As the modern gun deer hunting season approaches, the thought of combining it with fishing returns. This writer has engaged in both several times, and so have many others.
When the weather is cooperative, November is a good time for fishing. You can hunt two or three hours or maybe until lunch time, get something to eat then fish for a while before going back after deer the last couple of hours of daylight.
If you are in a deer camp, an evening meal of freshly caught crappie will give that hunt a place in memories – assuming a competent fish cook is in the bunch.
One deer hunt of the past involved a tract of land with a sizeable creek running through it. The land also had a handy patch of turnips. A trotline produced a few channel catfish, and if you have never enjoyed breaded and seasoned fish and hot sliced turnips with just a touch of sugar and black pepper plus some fresh tomatoes – well, it is a nice different camp dinner.
There is no formula or secret to this deer hunting-fishing doubleheader idea. Most of us will be hunting deer somewhere close to fishing waters, with exceptions in remote mountain areas of our state.
It’s reasonable also to take along a small boat on a trailer or by sliding it into the back of a pickup. You may not want to haul that spiffy bass boat to deer camp with you, however, but that’s your call.
For this hunt-fish double dip, most of us will make a choice of a minimum of fishing gear. Rod, reel and a few small lures should do it.
LAKE CONWAY
Rick Bates at Bates Field and Stream said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair on micro jigs. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on Reaction Innovations Trixy Sharks and Skinny Dippers. Catfishing is slow.
LITTLE RED RIVER
Billy Lindsey at Lindsey’s Resort said the water is clear and the current is running high. Drift fishing from a boat is the best bet. Countdown Rapalas, Smithwick Rogues, Power Worms and Glow Worms are working well on rainbow trout.
GREERS FERRY LAKE
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is rising and the surface temperature is in the mid- to low 60s. The bite is beginning to improve with the sunny weather. White bass and hybrid bass are schooling back up under the reformed bait balls – tightly bunched schools of shad. If the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, the bite is excellent on spoons and inline spinners. Bass fishing is good in the bushes on topwater lures, spinner baits, jigs and creature baits. Floating Rogues and Red Fins are also catching some good bass. Crappie are scattered in the brush and biting well on minnows and jigs. Bream are in the brush and are biting on nightcrawlers around the open parts of the bushes. Walleye should start to show up under the schooled up white bass and hybrids.
HARRIS BRAKE LAKE
Coffee Creek Landing said few people are is fishing because the lake is drawn down and will remain so until Dec. 12.
LAKE OVERCUP
Overcup Landing said the water is high and murky. Bream are biting fairly well on red worms. Crappie are fair on chartreuse and white or white Crappie Stinger jigs. All other species are slow.
BREWER LAKE
Overcup Landing said the water is high. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on small minnows and white/chartreuse jigs fished around brush. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers. Bass are slow.
LAKE MAUMELLE
Roger Nesuda at Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water is 1.6 feet above the spillway. Largemouth bass are holding around 15 feet deep and are biting fairly well on crank baits, spinner baits and tubes. Some good catches are also coming from the bank around muddy water. Spotted bass are staying out in 15 feet of water and are biting fairly well on jigs and soft plastics. White bass are schooling around the east end of the lake on CC spoons and clear Near Nuthins. Crappie are biting well about 15 to 20 feet deep on minnows and 1/32-ounce jigs. The cooler weather will bring on a good crappie bite on pink minnows soon. Bream are slow. Saugeye are fair on Rogues and jigs trolled around 10 to 15 feet deep. Catfishing is good on minnows, worms and prepared bait fished 8 to 15 feet deep.
ARKANSAS RIVER
Charlie Hoke at Charlie’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow is still extremely high. Catfishing is good on whole shad fished from the banks below dams 9 and 10. The backwater in Coppers Gap and Flaggs Lake are also producing catfish. Stripers are good on live shad and bream fished 4 to 6 feet deep under a balloon below dams 9 and 10. Spotted bass and white bass are biting fairly well on fire tiger crank baits in backwater areas.
WHITE RIVER
John Berry at Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been light but steady around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon. There has been precious little wadable water. Fishing in the catch and release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been excellent. With the low level flows this week; it is difficult to navigate around the new habitat. The hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red) and egg patterns (orange and peach). White marabou jigs accounted for some good fish. This section will be closed Nov. 12-Jan 31 for the brown trout spawn. The section from the bottom of this closed area downstream to the wing wall at the state park is will be seasonal catch and release during the same time period. The stretch from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has fished well. The moderate flows have been perfect for drift fishing. The hot flies have been San Juan worms and Y2Ks. There has also been a bit of grasshopper action, especially on windy days. Rim Shoals has been red hot for another week. The go-to flies have been Y2Ks and cerise San Juan worms. In the afternoon we have been getting some good baetis (small mayfly) hatches.
LAKE NORFORK
Greg Weinmann at Hand Cove Resort said the water level is around 569, and the surface temperature is in the low 60s. This is a good time to fish the shoreline brush and with the inflow of water, the fish will move into the flowing water and new brush. There is some muddy water and some stained water and a lot of clear water. Bass fishing has been good, especially for spotted and smallmouth. Crappie fishing has been fair using minnows and small rubber baits with a very light jig and a slow presentation. Catfish are doing good on nightcrawlers and live bait. Walleye fishing has been slow. Striper fishing has been slow. White bass fishing has been fair. Most folks have been doing well using topwater baits and any plastic baits rigged wacky style, or add some weights and do it Carolina or Texas style. Some crank baits and stick baits are working also as are spoons.
