Lake Conway 6700 Acres of Fine Fishing in Arkansas

[SeedTick]

Hey Ya'll,

I thought I'd start us a new thread on the lake.

Well, Me and Sis didn't go last Thursday. That 30 mph wind just didn't sound like much fun so we waited and went Saturday. We normally try to avoid Saturday fishing (at the more popular fishing spots) because of the crowd but we didn't see many folks out yesterday. We have been talking about finding new places to fish on Lake Conway because our old honey holes have been taken over by vegetation, we finally got around to it. We fished out of Brannon's Landing. We were trying to remember and best as we could figure it has been 10 or 12 years since we had fished there. We had a great day, the weather was perfect although it got a little warm around noon but then it started clouding up and we started getting a little breeze. We fished around the bank looking for some bedding bream and hopefully some redears. We have always caught some pretty good fish around boathouses and piers so that is where we started. We found our first bream bed of the year around 12:30 and caught some good bluegills. We fished it for a while and went looking for some redears and found another bed but never did find the redears. We brought home 40 good bluegills and 2 redears and we culled a bunch. We didn't do bad for fishing new water and we sure found some nice new fishing spots. I'm planning to take the wife Tuesday afternoon and getting into 'em.

Hey John (Prince), You predicted that this would be a good weekend and you were on the mark.

The rain this morning is bringing up the lake for now - but with dam gates open it should be about normal by tomorrow

I predict bream fishing will take off tomorrow or Friday - because the full moon is Saturday

Last month the bream bed's were very HOT - 3 days before the full moon until 2 days after. May should be better than April but it may take a day for pressure / temperature to stablize so Friday may be better.

Addendum: Forgot to mention - the trotline kid got a 5lb flathead last night on trotline minnows (bait shop has sold out of rice slicks :(

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/showthread.php?p=228852#post228852

How did you do John?

ST

:0a23:

[TOPS]

Greg, Mac and I fished the hotwater outlet Saturday Night 13 May 06. We started fishing for gill to use as bait. Mac wonted to try for some flats. The majority of the gills that we caught was just to big to use as bait. Fish along the same bank as you and I did the day we fished together.

[SeedTick]

Hey Top, When me and the wife went over there last week the bream were banging our jigs like they did when me and you were there. I didn't even think about fishing for bream when we were there I was too busy trying to catch those other scale fish. I'm glad you got to go night fishing I knew you wanted to but I just didn't think I would be up to it. Why do you think the fish didn't cooperate?


I'm sure excited about the new depth finder section. Maybe next time we go I'll know how to use mine.

ST

[prince]

A friend came over Thurday and then again on Friday Morning - for half a day. I had promised to show him a couple bream beds

Well with the wind gust at 25 mph - we did NOT do well - we had maybe 15 keepers in the two half day fishing trips.

So Saturday - his son n daughter law came over - for bank fishing. I put them on a bream bed in front of my house. They started fishing around 12:30PM (one would fish while other watched the baby - so sometimes only one was fishing)

We finished cleaning 38 bream at 5:30PM (they kept a few medium size I would have thrown back)

Then after I ate - I decided to walk the bank in new places to see if I could find another place. Started at 6:30PM - it took me 35 minutes to find another bed - then I ended up with 26 nice keepers (I don't keep medium size) - and I stopped fishing at 8PM. I probably had over 50 fish - but like I said I only kept the nice ones.

So yes they were on the bed - but NOT until Saturday - or at least I couldn't find them in the wind - you made a wise decision to stay away Thursday / Friday.

BTW: I'm like you - I usually do not fish on weekend - let everyone else have the lake ;)

[SeedTick]

A friend came over Thurday and then again on Friday Morning - for half a day. I had promised to show him a couple bream beds

Well with the wind gust at 25 mph - we did NOT do well - we had maybe 15 keepers in the two half day fishing trips.

So Saturday - his son n daughter law came over - for bank fishing. I put them on a bream bed in front of my house. They started fishing around 12:30PM (one would fish while other watched the baby - so sometimes only one was fishing)

We finished cleaning 38 bream at 5:30PM (they kept a few medium size I would have thrown back)

Then after I ate - I decided to walk the bank in new places to see if I could find another place. Started at 6:30PM - it took me 35 minutes to find another bed - then I ended up with 26 nice keepers (I don't keep medium size) - and I stopped fishing at 8PM. I probably had over 50 fish - but like I said I only kept the nice ones.

So yes they were on the bed - but NOT until Saturday - or at least I couldn't find them in the wind - you made a wise decision to stay away Thursday / Friday.

BTW: I'm like you - I usually do not fish on weekend - let everyone else have the lake ;)

John, it sounds like you had fun too. What about the redears? I only caught 2 Saturday and I know one was a female because she looked like she was about to bust and I think the other one was a male but their tales didn't look like they had been fanning out any beds. I haven't seen even 1 that showed any wear on their tale, redears or bluegills either one. This has been a weird spring. The redears generally spawn before the gills, around the same time as the crappie spawn and we are usually still wearing a light coat when we begin to catch the first males coming in. Do you think the redears have bedded up yet? Since my old fishing holes are unfishable I can't be a good judge because I may have just not found them yet. What do you think?

Have you done any good on your trotlines?

ST

[SeedTick]

BTW: I'm like you - I usually do not fish on weekend - let everyone else have the lake ;)

I don't like to deal with the crowd on Saturdays and I think that since I can fish any day of the week I should stay out of the way of all the folks that only get to fish on the weekends.

ST

[prince]

. I haven't seen even 1 that showed any wear on their tale, redears or bluegills either one. This has been a weird spring.

Have you done any good on your trotlines?

I catch a few redear from time to time and so far their tails have not been torn up. I'd love to find a redear bed but still don't have one :confused2: :angry:

However, last month I saw plenty of beat up tails on the bluegill. Then this month - only a few times - have I seen bluegill tails really torn up.

Summary: not sure the bluegill are really on the bed yet this month and have not seen any sign of redear being on bed around here anywhere.

I haven't been running a trotline - the stumps that I like to tie to are still under water. I think some boaters may have knocked the top off my favoriting place/stump to tie one end.

My neighbors also pulled their trotline last week and last night is first time I saw them go out at night - so they must have put it back out (then again they may have been going out to use jugs ?)

[prince]

The kid down the street put his trotline out yesterday - then tried to catch some bream for bait. He only had 4 bream to bait the line (he didn't want to 'waste' money buying trotling minnows cause his dad told him the moon was still too full for catfish to bite ?)

Well he got two catfish on those 4 baited hooks.

A 2-3lb channel (we didn't weigh it) and a 15.5lb flathead

The flathead was really long and slim for a flathead - It looked like it should have been a 20lb - surprised me when I weighted it for him

(I have two scales - one digital and one spring) - the spring showed 18 lbs but I know my spring scales are off (high).

I use a walmart plastic anchor that I checked on meat scales and it is exactly 10 lbs - that is How I check my scales.

So far the digital scales have been worth the money (about $40) and those are ones I believe ;)

[NIMROD]

Lookng forward to the draw down on Conway. Last time about 8 years ago we slaughtered the flatheads! My son , his grampa from out of town , and I kept a limit on bass rods and minnows one morning. They told us the limit was cut in half , we culled down to 15, had over 200 lbs! The largest was 33 lber by the scales at the bait shop.
Redears are starting to bed up some on Conway. May the 7th a friend and I kept 22 off one bed , some were 11'' long. My son and I went on the 12th and only had 6 red ears and a warmouth. We caught fair numbers of bluegills both trips ,but not very large.
I live near a lake and mostly fish for Crappie and Catfish. Bet you can guess which one too ! My boat is in the shop and it's making me crazy waiting on it! Only consulation is the winds been blowing almost every day .:big_smile:

[SeedTick]

Hey Nimrod, It's good to see another Arkie on here. Welcome to the Brothehood.

Well Guys Thursday was a little disappointing. We fished hard and only had around 18 or so keeper bluegills. The wind was rough early, it was so bad we couldn't tell we were getting bites. I don't know the difference but most of what we caught were what we call yellow bellies and we still haven't caught anything with any wear on their tails. If the wind ain't too bad Saturday me and my daughter are going to try them again.

Hey John, have you been doing any good? I went into Mayflower to get crickets so I ran down to look at the dam and it just had a little running out all across it. I need to go get me some more shad.

ST

[jtrew]

Seedtick, get you a shad dip net and walk out on the concrete apron right below the gates. The water running across the apron drops off into the water, and the shad will gang up right against the end of the concrete apron. They're too close to get with a cast net, but you can use a dip net to get all you need.

Nimrod, welcome to the BOC! Is there still a warning about eating the fish from Lake Nimrod? Do you ever fish the rocky point at the mouth of the deep narrow cove straight across from Carter Cove launch ramp?

[prince]

If the wind ain't too bad Saturday me and my daughter are going to try them again.

Hey John, have you been doing any good? I went into Mayflower to get crickets so I ran down to look at the dam and it just had a little running out all across it. I need to go get me some more shad.



