Arkansas River rolling

[samh]

Went to the dam at Morrilton this afternoon to do a little fish'n, I knew we'd had a good deal of rain( right at 4 inches at my house), but the creeks and branches around home didn't get up that much and even when they do it usually take about 2 or 3 days for it to get to the river, guess it's rain a lot more west of here than I thought, they had all the gates open and the river was high and rolling,the jetty where you launch that was 6-8 feet out of the water 2 weeks ago was almost under ,didn't put the boat in, turned around and went back to lake Brewer, although there was a bunch of folks bank fish'n just below the dam. Brewer had come up about 3 feet, still bad low, caught a few small channels and a 5 lb bass on small perch. Nice night to be out anyway.

[jtrew]

Sam, if the river gets high enough to cover the ballfield at the Dardanelle launching ramp, the cats often get up into the grassy outfield. Another spot to check out in high water would be Flagg Lake Cutoff, just above Sweden Island Campground.

[Big Sam]

:smile2: Yep the river is running!!!!:tounge_out: We went yesterday at the Paris Ar. ramp...caught 11 hump-back blues that totaled 61lbs..and 10 channels that toped the scales 35lbs....The bait was DK..We tried live shad only caught 1...:crazy:

[SeedTick]

Yes Sir she's rolling. I thought about going this afternoon but when I checked the flow I decided to wait. They had 60 k coming down so I guess Oklahoma got a good rain too.

Sam, that is good news about Lake Brewer because that's our water supply. They had already started limiting the days we could water our lawn.

ST

[I_try]

a friend of mine went fishing down from the bank of toad suck on sunday and caught between 20 to 30 white bass on a white curly tail jig. said everyone there was pullin in some and quite a few guys were catching decent size catfish, but didnt know what on

[boliver]

big sam how do you keep dk on hook in swift current i have used it several times and when there is much current i cant get it to stay on. i've go so many cattails in mine now it only comes out in big chunks.

[jtrew]

If nothing else works, try taking some without the cattails and work it into 1"x1" pieces of loofa.

[fishallatime]

I'm a Danny King's fanatic. I never go catfishing without it. 90% of the time I'm using it in swift current. I have used it in the AR river above the Dam at Ozark fishing toward the Dam when it was nearly at flood stage having trouble staying anchored and still had it stay on the hook.

Here's the only thing advertised about DK that is not completely true. "You never have to touch it". That's only true if you want it to fall off the hook in swift water or when it gets warm. Fact is, in swift water, you have to dip and pull the hook, and then grab the mess and pull it down tight on the treble hook. When it gets warm it will come right off unless you handle it and pull it down against the hook bend and barbs. Cattail fiber only goes so far in correcting it.

And I've tried everything on the market to get the smell out of my hands after handling it and nothing works. Nothing they recommend and stuff much harsher and more abrasive. Some surgical gloves for one hand would be in order if you don't want the smell on your hand. The smell will stay imbedded in your hand for 24-36 hrs.

Having said all that, the stuff is phenomenal for catching large numbers of cats and worth the trouble of handling.

[fishallatime]

One final word on the DK that I forgot to mention. Some of it will come off the hook either on the cast or in the water no matter what you do. But it only takes a small amount to get fish to find and bite it. Put it out and leave it. If you don't get a bite in 15-20 minutes, you're in the wrong spot.

[boliver]

thanks for the help on using dk. i havent tried working it down by hand . will try this i fish below 13 a lot and some below ozark. you are right about some coming off on cast and after 5 minutes if i reel in no dk or only a string or two this is by pushing it down and pulling at 45 degree angle. i will try pulling it down by hand i have never caught any below 13 only a few below ozark and one 6 inch channel below toad suck. i feel it because i can't keep it on. i usually dont fish if there isn't a good flow. i have tried the trebles with springs not much better.but thanks for the help and i will give it a try.

[Big Sam]

:confused2: Boliver..a lot of folks have the misconception that the bait should be smooth on top of the bucket....Take your punch-paddle and stab the bucket several times needs too be rough on top..use a 1/0 or 2/0 hook punch it in and pull out at an angle...heck if it is stiff in the morning bring an ol glove and squeeze the bait into a ball then let her fly..do it all the time it works well.....:smile2:

[TOPS]

Let me tell you we have gotten some rain here in Pope county. My whole yard is flooded. must put boots on to keep my feet dry just to go to my shed. The moral to this story is, yep the Arkansas River will be rolling again!!

