Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

December 5, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Ten golden trout like this one are going into each of more than 40 of AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program ponds this month as both a fun and colorful target to catch (and eat) as well as an opportunity to win a guided trout fishing trip, thanks to the FCFP and the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. You’ll recognize the difference in the trout stocked in the ponds by the obvious color, but they’ll also be tagged too, and lucky anglers who catch one can send in that tag for a prize and entry into the grand prize drawing.

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.

NOTE: During December to the middle of February, Fishing Reports will run periodically. The next fishing report following this one will run on Dec. 19. Our reporters will take a break from their duties during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Day. Call the numbers listed for any updates between reports.

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 are implementing their every-five-year winter drawdown of Beaverfork. 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 refill the lake beginning 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 12-5-2024) 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. 

Lakes Overcup and Atkins are where anglers are headed for crappie fishing these days, they report. Minnows and jigs are what they are using. Everything in the immediate area has slowed down in terms of fishing, they add.

Anglers were reported catching about every species of fish by going to the AGFC-stocked Lake Conway Nursery Pond, which is a near-70-acre pond stocked by the AGFC with bass, crappie, bream and catfish.

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 12-5-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said that this week on the Little Red River the water releases have been somewhat consistent with flows typically starting in the mornings. The Southwestern Power Administration began releasing water at midweek due to colder temperatures and increased power demand with start times ranging from 6-8 a.m. They’ve been running one or two units for about four hours. Weekends, however, have seen no water releases, making it a great time to plan your fishing trip. Be sure to check the USACE Little Rock app for the latest conditions before heading out.
The colder weather, with some mornings dipping into the 20s, has kicked the brown trout into full spawn mode. These fish are now moving onto the shoals, where redds (cleaned gravel areas where they lay eggs) are becoming more visible thanks to the recent water releases. If you’re wade fishing, please avoid stepping in these areas to protect the eggs and help maintain this unique brown trout population, which isn’t stocked but sustains itself naturally.
Fishing overall has been productive. Browns are active around the shoals, while rainbows continue to bite year-round. After water releases, falling-out water levels have been especially fruitful. For low-water days, target deeper sections near moss beds or areas where you can get a good drift. Egg patterns, midges and the trusty pink San Juan Worm have been top producers. On the shoals, try streamer patterns or stick with eggs, midges and worms for both browns and rainbows.
For up-to-date fishing info or to book a guided trip, contact Mike at 501-507-3688 or visit littleredflyfishingtrips.com. Bundle up, respect the river, and tight lines!

(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 its high point. When they are not running water, a Rooster Tail and a Marabou Jig, in either olive of black, have been doing well.

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 12-5-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that both spotted bass are largemouth bass are being found deep on brushpiles. An Alabama rig fished just above the piles, or a jerkbait suspended above the piles as well, will work. The catches are coming in 20-25 feet of water.

Also, the smallmouth are being found on deep rockpiles in 20 feet of water, with a Carolina rig or a football jig being your best bet.

Crappie slowed some with the cold front but they’ve been biting in about 15 feet of water. Use a one-eighth-ounce jighead in white or silver and any natural-color bait. 

While the cold front may have slowed the crappie activity, the walleye are beginning to pick up. They’re being found in 12-15 feet of water and are being caught trolling small crankbaits, as well as catching them deep by floating nightcrawlers off the bottom.

(updated 12-5-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level Wednesday was at 454.77 feet msl, which is 7.27 feet below normal pool of 462.04 feet msl. It fell this week with little generation. Most fish species are settling on structure. Crappie continue to be found super shallow out to 30 feet. Use jigs, minnows or crankbaits; fishing straight up and down in pole timber or brushpile is working great. Walleye are eating in the 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 the lake with the usual stuff working in the lake and rivers. Try staying around schools of shad.
Some bream are shallow but most are still around 8-30 feet. Crickets and crawlers are working fine, as well as inline spinners. As for black bass, the loners 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. 

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 11-28-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says that the crappie has been doing better lately and anglers have caught some big slabs — some 15-15.5 inches in length and up to 2 pounds — fishing from the shoreline. Other nice crappie have been hauled in by anglers using boats. Even though the water has dropped noticeably as water is being used to flood parts of Harris Brake WMA for waterfowl season, access by boat to the lake is fine, they report. Water around the shoreline is only about 2 feet in depth where the close-in crappie are biting.