I watched a guy walk the bank in the middle of the day - he picked up about a half dozen nice bream - before he went out of sight (around curve)- about 30 minutes

I usually don't start fishing during the days (on hot days) - until after the 6PM news - so I went out today at 6:35PM and fished until 8PM

I got about 10-12 keepers (lost count - but they are in my fish pen :)

I got at least that many that were almost keepers - too big to put on my yo-yo's (I fish for catfish with really small bream on yo-yo's)

And I finally got 6 tiny bream to put on my yo-yo's (that was what I was trying to catch i.e. wanted to bait the yo-yo's to see if I could pick up a catfish
(now 10PM and no catfish yet - time to give it up :) Turtles are going to have a meal :)

I have company coming tomorrow and I've predicted it'll be nice fishing - based on watching that guy today (and it was windy - while tomorrow is 'suppose to be calm'

Good luck - hope y'all kill them. I'm going to let my company - take their grandkids fishing - while I sit in the air conditioning :)

I hope the grandkids catch some tiny bream - I'll put my trotline out tomorrow night if they do - I need to try to keep up with the catfish kid down the street :smile2:

I predict the bream will be biting but scattered up and down the banks - so will have to work for them - I suspect

BTW: I also went to the dam - I took my net (with long handle) and my small throw net - but the big shad were not up against the concrete like they were before all this rain. I suspect they are still there but not as closely pack against the dam. I didn't stay long - little shad not worth the trouble.

I still have about 150 in the freezer from before - but they are only about 3" long. I'm waiting for the 5-6" ones to come back - may take a week or so to build back up the concentration (best guess :roll_eyes:

[SeedTick]

Man it's getting hot! Me and the baby girl (16 years old) went for a while today, we got there around 10:30 (she didn't want to get up too early) and fished about 3 hours. We brought home 21 gills with 2 little redears. We sure had some good ones. I think I am about to get caught up on my bream fishing and I'm ready to hit the river. The flow is going to be about right in a day or two and I'm ready.

Hey jtrew, I got me one of those long handled shad dip nets and it only lasted for about 1/2 dozen good dips or so and the screw that holds the net loop to the handle stripped out. It is the thing for getting those shad when the water is like it is now. I've got it fixed and I'm going to get me some more in a day or two.

I'm like you John I want some big shad. I like those 2-3 inchers but it's hard to beat that gut pouch on those big ones.

It sounds, from what Nimrod said, like the fishing is going to be good on the lake in a few months. I agree they need to pull the lake down and work on the silt and vegetation problem but will the increased pressure on the fish hurt. It seems like it would have to. What have you guys seen in the past? Does it hurt? How long will it take to get back to normal? I don't have any experience from the other times they have done this.

Well, good luck all and let us know how you are doing.

ST

[SeedTick]

Hey Ya'll, When I was at the bait shop there in Mayflower this morning there was a guy telling us about a carp he got last week. He snagged a 62 pound bighead carp over at Toadsuck. He said it took about 30 minutes to get it in. He showed me the pictures and I guess I had never seen one. That is one ugly fish. I didn't even know we had them in Arkansas but I guess we do. I bet they are a good fight.

ST

[jtrew]

Seedtick, eventually you're gonna have to do maintenance on any shad dip net; sounds like you're just gonna have to do it sooner. The first thing that went on mine was the wooden handle; I replaced it with a length of the lightweight pipe that's used on top of a chain link fence. My hoop ring had two prongs that stuck up into the handle, so I used a piece of wood and fiberglass resin to fasten the hoop to the metal handle. After a bunch more years, the metal mesh collapsible 'net' finally rusted out; I replaced it with 1/2" hardware cloth, which works great, but doesn't collapse. I can live with it taking up more room better than I can paying almost $40 for a new one. If you are using the net against a concrete wall (which is probably why you bought it in the first place), you're going to run into the problem of the netting (cloth or wire) being quickly worn away by the concrete. I've seen rubber hose fitted around the edge to protect the netting, but wrapping it with rope is a lot easier, and it's quickly and easily replaced when it shows a lot of wear.

[SeedTick]

Jerry, I guess I'm a little anal about the screw that stripped out but...I've been a machinist since 1981 and I know that that screw was a reject. I have run single and multi spindle production lathes and CNC lathes and I know that who ever made that part either had a chipped threading insert or his die head was messing up. I didn't let parts like that get out of my department unless it was in a scrap barrel. Oh well, I fixed it with a steel bolt and it is stronger now than it was when it left the manufacturer.

That is good info about protecting the netting I hadn't given any thought to that. I'll be keeping my eye on it. Thanks.

ST

[prince]

I went to the dam to see if the big shad have come back.

I didn't see a single shad - and they have several gates letting out small streams of water. These gates were full of shad before the high water and the gates being left open for a long time.

Guess we'll have to wait for another 'batch' of shad to move up stream.

I'll let you know when I see the big shad come back - I check that area every few days

[SeedTick]

Howdy John,
Me too, I drove over there yesterday afternoon to see if I could get some of any size. I never even took the net out of the truck. I watched for a long time from the top of the dam and never even saw 1. I went down to where the creek got wide again and saw a few flipping but not close enough that I thought I could reach them. I'm glad I got some a few weeks ago but now I'm wishing I had gotten a bunch more.

Me and the wife went out on the river for a while this morning and those shad were the only thing we got any bites on. We tried Danny King punch bait and chicken liver and shad and they didn't want whole shad. I could only get them to bite the head/gut pouches. We didn't do any good we had some peck peck pecking and I caught 1 little blue but that was it. It was my first trip to the river this year and it was perfect, except for being miserably hot. They were letting about 25,000 cfs of water come down the river but the fish just weren't interested. I talked to a guy who commerical fishes up closer to Toadsuck and he said they had been having real good luck up until middle of last week.

Keep an eye on the shad because what I've got won't last to long. It's good to hear from you.

ST

[prince]

I ran bye the dam today and there are a few small shad that move in and out.

The ones I saw were only about 1-2" and there only seemed to be two schools of them that moved in and out. I waited about 30 minutes and never saw more than the two schools - so I never got out my net

At least there seem to be a few moving back in - but I'm going to wait for some bigger ones.

[SeedTick]

Hey John, that does sound good, some shad is better than no shad. We went out on the river yesterday and only got a few pecks on shad. They wanted Danny Kings, we caught several small ones on it. We only kept 8 of the bigger ones. They turned the water off around noon and the little ones even quit bitting.

ST

[SeedTick]

Hey John, Have you ever used any of those golden shiners for bait? Those are some aggravating bait stealers when you're bream fishing. I've got some in the freezer and I have tried them as cut bait but only a time or two. I would think they would be some good trotline bait.

ST

[prince]

I was over at the dam again yesterday and still not many shad and none are big. Seems to be just two very small schools with very small shad. Besides on calm days the shad up in the lake are in schools that sometimes get close to my fishing pier (and I can get little ones in my net) I'm still sorta holding out for big ones - hope they show up before the end of this Month - before they start draining the Lake :sad2:

Last year - I got a LOT of blues and a couple flathead on shiners that I got from Bates / bait shop.

This year they have rice slicks part of the time and shiners the other times. But I've been cheap (and lazy) about trotline this year - don't need the fish as much (still have some in freezer) so I'm not really working the trotline.

Besides, I have been having GOOD luck on catalpa worms - as mentioned in another thread. Most are small but I've got channel's on yo-yo 5 out of 6 nights. Just getting ready to go bait 5 yo-yo's for tonight - since I found about another dozen catalpa worms today :big_smile:

[SeedTick]

Last year - I got a LOT of blues and a couple flathead on shiners that I got from Bates / bait shop.

This year they have rice slicks part of the time and shiners the other times. But I've been cheap (and lazy) about trotline this year - don't need the fish as much (still have some in freezer) so I'm not really working the trotline.

Hey John, Are these those same big golden shiners that you catch in the lake while bream fishing?

ST

[prince]

I really don't know ?

In fact, some of the people at the bait shop call them trotline minnows but one guy up there calls them shiners.

I've never seen shiners from the lake so I'm not sure what the 'big minnow' bait is (for sure :lol:

I've had some that are 6" long - but most are about 3" long

[prince]

Duh - I was Not thinking before - I know what golden shiners are - in fact - it's a small world - cause some just moved in tonight in front of my house - I got 5 of them on my trotline as I type this

The so called shiners from the bait place - are similar but are probably the common shiner (I'm not sure - there are so many types that I never have figured out which is which :big_smile:

But as I mentioned I wasn't thinking - cause I do catch golden shiners at times - and they are not the same as the 'trotline minnows'

And as I mentioned - this afternoon - a school moved into my fishing area

[SeedTick]

Yeah John, That's what I'm talking about. We have caught a bunch of those little cricket crunchers. I've always thought they would be some good trotline bait. I didn't know what they were until 2 or 3 years ago. I took a picture of them and posted it here and all the Brothers said they were golden shiners.

We've got 25 more days before the draw down. I hope it don't hurt next years fishing too bad but I'm scared it will.

ST

[prince]

We have another full Moon on Saturday - so with a little luck - and good weather (no major fronts - temperature swings) - the bream should get on the bream beds about mid week (Wed or Thursday)- or at least by Friday

BTW: Last year the week around the Full moon in June was some of my 'fastest' fishing - I actually ran out of bait and had to use a bare hook (got about 5 fish on a bare hook - by poping the top of the water with my fly rod / bare hook ). But last month was NOT as good as May of last year - pressure drops / wind messed up the bream beds. Even the guys at bait shop said Bream were not 'acting right' So my theory is that this Full Moon period will be GREAT to make up for May (fingers crossed :tounge_out: :embarassed:

Re: draining lake
From what I hear from my neighbors (old timers) - the last time the lake was drained - it took at least two years for Bream fishing to recover - and even longer for crappie.

I heard that the catfish and bass fishing did not suffer as much as other fishing - and that was with a 8 ft draw down instead of the 4 ft planned for this time. Also 'hope' that they start using the stocking ponds again for Crappie (I heard that they did use them once in the past after a draw down)

So hopefully the fishing will not be too bad next spring / summer - but then again I wouldn't 'bet on it' :sad2:

BTW: I had 15 hooks on a trotling last night with 9 bream and 6 golden shiners - all I did was feed the turtles (or gar) - not sure - but not a single bait was left

[SeedTick]

Hey John, I ain't heard from ya in a couple of days. How's the fishing? We went back out on the river Tuesday (in the rain) and today, Thursday. I think we ended up with around 12 little cats and 5 or 6 crappie total for 2 days, not much but better than sitting around the house.