[Jimmy Don]

Grant county has gotten it share of rain this week and it looks like the weekend may be a wash. I was hopin to get out and try to catch a few this weekend. It don't look like that will happen.

[Arkie55]

It's rained up here all week. Heavy rain last Saturday, shower Sunday, Thunder shower Monday, another one last night and it started raining about 7:00 am this morning and it's still coming down. Rivers, all rivers should be rolling. Lakes that are low should fill up. This weekend don't look real bad but then again that could change.:crazy:

[Big Sam]

My old pal big sammy and myself went out saturday night on the Ar. river. By the way we are two seperate people..lately some folks have been getting us mixed up:confused2: I am Big Sam and he is Big sammy but we been best friends for years:smile2: Anyway we filled the livewell with channels,blues and 1 flathead by midnight...We used live shad which caught a couple..and numerous Gar..The Bait of choice was Danny King:tounge_out: once again.

[CNTRYBOY]

I will be at Toad Suck this weekend! My family has a reunion there every year the weekend before Mother's day! Will let everyone know how it goes! Will be fishing from the Bank. The water will probably be higher after the rain tonight and tommorrow! Any one around there let me know. My family will be at the big privilion on the upriverside of the Dam next to the campground's! Just come ask for Newton Styers and they will point you my way!!!

[VerotiK]

Me and Smellycat are gonna hit Dardanelle saturday afternoon/evening/night.

[Arkie55]

Well, here it is Wednesday morning and it's rained every day (seems like) for the past two weeks. The river I fish most often is near flood stage. It's raining again this morning. Now don't get me wrong, we needed the rain but it really puts a damper on my fishing. I'll bet the Arkansas is rolling again today. I know the little river I crossed this morning on my way to work was high and muddy. Current speed wasn't what I would call rolling but it was moving pretty good. I expect some low areas along the river to flood.:sad2: Oh well, it will get better before long.

[SeedTick]

I just checked the flow at Dardnelle, Morrilton, and Murray and we've got 50-70 thousand cubic feet of water coming down. It will probably be more before it quits raining. We sure need the rain.

ST

[CNTRYBOY]

Can someone tell me where you can purchase Danny King at! I have never tried it and was wanting too!

[VerotiK]

Its slowing down a little bit. They are still calling for 74 on saturday, but thats yesterdays report. It could go down a little by tomorrow.

[SeedTick]

Can someone tell me where you can purchase Danny King at! I have never tried it and was wanting too!

Hey Newton, I bought mine in Jacksonville at The Outdoor Superstore. I think you can order it from Catfish Connection and from Danny Kings web site. Those links are easy to find, look on the right side of the page.:roll_eyes:
That's some good stuff I don't go to the river without it.

ST

[VerotiK]

We caught right at 100lbs of fish last night. The smallest was around 8lbs, with the rest all right at 15-16lbs.

[barefootarkie]

Don't know if this has been posted before. Here's a link to the Army Corp of Engineers stream gauges. As I fish l&d #5 regularly, I find it invaluable.

http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/shefids.htm

Also, the link to USACE's Tulsa Distict homepage.

http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/



Jimmy

[gary grooms]

Im in Muskogee okla rivers moving at 6 to 7 miles per hour . getten some nice flats and blues behind the first eddies on chunk shad large cut

[8898dan]

Jimmy -
What is the best access to get to LOck and Dam # 5 by boat. Ive fished it once by launcing at Tar Camp I beleive it was and then going downstream through the lock. Is there anywhere below the dam to put in. I m real interested in fishing this area more. I hooked a huge fish while i was fishing off the bank below the dam. It peeled drag 2/3 the way accross the river and broke off. I'm guessing it was a big blue, but ill never know. Anyways and help would be greatly appreciated. Also, are there any good fishing spots downriver from the dam?

[Jimmy Don]

I really don't know, I've just fished there from the bank. I tend to stick to the smaller rivers and agfc lakes.

[jtrew]

Daniel, I only know of two other choices, neither of which is all that great. There is a launching ramp and 'park' at Wrightsville, several miles above Tar Camp, but it's not kept up, and I've heard tales of vandalism & theft to vehicles left unattended there. The other option is to launch at Willow Bend not far above the dam, then lock through. Remember, any time you are locking through a dam, commercial traffic has priority, and you could get delayed an hour or two.

[SeedTick]

I use to really like fishing below Terry but we quit because of all the time wasted locking up and down. The first couple of times it is fun but after that it's just wasted time. They have made us wait on a barge one time and it was an hour before we could even see it then another hour waiting for it to get through. That stinks. I like living in Conway I can be on the water at Mayflower in about 15 or 20 minutes.

