Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

November 21, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Millwood Lake fishing guide Mike Siefert has found the weather conditions and water temps off and on in recent weeks as we head into late fall, but the largemouth bass are reacting nicely, as he displays with this nice catch Millwood Magic Mag Trap Rat-L-Trap bait this past week. The birds are sitting out on the stumps with an eye out for the threadfin shad, and anglers should, too, as the bass, both black bass and white bass, are randomly blowing up on the shad now.

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 11-21-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) has no new reports from Lake Conway, which has been drawn down to just a few small pools of water around much of the lake. 

They report that 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 11-21-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that anglers are catching trout on a little Rapala Countdown. Sizes 5 and 7 are working nicely when the water is falling, then the Corps of Engineers is generating and the water is at it’s high point. When they are not running water, a Rooster Tail and and Marabou Jig, in either olive of black, have been doing well.

(updated 11-21-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) had no new report, noting that conditions haven’t really changed. The brown trout have not gotten on the shoals due to the Southwestern Power Administration not running any water releases.
Mike notes that fall had officially settled into the Ozarks, and with the cooler temps the leaves along the Little Red River are putting on a beautiful show, making it a perfect time to get out for some fly-fishing.
With reduced water releases from Southwestern Power Administration, that had created some ideal wading conditions along the river, and when the water wasn’t running the bite was strong around moss beds and in plunge pools below the shoals. Hot flies include small buggy Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ears, egg patterns and various midges.

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 11-21-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level is 7 feet below normal pool and sitting at 455.04 feet msl as of midweek. Most fish species are getting settled more on structure now; there is no generation at all at Greers Ferry Dam. For crappie, continue to look super shallow and out to 30 feet, and use jigs, minnows or crankbaits, straight up and down in pole timber or brush pile working great. Walleye are eating in main lake; for the few that are left up rivers and scattered throughout the lake, drag crawler or crankbait at 45-65 feet. Some walleye are following under big schools of white bass and hybrids, so use a spoon for those. A lot just roaming around; a spoon is best for that vertical fishing in 10-50 feet.
Hybrid bass and white bass are set up in the main lake, while some are schooling on top. For the  ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet of water. They are wanting to get settled in at about 43 feet, which is the magic water depth they are comfortable with in here a lot of months out of the year — it has the right temperature and oxygen.
Catfish are biting all over lake with the usual stuff working in the lake and rivers. Some bream still are shallow, but most remain around 8-30 feet. Crickets and crawlers are working fine, as well as inline spinners. Some loner black bass are shallow, but most are out or roaming shallow and schooling. Use Carolina rigs, topwater, wake baits, drop-shots, crankbaits and spinnerbaits for the best action super shallow out to 60 feet. Be safe and wear your life jacket. 

(updated 11-21-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that anglers are fishing well for numbers of fish on Greers Ferry Lake now. Topwater is working for black bass, but most of of the bite is not in the morning now but at midday. 

Also, for for bass, one of the better presentations working now have been been a jig, a crankbait and also a spinnerbait. And don’t forget trying the Carolina rig. Another good approach is a jighead minnow, like a fluke on a jighead. Anglers with LiveScope are using that “a bunch,” they report.

As for a good depth to fish, they are biting in 5-10 feet all the way down to 20 feet.

Crappie fishing also has been “pretty good.” Try in about 15 feet of water in standing timber with live minnows and small hairjigs. Also, a Bobby Garland Baby Shad with a sixteenth- or eighth-ounce jighead is a good approach for the crappie.

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 Shiney Hiney 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 Maumelle
(updated 11-21-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported that water temperature has dropped to a range of 61-63 degrees. The water level is 7 feet below normal pool, as Central Arkansas Water is implemented an 8-foot drawdown to reduce water hyacinth in the lake.

The largemouth bass bite has been good this past week. They can be found shallow at 2-5 feet, and a few reports this week said bass were being found in the back of the creeks. Others are being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop-offs with topwater lures, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbaits, Chatterbait and crankbaits. 

Spotted bass (aka Kentucky bass) are fair. There are reports of them being found scattered on drop-offs in 10-20 feet. Try jerkbaits and jigs.

Crappie are good and reported are being found in 25 feet of water leading into channels. Jigs are best.

No reports on white bass, bream or catfish. If you’re going to fish for them: use twister tails and crankbaits for white bass; worms might pick up some bream; and bream, liver and worms are usually enticing to catfish.

(update 10-31-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) had no new reports, but in his most recent report he noted that the 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 11-21-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said to look for crappie to be active now, with minnows and jigs both working well the past few weeks. Black bass seemed to have been on fire recently. 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.

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 11-21-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) recommends that the anglers and boaters take a good look at the flow reports from the Corps of Engineers before heading out. Recent heavy rains, especially in Oklahoma, has led to a lot or river flow; Oklahoma has been releasing a lot of water of late. As of Thursday this week, flow in the Little Rock pool was about 100,000 cfs, which is above the small craft warning level. “We recommend staying off the river at the moment because of the high water.”

