Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

November 14, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Jim Harsch from northeastern Arkansas recently was back for his fifth trip on Millwood Lake chasing, and catching, big white bass with guide Mike Siefert. White bass, like the black bass there, have been schooling and chasing threadfin shad and surface-breaking at random times all over the lake. The frenzy can run for 5-8 minutes, Siefert said. Better activity has been seen in the oxbows on crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps, with their size ranging from 1-3 pounds. Read more in the report below.

Reports are updated weekly, although some reports may be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news.

Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality

Download the Fish Brain app and follow AGFC at: https://join.fishbrain.com/agfc-page

Quick links to regions:

• Central Arkansas
• North Arkansas
• Northwest Arkansas
• Northeast Arkansas
• Southeast Arkansas
• Southwest Arkansas
• South-Central Arkansas
• West-Central Arkansas
• East Arkansas

NOTE: For anglers using the privately owned Beaverfork Lake in Faulkner County, especially with Lake Conway being drawn down for renovation, according to the Conway Parks and Recreation Dept. They began their every-five-year winter drawdown of Beaverfork last week. This routine maintenance is done to allow landowners to do maintenance to their piers, boathouses and shorelines. Although the ramps will eventually be unusable, a primitive ramp at the end of Volleyball Point provides a way to launch smaller boats. They will resume refilling the lake Jan. 1. 

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s Lake Conway water level site.

(updated 10-31-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said there are a few fish left in the pools if you can get to them, but not many. The pools are steadily drying up. “We need some rain bad.”

“I caught 16 crappie and kept 16 crappie,” they report of one pool excursion this week. Anglers will need to walk to the holes that remain. It’s suggested you pick a dry area to walk there; it is still pretty mucky in many places.

“If you find a hole with water in it, I guarantee you it has fish in it. We found a hole and caught fish six days in a row and caught crappie in them every day. There are still fish in all of them.”

Nearby Lake Beaverfork is being drawn down by the city, and anglers report they are catching a lot of crappie around the shoreline, as well as other species. 

Also, anglers reported catching about every species of fish by going to the AGFC-stocked Lake Conway Nursery Pond, they report.

While fishing is still possible on the main lake, there are no creel or length limits during its drawdown phase as part of the AGFC’s planned renovation project. Regular limits exist elsewhere, including the Nursery Pond.

Little Red River
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website or by calling (501) 362-5150). Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website to see forecast generation schedule.

(updated 10-31-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said that fall has officially settled into the Ozarks, and with the cooler temps, the leaves along the Little Red River are putting on a beautiful show. It’s a perfect time to get out for some fly-fishing.
The reduced water releases from Southwestern Power Administration at the dam have created some ideal wading conditions along the river. Right now, the generation schedule has been inconsistent, with occasional midweek releases and no weekend water flow. We’re expecting the releases to pick up once temperatures drop and power demand goes up, but for now, the best fishing days are typically the ones right after a release. The extra flow gets the fish more active, especially in the deeper sections.

Lately, the bite has been strong around moss beds and in plunge pools below the shoals. Hot flies right now include small buggy Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ears, egg patterns and various midges. Grab your gear, and come see the river in all its fall glory!

(updated 10-31-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that rainbows and brown trout are biting really well with the increased water from the rain. The baits working best are a pink and white Trout Magnet, along with smaller gold jerkbaits. Also try a firetiger color Rooster Tail.

Greers Ferry Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

(updated 11-14-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 454.90 feet msl, which is 7.14 feet below normal pool of 462.04 feet msl. Most species are still just roaming back and forth, they just won’t seem to get settled, there no generation at all — maybe after the cold weather we are going to have before, during and after Thanksgiving it should be where they get settled and you can really work on them!
For crappie now, it’s the same: Try super shallow and out to 30 feet with jigs, minnows or crankbaits. Fishing straight up and down is a must when fishing for these. Walleye are eating in the main lake with some left up rivers and scattered throughout the lake; drag a crawler or crankbait 45-65 feet. With those that are following under big schools of whites and hybrids, use a spoon for vertical fishing at 10-50 feet. Hybrid and white bass are set up in the main lake and some are roaming schooling on top, but for ones that are set use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. Catfish are biting all over lake on the usual stuff, working the lake and rivers. Some bream are shallow but most still around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine as well as inline spinners. Most black bass are out in the lake or roaming shallow and schooling; use Carolina rigs, topwaters, wake baits, drop-shots, crankbaits and spinnerbaits for best action super shallow out to 60 feet. Be safe and wear your life jacket.

