tommy Cauley

June 12, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The surface water temperatures range from 84º-92º, depending of course, on location and time of day. River's water clarity approx 6-8". Main lake's clarity approx 4-7" visibility. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Mondday 6/12, the lake level is approx 6.7 inches above normal level and slowly falling.
Current in Little River is same as last week, and release at the dam is 790CFS as of Monday. The activity levels of Bass & Crappie are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class. AG&FC released 125,000 Florida Bass into Millwood last week and another approximately 22,000 this past week, bringing the total to approximately 147,000 Florida Bass released into Millwood this calendar year.

The Details:

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission released approx 125,000 purebred Florida Bass in Millwood Wednesday before last, and another approx 22,000 this past week bringing the 2006 total Florida Bass number to approximately 147,000 including some brood adults from the AG&FC hatchery. This brings the total number of Florida Bass stocked into Millwood since approximately 1988 or 1990, to just under 2,000,000!!

AG&FC staged out of Yarborough and spread them out by boats in several different directions, such that the bass could migrate into various areas and regions, to relocate and hide in the many vegetation species, for protection from predation.

The bass released just this week ranged in size from from 2" to 4&1/2" ("Bull Size Bass") in length, as well as brood stock adults from the hatchery in Hot Springs. There is a possibility of even more Florida Bass for Millwood this year. We certainly all hope so!

It seems that the Hulsey Hatchery folks did a fantastic job of raising fish this year and they had bumper crops of Florida bass! SW Arkansas District Biologists continue working hard to ensure the future generations of hard fighting and behemoth bass for Millwood. We all hope to continue to see success in the Florida Bass chromosomal improvements to Millwood Lake's native Northern Largemouth population, as we have over the past few years. Great stuff. Keep up the great work AG&FC Southwestern District!

Largemouth Bass are in full swing summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day. Bass remain good on Buzz Baits in shad or blue glimmer colors, Ken Pops in chrome/black or chrome/purple back, Salty Rat Tails & Z-Nails in watermelon red, blue fleck or green pumpkin colors. Bass Assassin Shads in baby bass or crystal shad colors and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover or aurora colors are still taking chunky Millwood Bass. Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs are still catching keeper Bass.

Later in the day, once the sun gets up and more direct, Zoom Horney Toads and Heddon Zara Mouses are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields where any hydrilla or grass intersect pads, offering shade. Zoom baby brush hogs in june bug or lizards in cotton candy colors are working well. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in appleseed or pumpkin / chartruese colors are catching fish on cypress. The Bass Assassin shads in baby bass or translucent huges and colors, the trick worms in bait fish blue/gray colors, continue working over the last few weeks, around vegetation in creek channels.

Crankbaits like the Fat Free Shads or Norman DLN, in brown/orange craw or chrome/blue colors are taking keeper bass on stumps in Little River, fished slow and deflecting on stumps.

Senkos or Trick worms in black/blue fleck, watermelon-red, purple fleck or white ice, are working best around grass mats in 2-4 feet of water, up Little River close to deeper water. Stay close to the river, but early and late dont hesitate to throw a buzz bait or spinnerbait in the grass in shallow sloughs immedieately off the river, or on points tapering out into 14 feet depths. The jig bite continues improving also, in Texas Craw (pumpkin/black/chartruese). We are using a Larew Hog Craw Trailer in green pumpkin over the last few days. 10-12" Berkley Power worms, in blue fleck or june bug colors are still working well in approx 8-14 feet of water along stumps, especially on points, in vegetation and grass.

Crappie are also into their summer patterns and stacked up in Little River approx 14-17 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners. Jigs occasionally will buy a few bites, but the shiners are taking the better size fish.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar and Carp remain noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Carp or Gar. We have noted both Gar and Carp in excess of 30 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in McGuire and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

Channel and Blue Cats continue hitting cut shad, chicken livers and Catfish Charlie on trot lines in 17-20 feet depth in Little River current. At night, yo-yos are working around Jack's Isle and north along the river, baited with chicken livers or Catfish Charlie and homemade blood bait, hung from cypress tree limbs in 9-12 foot depths.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake have warmed this week. Currently surface temps are ranging from approx 84-92º.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows good, and improved at approx 3-5 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 6-8 inches, depending on location. Main lake is improved again this week to approx 4-6". As of Tuesday, the lake level is approx 6.7 inches above the normal pool, at 259.76 feet and slowly falling. Discharge at the dam as of Monday this week at 790CFS with 2 gates are open at 1 foot each. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Water temps climbed a few degrees over the past week. The increase of surface temps over the last 2 weeks, have put most all the bass and crappie into their summer routine patterns, typical for this time of year.

All the best,

Mike

June 9, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

This weekend is free fishing weekend so we hope everyone takes the opportunity to bring along a friend and introduce them to the tailwater. Fish early or late, and maybe swim on the lake, eat some food or just laze on a gravel bar during the heat of the day.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Get out of bed or stay out late. That's the best bet for tackling Beaver at the moment. And by early we mean really early. Its light enough to fish from about 5.30am. The mist will usually be thick enough to make deas drifting small midge emergers or even small indicators somewhat of a pain, your drifts get shortened up by the sheer lack of visibility.
So our favorite tactic for the very early period is either soft hackles swung across the current or woolly buggers stripped or swung. And swung or stripped slowly _ often the best pace is merely to hold your line tight

By the time the mist burns off and the sun hits the water the fish are heading deep. Copper-ribbed zebra midges are very good, as are Bryce's TDM, regular zebras and the Blue Poison Tung. Y2Ks and Woolly Buggers can also produce some fish. But generally the middle of the day is going to be hard work.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught against the shore.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

June 7, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry is 462.37 and falling with generation and evaporation normal pool is 461.03

the bass are still scattered from 6 inches to 25 feet and some are roaming with the whites and hybrids , you can catch them on a right bite buzzing frog in the bushes and top water baits also and a c-rig out deeper with a lizard or a texas rig worm in brush piles or on ledges

the crappie have been biting , suspended in the trees over 40-60 feet of water in about 15 feet and shallower if cloudy and scattered and over brush piles in 21-25 feet of water

the catfish are going strong , all species are being caught good on trotlines and jugs or noodles, 1 foot of leader on the trotlines and 17-23 feet on the jugs or noodles

the bream are biting well also around boat docks and in and around brush piles

the walleye have been slow

the whites and hybrids are schooling on cloudy days around choctaw and point 1 and all in between find the bait and the fish will be their sooner or later, if it is cloudy they will pretty much do it all day if it is sunny then earily morning and late evening are the best
Tommy Cauley

June 6, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

The surface water temperatures range from 82º-90º, depending of course, on location and time of day. River's water clarity improved approx 8-10". Main lake's clarity improved this week to approx 6-7" visibility. Several River markers remain missing and/or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Tuesday 6/06, the lake level is approx 7.3 inches above normal level and slowly rising. Current in Little River is increased from last week, and release at the dam is 790CFS as of Tuesday. The activity levels of Bass & Crappie are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day. Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class. AG&FC released another 125,000 Florida Bass into Millwood this past week.

The Details:

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission released another 125,000 purebred Florida Bass in Millwood last Wednesday. AG&FC staged out of Yarborough and spread them out by boat in several different directions, such that the bass could migrate into various areas and regions, to relocate and hide in the many vegetation species, for protection from predation. The bass were fingerling size, and ranged in size from 1-1/2" to 2" in length. There is a possibility of even more Florida Bass for Millwood this year. We certainly all hope so!

There may be even more, possibly a few thousand more, Florida bass fingerlings stocked this year, according to AG&FC. It seems that the Hulsey Hatchery folks did a fantastic job of raising fish this year and they had bumper crops of Florida bass! SW Arkansas District Biologists and Ichthyologists (*sp) are working hard to ensure the future generations of hard fighting and behemoth bass for Millwood, and we all hope to continue to see success in the Florida Bass chromosomal improvements to Millwood Lake's native Northern Largemouth population, as we have over the past few years. Great stuff. Keep up the great work AF&FC SW District!

Largemouth Bass are in full swing summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day. These Bass remain good on Heddon Spit'n Images in threadfin shad colors, Baby Torpedos in leopard frog colors, Crazy Shads in chrome/black, buzz baits in tenneessee shad or blue glimmer, Salty Rat Tails & Z-Nails in watermelon red, blue fleck or green pumpkin colors. Bass Assassin Shads in gizzard shad or alewife colors and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover or mouse/chartreuse colors are still taking nice chunky Millwood Bass. Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs are still catching keeper Bass.

Zoom Horney Toads are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields where any hydrilla or grass intersect pads. Zoom lizards and worms in june bug or cotton candy colors are working well. Southern Pro fatbutt tubes in black/blue tail or appleseed colors are catching fish on cypress. The continued improvment in water clarity over the past week are requiring a more natural colors, and the more translucents like cotton candy, watermelon-red, or blues and green pumpkin colors appear to work better. The Bass Assassin shads in shad or baby bass color patterns and trick worms in bait fish colors, continue working better over the last few weeks, around vegetation in creek channels.

Cordell Redfins in gold, Heddon Spitin' Images in threadfin shad, and Baby Torpedos or Cordell Crazy Shads in frog or chrome/black colors, are still taking fish. Crankbaits like the Fat Free Shads or Norman DLN, in brown/orange craw colors are taking keeper bass on stumps in Little River, fished slow and deflecting on stumps.

Senkos or Trick worms in black/blue fleck, watermelon-red, purple fleck or white ice, and War Eagle spinnerbaits in aurora or copper peach colors are working best around grass mats in 2-4 feet of water, close to deeper water or Little River. Stay close to the river, but early and late dont hesitate to throw a buzz bait or spinnerbait in the grass in shallow sloughs immedieately off the river, or on points tapering out into 14 feet depths. The jig bite continues improving also, in Texas Craw, or black colors. We are using a Larew Hog Craw Trailer or Uncle Josh #1, black with blue fleck, no matter which jig color we are throwing. 10-12" Berkley Power worms, in blue fleck, june bug and tequila sunrise colors remain working well in approx 8-14 feet of water along stumps, especially on points, in vegetation and grass.

Crappie are also into their summer patterns and stacked up in Little River approx 15-19 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners. Jigs occasionally will buy a few bites, but the shiners are taking the better size fish.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar and Carp remain noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Carp or Gar. We have noted both Gar and Carp in excess of 30 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in McGuire and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

Channel Cats continue hitting cut shad, chicken livers and Catfish Charlie on trot lines in 12-18 feet depth in Little River current. At night, yo-yos are working around Jack's Isle and north along the river, baited with chicken livers or Catfish Charlie and homemade blood bait, hung from cypress tree limbs in 9-12 foot depths.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake have warmed this week. Currently surface temps are ranging from approx 82-90º.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows good, and improved at approx 4-6 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is improved at approx 8-10 inches, again, depending on location. Main lake is improved again this week to approx 6-7". As of Tuesday, the lake level is approx 7.3 inches above the normal pool, at 259.81 feet and slowly rising. Discharge at the dam is increased this week at 790CFS with 2 gates are open at 1 foot each. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

Water temps climbed a few degrees over the past week. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun, and are averaging in the upper 70 to mid 80º range. The increase of surface temps over the last 2 weeks, have put most all the bass and crappie into their summer routine patterns, typical for this time of year.

Mike

June 2, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!
Another weekend is upon us and we have been fishing and playing hard. The Eureka Springs Bluesfest is on and for blues lovers this a great time to visit our area. Shake off the post party headaches with some time on the water, floating fishing or funning about.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Early morning mist across the Tailwater is punctuated by trout slurping some of the smallest midges of the year. These little bugs are ridiculously small and the trout are eating them both as adults and emergers. You can try some teeny dries like Razor Midges, size 26-20 Cream Midges, or our Adult Midge Light. This is probably some of the most challenging fishing of the year.
Soft hackles can be a better bet, but don,t expect a fish on every cast _ even though you will see more fish up on the surface than at any other time. Cooee Soft Hackle, Red Ass, Patridge and Yellow and Partridge and Orange are good bets. The hatch even slows up the subsurface action until the mist burns off.

Bruce,s TDM in green, red and gray/silver are always productive. Or you might try a bright Y2K Bug or a stripped woolly bugger to try and distract one of the midge feeders

Daytime fishing is still productive during the morning hours. Bryce,s TDM, Charlotte,s Redneck Midge, Razorback Midge, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors, Lightning Bug,s and Craven,s blue Poison Tung are all working very well. By lunchtime the action slows a little.
Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught against the shore.

Bull Shoals Tailwater: We have just started running trips below Bull Shoal Dam and we mean right below. The "flats" above the first shoal is fishing superbly with some big big fish in shallow gin clear water. This is some of the most challenging fishing going, and Steve rates it as much fun as the tough wade polaroiding of his native Tasmanian lakes and streams.

Try small black midge patterns, like black beauties and rojo midges fished shallow on long fine leaders under small indicators. Soft hackles, beadless woolies and Woven V-Rib sowbugs are also working well. Don't be afraid to try dries too in this shallows attractors like Stimulators, or smaller imitative midge emergers. Further down on the shoal try sowbugs, worm brown San Juans, zebra midges and other Arkansas standards are pulling some nice fish.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

June 2, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - Beaver Lake 1114.0' above sea level, still 6' low.

Black Bass: Conditions- Water level is stable, color green and clearing : Fish moving deeper. Crank bait bite good. Deep main lake points. Early and late top water bite some days. Worm and jig fishing slow.

Crappie: Crappie bite tough. Most fish being caught along drop-off in 6 to 15 feet of water. "Spider Riggers" are having better luck in open water at the mouth of coves. Best fishing within "brush piles". Many new brush piles starting to produce. Big Hickory, Eden Bluff, Mouth of War Eagle popular. Use your electronics. Many good reports from using Shinee Hineee's.
Night fishing under lights is picking up. Eden Bluff popular. Water intake good also.
White Bass: Concentrations hard to find. Fish scattered. Night fishing under lights with minnows producing large numbers. Mouth of Piney Creek, Eden Bluff good spots to try.
Catfish: Jugs and trot lines producing. Best bait Bream cut or live.
Bream: Moving shallower; some starting to spawn. Look in the shallows in coves.

June 1, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry is at 462.60 and the temp is right at 75 degrees

the catfish are biting real well as the blues are trying to spawn and the flats heads are getting ready to on the moon in june, you can catch them with cut bait, live or prepared bait on trotlines with about a 1 foot leader and on jugs or noodles with a 17-23 feet leaderclose to or over deep water.

the walleye got more grouped up as of late with the hot bright sun but have scattered again with the cooler cloud cover and rain so you just have to drag bottom bounchers with crawlers around or floating jigheads with crawlers and or crank baits until you figure them out in 27-32 feet of water

the whites and hybrids are few and far between other than earily and late in the day with artificals or the middle of the day or at night with live bait

the bass are scattered all over they are trying to get in their summer patterns but the cool fronts have kept some shallow and all species call be caught on an assortment of baits all over the lake from 6 inches to 25 feet of water on any of your favorite baits

crappie some are still shallow at this time and like the bass are still scattered everywhere in 6 inches to 25 feet also

the bream are still spawing and are shallow and around docks
Tommy Cauley

May 28, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:  The water temps continue to increase, and now range from 79º-88º, depending of course, on location and time of day. The water clarity has also improved.  The activity levels of Bass are typical summer patterns with high feeding periods early and late in the day.  Lake level near normal.  The main lake clarity improved this week to approx 4-6" visibility.  Several River markers remain missing and / or out of place on the main lake, and Little River.  As of Monday 5/28, the lake level is approx 2 inches above normal level and falling slowly.  Current in Little River is drastically reduced from last week, and release at the dam is 244CFS as of Monday.  Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb are class being caught, with an occasional fish in the 7-9 lb class.  

 The Details:  

Largemouth Bass are in full swing summer patterns, with the higher feeding periods early and late in the day.  These Bass are good on buzz baits in tenneessee shad, blue glimmer, white and chartruese colors, Salty Rat Tails & Z-Nails in watermelon red, blue fleck or green pumpkin colors and Bass Assassin Shads in gizzard shad or alewife colors and War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover, aurora, or mouse/chartreuse colors.  Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs are still catching keeper Bass.  Horney Toads are taking keeper fish in the backs of the pad fields with hydrilla.  Zoom lizards in watermelon red, june bug, or black neon colors are still working well.  Southern Pro fatbutt tubes are catching fish on cypress trees in black neon or black/blue tail colors  The improved water clarity over the past few days are requiring a more natural appearing colors in soft plastics and the more translucents like cotton candy, watermelon-red, or blue flash colors appear to work better in the past week.  The Bass Assassin shads in shad color patterns and trick worms in bait fish colors, are working better in the last few days, around vegetation on flats in close proximity to deeper water or creek channels.
 
Cordell Redfins in gold, Heddon Spitin' Images in threadfin shad, and Baby Torpedos in frog or chrome/black colors, are still taking fish.  Crankbaits like the Fat Free Shads or Norman DLN, in brown/orange craw colors are taking keeper bass on stumps in Little River, fished slow and deflecting on stumps.
 
Texas rigged Horney Toads are also still taking bass on stumps along the river in same areas as the cranks.  The Senkos, Trick worms, and War Eagle spinnerbaits are working best around grass mats in 2-4 feet of water, close to deeper water or Little River.  The jig bite is improving also, in Texas Craw, black/blue or black colors.  We are using a Larew Hog Craw Trailer or Uncle Josh #1, black with blue fleck, no matter which jig color we are throwing.  10-12" Berkley Power worms, in blue fleck, june bug and tequila sunrise colors are working in approx 6-10 feet of water along vegetation and grass lines.
 
Crappie are also into their summer patterns and stacked up in Little River approx 11-15 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on shiners.
 
Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar and Carp remain noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Carp or Gar.  We have noted both Gar and Carp in excess of 30 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in McGuire and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.
 
Channel Cats are hitting cut shad on trot lines in 14-16 feet depth in Little River current, and at night, on yo-yos with chicken livers or catfish charlie, hung from cypress tree limbs in 7-8 foot depths.
 
The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake have warmed this week.   Currently surface temps are ranging from approx 79-88º.  

    }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity in upriver oxbows good, and improved at approx 4-6 feet, depending on location.  Little River stain & clarity is improved at approx 6-9 inches, depending on location.  Main lake is improved again this week to approx 6".  As of Monday, the lake level is approx 2 inches above the normal pool, at 259.38 feet and falling.  Discharge at the dam is decreased again this week at 244CFS.  Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise.  Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!
 
Water temps climbed a few degrees over the past week.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun, and are averaging in the mid 70 range.  The increase of surface temps over the last 2 weeks, have put most all the bass and crappie into their summer routine patterns, typical for this time of year.
 
All the best,
 
Mike

May 26, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

Woohooo, summer is here and in more ways than one. School,s out, the Memorial Day weekend is upon us and the weather,s been superb. Oh and the fishing,s been pretty Dam good too.