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 11-21-2024) 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 the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt weekend.

White River
(updated 11-21-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said November gave us a gorgeous Indian summer with mild days, cool nights and creels full of colorful rainbow trout. Cotter will see a few more unseasonably mild days but the nighttime lows will begin to feel more like November. Bull Shoals Lake is close to the targeted power pool of 659 feet msl, and releases from the dam are reflecting the lake level with about one unit (3,000 cfs) flowing around the clock — much healthier for the trout than the very low water earlier this autumn.
Successful catches this week started with mid-action spinners (Vibrax Blue Foxes were a hit, sliver with a blue blade or standard gold) and spoons (always start with the red-gold Thomas Buoyant). If you prefer bait, the guides are first using redworms; second, shrimp with orange or sunrise egg patterns. Pink-scented worms attracted a fair share of rainbows. We’re seeing healthy, good-sized rainbows with a lot of color, red cheeks and bright pink stripes. 

The browns are not immune to bait now even during the spawn season, but they’re mostly striking in an attempt to get rid of the annoyance. Drift a sculpin and you’ll get more attention. Be careful not to disturb the spawning beds (the redds) if you motor through spawning areas around Rim Shoals and downriver from the catch-and-release at the dam.

Thanksgiving weekend is just around the corner so we’ll be seeing more visitors to the area and an increase in river traffic. Be thoughtful toward (and thankful for) other anglers and for the natural resources that are so well maintained here in our natural state of Arkansas. We look forward to seeing you and sharing fishing stories.

(updated 11-21-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said Wednesday that the only report he had was that the river remains muddy and fishing is almost nonexistent at this time. Cleaner water can be found upriver of the confluence of the North Fork and White.

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 11-21-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake seemed to be holding at 660 feet msl. Water temperature is still about 63 degrees. Powerfish runoffs and target stained water with Chatterbait, spinnerbait or square bill up skinny. If there’s wood, flip a Jewel Jig or Beaver-style bait in the wood. Most of the creeks are stained. If the water is clear, you’re gonna have to back out a bit.
The topwater bite has slowed down. Don’t put them away just yet — the fish seem to be bouncing from shad ball to shad ball. 
In the creeks the shad are starting to group up. Most are out over the old creek channel, while some are getting pushed onto the flats. There are shad sitting high on the surface down to 60 feet. For the guys chasing shad, a small half-ounce Flutter Spoon or Jewel Scuba Spoon or Rapala Jigging Rap is good if the shad are on the bottom. Use a Tater Shad or small, heavy swimbait on the suspendeders, that will fool a few.
Loons are showing up. You better be good at the front-looker; having to hit them on the move isn’t easy. The white bass and smallmouth bass are schooling capitalizing on the shad. Overall, smaller baits has helped. As the lake cools off, we will get more fish moving up shallow. There are fish to be had on the main lake. Check long points, ledges, piles, drop-offs and bluff ends that are close to deep water. If it’s cloudy and windy, the Wiggle Wart, Rock Crawler or a crankbait are getting some attention on steeper, wind-blown 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 11-21-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing patterns are still about the same as last week. The dam has been releasing a little more water this week. After the recent rains and extreme rise in lake level, the water has become fairly stained in most areas. The fish are shifting around a bit following the shad.

Searching for baitfish and good water clarity will be the key to locating them. Fish have still been reluctant to chase a bait, and fishing slow has been the key to catching a few walleye. Fish are scattered from 35 feet down to 60 feet.
“The best luck I have had this past week has still been a drop-shot rig and nightcrawler or shiners around points with brush or trees close by. I 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 off 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, an Ice Jig or drop-shot rig. 
“Scan points on both sides and tips by zigzagging in and out of 35-60 feet of water to find fish. You can also use a Carolina rig with 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. Trollers have been picking a few fish up flat by line trolling shad-style baits in 15 feet of water in the early mornings and late evening. 

(updated 11-21-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are still scattered and seem to be doing better after the dirty water has set in the last few days. We’re still finding them in brushpiles mainly, and most seem to be 20-25 feet deep. Minnows have been bait of choice lately and also Tater Baits Small Fry on an eighth-ounce. Move piles until you find the ones that cooperate.

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 11-21-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said fishing has been consistent over the last week with river levels varying. “Old Man Winter has made his presence felt with the cold temperatures this week and another blast for next week. Layer your clothes so you can add or remove layers as needed.”

Fire Eggs with shrimp Fire Gel continue to work well when fished with light terminal tackle. During the periods of lower water, quarter-ounce spoons, Rooster Tails and Rapala Countdowns have had success. When the water is higher, throwing Shad Raps (in a shad color) has worked well, along with Pautzke Fire Minnows.

The changing river levels can make fishing challenging at times, but hang in there — the conditions will change again. Fishing is best if you recognize the river is starting to rise and if you can stay in front of the rising water.
The fall walleye bite has been pretty good. Working jerkbaits along rock walls and inside bends have produced some nice numbers. 