ST

[8898dan]

hey guys
I was talking about L&D # 5 (which I don't know if it has a name). Yall are talking about L&D # 6 which is D.D. Terry Lock and Dam. It has very easy access below the dam in the lock channel. You get to it by going towards Scott on 165 S, then turning right at the sign for Willow Beach. Then, when you see the sign for Willow Beach on the right, you stay straight (I think this is Colonel something Rd.) this takes you straight to the lock where there is a ramp. I put in there all the time because it is easy to get to and is not overfished. However, I'm still looking for info on L&D #5 which is the next one downstream between Redfield and the Pine Bluff Arsenel. THanks.

[jtrew]

Sorry for the mixup.

[SeedTick]

Me too. When did they put in a ramp? There use to be a place where people had moved the rocks around so you could put in a small boat out of the back of your truck but you couldn't back your trailer in. I've never fished the next dam down.

ST

[8898dan]

I just started fishing there last spring so I know its been there at least a year. It's one of my favorite areas to pole fish. Also, its easy to get to and pretty close. It only takes me 45 min. to get there from benton. I reckon it wouldn't take very long from conway or LR either. By the way, went out on Ar river last night for a little bit at Murray Park. Only caught one blue - about 2#. Did get rained on and it got real cold after getting wet and sitting in that wind afterwards. The river is still rolling. We were getting some bites, but I think the current was so strong they were having a hard time getting it in their mouth. Who knows. had fun though. Anyways, still looking for info about boat ramps below L&D #5. Thanks.

[barefootarkie]

Daniel,
I'm not sure if the P.B. Arsenal has a ramp or not. I purchased their anual permit 3 or 4 weeks ago for $22.00, but so far have only fished there once on Yellow Lake.If I find there is a ramp at the arsenal, I'll let you know. The next ramp would be Pine Bluff. The fishing I do at L&D#5 has been from the bank. I've always been a little intimidated about locking through. Tar Camp is about a half mile above the dam and is probably the best access to L&D#5, if you don't mind going through the lock. The park is patrolled by Redfield police and is as safe as any to leave your vehicle. Can't help you any on good fishing spots downriver of L&D#5. I put in and fish upriver anywhere from Tar Camp to Terry L&D. There are some decent fishing spots on this part of the river. Maybe we can hookup sometime at L&D#5. Hope this helps.

Jimmy

[8898dan]

Jimmy
Yeah, from what everyone Ive talked to says it looks like tar camp is the best way to access #5. I cant find a ramp below it anywhere on the map until Pine Bluff. Thats what makes me want to check it out even more. I'll bet im not the only one that likes to fish those hard to reach out of the way areas. Oh by the way, the only experience i have with locking through was the time I put in at Tar Camp and locked through #5 to fish below it. I was real nervous, but it was no big deal at all. I would feel safe locking through in a canoe. The only thing is that barge traffic has the right of way, so I had to wait on a barge when I got ready to leave. That took a while.

[boliver]

i had nearly fished up my tub of dk punch bait and had no luck mostly because i couldn"t keep it on in swift water below dams. today i went and couldn't catch any shad . i went and got the dk out of the truck . it had turned over and most of the oil had run out. i baited one pole with it and before i could get 2nd pole rigged had a bite it was like this for one and one half hrs and i had run out of dk i would have been smarter to put one of the pole downand fish with one they were all channel.thanks guys for the info on dk. i really thought you were pulling my leg as i hadnt had any luck. but after today i too am a dk believer will be going to get more tomarrow. o by the way i fished same spot yesterdaywith shad and didn't get a bite. thanks again

[SeedTick]

i had nearly fished up my tub of dk punch bait and had no luck mostly because i couldn"t keep it on in swift water below dams. today i went and couldn't catch any shad . i went and got the dk out of the truck . it had turned over and most of the oil had run out. i baited one pole with it and before i could get 2nd pole rigged had a bite it was like this for one and one half hrs and i had run out of dk i would have been smarter to put one of the pole downand fish with one they were all channel.thanks guys for the info on dk. i really thought you were pulling my leg as i hadnt had any luck. but after today i too am a dk believer will be going to get more tomarrow. o by the way i fished same spot yesterdaywith shad and didn't get a bite. thanks again

Hey boliver, Have you ever tried Looper Rigs for holding on DK? Greatest thing ever for dip or punch baits and he is a sponsor and member of the Brotherhood. Here is a link to his website. You won't be disappointed.

ST

http://www.loopersrigs.com/main.html