ST

[prince]

I've only been fishing a little at night - using a couple yo-yo with catalpa worms. I've been catching one or two channels a night BUT they are small ones - several less than 1 pound and a few at 1.5 lb. All together I've probably turned 5 dozen catalpa worms into about two dozen fish -but only about 10 over 1lb (largest was 4.5lb n 3 lb). I've thrown all but 4 of them back - to grow up for next year :smile2:

I only bream fish from about 7:30PM to 8:15PM - just to check for bream beds around my house. I catch a few keepers each day but have not really hit a bream bed (then again - I haven't gone in boat and looked in previous 'hot spots' for bream beds. But I haven't heard any 'great' fishing stories from anyone - just not many people out on lake (at least close enough to my house so I can 'check up on them' :wink:

[prince]

There are larger shad at the dam again - not Huge but one school was full of 5" - 6" shad.

I had friends with grandkids and the kids scared the big shad off before I got very many. But it's good to know they are back - so I can go over in next day or so and 'sneak up' on the larger ones.

[SeedTick]

There are larger shad at the dam again - not Huge but one school was full of 5" - 6" shad.

I had friends with grandkids and the kids scared the big shad off before I got very many. But it's good to know they are back - so I can go over in next day or so and 'sneak up' on the larger ones.

Hey John, Thanks for the report. That is good news I think I go over and see if I can get a few. Are they letting any water out or is it just the leak? I think I'm down to 1 little bag of shad but my good buddy TopSgtLawrence gave me a bag of skipjack today. Is there a better time of the day to get them or does it make a difference? It may be Wednesday before I get over there let me know how you did. The bait shop over there is suppose to have ordered me a big tub of Danny King and it ought to be in by now. Keep us posted.

ST

[prince]

Are they letting any water out or is it just the leak?

Is there a better time of the day to get them or does it make a difference?

It's just the leak - the big shad were in the stream with the 'biggest leak' - I went and got about 15 around 6PM

I probably could have gotten more - but they really spook easy - so you get one throw - then have to wait a long time for them to come back. Plus I didn't really wait for them to come close - after I walked out there and spooked them the first time.

I sometimes sit on bucket with my long handle minnow/shad net - and get a few at a time - then wait for them to come back.

I threw net close to concrete and still tried to get hung up. There were two pieces of nets over there where people throw out toward middle - then can't get unhung - so I just throw close to the edge of the concrete (and then sometimes that is risky)

Bottom line: the big ones take a lot of work i.e. have to wait them out and so I usually don't go over there until it's cooled off a little. But I suspect any time of day is okay

[Little Mac]

You ever try for flats heads in lake Conway? I have heard there are some bigguns. Looks like its a good place from the hwy. Take Top and some small gills an go gettum. Mac

[SeedTick]

You ever try for flats heads in lake Conway? I have heard there are some bigguns. Looks like its a good place from the hwy. Take Top and some small gills an go gettum. Mac

Hey Mac, From what I hear those flats will be easy when they drop the lake down 4 feet, we'll have to try 'em.

ST

[SeedTick]

Hey John, I ran into one of your neighbors yesterday. I went over to catch some shad (got 30-40 and way more baby stripers) and met Dustin the game & fish manager. We had a good visit and I told him about BOC and told him you lived across the lake over by the hwy and he said ya'll were neighbors. Small world ain't it?
Dustin said he was going to check us out here at the Brotherhood and I know he will fit right in. He's a nut like the rest of us.:big_smile:

There was a house over there for sale last summer that we looked at it had a fishing pier across the road, where do you live from it?

ST

[1ucky 0xyg3n]

Anyone doing any good on conway lately? I'm thinkin about goin tonight

[prince]

Anyone doing any good on conway lately? I'm thinkin about goin tonight

I haven't heard much about catfish in last week. I've put a few small (2 - 4 lb) channel in freezer last week from a trotline (and yo-yo's) - but I ran out of catalpa worms.

Since then I've got one small 1.5 lb channel on a yo-yo with a shad for bait but my trotline fed shad to turtles :( i.e. did not do very well Tuesday and Wednesday night because of the turtles)

Bottom line I'm not sure !

[prince]

met Dustin the game & fish manager.

There was a house over there for sale last summer that we looked at it had a fishing pier across the road, where do you live from it?

I've met Dustin, the game & fish manager. He is a real nice guy. He's the man in charge of all regulations at Lake Conway e.g. he controls what you can and can't do as far as shoreline, dock , boat house, etc. Not really sure what all he controls but he must approve any changes at the lake / shoreline - such as building a boat house.

There were several houses for sale across the road from the lake (some on Lakeview Circle and some on Shoreline Dr). I live next door to a Grey one on Shoreline (which has now been sold). I fixed up a small cabin (now my guest house) and then added (attached) a two story 'cabin' (two big rooms to live in). I also had a new boat house and fishing pier built.

[prince]

For those that don't subscribe to Arkansas Outdoor (email version) - here is latest update on Lake Conway draw down.

http://www.agfc.com/education/agfc_ao_062106.html#1-2
Text of article follows:
Lake Conway drawdown to begin in July

CONWAY – One of Arkansas' most popular fishing spots will be drawn down beginning this summer. Lake Conway will be drawn down about four feet beginning on July 15.

The lake will be drawn down from its normal pool elevation to around 259 feet mean sea level. The draw down will be in effect until Dec. 1, according to AGFC lake manager Dustin Opine. "At that time the gates will be closed and the lake allowed to refill. Refilling of the lake will be totally dependent on rainfall," he explained. "This draw down is intended to allow lakefront landowners an opportunity to make repairs on their piers and boathouses," he added.

Many of the structures on the lake are in advanced states of disrepair, Opine said. "The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is in the process of notifying owners of repairs to be made or structures to be removed from the lake while the draw down is in effect. The AGFC is also notifying landowners of structures encroaching on the 20-foot easement around the lake owned by the Commission," he said.

Lowering of the lake will be an excellent opportunity for landowners to create fish attracting structures, such as brush piles, around their fishing piers and shorelines, Opine stated. "It will also be permissible to deepen the areas around piers and boathouses to create deeper water for fishing or to allow boat access into boathouses again. We encourage landowners to take this opportunity to make any shoreline improvements such as armoring of eroded banks or planting trees and shrubs, especially water tolerant species," he said.

Although the drawdown will allow work on boathouses and piers, no changes in the configuration of the shoreline will be allowed. The AGFC also has hopes that the draw down during the summer months will have an adverse effect on the nuisance vegetation in the lake.

For specific questions or concerns about the draw down or advice on shoreline, improvements please direct your inquiries to the AGFC Mayflower Fisheries Office by calling 501-470-3309 ext. 212 or email to dropine@agfc.state.ar.us.

[SeedTick]

Hi John, Thanks for the information. That was a good read.

How has your fishing been going? I'm getting soft cause it has just about been to hot for me to fish. I'm planning on going Friday morning for a little while though.

Have you been back over checking on the shad? I don't think I've even been fishing since I got that last batch.

ST

[prince]

How has your fishing been going?

Have you been back over checking on the shad?

Too hot for me also - neighbors that fish have not done much - mostly little bream (barely big enough to keep)

But here is my fish story:
Yesterday I noticed a bunch of catalpa worm poop under the big tree next door - I was really surprised because last year there was only one crop - but when I started shaking the tree - I ended up with 2 dozen big catawba worms

I used 4 of them on a trotline (other hooks were bream) - and I got a 2.5 lb channel (on the last hook / last catalpa worm)

I used another 7 on yo/yo and noodles - and turtles and/or bream must have got them

This AM - I went back and got 2 more dozen worms - so I baited trotline tonight with about 10 worms. I've already frozen the others - going to save them until the lake is low and catfish are concentrated in holes :)

I have 3 1/2 dozen frozen now - so maybe I'll try some rod/reel fishing. But I promised to keep a few for my neighbor - after all it's their tree that I raided while they were on trip (not sure if there will be any worms tomorrow - I worked the tree hard today.

I also went and checked the other 3 tree's that had worms earlier - and one of them had a few very small worms - so in about 2-4 days I'm going back (last time it took them only a couple days for big ones to show up) Other 2 trees are 'bare' and the other 15 or so tree's around here still do not have worms (and never have)

I've had bad luck / timing on shad - people sometimes are fishing off the concrete ramp and scare the shad away. When that happens I usually end up with small ones 1-2"

Then with my luck today I went over with a friend that had never been to dam - just to look around - and there were 3 schools - one small school of big shad that is always near bank in shallow water but hard to net / get to.

Then a large school of 1-2" shad in next 'fast stream' - then on far side (fast stream) there was a HUGE school of 5-6" shad - and they were in the hole where it's easy to throw net. But just as I as about to run home and get my net two fishmen (women actually) started fishing in that hole and the shad took off - since I still have some in freezer from last time - I decided to wait until another day.

Bottom line - it's hard to catch the big shad just at the right time and in the 'best place' so I've only been getting some small ones by throwing blind (and I can do that from several fishing piers when the lake is calm so you can see the schools)

How's that for a long winded answer full of excuses and hard work - but only one 2.5lb channel to show for it.

[SeedTick]

How's that for a long winded answer full of excuses and hard work - but only one 2.5lb channel to show for it.