It should be a great weekend. If you haven,t been able to decide what to do for the weekend, well its not too late to get some accommodation. We were told late this week that there is stull a range of accommodation in the area available from cabins to motel rooms. You can call us for some information and we,ll pass on the details If your planning on driving up to the Tailwater or the Lake this weekend please drive safely, traffic will be heavy and make sure to buckle up your seat belts.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater:

Early morning mist across the Tailwater is punctuated by trout slurping some of the smallest midges of the year. These little bugs are ridiculously small and the trout are eating them both as adults and emergers. You can try some teeny dries like Razor Midges, size 26-20 Cream Midges, or our Adult Midge Light. This is probably some of the most challenging fishing of the year.

Soft hackles can be a better bet, but don,t expect a fish on every cast _ even though you will see more fish up on the surface than at any other time. Cooee Soft Hackle, Red Ass, Patridge and Yellow and Partridge and Orange are good bets. The hatch even slows up the subsurface action until the mist burns off.

Bruce,s TDM in green, red and gray/silver are always productive. Or you might try a bright Y2K Bug or a stripped woolly bugger to try and distract one of the midge feeders

Daytime fishing is still productive during the morning hours. Bryce,s TDM, Charlotte,s Redneck Midge, Razorback Midge, Tungsten Rainbow Warriors, Lightning Bug,s and Craven,s blue Poison Tung are all working.Hot windy days are also bringing out ants and beetles into the trees (and we should be seeing some early hoppers too). Schroeders Parachute Ant is one of our favorites as is Lawson,s Foam Beetle. Fish these downstream on long fine 6x or 7x leaders and on windy afternoons, tight to the windward shore, where trout will be mopping up all the food caught against the shore.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce.

May 23, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture: The water temps have increased over the last few days, and are now ranging from 73º-79º, depending of course, on location and time of day. The water clarity dramatically improved. The activity levels of Bass and Crappie continue improving. Lake level has returned to near normal levels. The main lake is still muddy from high wind. Several River markers remain missing and / or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 5/22, the lake level is approx 2 inches above normal level and falling slowly. Current in Little River is drastically reduced from last week, and release at the dam is 1,159CFS as of Monday. A gate change reduction in discharge, at the dam is expected by mid-week. Bass and Crappie have again improved activity levels within the last week. Large Bass are beginning to feed again with some regularity. Numbers of bass in the 3-6 lb class being caught, with an occasional 7-9 lb class in last couple, recent weeks. A 10.23 lb bass won a big bass tournament 2 weeks ago on Millwood.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass, over the last 2 weeks are back and feeding good, and the post spawn blues are pretty much gone. These Bass are good on Senkos, Salty Rat Tails, Z-Nails and Bass Assassin Shads in watermelon, baby bass, or purple fleck colors and Zoom trick worms in white ice or bubble gum colors. Bass Assassin twitch worms and wacky rigs are still catching keeper Bass. The Horney Toads are taking a few keeper fish around new pad growth. Zoom Magnum Lizards in big texan, watermelon red, and camo colors are still working well. The heavier stained water clarity over the past week are requiring a little more chartruese color soft plastic and the pumpkinseed/chart tail, chartruese pepper, or watermelon-red/chart tail are working in those areas of off-color water. The Bass Assassin shads and trick worms are working better in the last few days, around vegetation in close proximity to deeper water or creek channels, during feeding periods, especially if you find some of the more clear water in the back of the oxbows.

There were numerous Bass weighed in between 4-6 pounds each, in a tournament this past week, and the larger Bass are biting again. The key, to the best bite, is slow on any swimming hard bait or spinnerbaits. None of the Bass have wanted to chase anything very far. When you think you have slowed the swimming baits enouth, slow down again, and deflect off stumps. Cordell Redfins, Heddon Spitin' Images, and Baby Torpedos in frog colors, and gold, are taking some 15-18" bass when worked slow and left in the strike zone for long periods with no movements. Crankbaits like the Fat Free Shads or Norman DLN, in brown/orange craw colors are taking keeper bass on stumps in Little River, fished slow and deflecting on stumps.

Texas rigged Horney Toads are also still taking bass on stumps along the river in same areas as the cranks. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover or white/ chartruese colors, depending on water clarity and area of the lake or Little River, are still taking a few keepers around new grass 6-8 foot water. The Senkos and Trick worms remain best deadsticking weightless, around grass mats in 6-9 feet of water, close to deeper water. The jig bite is improving also, in Texas Craw, black/blue or black colors. We are using a Larew Hog Craw Trailer or Uncle Josh #1, black with blue fleck, no matter which jig color we are throwing. 10" Berkley Power worms, in black/blue or blue fleck, approx 8-12 feet of water around stumps, are working. Buzzbaits in white/bubble gum or Tennessee shad colors are catching fish early and late in the day of timber and stumps along Little River and its feeder creeks dumping into Little River.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake have warmed this week. Currently surface temps are ranging from lower 70ºs to upper 70ºs (approx 73-78º).

Crappie are beginning to stack up again in Little River approx 13-17 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on white/pink or white/chart mini-tubes and shiners.

Very large, Spotted or Longnose Gar and Carp remain noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female Carp or Gar. We have noted both Gar and Carp in excess of 30 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in McGuire and Horseshoe Lake oxbows of Little River.

Channel Cats are hitting cut shad on trot lines in 13-18 feet depth in Little River current, and on yo-yos with chicken livers, hung from cypress tree limbs in 9 foot depths.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows good, and improved at approx 2-5 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is improved at approx 5-8 inches, depending on location. Main lake is muddy from high wind. As of Monday, the lake level is approx 2 inches above the normal pool, at 259.34 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam is decreased this week at 1,159CFS. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations, especially on Little River!

The upriver oxbows on Little River, have best water visibility, estimated at approx 2-5 feet in places and further up Little River, for the most part, better quality and clarity noted. Water temps climbed a few degrees in early morning over the last few days due to cold frontal passages and cool rain, currently ranging between 73º-78º, most locations. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Wear that Life Jacket!! If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

Mike

May 22, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - You might try some garlic sent found at most tackle shops.  It covers a lot of smells and bass seem to like it.
Bill Rose
Lincoln NE

May 19, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Well we have a whole bunch more water back in the river now. Wading is pretty limited downstream of Spider Creek island. SWPA continues to run short bursts of afternoon/evening generation as "trout water".
The good thing about this generation is you can generally slip in some falling water fishing high on the tailwater. The air temperature is cool, the river largely vacant and usually the water fall stimulates a great midge hatch and some hard feeding, from the boat ramp down through the top end of the trophy area.
Try Razor Midges, Parachute Adams, (our secret _Parachute Ants), and other emerger patterns. Cooee Soft Hackles or standard soft hackles like the Red Ass or the Olive Submarine soft hackle will all work very well swung across the current.
Midges, nymphs and woolly buggers rule the rest of the day. Bryce's TDM in silver, red and green have been hot _ it pays to carry all colors in your box _ if one isn't working the others usually will. Black and silver Zebras, Brown and Red Zebras have all be working well, as have flashback pheasant tails, gold lightning Bugs, Charlotte's Redneck and Razorback Midges.

Kings River: Steve floated the Kings River during the week at a perfect water level for the drift boat with our mate and great guide Ken Richards. Ken is recovering from his battle with cancer and it was good to see him with his hands on the oars and a flyrod as well. Crawdads were the order of the day, fished on sinking lines, though we have had good reports on large fox squirrel nymphs under an indicator.

KEEPING OUR RIVER TIDY
One of our absolute pet hates on this river is monofilament draped in trees, across rocks all, over the place. Bryce and Steve came back _ after floating the river on Tuesday in the drift boat _ with enough mono to knit some pretty decent scarves. Yep, we know fly fisher's aren't the worst offenders, but even the small pieces we discard contribute to the general mess. And we'd encourage everyone to help police up the mess of others.

Another ugly sight is plastic fly cups _ which is why we send flies out the door in the biodegradable and recycled boxes we sell our flies in. You can also find plenty of lost indicators, beer cans, plastic bags and all the other detritus of modern living. If you carry a plastic shopping bag in your vest they don't take up much room, will keep your vest clean and you can help keep the river beautiful.

Now small clippings of mono or fluorocarbon (which doesn't degrade like mono) tippet are pretty hard to keep track of. Stick them in your vest pockets and they jam zippers, leap out and go about their way. Then we stumbled across this little gadget. Bryce swears by his.

The Line Tidy is small, light and a neat was to hold neatly those unsightly bits of tippet, used leaders and what have you. You just wind the line through the central groove, and its held there by o-ring pressure until your ready to dump it out. At $6.50 its a pretty cheap way to help keep your river tidy.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce.

May 12, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Woolly Bugger continue to work exceptionally well. Try our "improved" white Crystal Bugger or olive Crystal Buggers in 12s during high sun hours. Black woollies were also extremely effective yesterday. BDS olive woollies, copper brown Crystal Buggers, Spirit River Baby Buggers and Flash-A-Buggers are all doing well. The secret seems to be short darting strips with plenty of pauses in between to mimic the movement of the abundant small sculpins. Fish these hard up and down the tailwater

The midge hatches remain thick and a reliable means of catching trout. Bryce's TDM in red and green have been hot as usual, smaller Pheasant Tails or Quasimodos, Charlotte's Redneck Midge and Razorback Midges have all been doing very well. Cooee Soft Hackles and Red Asses have also been pulling fish when they are taking emergers, if you are outside the no bait zone run the wire bodies Cooee ahead of a Red Ass or Dark Olive Soft Hackle. Razor Midges continue to do well and WD40s or Biot Midges rigged below a teeny micro indicator, are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.

Beaver Lake: The lake level is up, and some areas are distinctly colored calling for brighter fly colors than normal. Surface action is still patchy but improving for striped bass and hybrids. Look for bait congregations off rocky points at dawn and dusk. Water temperature into the high 60s is a definite plus. The bait is small 3"-4" so fish accordingly, particularly subsurface, with sinking lines, Gummy Minnows, Whitlock's Shad, Pacific Fly Shad, and Crease Flies.
Try for gar on our Wundergar flies, carp on crawdad and woolly bugger patterns.


Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

May 10, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the lake level has now got to normal pool even .07 tenths over at 461.73 as of now

the water is on the rise and will probabily get to about 2 or 2 1/2 feet over pool by the time the rains are done this week

the black basses are scattered and are biting spinnerbaits the right bite shakey hooker as well as floating worms and top waters up around the bushesas the water gets settled some , some of the fish will get back set up on the secondary and main lake points as well as brush piles out in about 15-25 feet of water and can be caught with c-rigged lizards and texas rigged worms.as well their is also a few fish spawning.

the crappie have moved shallow also and the last of them are finishing their spawn in the bushes.

the catfish bite has really picked up with alot of flatheads and all other species showing up also and can be caught on rod and reel in creek mouths as well as jugs and trotlines .

the walleye have scattered some what with the rising water and some have went to the bushes also but alsot are scattered right now in 25-32 feet of water biting night crawlers on jig heads and bottom bouncers and light c-riges.

the bream action is good up shallow on crawlers and crickets and some better ones can be caught in about 27 feet of water.

the hybrids and white bass are just about anywhere you can find the shad and are subject to come up schooling anywhere at anytime , but the bite is better earily and late in the day.

Tommy Cauley

May 16, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:

The water temps have cooled slightly over the last week with several cold frontal passages, and are now ranging from 67º-77º, depending of course on location and time of day. The water clarity has greatly diminished due to recent high wind and more much needed rain and influx of water from Tri-Lakes and Oklahoma. The activity levels of Bass and Crappie are improving daily. Rising lake level has much current in Little River with debris. Exercise caution during low light navigation. The main lake is still muddy from high wind. Several River markers remain missing and / or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Tuesday 5/16, the lake level is approx 4 inches above normal level and falling. Current in Little River is increased, and release at the dam is 5,820CFS. Bass and Crappie have again improved activity levels within the last week. Female Bass are beginning to feed again with some regularity. A beautiful 10.2 pound bass won a benefit tournament over the past weekend.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass activity levels have again improved dramatically over the last 2 weeks. Nice, female Bass are venturing back into more shallow water during early and late feeding periods of the day, and feeding on shad and newly hatched fry. These Bass are good on Senkos, Salty Rat Tails, and Bass Assassin Shads in watermelon, baby bass, or purple fleck colors and Zoom trick worms in white ice or bannana colors. Bass Assassin twitch worms and wack rigs are taking keeper 16" Bass. The Bass Assassin shads and Horney Toads are taking a few keeper fish around new pad growth. Zoom Magnum Lizards in big texan, watermelon red, cherryseed or blackberry are working. The heavier stained water clarity over the past week are requiring a little more chartruese color soft plastic and the pumpkinseed/chart tail, chartruese pepper, or watermelon-red/chart tail are working in those areas of off-color water. The Bass Assassin shads and trick worms are working better in the last few days, around vegetation in close proximity to deeper water or creek channels, during feeding periods, especially if you find some of the more clear water in the back of the oxbows.

Weightless Horney Toads are still drawing a few solid strikes, but mainly still just big blow-ups in lily pads, not taking solid hook-ups. Texas rigged Horney Toads are taking a few better size fish on stumps along the river. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover or white/ chartruese colors, depending on water clarity and area of the lake or Little River, are still taking a few keepers around new grass 7-10 foot water. The Senkos and Trick worms remain best deadsticking weightless, around grass mats in 8-10 feet of water, close to deeper water. The jig bite is improving also, in Texas Craw, black/blue/purple, or black colors. We are using a Larew Hog Craw Trailer or Uncle Josh #1, black with blue fleck, no matter which jig color we are throwing. 10" Berkley Power worms, in black/blue or blue fleck, approx 8-12 feet of water around stumps, are working.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake have slightly cooled this week with the passage of several cold fronts, and are currently ranging from upper 60ºs to mid 70ºs (approx 67-76º). The larger females are starting to feed again with some regularity, and with the water temperatures averaging in the mid-70s, the bite is good. There were several large female Bass weighed in between 6 and 10 pounds each, in a tournament this past week, and the larger Bass are biting again. The key, to the best bite, is slow on any swimming hard bait or spinnerbaits. None of the Bass have wanted to chase anything very far. When you think you have slowed the swimming baits enouth, slow down again, and deflect off stumps. Cordell Redfins, Smithwick Rouges, Heddon Spitin' Images, Zara Spook Jr's, and Baby Torpedos are still taking some 14-17" bass when worked slow and left in the strike zone for long periods with no movements.

Crappie are beginning to stack up again in Little River approx 13-17 feet deep in planted tree tops and are best on white/pink or white/chart mini-tubes and shiners.

Very large Spotted or Longnose gar remain noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female gar. We have noted Gar in excess of 30 pounds each, in water depths of less than 3 feet, in McGuire Lake oxbow of Little River.

Blue Cats are still biting fair on cut shad on trot lines in 17-20 feet depth in Little River's increased current, and on yo-yos with blood bait, hung from cypress tree limbs in 7 foot depths.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows fair, but improved at approx 2-4 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 2-4 inches, from recent one foot rise, of course, depending on location. Main lake is muddy from high wind. As of Tuesday, the lake level is approx 4 inches above the normal pool, at 259.54 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam is decreased this week at 5,820CFS. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations!

The upriver oxbows on Little River, have better water visibility, estimated at approx 2-4 feet in places and further up Little River, for the most part, better quality and clarity noted. Water temps dropped a few degrees in early morning over the last few days due to cold frontal passages and cool rain, currently ranging between 67º-77º, most locations. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River and away from current, than the main lake body. Differences of up to 3-4 degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

All the best,

Mike

May 9, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
The Overall Picture:

The water temps have remained fairly constant over the last week and range from 68º-80º, depending of course on location, water clarity diminished. The activity levels of Bass and Crappie remain postspawn but have improved to good in the last 10 days. River and Oxbow's stain increased again over the last week due to rising lake level. The main lake is still muddy from high wind. Several River markers remain missing and / or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 5/8, the lake level is approx 11-12 inches above normal level and beginning to fall. Current in Little River is increased, and release at the dam is 6,973CFS. Bass and Crappie have improved activity levels over the last few days. Female Bass are beginning to feed again with some regularity.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass activity levels have improved dramatically over the last 2 weeks. Some nice, flat belly, postspawn female Bass are venturing back out of deeper water and beginning to feed again in the last week. These Bass are fair to good on Senkos and Salty Rat Tails in watermellon, cotton candy or purple fleck colors and Zoom trick worms in white ice or bannana colors, and Bass Assassin twitch worms and wack rigs. Bass Assassin shads and Horney Toads are taking a few keeper fish around new pad growth. Lizards in cotton candy/chart tail, watermelon red, or black/blue in the clearer water areas are working with some reliability. Dirtier water clarity colors over the past few days are pumpkinseed/chart tail, chartruese pepper, or watermelon-red/chart tail are working again in the off-color water. The Bass Assassin shads and trick worms are working better in the last few days, around vegetation in close proximity to deeper water or creek channels, during feeding periods.

Weightless Horney Toads are still drawing a few solid strikes, but mainly still just big blow-ups in lily pads, not taking solid hook-ups. Texas rigged Horney Toads are taking a few better size fish on stumps along the river. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora, smoke mouse/chart, or spot remover colors, depending on water clarity and area of the lake or Little River, are still taking a few keepers around new grass 7-10 foot water. The Senkos and Trick worms remain best deadsticking weightless, around grass mats in 6-8 foot water, close to deep water. The jig bite is improving also, in Texas Craw, black/blue/purple, or black colors. We are using a Larew Hog Craw Trailer or Uncle Josh #1, black with blue fleck, no matter which jig color we are throwing. Crankbait bite is taking a few 14-18" bass, when fished slow in approx 7-10 feet of water around stumps. Key is slow on the crankbait retrieve.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake have stabilized this week, and are currently ranging from upper 60ºs to low 80ºs (approx 68-80º). With the lake above normal level and falling, the shallow Bass are pulling out, and working the soft plastic baits in grass close to deep water is the best pattern we found this week, but the larger females are beginning to pull back out of the deeper water with the 3-6 foot water column temperatures averaging in the mid-70s. The larger female postspawn fish, are still slow this week but beginning to bite again. The key again, is slow on any swimming hard bait, and none of the bass other than juveniles, wanted to chase anything very far. Cordell Redfins and hard jerk baits are still taking a few 13-16" bass.

Spotted or Longnose gar remain noted very shallow again this week, presenting very good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female gar.

Carp are also still up relatively shallow, thrashing and crashing about in shallow flats where the Bass and Crappie were spawning over the last 3-4 weeks. Another good opportunity for the bow fishermen out there! We have noted extremely large Carp and Longnose Gar in less than 2-3 feet of water up Little River and in the oxbows.

Blue Cats are still biting fair on cut shad on trot lines in 10-17 feet depth in Little River and on yo-yos hung from cypress tree limbs over 9 foot depth.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows fair and reduced again, at approx 1-2 feet, depending on location. Little River stain & clarity is approx 2-4 inches, again, depending on location. Main lake is muddy from high wind. As of Monday, the lake level is approx 12 inches above the normal pool, at 260.22 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam is increased this week at 6,973CFS. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise. Use caution in low light navigations!