(updated 10-31-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that the lake is definitely low — at least it was before this rain moved in. Most of the black bass are being caught in about 20-25 feet of water over standing timber. Try a jighead minnow or a Damiki Rig, basically, along with Alabama rigs and drop-shots. This is working not only for largemouths but smallmouth and spotted bass.

For crappie, they are hanging around the standing timber, too, in that same 20- to 25-feet range area. Use regular minnows or a pink and chartreuse crappie jig. 

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 11-7-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says the lake level rose 4 inches after this week’s rain. Anglers are catching catfish, both on limblines as well as fishing from the shoreline. They are using worms, including nightcrawlers, as well as baby bream.
The white bass were very active last week, and one angler in particular “caught lots of them.” White bass are biting on crankbaits and Rooster Tails. Black bass aren’t as active now, they report.

Crappie are moving in closer to the shoreline and dock now, and the catch has been very good the last couple of weeks both in the early mornings and late in the evenings. The color pearl white has been preferred, they report, whether that’s on Bobby Garland baits or others. Try an orange jighead with some type of Bobby Garland bait. Slab Slinger in Shinee Hinee has been getting lots of response, and also a Crappie Stinger in pearl white.

Also note, they say, that the pelicans moved in on Thursday. “A bunch of pelicans,” they report, as well as other shorebirds. Time to hit Harris Brake Lake!

The water clarity is a little muddy after the rain. The water temperature is just right.

Lake Overcup
(updated 10-31-2024) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing off Arkansas Highway 9 had no new reports, but said that recently that bream were starting to slow down but are being caught on crickets and redworms. Black bass were doing well, feeding on shad early morning and late evening.
Catfish were doing well on trotlines and jugs. Crappie were doing well in 12-14 feet of water using jigs and minnows. 

Lake Maumelle
(updated 11-14-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported that water temperature is ranging 65-67 degrees. Water level is 6 feet low and dropping. Largemouth bass are fair. They can be found shallow 2-5 feet and a few reports this week of bass being found in the back of the creeks. Others being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop offs. Try using top water, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbait, Chatterbait and crankbaits.

Spotted bass are fair. Reports of them being found scattered on drop offs 10-20 feet. Try using jerkbait and jigs.

 Crappie- Fair. Reports of crappie being found heading back towards the channel suspended around brush anywhere from 18-25 feet. As well as some being found 12-15 off of the drop offs. Try using jigs & minnows.

Bream are slow. They can be found around brush piles 10-15 feet and some are saying mixed in with the crappie. Try using crickets, worms and drop shots.

White Bass- Slow. No reports this week. Try using twister tails and crank baits. Catfish- Slow. No reports this week. Try using bream, liver and worms.

(update 10-31-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) says the Lake Maumelle water temps are hovering between 68-71 degrees. Water level is dropping rapidly as Central Arkansas Water continues an 8-foot drawdown. Use extreme caution when launching, loading and traveling across the lake. Consider idle speed if you’re unfamiliar with the lake.
Find the shad and you’ll find the “right” fish. Crappie can be found on brush and roaming. Roamers are spooky but will eat! Presentation is KEY! Be patient and on high alert! Some strike as soon as the bait appears, others need a few seconds to decide.
As always, don’t go without a wide variety of Crappie Magnet and Bobby Garland crappie baits. I can tell you with all certainty their preference changes hour by hour, day by day!
“If you want to learn more about bait selection and presentation, give me a call at 501-548-8990, or visit www.nsfguide.com to schedule your next crappie trip today!”