John, Sounds like a good answer to me. If I see some shad tomorrow (if we actually go) on the river I think I'll try to get some. Bigmagic showed us how to find them with sonar and I've been wanting to try it. He made it look simple but I'm sure it is only simple with experience.

I want to go over to the dam and watch when they pull the plug I think it will be neat.

ST

[SeedTick]

Hey John, It's been kinda quite on this thread for a while. Next Saturday is when they are suppose to pull the plug out of the bathtub. Do you have any idea what time they are planning on doing it? I'm wanting to go over and gawk at it.

I hope it takes several days to get it drawn down cause I'm hoping there will be enough current down the river to make the fish bite. I ain't been fishing in 3 weeks and I'm getting a little antsy even with the 96+ degree heat we've had the past few days.

Have you been doing any fishing? I hope we will be able to launch a boat and get around some in the lake when it gets low. If we can it ought to be some good fishing.

ST

[prince]

Do you have any idea what time they are planning on doing it? I'm wanting to go over and gawk at it.

Have you been doing any fishing?


I don't know what time they will start draining the Lake or how fast. One neighbor said that the last time they took it down real fast. But this is a new Lake Manager (Dustin that you met) - and I suspect it's all up to him.

I do know that when it was high - they were able to drop it about a foot a day - and it's already VERY low - so If they really want to - they could drop it in just a few days. But again - I don't know what they plan

Re: Fishing - I fish late PM almost every day - usually around 7-7:30PM for about an hour. Week before last I was catching a LOT of 'nice fish' every day. Then a week ago (Last Thursday) = the big ones vanished and I've only been catching 'bait thieves' And that included several sets of friends - bringing their grandkids to get in some bream fishing before my fishing pier is 'high and dry' :( i.e. this past week has been terrible (even the bait shop guys say same)

It will be interesting to see how easy (or difficult) it'll be to get to the water - but I do know that If I have to - I can walk to the old creek channel. And I may get to go fishing with a neighbor that is right across from the creek channel - and has a really light weight flat bottom - he (hopefully we :) ) can drag to the creek channel.

I took my trotline boat (15 hp motor / flat bottom) out of lake - but left my other boat in my boat house - but it's a heavy flat bottom / trolling motor that may be hard to move ? I've already lined up my best friend and his two young Strong son's to give it a try - depending on how far out I'd have to go to reach water. (It's really shallow near my fishing pier / boat house - and for a long way 'across' from my house)

Bottom line: I really don't know what to expect :sad2:

[prince]

From 6AM until 10Am, I've watched a steady stream of cars going to the dam. So I went over at 10AM - and it's NOT open yet

Everyone for miles must be driving over to gawk - but nothing to see yet (10AM)

I did see some shad - but a couple of the people were fishing near them so I didn't drag out my net.

I also saw a school that looked like Crappie. They often get in my way when I'm throwing net trying for shad - but they are only about the size of bream so I don't fish for them.

BTW: Last time they had a lot of gates open - there were shad everywhere - and you could throw down stream near the sign at the end of the 'rail' - where it's a wide smooth bottom. You can get shad and not have to worry about hanging on the rocks. Hope they open enough gates that the water covers the 'smooth' area again.

BTW: Last time the gates were open (late spring), I met a guide from Hot Springs that had a Huge tub in his truck and he had it full of huge shad - he had salt water and 4 air pumps and ice - to keep them alive until he got them back to tanks at his house (he described his tank setup - he keeps live shad for his clients to catch strippers - all summer. He told me how much salt to use - said most do not use enough - but stupid me did not take notes. I have air pumps but never seem to keep them alive for more than a few hours :(

[SeedTick]

Hey John, Let me know when they open it up. I was planning on coming over right after dinner but I'll wait to hear from you. I was hoping to catch some shad myself so that is good news to me. Thanks for the report.

ST

[prince]

About 3PM - the cars / trucks filled up the parking lot - I started to go over - but they were starting to back up - so I decided to wait.

I went over at 3:30 and the Channel 7 TV truck was just leaving (not sure if other stations were there or not

The good/bad news is they only have 3 gates open - that means lake will probably drop about 1/2 foot a day (based on other times with 3 open). That's good - but the bad news is the water isn't high enough to cover the grassy spot beside the Bell Slouth sign - where I got Tons of shad last time.

There were still about 20 cars when I got there but they are pulling out fast - a few are fishing and one guy has his treeble hook / snagging

But as I type this I just looked and only see a couple cars near top - so heat is driving off the gawk crowd.

I didn't stay but 15 minutes - didn't see anyone catch anything and the 'snag guys' will probably get 'wild / dangerous' in a short time.

You have to really stay clear of those guys - I've seen them hook each other before - they 'jerk' so hard that sometimes the hooks are really flying.

Anyway - should be interesting trip for you and parking lot is clearing out fast - in last 15 minutes (I have cam with zoom lens to see the top part of the lot but not lower side - I see one car left out of what was a full lot)

Just heard Thunder - but if it rains it'll be a miracle - most have bypassed us or rained for 10 minutes

John

[SeedTick]

Hey John, I was watching the news on channel 7 at 6:00 and they interviewed Dustin and showed some footage of the water. I think they said it would take a few weeks to get the water down. If that is how they do it maybe we can still get some shad up there by the dam next week when everybody goes back to work. I may go over tomorrow afternoon and have a look-see.

ST

[SeedTick]

The good/bad news is they only have 3 gates open - that means lake will probably drop about 1/2 foot a day (based on other times with 3 open). That's good - but the bad news is the water isn't high enough to cover the grassy spot beside the Bell Slouth sign - where I got Tons of shad last time.

John

Hey John, Were is this Bell Slough sign at? The only one I've seen is on the highway south of Mayflower.

ST

[prince]

Hey John, Were is this Bell Slough sign at? The only one I've seen is on the highway south of Mayflower.

The sign is at the dam as you go down the hill - on the left (where duck hunters use to go across the creek in their 4 wheelers - until they added a chain on the opposite shore.

BTW: Dustin was in the sport section of this mornings paper - article on bream fishing on Lake Conway - last Tuesday - sounds like they had a good morning (and I didn't even fish any morning last week / only in evening :(

[prince]

Here is copy of email I just sent to some of my friends that want to come fish today - or to watch the guys that snag (fun to watch if you stand a long way off - they get wild at time. Saw one guy hook another last time they had gates open - not bad but still scary
-------copy of email
I just back from dam 10:30AM Sunday

There are no snaggers yet - which surprised me

BUT the water is higher than it was yesterday i.e. creek is backing up and covering grassy area where shad were easy to get to last time gates were open.

AND the water is high enough you can NOT make the circle - so when I was turning around - in the water - a guy was having a fight with a catfish - he had what looked like a zebco - light weight and he was being real careful with the fish - he finally got it close to shore and just took off running to drag it up on grass :)

It was about a 3-4 lb channel - and boy was he excited - which I would have been also since I bet he had light weight fishing line on that little rod and reel :) Probably fishing for crappie ? ?

Looked like some type of 'fake plastic grub or worm or maybe a jig' May have been left over piece of his bait. They also had a bucket of minnows sitting there - so not sure if he had a minnow on the grub or jig ?? or not

Anyway the must be some channel cats moving in the fast current

Lake has dropped about 3' - 4" over night - I suspect it's going to average about 5" a day a current rate. But since lake was already low - I suspect it'll be about a week to get it down 4 ft below normal (if that is where they stop ?? ?

[SeedTick]

John, did you notice any shad? Recon I can just use the long handled dip net? Oh and will I need knee boots?

ST

[prince]

I haven't seen the shad yet - but last time they were hard to spot. I would see just one hit the top and then throw my net in that area and come up with a net full most of the time.

Last time, they were scattered out over the grassy area in the 'backwater' out of the main fast stream. They would move in and out and I didn't really see them get close enough for my hand held dip net (with handle extension)

It may take a while for them to come up from the river (wild guess on my part :big_smile: Then I hope they will be 'solid' like last time and we'll be able to just blindly throw a net in the nice flat grassy area. (fingers crossed :)

[SeedTick]

Sounds good John. I have decided to wait and run over tomorrow and check it out. I sure do appreciate your help and I enjoy getting to visit back and forth with ya. Thanks

ST

[prince]

The water around my fishing pier is only about 1.5ft deep now - but I decided to bait 6 yo-yo's on the pier.

I got a baby flathead early (9PM) as I baited the yo-yo's (I was baiting last yo-yo and the 3rd yo-you got the baby fish). I've been catching a lot of baby flatheads around my pier - all much too little to keep. Also I lose a lot of bait and suspect that not all are to turtles - I think the little flatheads are bait thieves

Last night I used shad/blood flavor Magic bait and rebaited they yo-yo's at 11PM. At 6AM I found a 4lb channel (well 3lb 13 oz according to my digital scales but I rounded him up to 4 lbs :roll_eyes: :big_smile:

I set my yo-yo tension so the fish stay under water - but he was exhausted when I lifted him out. My fishing pen is almost dry so I had to put him on a stringer and he was really sluggish - and I didn't have time to clean him.

Then I put him in a bucket with an air pump and hoped he would liven up - but he didn't - was just barely alive IMHO. So about 10AM I took him to the dam to give away

There were two guys fishing for catfish in the 'pool' below the dam. They used big weights - then a hook and minnow up the line from the weight - they had one channel about as long as mine but approximately half the weight (skinny looking fish about 1.5lbs I'd guess)

They worked with my catch and got him to swimming a little in the current - so they put him on the stringer - I think he'll be supper for their family fish fry :)

Tonight I think I'll try some DK on the yo-yo's or maybe catalpa worms. But I was sorta saving DK and catalpa worms for 'pockets' after the lake is drained

I keep thinking I might try some DK on rod n reel below dam - but heat is too much - plust I have some computer projects really keeping me busy (I own and/or run over 200 web pages)

Besides there seem to be a more than just a couple people with plans to fish below the dam. Even standing in the sunshine. I would wade into the shade if it was me ;)

End of todays fishing report - unless I run over later today and wade into the shade :big_smile:

[SeedTick]

I still didn't make it over today. I had one of those 30 minute honey-do's that took me half a day. Well that's done maybe I can get over tomorrow.