Pelicans in good numbers have returned, they also report, and shad are moving in shallow.

Anglers are mostly using a pearl white or white/chartreuse color jig, but minnows also are being cast. A woman living across the lake from the resort reported to them that some nice crappie have been picked up from her dock.
Bing, the resort’s regular fishing reporter who runs the resort with her husband, said, “Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, my parents were here and caught 15 crappie in a couple of hours. They caught some white bass, too, using a Rooster Tail.” 

The best time for the crappie and white bass bite, she reports, is from about 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
As for black bass, only a couple of small ones were picked up by anglers in recent days. The focus now is just on crappie and white bass. You can follow more from Harris Brake Lake Resort on their Facebook page.

Lake Maumelle
(updated 12-5-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported that the water temperature continues to tumble, down about 3 degrees from this time last week to a range of 53-56 degrees. The water level is 7.65 feet below normal pool as Central Arkansas Water’s planned 8-foot drawdown continues to deal with water hyacinth.

The largemouth bass bite is good. They can be found shallow at 2-5 feet, and a few reports this week say that bass are 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, and use topwater baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbait, Chatterbait and crankbaits. Spotted bass (aka Kentucky bass) also are good. There are reports of them being found scattered on drop-offs in 10-20 feet depth. They prefer jerkbaits and jigs.

Crappie slowed this week. There have been reports of crappie being found in 25 feet of water leading into channels, but are not there yet. Try using jigs.

There were no reports on white bass, bream or catfish, but that’s not to say you won’t get a bite from there. Twister tails and crankbaits might pick up a white bass; worms are best on bream now; and bream, liver and worms should attract a nibble from catfish.

(update 11-28-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) said water temps are 57-58 degrees. The lake is approximately 7 feet below the winter pool but still accessible via WestRock Landing. Crappie can be found in 25-30 feet of water on brush and are roaming. Jigs and minnows are working great when they’re not stuffed to the gills. As always, presentation is key! This is the absolute best time of the year to catch a mess of super-healthy slabs! Give me a shout today at 501-548-8990 to get in on the action!

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 11-28-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is clear as normal and a lot of crappie are being caught now. The black bass are still biting real well, and anglers are catching them on crankbait and soft plastics, but mainly cranks. The best color or cranks is chartreuse or “anything bream colored,” Ray said.
The live bream themselves aren’t biting these days, but catfish can be had on liver and hot dogs.

As for those crappie, they’re biting minnows and jigs. The best colors of jigs are blue/white and red/chartreuse.

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 12-5-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) says the black bass are biting at about 10-15 feet depth, primarily on an Alabama rig with a 3.3 swimbait in shad pattern mainly. Also, there’s a bite on the ends of jetties; try a deep-diving jerkbait or a blade bait around those spots. Also, black bass have been noted biting lipless crankbaits on shallow sand flats of the river.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 12-5-2024) 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 12-5-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Now is the time to enjoy real peace on the river. There’s a lot to distract us between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so some anglers are delaying their fishing outings. That means less traffic on the river providing quiet and solitude for those who are able to put aside the

holiday hubbub. The lake level has returned to targeted pool levels so generation from Bull Shoals Dam has decreased, averaging a little less than one unit (about 2,400 cfs) with some pulses in late afternoon. Cold temperatures can change power demands so output could increase without much warning. Stay alert.
“You have room to move and take your time on the river right now so bring a lot of bait options, but keep your spoons and stick baits on the light side unless you hear of a big rise on the way. Rainbow Rapalas are a great choice, and live redworms have been calling out to those rainbows for a sure catch. Remember the spawn is on, meaning the browns are finicky.  They’ll assert their ownership of spawning grounds with

aggression toward pesky baits. So keep laying it near them and they’ll hit like the fighters that they are.
“Christmas season is a the time to set aside hurry and worry, to carve out a little time for you.  Maybe that’s on the river.  The Arkansas Ozarks and our White River are the best place I know for sharing time with family and friends.  We hope it’s a wonderful season for all our anglers. Merry Christmas.”