Arkansas River at Morrilton
For the real-time water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam and Morrilton stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

Little Maumelle River
(update 11-7-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the fishing has been pretty good before the rain kept the anglers away, but there wasn’t enough rain to spoil things. Look for crappie to be active now, with minnows and jigs both working well the past couple of weeks. Black bass seemed to have been on fire for the past several days or so. Anglers are catching them on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in good numbers. Ray hasn’t heard much on the bream, but the catfish have been biting well, especially around the dock. Throw chicken liver or hot dogs their way.

The creek is clear and actually is a little low because the Arkansas River is running faster this week and pulling the Little Maumelle down some. “It’s clear and definitely fishable. The fishing is only going to get better,” he says.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
For the real-time water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

Arkansas River (Little Rock Area Pools)
For the real-time water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam and David D. Terry Lock and Dam, as well as the Little Rock pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 10-31-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that now that some rain has moved into the area, that will help some things out a little bit on the river. Anglers report catching a lot of numbers of bass right now, mostly on crankbaits fished in 4-8 feet depth. A quarter-ounce spinnerbait is doing well, as are topwater baits like a Zara Spook or Rebel Popper. Also, for fishing on the bottom, try jigs in green pumpkin orange color.

Mostly the anglers are targeting the main river for this fish. Some fish are up shallow in the backwaters, but the reports they are getting say that fishermen have mostly been targeting sport fish on the main river.

As far as clarity, the river was clear before this latest rainfall, which should dirty it up a little bit over the next few days.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 11-14-2024) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said the lake has closed for the season to serve as a waterfowl rest area for the upcoming duck season, which opens Nov. 23. The lake will reopen for fishing on Feb. 10, the Monday following Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt weekend.

White River
(updated 11-14-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake reached the desired power pool level (660.09 msl) and generation schedules have reflected the change, averaging one unit (3,000 cfs) for most of the week. Be on the lookout for rises and falls in the water level over the next few days, and keep your tackle box stocked with a variety of baits to handle the fluctuation.

Always keep some worms to tantalize those trout when the water is rising — either red wigglers, nightcrawlers or the scented XFactor or Berkley artificial worms. Doesn’t seem to matter: whichever one you’ve had the best luck with in the past. When the water steadies and flattens out some, you can experiment with trusty spoons (a favorite is the hammered red/gold Thomas-Buoyant) or, depending on water level, flicker a peach/moss or orange/brown jig. 

Falling water presents some challenge and stirs up the competitive edge to an angler’s nature. It’s a good time to try jerkbaits in the “bleeding” series with some slow sinking, wobbly action. For the browns, working a mid-size sculpin in the deeper holes adds greatly to your chance for a hefty strike.

Our mild November is due to become more seasonal by next week; temperatures will drop about 10 degrees, but still be a lot of sunshine and it brings the nip that Thanksgiving needs. Still nice daytime temperatures — perfect autumn weather to usher in the holidays.

(updated 11-14-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the rain storms early last week caused many creeks and the Buffalo River to flood. As a result, we saw a 22-foot flood in Calico Rock. The flood crested late last Wednesday night (Nov. 6). As of this Wednesday, Nov. 13, the water remains dingy. The fishing being done is in the mouths of the creek where the water is cleaner.

This Wednesday we received three stockings of fish. The first was the stocking pontoon raft with 2,200 fish going downstream toward Sylamore Creek. The second and third stockings were another 2,200 from the Norfork Hatchery and 600 from the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery.

Bull Shoals Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Bull Shoals Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 11-14-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level Wednesday was at 660 feet msl and seems to be holding. The water temperature is still about 64 degrees. “Be careful in the backs of creeks. There are floaters and debris still bobbing around and working out. There are fish that moved up shallow. Powerfish runoff and target stained water with Chatterbaits, spinnerbait and square bills up skinny.
Most of the creeks are stained. If the water is clear, you’re going to have to back out a bit. Topwater activity has slowed down. The fish seem to be bouncing from shad ball to shad ball. Shad are still spread out. Most are out over the old creek channel, while some are getting pushed onto the flats. They are just starting to group up a little better. The cooler temps will help.
“There are shad sitting high on the surface down to 50 feet. If its sunny and flat, I’m going to check mouths of creeks and pockets, on long points, ledges, piles, drop-offs and bluff ends that are close to deep water. I’m still getting some of those main lake fish on a Roboworm drop-shot. There is some crawled jig activity out there 25-35 feet.
“For the guys chasing shad, use a small half-ounce Flutter Spoon or Jewel Scuba Spoon if the shad are on the bottom, or use a Tater Shad or small, heavy swimbait on the suspenders — that will fool a few. You better be good at the front-looker; having to hit them on the move isn’t easy.
“The white bass and smallmouth are schooling capitalizing on the shad. Overall, smaller baits has helped. As the lake cools off we will get more fish moving up shallow. For cloudy and windy those Wiggle Wart or Rock Crawler crankbaits are getting some attention around steeper windblown banks. Fish the Conditions.

Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.

(updated 11-14-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing patterns are still about the same as last week. With the recent rains and extreme lake level rise, the fish are shifting around a bit following the shad.

Searching for baitfish and good water clarity will be keys to locating them. Fish have been reluctant to chase a bait, and fishing slow has been the key to catching a few walleye. Fish are scattered from 15 feet down to 60 feet.

“The best luck I have had this past week has still been a drop-shot rig and nightcrawler around points with brush or trees close by. Have also been getting a few on the steeper sided channel swings. Walleye seem to be moving in and out of different water depths depending on wind and cloud cover. If they are shallow, stay out in deeper water and cast into them with a jig and crawler or drop-shot rig and work them back to the boat very slowly. If they are deep, go vertical with spoons, Ice Jig or drop-shot rig. Scan points, both sides and tips, by zigzagging in and out of 20-60 feet of water to find fish. You can also use a Carolina rig with a half-ounce egg sinker and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler worked very slowly around groups of fish on the deeper sides of deep brushpiles. Some trollers have been picking a few fish up flat by line-trolling shad-style baits in 15 feet of water in the early morning and late evening.” 

(updated 11-14-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are still pretty scattered but seem to be cooperative. Seems like most are around that 15- to 25-foot range. The majority of fish I’m finding are still in the creeks. Caught fish Tuesday this week on a one-eighth-ounce jig with the Tater Shad Jr. on a steady retrieve. Also caught them on minnows.

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

No reports.

Beaver Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Beaver Lake Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 11-14-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said, “Well, we received lots of water into the system. The lake rose from 1,111.46 (feet msl) to 1117.79, which is a 6-foot rise. With that, lots of debris entered into the lake, so caution is advised.” 

Fishing is just starting to rebound with a trickle of fish reports, he said.
Stripers have moved south and are starting to be caught around the islands at Prairie Creek. Crappie will reestablish on brush. Look in 12-20 feet depth levels. This will get better in the coming week. 

Walleye are scattered, which is typical and especially when you get major rises. No reports on walleye this last week. 

Catfish should be good with all the water movement. 

Now, what to expect in the next coming weeks? Fishing should finally settle into a fall/winter pattern. Stripers will push up towards Point 12 and further south. “I expect a good bite should set up in a couple weeks with water temps dropping towards that 50-degree mark. Good things happening with water temps and levels. It should all be positive to the bite on all species. 

“Good luck and remain aware of floating debris, especially on the mid-lake and south.”

Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 11-14-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said, “Busch Mountain Fishing Guide clients have been nabbing lots of 12- to 17-inch rainbows — best if you decide to keep any, and absolutely perfect for lots of action and making forever memories. Shrimp Fire Gel and Fire Bait are a must in your bait box; also, you can’t beat the real thing using worms and minnows for epic days on the river. Deeper water in the afternoon is the area to be in. When the Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water means more drift-fishing, but the trout love lots of water and bubbles. Look for structures on the riverbed that create oxygen (bubbly waters) and you’ll find a hangout for trout.

“We’ve had some ups and downs this week. The brown bite has slowed some but it’s still pretty spectacular for this time of year. They’ve shown up for sculpins, colored hair jigs, minnows and even Flicker shad — not always trophy size, but healthy, fighting browns that make your heart race while you’re waiting to see just how big that fish is on the end of your line. With the much-needed rain, the river has risen considerably, which is making for great days of fishing.”

Check out Austin’s Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for weekly updates.