The upriver oxbows on Little River, have better water visibility, estimated at approx 2-3 feet in places and further up Little River, for the most part, better quality and clarity noted. Water temps dropped a few degrees in early morning over the last few days due to cold frontal passages and cool rain, currently ranging between 68º-78º, most locations. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River and away from current, than the main lake body. Differences of up to 3-4 degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Mike

May 4, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!
We have been busier than a one-legged man at a butt kicking contest. Trout fishing has been superb. The white bass are back in the river and heading upstream above 62 bridge, and the lake is starting to fire. Another DAM week when too much fly fishing is barely enough. We have been tying flies to try to keep you all stocked with the best patterns for the river, unpacking new stuff into the fly shop, guiding, teaching and above all having some fun.

The guide trips have been a blast. I think we have four absolute new comers catch their first fish on fly rods in the past week. We think they could be hooked themselves and reminded a couple of others why they shouldn't just fly fish once a year. Think of it as preventative medicine. You will be more relaxed, sleep better, eat better, be nicer to your kids and wife _ so finish the report, take a long weekend and enjoy it.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Woolly Bugger continue to work exceptionally well. Try our "improved" white Crystal Bugger or olive Crystal Buggers in 12s during high sun hours. But BDS olive woollies, copper brown and black Crystal Buggers, Spirit River Baby Buggers and Flash-A-Buggers are all doing well. The secret seems to be short darting strips with plenty of pauses in between to mimic the movement of the abundant small sculpins. Fish these hard up and down the tailwater

The midge hatches remain thick and a reliable means of catching trout. Bryce's TDM red and gray have been hot, smaller Pheasant Tails or Quasimodos and Charlotte's Redneck Midge on sunny days have all been doing very well. Cooee Soft Hackles and Red Asses have also been pulling fish when they are taking emergers, if you are outside the no bait zone run the wire bodies Cooee ahead of a Red Ass or Dark Olive Soft Hackle. Razor Midge scontinue to do well and WD40s or Biot Midges rigged below a teeny micro indicator, are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.

Runoff from the rain can muddy the tailwater but don't let it slow you down. Think larger and brighter flies than normal. Fish the mudlines, where the runoff enters the river. Fish will be holding in these areas looking for food carried in by the runoff. San Juan worms can be very effective in these conditions. Egg patterns or Y2KL bugs can be good or larger woolies. Two fly rigs, outside the Trophy are, definately the way to go. Think about a heavier, brighter attractor as the top fly and perhaps a more natural pattern on the point.

WHITE BASS FEVER
And let the fun begin _ we have them back in the river and now Beaver Lake is set to fire. One of our favorite coves at this end of the lake was on fire Wednesday with smallish white and hybrids demolishing schools of shad. Fair dunkum, it look like boat wakes as the voracious little beggars chomped their way through hapless schools of baitfish.

A few bigger swirls out over the deeper water may also have been stripers. The action was hot enough for use to pin 15-20 fish in half an hour, and rue the extra hour we spent in bed. But as funny as tyhis season has been so far we went back 12 hours later for one smallie and one small male white. If there is one secret to getting the best fishing this season it is to spend time on the water. But on the up side we think the action is about to take off this weekend and through the next couple of weeks, particularly with with rain fall pushing water into the lake. So here is our guide to finding White Bass or Hydrids on this end of Beaver Lake.

Get up early or late. If you like to sleep late on weekends buy an alarm clock or stick to trout. The most consistent flyrod action come in the "grey light" period before the sun climbs over the horizon. And its usually done when the sun hits the water. Its the same at the other end of the day. Cloudy days can prolong the action, but not always.

White Bass Cove is well known, and has plenty of shore access, though make sure you buy a pass to park in the Corp's day access areas. But there are other places to access the shoreline. Indian Creek Arm also hold good quantities of White Bass and the waters east of the Dam are also good. A boat, anything from a canoe to a bass boat or even pontoon boat can give you many more options. Just be careful about chasing schools of surface feeding fish on your outboards. Driving up to a feeding schools is a great way to send the school down and ruin your fishing. Use your trolling motor or even paddle when appropriate to a position upwind of the school and drift down to maximise your chances of hitting fish. Often it can be a more productive tactic not to chase fish but hold in a likely spot and wait for the action to start.

Standard tackle can be anything from a 9' 6wt to an 8wt for most whites and hybrids. Shorebased fly fishers might want to consider using an 8wt, Steve's gone back up this season, to allow longer casts with bigger wind resistant flies for his shorefishing. Along the banks watch your backcasts. Beaver's steep banks and jagged rocks claim plenty of flies. If you clip a rock too make sure to check your hook point. A stripping basket (its easy to make one from a plastic tub and a webbing belt) can be a decided advantage on the rocks along the edge which appear to have been designed to swallow flyline, dumping your best cast just past the rod tip. We are generally using 6' of 3x or 4x Rio Flouroflex Plus joined by a loop to loop connection to a stiff butt section. We also like loop knots on most of our baitfish patterns, or for a stronger knot the Eugene Bend. Reels don't need to be fancy until you get a big hybrid or striper. We generally fish a floating line, though an intermediate or sinking line on a second rod (when the action is hot it is no time to be changing lines).

LOOK OUT FOR US AT THE SMALLMOUTH RENDEZVOUS
If your into fly fishing for smallmouth, or just want a great fly fishing event to attend come along to the 5th annual Smallmouth Rendezvous and Fly Tying Extravaganza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma next Friday and Saturday _ May 5 and 6. The Dam Store will be having a booth and we will be bringing along some of our favorite smallmouth and warmwater rods, including the amazing TFO TiCR X 7'6 8wt, the very sweet Sage VT2 691-4 _ In Sage code that means a 9' 6wt, 4-piece with a fighting butt. A hot rod for hard pulling fish from the Buffalo to the Gulf.

Steve will be one of a bunch of tiers demonstrating fly tying techniques and patterns. Steve will definitely be tying his bass baitfish pattern "The Dame" (you have to see his nightwalker go in the dark version) plus his Cooee soft hackles and some other Dam Store favorites.

If you are into fishing emergers you might ask him to tie some of his foam emergers, either as a midge or your favorite mayfly. These flies were featured in the latest issue of Australia and New Zealand's finest fly fishing magazine Flylife. The photography was stunning.

Steve's also scheduled to give a presentation on Arkansas fly fishing, at 2:15pm, Saturday, from the perspective of a well-traveled outsider who has fished everywhere from Australia to Alaska and a whole bunch out West.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

May 3, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,109.81 feet MSL.

J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the water is flowing heavily and is stained. Bream are biting well in 4 to 10 feet of water on red worms and crickets. Crappie have slowed, but are still shallow and biting fair on tube jigs trolled around the edges of the channels. White bass and hybrids have moved into the river arms and should begin schooling soon.

May 2, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
Overall Picture:

The water temps dropped slightly and range from 69º-78º, water clarity diminished. The activity levels of Bass and Crappie remain postspawn, and fair in 1-2 hour feeding periods. River and Oxbow's stain increased over the last week due to rising level. The main lake is still muddy from high wind. Several River markers remain missing and / or out of place on the main lake, and Little River. As of Monday 5/1, the lake level is approx 11-12 inches above normal level and rising. Current in Little River is being maintained, and release at the dam is 1,556CFS. Bass and Crappie are postspawn on most of Millwood. Female Bass have moved out of the flats during the day and recouperating. Bass activity levels dropped over the last week due to these postspawn movements. Very few big bass caught in the last 2 weeks, as compared to just a few weeks ago, when large numbers of 6-10 pounders were being caught with some regularity.

Details:

Folks, it is postspawn, and the Largemouth Bass and Crappie have the blues. Some male Bass were still noted around bedding areas and flats over the last week, but most have already finished up the spawning process and the females are recovering in slightly deeper water. This condition have the Bass activity levels have remained about the same over the last couple weeks. Baby fry of numerous species, are being seen in the previous bedding areas on Millwood. Largemouths have moved over the last week to 10 days, and the agressive bite reduced except for a few males. We are still catching a few decent bass still shallow, but most remain fat males as last week. These Bass are slow to fair, good only for a short feeding benge, then fair or slow again, on Senkos, Zoom trick worms in white ice, and Bass Assassin twitch worms or wack rigs. Bass Assassins and Horney Toads are taking a few keeper males. Lizards and baby brush hogs in cotton candy/chart tail, watermelon red, blue flash, or cherryseed in the clearer water colored areas seem to work only for short periods of feeding. Dingier water colors over the past few days are pumpkinseed/chart tail, chartruese pepper, or camo seem to work better in the stained colored water. The Bass Assassin shads and trick worms are working here and there, around vegetation growth in close proximity to deeper water during feeding periods not lasting more than 45 minutes to an hour then off again and on again. Seems like the feeding mechanism comes and goes throughout the day for various time increments. Horney Toads are drawing a few solid strikes, but mainly still just big blow-ups in lily pads, not taking solid hook-ups. Depending on water clarity and area of the lake or Little River, the War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora, smoke mouse/chart, or spot remover colors are still taking a few keepers off cypress trees and knees with grass growing around them in 6-9 foot water. The Senkos and Trick worms remain best deadsticking weightless, around grass mats in 6-8 foot water, close to deep water. The key seems to be no pre-determined or pre-set particular pattern, just quick feeding benges for 45 minutes or so, then slow again. The trick remains in the right place when they turn on for quick intervals.

The water temperatures all across the various sections of the lake dropped this week with a couple cold fronts passing through and some cooler rain, and are currently ranging from upper 60ºs to upper 70ºs (approx 68-78º). With the lake above normal level and rising, the juvenile and some male Bass are working bait in shallow grass, but the larger females have returned to deeper drop-offs. The larger female fish, are still slow this week. The Rat-L-Traps and crankbait bite greatly diminished, very few in the last week wanted to chase anything very far at all. Redfins and hard jerk baits are still taking a few fat males up to 3 lbs each, on points and on edges of flats with deeper creeks nearby. Crankbaits are taking a few fish on points in the river, but s-l-o-w is the ticket, and when you think its slow enough, slow down again. Medium to deeper running cranks, deflecting of stumps is the best bite, on points from feeder creeks to drops in Little River with stumps and some vegetation.

Longnose gar remain noted very shallow again this week, and pairing up trying spawning activities. Good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female gar exist now.

Carp are also trying to spawn up shallow, and making huge thrashing and crashing explosions in shallow flats where the Bass and Crappie were spawning over the last 2-3 weeks. Another good opportunity for the bow fishermen out there! We have noted extremely large Carp and Longnose Gar in less than 2-3 feet of very clear water up Little River and in the oxbows.

Blue Cats are still biting fair on cut shad or prepared blood bait, on trot lines in 13-17 feet depth in Little River

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows fair, but reduced, at approx 2 feet. Little River stain & clarity is approx 2-4 inches depending on location. Main lake is muddy from high wind. As of Monday, the lake level is approx 11.75 inches above the normal pool, at 260.18 feet and rising. Discharge at the dam is reduced this week at 1,556CFS. Some floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. noted in the river over the past week from recent rise.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, have better water visibility, estimated at approx 2-3 feet in places and further up Little River, for the most part, better quality and clarity noted. Water temps dropped a few degrees in early morning over the last few days due to cold frontal passages and cool rain, currently ranging between 68º-78º, most locations. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River and away from current, than the main lake body. Differences of up to 3-4 degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Wear that Life Jacket!! If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

April 27, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

Anyone know what that funny wet stuff was falling from the sky this week? Someone called it rayne?

Well, it had been a long time since we got such a decent downpour here at the store. Bryce nearly was washed away monday as a torrent threatened to come through the door. According to his description we could have gone swimming in the parking lot. We are suprised he didn't get his flyrod out.

Well it certainly hasn't affected the fishing. Steve did a trip on Wednesday with a Texan first timer who while picking up the fishing side quickly struggled with keep small hooks in trout _ and he still stuck a bunch of fish including getting busted off by a very nice trout on a San Juan. So don't let wet weather slow you down.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Woolly Bugger continue to work exceptionally well. Try our "improved" white Crystal Bugger or olive Crystal Buggers in 12s during high sun hours. But BDS olive woollies, copper brown and black Crystal Buggers, Spirit River Baby Buggers and Flash-A-Buggers are all doing well. The secret seems to be short darting strips with plenty of pauses in between to mimic the movement of the abundant small sculpins. Fish these hard up and down the tailwater.

The midge hatches remain thick and a reliable means of catching trout. Bryce's TDM in gray, smaller Pheasant Tails or Quasimodos and Charlotte's Redneck Midge on sunny days have all been doing very well. Cooee Soft Hackles and Red Asses have also been pulling fish when they are taking emergers. If you are outside the no bait zone run the wire bodied Cooee ahead of a Red Ass or Dark Olive Soft Hackle. Razor Midges continue to do well and WD40s or Biot Midges rigged below a teeny micro indicator, are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top. We have also heard of one regular visitor who nailed a 17" brown on a size 16 mayfly fished tight to the banks in the past week. There have been some larger mayflies around on warm days, possibly hatching off tributary streams and dancing over the tailwater proper.

Run off from tributaries has also clouded middle and lower sections of the tailwater _ smile it brings in some much needed food and nutrients. Try running brightly colored San Juans (white is goood) and other attractors through the edge of murky and clear water.

We also found some goodly sized white bass back high in the tailwater after the midweek rain. This might be what is need to kick start the run again.

Beaver Lake: White bass fishing has been patchy with limited surface activity. But you can still pick up one, two or three an evening or morning. Our best flies have been Crease Flies, in silver or black back, Gummy Minnows, Burks Hot Flash Minnow and this week the Pacific Fly Group sinking Shad. We are still trying to work out what chomped the tail off one on Wednesday night. It felt big.


TEMPERATURE READING
Arkansas Game and Fish sent out an interesting email this week seeking help on monitoring temperatures in our tailwaters, and particularly any temperature related mortality during this period of low flows and warmer weather. Certainly the Beaver temperature is up on normal downstream. We have been wet wading some days at Spider Creek, something only for the certifiable in normal years, and the warm water is getting higher and higher upstream in recent weeks.

AGFC Trout supremo Darrel Bowman indicated that Southwest Power Authority would be continuing to limit generation, indeed not run any power through May and June on its tailwaters. While this means low water wading conditions for fly fishers but the potential for dangerously warm water for the trout. High 70's water temperatures were recorded at Wildcat Shoals this week. Only generation can cool the waters.

"We have also been informed that SWPA will not run any extra water for trout fisheries, but so far they have run some extra water at the request of Corps of Engineers (COE) on two occasions when COE asked for "fish-water to cool the tailwaters. We appreciate COE requesting water for trout. COE is requiring a minimum pulse of flow for trout water, but we know that the amount is too small and usually timed wrong, and therefore will not cool much of the tailwaters for very far downstream,'' Darrel's email read.

"We need to document any trout mortality and high temperatures. We will also be reporting this information to Arkansas Dept. Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to help them document the problem. Their "Regulation 2" is the State water law, and it designates "trout waters" in the state and that they must be maintained under certain temperatures. So you might want to report high water temperatures directly to ADEQ as they actually have the regulatory authority on the matter, not AGFC.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce.

April 24, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service -
the water level at greers ferry is 455.62 feet and rising at this time

The white bass fishing has slowed some what if you can find the shad the whites will be close by and can be caught on jigging spoons and grubs.

the hybrids have been feeding when they generate and earily mornings and late afternoons and are schooling and some big fish are being caught on top waters baits and jigging spoons

some of the black bass are post spawn and some are pre-spawn and the post spawners are back feeding again and even some are schooling and can be caught with top waters and jigging spoons as well as rite bite cinkos and lizards in 20-25 feet of water on points secondary and main lake , jig head worms and c-rig cinkos and lizards are catching the late spawners in 0 to 10 feet of water and spinnerbaits are picking some up also as well as dead sticked texas rigged cinkos , green pumkin works well in low light and watermelon candy is working when the sun is bright.

the walleye are still not grouped up yet and are scattered and can be caught dragging night crawlers on 1/16 and 1/8th ounce jigheads on flats in 25-32 feet of water

the crappie are spawned out for the most part and are suspended in the pole timber and over brushpiles in 15 feet of water over 50-60 feet

the bream action is good on crickets and crawlers in 5- 10 feet of water.

all the catfish species are on the move and can be caught with any of your favorite baits
Tommy Cauley

April 24, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -
Overall Picture:

The water temps range from 72º-79º, and clarity continues improving and activity levels of Bass and Crappie are [postspawn] fair. River and Oxbows have again improved stain from the last few weeks, but the main lake is muddy from recent high wind. Several River markers are missing and out of place on the main lake, from between 2 and 6 mile and also Paraloma Trail up Little River. As of Monday 4/24, the lake level is approx 4 to 5 inches above normal level and falling. Current in Little River is increased and release at the dam is 2358CFS. Bass and Crappie beds are for the most part, abandoned and the spawn is wrapping up on most of Millwood. Female Bass have moved back out to the first or second drop in depth and are recouperating. Bass activity levels dropped over the last week due to their postspawn activity.

Details:

Largemouth Bass and Crappie are postspawn on most of Millwood. Some Bass were still noted around bedding areas late last week, but most have already finished up the spawning process. This condition have the Bass activity levels dropped as they begin to recover from spawning. Baby fry of various species, are being seen in the previous bedding areas on Millwood. Largemouths have moved this week, and the bite much dimished. We have been able to catch a few decent bass still shallow, but most are fat males. These Bass are slow to fair, good only for a short feeding benge, then fair or slow again, on Senkos in watermelon red colors, Zoom trick worms in white ice, Bass Assassins and Horney Toads. Lizards in cotton candy, black saphire, or blackberry in the clearer water colored areas; pumpkin- seed w/chart tail in the stained colored water. The Bass Assassin shads are working anywhere there is new vegetation growth in close proximity to deeper water. Horney Toads are drawing a few solid strikes, but mostly just big explosions, around the new lily pads. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in aurora or firecracker colors are taking keepers off cypress trees and knees with grass growing around them. Senkos and Trick worms are best deadsticking weightless around grass mats close to deep water. The key seems to be no pre-determined or pre-set particular pattern, just quick feeding benges for 30-45 minutes then slow again. The trick is being in the right place when they turn on for quick intervals.

Most of the larger female Largemouths that were on a feeding frenzy for the last 3-4 weeks, have been hard to come by this past week, and we believe the Bass and Crappie spawn is all but done. Temperatures all across the various sections of the lake continued rising this week, and are currently ranging from low 70ºs to upper 70ºs. With the lake slighly above normal level and falling, the Bass postspawn in most areas of Millwood, they have returned to deeper drop-offs. Texas rigged Brush Hogs and lizards are still working, but slow for big fish, and females are far and few between for the last week. The Rat-L-Traps bite greatly diminished and all but disappeared, very few in the last week wanted to chase anything very far at all. Redfins and hard jerk baits are still taking a few fat males up to 3 lbs each, on points. Crankbaits are taking a few fish on points in the river, but s-l-o-w is the ticket, and when you think its slow enough, slow down again. Medium to deeper running cranks, deflecting of stumps is the best bite, on points from feeder creeks to drops in Little River with stumps and some vegetation.