ST

[SeedTick]

Hey John, What going on in Mayflower? I finally got over to the dam Thursday but it was a no-show on shad. I didn't see any so I didn't even get the throw net out. There was a guy fishing down where the creek gets wide and he said he had caught a few bass but no cats. He said he caught some shad but they were only about 1/2 inch long.

I drove over to the mouth of the creek and the water was a little muddy in the creek but the river looked good.

How much is the lake down? I went over to Brannon's Landing and it still had a lot of water and it wasn't but 4 ft deep or so at normal level.

Have you done any fishing? Maybe it's going to cool off some so I can fish some this week.

ST

[prince]

he caught some shad but they were only about 1/2 inch long.

How much is the lake down?
Have you done any fishing?

Shad I've seen people catch are small - except one guy. I saw him do something I never 'thunk' of. He put his boat in at the wide spot. It was a flat bottom SeaArk with about a 70hp motor. He motored upstream into the fast current - then he tied to one of the trees - then he went on upstream close to the dam - but moved over into the 'backwash' so the rope he had tied DOWN STREAM was holding him (really had me confused when he tied up downstream until he got into the 'backwash' near the dam gates. Then he killed his motor and used the troling motor on front to pull him straight (really looked weird a boat sitting there tied to a rope down stream from the boat - but it WORKED.

Then he threw a sump pump over the side and filled a rubermaid tank he had in front of his boat - then he turned on air pump system and had water jets circulating the water in his tank.

Then the threw his net into the fast current - but alas he did not do great.

I watched several throws (this in early last week and too hot for me)

He got about 1/2 dozen shad about 5" long and about a dozen that were about 1/2" long. He only kept the big ones.

I left and went around lake checking other places and came back about an hour later - he was still there and was still just getting a few big shad on each throw. He was using different net and the other looked like a tangled mess on the bottom of the boat

Bottom line - he worked too long and too hard for the number of big shad that I saw him put in the tank.

Another guy throwing from the bank was getting a few small shad - mostly were about 1" to 2" long. He would throw 'blind' i.e. could not see any shad - so most throws were 'nothing' then he'd hit a small school and get any where from 3 to 10 shad - but I swear he threw 50 times and ended up with less than 3 dozen shad that were over 1" - and none that I saw were over 3"

Needless to say - I just sit in my air conditioned truck and watched - never got out my net - too much work for the amount of bait he got.

BTW: That previous example was on same day guy was in boat - and I left and came back - so all together the guy throwing from the bank was there more than an hour (and I saw what he had in his bucket e.g. not worth the time on a day it was over 100F

I haven't done much fishing until last two days - then only from about 7:30PM to 8:30PM. I got very few keepers but that was okay - I wanted some small bream to bait my yo-yo's - which are now in only 1.5 ft water

Water was falling faster last Sunday - Monday - with 3 gates open (all had a FULL stream i.e. you could not see under the gates in the dam

By Tuesday the water was really not falling - which explains why on Wednesday they opened anther gate (4 open on Wednesday)

Then Thursday you could see 'daylight' under the four gates i.e. the level at the dam was getting low enough that the gates did not have a 'full stream'

So on Friday - I was not surprised to find 5 gates now open - all have 'gap' from bottom of gate. So in last two days water has fallen a little faster

I had 2 ft at my pier on Friday but now had less than 1.5 ft this morning.

I'm not sure how much more they will go down - the lake was low before they started - so if they go down 4 ft from level on the 15th - I'll have dry area in front of my dock. But if they go down 4ft from what I think is about normal - I may have water at the end of my pier

Hard to explain - but I'd say they are down 3 ft from what I think is normal - but only about 2-2.5 ft down from where they were on the 15th

Summary: I don't know how much more they will go down - it's hard to predict. I HOPE they go down another 2 ft so I can work around the end of my pier

BTW: The next house down and all the houses around the 'curve' to the bridge should still have water i.e. some of them still have 3 ft of water now - and when you get closer to Hwy 89 a couple of the piers still have 4 ft of water.

I've seen a few boats - but only early AM and now sure if they caugh fish or not

I have seen where someone cleaned 5 nice catfish (left heads) beside the hole below the dam - I'd guess 2 to 4lbs

Also - I've seen a few people have found (or know about) the deep hole near the end of the channel (it's on the map - was old pond - but most never pay attention

BTW: You may already know - but the creek(s) do NOT go to the dam - they end / go to the gate that you see on the little road off to the left when you head toward the dam. Also most people don't know that if you face that little road off the levy - the left side is the end of the creek(s) - and the water drops to about 9ft deep about 15 ft out from levy. The water at the dam is only about 5-7ft is what I was told.

Anyway that deep hole may prove to be good for flathead ?

But again - under the hwy bridge and then down the old channel bed is likely to be good. Guy around curve has small light weight boat he can use to get to channel - I've got to 'get in good with him' :) :)

This is EVERYTHING I KNOW e.g. I rambled again

[SeedTick]

Summary: I don't know how much more they will go down - it's hard to predict. I HOPE they go down another 2 ft so I can work around the end of my pier


But again - under the hwy bridge and then down the old channel bed is likely to be good. Guy around curve has small light weight boat he can use to get to channel - I've got to 'get in good with him' :) :)


Hey John, Good post. I am going through withdrawals because my internet was pretty much down since Friday afternoon. I was planning on going for a while this morning but I had to work on the youngin's car. They might be biting on the river down below where the creek empties or even back up the creek. Samh was talking about trying them out over there this weekend but I've not had a chance to see if he did yet.

You know you might be able to tell Dustin about your pier and what you need and he might fix you up.

I have one of those little plastic 2 man boats and you are more than welcome to use it. It is a bass tracker brand and it has a little live well in it. It's got 2 seats and I've got a nearly new trolling motor for it. It just needs a battery and it's ready to go. Well almost, the registration is out on it and I wasn't planning on renewing it but that is all it needs. Just let me know if you want to use it.

Well, keep us up to date on what's going on. Thanks

ST

[prince]

Thanks for offer but I kept one of my boats in the boat house - have a pulley system - and it's up in hoist.

It has trolling motor - but it's heavy gauge aluminum and if I had to drag it very far - I'd need pipe or something to roll it on

BUT one of my friends said he and his wife would help me if I really want to fish (cause they will want to fish in the fall when it's cooler)

Another friend has a really small flat bottom boat that we can drag real easy - then put in my trolling motor. He was here yesterday wanting to know when he should bring his boat and we could go fishing :)

I was just being 'jealous' of my neighbor who will have the deep water and the little boat i.e. he'll be able to fish any time he wants - without any effort

Summary: I have boat(s) that I can use but I'm lazy - so was just 'running off at mouth' cause neighbor has it easy :)

Thanks again
John

[prince]

They still have 5 gates open but the flow has decreased (low water at dam)

In fact, the water below the dam is now receeding

The water is only falling about 2" a day at my pier - a lot slower than the first few days :( I still have 11" of water and still hope they drop at least that much - but at current rate it'll take another week :roll_eyes:

I did see 2 sets of people trying for shad below the dam.

One pair had a 3ft net and walked out on the concrete blocks around the pipe on the far side of the dam. They must have thrown about 20 times and got maybe 15 small shad - I saw one 3" shad - others were 1" or so. They got about 1 or 2 shad on 'most throws' - into the 'backwash' beside the last open gate (far side)

Another set were throwing a 5' net down near the Bell Slouth sign (where I usually throw). They threw 'blind' about 15 times and maybe ended up with 5 shad - all about 1" long

I talked to them and they had made other trips with similar results - over the last week

Also talked to another guy that was watching and he was like me - decided not to bother to get out his net.

I saw a young couple go out - and fish under the bridge from noon - until about 3:30PM I don't know if they had any luck (when they came back I didn't see them in time to ask - until they were back at the boat dock). They had a small flat bottom and trolling motor - that they must have dragged it to the water - cause the boat launch road at the boat dock is 'mud'

Not many people out - but I did see one guy picking up his noodles this morning - he was too far away to ask - but I did not see him pull in any fish. I don't know when he put out the noodles - but the way they were scattered - I suspect he put them out previous night

[SeedTick]

Boy John I was hoping the shad would be in there when the water slowed down, oh well. What boat launch are you talking about, the highway launch?

ST

[prince]

What boat launch are you talking about, the highway launch?

The boat dock - called Highway Landing - just down and across from Bates Field n Stream - has a boat launch area (a 'hard' road') - they charge $2 to launch.

I had heard that a person could still launch a boat there - BUT - Wrong again - unless it's a boat you can drag. And if the boat is that small you can drag it to the water for 'free' in several areas.

Sorry my post was not clear - I was rambling again

Lake only dropped a couple inches again - really dropping very slow now. I still have about 8" of water at end of my pier.

Just not many people fishing on Lake now - but I still see a couple under the bridge in early AM. I need to get down there and see if they are catching anything (but lazy).

I do know that the other day the current under the bridge was still fast (maybe too fast ?)

[tonyjohn]

John, i heard they are catching a few crappie under the bridge , but no reports on cats ?

[prince]

John, i heard they are catching a few crappie under the bridge , but no reports on cats ?