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 11-7-2024) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) says fishing has been good, especially the crappie. Anglers are using crankbaits and jigs, and the bite is good. Bass have and they are getting a little size on them as well. Soft plastic worms, bigger jigs and topwater lures are the most successful approaches to bass.

They’ve heard nothing on the catfish but they also figure the full moon should be bringing folks out for them; they just haven’t heard any reports. Bream are biting “a little bit,” but they’re scattered and bass seem to be coming up to feed on them more than anglers are catching them.

The water is cooling off “pretty quick.”

Lake Charles
(updated 11-14-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said that good moon times for anglers will be running now through Nov. 18 and the best days according to those moon times are expected Nov. 28-Dec. 4. From the looks of things this past weekend, good days were being enjoyed by anglers with all the usual species biting at least fair. Bream were shallow and biting well on worms, jigs and crickets. Crappie were good on jigs. Black bass were fair, but anglers did not report what they were using to ca tch them. Most catfish were reported being caught in fair numbers on lines. She had no water temperature recorded Sunday, but the water is high after the recent rains and the clarity is the usual murky.

The water level at the lake should drop some when water is used in the coming weeks to flood Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA for waterfowl hunting.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 11-14-2024) Ben Batten, AGFC deputy director, said Tuesday night on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that he and two other AGFC staff fished Poinsett in the last month and caught 100 black crappie. He said about 85-90 were over 10 inches and would have been “keepers.” Currently black bass and crappie are catch-and-release only, but effective Jan. 1 there will be harvest limits applied to those fish as well as the current harvest limits on bream and catfish.

Spring River
(updated 11-7-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running at 500 cfs (350 cfs is average) and water clarity is poor. Rain was needed in the area, and it happened. Heavy rainfall to the northwest of the area created flash flooding Monday and Tuesday. The river has crested and is calming down. “Great thing about the Spring River is it clears very quickly. Stay posted to the blog on our website for daily updates. The river should be fine by the weekend. 

“The trout are beginning the fall season, and we are seeing nice fish feeding. Great time to catch-and-release to keep the big fish fighting. The colder the better for trout, so bundle up and be safe out there. If you get wet, get out.
“The smallies bite year-round on the Spring, just got to fish for them. Slow, deep presentations are the trick. Big heavy-head Woollies on the fly, D2 Jigs on spinning tackle. Bring plenty of tackle, the rocks are many on the Spring River and may be unforgiving.
“The leaves have been falling for the last week and can be a bother on windy days. Watch for trout rising to ants on the leaves. May get the opportunity for a little dry fly action.
“Be safe out there as it gets colder. Dress in layers. Again, if you get wet, get out!”
Visit Mark’s blog for the latest river conditions on the Spring River on his website linked above when heading out.

White River
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time gauge level and flow from the White River stages at Batesville, Newport and Augusta and all other sites within the White River basin in Arkansas, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
For the real-time water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam and Maynard Lock and Dam, as well as the Pine Bluff pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 11-7-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports that water temperature is around 70 degrees. Visibility is up to around 12 inches in protected areas. Black bass are biting well on dark-colored jigs and shad-colored bladed baits, and shallow/lipless crankbaits near brush on sand ledges and larger rock in Lake Langhofer. Black bass and white bass can be caught with lipless crankbaits fan-casted over sand flats occupied by shad. Expect recent rains to increase main channel flow and improve bass positioning on traditional jetty points and blow-through holes. 

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 11-14-2024) Teresa Atchley at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said that between the weather and the start of hunting season, they have not seen as much fishing activity as they thought they might. But what has been reported is that the crappie fishing is doing well here at Cane Creek Lake. On Sunday, one fisherman reported catching 12 crappie, and another day an angler reported catching several crappie. “Hopefully, we will hear more from the fishermen next week,” she said.

Lake Monticello
(updated 11-14-2024) Anglers are reminded that if they venture out for some fishing on Lake Monticello while the lake continues to refill after being renovated, that all fish caught must be released immediately.
The Hunger Run Access is open to boat traffic. Reports are good of anglers catching nice-sided black bass now.

Millwood Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Millwood Lake Dam, visit the Corps Little Rock office website.