Longnose gar have been noted very shallow and pairing up trying to begin spawning activities.
Good opportunities for bow fishermen to take out some really large female gar exist now.

Carp are trying to spawn up shallow, and making huge thrashing and crashing explosions in shallow flats where the Bass and Crappie were spawning over the last 2-3 weeks. Another good opportunity for the bow fishermen out there! We have noted extremely large Carp and Longnose Gar in less than 2-3 feet of very clear water up Little River and in the oxbows.

Blue Cats are still biting fair on cut shad or prepared blood bait, on trot lines in 13-17 feet depth in Little River

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows fair to good, at 3-5 feet. Little River stain & clarity is approx 5-8 inches depending on location. Main lake is muddy from recent high wind. As of Monday, the lake level is approx 4-5 inches above the normal pool, at 259.67 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam is increaced this week at 2,358CFS. Most of the floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. are reduced in the river over the past 2 weeks.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-6 feet in places. Water temps are again improved and ranging between 72º-80º, most locations. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River and away from current, than the main lake body. Differences of up to 4-5 degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!

Don't forget, be safe, and respect the other guy's right to use the lake too. Release those big bass to spawn and fight again, and take home those little 16"ers to fry up! Use caution in low light conditions, wear your Life Preserver and SUNSCREEN! If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only hope to survive.

Mike

April 21, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: The fishing is gooooooooood! Find the fish and you can have a blast. Mornings are generally best though the evening stuff has been pretty good. Try long downstream drifts, long leader on your midges for a lot of fun. Vryce's TDM in gray has been superb, but we have also been doing very well on blue colored midge patterns, like Poison Tungs and Blackberry nymphs. So good we are out of them. We have also had good report on other flashy patterns like Lighning Bugs, Rainbow Warriors and Charlotte's Redneck Midge.

Generally things will slow a little mid-afternoon. Time to switch to woolly buggers or sculpin patterns, or mini leeches. Olive Crystal Buggers have been strong on sunny days, as have white patterns and the copper/brown. Also worth adding to your flybox are Spirit River Baby Buggers (now available in black) Umpqua Mini Leeches, and stay tuned for Steve's new Aussie inspired Muz fly. A client recently did so well on a prototype that it stayed on the leader on the way home.

Beaver Lake: Now is the time to start working the lake hard for whites, hybrids and stripers on fly. We have had reports of stripers being found at fly rod depths in Hickory Creek and hybrids and whites in Indian Creek. White bass Cove, abov e the store has been patchy. A weeks ago there were whites and some pretty good hybrids busting on top, but that has slowed over the past few days since we had some cooler nights. Warmer temperatures may bring that action back. Try Gummy Minnows, Hot Flash Minnows and Shitlock's Shad patterns subsurface. On top Crease flies and Clouser Floating Minnows have score plenty of hits. The whites have been a bit picky late in the week, but there are also some very nice largemouth and smallies working the banks.

PLAY NICELY WITH OTHERS
Summer is coming and increasing numbers of fly and other fishers are hitting the water. Most of us want a little solitude and/or peace and quiet when we fish so crowds can prompt a bit of a frown. Don't let a few people around spoil your day, we can offer you some tips to find peaceful summer fishing and handling the crowds.

Don't fish gentleman's hours: If you're fishing between 9am and 2pm on weekends you're in prime traffic periods. Fish early or late when most of the vacationers are in bed or travelling. Midweek is the prime time to fish. As we discussed last week night fishing can be a great way to achieve the solitude your craving and possibly tie into a fish of a lifetime.

Use your head and your feet: Most of us are basically lazy, wanting to catch fish as close to the access point as possible. If the truth be known about 95% of the fishing effort on this river, comes between the Dam and the Canebreak Bluff. With the low water and limited generation this opens up way way way more river to wade and fish in solitude. Bring a friend and fish from Bertrand to the 62 Bridge, stage a car at either end and its an easy trip. So don't be complaining about crowds if your fishing at the boat ramp below the Dam. There's plenty of fish in the quieter stretches of the river.

Fishing AFTER generation has finished on a hot summer's day, is not only a great way to find uncrowded water but the cooler air from generation curbs the heat and there are some great midge hatches in the top section of the river. IUts one of the few times it's really worth fly fishing immediately below the Dam.

Don't crowd other fly fishers. Find yourself some space rather than moving in shoulder to shoulder. Imagine how you would feel in the other fisher's place. If you find yourself being crowded, and started to frown there is an easy answer. Move, find some more fish, forget the rude ones and you will have a better day!

Finally if you have discovered the honey hole of the day, don't stay on it for hours. Catch some fish, have fun then leave it for another fly fisher to enjoy. You might just make their day, their week or even their year. If you hand it over directly to another offer a suggestion on what you have been using, and share a little. You never know when you might be having a tough day and would appreciate the gesture of someone else. And your karma will be better!

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

April 19, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,107.69 feet MSL.

J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the main lake is clear and the upriver arms are stained. The lake is still very low. Bream fishing is improving on red worms and crickets, but the hot bite is still a few weeks away. Crappie are biting very well in the shallows on minnows, Road Runners and Shiny Heinie jigs in the upriver arms. Largemouth bass are biting well on shallow-running, square-billed crankbaits and green pumpkin soft-plastics. White bass, hybrids and stripers are picking up in the far northern end of the White River around Twin Bridges. Jigs and Road Runners are working well, as are live crayfish.

April 19, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry is 451.51 and has benn falling as some what after a little rise eariler in the week.

the white bass and hybrids are a hit and miss deal if you can catch them generating and they have been schooling some eariler and late in the day up the rivers their are still a few whites spawning up the rivers and piled up in places because they can only get so for up with the water being low as it is and as they move back out in the main lake with the shad the action should get more consistant.


walleye are being picked up on the flats but are not really grouped up yet and are also being caught around most of the docks on minnows and night crawlers as well as pumpkin colored plastics. in about 25 to 32 feet of water.

the crappie are scattered out with some still spawning in the pole timber in 2 or 3 feet of water suspended over 50 and the rest are spawned and suspended in 15-20 feet over 50 feet of water.

the catfishing is picking up with alot of blues being reported as well as some flat heads , you can catch them on livers and night crawlers as minnows and cut shad , the flat heads on bream

some of the bass tried to spawn on the full moon but the cold nights preceding it have turned them back to deeper water and some are not ready yet and will spawn on the next months moon but we have new fish showing up in the shallows all the time now trying to spawn , most of the spawners are pretty skitish and have been beat on pretty bad and the new cruisers are pretty skitish also largemouth, kentuckys and smallmouth acn be caught with rattle traps, spinnerbaits , rite bite shakey hookers , top water frogs and baby spooks , c-rigged rite bite cinkos as well as texas rigged jighead worms, in depths ranging from 6 inches to 25 feet for the post spawners

we find em you catch em!!!!!! <http://www.greersferry.com/members/fishfinder/> Tommy Cauley
Fishing Guide Fish Finder Service

April 17, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Overall Picture:

The water temps range from 70º-80º, and clarity continues improving and activity levels of Bass and Crappie are good. River and Oxbows have again improved stain from the last few weeks, main lake has begun clearing from recent high wind. As of Monday 4/17, The lake level is approx 5 inches above normal level. Bass and Crappie beds are being seen all over Millwood Lake. Bass have been noted and caught in very shallow bedding areas due to the improved spring water temperature and clarity conditions. Bass activity levels improved again this week. Current in Little River is again reduced. Gate discharge is 776CFS as of Monday. Debris in Little River has been noted as reduced from last two weeks.

Details:

Largemouth Bass and Crappie are spawning at various locations all over Millwood. Some Bass and Crappie have already finished up the spawning process. The warmer weather and increasing water temps have the Bass activity levels again on the rise. Largemouths are feeding and moving, and the bite much improved. Bass are good on buzz baits in bubble gum or black colors, pumpkinseed Rat-L-Traps, and Lizards in cotton candy in the clearer areas of water clarity; and scupernong or chartreuse-pumpkin in the stained colored water. Bass Assassin shads are working anywhere there is vegetation in close proximity to deeper water. Horney Toads are drawing solid strikes around the new lily pads. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover or white/chart colors are taking keepers off stumps. Cordell Red Fins and Smithwick Rouges in green perch or gold, continue working in shallow flats on warmer days around stumps and any new vegetation such as the dollar pad stems and blooms.

Many female Largemouths are have been noted on beds in the past 2 weeks, and we still do not believe the Bass or Crappie spawn is completely done yet. Temperatures all across the various sections of the lake continued improving this week, and are currently ranging from 70º to low 80ºs. With the lake at slightly above normal level and stabilized, the bass and crappie activity levels have returned to a more normal pattern. Texas rigged Brush Hogs and lizards in candy bug, blackberry or camo are still working well. Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes are still taking keepers on trees and stumps, close to deep drop-offs. Best working colors are bubblegum or bright red tubes for fish on the beds, pumpkinseed or appleseed for post- spawn bass. The 3/4 oz size Rat-L-Traps worked very slowly in drop-offs close to the river or in deeper creek channel swings, in spring bream, or pumpkin-orange colors continue working well for post-spawned bass hungry for a quick bite.

Blue Cats are biting well on cut shad and prepared chicken livers or blood bait, on trot lines in 17-22 feet depth in Little River

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows improved, at 5-6 feet. Little River' stain improved this week due to reduced discharge at the gates. Little River clarity is approx 8-12 inches depending on location. Clarity on the main lake is heavier stained from recent high wind, but improving. As of Monday, the lake level is approx 5 inches above the normal pool, at 259.59 feet. Discharge at the dam is reduced again this week at 776CFS. Most of the floating vegetation and debris, grass mats, logs, etc. are reduced in the river over the past 2 weeks.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-6 feet in places. Water temps rebounded this past week, and have improved to ranging between 69º-80º, most locations. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River and away from current, than the main lake body. Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

All the best,

Mike

April 14, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

Ok there is still time to get organised. If you haven't scheduled in at least one day over Easter on the water _ well get cracking. The fishing has been so good its almost outrageous. Trout in Beaver and the other Ozark tailwaters, white bass, and walleye on the tailwater. We are starting to get some reports of hybrids and stripers being fly rod accessible on the lake.

Smallmouth streams like the Kings now have plenty of flow and should be about to fire as well. Its almost too hard to decide where to go. Hey just do it _ and don't forget to stop by the store on your way and then let us know how you did.

NIGHT FISHING
We have been spending plenty of hours out after dark in the past few weeks. Night fishing the tailwaters is an experience and a great way to tie into those bigger trout you often see in the daytime but can nnever seem to hook

As you probably saw last week, Steve managed a very nice 27" brown this way _ even if he wasn't really fishing for trout so we are telling him it hardly counts, though we would take it ourselves. But Steve also took a couple of Texas clients out on the tailwater last Saturday night after a very productsive afternoon trip stripping buggers.

Mike Wyatt had been hot all afternoon, including a nice 14" brown. But in the evening session his good mate Huntley Paton was red hot working over the trout in the catch and release area. Both Mike and Huntley were pretty stoked when Huntley caught this nice 17" brown amid a bunch of others.

The trick to night fishing is to fish a section of river you know well, so you are fishing the most productive parts, and avoiding hazards. be well-equipped, a good headlamp is essential and never fish alone. We had so much fun last weekend that night trips onto the tailwater this summer are going to become part of our regular guide schedule.

WHAT A ONE FLY WINNER DOES BETWEEN EVENTS
You have probably seen this guy's face a couple of time before. Andy Nichols has won three of our One Fly events, and sent us an email of a pretty handy bass he caught on a secret location a couple of hours south. Yeh he won't even tell us! Can't say we blame him. Here's the story of this great fish, on a 4wt to boot, in Andy's own words

""Hey guys, Andy Nichols here. Thought I'd send you a pic of something I like to do when I've caught so many white bass and 2 pound crappie it's silly. This fish was taken on Monday the 10th in the "Van Buren" area (it's Top Secret). Anyway, the fish was just a shade over 7 pounds at least that's what my digital rapala fish scale read. Anyway, sight cast to this fish with a 4-weight rod and 3x tippet with a #6 white/yellow clouser minnow. After about 40 minutes and seemed like 500 casts he ( I say he because the fish was in a group of others chasing and biting and "his" tail was chewed up pretty good) finally took. Imagine the size of the females that must be in this body of water. may your rod be bent and may you see miles of backing, Andy Nichols

P.S. Yes, the fish was released.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Woolly Bugger continue to work exceptionally well. Try our "improved" white Crystal Bugger or olive Brystal Buggers in 12s during high sun hours. But BDS olive woollies, copper brown and black Crystal Buggers, Spirit River Baby Buggers and Flash-A-Buggers are all doing well. The secret seems to be short darting strips with plenty of pauses in between to mimic the movement of the abundant small sculpins. Fish these hard up and down the tailwater

The midge hatches remain thick and a reliable means of catching trout. Bryce's TDM in gray, smaller Pheasant Tails or Quasimodos and Charlotte's Redneck Midge on sunny days have all been doing very well. Cooee Soft Hackles and Red Asses have also been pulling fish when they are taking emergers, if you are outside the no bait zone run the wire bodies Cooee ahead of a Red Ass or Dark Olive Soft Hackle. Razor Midge scontinue to do well and WD40s or Biot Midges rigged below a teeny micro indicator, are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

April 11, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Overall Picture:

The water temp continues to improve and activity levels of Bass and Crappie are very good. River and Oxbows have again improved stain from the last few weeks, main lake has begun clearing from recent high wind. As of Tuesday 4/11, The lake level is apprx at normal level. Bass and Crappie beds are being seen at many locations on Millwood. Bass have been noted and caught in very shallow bedding areas due to the improved temperature and clarity conditions. Crappie are again moving shallow. Current in Little River is reduced. Gate discharge is 1,156CFS as of Tuesday. EXTREME caution urged in all navigations on the main lake and Little River due to debris in Little River.

Details:

Largemouth Bass and Crappie are again moving shallow, with some female Bass having already sat on her bed. Spawning is in process. The warmer weather and increasing water temps have the Bass activity levels again on the rise. Largemouths are on the move again, and the bite much improved. Bass remain good on pumkinseed/white buzz baits, pumpkinseed/orange Rat-L-Traps, Lizards in blue flash, blue smoke or black-grape in the clearer areas of water clarity. Trick or twitch worms in methiolate around stumps on west end of the pipeline still working. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in spot remover color with hologram blades are drawing solid bass. Cordell Red Fins and Smithwick Rouges in clown or green perch continue working in shallow flats on warmer days around stumps and any new vegetation such as the dollar pad stems and blooms.

Many female Largemouths are resuming bedding activity this week, and we still do not believe the Bass or Crappie spawn is completely done yet. Temperatures all across the various sections of the lake continued improving this week, and are currently ranging from lower 60ºs into mid and upper 70ºs. With the lake at near normal level and stabilized, the bass and crappie activity levels have returned to a more normal pattern. Texas rigged Brush Hogs and lizards in blue flash, smoke blue, candy bug, or camo in clearer oxbows are working. Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes are still taking keepers on trees and stumps, close to deep drop-offs. The Rat-L-Traps in spring bream, crappie or pumpkin-orange colors are working well on points.

No report for the White Bass.

Blue Cats are biting well on cottonseed mill cakes and cut shad on trot lines in 14-20 feet depth in Little River

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows improved, at 5-6 feet. Little River' stain improved this week due to reduced discharge at the gates. Little River clarity is approx 6-8 inches depending on location. Clarity on the main lake is heavier stained from recent high wind, increased gate release flow. As of Tuesday, the lake level is approx one-half inch above the normal pool, at 259.25 feet. Discharge at the dam is reduced this week at 1,156CFS with 3 gates open at 1 foot each. Due to rapid rise and fall of lake and river levels, lots of floaters, trees, debris, grass mats, floating vegetation and logs are in Little River's current!!

Use extreme caution in navigations on the main lake & Little River channel !

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 3-6 feet in places. Water temps rebounded this past week, and have improved to ranging between 62º-79º, most locations. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River and away from current, than the main lake body. Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Mike


April 7, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!
FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Woolly Bugger continue to pick off plenty of decent trout up and down the tailwater. As mentioned Steve's brown took our "improved" white crystal bugger. But BDS olive woollies, crystal buggers, copper brown crystal buggers, Spirit River baby buggers and flash a buggers are all doing well. The secret seems to be short darting strips with plenty of pauses in between to mimic the movement of the abundant small sculpins.

The midge hatches remain thick and a reliable means of catching trout. Bryce's TDM in gray smaller Pheasant Tails or Quasimodos and Charlotte's Rewdneck Midge on sunny days have all been doing very well. Cooee Soft Hackles and Red Asses have also been pulling fish when they are taking emergers, if you are outside the no bait zone run the wire bodies Cooee ahead of a Red Ass. Razor Midge continue to do well and WD40s or Biot Midges rigged below a teeny micro indicator, are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.

Well, if you drop by the Dam Store this weekend and we are looking a little drawn and haggard, a little bleary of eye we have a good excuse. The crew has been hard at it on the tailwater and lake trying to track down the best fly fishing experiences. Its been a week of little sleep, bent rods, dodging storms, frantic fly tying, more bent rods, torn waders, and some big fish. Normals stuff like regular meals, clean clothes, showers and shaving went out the window. You will all be thankful we have resumed ablutions for the weekend.

Still we will be able to offer you some pretty good fishing advice _ hey we certainly aren't here for our good looks

In this week's report we offer up some information on white bassin' offer some times on how to stay cool, avoid sunburn and look pretty cool while your doing it, unveil some new reels into the store and of course the fishing report.
SO MUCH FISHING; SO LITTLE TIME

The white bass run kicked off last weekend with some great catches from some regulars. We even managed to convert some trout addicts over to the pleasures of white bass fishing. Chris Davis from Fayetteville, hasn't been fly fishing all that long but has been hooked big-time on trout and after his 8-pound hybrid last Saturday we reckon he's good to go on the bass species now.

Oklahoma Bryce, now part of the Dam Store crew, was giggling like a schoolboy on his first serious fly rod white bass outing, dragging him away from his beloved trout for a night on the river. Jeff Davis, christened his new Dam Store XP 7wt, a seriously nice stick for this kind of fishing, on a bunch of solid whities.

You can check out a whole bunch of pictures of these adventures by clicking here <http://www.beaverdamstore.com/gallery/v/FlyFishing/submitted/> for our photo gallery _ don't forget you can send us pic to add your adventures to ourt collection.

Action on the whites slowed towards the end of the week as water temperatures cooled but they will be back. The best fishing was below the 62 bridge, with very few whites appearing above this point yet.

