Steve & Lisa Spencer give tips and conditions for local fishing holes in Saline County in this column. See more info about Steve and Lisa at the end.
David Yarberry caught on a rod n reel with a brooder minnow this 40lb flathead while fishing at Lake Ouachita, Crystal Springs area
Saline River – Bass are in the current and just below the shoals. Small plastics like 4 inch lizards or baby brush hogs on a light Texas rig, live minnows or anything that resembles a crawdad will work. Crappie have been biting in some deep backwaters and along sunken logs that are in or near current. Small #4 crappie minnows on small hooks and light, clear line fished under a small bobber is the best rig to use. Catfish are biting at night on chicken livers, minnows, black saltys and night crawlers fished on the bottom. Bream are plentiful and fun to catch on the river. Use light line and tackle, red worms and/or crickets and try to keep a count. It’s a perfect way to get kids started and into fishing. For a little more fight, take a little heavier tackle and some #12 minnows. Cast a minnow in front of one of the many gar you’ll probably see watch it take the bait. Let the gar have a free line until it stops then when it begins to move again tighten your line and set the hook. Gar are hard to get a hook in but when you do, even the small ones are a good fight. We’ve had no reports of walleye being caught recently and believe that they’ve all been caught. (wink, wink).
Sunset Lake – Catfish have been biting chicken livers, night crawlers, skipjack and minnows. Fish shallow water in the early morning and at night and go to the bottom of deep water during the hot part of the day. Bream fishing has been good with crickets and red worms around the brushy stuff and grassy areas. Try to set your bait just off the bottom under a small float and fish around the edges close to the cover. Crappie have been biting fair for some. The few minutes of light before the sun comes up is when you’ll get the bites and then it’s over. Fish around the dock and any vertical stick ups like trees or brush. #4,#6 and pink crappie minnows or Bobby Garland baby shad jigs have been working. Bass have been more active early and late in the day and are hitting Carolina rigged and floating plastics as well as top water baits and buzz baits. Move around the lake and fish close to any cover. Remember, Sunset Lake is an AGFC Family and Community lake and has special regulations. Know the rules.
Rayden Crouch, 14 yr old was on a roll with fresh chicken livers while fishing at Bishop Park Ponds, this was just one of the many catfish he caught.
Lake Norrell – Bream fishing has been good with crickets and red worms. Fish deep around sunken logs and brush and out from the ends of docks. Catfish have been biting fair at night on chicken livers, night crawlers, black saltys, goldfish and #12 minnows. Bass fishing has been good early in the morning and at night. Dark colored plastics, buzz baits and top water baits are good right now. Fish the shallows and around docks and walls. Crappie have been biting good for few using #6 and #12 minnows around stick ups and brush close to deep water or in the channel.
Everett Roberts, 6 years old, was fishing with his father at a private pond with #6 crappie minnows and this is one of the 3 bass he caught. He also caught a bream.
Bishop Park Ponds – Bream have been biting well for some young anglers fishing with crickets and red worms. Most have been small but a few nice ones and some catfish have been caught too. All of them have been big fun for the kids. Bass fishing has been fair with minnows, floating worms and small top water baits. Crappie have been slow but some small ones have been biting #4 and pink minnows. Catfish are biting fair on chickens livers, night crawlers, bait shrimp and minnows.
Lake Winona – Catfish are biting late in the day and at night. Fish shallow and close to the bank with #12 minnows, night crawlers, chicken livers, bait shrimp, cut shad or skipjack. Bass fishing has been fair with Carolina rigged plastics, chatter baits, buzz baits and live minnows. Crappie are biting slow and are scattered out but some good ones have been hitting #4 minnows and small jigs. They have been coming from 12-30 ft. deep. Bream are moving out to deep water and scattering as well but are biting crickets and red worms.
It’s hot. Stay cool and fish hard. Leave the outdoors cleaner than you found it if you can.
