Central Arkansas fishin holes....

[slowcrank]

I just moved to the Benton area and can't seem to find any good fishing holes around here. I've tried Lake Cathrine, Lake Norrell and even the Saline River. With no success with Bass or Crappie; I have managed to catch more than my limit of "tiny" sunfish and Bream. Very few keepers. Can anyone suggest any locations around here?

I've heard about Lake Conway about an hour or so from here, holds some pretty nice Bass and Crappie. Anyone out there fish this lake regular? Any tips?

Any information that anyone can give me, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
See ya on the water.

[RCC]

Welcome top C.C. We're fortunate to have a couple of Conway experts on the board. CrappiePro and Dano show good stringers all time. The in-laws live on Conway and have been doing ok. Bream have been good all summer and this past week they got on some good Bass. Crappie for them have been slow all summer.

Good Luck

[NIMROD]

Don't over look any of the AGFC lakes or Corps lakes. Lake Maumelle has fish even though it has the reputation of being the dead sea. Also there are pay lakes like Peckerwood that is private and hot right now when farmers have it pumped down. Some of these lakes just have to be fished with a little knowledge and right timing.

[soswine]

Going SW from Benton, I'd focus on learning DeGray and Greeson. Conway has good fishin but it is really a challenge for me(still new to fishin it). Ouachita would be the other one over at Hot Springs to start learnin but it is a big son of a gun. You can also hit the AR River here in LR. Above or below Murray Dam either one offers good fishin.

[DRPEPPER]

I live in West Little Rock which isn't too far from you. Sometimes I hitch the boat up on Friday night and decide which way to go the next morning. Conway will really turn on in about 6 weeks for crappie. They can be found (at least by Crappie Pro) staging before they migrate up the creeks.
Degray would be an excellant choice for you.
Greeson is a little furthur. A day with Jerry Blake (Action Fishing Trips)would be worth while. The corp of engineers has a map out with brush locations for Degray and Greeson.
Darryl Morris can help you with Hamilton (501-844-5418).
Ouachita is a little imtimidating. I haven't tried to re-learn it since the grass went away.
I have been doing pretty good on Greer's Ferry dragging cranks.
I have also learned some spots on Maumelle as well. There are maps provided by the Game and Fish at the boat launch with recently placed attractors.
Welcome and good luck.
DP

[CrappiePro]

Hello Welcome to the board from Lake Conway. I'm a Little Partial but it's hard to beat Lake Conway from Oct -Mar, and countless great stringers come out of her every year. Just Know it's like Central Arkansas crappie Camp and you will deal with some other boats, but for the most part we all get along and you will catch em at one time or another if you apply yourself. There is a search button on the site, search my post or Dano at Gold creek and you will find allot of great Information to get ya started.

[Bigben7]

I agree with everyone so far, and would definitely push for Lake Maumelle, Greeson and DeGray. We have recently done a bunch of habitat improvement on Lake Maumelle, and it has produced some really good fish. The lake is down 5.4 feet right now for some dam repair work, so you may wait for it until late fall or winter. Lake Greeson has had a lot of habitat enhancement work done on it by the Army Corps of Engineers. There are a lot of good options in the one hr driving range. Good luck, and hope to see you out there.