Arkansas Fishing Report
Lake Catherine Sponsored by
| Date | 12-Apr-24 | |
| Water Condition | ||
| Water Temperature |
| Conditions
: Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catchem All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 53 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Both Lake Hamilton and Catherine are at normal pool. Current flows have been high and generation has been 24/7 the past two weeks at Carpenter Dam, which has kept many boaters off the lake and made fishing conditions difficult for bank fishermen. While the tailrace appears normal and the scheduled trout stocking continues to plan, virtually zero trout are being caught. Thousands of trout are stocked in January, February and March, but few are caught until early April because of the early March refilling from the 5-feet wintertime drawdown. Also, bad weather forces Entergy to run large amounts of generation from area dams to control lake levels and this process creates dangerous boating and fishing conditions. Before fishing below a hydroelectric dam, it is a good idea to check the weekly generation schedule and plan your outings accordingly. Fly-fishermen can still wade to areas that hold good numbers of trout and can have some success casting micro-jigs in white or black under a strike indicator. This presentation perfectly matches the injured shad drawn through the turbines from Lake Hamilton. San Juan Worms offer feeding trout a different look and will often work equally well when fished in the same manner. Trout Magnets should not be overlooked by fly-anglers and often make the difference between a successful outing and an unsuccessful one. Bank fishermen using waxworms or mealworms cast with a small bobber or fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater will catch rainbows. Boaters can anchor in and around sandbars and rock structure and catch trout using small inline spinners such as a Rooster Tail or Mepps Spinner in brown or silver colors. Low water conditions are finally gone as rising water has brought the tailrace to normal pool, so trolling can be effective against the current. Rainbow trout fishing will dominate the area for months to come as big numbers of fish will congregate in many areas of the tailrace. However, trout will not be the only game fish available to target. The walleye spawn is underway on Lake Catherine as male walleye have migrated into the tailrace to prepare the beds for the much larger females. These fish can be caught by trolling shallow-running crankbaits against the current on both sides of the river below the dam. Shad or crayfish imitations work best as both of these are present in large numbers in the lake and offer game fish a solid food source throughout the year. Tout will be scarce where spawning walleye are established as rainbow trout are known egg eaters and are attacked by walleye when crossing over into bedding areas. Now that the month of April is underway, walleye will be present and can be caught from the bridge to the dam. April also promises the beginning of the crappie spawn, which will add another quality game fish for the public to target. As temperatures warm and threadfin shad arent stunned by freezing temperatures anymore, there will be a dramatic decrease in the amount of prey for fish to feed on. Several days of this reduction in food will force fish to actively search for prey which will create a good situation for anglers to be successful. Despite the safer conditions and warmer weather, it is extremely important to remember that fish in the tailrace will be difficult to catch until early April. Trout can be caught but not in the numbers that are expected in March. No explainable reason exists other than the fact that rising water is detrimental for the trout bite. Normal pool levels will bring a more consistent bite from the rainbow trout population. The rising water does not affect the walleye and crappie bite to the same degree. Reported by: Arkansas F&G |
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| About: -
Lake Catherine was created in a virtual wilderness between Hot Springs and Malvern.
Eleven miles long, the lake covers a mere 1,940 acres, nestled in
narrow valleys of the Ouachita Mountains. Fishing: Anglers come to the lake for its largemouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass, crappie, bream, and catfish and walleye fishing. A rainbow trout fishery, stocked by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, exists in the lake's tailwaters below Remmel Dam. Lake Catherine State Park offers 17 fully-equipped cabins with kitchens, 70 campsites, a marina selling bait and fuel in summer and renting boats throughout the year, a launch ramp, a swimming area, picnic sites, playgrounds and hiking trails. |
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