I check around the dam end of the lake 2 to 4 times a day. Not really seeing anyone catch catfish in past week or so.

Under the Hwy 89 bridge: Just not many people fishing - I walk down that way - several times a day = No Fishmen to speak of.
About only time I see anyone under bridge is early AM (crappie fishmen)- and lately the water is so fast - I haven't seen many Crappie fishmen in last two weeks.

Below the dam: I did see where someone had cleaned 5 catfish (2-4lbs) - left the heads but that was early last week. Water is lower now below the dam - water flow is decreasing a little each day. Lake is barely falling a couple inches in a 24 hour period cause the level is low at the dam. I go over there at least twice a day - sometimes 3-4 times depending on how many cars I see. I'm just not seeing any catfish under the dam now. Even the bream fishmen don't seem to be doing much.

IMHO: I haven't seen anyone REALLY fishing for catfish. Only bait I've seen people use during this draw down is minnows i.e. I think most are hoping for crappie (and will take a catfish if it bites - my best guess

I keep planning on trying some DK or Magic bait below the dam - but the heat makes me lazy.

Bottom line is not many people fishing in the lake. And people fishing below dam are using crappie size minnows - and I've seen very few fish in last 2 weeks.

[SeedTick]

John, i heard they are catching a few crappie under the bridge , but no reports on cats ?

Hey tonyjohn, It's good to see ya posting, ain't seen ya around lately.

A buddy went fishing over at the end of the creek today and he said the parking lot was full. He had to park in the grass at the far end of the parking lot. They caught a couple of crappie and a small cat up in the creek. They went out in the river and he caught an 8 pound blue and his son caught a 2 pound flat head. I think he said they ended up with 8 fish and only fished about 3 hours.

Hey John, is the water gone at the end of your pier yet?

ST

[prince]

Hey John, is the water gone at the end of your pier yet?

Lake level is not changing much and I still have about 6" of water at end of my pier.

The water above the dam is getting so shallow you can almost see the bottom of the old 'rail / fence' that was used to keep boats away from dam. (the old one was closer to the dam than the current rail / fence - and the water is shallow there. Not sure about the middle section - but it looks like you could almost walk across at the old 'fence' e.g. the water is shallow on both sides but middle may be deeper

I saw a boat in creek below dam and about a dozen fishmen/women below the dam. Seems like they still are after crappie i.e. using small minnows

I saw bream fishman above the dam - he had at least a few in his bucket when he left (not sure how many). He was fishing with several rods / poles and using worms and crickets

I saw two guys launch a boat in the lake (this was all on my last visit - about 7:45PM) They got the little flat bottom in the lake - but it's so shallow with rocks / stumps - that one guy had to wade in lake to get them started out into lake

I asked what they were going to fish for - they were going to use floaters (jugs or noodles ?) for catfish - and I saw a bowl of bait that may have been hot dogs soaking in 'something' (hard to tell and I didn't want to bug them - they were ready to get going.

Then when I got back home - there were two guys under the hwy 89 bridge - so I guess they were going to do some night fishing.

Oh yeah - some of the people below the dam had torches burning - looked like they were going to sit there after dark. They had 'ring' of burning torches or pots of some type - I suspect they had the Tiki torch fuels that drives away mosiquotes (BTW: that stuff works fairly well on the Tiki torches on my pier - as long as wind is not super strong)

Weekends are always busy below the dam but even more so with the gates open.

One of these days - I may get over my lazy spell and see if I can get my boat 'wet' (my spare boat with trolling motor). But to be honest I'd rather wait until they stop the draw down and level gets stable or starts rising. Then I might stick some yo-yo's on some of the 'few stumps' :lol: that are now showing.

I really have my work cut out for me - when it's cools off so I can move the big brush pile at the bank in front of my house. Plus I need to do a lot of digging - wall / bank reinforcement - so I will end up with better fishing bank (for my daily afternoon fishing outling :)

But for now - still Lazy :crazy: - just thinking about all the work - makes me tired :embarassed:

[tonyjohn]

Hey SeedTick , yea ive been 'lurking' a little and on here and not fishing much. Work, work !!! A friend of mine caught 16 cats last monday eve below the dam on live minnows out of a boat. Not real big but good eating size. Been wanting to go try it myself. I still need to rig my boat lights.

John,

[tonyjohn]

John, im with you on waiting till the lake 'settles' before really getting my hopes up too. I also think the water all over the lake that is soooo shallow will heat up after a while and surely drive all the fish into the creek channels and old lakes ?? THEN we will have them !! IMHO

[prince]

I keep going below the dam hoping to find some nice size shad - but so far no luck

There are a LOT of shad now in the edge of the 'backwash' - along the bank - and it's easy to see them and get them with a long handle dip net.

The bad news is that most (95%) of them are only 1/2" long. e.g. if anyone likes small shad (instead of small minnows) - it's easy to get as many as you want with a long handle (fine mesh) dip net.

BTW: Some people who wanted to fish for crappie asked me for some of the shad - and they were happy to get the little shad for crappie bait.

Since I'm completely out of shad - I decided to put a few of these in the freezer. I may just use them for chum - when I get some nice size shad for trotline (when lake stablizes)

Or if I could find my old blender I was thinking of making some 'homemade' bait with chopped shad - mixed in (maybe) cheese (still thinking - looking at recipe's

Anyone have a good recipe for mixing in 'fresh' shad - I know I've seen one some place but I forget (may need to look again in the bait section of this forum ?)

Water is almost gone at end of my pier but the lake is falling very slow. The water at the dam is so low you can see the bottom of the old guard rail / fence from years ago.

The creek below the dam is almost in it's original channel (but fast current) i.e. not as wide area of water below dam.

I begin to wonder if the lake drain will just be to leave the five gates open - cause I don't think it'll be long until water is not running out at the dam (best wild guess - cause it sure looks shallow :)

[prince]

I just went to dam (1:30PM) and just as I walked up a guy caugh a 4-5lb bass

He had another laying on the bank - about 3-4lbs.

He said he came over to try for bream but they were not biting so he put on a lure (looked like what I call a humback minnow lure).

Then he told me that same thing happened yesterday and he caugh 6 nice bass when the bream were not biting

He was fishing above the dam in the swift water at the old rail / guard / concrete wall (hard to explain unless you see it - but the place where years ago they had the boat guard rail to keep boats off dam. It has a concrete base that is mostly out of water now - except in the middle and that is where the current is fast (and where he was casting his lure)

Anyway - I asked if he had heard any news on when they were going to close the gates and he said that he talked to Game Fish guy yesterday - and he said that about one more day should do it.

Still not 'positive' they will close the gates - or will the level above dam will be so low there will be no need to close gates

(As I mentioned - It's only crossing the old guard rail wall in the center i.e. water is almost stopped at the old concrete base of the old rail)

Anyway - if the rumor is correct - then today may be last day of fast current - above and below.

The shad are still very small so I didn't bother

I'll go back in PM to see if they closed the gates

[prince]

Good thing they didn't close the gates at the spillway - cause very heavy rain actually has raised the level of the lake - back to about same level as 2-3 days ago

[SeedTick]

Good report John. You know I bet they won't close the gates because it would just cause more work for Dustin. If the water quits flowing out of the lake at the level they want to keep it at then it wouldn't make sense to close it. Aahh oh ah well I want to retract the previous statement. I've not seen the G&F do a whole lot that did make sense so they will probably close it and then run over and open it back up every time we get a little shower.:embarassed:

ST

[prince]

I saw the truck of the bream fishman - that got the 6 bass the other day- at the spillway for about 4 hours - left around noon. Don't know if he has any luck - just reconized his truck

Went back about 7PM and one bream fishman had about 1.5 lb channel he got on red worms (at least the box of worms he was using for bait were red worms. He was fishing above the dam/spillway close to the bank - at the old concrete wall for old guard rail

The water level is about what it was before the storm - and the 'old existing wall above the spillway is blocking water except in the middle - and it looks shallow at that point i.e. it may dry up there yet (HARD to tell for sure - still not sure if they will have close the gates or water will stop flowing on it's own ? ?

Then I found that some of the 'old timers' are now fishing the pond along the first 1/3 of dam (levy) - I talked to a guy that was just starting to fish there around 7PM - he said he lived here his entire life and he DID know where the pond was :smile2:

He said last draw down that the fishing was better in the 'pond' in September / October. He said they got catfish n bass - but best thing was they got a LOT of big slab crappie i.e. they moved into the hole in the fall

(so new policy - I'm not telling anyone else where this pond is - until next year :big_smile:

Also you can now walk about 1/5 the way around the pond - there was / is rock that are now showing. Also there are rocks along both sides of the end of the creek - and it's right in front of the 'gate' in the levy (dam) - so it's obvious where the creek is - if people look at the lake map. You can walk out to where the water should still be about 5 ft deep (it was 9 ft deep when I check with depth finder in the spring)

Oops I wasn't suppose to tell people where the creek was - disregard that part and to go the spillway like eveyone else - that think the the creek is at the spillway :roll_eyes: :ooooh:

Being the weekend - there are about a dozen people fishing over there below the spillway - right now (almost dark) - not sure how long they will stay

The storm that came thru - blew down a tree into the creek at the end of the circle drive - so there is some new cover :smile2:

I noticed several stingers in the water when I drove around the circle - but did not ask - or see what was on them

[prince]

Update on the old timer and his fishing buddy:

They had a lattern - that they turned on at dark - and then about 11:15PM - they had on head lights - hand lights i.e. they packed up

I forgot to mention they had a boat on a trailer with them.