(updated 11-14-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service notes that the Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District’s Millwood Lake’s 2-foot drawdown has ended and the lake is near normal pool at 259.3 feet msl but falling. Millwood Lake Dam is releasing (as of Wednesday) about 3,200 cfs and the tailwater is near 229 feet and steady. The Millwood State Park boat ramps have reopened after herbicide treatments to curtail the spread of Cuban bulrush, an aquatic invasive species. Containment booms have been placed where AGFC southwest region fisheries biologists recently discovered the plant within the Millwood State Park cove as well as in numerous locations along Little River and its oxbows. The AGFC, the Millwood U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Millwood State Park are all working collaboratively to reduce the risk of spreading this invasive plant elsewhere within Millwood Lake and other lakes throughout Arkansas. In order to do so, a containment boom has also been placed across the cove to prevent traffic in the area and keep the plant from drifting elsewhere throughout the lake. Herbicide will be applied where Cuban bulrush is observed. Use caution in the boom placement areas. 

Be sure and check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide service’s webpage linked above, or at the Army Corps of Engineers website also linked above under “Millwood Lake,” for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels. Watch for random floaters and broken timber during any navigation on Little River and Millwood Lake.

Surface temps continue fluctuating, ranging 65 degrees early to 70 degrees later in the day along Little River during the past week. Clarity along Little River for past week worsened with numerous thunderstorms, high winds and increased discharge at the dam. Moderate to heavy stain is found in most locations, with some areas further up Little River being heaviest. River clarity is ranging 3-5 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility of oxbows will vary widely from heavy stained to fair visibility from 10-15 inches, and we observed around fair visibility in a few wind and current protected areas like McGuire Oxbow up to 18 inches clarity.
Mike had these fishing specifics from the past several days: 

* Largemouth bass have been chasing/following and breaking on threadfin shad in random locations for several weeks, and the surface feeding and breaking on shad along Little River is diminished with the muddy inflow and increased river current. The oxbows have much better water clarity, as far from river current as you can find, and surface-breaking on shad in the oxbows is back in full force. We continue to see cooler weather one week and warm weather the next. Little River surface temperatures are up and down randomly, and this is a GREAT TIME to take a kid fishing! In 3-5 hours, two fishermen can boat between 25-50 bass.

The most aggressive bite of the day for black bass for the past couple weeks has come with an explosion of random surface activity on threadfin shad at any point in the oxbows. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River are still holding schools of black bass and white bass following shad from 8-10 feet across creek channel points dumping into Little River to 10-15 feet deep in the center of the creek channel mouth; they’re holding numerous groups of different age classes. For the past few weeks, bass have fired up on shad almost any time of day and remain active 5-10 minutes each time. With these sudden cold fronts one day and surface water temperatures heating up to mid-70 degrees the next, changing the surface water densities, we are seeing bass back in schooling action this week. It’s still not cool enough to force the shad to backs of the creeks yet, but the shad are wanting to stage in the creek mouths and a few yards into the creeks. 

The best reaction baits for the schooling bass, when they get in a frenzy feeding, have been Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or Chrome Blue, Tail Spinner Rat-L-Traps, Kastmaster Spoons and Bandit 200/300 crankbaits in Splatterback and shad colors. The Bomber Fat Free Guppy and Fingerlings crankbaits will draw random reactions across points, with best colors being Tennessee Shad, Khaki Shad and Louisiana Shad. Topwater baits like the Bill Lewis StutterStep, the Cordell Crazy Shad, Baby Torpedoes and Heddon Dying Flutters will draw surface strikes with schooling bass are breaking on shad, also.

Best color of cranks in the oxbows for the past couple weeks or so have been the Millwood Magic, Ghost Minnow, Tennessee Shad or Green Gizzard Shad. By increasing size of a Rat-L-Trap up to a three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap, one can fish it much slower and deeper. This technique will draw a few random hits during midday on primary points with stumps present, from creek channels and across points converging with Little River. Best colors of quarter-ounce to half-ounce Rat-L-Traps in areas with increased stain clarity have been a chrome/blue/White Smoke or Millwood Magic. A quarter-ounce to three-eighth-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap also will generate lots of reaction bites from schooling bass in the oxbows.

