Some fishermen actually look forward to this time of the year. It's when summer has arrived and heat has accompanied it and so many anglers grumble, "It's just too hot. The fish won't bite."
So those some fishermen chuckle to themselves and get ready to work waters less populated with other anglers.
The reports come in from boat docks, marinas and sporting goods outlets that assorted species are biting "early and late." Yes, those are the best times all right and more so for the fishermen than the fish.
One of life's truly great pleasures is working a topwater lure across a glassy smooth surface just after daybreak and having a big ol' bass blow up to grab the lure. If that doesn't send your heart into your mouth, nothing will, no even a flight of mallards turning, cupping wings and coming in to your decoys.
Different fishermen have different favorite topwater bass lures. In Lake Conway's early days, the Lucky 13 accounted for many, many bass and good ones at that. A personal favorite is the Heddon Torpedo, a topwater bait with little propellers. I usually work the Tiny Torpedo because of a preference for smaller lures.
Many others are available, all candidates for that early morning excitement on still waters.
LAKE CONWAY
Rick Bates at Bates Field and Stream said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well around lily pads on worms and crickets. Crappie are excellent on minnows. Catfishing is fair on stink bait.
Dan Zajac at Gold Creek Landing said bream are biting well on crickets and wax worms. They are bedding against the banks. Bass are biting well on plastics and top-water baits. Crappie are fairly slow, but a few have been caught deep around cypress trees. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers, livers, and shiners hung from limb lines and trotlines.
LITTLE RED RIVER
Billy Lindsey at Lindsey's Resort said water conditions are normal with two generators running around the clock. Trout fishing has been very good on Shad Raps and spinner baits with a glow worm and Power Egg.
GREERS FERRY LAKE
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is falling about 6 inches per day. Bass are scattered from 6 inches to 28 feet and will bite a variety of lures, including Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, top-water frogs, and football head jigs. The hybrid bass and white bass are schooling all over the lake and can be caught with Rinky Dinks, topwaters and grubs as well as jigging spoons and -ounce Buckshot Spinners. Walleye are biting under the hybrids on Sassy Shads. Bream are bedding and biting on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good all over the lake.
HARRIS BRAKE LAKE
Coffee Creek Landing said water conditions are normal. Bream are the best thing going on crickets and worms.
LAKE OVERCUP
Lakeview Landing said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and red worms. Crappie are good early on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on crawfish.
Overcup Landing said water conditions are normal with temperature in the 90s. Bream are biting well around the docks on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are fair on jigs 7 feet deep. A few bass have been caught on buzz baits, spinner baits and topwaters. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
BREWER LAKE
Overcup Landing said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets and red worms. Crappie are fair on jigs. A few bass have been caught on topwaters. Catfishing is fair on goldfish.
LAKE MAUMELLE
Jolly Roger's Marina said summer fishing is in full swing, so it's time to move deeper for all species. Largemouth bass are good in 10 to 15 feet of water around structure. Jig-and-pig combos and Carolina rigs are the way to go. Spotted bass are mixed in with the largemouth. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms, but the last spawning moon was not as good as usual. Fish 10 to 12 feet deep for the larger bream. Crappie are fair in 10 to 20 feet of water on small jigs and minnows around structure. The old Jolly Rogers location is a good place to start. White bass are biting well on CC spoons and clear crank baits on the west end of the lake. Catfish are very good in 5 to 15 feet of water on prepared bait and large minnows.
ARKANSAS RIVER
In the Little Rock area, Vince Miller at Fish 'N Stuff said the water is high and rough. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are fair on jigs. Bass are biting well on buzz baits. Catfishing is good on any bait. Anglers should use extreme caution on the main part of the river.
WHITE RIVER
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. It has not fished as well as it has in previous weeks.
The ticket to success as always on high water has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms and large brightly colored eggs. If you are not fishing catch and release water, tie a dropper on at the bend of the hook. A good choice would be a copper john or a zebra midge both in size 14.
