Michael M Loc: Arkansas

New to this site. I’m planning a trip to Lake Ouachita in early October and am looking for some tips for fishing. I appreciate everyone’s time and suggestions!

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

Welcome to the stage. You can go to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for recent fishing reports. Below is the link to the site and an excerpt from the most recent report for Lake Quachita. Good luck.


https://www.agfc.com/en/news/category/fishing-report/


Lake Ouachita

As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Blakely Dam was 569.60 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).

(updated 9-15-2022) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said, “Crappie and bass are tough for me right now. Bream are great. Redworms and nightcrawler segments are working best for larger sunfish. Go deep, 16-24 feet.”

(updated 9-15-2022) John at Masterbaiters Bait and Tackle (501-209-6538) on Arkansas Highway 7 outside Hot Springs Village said he was out on Lake Ouachita on Sunday and caught 30 good-sized crappie in 12 feet of water over brush. He caught them on jigs and also on minnows. “The jigging spoons in 32 feet on points caught all the yellow and white bass you want. Was a fun four hours on the water,” he said.

(updated 9-15-2022) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are still good. Topwater baits and swimbaits seem to be working best. Walleye are good. A three-quarter-ounce CC Spoon vertically jigged near structure should produce some of these fish, and a nightcrawler fished on a drop-shot or bottom bouncer will work, too. Stripers are very good. Live bait and trolling hair jigs are working best now on the eastern part of the lake. Bream are fair on crickets or worms in 15-25 feet depth on structure. Crappie are very good on small jigs or minnows. Try brush in 20-30 feet depth. Catfish are fair on rod-and-reel with hot dogs or nightcrawlers. Water temperature is steady at 80-84 degrees as of Tuesday. Water clarity is clear. Lake level is 569.77 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.