Hit the white bass run and you are in for some of the most fun an Arkansas fly fisher can have with their waders on. These silvery little bass hit hard, pull hard and you can catch a bunch of them. They even taste good. And of course there is always the chance of better sized hybrids or even stripers among them.

Northwest Arkansas is White Bass central during spring, with the tributaries of both Table Rock (King's, Roaring River, the White) and Beaver Lake (War Eagle, Upper White and its Forks) hosting vast spawning runs, that look like a southern salmon run. They don't call them Hillbilly Coho for nothing. First usually come the males, who can be dwarfed by three and four-pound females. All fight above their weight.

Reports from the Upper White have been patchy, in this low water year. But with Beaver Lake water levels inching upwards the run could start at any time. Neill's Bluff, The Dollar Hole, and Twin Bridges are the most popular access points.

Finding whites is a matter of checking shoals, or holding structure, along the migration path. White will often hang out in and along deadfalls and deep holes adjacent to the main current flow. The tail-out of a pool immediately above a riffle, and any eddy immediately below a riffle are also likely spots to search. Often those fish visible on the shoals splashing and holding are actively spawning and can be extremely hard to hook legitimately, the deep water staging areas are often more productive.

White bass will hit all manner of baitfish flies, weighted patterns are usually best in the fast-ish spring flows, and the all-time killer is a Clouser Minnow. Carry a bunch in size 6, all white, chartreuse over white (take lots to the Upper White), tan over white or gray over white are prime colors. All white and chartreuse Crystal Buggers (size 8 or 10) are very effective on Beaver. Beaver's low levels and very clear water mean dawn and dusk have been the most productive times to fish.

Sinking lines, or sink tips, also work well to get the flies down to where the whites are hanging out. Your choice of rod really depends on what you prefer to cast these heavy flies and sinking lines. Most will use a 6wt, 7wt or 8wt. The grunt of the latter rod can be helpful on bigger hybrids or the odd striper. While there is no limit on White Bass in Beaver and its tributaries, and a 25-fish limit in Table Rock and below Beaver Dam, we would encourage people to catch and release and limit their own take.

If you want to learn more about white bass and how to get connected come by the shop for a chat. .

WHITE BASS SURPRISE
Sometimes you just never know what you will catch white bass fishing. Largemouth, walleye, smallies can all turn up. But Steve was pretty Dam surprised to pull this very pretty fish from the tailwater.

A beautiful 27" brown taken on a BDS improved white Crystal Bugger, St Croix 7"6' 6wt rod; Rio Grand 6wt flyline, Rio Flouroflex Plus 6x tippet around 9.30 pm on the tailwater below Houseman. These great pics _ the scruffy human model notwithstanding _ were taken by Steve's great mate Todd Moncrieff from McLellan's Fly Shop in Fayetteville. Apart from being a elegant caster, great fly fisher and damn good bloke, he's also one of the better fly fishing photographers going around.

But it shows what you can do after dark with trout on the tailwater. We have had several good reports on after-dark fly rodding recently including one regular who connected to something unstoppable and "scary", up in regular trout country. Try white and black Crystal Buggers, sculpin patterns, zonkers, or even crawdads.

Steve had also caught several decent rainbows on a size 6 chartreuse Gummy Minnow, all while targeting white bass. Certainly worth trying the Gummy for good rainbows, especially early morning and evening. Just make sure you take a good headlamp and its safest to scout the areas you intend to fish earlier in the day so you are familiar with hazards like logs and dropoffs. And always fish with a partner.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

April 6, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,107.02 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the water is still low and stained. Crappie are biting well in 2 to 6 feet of water on tube jigs, minnows and Shinee Heinee jigs. White bass are up in the river arms and biting well on Roadrunners, curly-tailed grubs and live minnows. Black bass are anywhere from 2 to 15 feet deep and biting well on crankbaits and jerkbaits worked along banks with woody cover. No report on bream or catfish.

March 31, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew!

We were going to give you a description what it was like here this morning, but if you were stuck in freeway traffic, breathing in fumes, or tied behind a desk you might get a little miffed. So we wont tell you we were in shorts, t-shirt and sandals at 5am this morning. It could be almost cruel to tell you that the only sounds were the calls of birds, the slurp of feeding fish and the whisper of flyline through the guides. We definately won't mention how the mist hung on the river, deer browsed the new grass, and squirrels scampered along the banks. If you want to know what its like here in spring, we will let you find out for yourself

BE COOL AND SUN SAFE

After a long winter, It's pretty damn tempting to bare a bunch of skin as the weather warms nicely. Trouble is our skin, protected behind layers of clothes for several months, will cook faster than catfish at an Louisiana fish fry. And its no good putting on sun screen after you have turned red.

Staying burn free, an minimising the long term damage, means dressing appropriately, using high SPF (30+ and better) to exposed parts nd adding good head gear.

Slap it the sunscreen before you head out on the water, do as your mommy told you and get the bits under your chin around the back of the neck and behind the ears _ reflected sunlight off the water burns as bad as direct light. The back of your casting hand is another hot spot not to be missed. For serious protection use Mangrove sungloves, which offer SPF 50+ protection, which won't get washed off, rubbed off or taint your flies. Lefty Kreh endorsed. $13.95

Ball caps might keep your face shaded while on the water, but if your are serious about sub protection, and spotting fish for that matter then go with a broad-brimmed hat. Add a 10-gallon hat, straw cowboy hat, Aussie Akubra or one of the other models. You might not look so pretty but you might save yourself a battle with skin cancer. Keep the ball cap for other outings.

CAMPGROUNDS OPEN
APRIL 1 might be the day for gags, but you won't be a fool camping this weekend. Corp of Engineers Campgrounds, and the day access areas around the lake will all open tomorrow. Choose between the river or the lake for a great camping getaway, whether you have an RV or a tent. For more information click here <http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/beaver/ >

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Woolly Buggers are back out of the closet over the past week. Our light olive BDS buggers have been doing well, as have crystal buggers in olive and the black crystal buggers on the dark afternoons before a storm. Flash-A-Buggers also have some afficionados too. Our new Spirit River baby buggers have been picking up some followers, they are a pretty good match for the teeny sculpins on the bottom in droves and would also work a treat drifted like a nymph.
Midge hatches continue to be abundant through the bright sunny days, and decreasing size of the naturals are making the better fish more selective. Bryce's TDM in gray slayed fish last weekend, and fishing smaller pheasant tails or quasimodos were also profitable. Cooee Soft Hackles and Red Asses have also been pulling fish when they are taking emergers, if you are outside the no bait zone run the wire bodies Cooee ahead of a Red Ass.
Razor Midge continue to do well and we have restocked on the tying kits or whip up your own in gray or try tan _ we have some packets of foam available in this color _ which isn't included in the kit. WD40s rigged below a teeny micro indicator, or Biot Midges are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin

March 29, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry has came up a little more to 455.02 and they have been generating and with the cold weather the creek arms have cooled off to 46-48 degrees and the main lake is 52-53 degrees.

the bass fishing has been real good until this cold weather and we will have a steady warm up and thin gs will get back to normal , but for now the afternoons will be better for bass fishing when the sun warms the water by mid afternoons, rattle traps and small crank baits have been the stable of baits with the shakey hooker still producing the biggests and most fish by for this past week fish can also be caught with a spinner bait also, the jerkbait bite is still happening also, try fishing main lake points secondary points as well as channel bends , until the fish make a major move to the back of pockets and traditional spawning areas .

the walleye have done it again to us and snuck up and spawned long before anyone was expecting since we had such a mild winter their are very few in the creek arms at present but a few can be caught their, the best bite will be when they all get ganged up on main lake flats and do the big post spawn feed in about 28-32 feet of water if the weather will warm that should start to get good in about 2 weeks

the white bass and hybrid bass really shut down with the cold rain we had and it be be good in the afternoons as well until the day time temps are back up in the upper 60's they are still in all of the creek arms but are biting sluggish at this time

the crappie have scattered after the rain and need a few days to get settled back in to their regular pattern and it will be interesting to see where they do spawn in this low water

no-report on catfish as i am sure they have shut down also

no report on bream.

Tommy Cauley

March 28, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Overall Picture:

Water temps drastically dropped from last week: 50º - 63º. The warmer, clearer, water remains upriver than main lake. River and Oxbows have increased stain, main lake and Little River is muddy from recent high wind and over three foot rise in lake elevation. As of Monday 3/27, The lake level is approx 19" above normal and falling from recent 3 feet rise due to local rainfall over the past week. We anticipate another 12" fall by mid-week from gate release. Many cleared beds from Bass and Crappie were being noticed in 3-5 foot water depths of clear water, last week, prior to the 3 feet rise and subsequent falling water. No female fish have been observed on the beds yet, but were making preparations for it prior to the lake rise and fall and sudden temperature drop of over 12-15 degrees. Falling surface temps due to cold frontal passages have pushed the bass and crappie back out to the drops close to depth of Little River, and forced them back out of shallow bedding areas. Current in Little River is greatly increased. Gate discharge is 18,990CFS as of Monday, with another gate change expected mid-week due to incoming fresh water from more anticipated rain, from the tri-lakes, and Little River. Numerous river marker buoys are missing and floating debris, trees, and vegetation, all along Little River from recent 3 feet rise. Use EXTREME caution in all navigations on the main lake and Little River!

Details:

Well, it IS SPRINGTIME, folks, and the last week has been very typical of south Arkansas weather. The Largemouth (Black) Bass and Crappie which had begun moving slightly more shallow in the last few days with warmer weather and increasing water temps, were slammed again with cold fronts, and a rising lake of over three feet in as many days, then drop the bottom out from under them trying to shed all the excess inflow of too much water too fast in the watershed. This will probably change mid week with more rain coming. Week before last, and throughout the prior weekend, due to warmer weather, the Largemouth males were being seen on the beds, waiting. The cold fronts, rising, then falling lake level, then more cold fronts, have pushed them back out to deeper haunts in Little River. Black bass activity levels and feeding were tough over the last week, to say the least. Many lake conditions change very rapidly on Millwood, and the recent rise and fall of the level, coupled with the numerous cold fronts have had their impact on activity levels of Bass and Crappie. Largemouths are fair on Bass Assassin Shads, hard jerk baits, War Eagle spinnerbaits. We were having a fair amount of success in the past week on Zoom trick worms in methiolate or lime green colors around flooded bushes between Snake Creek and Red Slough on the west end of the pipeline. We also used this same tactic on Okay point in flooded trees and freshly covered vegetation in 2-3' depth sections. War Eagle Spinnerbaits in white/chartruese seemed to be the only color spinnerblade we could get them to hit, (maybe they were having a hard time finding it in the muddy water ! ) until we put on a huge, 3/4 or 1oz, version, with a huge # 7 helicopter Colorado blade putting out so much thump it litterally shakes your rod! We did manage to catch a few nice size 4 to 6 lb bass -- fishing this really slow, in Little River, around mouths to creeks and in deeper creek channels outside bends with stumps and anyplace we could find flooded bushes.

A beautiful 13 pound Largemouth full of eggs was caught week before last, on Millwood and many more in the 6-9 pound class were caught in the last week. Keeper size, heavy egg-laden Largemouths from 3-6 pounds each, are still waiting for the right moment and water temperature, to return to the spots they left last week, to resume bed making activity. We had been seeing male Largemouths making and clearing beds, but it all changed with the recent rain and cold fronts. We have been using the trick worms and Bass Assassin Twitch Assassins, rigged wacky style around any flooded bushes, trees, and any fresh vegetation in the last week, deadsticking or killing it, for a few decent fish. Texas rigged Brush Hogs and lizards in chartruese-pumpkin, blackberry, black neon, are working fair. For visibility, go back to black or darker colors or chartruese, in the muddy water. For the clearer areas in the back of the oxbows up Little River, cherry seed, tequila sunrise, and blue fleck are working fairly well. Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes on cypress trees, with rattles, were catching a few decent fish in Mud Lake last weekend.

White Bass' spawn is pretty much done as far as we can tell, upriver. White or red Little Cleos or Little Georges and rooster tails were working very well prior to the lake rise between Highway 71 bridge and Patterson shoals. Those fish have dissappeared in the last week.

Crappie, which were also preparing to spawn, prior to this week's cold front passage, and to trying to spread horizontally again; have moved back out to deeper water, and basically, all but completely, shut off. The cold fronts coming through the region last week pushed them back out to slightly deeper water again, putting the bedding fish, another 5-10 days out, again. We are looking for that to change again late this week due to increased surface temperatures if the warming trend continues.

Blue Cats activity levels have really picked up the pace, with the increase in Little River current due to incoming rain and gate change at the dam increasing flow. Blues are hitting prepared cut shad and Charlie early in the week in the 16-18 foot depth ranges along Little River, on trot lines.

Numbers of dead, young, juvenile Drum, and/or carp, from 1-2 pounds each, which we reported and observed, at many locations up Little River have been assigned a root cause of the death. A fungal parasite and/or bacterial infection, affecting only the younger drum, initially appears to be the cause. No large adults seem to have been affected, only a small percentage of juveniles. No additional dead Drum have been noted in the last week.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows remains reduced, but fair, at 1-4 feet. Little River' stain is worse this week due to increased incoming rain, current and silt; and is muddy. Little River clarity is approx 3-8 inches depending on location. Clarity on the main lake is muddy from recent high wind, rain and increased gate release flow and siltation. As of Monday, the lake level is approx 19 inches above the normal pool, at 260.79 feet and falling. Discharge at the dam is 18,990CFS with all 13 gates open at 3 feet each. Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is heavy, from gate discharge. Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place (particularly between Outlaw Trail and Paraloma Trail; #3 and #6 mile marker, also between Yarborough and Jack's Isle, and Mud Lake and White Cliffs), in Little River due to recent high wind. Due to rapid rise and fall of lake and river levels, numerous floaters, entire trees, organic debris, grass mats, floating vegetation and tree limbs are noted in Little River's current!!

Use extreme caution in navigations on the main lake & Little River channel !

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 1-5 feet in places. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN! Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!

Mike

March 23, 2006 - Paddlefish, Barling - Hello my friend and I snagged three paddle fish below the generators at Lock and Dam 13 in Barling AR.
I caught mine which weighed around 30 thirty pounds on my Rhino 733 combo with 20 lbs Stren and my friend William limited out with his two on a 16 foot snagging rod. We snagged the last two at about the same time. The white bass have been bitting fair. Some people have caught fifteen or twenty fish but they all say that they aren't the best that they'll get. Crappie where bitting at Jack Nolen lake in Greenwood but have slowed down. The water is very murky because of the much needed rain. I have attached picture files of the Spoonbills that we have caught.

Steven

March 23, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Here we are at the end of March with snow flakes fluttering down outside. Its been a weird winter. But at least the weather will warm up again over the weekend and into next week. Still the fishing has been good, but the warming weather should bring back the whites and walleye.

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Don't step into your waders without some Bryce's TDM in your flybox. Definately a great pattern during the current midge hatches. We have our favorite colors in this zebra midge variant tied by our own Bryce Cadion. Steve likes the red while the "Bearded Wonder" himself leans towards the wine. Right now you probably need the gray/silver the most.
Black Zebra midges have also been doing well. Definately pick up some Razor Foam Midge kits and whip up your own in gray or try tan _ we have some packets of foam available in this color _ which isn't included in the kit. WD40s rigged below a teeny micro indicator, or Biot Midges are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top. Watch your depth closely and as the hatch peaks its often worth shortening up the distance between fly and indicator.
If you're targetting whites and walleye, you need the Cazzy's Shiner, Pacific Fly Shad (weighted), Gummy Minnows, and Whitlock's Shad plus a good handful of Clousers. This weekends warming temperatures should bring them back onto the shoals

Roaring River: One of our favorite springtime spots, particularly if you like dry fly action. The PMDs have been very good mid morning, and dark days could still produce some olives. We have a bunch of well tested dry fly patterns not available elsewhere. No Hackles (mentioned above) Snowshoe emergers, Cripples and others to seduce the bigger browns and rainbows. Come in and talk to Steve.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa, Steve, Shirley, Tom, Dennis and Bryce

March 22, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,106.27 feet MSL
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the clarity of the water is very good in most of the lake. The water level is still low and many obstructions are just under the surface of the water, so boaters should be very careful out there. Crappie are biting fairly well on live minnows and hair-and-tinsel jigs. Bass are slow, but a few have been taken on spoons in deeper water and jerkbaits and jigs fished in transition areas. White bass are slow, with a few being caught on small Beetle Spins and live bait.

March 22, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry has came up a little more to 455.02 and they have been generating and with the cold weather the creek arms have cooled off to 46-48 degrees and the main lake is 52-53 degrees.

the bass fishing has been real good until this cold weather and we will have a steady warm up and thin gs will get back to normal , but for now the afternoons will be better for bass fishing when the sun warms the water by mid afternoons, rattle traps and small crank baits have been the stable of baits with the shakey hooker still producing the biggests and most fish by for this past week fish can also be caught with a spinner bait also, the jerkbait bite is still happening also, try fishing main lake points secondary points as well as channel bends , until the fish make a major move to the back of pockets and traditional spawning areas .

the walleye have done it again to us and snuck up and spawned long before anyone was expecting since we had such a mild winter their are very few in the creek arms at present but a few can be caught their, the best bite will be when they all get ganged up on main lake flats and do the big post spawn feed in about 28-32 feet of water if the weather will warm that should start to get good in about 2 weeks

the white bass and hybrid bass really shut down with the cold rain we had and it be be good in the afternoons as well until the day time temps are back up in the upper 60's they are still in all of the creek arms but are biting sluggish at this time

the crappie have scattered after the rain and need a few days to get settled back in to their regular pattern and it will be interesting to see where they do spawn in this low water

no-report on catfish as i am sure they have shut down also

no report on bream.

March 20, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - I've fished for Florida strain bass in Texas lakes most of my life, and have found that when the big girls are on the nests, down sizing to a small 4in lizard with an 1/8 oz. weight is hard to beat. Watermelon seed or watermelon with red flake is dynamite on east Texas lakes, especially Fork (cotton candy if the water is unusually clear). Pitch the lizard in there and just leave it. This takes an extreme amount of patience, but the subtle movements created by the water look most natural and will eventually drive them nuts. And remember, if you can see them they'll likely see you first. So if the fish are leaving the nest when you make your presentation, mark the spot, leave, and come back. Sneak up with a push pole and stay off the trolling motor. Stay far enough away not to spook the fish (tie up if necessary but don't use the trolling motor); then, make your presentation. If the water is stained to murky, and your casting for spawning bass instead of site fishing, a 6in lizard with gold flake in it can be good. Zoom's mossy pumpkin color will get you tore up on Fork. If you're not having any luck getting the bedding bass to bite, leave 'em alone. Move out to 8ft deep in the mouths of spawning coves or secondary points up the creeks. Tie on a Gene Larew Hawg Craw (the big one) in black w/ blue claws, fish the trees, and hold on to your rod. Shorter trees with some broken-off limbs (laydowns) or horizontal limbs just beneath the surface in 8ft of water are best. This pattern put a 13.86 in the boat for my partner one early spring. One last comment- please do not use shiners or other live bait for bass, especially for trophy bass in the spring, as fish mortality is higher with live bait rigs. Best of luck.