(updated 12-5-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We continue to see dirty water coming out of Norfork Dam, although it does seem to be less muddy. Guides are reporting some success fishing near the mouths of the creeks where there is some cleaner water. We are also seeing some success using white jigs. Hopefully by the next report we can say there is clean water and fishing has returned to normal.”

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 12-5-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level on Wednesday was 658 feet msl and the water temperature was about 58 degrees. There are bass that moved up shallow and you can powerfish by cranking a Rock Crawler or Wiggle Wart. That bite seems better with wind and clouds. Most of the creeks have a little color. Target steeper 45-degree banks or ledges. Cover water and you will run into them. Some of the glide baits are working on the right days.
The fish seem to be bouncing from shad ball to shad ball. In the creeks and way off the end of points leading into pockets, the shad are starting to group better. 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 Jewel Scuba Spoon or Rapala Jigging Rap will work. If the shad are on the bottom, a Tater shad or small minnow bait on the suspended ones, that will fool a few. Loons are showing up. You better be good at the front looker because having to hit ’em on the move isn’t easy.
Overall, smaller baits have helped. As the lake cools off we will get more fish moving up shallow. A Megabass Plus 1 jerkbait is working on those schooling fish. There are fish to be had on the main lake. 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 12-5-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing patterns have shifted into their wintertime positions. The fish are following the shad. Searching for baitfish and good water clarity will be key to locating them. Channel swings midway back in creeks are a good place to start looking, as well as long points with trees at the end of channel swings will also be a good place to find a few walleye. The best fishing methods right now are going to be fishing deep in 50-70 feet of water using three-quarter-ounce or 1-ounce spoons or Ice jigs. 

(updated 12-5-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are mainly on brushpiles ranging in that 20-30 feet area mainly in the creeks. The bite seems to be picking up some and we’re catching fish on a Tater Shad Jr. and, of course, minnows. They aren’t everywhere, but we’re catching good mixed bags the last few days.

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 12-5-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is staying put in the 1,117.26 feet msl range. That level is around 4 feet below normal level. The lake rose nearly 6.5 feet in the last month, with lots of that coming in a few days. That incoming water was filled with lots of mud/debris and the lake is still recovering. There is stained/muddy water from Point 12 up to and past Monte Ne. There is clearing water from Kelly Creek all the way up to Neil’s Bluff. And from Point 12 up the War Eagle. 

Water temperature is dropping fairly fast with the low 20s for morning lows. The temps are in low 50s and may even be in 40s way up the river arms. 

Stripers are on the move from the north and heading south as they always do this time of the year. Stripers can be located around the islands at Prairie Creek and south to Point 12 and further south. 

Crappie will be loading up on structure in water from 12 feet to 25 feet as the lake cools. Crappie should turn on in the next week or so. “Winter is a great time to target crappie; as a matter of fact, it is my favorite time for crappie. They bunch up tight to brush. Find that loaded brushpile and limits will be caught.

“Catfish can also be really good using shad and hitting main river channels. Fishing can be fantastic but cold. Dress correctly and enjoy!
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 12-5-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said that while many people are turning their thoughts and energies toward Christmas and hunkering down for the colder months, anglers are still finding plenty of rainbows willing to leave the comfort of their favorite hidey-holes. The water level below Beaver Dam has been at minimum flow or below most of the week. Watch for the river rise later in the morning and stay ahead of it for the best fishing.
Flashy silver Cleos should work well in this water, as well as the silver-blue Cleos. Orange FireBait has been the popular bait for the rainbows to mimic the eggs from spawning activity. During the sunny parts of the late morning, Fire Minnows have been doing well with many hatches occurring as the weather warms slightly; orange and yellow Fire Egg patterns have been successful when the clouds return.

“Kids will be looking for Christmas vacation adventures and the river answers that call. FireBait and Fire Eggs are reliable baits to help them catch a rainbow or five.
“The weatherman promises very mild daytime temperatures for the next week, so pick up your rod and reel, get outside and come join us on the river. Bundle up in the morning and enjoy the excellent wintertime fishing.”

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

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 11-28-2024) 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.

Lake Charles
(updated 12-5-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said black bass and catfish were the most active this past week at Lake Charles, but even that action was fair. Bream and crappie produced no reports. Black bass were biting on Booyah Pond Magic in chartreuse and black, as well as on jerkbaits. Catfish preferred worms. 

