Arky Side Report

[Van]

Fished a couple of sections on the Arkansas side today. Didn't have a ton of action but did catch 2 1-1.5 pound smallmouth, 1 green sunny, and 1 longear sunny on a small, black bead-head woollybugger with an extra #4 splitshot. Also caught a half-pound smally and a greenie on a chartreuse clouser. As I pulled in the smallmouth, a 3-4 pound largemouth chased it out of the depths and nipped it repeatedly. Tried like heck to hook that guy but to no avail.

Water was at a very wadeable level throughout most of the places I fished, but it was pretty dingy in the holes. Early in the morning, I had luck with the woolybugger before the sun broke through the clouds. The chartreuse clouser was more successful in the sunny afternoon. I haven't been on the Illinois in 2 years, and much of the river is completely different from what it was then due to all the flooding. There's a lot of new submerged timber and deep holes that the dingy water hides, so be careful while wading if you haven't been there in a while.

If the rain holds off and the water can drop another 6-inches or foot and clear up, it could be really awesome fishing.

Van

[bferg]

Fished a couple of sections on the Arkansas side today. Didn't have a ton of action but did catch 2 1-1.5 pound smallmouth, 1 green sunny, and 1 longear sunny on a small, black bead-head woollybugger with an extra #4 splitshot. Also caught a half-pound smally and a greenie on a chartreuse clouser. As I pulled in the smallmouth, a 3-4 pound largemouth chased it out of the depths and nipped it repeatedly. Tried like heck to hook that guy but to no avail.

Water was at a very wadeable level throughout most of the places I fished, but it was pretty dingy in the holes. Early in the morning, I had luck with the woolybugger before the sun broke through the clouds. The chartreuse clouser was more successful in the sunny afternoon. I haven't been on the Illinois in 2 years, and much of the river is completely different from what it was then due to all the flooding. There's a lot of new submerged timber and deep holes that the dingy water hides, so be careful while wading if you haven't been there in a while.

If the rain holds off and the water can drop another 6-inches or foot and clear up, it could be really awesome fishing.

Van

Thanks for the report. I am new to NW Arkansas and have been wanting to try the Illinois. Do you know were I can go to find access points? I have tried googleing and exhausted my web-searching skills...

Any input would be great?

[Van]

Thanks for the report. I am new to NW Arkansas and have been wanting to try the Illinois. Do you know were I can go to find access points? I have tried googleing and exhausted my web-searching skills...

Any input would be great?

Pick up a Delorme Arkansas Gazetter- these have all of the roads in the state and shows many of the access points for most of the rivers and lakes. Also, check out google earth and look for roads that cross the rivers you're interested in. Most of those bridges will have pull-offs that allow you to access the water. Some of them don't, however, so be careful to avoid trespassing.

Van