March 20, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 58º - 65º. Warmer, clearer, water remains upriver than main lake. River and Oxbows have fair stain, main lake is muddy from recent high wind. The lake level is approx 4-5" above normal and rising from recent approx 6" local rainfall over the past weekend. We anticipate another 2-4" rise mid-week from this localized heavy rain over this past weekend. This rising lake level should be excellent for the bass spawn, if USACE can just can hold it another week or so, as the males are preparing and on beds all over Millwood. If existing water temps hold for another week to ten days, female Bass and Crappie will be on the beds. Many cleared beds have been noticed in 3-5 foot water depths of clear water, in the last few days. No female fish have been observed on the beds yet, but are making preparations for it. Current in Little River increased. Gate discharge is 391CFS as of Monday, with gate change expected mid-week due to rising lake level. Numerous river marker buoys are missing all along Little River. Use caution in low light navigations.
Details:

Largemouth (Black) Bass and Crappie have began moving slightly more shallow in the last few days with warmer weather and increasing water temps. This should probably change mid week with a huge cold front coming. Last week and throughout the weekend, due to warmer weather, the Largemouth males are being seen on the beds, waiting. Numerous female prespawn bass in the 6-9 pound class with eggs, have been caught and released up river in the last 2 weeks. A 13 (yes, i said a THIRTEEN) pound Largemouth full of eggs was caught within the last week on Millwood. Black bass are actively feeding and the activity levels are good on Bass Assassin Shads, 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz slow moving Rat-L-Traps in white, spring bream or red chrome colors, hard jerk baits, Brush Hogs and War Eagle spinnerbaits. The Rat-L-Traps in white or spring bream colors remain best on cloudy days, and the red chrome best on sunny days.

Keeper size, heavy egg-laden Largemouths from 3-6 pounds each, continue hitting slow moving Rat-L-Traps, heavy spinnerbaits, and "dead-sticking" trick worms or Bass Assassin Shads, and jerk baits like the Cordell Ripplin Red Fin and Smithwick Rouges, around vegetation and stumps near drop-offs of water depth ranging from 3-7 feet. We have been using the War Eagle spinnerbaits in firecracker, firetiger, aurora, and spot remover colors, around remaining dead vegetation and stumps and finding a few decent fish. Texas rigged Brush Hogs and lizards in cherry seed, pumpkinseed, cotton candy or watermelon are working well. We are dipping the tails in chartruese in the more stained water areas for visibility.

White Bass are still thinking it's time to spawn, and remain upriver hitting white or red Little Cleos or Little Georges and rooster tails in white/chrome/red. Several schools are still located up Little River between Highway 71N Bridge and Patterson shoals, and are hitting with some regularity.

Crappie were also thinking it was time to and spawn as well prior to this week's cold front passage, and to trying to spread horizontally again; as they were doing before the last 3 weeks of cold fronts pushing them back out to deeper water. The cold fronts coming through the region this week will most likely push the Crappie and Largemouths back out to slightly deeper water again, putting the bedding fish, another 5-10 days out again. Currently, depths for Crappie are ranging 8-10 feet in depth, but closer to shallow flats with cypress trees. Mid-day has been the most consistent Crappie bite over the last week or so, due to increased surface temperature. We are looking for that to change again late this week due to decreased surface temperatures.

Channel Cats activity levels have again picked up the pace with the increase in Little River current due to incoming rain and gate change at the dam increasing flow. Blues were hitting prepared hot dogs and cut shad early in the week in the 12-16 foot depth ranges, on trot lines, and under cypress trees on yo-yos, using prepared blood bait, and dog food baits.

Numbers of dead, young, juvenile Drum, and/or carp, from 1-2 pounds each, have been observed by numerous fishermen at many locations up Little River and are still visible from White Cliffs all the way back down river to Jack's Isle. No large adults seem affected. Locations we have observed are in Pugh Slough, Jack's Isle, Hurricane Creek, Mud Lake, Horseshoe Lake, McGuire Lake. Several fishermen have stopped us along the river, to ask what was going on with the dead drum. We are not sure of the assignable root cause of this anomaly, but wanted to report it to AG&FC for further investigation and/or analysis. This, we have informed the fishermen asking us, we would report.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity in upriver oxbows remains good, at 3-7 feet. Little River' stain is worse this week due to increased incoming rain, current and silt. Little River clarity is approx 1-3 feet depending on location. Clarity on the main lake is muddy from recent high wind and rain. As of Monday, the lake level is slightly above the normal pool, at 259.61 feet and rising. Discharge at the dam is 391 CFS. Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is increased from last week's discharge. Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place (particularly between Outlaw Trail and Paraloma Trail; #3 and #6 mile marker, also between Yarborough and Jack's Isle, and Mud Lake and White Cliffs), in Little River due to recent high wind.

Use extreme caution in low light navigations on the main lake river channel.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-7 feet in places. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 5+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

Mike

March 16, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - What is it about spring. So much fishing so little time, white bass, trout, walleye, stripers, mayfly hatches, midge hatches, caddis hatches. Rim Shoals, Taney, Beaver, the Upper White, Roaring River, Wildcat and Bull, everywhere you turn the spots are firing. Hey you lot are lucky to get a Dam Report this week at all.

Which also could have been a possibility given the closeness of Sunday night's tornado which bounced down up near the AGFC HQ and then into campground D down in the catch and release area, snapping those big pines like matchstick and tossing around the concrete tables. The campground will probably be out of action for a week or two as the cleanup gets underway. Not to mention Saturday's hail storm unloading on the store. Hey it has to be spring!

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Just so we don't have to mention midges this week, we'll talk about white bass and walleye. The run is on on the tailwater. Drag your 6wt out of the cupboard and fish the deepwater below any runs. They will soon let you know that they are about. Clousers, Dames, Gummy Minnows, Pacific Fly Shad should all be great flies and its great fun.
Ok we can't get away without mentioning the midge hatches if you want to target trout. Definately pick up some Razor Foam Midge kits and whip up your own in gray or try tan _ we have some packets of foam available in this color _ which isn't included in the kit. WD40s rigged below a teeny micro indicator, or Biot Midges are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.
Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge, Bryce's TDM remain favorites for the nymphal stage _ watch your depth closely and as the hatch peaks its often worth shortening up the distance between fly and indicator.

Taneycomo: So many fish it was almost silly. Steve guided Harold and Eva Beck from Texas on Taney on Monday and despite the howling wind the couple fished until they could fish no more. After wading through acres of small stocker the pair finally started to hit some quality Taney fish which are in superb shape. Even a 14" fish was strong enough to pull 30 yard's of line of Eva's Ross reel. A gray Johnny Flash rigged trailing a tan McLellan's scud was the fly of choice. But Harold did well on a gray Bryce's TDM and picked up a bunch of fish on a favorite fly a cone head "Golden Retriever". Both of the Beck's were busted up by significantly larger fish. Conversation on the drive home was fairly limited and there are reports that both were smiling even while snoozing, perhaps dreaming of trout

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin.

March 16, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - My answer will stay simple since each body of water is different as well as each day and down to each hour fishing can be different, but there is one method of fishing that can offer up excellent bass fishing

The secret is to simply fish at night. You only need to try a few lures to make night fishing a success. One is the buzzbait, the next will be a single big cupped bladed spinnerbait, and then you can stick with a big black juicy worm. And night fishing can be done at the shore. Only thing is it will be dark, but fishing can be very successful. Bass move to the shallows to eat, there are very few if any other fisherman out on the water as well.

Just scope out a good spot that has plenty of weeds or other cover and fish there. If you don't get a fish in ten minutes then move on. But once you get a good spot you can catch fish after fish.

Good luck.

March 14, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry is 454.37 it came up 3.32 feet so we still hyave a little less than 7 feet to go for normal pool the temp ranges from 50 degrees to 64 in the stained water and it will cool back down some now with the cooler nights.


the walleye fishing has still not been very good for some reason but should inprove soon if any are still in the lake.

the white bass and hybrid fishin g is good in any creek you want to try in and if ya can not catch any with the tradtional lures you usually use try a blue back rebel jerk bait and paint a little red on it they will hit that worked real slow.

the bream have moved up and can be caught with crickets and or night crawlers from 20 feet deep up to 2 feet or shallower


the crappie are reported to be in the shallows in some places and can be caught as shallow as 1 foot of water and as deep and 40 feet

the bass fishing has been real good on spinner baits , rattle traps , and firetiger crankbaits in as little a 1 foot of water and also a good jig bite has developed also , but the bait that seems to be the catching the bigger fish is the new RITE BITE BAITS SHAKEY HOOKER some of you have probalily heard of the new chatterbait well it is the rite bits version of it that he has been working on a while and it is 75 percent better , action and everything the chatter bait is not
we find em you catch em!!!!!! <http://www.greersferry.com/members/fishfinder/> Tommy Cauley

March 14, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - If you are primarily sight fishing in clear water you need to be able to make repeated 100% accurate casts. When I sight fish i like to be able to cast to where the bass can't see the lure comming until it comes in front of the fishes face getting a reaction strike. you will have to experiment to know what to use whether it be crankbait, worm, jig. From my experience, i can usually find a jig that will work in any condition. you just have to modify weight and trailer size for balance and drop speed.

March 13, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 58º - 68º. Warmer water is upriver than main lake; River and Oxbows improved stain, main lake is muddy from recent high wind. The lake level is approx 3.5 to 4" above normal which should be good for the spawn, if they just can hold it a few weeks. If existing water temps hold for another 2 weeks, Bass and Crappie will be full blown spawning. Many cleared and fanned beds have been noticed in 3-4 foot water depths of clear water, in the last few days. No fish have been observed on the beds yet, but are making preparations for it. Current in Little River increased. Gate discharge is 384CFS as of Monday. Many river markers are missing.

Largemouth (Black) Bass and Crappie have began moving slightly more shallow in the last few days with warmer weather and increasing water temps. In the last few days, due to warmer weather, the Largemouth males are being seen in shallower areas close to deep water drops, running back and forth, not on the beds full blown yet. Numerous female prespawn bass in the 6-9 pound class with eggs, have been caught and released up river in the last 2 weeks. Black bass activity levels are good on shallower running, slow moving crank baits, like the firetiger color Baby Minus-Ones, and 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz slow moving Rat-L-Traps in white, spring bream or red chrome colors and War Eagle spinnerbaits. The Rat-L-Traps in white or spring bream colors best on cloudy days, and the red chrome best on sunny days.

Keeper size Largemouths continue hitting slow moving Rat-L-Traps, heavy spinnerbaits, and "dead-sticking" trick worms or Bass Assassin Shads, around vegetation and stumps near drop-offs of water depth of approx 9-10 feet. We have been using the War Eagle spinnerbaits in copper peach or firecracker colors, around remaining dead vegetation and stumps and finding a few decent fish. Texas rigged Brush Hogs in blackberry or watermelon are working well.

White Bass are still thinking it's time to spawn, and remain upriver hitting white or red Little Cleos or Little Georges and rooster tails in white/chrome/red. Several schools are still located up Little River between Highway 71N Bridge and Patterson shoals, and are hitting with some regularity. Two fishermen caught and released over 50 Whites in just a few hours last week again.

Crappie are also thinking it maybe time to and spawn as well, and to trying to spread horizontally again; as they were doing before the last 3 weeks of cold fronts pushing them back out to deeper water. Currently, depths for Crappie are ranging 6-8 feet in depth, but closer to shallow flats with cypress trees. Mid-day has been the most consistent Crappie bite over the last week or so, due to increased surface temperature. Jigs underneath cypress trees were catching some decent prespawners early this week, when the daytime highs were in the low 80º range.

No report this week for Channel Cats.

Numbers of dead, young Drum, and/or carp, from 1-2 pounds each, have been observed by numerous fishermen at many locations up Little River. Locations we have observed are in Pugh Slough, Jack's Isle, Hurricane Creek, Mud Lake, Horseshoe Lake, McGuire Lake. Several fishermen have stopped us along the river, to ask what was going on with the dead drum. We are not sure of the assignable root cause of this anomaly, but wanted to report it to AG&FC for further investigation and/or analysis. This, we have informed the fishermen asking us, we would report.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Water clarity upriver is improved from last week, Little River has slight stain and the clarity is approx 2-5 feet depending on location. Clarity on the main lake is muddy. As of Monday, the lake level is slightly above the normal pool, at 259.51 feet and rising. Discharge at the dam is 384 CFS. Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is increased from last week's discharge. Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place (particularly between Outlaw Trail and Paraloma Trail; #3 and #6 mile marker), in Little River due to recent high wind. Use extreme caution in low light navigations on the main lake river channel.

The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-6 feet in places. We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body. Differences of up to 5+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake. Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.

March 10, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - Rain rain glorious rain. Yes we need plenty more but it was a nice chance to see some of the wet stuff falling out of the sky. Hopefully that should not only top up the lakes a little but also get some smallies and white bass moving in the creek and rivers.

Its a great time to be fishing

FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater: Midge hatches remain as thick as we have seen bringing many many fish up onto the surface. But if your not seeing snouts poking through the surface film then you can try a couple of methods. Stick on a couple of the Lightning Strike Micro Indicators and run a small lightly weighted nymph or WD40 subsurface. Or swing a soft hackle. The Red Ass is a perennial favorite, olive is very good or try some of our premium Cooee Soft Hackles. These two-tone wire bodies soft hackles get through the film fast and fished correctly can be lethal. Try them with 12' leaders, and go for something like 5x on the point as the takes can be vicious.

Razor Foam Midges in gray or tan are still doing well try the gray Biot Midges, a Parachute Adams, Light Adult Might or a Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top. Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge, Bryce's TDM remain favorites for the nymphal stage _ watch your depth closely and as the hatch peaks its often worth shortening up the distance between fly and indicator.

Taneycomo: Taneycomo remains of the Ozarks hottest waters right now, with limited generation remains a destinatio n of choice. Midges and scuds are the hottest flies, and you can rig them in combination. Try a McLellan's scud ahead of a small midge in gray or brown. Bryce's TDM in gray/silver version and the red, green or wine rib are paticularly good. Softhackles in olive, red, pheasant tail are hot and Steve's red/yellow Cooee Soft Hackle has also been doing very well. DEon't be afraid to try them on a Razorfoam midge. The Taney fish are fat, fit and pull hard. Definately a great time schedule a trip to Branson. Its only a little over an hour from the store. If you want a trip, give us a call or email.

White Bass: This week's rain should have the whites primed to move hard, once the water temp climbs back into the low to mid 50s. Chartreuse Clousers, jiggies, even chartreuse woolly buggers will hammer these feisty and prolific game fish. You might even pull a walleye as well. Again is your interested in discovering white bass on a fly rod, schedule a trip with Steve to show you the best spots on the river, the right flies and techniques and you can set up hours of spring fun.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin.

March 10, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - try to use a big shiner on lite line and a bobber if you are in thick vegitation use fire line 15-25 lbs test also try plastics with a lot of salt jiging for them if they are agressive and not much vegitation try a rattlie trap

March 9, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - Black Bass: Conditions- Water level is low and water color ideal: Weather has made fishing tough--cold front after cold front. Tough to identify a pattern. Jerk bait on chunk rock producing best. Pig and jigs on deep flats (15-20ft)- inside river bends also good but fish smaller. Weather pattern not helping consistency.
Striped Bass: The Stripers are here. Water temp is 44 degrees F. Fish are scattered roaming finding schools of shad. Tip, look at every sharp bend in the river near a flat. Shiners and shad equal success. Fish 20 to 30 feet deep on edges of flats. Fish are in different locations daily. The full moon has not been a friend to daytime fisherman. Wind a key to fishable water. Umbrellas are producing well due to the scattered nature of the fish. Slow is the operative word. Some fish caught "way up" the river, but they are in small groups trying to spawn. "Here one day, gone tomorrow"
Crappie: Crappie bite tough. Most fish being caught along drop-off in 6 to 15 feet of water. "Spider Riggers" are having poor luck in open water at the mouth of coves. Best fishing within "brush piles". Many new brush piles starting to produce. Big Hickory, Eden Bluff, Mouth of War Eagle popular. Use your electronics. Many good reports from using Shinee Hineee's.
White Bass: Whites have been caught in the back of Monte-ne on warm afternoons, as well as up the rivers. Try small spoons.

March 8, 2006 - Answer to Florida Bass question - what about water clarity? If it is very clear maybe they are getting to good of a look at your bait. if this is the case i would probably use a mostly clear bait and fish a little faster possibly getting more reaction strikes.

March 6, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 50º - 54º; normal stain, lake level approx 3" above normal.  Current in Little River reduced.  Gate change is expected mid-week.
Largemouth (Black) Bass have been holding in deeper water along Little River for the last 2 weeks, due to reduction in shallow water temperature over the last week from cold frontal passages.  In the last few days however, due to increasingly warmer, more temperate weather changes, the Largemouths are beginning to venture out again into shallower areas close to deep water drops.  Numerous bass in the 6-9 pound class have been caught and released up river in the last 4-8 days.  Black bass activity levels are good and improved on shallower running, slow moving crank baits, like the Fat Free Guppys, the Baby Minus-Ones, and 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz slow moving Rat-L-Traps in spring bream or pumpkinseed or black-shad and red colors.  Keeper sized Largemouths are responding favorably to carolina rigged, short leader, lizards in same areas around stumps in the river.  Our best color choices for soft plastics in the last couple weeks are green pumpkin, scumpernong, or blue fleck.
 
The oxbows along Little River remain several degrees warmer than the main lake or river channel and bass are slightly more aggressive in those areas. Keeper size Largemouths continue hitting slow moving Rat-L-Traps, heavy spinnerbaits, and "dead-sticking" trick worms or Bass Assassin Shads, around vegetation and stumps in drop-offs of water depth of approx 9-12 feet.  In addition, as of the last few days with the increasing surface temps, Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes have been taking very nice keepers in the 6-8 pound class pre-spawn conditions.  Best color of the Fattbutt tube we have found to work best as of lately, is either appleseed or bluegill.
 
Some of the Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) and White Bass are thinking "tis time to spawn", and remain improved, along the river on small, white or chartruese rocket shads, H&H spinners in yellow/white, and Little Cleos or Little Georges in white/chrome/red.   Creek channel arm swings, slightly shallower water, yet close to the river, are holding the better size fish.  The White Bass schools were found by several fishermen up Little River between Highway 71N Bridge and Patterson shoals by trolling with rooster tails, and Little Cleos and RoadRunners.
 
Crappie remain improved, within the last week, but are also thinking it maybe time to pull up and spawn as well, but retreating back out along the river early and late in the day but beginning to try to spread horizontally again; as they were doing before the last 3 weeks of cold fronts pushing them back out to deeper water.  Currently, depths for Crappie are ranging 8-13 feet in depth, but closer to shallow flats with cypress trees. Mid-day has been the most consistent Crappie bite over the last week or so, due to increased surface temperature.
 