After they packed up - they drove down below the spillway - and their headlights had not shown up after 15 minutes / my bed time

So maybe they were putting the boat in below the spillway to fish some more - who knows - but I like to 'guess' :roll_eyes:

Sure hope they had some luck - after all that trouble i.e. they are NOT lazy like me :)

[SeedTick]

Hey John, The 'old timers' are smart enough to fish at night. But you know, when they give the 10:00 news and say that it is 90* I still don't get excited about fishing. I'm just to soft.

How much water have you got around your pier? You may have to carry a pick and shovel over to the dam and let a little more water out.:big_smile:

ST

[CNTRYBOY]

Seedtick, i am gonna have to hunt you up the next time i get ready to fish Conway!!!

[SeedTick]

Seedtick, i am gonna have to hunt you up the next time i get ready to fish Conway!!!

Hey Newton, It would be an honor to meet ya. Just give a hollar.

ST

[prince]

How much water have you got around your pier? You may have to carry a pick and shovel over to the dam and let a little more water out.

:big_smile: My fishing pier is on dry land again - in fact - lake is lower now than it was before the rain - and the 5 gates at the spillway are still open

[SeedTick]

:big_smile: My fishing pier is on dry land again - in fact - lake is lower now than it was before the rain - and the 5 gates at the spillway are still open

Well that's good. That is what you was needing. If you need any help, when it cools off some, give me a hollar and I'll come over and hold a board while you nail it or something.

ST

[prince]

The 'secret pond' was full of people ALL day. I can't believe how tough these people are - a couple of them were there almost all day.

I kept seeing just one or two cars - but 4-6 people - then I realized some were parking on the other side of the levy / dam.

A few times it got down to just two people - but by dark it was up to 12 people - all fishing around the pond or at the end of the channel. I think a few more people had a map / knew about the pond and end of the channel :)

I saw a few bream in a bucket - not sure what others were fishing for - but most some were using a pole for bream and a rod to cast for bass

The 5 gates are still open at the spillway - water level above dam is barely falling each day - flow thru spillway is not that great.

[prince]

I just found out that Channel 4 News interviewed my neighbor (Mr. Terry) on yesterday's news. He has lived here for over 30 years. They got his name wrong - his last name is Terry and his Wife is Nell - so they twisted that all around to get Terry Lanell :confused2: instead of Mr Terry n Nell

Here is link to text of the interview
http://www.kark.com/news/print.asp?mode=shownews&id=7093

Notice it mentions 5ft - so I guess the original 4 ft plan really was changed to 5 ft. One neighbor had told me that they were going to drop 4 ft despite fact lake was 1 ft low to start with - so I guess he was right :big_smile:

[prince]

The level is fairly stable - barely falling if any at all (depending on rain upstream - I think)

Still 5 gates open but the old guard rail wall upstream from dam is slowly holding back flow i.e. creek is not that deep anymore

I've seen two more fishman catch bass in the fast water at the old 'guard rail wall' above the dam. Yesterday a guy walked up while I was standing there and got a bass on his third cast (spinner bait). This one was only about 2 lbs but I'm thinking I must be lucky for the bass fishman since they seem to catch them when I walk up :)

I got my spare boat in the water yesterday - no motor - but I can carry out my trolling motor if I need it - I laid down some 2 x 12's to walk on. However water is only 6" or so deep for about 10-15 ft so I have to 'pole' out a ways to get into water that is still shallow - about 2' deep (all the way across from what a kid in a boat told me) Kid said only place where it's deep so you can use motor is in the old creek channel which is about 3/4 block from my house.

Which I guess means the big fish are going to be concentrated in the channel by now - since level is fairly stable ? But I hope some will soon start feeding in the shallow 2 ft - cause if I ever get energy (stop being lazy) and get brave (to stand the heat) - I'm going to put out a small - maybe a dozen hook trotline - just to keep bait in water :)

[SeedTick]

Hey John,
Do you know if there is a boat launch anywhere that you can still put a boat in?

With the water stabilizing the fish out to turn on. Don't get to cocky in this heat and get out there and get to hot, there will still be some fish to catch when it cools off.

ST

[prince]

Hey John,
Do you know if there is a boat launch anywhere that you can still put a boat in?


I'm not Positive but here's what I've 'heard'

According to that Channel 4 report - there are two launch ramps still useable:

(1) Gold Creek (I don't know for sure ?)
(2) Adams Landing (I do Know that Adams Landing was still useable week ago last Friday - but then after you get in water it's very shallow - so might need tilt trailer (there was a trailer there but we did not see him load/unload so not sure if he needed tilt trailer or not)

The way I got mine in lake is a kid across the lake came bye with his 4 wheel drive 4 wheeler - he zapped my flat bottom to the mud (10-15 from water) - then a couple friends and I walked on 2x12" to 'slide' it to water (reminder mine is heavy flat bottom)

There are a couple places that a flat bottom could be pulled down bank (with lot of muscles - or a 4 wheeler) - but around here you need to build a 'walk way' with blocks or boards (I happen to have some 2 x 12")

I've seen a couple people launch from dam ramp - but it was tricky - the ram has a hole at end of concrete then a mound of rock (BTW: one at Pierce Creek is same).

The people that launched at dam - had jeep or big truck - and they both backed out on rock bank - beside the launch ramp - then they still had to carry / drag the boat over the rocks - a few feet (the two I saw were flat bottoms smaller than my trotline / flat bottom)

I also saw a guy get his boat in the little dirt road right after you cross the 89S bridge - the one where people park that fish under the bridge (BTW: more people are parking near bridge - and this easy access to channel has to be one of the best bank fishing places on the lake now). This guy backed down to lake bottom which is sorta rocky in places

Long story short - with muscle or 4 wheeler - you can get flat bottom boats in lake in several places (but walking out to boat may require blocks,board, deep boots:). A week and half ago you could still use Adams Lake launch but I suspect if you have semi-v bottom you'd have to use tilt trailer

BTW: Trying to use an outboard motor is very iffy - unless you launch close to the channel

Hope this helps

[grizzly]

The wife and I drove to Conway today to look at the lake. Went to Adam's Lake Landing, and I believe you could launch there, but I really don't know anything about water depth. I would like to go there sometime soon and try for some flatheads on R&R. If you have any tips I could eally use and appreciate them. I've caught plenty of flatheads on trotlines over the years, now I would like to catch some on R&R. grizzly

[prince]

6PM news had this interview:

http://todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=32736

But the online report - added comments = she (Liz) said they would close the gates next week but it might take until December for the lake to fill up i.e. I think she got bad info

The TV showed the guys that were talking at end of report - with ice chest with fish :)

I saw 3 boats in the lake today - not sure if they had any luck - it's just so hot I can't get out there yet. But with 70F morning in next day or so - I may go early and set out trotline or do a little bream fishing

[grizzly]

Anyone else gong to try Conway this weekend. Now that I have affordable goldfish located I'm going to have to at least try. I'll let you know how I do after the trip. grizzly

[SeedTick]

Hey Brian, I'm still waiting for some cooler weather. Good luck and be sure to tell us how you did.

ST

[prince]

Besides being too hot for me - I've got a summer cold - sore throat and feel like a 1 lb catfish would be more than I could pull in :roll_eyes:

I was thinking - wondering - not sure how many people know that the Lake Conway map that shows depths - ponds - creeks is ofter wrong - in either direction (at least my map and my depth finder do not agree) Sometimes the ponds / holes are not as deep as shown - and sometimes they are deeper (at normal pool)

For example it shows 10ft for the depth of the pond beside the dam/levy - but it was deeper than at normal pool

An old timer told me the Holts Lake in front of the Arkla band is easy to see in the stumps - and is also deeper than the 10ft (at normal pool)

Anyway - just figured I'd mention it.

BTW: I got my map at Bates Field n Stream (Hess Station / bait shop / store) at exit 135 (Mayflower) - Hwy 89S - in case some of y'all don't have a depth map of Conway.

[prince]

Besides being too hot for me - I've got a summer cold - sore throat and feel like a 1 lb catfish would be more than I could pull in :roll_eyes:

I was thinking - wondering - not sure how many people know that the Lake Conway map that shows depths - ponds - creeks is ofter wrong - in either direction (at least my map and my depth finder do not agree) Sometimes the ponds / holes are not as deep as shown - and sometimes they are deeper (at normal pool)

For example it shows 10ft for the depth of the pond beside the dam/levy - but it was deeper than that.

An old timer told me the Holts Lake in front of the Arkla bank is easy to see in the stumps - and is also deeper than the 10ft (at normal pool)

Anyway - just figured I'd mention it.

BTW: I got my map at Bates Field n Stream (Hess Station / bait shop) at exit 135 (Mayflower) - Hwy 89S - in case some of don't have a depth map of Conway.

[prince]

Yesterday - there were not many fishmen/women at the dam. But this AM there are 3 sets

Yesterday: they had a backhoe digging out around the 'gate' that feeds the pipe that fills up Bell Slouth (Grassy Lake). I went over and they were putting in a huge steel plate but I wasn't sure what they were doing until they came back this AM. The plate keeps logs / trash from getting in the pipe to Bell Slouth (at least that looks like what it does) - and they are letting some water out of lake now - into Bell Slouth (not much - small stream.

Sidebar: And the AGFC guy and his 4 wheel truck - jumped the creek (and he had key to the cable that blocks 4 wheels from driving down to Grassy. This satisfied my curiousity about if you could drive all the way (I've walked down there a couple blocks and it looked a 4 wheel truck would make - now I know

Back to fishing: I'm still sick (bad summer cold) but when I saw the man and woman fishing beside the dam/levy - at the end of the creek channel - pull in a fish and the guy held if up and it was at least 3 ft long - so I suspect a catfish.