The lake drawdown began this week for water to be used on the nearby Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA for waterfowl season.
Shelly says good “moon times” will be coming up Dec. 12-18, while the best days based on “moon times” this month come after Christmas, from Dec. 27-Jan. 2. 

She had no temperature reading on the lake, but the water was high before the drawdown began and the clarity was the usual murky.

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 11-28-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are at 400 cfs at the Spring and water clarity has been green stained. The river is looking great this week. Heavy rain a few weeks ago has had the river murky for a while. Late last week the river finally began to clear up. The river is up a few inches above average flow of 350 cfs.

The rainbows are biting great with bigger holdovers feeding as the temperature gets colder. Winter can be the best time to catch that fish of a lifetime on the Spring River. The fish are still stocked through the winter, but with lower numbers than summer. The last few stockings have been really nice-sized fish. Woolly Buggers are best on most days with the higher water, in brown, olive or black; we have not not seen much topwater action with higher flows. On the tough days, you might need a little extra weight to get to the bottom.
The smallies were hitting great when the river was low and clear. Not so much with the river up. Big streamers on sink tips should work. Same for brown trout. The browns will start feeding as it gets colder. Just got to fish for them.
For spin-fishing, the Trout Magnet was super hot when the river was low and clear. With the water up, Trout Cranks can do well or fish a D2 Jig below a float to fish the deep pockets. White, black and olive are the hot colors.

The river has a little above average flows, so be safe wading out on the Spring River. The river bottom is very slick. Use a wading staff and the buddy system. On our guide trips we use Hyde drift boats and NRS rafts to guide in — our clients stay safe and dry. If you get wet, find a warm dry place immediately! 

As always check springriverfliesandguides.com for the latest river conditions. 

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 the 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 11-28-2024) Teresa Atchley at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said that they have not had much fishing activity reported to them by anglers lately. In the middle of the month, several anglers were fishing with minnows for crappie but came up empty. A few days later, one angler caught three catfish off the interior dock.
This last week, a few new reports came in. Anglers were fishing for crappie on the exterior pier but didn’t report their catches. A boating angler on Friday set up by the floating dock and caught 15 big crappie. He returned the next day and set up by the floating dock again, where he caught several large crappie.
“Good fishing spot if you have a boat,” Teresa said.

Lake Monticello
(updated 12-5-2024) 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 12-5-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said that there was little to update at Millwood with the exception of the lake level being on a slow rise from recent rainfall, up 6 inches above normal pool. The stain has increased in the water and surface temperatures continue dropping into the low 50s. The gate discharge at the dam is around 880 cfs. 

Mike’s crappie guides tell him the crappie bite has been improving this week. “Slabs are stacking up in our planted brushpiles, and they are best on jigs one day and minnows the next.” He said that black bass surface-breaking diminished this week, but shad are moving into creek channels seeking warmer surface temperatures, and largemouths are close behind them. 

Here are the latest specifics on the fishing over the last few weeks:
* Largemouth bass have been chasing/following and breaking on threadfin shad in random locations for several weeks. The oxbows have better water clarity, as far from river current as you can find, and surface-breaking on shad in the oxbow is in full force. 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 few 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 are holding numerous groups of different age classes. For the past few weeks, bass would fire up on shad almost any time of day, and would remain active 5-10 minutes each time.
The best reaction baits for the schooling bass, when they were frenzy feeding, have been had by using Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or chrome blue or chrome back, 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 also draw surface strikes when bass are schooling or breaking on shad. 