Blue Cats are biting well on chicken livers, cottonseed mill cakes, and cut shad on trot lines; minnows working best on yo-yo's in 9-12 feet.

             }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity improved from last week, Little River and main lake normal stain and clarity at approx 2-4 feet depending on location.  Clarity on the main lake in the northeastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, is heavier stained.  As of Sunday, the lake level is slightly above normal (259.2) at 259.45 feet and falling.  Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is slow but decreased from last week's discharge.  Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place and noticed up on the banks, in Little River due to recent high wind.  Use caution in low light navigations.
The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-6 feet in places.  We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences of up to 5+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun. 
 
With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!  If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

March 3, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! Wooohooo spring has spring. White Bass in the rivers, hungry fish at Taneycomo and midge mani at Beaver.
 
    Beaver Tailwater: And we thought the midge hatches couldn't get any thicker. But we have seen blanket hatches of an evening on Beaver this week. Stacks of fish were lined up slurping and gobbling in the runs. The fish were mixed some taking emergers and others adults off the top. Pick your target, deliver the appropriate fly and good luck. With so many naturals on the water it can be a tricky affair _ but that is part of the fun. Sometimes its worth trying a fly slightly larger.
    Definately pick up some Razor Foam Midge kits and whip up your own in gray or try tan _ we have some packets of foam available in this color _ which isn't included in the kit. WD40s rigged below a teeny micro indicator, or Biot Midges are good fly choices. Parachute Adams and Cream Midges are also worth a try for those feeding on top.
Zebra midges (black, brown  or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge, Bryce's TDM remain favorites for the nymphal stage _ watch your depth closely and as the hatch peaks its often worth shortening up the distance between fly and indicator.
 
    Taneycomo: There was no way to describe it but insane fly fishing. Steve and Bryce Cadion slipped up on Monday, and despite the howling wind had a big day out. Bryce's TDM picked up a bunch of fish, particularly the gray/silver version. Softhackles in olive, red, and Steve's red and yellow wire version stuck a bunch more. Steve also struck a patch of good sized fish feeding in a windlane on top and proceeded to slay them on a Razorfoam midge fished downstream.
  The Taney fish are fat, fit and pull hard. Definately a great time schedule a trip to Branson. Its only a little over an hour from the store. If you want a trip, give us a call or email.
 
    White Bass: Warm weather, shallow river has kicked off the white bass season a little early. Steve did an exploratory trip onto the Upper White on Thursday and after a slow start found these great little fish in droves. For an hour it was a fish a cast until he lost his last McLellan's jiggie. Teach some people to check their tippet after catching a bunch of fish.
   Again is your interested in discovering white bass on a fly rod, schedule a trip with Steve to show you the best spots on the river, the right flies and techniques and you can set up hours of spring fun.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin

March 1, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - This morning at 5:30.

March 1, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,105.39 feet MSL. Water is low and very clear. Crappie are biting well in 15 to 20 feet of water on chartreuse-and-red tube jigs and minnows. Stripers are slow, but a few have been taken on large shad or shiners where the river arms meet the main lake body. Bass have been fair to good lately. Most of the bass are holding near bluffs and biting vertically jigged spoons or jerkbaits cast parallel to the rocks. A few fish have been taken off submerged cedar trees as well.

February 22, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - THE  WATER LEVEL AT GREERS FERRY IS 452.12 AND THE TEMP HAS FELL SOME AFTER THE ICE WE HAD.
 
THE BASS FISHING IS GOOD ABOUT EVERY 4TH DAY AFTER THE FRONTS MOVE THROUGH AND IS GONNA GET BETTER QUICK WE ARE SUPPOSE TO GET THIS WARM RAIN AND THE FISH WILL MOVE UP TO THE RUN OFFS AND CAN BE CAUGHT WITH SPINNERBAITS AND CRANK BAITS AS WELL AS GRUBS AND GITZITS , SOME BASS ARE BEING CAUGHT ANYWHERE FROM 40-80 FEET DEEP RIGHT NOW ON JIGGING SPOONS , GRUBS AND C-RIGGED LIZARDS AND FINESSE WORMS, THE SMALLMOUTH ARE SLOW COMPARED TH THE KENTUCKYS AND LARGEMOUTH, ALSO ON THE CREEK BENDS CRANKBAITS AND RATTLES TRAPS ARE WORKING  WHEN THE SUN IS OUT AND IF IT IS OVERCAST USE JIGS AND GRUBS OUT A LITTLE DEEPER.
 
NO-REPORT ON THE BREAM AT THIS TIME
 
THE CRAPPIE ARE WANTING TO MOVE UP ALSO WITH THE LONGER DAYS.
 
THE WHITES AND HYBRIDS HAVE MADE ANOTHER MOVE UP THE RIVERS AND HAVE WENT A LITTLE FUTHER THIS TIME AND ARE BITING PRETTY GOOD IF YOU CAN STAY AWAY FROM THE OTHER BOATS , THEY ARE A LITTLE FINIKEY AT PRESENT AND ANY NOISE BOTHERS THEM , DO HAVE RESPECT FOR OTHER FISHERMAN AND IF YOU APPROACH SOMEONE THAT HAS THROWN OUT A MARKER BOUY DO LET THEM HAVE THEIR SPACE, AND LEARN TO READ YOUR OWN DEPTH FINDER AND FIND YOUR OWN FISH IT WILL HELP YOU IN THE LONG RUN AND YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FISHING BECAUSE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH THEM THEN.
 
THE CALL FOR THIS WARM RAIN WILL GET THE WALLEYE FIRED BACK UP AFTER THE STAIN GETS BACK OUT OF THE WATER , THE WARMING EFFECT AS WELL AS THE NEW OXYGEN AND MICRO-SPECIES FLOWING IN THE LAKE WILL HAVE A GREAT EFFECT ON THE WALLYE BITE AND IT SHOULD IMPROVE OVER NIGHT , IT HAS BEEN SO BAD SO FOR NONE HAVE BEEN WEIGHED IN AT THE TOUR., BUT TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY.
 
THE CATFISH ARE SLOW AT PRESENT

February 20, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 45º - 52º; normal stain, lake level approx 4.25" above normal, & discharge = 391CFS with one gate open.  Current in Little River slow.  Gate change is expected mid-week.
Largemouth (Black) Bass have remained back in deeper water along Little River for the last week-10 days, due to reduction in shallow water temperature over the last week from cold frontal passages.  Largemouths are fair to good on medium to deeper running, slow moving crank baits, carolina rigs, 3/4 oz slow moving Rat-L-Traps in red chrome or white. Jigs along the river next to stumps in pumkinseed/ chartruese, or black/blue/purple continue working well.  Nice sized keeper bass are responding favorably to carolina rigged lizards in same areas around stumps in the river, as the jigs are working.  Our best colors in the last couple weeks are cherry seed, scumpernong, black neon, or pumpkinseed.
 
The oxbows along Little River are several degrees warmer than the main lake or river channel and bass are slightly more aggressive in those areas. Keeper size Largemouths are hitting slow moving Rat-L-Traps, heavy spinnerbaits, and "dead-sticking" trick worms or Bass Assassin Shads, around vegetation and stumps in drop-offs of water depth of approx 9-12 feet.
 
Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) remain fair, along the river on small, rocket shads, H&H spinners, and tail spinners like the Little Cleos or Little Georges in white/chrome/red.   Creek channels, slightly deeper water close to the river, are holding the better size fish.
 
Crappie are improved, within the last week, remain pushed back out to deeper haunts along the river.  Best depths are 17-18 feet.  The best bite has shifted from mornings, to mid-day on white or pink jigs and shiners.  
 
Blue Cats are biting well on chicken livers, cottonseed mill cakes, and cut shad on trot lines; minnows working best on yo-yo's in 9-12 feet.

    }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity improved from last week, Little River and main lake normal stain and clarity at approx 2-4 feet depending on location.  Clarity on the main lake in the northeastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, is heavier stained.  As of Monday, the lake level is slightly above normal (259.2) at 259.6 feet.  Discharge at the dam is 391CFS with one gate open.  Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is slow but increased from last week's discharge.  Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place and noticed up on the banks, in Little River due to recent high wind.  Use caution in low light navigations.
The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-6 feet in places.  We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences of up to 5+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun. 
 
With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!  If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

February 8, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,105.47 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is low and the water is clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows, tube jigs and marabou jigs around brush and stumps just outside of the river bends. White bass are biting well in the river arms. The best lures to use for the whites has been a red-and-chartreuse tube jig. Black bass are biting fairly well in 3 to 10 feet of water on crayfish-colored crankbaits. Stripers are fair on large live shad and minnows near the deeper water of the rivers.

February 7, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level at greers ferry is 452.16 and temp is 47-50 degrees
 
the water has came up about 2 feet but the temp has fell some
 
the bass fishing is hit or miss they are getting more active at first light but after that it is hard to get bit sometimes, the jerk bait bite is improving some and they can be caught with a crank bait and rattle traps are working well , and if ya need to go deep a small grub texas on a jig head or a c-rig with a lizard cannot be beat.
 
the walleye have slowed down some what with the influx of the colder weather but they are soon to return to the shallows and be ready to get their eggs laid and get back out before most fisherman even get on the water.
 
a few crappie are showing up pretty good again but not in large numbers.
 
the hybrids and whites have slowed and are only feeding about once a day now but the sunshine will help improve the bite again , they are still in about 50 feet of water unless they have the shad pushed up on the bank and again watch for the birds , but it is  a good time of year to learn to use your lcr and find the bait fish that way you can stay out of the crowds and enjoy catching fish and no-one else is around .
 
no report on the catfish as well as the bream

February 6, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Water temps: 49º - 56º; normal stain, approximately 3" above normal, & Discharge= 804CFS with gate number 1 open 0.7 foot.  Current in Little River increased, but slow.  Gate change is expected mid to late-week.
Largemouth (Black) Bass patterns are relating to the increase in water temperature over the last few weeks.  Largemouths are good from 2 to 5 pounds, on Bass Assassin jerk baits, Cordell Ripplin RedFins, Rat-L-Traps, and Power Worms in blue fleck.  Jig bite on a pumpkinseed/chartruese or texas craw color, is improved, using Unc Josh pork chunk trailers.  War Eagle spinner baits in copper-peach or spot remover colors, and the Rat-L-Traps in red-chrome or white colors, remain working well.  Largemouth bass males are running up shallow to flats adjacent to creek channels and close to the river, on the warmer days.  Over the last few weeks, these fish continue feeding shallow, on sunny days, then retreat to the warmer depths and drops in Little River.  During the heat of the day & on bright, sunny days, we are catching keeper size (16" length), and smaller, black bass up shallow in depths of 1-3 feet in the lily pad stems and grass on 1/2oz Rat-L-Traps, Bass Assassins and spinnerbaits.
 
Slow down your presentation of spinnerbaits and Traps, and fish the Rat-L-Traps another 2 feet deeper, parallel, right on the drop offs.  Middle keeper sized, 2 & 3 lb black bass are hitting Fat Free Shads in brown craw/orange belly and citrus shad colors.  Additionally, in some of the backs of the oxbows, several nice keeper size Largemouths are hitting lizards in cherry seed, scumpernong, and chartruese-pumpkin colors, around vegetation and stumps.
 
Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) remain good, along the river on the small, 1/4oz Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome/chartreuse colors and tail spinners like the Little Cleos or Mepps and Little Georges in red.  Creek mouths in 9-12 feet depths,  where they dump into Little River has been the best location lately. 
 
Crappie are good, and within the last week, have began spreading out horizontally, recently changing from their vertical stacking along Little River.  Crappie are moving slightly more shallow, approx 4 - 5 feet deep, in close proximity to cypress trees with the increase in suface temperature.  Bite shifts daily, the last few days is on jigs.  The best bite mornings, and by afternoons for the last few days, the bite is pretty much over.  
 
No report on White Bass or Blue Cats this week.

The water (surface) temps have stablized over the last week.  Differences in water temps from last week remain close to the same, depending on location.  In some of the oxbows, we are seeing low 60º water temps.  

    }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity is consistent from last week, with Little River and main lake normal stain and clarity at approx 2-3 feet.  Clarity on the main lake in the northeastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, is heavier stained.  Lake level is slightly above normal (259.2) at 259.45 feet.  Discharge at the dam is 804CFS with one gate open 0.7 feet.  Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is slow.  Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place and noticed up on the banks, in Little River due to recent high wind.  Use caution in low light navigations.
The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-6 feet in places.  We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun. 
 
With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!  If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

January 25, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,105.39 feet MSL.

J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is very clear and low. Crappie have made a move shallow and are biting well on minnows and jigs fished close to the brush. Bass fishing has been good on crankbaits, spoons and jerkbaits. Stripers are biting well on large shiners.

January 24, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the recent rains have raised the lake somewhat from 450.15 to 451.47. , the temp is about the same at 45-50 degrees.
 
The hybrid fishing and white bass fishing continues to be good from 6 inches to 53 feet-in places the fish will have the shad ran up on the bank and alot of them are 15 - 18 lb. hybrids, follow the birds or find the bait fish and you  will be able to catch some -in-line spinners , jigging spoons and the best bait i found this week is a rite bite baits hair jig white and gray with a stub tail grub either hopped or swam.
 
The crappie are good around the pole timber and brush piles in about 18 feet of water.
 
no report on the catfish at this time
 
the bass fishing has been good and easy after the rain the run off was warmer and some bait fish and fish moved in-to  them and you can catch them real good on a rattle trap and spinner bait as well as a small crank bait otherwise try fishing about 40 feet deep witha c-rig and or bluff ends with a grub or jerk bait.
 
the walleye have slowed , not that they were real hot but they have not picked up any more but some males and a few females are being caught up the rivers , really the length of the day is what matters most on their spawn in stead of water temp, they will and can spawn in water between 45 and 60 degrees.

January 23, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Happy New Year for 2006!  Dress warm & get out there! ....GOFISH<º)))><{ ....
 
Water temps: 45º - 50º ; approximately 3 inches below normal level, & Discharge= 155CFS with gate number 1 open 0.37 foot.  Very little current in Little River.
Largemouth (Black) Bass patterns relatively unchanged over the last couple weeks and are good from 2 to 4 pounds, on 1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps, Bomber crankbaits, and Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes in  pumpkinseed/chartreuse or black/red flake.  Best crankbait bite has been on firetiger colors due to increase in wind and heavy stain conditons.  War Eagle spinner baits in white/chartreuse, Berkley Power Worms in black, and the Rat-L-Traps in red or white, are working well.  Largemouth bass are relating to the deeper drops in Little River, yet nearby to flats and creek channel mouths.  Over the last couple weeks, these fish are feeding shallow, on warm, sunny days, then retreat to the warmer depths and drops in Little River.  During the heat of the day & on bright, sunny days, we are catching keeper size (16" length), and smaller, black bass up shallow in depths of 2-3 feet in the lily pad stems and grass on 1/4 to 1/2oz Rat-L-Traps. 
 
Keeper sized, 2-3 lb black bass are hitting Fat Free Shads in brown craw/orange belly, and firetiger colors due to recent high winds muddying the entire lake.  Points on the main lake were yeilding some nice 2-3 pound black bass along Little River using the larger sized 3/4oz Rat-L-Traps and medium running crankbaits.  Slow the crankbait to get it deeper.
 
No report on White Bass or Blue Cats this week.
 
Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) remain good, along the river on the small white Rocket Shads, 1/4oz Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome/chartreuse colors.  Creek mouths in 6-9 feet depths,  where they dump into Little River has been the best location lately.  Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek & Hurricane Creek this week. 
 
Crappie are very good, but tapered off from last week, with the recent muddy water and heavy stain from high winds over the last couple days.  Crappie have moved slightly deeper, approx 14-17 feet deep, along Little River with the recent decrease in suface temperature.  Best bite over the last few days is on shiners, in contact with planted brush piles and tops.  The best bite remains mid-day and afternoons.  Use caution in navigation along Little River as many Crappie fishermen and boats are anchored along Little River during the heat of the day.

The water (surface) temps still remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences in water temps up to 8 degrees, can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Mud Lake, Horseshoe, McGuire Lake, and other oxbows, were in lower 50ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly mid- 40ºs range.  The activity level of the bass in these different areas of Millwood is dramatically more aggressive.  This week we have noticed decrease in surface temperature by 3-4º, due to recent cold frontal passages and ambient conditions being in the 40º range.
 
Huge numbers of ducks and a lot of duck hunters, have been noted on Millwood in the last 3- 4 weeks.

    }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity is poor, due to recent (muchly needed rain &) high winds, in Little River and is approx 4-5".  Clarity on the main lake is also poor at 2-4".  North eastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, is muddy.  Lake level is just slightly below normal (259.2) at 258.96.  Discharge at the dam is 155CFS with one gate open 0.37 feet.  Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is slow to non-existent.  Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place and noticed up on the banks, in Little River due to recent high wind.  Use caution in low light navigations.
The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 2 feet in places.  We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.  Over the weekend, the main lake surface temperatures ranged in the mid 40º range, and we found water up river in McGuire in the low 50º range later in mid-day. 
 
With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!  If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.
 
Mike

January 20, 2006 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Phone 479-253-6154 - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! - What a weather forecast. Dark and gloomy conditions will prevail this weekend. Yippeee!!! Drag out the raincoat _ dust it off _ I'm sure you have barely worn it for the past six months and go fishing. The Midge hatch this weekend should be a "bottler" according to the Aussie _ apparently that means very good Down Under (see the things you learn subscribing to this email). If its particularly gloomy, try a 6wt rod and a sinking line, fishing sculpin or crawdad patterns across the bottom in the deeper holes. This is a good way to find a genuine trophy. There might be a little lightning Saturday morning so play it safe.
 
    Sneaking away midweek is also a good bet at this time of year if you want some real solitude _ plus its good for your health! 

TIP OF THE WEEK    
    How many times do you watch a new arrival on the stream hurry up to the waters edge and immediate wade out as far as they can and start fishing to the far bank. As if the fish are always thicker on the far side. Steve, the house guide, received another lesson in look before you wade this week. We finally thought he had qualified for a day off, and like any guide would immediately took off fishing to Taneycomo for a change of scenery. While most others were finding the going tough as the water levels dropped Steve found fish stacked up in the quiet eddies along the close bank, out of the main current. Delicate presentations with barely 10' of flyline out of the tip were eagerly gobbled.
 