When the schooling action moves into chasing shad into the lily pads, a Johnson chrome or gold spoon with a white grub 3-inch curly tail trailer, and a Bass Assassin Shad in Grey Ghost, Salt & Pepper Phantom, Violet Moon and Rainbow Shad colors, will snatch them in the heavy vegetation and lily pads near flats from 4-6 feet of depths near stumps. A small quarter-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap from Bill Lewis Lures is much easier to finesse through the lily pads and will not stay hung up with the tail spinner in place of the rear hook hanger.
* Whites bass continued schooling this week, chasing shad with the black bass. Surface-breaking at random times during the day, they can literally fire up at any point and continue for 2-5 minutes at a time. The whites are hitting vertical-jigged half-ounce Slab Spoons in Little River between Jack’s Isle and the first entrance into Mud Lake, and also in Hurricane Creek from 10-15 feet deep. Keep a heavy, half-ounce to three-quarter-ounce hammered spoon with a white/red bucktail on deck at all times to reach the surface clattering when the whites and largemouths push the shad to the surface and begin surface-breaking!
Heavy three-quarter-ounce Cordell hammered spoons, Kastmaster chrome/blue spoons with white bucktails, or Bomber Fat Free Guppy or Fingerling crankbaits, the Bill Lewis MR-6 Crankbaits and half-ounce to three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps in Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors continue to draw reactions from white bass. Little George’s, Rocket Shads and red/white Rooster Tails were working last week. Random and broken schools of whites are chasing and feeding on the same schools of threadfin shad as the largemouth and spotted bass. All the creek channel intersections, primary points and many creek dumps into the oxbows — where primary or secondary points intersect — are holding decent schools of whites. The water temps are still not cold enough to move the shad to the backs of the creeks yet, as of this writing. The white bass activity levels continue improving, reacting to crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in the oxbows very well. These bass range in size from juveniles to adults and range 1-3 pounds each.
* Crappie are fair, but there is reduced activity in brush from 12-14 feet deep. Planted brush piles at 12-14 feet continue holding some nice slabs, although action and activity was diminished this week with the increased current along Little River and the muddy inflow. Red/white tube jigs and black/chartreuse hair jigs were catching some 1- to 2-pound fish recently. Cordell smoke-colored grubs with a chartreuse tip tail on a light wire jig head will pick up a few extra bites.
* No reports on bream or catfish.

Lake Columbia
No reports.

Lake Greeson Tailwater
For the most updated Narrows Dam generation schedule from SWEPCO, click here.

Lake Greeson
For the most updated lake level at Lake Greeson, click here.

(updated 11-14-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs said on “The Wild Side” show on KABZ-FM, 103.7, that Greeson, like all the other big area lakes, is still well below its full pool level, down about 5 feet. Of late, it’s been great for topwater, he says. Use something that resembles a small shad; they are chasing tiny shad. A quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap in chrome and blue back or chrome and black back is a good place to start on this and other similar lakes now. If that doesn’t get their attention, switch to other small topwater baits to get some hits, or a small spoon or rise and pull them up; the fish are all focused on eating on top.

DeGray Lake
For the most updated lake level at DeGray Lake, click here.

(updated 11-14-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted earlier this week on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, “It’s ridiculous how good topwater fishing is on all of our area lakes. Lake Hamilton, Ouachita, DeGray, Greeson, Greers Ferry Lake, in central Arkansas the topwater bite is incredible because of the warm fall we’re dealing with. If you want to go catch a bunch of fish, all you have to throw is a topwater bait.

“If there’s cloud cover (like on Wednesday this week), regardless of whether you’re throwing a buzzbait, or a topwater bait or a Spook of some kind or whatever you’re going to throw, with the big cloud cover coming through that’s where you’re going to catch a lot of fish.”

De Queen Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from De Queen Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Dierks Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Dierks Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

White Oak Lake Area
No reports.