BTW; I have a camcorder setup with 40zoom lens/ pan control / hooked to a little TV - so I can see across and see if people are catching fish. It's not a lot of detail since Dam is about 3/4 away - but when someone holds up a fish that he puts up to his waist and it looks like it touches the ground - I assume it's not a bream :wink: (or a gar - since he put it on a stringer)

So sick or not I had to drive over - and when I got there the backhoe was moving to the launch ramp (I knew he leveled a bunch of area around the pond and the creek channel - but I was really surprised when I saw he was digging out at the end of the launch ramp - COULD IT BE that they are going to make it so people can launch boats - all they need is a load of gravel - he dug out a log way while I was there - and he was going out farther (he's still digging as I type

That was the 'good news' - now the better news

I walked up on dam and a young guy and probably his dad were fishing in the swifth water below the dam. Well the young man - hung on rock and said It sure felt a fish just before it hung. Of course, I just smiled - thinking - sure - a rock bass :roll_eyes: Then the dad says well this sure isn't a rock and he proceed to play / bring in about a 4 lb channel. Then the kid pulled up a stringer with 3 more channle on it - I'd guess one was about 1.5 lbs and the other two were 3 to 4 lb

being sick today I can't take the heat - so I just drove by the fishman below the fast water at the end of the circle turn around - they were using spinner baits - and I didn't see any stringers in the water - so bass fishing below is not good (I probably should have told them about people catching them above the dam in the gap of swift water - since this looked like another father son combination - maybe trying to get last fishing trip before school starts (best guess :)

Oh did I forget to say what the man / young man used to catch the 4 channels - well it was night crawlers that they put back on the hook

Now my fever is up (both types - fishing and summer cold fever) - so I'm going back to bed - but I had to type this first in case anyone wanted a eye witness fishing report:cool2:

[SeedTick]

Hey John, I sorry that you a feeling so bad. You just stay in and take care of yourself. It's to hot to fish anyway right now. They are calling for a little cooler weather next week, I hope they are right.

You mentioned Grassy Lake I have seen it on the map and I drove down there last year but it looked more like a swamp than a lake. Is it a fishing hole? What all do you know about it? I know nothing.

I hope you get to feeling better.

ST

[prince]

You mentioned Grassy Lake I have seen it on the map and I drove down there last year but it looked more like a swamp than a lake. Is it a fishing hole? What all do you know about it? I know nothing.

They flood Bell Slouth / Grassy for: Duck Hunting

In fact, a guy up at bait shop yesterday was telling me that they will zap a foot of water out of Lake Conway in the fall - no matter what the level :roll_eyes:

About 30 years ago I use to duck hunt over there - I drove up from Camp Robinson - and back then the road went all the way to 89S (across from Clinton Road I think - but now it has a gate - not sure about other end

I've driven most of the way back there from 365 - just outside Mayflower. I was down that way about a month ago - to see how many people were fishing on the creek (which had better flow back then). There were two guys setting up to camp fish at night.

Also in winter time they 'use to flood' the wild life area where they fed / tried to get geese to winter (they started some program for that YEARS ago - but not sure if they still do it?

There are two different trails with observation points - telescope - I think one is 1.75mi walk and other is 2.?? mi walk. Use to be a good place to take kids / grandkids in winter to see Geese - but I've NOT heard any thing about it for YEARS.

I had really forgotten about Bell Slouth / Grassy duck hunters until open day last season - then boom boom boom boom boom.......... about a million more boom boom

I.e. I could hear the sky busters all the way at my house (of course part of them may have been on Pierce Creek - which is also open to duck hunters

I don't remember Grassy ever being Great duck hunting and suspect it's about same - but a couple times last winter I drove over when there were about half a dozen cars in dam parking area - I saw 3 guys with their limit (that were showing and bulge in hunting jackets that looked like they were carrying a few extra (probably for another hunter). Then two more guys came out and they had one hen. I hung around about an hour and one more guy showed up with some ducks - had them in his jacket - I suspect it was only a couple

My best friend and I are planning on checking out the area in October (cooler) - he duck hunts and drives all the way to easter Arkansas - so he might check out Grassy for a quick trip or two. Also he's promised his grandkids that they will walk around the observation towers - to see if the wildfowl area is even open

I heard they ran out of money to plant food - keep it up - cause it never 'held' as many geese as they wanted. Then another guy said - heck it has plenty of geese each year - so we are going to have find out for sure

BTW: I keep hearing stories about the stocking pond down toward Dix creek - so I've driven down there and that is ONE big pond. I heard years ago they stock it with crappie to stock the lake - then I heard old timers 'bitching' that now they use the money to work - maintain - fill Bell Slouth / Grassy for Duck hunters and do NOT have money or plan to ever use the stocking pond anymore. BTW : If you've never seen the pond - you'll be surpized how big - deep it is - it looks a mile deep (okay at least 1/2 mile)

And another guy that grew up here - still says the best Spring crappie fishing is at the end of Dix creek - in a thick grove of cypress (easy to see) and it's where the stocking pond use to dump the fish (just up a creek a little ways)

I'm type that is always looking asking - so I'll keep asking - wondering - and mainly wishing they would find money to use that stocking pond again - I bet you could raise 15 million crappie in the 'LITTLE POND"

And that is everything I can think of - all I've found out - so write your congress man and tell them to find money to stock crappie in Lake Conway :crazy: :ooooh:

[ar_confederate]

I'm really envious of ya'll in central Arkansas. My wife and I moved from Mayflower about 2 years ago and I still miss it. Hope that ya'll catch a bunch on Lake Conway.

[SeedTick]

I'm really envious of ya'll in central Arkansas. My wife and I moved from Mayflower about 2 years ago and I still miss it. Hope that ya'll catch a bunch on Lake Conway.

Hey Emmett, We moved from Beebe to Conway 1 year ago July and I love it. My favorite 2 places to fish are the lake (redears) and the river (catfish) down at Mayflower. Come to think of it I ain't even been over to Toadsuck for nothing since we moved. Anyway, we were needing to move and I talked the wife into moving over here to put me an hour closer to my favorite fishing holes. I was wanting to find a place on the lake but we couldn't find a place that we liked that we could afford so we ended up in town.

It's a shame ya'll had to move away. If you are ever back in the neighborhood look us up.

ST

[SeedTick]

Hey John, That is some great information. I told one of my buddies that from what I saw the day I drove back in there that it looked more like a duck hunting place than it did a fishing hole.

I know just where you are talking about over at Dix Creek. That is a good looking place to fish but I've only fished it 2 or 3 times. I was over there one day and watched a couple of guys come in and go straight to a place in the lily pads just south of that small stand of cypress trees and drop anchor. It was a dead give away on a redear bed but that particular day they weren't biting. I've got that place filed away in my memory to try out one of these days. We got to fishing out of Green Lake when the vegetation choke our redear holes up where Palarm runs into the lake. We have caught several bream in there but ain't never found a good redear spot.

I hope you get to feeling better those summer colds stink.

ST

[ar_confederate]

Greg, Thanks for the invite. I may very well do that. We still come up to visit friends every so often. (Less with the gas prices now!)

Right before I moved, I met a gentleman who owned that farm on the left side of the highway (365 I think, going towards Maumelle) down by the little Mayflower park by the river. He told me about the stream that feeds into the river. It seems that about 200 yards from the river, there's a deep bend on that stream and he says that he tears up the catfish there. He told me to feel free to go on his land to fish there. I didn't have time before I moved but he'd probably allow anyone who asked to fish there.

I wish I could remember his name but I just can't now. Anyway, thanks again for the invite!

[grizzly]

King of the flatheads that is. We put in at Adams around 4pm and scouted he old lake for depth and cover looking for possible places to fish. We ended up putting out 3 trotlines in what I thought looked like likely spots and got them baited right at dark. OK let's jump back to when we were leaving my house. We loaded about 8 out of the 10# of goldfish I had bought and I asked Sam if he thought that would be enough. He agreed that should be plenty. What a mistake, by the time we had the three lines baited we had 4 goldfish left. Well we went back to he truck to have a sandwich and wait for a while. I have a pair of lights mounted on the front of the boat for night traveling, have used them for years and they worked great, or DID. They were yellow and dim and you couldn't see nothing with them, so we limped to the landing with a little headlamp I had in the boat. And as usual for me, I left both of my rechargable spotlights at the house on the chargers. I dug around in my truck and found an old spotlight we could use. At midnight we ran the lines; first line, flathead 6#, another flathead 30# and a channel cat 11#, 2nd and 3rd lines nothing but no bait to rebait with. Sam was going crazy, biggest flathead he had ever touched. Waited until 2am to run and take up lines, 1st and 2nd lines nothing 3rd line flathead 12# and a channel cat 5#. We left the lake at 3:30am with a nice catch, Got home after a stop at wally world for film around 5:30, waited for daylight and took plenty of pics. The smile on Sam's face was priceless. Good times and good friends, that's what it's all about. grizzly

[SeedTick]

Greg, Thanks for the invite. I may very well do that. We still come up to visit friends every so often. (Less with the gas prices now!)

Right before I moved, I met a gentleman who owned that farm on the left side of the highway (365 I think, going towards Maumelle) down by the little Mayflower park by the river. He told me about the stream that feeds into the river. It seems that about 200 yards from the river, there's a deep bend on that stream and he says that he tears up the catfish there. He told me to feel free to go on his land to fish there. I didn't have time before I moved but he'd probably allow anyone who asked to fish there.

I wish I could remember his name but I just can't now. Anyway, thanks again for the invite!

Hey Emmett, can you get to that stream from the river or the creek? It sounds like a honey hole.

st