TALE WATERS & TIDES · POCKET FISHING GUIDE
ARKANSAS SPORTFISH
Yellow Bass
SCOUT57SCORE
LAKE CHICOTHOME +10
Scout & adaptStripey. The Mississippi backwater's golden runt.
SIZE
6–10 in
MAX
14 in
WEIGHT
Up to 2.5 lbs
HABITAT
OxbowsSlow riversReservoirs
Mississippi River oxbows, lower Arkansas River backwaters.
DIET
Small shad, minnows, insects.
BEST BAITS
Small jigs · Beetle spins · Live minnows
SEASONAL PATTERN
BESTSPRING
SUMMER
FALL
WINTER
Summer: Schools in open water.
ANGLER INTEL · RIGHT NOWSCOUT & ADAPT
DEPTH
20–30 ft
thermocline / deep ledges
TIMING
Dawn & last light only
TOP LURE · LIVE
Beetle spins
slow day — give them an easy meal
TACKLE
Ultralight, 6 lb line
TECHNIQUE · Deep crankbait on ledges at dawn
ANGLER STATS
SPAWN 58–65°F BITE
75
FIGHT
55
STEALTH
45
FUN FACT
Yellow bass spawn earlier and shorter than white bass — by the time the white bass run is famous, the yellows are already done. Locals who know the timing fill coolers.
STATUS
Secure
Native · Moronidae
PFG SIGNAL · EST80°F · Lake Chicot● SCOUT 57