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

Lake Charles
(updated 11-21-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said there were reports of a few bream caught from the bank this past week, and black bass were caught from the shore, including one camper’s catch that “was a nice one,” she said. Bream were shallow with the full moon and biting well on worms, crickets and jigs. Black bass overall were fair; crankbaits and soft plastic worms worked best around brush and rocky points not far off the shoreline. There were no reports on crappie, catfish or white bass. Be ready to cast a line at Lake Charles around Thanksgiving, if not before: Shelly notes that the best “moon times” are forecast to be Nov. 28-Dec. 4.

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. Right now, the water is high. Clarity is the usual murky. The surface water temperature on Sunday was 63.5  degrees.

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 ya 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 11-21-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports that water temperatures in upper 60s. Visibility ranges from around 4-6 inches in the main channel and runoff inlets to 12-14 inches in the protected parts of Lake Langhofer. Black bass are biting well on dark-colored jigs, lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs and spinnerbaits especially from isolated cover on sand flats. Focus on areas occupied by baitfish with a bit of wind blowing across or into them. The Pine Bluff pool tends to fish pretty well late November through December thanks to cooler weather and fewer boats on the water.  

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 11-21-2024) 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 11-21-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service says that biggest changes the last few weeks have been clarity and water temps rising one day and falling the next. With recent reduced current in Little River, the surface clarity is has greatly improved visibility from last week. Millwood Lake elevation is near normal pool at 259.5 feet msl and stable. The dam is releasing about 1,950 cfs and tailwater is near 227 feet and steady. 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 linked above, for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels. Watch for random floaters and broken timber during any navigation.

Surface temps continue fluctuating, ranging 65 degrees early to 70 degrees later in the day along Little River over the past week. Clarity along Little River for past week has continued to improve with reduced discharge at Millwood Dam. Moderate/normal stain is found in most locations, with some areas further up Little River being heaviest. River clarity ranges 5-10 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility of oxbows will vary widely from heavy stained to fair visibility from 10-15 inches.
Mike had these fishing specifics:
* Largemouth bass continue chasing/following and breaking on threadfin shad in random locations as they have 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. Little River surface temperatures are up and down randomly, and in 3-5 hours, two fishermen can boat between 25-50 bass in a day.

Watch for egrets, cranes and herons standing on stumps and broken timber. Those birds are watching the shad. Bass are pushing the shad to the surface, and the birds are picking them off like candy corn. The most aggressive bite of the day for largemouth and spotted bass for the past couple weeks is 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, and they’re holding numerous groups of different age classes. For the past few weeks, bass were fired up on shad almost any time of day and would remain active 5-10 minutes each time. With these sudden cold fronts one day and surface water temperatures heating up to low 70s the next, changing the surface water densities, we are seeing bass back in schooling action. 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 have been with Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or Chrome Blue, Tail Spinner Rat-L-Traps, Kastmaster Spoons, Bandit 200/300 Crankbaits in splatterback and shad colors. The Bomber Fat Free Guppy and Fingerling 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 during the schooling bass breaking on shad.
Best color of cranks in the oxbows have been the Millwood Magic, Ghost Minnow Tennessee Shad or Green Gizzard Shad. By increasing size of a Rat-L-Trap 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 over the past week, with the increased stain clarity, have been a chrome/blue, White Smoke or Millwood Magic. A quarter-ounce to three-eighth-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap will also generate a lot 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 or Rainbow Shad color will snatch them in the heavy vegetation and lily pads near flats from 4-6 feet of depth near stumps. A small quarter-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap from Bill Lewis Lures is much easier to finesse through the lily pads and not stay hung up with the Tail Spinner in place of the rear hook hanger.
* White bass continue 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 first entrance into Mud Lake, and also in Hurricane Creek from 10-15 feet deep.
* Crappie are fair but continue a slow improving trend. Reduced current along Little River and improved water clarity has them hungry again. Best activity is in our planted brush from 10-16 feet deep. The brushpiles continue holding some nice slabs and action and activity was improved this week. Minnows, hair jigs and blue/chartreuse tubes were catching some 1- to 2-pound fish. Cordell smoke colored grubs with a chartreuse tip tail on a light wire jig head will pick up a few extra bites.

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 11-21-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the AGFC stocked 1,300 rainbow trout below the dam the first week of November 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 the 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 11-21-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said crappie are still in a fall pattern and will enter a winter pattern soon. “I’m on and off the water till next spring. Be safe and stay warm.”

(updated 11-21-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are good. These fish are schooling up in the mouths of major creek channels. No report this week on walleye, bream or catfish. Stripers are very good and biting on live bait in the central part of the lake. Crappie are still very good and biting over the tops of brush in the 20- to 30-feet range. 

Water temperature is ranging 62-68 degrees. Water clarity is clearing. Lake level is 572.50 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

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.