Map of Lake Arthur -
528 Bridge to Waterfowl Propagation area
1. There is a large fallen tree that goes from the shallows into deep water. You will occasionally find bass in and arround the sunken tree. Spinnerbaits and jigs work here because you can fish them at various depths around the tree branches.
2. This shoreline encompasses a submerged road with deeper water nearby. There are a number of patches of submerged weeds along the shore as well. Many trees overhang the shoreline and keep the area shaded until mid day. This area is best fished with spinnerbaits and shallow-diving crankbaits, which allow you to cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. If you enjoy precision casting, like I do, then you will enjoy fishing here. It is notable that timing is everything when fishing here. I fished this shoreline in early morning prior to an impending cold front and caught 13 bass in one pass. I have also fished this shoreline mid-day after a front has passed and caught nothing. Plan your fishing carefully.
3. Along the southern shore is shallow cove that contains vast patches of lily pads. This area will produce bass and panfish on most occasions. For bass, the area is best fished with a weedless lure, like a Mann's floating rat, that can be fished on top of and around the pads. Live bait also works here for panfish and bass by fishing with small bobbers and hooks adjacent the edges of the lily pads.
4. This is where the shoreline described in 2 above transitions to a large shallow flat. There is a submerged road here as well as several fallen trees that are partially or totally submerged. You can often catch bass here along the shoreline or around the submerged trees. The best lures to use are spinnerbaits and shallow-diving crankbaits.
5. This a large shallow flat ranging from 3 to 5 feet in depth. The flat extends for 100 feet to 300 feet from the shoreline before dropping off into the original creek channel which is 8 to 9 feet deep. This flat will usually produce panfish and the occasional bass. For panfish I will usually fish with live bait under a bobber or small spinners. The panfish will tend to be near the shoreline and submerged road. For bass, I like to fan cast a shallow- to mid-depth crankbait to cover as much water as possible.
6. The area where the shallow flat transitions into the depths of the original creek channel will sometimes produce a nice largemouth or striped bass. I usually fan cast this area with a mid-depth crankbait like a Cordell Big 'O' or a Bill Norman Little N.
7. As you approach the waterfowl propagation area there will be a point of land projecting southward into the lake. This point has steep banks and drops off sharply into 3 feet to 5 feet of water. There are a number of weedbeds along the shore here. This area will produce the occasional bass. I find that spinnerbaits and shallow-diving crankbaits work best here when cast parallel to the shore and retrieved at different depths.
8. At the end of the point the water depth changes rapidly from 2 feet at the shore to 9 feet at the original creek channel. This area will sometimes have largemouth or striped bass. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits work best to fish this area at all depths. Make certain to cast right up to the edge of the reeds at the shoreline as sometimes the fish will be very shallow.