* FISHING REPORT
Beaver Tailwater:  Not that we are complaining about the midge hatch but it would be nice to write about something different. The midge hatches have been reliable and some great fun on a dry fly _ if you haven't tried this style of fishing, or want to learn more, give us a call about our dry fly classes. 
There is a strong hatch coming off daily around 11am, and another around 4pm. During the hatches a Parachute Adams (20-22) is a great all-rounder, Adams (20); Midge Adams, Cream Midges,  or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light, Snowshoe Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger have all had some success. With so many fish up on the surface, picking a target fish and aiming for the best presentation is often the best approach.
    We have Wapsi's Razor Foam Midge tying kits ($8 each) to whip up some of Pat Neuman's great little fly. Tie it as a pupa or an adult. Its simple fast and effective.  If you don't fancy dry fly precision try swinging a soft hackle, Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge and in deeper or swifter sections try the new Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass.
Before the midge hatch try Zebra midges (black, brown  or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge, Bryce's TDM and other midge pupa imitations.     Subsurface sowbugs remain the fly of choice through much of the upper section of the tailwater.  Try our gray sowbugs 12-18 or the sweet McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug.  Olive Woolly Buggers, and Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. We have also been able to finally get in some teeny size 18 Flashtail Eggs which should be gobbled up.
 As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk. Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message  (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.
 
Taneycomo: Fishing well with scuds and midges predominating. In low water try a McLellan's Hunchback Scud trailed by a gray Johnny Flash or Gray Shuckin Midge Dun. Small dark Kaufmann's Scuds are also working well. Bryce's TDM in wine also fooling fish, Flashtail eggs 16s and 18s were scoring fish. In low water 6x is the minimum requirement and even 7x is worth trying on tough days, go for the smallest indicator in your box. If its sunny try a Charlotte's Redneck Midge.
 
Soft hackles can be good producers and its worth keeping white woolly buggers in the box in case the long awaiting shad kill gets underway
 
Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin

January 19, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake⤙s elevation at 1,105.5 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is low and clear. Crappie fishing has been good on jigs and minnows in 5 to 15 feet of water up the river arms. Bass are biting well on chartreuse or shad-colored jerkbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on cut shad. Stripers have been biting well from Perry Creek to Eden Bluff on umbrella rigs baited with curlytail grubs and live shad suspended under a balloon.

January 18, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - the water level is 451.08 5tenths above 10 feet low.
water temp is 45-50 degrees at best now.
the hybrid and white bass fishing is great, the birds and fish are both feeding alot and the fishes eggs are not for from being ready to lay right now aliilt more warm weather and you can not hold them back, it should be a great catching year as the water is so low ,it will be like fishing in a barrel , if ya go out watch for the birds as the fish are moving alot , the other day the birds are so thick a fisherman even caught one of them.
 
The blackbasses are hit and miss with all the cold fronts now but is typical this time of year, wiggle warts , rite bites special spinner bait and jigs are accounting for all the fish on 45 degree banks with chunk rock and jerk baits and jigging spoons are the best on bluff ends now.
 
the crappie are so so , in about 18 feet of water on jigs and minnows.
 
no- reports on the catfish
 
the walleye are being caught up the rivers and not only males but some females are their allready biting walley divers and jerk baits as well as grubs and jigs fished deep you can catch them real good shallow on a stormy night.

January 12, 2006 - Beaver - Submitted by Jason Piper - JT Crappie Guide Service - As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake⤙s elevation at 1,105.5 feet MSL.
J.T. Crappie Guide Services said the lake is low and clear. A few people are buying crickets to fish for bream but aren⤙t having much luck. Crappie fishing has been good next to brush piles on the river arms using minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is good on vertically jigged spoons around the main lake and crankbaits upriver. Stripers are busting large shad and shiners all over the lake, but the surface activity has been limited.

January 11, 2006 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry came up to just a little over 10 feet low now after the rain from 450.92 to a whopping 451.05, we need rain, the temp is still around 48 to 50 on warm days.
 
The whites and hybrids are still biting pretty good in the mouths of creeks and following the shad around , watch for the birds and you can catch them and then all of a sudden they will be gone , but usually they will be back at the same place the next morning spoons and swim baits working best, in about 50 feet of water
 
The bass are biting right on the bank if the sun is high with spinnerbaits and if it is cloudy and cold go deeper with crank baits and bigger spinnerbaits on chunk rock 45 degree banks and also drop shots -grubs and c-rigs in about 45 to 50 feet on main creek and river intersections deep fish you really have to slow down and on some warm windy days the rattle trap or spot is working well on steep banks, the winter here is the time to catch a  big black bass.
 
The crappie had been going pretty well but no reports this week, continue trying the standing timber and brush piles in about 18 feet od water.
 
no catfisherman out at all.

the walleye have disappeared with the cold front , but look for the males up river on the next warm up.

January 9, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Happy New Year for 2006!  Dress warm & get out there! ....GOFISH<º)))><{ ....
 
Water temps: 45º - 55º ; approximately 2.2 inches below normal level, & Discharge= 158CFS with gate number 1 open 0.37 foot.  Current in Little River is non-existent.
Largemouth (Black) Bass are good between 2 & 4 pounds, on War Eagle spinner baits in  Aurora color, 7" Berkley Power Worms in tequila sunrise, or blue fleck, and Southern Pro Fattbutt tubes in smoke/black-red flake or purple smoke, along the pad stems in Little River, paying particular attention to points and parallel to the drops. The patterns are relatively unchanged over the last couple weeks and Largemouths are relating to the deeper drops in Little River, yet close to flats and creek channel mouths, where they are grouped up.  On warm, sunny days, these bass run up shallow on these flats and points, to grab a quick meal, and retreat to the warmer depths and drops in Little River.  We are fishing a lighter weight spinner bait slower and deeper for the past few weeks.  Using a 1/4oz or 3/8oz size spinnerbait, we are clipping on weights to the arms or hook shanks of these smaller lures to slow them down, thereby allowing fishing deeper in the strike zones where the Largemouths have apparently dropped to, for the marjority of their daytime hours, in the last couple weeks.  During the heat of the day & on sunny days, we are catching keeper size (16" length), and smaller, black bass up shallow in depths of 2-3 feet in the lily pad stems and grass on the Rat-L-Traps.  Good areas are Pugh Slough, Hurricane Creek, White Cliffs, Jack's Isle.  Work all these area's points where they intersect Little River.
 
Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in orange/brown craw or white shad patterns, remain taking fair to good size black bass and Kentucks between 2-3 pounds.  Keeper sized, 2-3 lb black bass are hitting Fat Free Shads in brown craw/orange belly, Norman DLN in suncraw, and the Bandit crankbaits in the brown back/orange belly craw patterns.  The 7-9 foot depths of creek mouths around Snake Creek, Mud Lake and Hurricane Creeks in the last week seem to be holding the crankbait fish.  Points on the main lake were yeilding some nice 2-3 pound black bass along Little River using the larger sized 3/4oz Rat-L-Traps and medium running crankbaits.
 
The Black Bass jig bite continues improving. Swimming a white jig with pearl zoom chunk trailer is imitating shad very well, and catching keeper bass around grass or lily pad stems.  Texas Craw or pumpkin/ watermelon rind, using Larew Hawg Craws in pumpkinseed, Zoom black or green pumpkin chunk trailers, continue working on Largemouths around 4 pounds each around stumps and timber.
 
No report on White Bass or Blue Cats this week.
 
Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) remain good, along the river on the small white Rocket Shads, 1/4oz Rat-L-Traps in chrome or chrome/chartreuse colors and carolina rigged, green pumpkin 4" mini-lizards are working .  Try around creek mouths in 8-12 feet depths, and where they dump into Little River.  Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek and Mud Lake second entrance this week. 
 
Crappie are excellent, with many limits of huge slabs, coming in daily.  Crappie remain approx 15-19 feet deep along Little River.  Best bite is using jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops.  The best bite remains mid-day this week.  Use caution in navigation along Little River as many Crappie fishermen and boats are anchored along Little River during the heat of the day.

The water (surface) temps still remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences in water temps up to 8 degrees, can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Mud Lake, Horseshoe, McGuire Lake, and other oxbows, were in mid-to-upper 50ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly mid- to- upper 40ºs range.  The activity level of the bass in these different areas of Millwood is dramatically more aggressive. 
 
Huge numbers of ducks and a lot of duck hunters, have been noted on Millwood in the last 2-3 weeks.

    }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity is excellent, in Little River and is approx 5+ feet.  Clarity on the main lake is also very good at approx 2-3 feet.  North eastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, remains stained but improving.  Lake level is just slightly below normal (259.2) at 259.02.  Discharge at the dam is 158CFS with one gate open 0.37 feet.  Cossatot, Little River, Saline River current is slow to non-existent.  Numerous river marker buoys are missing or out of place and noticed up on the banks, in Little River due to recent high wind.  Use caution in low light navigations.
The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-7 feet in places.  We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.  Monday the main lake surface temperatures ranged in the mid 40º range, and we found water up river in McGuire above 50º later in mid-day. 
 
With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!  If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.
 
Thank you to the USArmy Corps of Engineers and AG&FC personnel who are currently in process of evaluating the increase and spread of various aquatic vegetation species on Little River and Millwood Lake.  A recommendation & report is pending, on potential control measures which would be the most physical effective manner of the vegetation growth explosion in all the creeks, oxbows, Little River and the main lake; as well as which methods could be the most cost effective to maintain.
Use EXTREME caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, and SLOW DOWN!  Careful watch for floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD is a requirement!!
Don't forget, be safe, and respect the other guy's right to use the lake too.  Release those big bass to spawn and fight again, and take home those little 16"ers to fry up!  Use caution in low light conditions, wear your Life Preserver and SUNSCREEN!  If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only hope to survive. 

January 2, 2006 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - Happy New Year for 2006!  Dress warm & get out there! ....GOFISH<º)))><{ ....
 
Water temps: 45º - 51º ; approximately 1.75 inches below normal level, & Discharge = 158CFS with gate number 1 open 0.37 foot.  Current in Little River is non-existent.
Patterns for Largemouth (Black) Bass are relatively unchanged over the last couple weeks.  The bass are relating to the deeper drops in Little River, yet close to huge flats and creek channel mouths, and they're up shallow on warm, sunny days.  Largemouths remain fair to good between 2 & 4 pounds, on War Eagle spinner baits in copper-peach and Aurora colors, along the pad stems in Little River adjacent to creek channel swings and mouths, on points.  We are fishing a lighter weight spinner bait slower and deeper for the past few weeks.  Using a 1/4oz or 3/8oz size spinnerbait, we are clipping on weights to the arms or hook shanks of these smaller lures to slow them down, thereby allowing fishing deeper in the strike zones where the Largemouths have apparently dropped to, or pulled out several feet, in the last couple weeks.  During the heat of the day & on sunny days, we are catching keeper size (16" length), and smaller, black bass up shallow in depths of 2-3 feet in the lily pad stems and grass on the Rat-L-Traps.  Good areas are Pugh Slough, Hurricane Creek, White Cliffs, Jack's Isle.  Work all these area's points where they intersect Little River.
 
Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in various craw or shad patterns, remain taking fair to good size black bass and Kentucks between 2-3 pounds.  We are catching fair sized, 2-3 lb black bass with the Fat Free Shad in brown craw/orange belly, Norman DLN in suncraw, and the Bandit crankbaits in the brown back/orange belly craw patterns.  The 7-9 foot depths of creek mouths around Snake Creek, Mud Lake and Hurricane Creeks in the last week seem to be holding the crankbait fish.  Points on the main lake were yeilding some nice 2-3 pound black bass along Little River using the larger sized Rat-L-Traps and medium running crankbaits.
 
The Black Bass jig bite continues improving.  In the last few days and week, a white jig with pearl zoom chunk trailer is imitating shad very well, and catching keeper bass around grass or lily pad stems.  Texas Craw or pumpkin/ watermelon rind, using Larew Hawg Craws in pumpkinseed, Zoom black or green pumpkin chunk trailers, continue working on Largemouths around 4 pounds each around stumps and timber.
 
No report on White Bass this week.
 
Kentuckys (Spotted Bass) remain good, along the river on the small white Rocket Shads.  Carolina rigged, green pumpkin mini-lizards are working, and small Rat-L-Traps in chrome- blue or chrome/chartreuse colors.  Try around creek mouths in 8-12 feet depths, and where they dump into Little River.  Kentuckies remain stacked up in the mouths of Snake Creek, Hurricane Creek and Mud Lake second entrance this week.  Recent cold frontal passages have slowed the aggressive bite.
 
Crappie are excellent, with many limits of huge slabs, coming in daily.  Crappie remain approx 10-15 feet deep along Little River.  Best bite is using jigs, in contact with planted brush piles and tops.  The best bite remains mid-day this week.  Areas working Crappie well are along Little River in front of Mud Lake oxbow, between White Cliffs and McGuire Lake oxbow, and between Jack's Isle and Mud Lake along Little River.  Use caution in navigation along Little River as many Crappie fishermen and boats are anchored along Little River during the heat of the day.

We are still noticing the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences in water temps up to 8 degrees, can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Mud Lake, Horseshoe, McGuire Lake, and other oxbows, were in mid-to-upper 50ºs this week, while main lake was a chilly mid- to- upper 40ºs range.  The activity level of the bass in these different areas of Millwood is dramatically more aggressive. 
 
Huge numbers of ducks and a lot of duck hunters, have been noted on Millwood in the last 2-3 weeks.

    }><(((º>   Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report   <º)))><{
Water clarity is excellent, in Little River and is approx 3-5 feet.  Clarity on the main lake is also slight improvement at approx 2-3 feet.  North eastern sector of the lake around Okay Landing and Cottonshed, remains stained but improving.  Lake level is just slightly below normal (259.2) at 259.07.  Discharge at the dam is 158CFS with one gate open 0.37 feet.  Cossatot and Little River current is slow to non-existent.  Several river marker buoys are missing or out of place due to recent high wind.  Use caution in low light navigations.
The upriver oxbows on Little River, still have much better water visibility, estimated at approx 5-7 feet in places.  We have noticed the water temps remain much warmer, further up Little River than the main lake body.  Differences of up to 8+ degrees warmer water can be found up river, and back in the oxbows, as compared to the main lake.  Increases of surface temps have been noted later in the day, depending on area of the lake and wind and sun.  Monday the main lake surface temperatures ranged in the mid 40º range, and we found water up river in McGuire above 50º later in mid-day. 
 
With the onset of cooler weather, and cold fronts, hypothermia can set in on a person in less than 5 minutes in water temperatures around or below the 50º mark, so wear that Life Jacket!!  If you are thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival.

December 30, 2005 - Beaver - G'day y'all from the Beaver Dam Store crew! email - Well 2005 is almost done, and what a year its been for us and everyone else. Lots of changes around the store in the past year, most notably the retirement of Charlotte and the new ownership. And plenty of exciting times ahead. We have also been through the development of a new management plan for the Tailwater, which of course brings new rules from January 1.

These changes are also accompanied by a major reduction in stocking numbers, to try and balance the food resource with the fish population. Yes fishing Beaver is going to be different and for the better. But the long-term need is still for a hatchery on Beaver. We have been promised it for 30 years, we have the land available and the water supply, all that is needed now is the funding. Speaking for most anglers we don't believe where the money comes from is important, Federal, State, local or even private resources. But we want that money provided now. We, all of us who fish this tailwater, have waited long enough.

* FISHING REPORT

Beaver Tailwater: Fishing is getting better once the day warms a little. Before the midge hatch try Zebra midges (black, brown or red); Razorback Midges; Charlotte's Redneck Midge and other midge pupa imitations. During the hatches (mid-morning to early afternoon) particularly on cloudy days try Parachute Adams (20-22), Adams (20); Midge Adams, Cream Midges, or our newly unpacked Adult Midge Light, Snowshoe Midge Emerger, or Parasol Midge Emerger.
We have Wapsi's Razor Foam Midge tying kits ($8 each) to whip up some of Pat Neuman's great little fly. Tie it as a pupa or an adult. Its simple fast and effective. If you don't fancy dry fly precision try swinging a soft hackle, Olive Submarine, Dark Olive Dun and Peacock and Patridge and in deeper or swifter sections try the new Fulton's Tungsten Wired Red Ass.
Subsurface sowbugs remain the fly of choice through much of the upper section of the tailwater. Try our gray sowbugs 12-18 or the sweet McLellan's Woven V-Rib sowbug.
Olive Woolly Buggers, and Egg patterns are performing well particularly in peach colors, Umpqua's superb low water Flashtail mini eggs, and the bead head Veiled Eggs for faster runs. We have also been able to finally get in some teeny size 18 Flashtail Eggs which should be gobbled up.
As the cold weather increases watch for more early morning water releases, particularly on weekdays. Generation has been starting in the evening on dusk. Call 417 336 5083 for a real time recorded message (after the Table Rock report) on water releases.

Norfork Tailwater/Bull Shoals: Low, low water over the Christmas break meant plenty of fishing and catching.Similar conditions can probably be expected this weekend. Olive midges, gray sowbugs, olive/brown scuds all were working well on Norfork on Tuesday when Steve guided three generations of the Lenard family. (We will save the tale of Dry Run Creek for when the photos arrive). Lots of midging fish from McLellan's downstream, great time to try soft hackles or dries, mentioned above. Sunny days try the Pearl submarine in particular. Overcast days have seen nice blue wing olive hatches on both the White and Norfolk. Small pheasant tails, or the many micro mayfly variants can be effect in the early stages of the hatch.
Egg patterns have been very effective, particuarly around Wildcat Shoal and Rim Shoal has also been fishing well

NEW FISHING REGULATIONS _ JANUARY 1

It seems a long time since March when we first started telling you about the proposals for Beaver Tailwater to get its own management plan, and better yet drafted with input from those fishing the river. Well finally, on January 1 the new regulations underpinning the plan will come into effect.

If you're a catch and release fly fisher currently you probably won't notice much difference at all. The main changes only really affect those taking trout or bait fishers. But everyone should support the goals of the new plan _ top produce better sized rainbows and more trophy browns.

To that end stocking levels have basically been halved and a slot limit introduced to allow fish to grow, relatively unmolested from 13" to 16", replacing the existing minimum size limits.
Bait fishers will have to use barbless hooks on the whole river, from the Dam to Houseman Access. The current Catch and Release Area has become a "no bait zone" which will carry pretty much the same rules as the former catch and release area, including single barless articials and no chumming. The final management plan, which will run for 5 years, will not be finalised until early next year.

The regulation changes are:

*
13" to 16" slot limit for all trout All trout between 13" and 16" must be released immediately..
*
Daily creel limit remains 5 trout but only one trout may be over 16".
*
Single barbless hook restriction on bait fishing to reduce hooking mortality of released trout, hooking point barb must be mashed down or removed. Bait holder barbs on hook shank are allowed.
*
From Beaver Dam to Houseman Access, possession of trout within the slot limit (between 13" and 16") will not be allowed.
*
The current Catch and Release Area has been converted to a no-bait zone where only single barbless artificial lured may be used but the same slot limit harvest rules apply. Chumming is not allowed in this area.
*
A Trout permit is required to fish Beaver Dam to Houseman Access, or to retain trout from any state waters.
*
Other statewide trout regulations are unchanged and still in place. See the Trout Fishing Guidebook or Fishing Guidebook for those regulations.

Tight Lines from the Beaver Dam Store staff,
Lisa Steve, Shirley, Tom and Kevin.

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