The best color of cranks in the oxbows, like the Bill Lewis Echo 1.75 square bills or the SB-57 and MR-6 for the past few weeks or so have been the Millwood Magic, Ghost Minnow, Tennessee Shad or Green Gizzard Shad. By increasing the 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 three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps have been chrome/blue, chrome/black, White Smoke or Millwood Magic. A quarter-ounce to three-eighth-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap will also 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, or a Bass Assassin Shad in Grey Ghost, Salt & Pepper Phantom, Violet Moon and Rainbow Shad color, will snatch them in the heavy vegetation and lily pads from 4-6 feet of depth near stumps. It’s easier finessing a small, quarter-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap from Bill Lewis Lures through the lily pads and not getting hung up with the tail spinner in place of the rear hook hanger.
* White bass continued schooling this week, chasing shad with the largemouth and Kentucky bass. They are 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 were 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. Little River’s clarity has improved, and the bite has improved on primary or secondary points. White bass are roaming all along the oxbows and Little River, and in and out of creek dumps, too. 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 black bass 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 black bass are. All the creek channel intersections, primary points and many creek dumps into the oxbows are holding decent schools of whites. Their activity levels continue improving, reacting to crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in the oxbows very well. These white bass range from juveniles to adults and are 1-3 pounds each.
* Crappie continue to improve. Reduced current along Little River and improved water clarity has them hungry again. Best activity in our planted brush is in 10-16 feet depth. The planted brush piles continue holding some nice slabs. Minnows, hair jigs and blue/chartreuse tubes were catching some 1- to 2-pound fish recently. Cordell smoke-colored grubs with a chartreuse tip tail on a light wire jighead will pick up a few extra bites.
* No reports on bream.

* As for catfish, two fishermen we visited with on Little River were having success using limblines and cut buffalo along Little River under overhanging tree limbs from 8-12 feet depth.

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 Atkins
(updated 12-5-2024) Bates Field and Stream at Mayflower (501-470-1846) reports that with Lake Conway being drawn down to just a few small pools of water around much of the lake now, a lot of their regular anglers and customers have been heading up I-40 to Lake Atkins for their crappie fishing. The fishing is reportedly good, with minnows and jigs both working.

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

(updated 12-5-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature has dropped to 48 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has been generating for eight hours each day this past week with this schedule being posted each Wednesday on the Entergy/Hydro website linked above. A 3-foot drawdown is in place on both lakes Hamilton and Catherine with the annual refill scheduled to begin the first week in March 2025. 

The fall rainbow trout season is now underway with 1,300 fish delivered to Lake Catherine on Nov. 5. The initial stocking of trout is historically difficult to pattern as the trout tend to scatter in all directions in very small numbers. As December progresses, much larger numbers of trout will be stocked, which will create more consistent catches by bank and boat anglers alike. Currently, quality trout are being caught from the bridge to the dam by bank fishermen using redworms and nightcrawlers floated just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. PowerBaits in white, orange and yellow are also catching trout fished in the same manner. An important point to remember when targeting rainbow trout is that these fish are born egg eaters and will consistently prey on fish eggs whether natural or man-made. 

Spin-fishermen are having some success casting Rooster Tails at the head and tail of shoal areas. White or brown colors in one-sixteenth-ounce and one-eighth-ounce weights work best casted across areas of current. These lures imitate small threadfin shad that live in the tailrace and are a main food source for all area game fish in the winter, spring and summer seasons.
Fly-fishermen now have better access to areas that hold trout with 3-foot drawdown in place and have caught trout casting Woolly Buggers in olive or black colors under a strike indicator. San Juan Worms in red or hot pink have also taken trout, as well as micro-jigs in black or gray. 

Targeting areas of current is key whether the generators are running or in periods of slackwater. Trout fishing will dominate the Carpenter Dam tailrace as the winter months take hold and offer fishermen consistent fishing opportunities and some wonderful table fare for the holiday season. 

Always follow all park and lake regulations when visiting Carpenter Dam and remember to pick up after each outing, as the number of trash cans are limited. 

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

(updated 12-5-2024) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), had no new reports, but most recently he reported Lake Dardanelle was cooling down and the fish were 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 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.

(updated 12-5-2024) Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) had no new reports.

Carter Cove has a Facebook page, and the email address is cartercovebaitnmore@gmail.com, with updates and photos. Stop in for live bait, tackle, cabin rentals, pizza, burgers, sandwiches and more.

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

(updated 12-5-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are still good. These fish are still schooling up in the mouths of major creek channels. Stripers are very good and biting on live bait in the central and western parts of the lake. Crappie are good and biting over the tops of brush in the 20- to 30-foot range. No reports on walleye, bream or catfish.
The lake temperature is ranging 52-58 degrees, about an 8-degree drop overall from this time last week, and the lake is clearing. Lake level on Wednesday was 572.12 feet msl, slightly down from last week. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

(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.”

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.