Lake Catherine Tailwater (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro

(updated 11-14-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the AGFC stocked 1,300 rainbow trout below the dam on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to officially start the trout season for the fall. The first influx of trout is always hard to find and pattern, as these fish typically scatter from the bridge to the dam and congregate in small schools. These fish are being caught by bank fishermen using waxworms or mealworms presented just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Redworms are also working well fished in the same manner. Live bait presentations like these give anglers the best opportunity for success in an early season trout bite. 

Spin-fishermen need to concentrate on areas of current around the head and tail locations of the main shoals. Trout always congregate in these areas looking for prey. White or brown Rooster Tails in one-sixteenth- and one-eighth-ounce weights work best worked across current patches. Fly-fishermen can have success casting egg pattern flies in yellow or white under a strike indicator. Areas of current are key when using artificial presentations, especially when the generators are not running. The main river channel has a small amount of current always moving, so anglers should key in on this movement.
The other news here is that the 3-foot winter drawdown is now complete on Lake Catherine. A dry 2025 forecast prompted Entergy to lower Lake Catherine 3 inches per day instead of 6 inches at a reduced flow speed of 2,400 CFS and reach at 3-foot drawdown, instead of the 5-foot drawdown seen in most years, in 12 days. A 3-foot drawdown gives the Carpenter Dam tailrace much more water for game fish to inhabit and greatly enhances the safety factor for wade and boat fishermen. 

Maybe Mother Nature will hold back her fury so the public can access the Carpenter Dam tailrace this year. The past three years have been a complete washout for boating and angling due to flooding. Many thousands of rainbow trout were forced away from the dam because of the extreme flows and never returned, causing the trout season to end much earlier than normal. 

Water temperature below the dam is 53 degrees with clearing conditions in the tailrace after recent heavy rainfall. With the fall trout stocking schedule beginning this month, this will energize the entire tailrace and begin quality and consistent fishing on Lake Catherine.
Always wear a life jacket when on the water and follow all park and boating regulations when visiting Carpenter Dam. Clean up after yourself, as the area has limited trash cans available. Police and game wardens are present, so remember to cooperate with any law enforcement official when asked.

Lake Dardanelle
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ outflow and gauge level reports from Dardanelle, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 11-14-2024) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), had no new reports this week, but most recently had reported Lake Dardanelle was starting to cool down due to this fall weather. The fish have been biting better with the fronts that moved through. The black bass are biting decently on crankbaits. Crappie have tended to be better on the minnows than the jigs. Catfish are biting decently on stink bait. Bream are biting on crickets and worms at a fair rate.

Lake Hamilton
(updated 11-14-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted earlier this week on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, “It’s ridiculous how good topwater bass fishing is on all of our area lakes. Lake Hamilton, Ouachita, DeGray, Greeson, Greers, in central Arkansas the topwater bite is incredible because of the warm fall we’re dealing with. If you want to go catch a bunch of fish, all you have to throw is a topwater bait.

“If there’s cloud cover (like on Wednesday this week), regardless of whether you’re throwing a buzzbait, or a topwater bait or a Spook of some kind or whatever you’re going to throw, with the big cloud cover coming through that’s where you’re going to catch a lot of fish.”

Lake Nimrod
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow reports from Nimrod Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Lake Ouachita
For the current lake level at Blakely Dam, click here.

(updated 11-14-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are still very good. These fish are still schooling up in the mouths of major creek channels. The spotted bass bite is really good right now. No reports on walleye, bream or catfish this week. Stripers are very good and biting on live bait in the central part of the lake. Crappie are very good and biting over the tops of brush in the 20- to 30-feet range. 

Water temperature is ranging 66-70 degrees. Water clarity is clearing. Lake level on Wednesday was 572.49 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

(updated 10-31-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said the water has warmed up to 70 degrees and most of the crappie have moved back a little deeper. Our better fish have come 18-22 feet deep in 24-32 feet of water on brushpiles. Ample numbers of spotted bass are near the bottom on rocky points and around submerged timber at varying depths. Once the water cools back off again, both bass and crappie will come in greater numbers. Be safe, always.

Blue Mountain Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow reports from Blue Mountain Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

White River/Clarendon Area
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time gauge level and flow from Clarendon, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second.